sgttami

48 minutes ago, asalligo said:

I always bring a tray on cruises. It packs easily in the bottom of my suitcase. I like to go get breakfast every morning and bring it back to my balcony. 

 

My son bought this to keep in his car for when he's on the road and has to stop to eat and doesn't want to go into a restaurant.  He said it's been great for catching sloppy food spills that end up on the tray and not in his lap.

  I wouldn't take it on a cruise since I don't go to the buffets but it would probably work if you needed it and it would pack easily.

I'd hide it in the cabin closet when not in use since I could see the cabin steward taking it away thinking it was from room service. (Unless you get a bright red!)

As mentioned, there are always crew around to help you carry what you need.

2 hours ago, PinkSand26 said:

That would definitely be easy! But with a family of 4 and young kids I’m not carrying all that! 😂

 

we are going on the pride for 8 nights and see you have cruised the pride a lot! Any insider tips? Lol

I travel solo so couldn't provide TIPS for traveling with that many people. LOL

Great ship and easy to navigate and have met a lot of nice people.

It's not the bells and whistles of the huge ships but there was always something to do and I was never bored.

The young kids I met always seemed to be having fun!

Enjoy

I cruise with just a carry on so everything I need is with me at all times. So much easier.

Haven't checked luggage on a cruise in about 20 years.

Just tell family that if they don't hear from you "ALL IS WELL"

That's the cheapest way I know...L O L

30 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Perhaps there is a couch bed and fold out beds?

 

While I could tolerate it with immediate family, I shudder at the idea of 5 people sharing a room, even a suite. Bathrooms become scarce. You hear every sound all night from snoring, to getting up. I've done rooms with 3 and didn't like it. 

I can't tolerate it with 2 people. When my sister and I sail together we get our own cabins.  Makes for a more pleasant cruise (LOL)

11 hours ago, ShakyBeef said:

 

This is getting weird.😕  Have you cruised out of Baltimore?  I have never been pulled aside for my carry-on to be inspected.  It was just part of the process everyone was going through.  After the first few times, I started packing everything inside my carry-on in Ziplock bags because I was kinda grossed-out by them rifling through my things with the same (gloved) hands they used to rifle through others'. 

My last 7 cruises have been out of Baltimore and no one has ever touched my carry on.

47 minutes ago, ShakyBeef said:

 

Every single cruise I have ever been on, over 17 years, out of several ports, on 4 different cruiselines, I have always had my carry-on luggage opened and manually inspected, including my wine bottles.

 

ETA: After manual/visual inspection, it goes through the x-ray machine.

30 years of cruising out of different ports and cruise lines and have never had a bag opened/checked/inspected. 

Always picked Starboard because it was the smoking side on every line/ship.

Gave up one habit and still book Starboard out of habit!

I love staying on the ship. 

I did 14 days and never got off at any port.  I'd been to them all and just wasn't interested in dealing with crowds.

A very relaxing 2 weeks and was never bored.

I was on Journey's 1/2020 on Pride when they were wheeling off pallets of Coke from the casino bar to make room for PEPSI.

Seems there were  a lot of PI$$ED off people. A few were grabbing the last cans as they were being taken away...LOL

I wouldn't know the difference between the two as I'm not a big soda drinker.

However, if they were wheeling my Coor's Light's off to make room for something else, I might have been grabbing a few off the pallet.!!

I'm not a dessert eater except for Carnival's Baked Alaska and Bitter and Blanc..  

Look forward to those when sailing Carnival.

Otherwise, no favorites.  I always find something satisfying to eat somewhere on the ship.

The increase in food prices shouldn't be a surprise.

Going to the supermarket has turned into sticker shock the last year.  Something I never really noticed or paid attention to before.  

I equate those ice cream machines with self serve soda (Ugh, nasty) so it's something I never used and would never miss if they cut it down to an hour a day. 

Cruising will continue as a popular travel venue and people will pay the price if it's something they want.

All inclusive vacations still nickel and dime for everything in between.

Smooth sailing!

.

I was on the 2nd sailing of RCL Serenade of the Seas (9/2003) and we got a lot of stuff similar to this including the once sought after computer Aqua Mouse.  Must have been leftovers from the inaugural!

A fun trip celebrating my 50th birthday and the only time that I sailed a ship that was truly brand new.

Everything was immaculate and  I can still remember the "new car smell"  of the ship/

Good memories!

10% off if you purchase pre-cruise.

That's all I've ever seen!

4 hours ago, BarbieGee said:

There are some good ideas here.

 

I like the tip of; making a plate of snack items and bringing it to the cabin, stashing it in fridge for late night munchies.

 

I've read here that the MDR offerings have been small portions. So, if one is still a bit hungry... head to the buffet and 'graze'? Best of both food offerings!

 

😉😎

I 'll get a deli sandwich (ham and cheese or tuna) and bring it back to the cabin and keep in fridge for late night munchies after the casino. 

I always pack Zip loc bags!

Other than that, I've never eaten a meal at the buffet on any cruise.

Carry on. Carry off.

I travel with one bag that has everything I need for the duration of my trip.  Easy for me.

The only time I checked luggage and put it out for debarking was my first cruise 30 years ago because I was told that's what you had to do.

Lesson learned.  Never listen to those that believe they are experts in everything! ( HA HA)

I'll take a can or bottle of  soda, beer or wine before I drank anything on tap.

Years ago I saw the taps being cleaned when I worked at a bar/restaurant in college.

Saying it was nasty is being kind.

I'll happily wait at a bar!

My hand pay winnings on slots were always in cash but other winnings went into the Player Bank and then I "cashed out" when I was done.  

Sometimes it should have been sooner rather than later....HA HA

I always tip in cash with DOU everywhere and tend to tip more when drinking in the casino because that's where I usually am and dealing with the same servers for the whole cruise.

Past, Present and Future

Whatever line I sail on, I'm always looking for the smallest class of ships.  

It's my comfort level.

As others have stated, you really don't know.

The earliest I ever got an assignment was about an hour after I booked online.

  If it was like  that all the time, I probably would have booked GTY more often.

You can ask for extra hangers but I've always found them to be too thick and bulky.

I now pack/hang everything on skinny travel hangers and fold them into a dry cleaning bag and into the suitcase.

Take out of the suitcase and hang up in the closet and arrange by outfit.  No wrinkles and no jumble of those bulky wooden hangers.

Easier and neater!

No more masks...YAY

Going to dinner was like eating in the Operating Room of your local hospital.

I get all the safety issues and blah, blah, blah but it was a major turnoff going to dinner and being served by people in masks.

I've contributed generously to the casinos onboard over the years  (that resulted in onboard charges )but have never purchased anything in any of the gift/FUN shops.

I'm not a recreational shopper!

You can have my lounger.  They are the most uncomfortable chairs ever created.