worldspan

The Tower rooms definitely have the best views but keep your expectations about those rooms in check. Finally stayed there for an overnight in May after driving by the hotel for years on end and the tower rooms (and bathrooms) are tiny indeed. This hotel is no better than a 3 Star.

Shula's is lousy! Burgers are small and they will not cook to order! Well done whether you like it that way or not!

Rafting on the Martha Brae River (a lazy river) will make for memories you keep for a lifetime. I should know, been to Jamaica 46 times since my first visit there in 1969.

I was there in December just as a tourist. One of the official 12 reasons entitling you to go is "I am going to support the Cuban people". That is the reason that opens the door for everyone to go. That said it is an incredible destination and my memories from my brief visit are the very best.

Keep in mind going there including Empress of the Seas could all go away very quickly if there is a change of party in the White House next January. Time will tell.

Document should also state that you are authorized by parents to make medical decisions for the child.

Agree too, Princess is not an upgrade. Next step up is Oceania or Azamara

Just returned from a long weekend in Havana. You have so very much to look forward to!

We loved the a Regal and she is our favorite ship. We felt that the Emerald Was way more crowded than the Regal, especially with the tiny buffet on the Emerald versus the huge buffet on the Regal. Passenger to space ratio was much preferable to me on the Regal. Only thing we didn't like was lack of central staircase

 

 

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Yes the Grand Class ships, particularly the Horizon Court, seemed much more crowded. Problem solved with Royal/Regal ? Hardly. While Horizon Court on Royal/Regal solves the seating problem, the size and complexity of the food areas is so overwhelming 2 different people with different preferences end up separated going in 20 different directions!

Worldspan

(135 cruises and no more!)

Did you do your homework on this company before your cruise ? Cruises are like most anything in life, you get what you pay for!

"Staying along the way" meaning somewhere between Islamorada and Marathon I highly recommend in as much as you could drive direct from MIA to Key West.

Staying in the area between Islamorada and Marathon is a very different, laid back experience from what Key West is.

Just my two cents!

Worldspan

Naples, Florida

They've all been fined for dumping so what's your real problem with Royal?

 

 

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Just because they have been fined does not forgive them of what they did. And people do have memories!

I guess I'm an unforgiving guy but RCCL is a company with a past that spends so much time trying to make up for their sins of the past.

As they were once the great cruise line polluter of the seas, now they spend an inordinate amount of time letting people know what they are doing to help clean the seas clean (Only after the U.S. Federal govt. came down on them big time).

And Labadee! Where's that ? Hispaniola of Course RCCL would say in their brochures and on their site. Until recently they would never say "HAITI" as that would connote all kinds of terrible things (like AIDS, etc).

I am a first generation American of Swiss decent. That said, Haiti and her people have such a special place in my heart and somehow the good that RCCL has been doing there recently, well it all feels a little disingenous to me.

Worldspan

Naples, Florida

(135 cruises and no more!)

Fairsky ? Yes, when cruising was cruising!

Worldspan

(135 cruises and no more!)

Humm..., that sounds to me like almost any cruise today, regardless of length!

Worldspan

135 cruises (and no more!)

Royal Caribbean is notorious for enforcing their "guest conduct policy". That being said, there have been a number of lawsuits from passengers who were thrown off that were "quietly" settled out of court by Royal Caribbean.

Worldspan

135 cruises strong (and no more!)

When I sailed March 2014 it was opening at 6 a.m. I recall then the staff in charge of it who were all from the SPA were not very nice people!

Which one ? What is the address ? If on Broward Blvd or Oakland Park Blvd they are both the pits!

Been on 135 cruises and no more for me, cruising has declined in so many respects will not waste my money any more on "today's" cruise product.

That said, the Princess pizza no matter which ship, no matter whether on deck or inside was always the very best in the cruise industry.

I could be wrong but I believe the recipe for Princess pizza was brought over from Sitmar Cruises.

Worldspan

125 cruises strong (and no more)

Very simple: Home Lines. Nothing has eve come close.

You are so totally right. Having completed 135 cruises now and likely never to take any more when I look back, numero uno no doubt was Home Lines, specifically the SS OCEANIC. The consummate ship of all time, she was particularly great on her longer winter 11 days or more sailings where she sailed with a reduced passenger list to further enhance the service.

HOME LINES/SS OCEANIC. The cruise line/the ship I will take to my grave!

Absolutely an incredibly memorable experience! Go for it!

Worldspan

(135 cruises and no more!)

Dark ages or not, it works just fine the way it is. :cool:

No, it does not always work fine. My experience is unless you are part of the initial mob scene stampede to get on the ship you might not as I have been unable to get your desired time on your desired date. Given that the main dining room food is cheap banquet food, specialty restaurants are particularly important to me but having to "play the game" to get a time you are happy with, well I no longer play that game. I just don't sail to begin with.

Worldspan

Incredible after all these years you still cannot pre-book a specialty restaurant on Princess. Where are they, in the dark ages ?

Worldspan

135 cruises (and no more!)

From a veteran of 135 cruises taken since 1971 and a guy who sports 6 pack abs at age 65:

1. Never use the elevators, climb stairs the entire cruise

2. Your evening meal, no starchy carbs like potatoes, pasta, rice. Just a lean protein and fibrous carbs like veggies and romaine/red lettuce.

3. A little treadmill time will help burn the calories if you cheat

There is no "fooling" going on. This is standard marketing 101, and it should come as no surprise that Princess is trying to sell cruises to people for as much as they can get. :rolleyes:

Could not disagree more and it is surely not standard marketing 101.

Rather, it is SMOKE AND MIRRORS 101.

135 Cruises (including 35 on Princess)

and no more!

The bamboo rafting trip on the Martha Brae River is nice and a bit romantic.

The above is indeed what you want to do!