momzcruzing

I've savored every word and picture of Gambee's reviews and now I'm loving yours too. Thanks so much for all the work you both are putting in for our enjoyment.

Your pictures are amazing. I was on Allure a few weeks ago and I'm not recognizing many of your pictures. I guess I'll have to hurry back, it seems that there is more exploring to do!

Our group of 10 just left the beautiful Allure on Mother's Day. The upgrade fairy visited us and blessed us with a GS. It would have been a fabulous cruise anyway but that just made it better.

Enjoy your cruise, we loved every minute! Your review will help with the withdrawl pains that I am suffering. :p

Count me in too! I have been an RN for 43 years and still working (NICU). The job is hard, but rewarding (most days) and provides for seeing all corners of the world, I feel so blessed.

I'd love to retire but still places to go, grandchildren to spoil....:)

I was lucky enough to have Matt Yee on two cruises. He is very entertaining but keeps repeating the same stuff over & over, so by the end of the second cruise it was pretty old.

I, too, am one that really hopes the piano bar guy is great. It can be one of the best parts of the cruise.

Vienna has several Christmas Markets and are probably my least favorite, tho the one at the Schonenbrunn Palace is lovely.

Nuremburg is huge and wonderful but on the weekend it is so crowded that you can hardly move. They have a whole block of a childrens Christmas Market with rides, special indoor areas when kids can write & mail letters to St. Nick, do crafts, etc.

I really love Budapest, tho I've met people who do not favor it. I like the atmosphere, the food (rooster testicle stew available for the brave) and a different selection of goods to buy.

Ravensberg & Passau were nice.

Standouts for me were Prague and Salzberg.

All that said, a lot depends upon the day of the week, the crowds, the weather and the vendors.

They are a very special experience that I was fortunate to enjoy twice. All were lovely, but I just prefered Budapest, Prague & Salzberg, but would return to all the others in a heartbeat. ENJOY!

If you need an update, I left Brilliance on April 7th and Betsy was still the Concierge. She was busy changing her own cabin, so I guess she's staying for a while.

Hope that helps. :)

Oh, I'll be cruising, but not on Oasis, real soon! We have 3 cruises booked, all on the BR (cruised on her 18 times); we are doing the TA on Sept 8 and then B2B from SJ in Dec!

We just like some concierge better then others: Ricardo; Fernando; Willie; Luca; and if we can, we will cruise with them!!

Don't know who's the concierge on BR, but we really wanted to cruise on her again: she is my favorite ship.... :-)

Left Brilliance on April 7th and Concierge was Betsy, and she was moving to a new cabin that day, so I guess she will stay for a while.

I just returned from the March 26- April 7th sailing of Brilliance of the Seas that called on 4 ports in India.

Indian immigration was VERY strict, requiring face-to-face passport stamping and checks onboard the ship by Indian authorities for all passengers. Not sure I'd like to be facing one of those officers without a visa in hand.:eek:

I took my Grandson this year, and he was 11 months old. He cost the same as I did, which I didn't expect and was hard to imagine.

I swore I'd order a steak for him every night and let him bang it on his highchair tray :rolleyes:

The cruise was fantastic, worth every penny. All staff members stop what they are doing to greet him and play "peek". At the end of the week all knew him by name! They made the experience very special and memorable.

You will really enjoy your cruise, whatever cruise line you choose!

I hate that my dog isn't allowed on the cruise. He has voluntered to help the staff clean up the floor in the Windjammer. ;) He'd be great!!

I'm at work and laughing so hard, I may lose my job (method of cruise payment) over this thread.

I'm thinking that your dog might have survived had he not been in a rum runner!;)