shealea

heckledtrio - WOW, what fantastic links you have posted, and what fantastic information they offer!

Thank you so much for your post. I took any notes for my trip. 

Sandra

Thanks again for all of the Wonderful and Helpful comments to my

question! It's been very helpful in planning.

Thanks Mike45 for the cruise good wishes!

Sandra

On 12/31/2019 at 4:15 PM, Mike45LC said:

GradUT's first post was great advice -- Stone Island for an hour or so, and then walk the Blue Line to downtown.  This (but taking a pulmonia instead of walking the Blue Line) is our normal Mazatlán port day.  

Mike, Thanks for your very helpful input. I'm going to play it by ear as to exactly how

much walking I will do from place to place. I love to walk, but I've had some problems

with my hips. So catching a pulmonia ride here and there will be a very good option if

I find that I need it. I'm so very excited for this cruise!!!!!

Sandra

GlennaRoseGoes, I checked out the link that you provided. That looks very helpful and I will print that out. I like that

it's very detailed with turn-by-turn directions.

Thanks!   Sandra

GradUT, thank you for the very helpful information.  I have read up on Stone Island. That really does sound like our best bet. I didn't realize that it would be so far to the Golden Zone with the hotels.  I'm glad to know that.

Sandra

We will be leaving on a Mexican cruise on Jan. 18th. I'm trying to research the different ports.

In Mazatlán, can you give me advice on a beach that we can go to? My cousin said that he visits 

hotel beaches. He said that they allow you to use the beach if you order drinks or food.

We don't want an entire day-long beach excursion. We just want to spend an hour or two

relaxing at the beach.

Can you recommend one? We are 61 and 63 years old. 

Also, I want to spend time walking around Mazatlán. Maybe trying some authentic

Mexican food at a food cart. 

and we don't really drink alcohol. I have some issues with arthritis, but I can still walk 

around a lot. I just don't want to be back-tracking back-and-forth all over. So I think I 

will do best with some sort of plan ahead of time.

If you can give me some help with a plan, I will sure appreciate it.  I want to walk and see

the beautiful old buildings, churches, cathedrals. I want to walk along the boardwalk on the 

ocean. I like to people watch. It would be fun to visit an open-air market. I would love to 

see street musicians if that is there. I enjoy browsing little shops. Maybe some little parks

or town square type places.  

Hopefully, I have given enough of what I like that I can get some help from any that are

experienced with Mazatlán.

Thank you so much for any help you can give!    Sandra

For some reason I'm just not getting the workings of the Medallion. I understand that I use it to get in and out of my cabin and for purchases onboard and for getting off and on the ship. 

This is where I'm confused. I understand that I can download the app to my iPhone. I DO NOT want to buy wifi minutes and I'm really worried about getting any charges for use of my phone on the ship. I don't want to accidentally be hit with charges from my phone tapping into the ships phone services. 

How do I avoid this? Please, if you would be so kind, explain to me how it works. Do I put my phone on airplane mode? Does that keep me from my phone tapping into the ship's phone services? 

And if I don't plan on buying wifi minutes, how would this app benefit us?

I feel kind of silly that I'm just not 'getting' it!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for any help!  We have never sailed on Princess and we're excited to try this line. We are doing the Mexican Riviera out of LA. 

14 hours ago, UFMOM said:

They can probably tell through the ship’s system whether he put any drinks on his card. Although not 100 percent since he could have been drinking before he boarded or had a drink bought by someone else on the ship. They should look at the cards of the whole family. I would think he would have been blood tested for drugs and alcohol shortly after the accident, but I don’t know what the procedure is. 

 

Mary Ann

I was just wondering if alcohol had maybe played a part. I just can't imagine what this grandfather feels. He probably just made a horrible mistake, and now he has to live with that. I think that a lot of folks are excited on vacations and there is so much activity, and people just somehow lack judgement that they would probably normally use. I just don't know. 

I wonder if the grandfather had been drinking at all. 

I have cruised several times on NCL. Once on Holland America. We are both now 61 and 62 years old. We thought that the nightly shows on NCL were much better than on Holland America. 

We did enjoy ourselves on Holland America, but overall it seemed a bit lacking in some of the livelier entertainment that we have had on NCL.

The food seemed about the same to me on both lines. We don't visit the specialty restaurants. 

I enjoyed the computer classes available on Holland America. But I do think the classes are aimed at the older crowd that don't know how to use many features of their computers at home.  I also enjoyed watching the cooking demonstrations that Holland America offers.

It just seems to get really quiet on Holland America in the later evening. We prefer NCL over Holland America. 

I would suggest giving Holland America a try and see what you think. 

My husband often tells me that men very rarely ever wash their hands after using the public restrooms. That is so crazy to me! And NASTY! What the heck??!!!  I can't remember the last time that I have seen a woman NOT wash their hands after using the restroom. 

I have never decorated our door, but I enjoy seeing folks' door decorations. If I had kids, I can see where it would be fun for them to think of and create for their cruise. Adds to the excitement of planning!!!!  But, I can see the concerns that NCL has with the door decorations.

Thanks for the replies.  I will go to the Port of Call boards. I had forgotten that they were available here.

Hi, All!!!  Does Celebrity sell a scrapbooking kit or Celebrity photo albums for sale onboard?  I've been able to buy them on
Holland America and NCL.  They are really neat. The kit has scrapbook paper and things for decorating scrapbook pages that
features the cruiseline and the destination.

Also, do any of you know if by chance Ketchikan has a x-stitch shop? We went in a quilting shop on one cruise to Ketchikan, and
they had wonderful things. I would like to pick up a small x-stitch kit to  start working on while on our cruise.

Thanks for any replies; they will be appreciated!!!  Our cruise leaves Tomorrow!!  Woo Hoo!!!!!!

3 hours ago, kathynorth said:

 

Shealea, the same situation has happened to us on past cruises. Maybe we're just lucky, but we've been able to switch to Select Dining as soon as we get onboard. There were 1 or 2 cruises where we were asked to stay with the original seating for the first night and then received a note in our room that our dining assignment was changed for future nights. I've also seen people who showed up at the Select door be accommodated on a space available basis. 

kathynorth, Thank you so much for that reply.That helps. We love the Anytime dining concept.That is our style! Even if we are stuck with the Late dining,it will be fine. I Really,Really do not want to sit with other people. Just not my style.We are 'country folks' and I'm not sure we would be very interesting visiting for many folks!!!!!!!  he,he

If we can't change from Late dining, we will at least see if we can get a table for two. I love kids and I would rather sit at a table of a bunch of kids!!!!!! ha!!!!!!!   I love watching all of the kids and parents when on cruises!  Especially at the pool.All of our kids and grandkids are grown, and I miss having young kids!  We brought our kids on an alaskan cruise a few years ago. They loved it.

2 hours ago, keithm said:

Once on board go see the Maître D. They can alter your dining arrangements. It might take the next night for it to happen, as you'll have LOTS of company. The buffet is where you'll likely have your embarkation lunch. After that, the buffet at night is mainly for those who won't dress up beyond shorts, or who just want a quick bite. As to options you'll have the MDR or 3 alternative main dining venues. Those cost about $50, but look for good discounts. Ambience/better food/more attention to detail are the attractions here. Designer jeans are pretty much what you stated. I never wear jeans at night. I prefer Khaki or slacks with button down shirt. As long as your husband's jeans don't have holes, he'll be fine. His choice if he wants to bring a sport coat for Chic nights. Check Youtube for Celebrity videos that show pax dining out. You'll get a good idea. Tuxes/suits are not necessary, but you'll see some. Most likely on 10 day or longer cruises.

Thanks for your post KeithM. It's appreciated! My husband's jeans do not have holes. He's 62 and just does not get the 'buying jeans with holes thing'!!!!

This hubby of mine, that I chased after when I was 13 had long hair when all the 'old folks' thought it was radical. And his bell bottoms and army jacket that he never took off, and his bedroom painted black  …….  And now he doesn't 'Get' the younger folks these days!!!   He cracks me up!!!!!!
 

15 hours ago, helen haywood said:

The menu on some ships is also accessible via the incabin TV.  However, I would hesitate to consider it gospel as sometimes the itinerary necessitates switching an Evening Chic menu to another night.  The posted menu outside the MDR will be correct.

Thanks for that information. I will certainly check it out on the TV. 

11 hours ago, 2Long2NxtCrz said:

We like dressing up.  Or, well, *I* like dressing up and hubby humors me.  We even did the tux rental thing on our 12-night Med cruise, which really?  I highly recommend.  It was like $100 for the entire cruise and we didn't have to add all that weight into our suitcases (But we still ended up buy a suitcase to carry all the stuff we bought in Italy and Spain).

That is wonderful that you enjoy dressing up and your hubby will go along with it. I'll bet that you love seeing him all decked out in a tux!  Have you ever had a photo package setting done onboard while you both are dressed so special????

I like how the cruise lines are offering different choices for folks that cruise. Dressing up fancy like you and your husband d o just isn't our thing. I would not feel comfortable.  But I'm glad that you do. I always love to see the couples all dressed up and really admire them when I see them out and about!

Sandy

1 hour ago, helen haywood said:

You can check out the evening’s menu; it will be posted outside the MDR after breakfast if it is a port day and after lunch if it is a sea day.  Then decide where to eat.

That is a good idea to check the menu out ahead of time. |We will do that.

5 hours ago, 2Long2NxtCrz said:

I can vouch for that on the Equinox, too. My husband didn't want to change out of his khaki shorts even though I warned him. He had to go back to the room to change while the rest of us started dinner. And this was just one of the regular nights.

Most of our cruises have been on NCL. we were out and about on the ship one early evening, and we passed the MDR and decided we were hungry and stopped in to get a bite too eat.  whoops...…..  Husband had on shorts. No No …..we forgot and he got turned down and had to go change out of his shorts!!!

NCL is pretty relaxed on the dress code. On our one Holland America cruise to Alaska it seemed that folks did dress up a bit more than on NCL.

13 hours ago, helen haywood said:

Please don't skip Evening Chic nights because of clothes!  Your husband will be fine in his dark jean even on those nights!  And the second Evening Chic night has some of the best MDR menu choices!

Well that is good to know. Thanks for telling me. I just told my husband. I will be certain that we don't miss the second Evening Chic night!!!  

We are sure looking forward to this cruise as it will be our first time using Celebrity.  I've read wonderful posts about them! We are easy to please and enjoy most everything when we cruise. This is our 6th cruise to Alaska, and we Always find something new to do or places to explore!!!!!!!

On 5/9/2019 at 4:24 PM, cangelmd said:

Don’t let dress code keep you out of MDR, I completely agree with the person who said you DH can get by with a button down shirt - he can probably get by with a neat polo even on evening chic. Neat black pants and a light colored blouse with a pretty necklace and you will be good to go as well. Some people do dress up, we dress up, but you will literally see everything except t-shirts and shorts.

cangelmd, Thank you for commenting on my post.  That is really nice to know.  My husband has really nice dark black jeans and some very nice polo shirts. Black and also grey. Nice black shoes.   I have nice skirts and some pretty tops.  Nice black sandals.   So it sounds like we will be ok on the dressier nights also.

I was just looking in my Cruise Planner for my On Board Credit, and I do not see it anywhere.

I went to my email from the large on .line travel agency. In the email it says that my OBC will show

up on the first day of my cruise.  So that means that it will be on our account to use once

we are onboard?

I do plan on printing out my email with the specifics in case it does not show up.

I WILL say one thing ………..    This is the first time that we have used this on  .line   travel agency. Never, ever, ever , ever

again. No Way.  They are so deceptive when I have called.  When trying to book, telling me that I can't get the price I'm seeing on my screen because I must be in the middle of a price change.

Then called back, and did get the price on my screen. Next morning, large price drop while I was still under the 24 hour window for price guarantee. Called and was told NO there has not been a price drop.  Insisted it's on my screen. Got price drop.  

Had a $200 refund coming.  Checked my online banking.  They gave me $118.00 refund.  

This place is dishonest and I will never use them again and will steer anyone away from them that I can.

OP  -  I am so sorry to read about your fall. I hope that you are doing well now. Falls like that can have long-lasting effects. 

After reading about your fall, it will remind me to be extremely careful if we have to do tendering. I've had two hip replacements, so a fall could really be horrible. 

Just now, dkjretired said:

 

No problem with the Jeans, no one has ever been able to define designer jeans. As an example in Alaska I wore my Le Kirkland Jeans by Costco.

dkjretired  -  I'm happy to hear that. Now I'm feeling good that we will fit right in with what we plan to wear to the MDR. I think we will skip the MDR on Evening Chic nights. I love the buffet anyway.

Also, what I'm excited about is that I read that you can order from the MDR menu with room service during MDR hours. It will be fun to do that and eat in our Balcony cabin. Even if it's not nice enough to eat right out on the balcony, just sitting and looking out at the ocean will be really neat!!!!!  I always love being able to order room service.