Chirpbird

We will be sailing Liberty in September. It's our third time on her and we are happy D+ C&A members, so we have seen the solarium pool situation first hand. However, never at 7 am. We, too, enjoy getting up early and getting a nice pool seat (we don't chair hog, or save and leave, we sit, swim, and read - oh and maybe have a mudslide or two). I am just wondering if there was a very large crowd doing this or individuals? And did you see a pool attendant and let them know. We sailed Oasis last month and every morning there was a pool attendant with a clipboard timing the vacant seats. I will say that if by 7 am all the seats were being reserved with no bodies in them I would be more than disappointed!

I don't know if my situation will hold true on LOS, but on NOS the pool stewards had rolled up towels and placed one on every chair. Perhaps that is what the OP saw at 7 am?

OMG, I can so second the recommendation for the Holiday Inn Bayside. We stayed there for a few days before a cruise. Walked over to Bayside for breakfast, wander around to museums and even found a FANTASTIC Peruvian Ceviche restaurant (CVI.CHE 105). This is an awesome pre-cruise hotel and location.

Backwash!

Yes, Backwash. However, the backwash will be at the bottom of the cup, and not in the spout which the straw goes through.

I've attended a few (maybe 5) meet and mingles. I've found them to be a chore, and I don't like them. I much prefer the informal "Let's all meet at XXX Bar on embarkation day." Otherwise, I have to sit and listen to some ship person who was never part of the roll call discussions. Just don't think I'll go to anymore meet and mingles.

If someone has poop in their backwash we have bigger problems. My understanding is that common spit does not spread the Noro.

OMG. LOL and spit coffee all over computer screen. :D

Anyone know what this is??? It was definitely alive because it was moving :eek:

I believe that is a "Aw, hell no. Nope. Nope. Hell to the nope. Nope."

Our first cruise was on RCCL. We enjoyed it a lot, and have cruised every year since then. At first, we picked cruises based on the ports of call. Then, we picked X because of their 'pre-pay' alcohol package. (We found we liked the all inclusive feel, and we really liked that bottled water and premium coffee drinks were covered.) We cruised Carnival once when I had to pay for all 5 cruise goers. And, we just tried MCS. We're coming back to RCCL in May 2015 to see if it is as fun as we remember. If I had to rank the cruises? MCS would be last. Carnival next. And, X/RCCL tied until we see how the cruise in May goes.

I personally like different ports vs. the same one. I would choose the first one.

And, I found it a travesty that the 'Noles winning streak was thrown away with such an ignominious game on Jan 1st. Despite the loss, I'm still and will always be a Noles fan.

I'm on a tropical vacation with lots of pools, DoDs, oceans and sweating in my future. I triple dog dare anyone to come up to me and say my clothes are wrinkled.

A coke is 5.00. Burger and fries were about 15.00. Having heard this prior to my departure I was prepared. I took fruit and cereal from the bar and I had packed ziplock bags ~ took our water bottles and it worked out great.

I'm really happy you enjoyed the excursion, and liked your advice about skipping the wonder of the dingy, airless glass bottom part of the boat.

But, cruisers are not allowed to take unsealed food off the ship. The cereal from the buffet is fine, but not the apples, fruit or your packed ziplock bags.

Oh my gosh, your tone, this PowerPoint and the beautiful picture of you and Morgan are bringing tears to my eyes. What a delightful couple you must be!

Southern Caribbean Re-po Cruise - San Juan to Bayonne, NJ. Highly recommend taking a cruise from a more southern embarkation port so you can see some other destinations.

* San Juan - beautiful, relaxing embarkation city. Spent two days pre-cruise.

* St Maarten - Maho beach with planes landing overhead. Relaxing and fun all in one.

* Charlotte Amalie - helmet dive. Incredibly cool.

* Tortola - My all time favorite port. Soggy Bottom bar on Jost van Dyke.

* Bermuda - Incredibly peaceful, beautiful, safe.

I saw the new promo, but thought "Eh, why bother?" I thought I would have to cancel my current booking, wait for the refund and then re-book. (Money is tight through Feb.)

Well, after reading this thread, I decided to give them a call. Whaddaya know? I'm $200 "richer," and the Broncos managed to score a touchdown. SWEEEEETTTT :cool:

I know some people say it's the water (don't think it is), and some people say it's flying (it's not for me). But, it is extremely obvious and very uncomfortable. I can fly to San Juan or Miami from Denver, enjoy a few days at port or board the ship on the following day, and have zero problems. But, two or three days into the cruise, and I have to buy men's flip-flops in a size 9. (I wear a size 7.5 ladies.) I elevate my feet above my waist (when sitting :-O), and only drink bottled water.

I think my problems stem from having two badly sprained ankles so my blood just doesn't circulate as well as it should from my feet back to my heart. I also have bizarre feet (to everyone else), but quite normal (to me). I have extremely high arches which cause two of my toes on each foot not to reach the ground. (My wet footprint looks like a big heel, barely anything connecting to the balls of feet, and then three toes. I don't think I should break any laws whilst barefoot.) I don't think my bizarro-normal foot shape has anything to do with the swelling. If it did, then my feet would swell whether I was on a cruise or not.

I will be trying the dry brushing on my next cruise. (I saw multiple links to the thread already.)

We caught a shared van right at port. There were three of us, and it seems like it was 10 to 15 bucks for all of us. It wasn't a large amount, and it took us right to the beach. When we were ready to leave, we went to the bar/restaurant, and waited for a van to fill up so we could return. Easy-peasy, and that beach was so much fun!

is a dangerous condition. I logged on to RC's website last night to review my two reservations for the May 15th Navigator of the Seas. Imagine my surprise when I saw that my bill had increased. (That's the irritating part.:eek::mad:) It only increased by $30. (That's the irrational part.:rolleyes:)

I called RC and found out why it went up. They applied the BOGOHO offer to the insurance. But, when I asked if it's SOP to raise customer bills without notifying said customer, the rep completely missed my question.

I'll get over it, and it won't change my enjoyment. I just needed to vent, and the rep didn't understand what I was venting about. I hope y'all do. :o

I see people posting about using a specific oil. Is that important?

I have GOT to try the brush thing. I'm tired of having Puffer fish for feet when I'm on a cruise.:mad: I was strongly tempted to cut my skin with razor blades to ease the tightness and swelling on our last trip in May 2014.

I had already figured out it was some kind of circulation problem. We only drink bottled water on board. Using a brush to simulate circulation makes sense. My feet will unswell if I elevate then while I'm sleeping.

They can be a bit lumpy and usually thin. I invariably need 2 of them. On my last cruise one was definitely better than the other, so I always made sure it was on top. They are not a latch on what I have at home but then it doesn't ruin my holiday.

100% agreed. They're lumpy, not what I have at home, and do not in the least ruin my vacation. :D

We, my sister and I, had an interior cabin (8067). My sister and I each had 4 - 6 pairs of shoes, 7 dresses, numerous shorts, t-shirts and bathing suit cover ups, hair junk, sunscreen junk, jewelry and tons of electronic accessories. No problem whatsoever.

We had tons of storage. The closet had two, two-door sections. One was all hangers, and the other was the safe, floor to ceiling shelves and six drawers. Our fridge was under the vanity; it was not in the closet. We also had the two night stands, each with two drawers. I think you got skunked on your room if that's all the storage you had.

Ahh, no worries!!!! By switching to your original time, we got off the ship faster anyway. We were both so tired, we weren't sure we'd be good company, either! We didn't even eat that morning. :-D

I stand corrected. I guess I was fortunate. They were amazing!!! I guess they treated me well in my $369 inside cabin. It is good to know because I intend to board the Divina in the future and if they are not acceptable, I will request better ones. I'm not one to complain, but like the cruise director said, if there are any discomforts or issues, to bring it to their attention so that they have a chance to rectify the problem.

Not to fan the flames, but my sister and I sailed on May 10th. Our pillows were incredibly lumpy. They felt as if someone had torn about a foam cushion, and used that to fill a pillow case. We were also in an inside, el-cheapo cabin.

Disembarkation: We had to change our time to 8:15 am as our shuttle was picking us up at 9:00am.

We wondered what happened to y'all! We enjoyed the cruise as well. I think we enjoyed our before time in Miami so much, however, we've decided to go with a land vakay next year.

Some at our table didn't order all the components of dinner. The waiters were very good about pacing when they removed the plates so no-one was left just watching others eat. My favorite thing was the pasta during dinner. Big thumbs up from me!!

Sam

Apprecieate you all.....theres that dang word again...its got a red line underneath so I'm sure I butchered it....

 

Can someone teach me how to spell appreciate?????...Oh snap..I did it lol.:p

I'll trade you - appreciate for necessary. When you pronounce necessary doesn't it sound like nes-ses-sar-ee? Doesn't that sound like two c's and two s's? Dang it. I'm only getting it right on this post because it keeps correcting itself.

And, I have an English degree. Oh well, at least we have a good football team at my alma mater (FSU). Great review!

I always take a copy which is what is recommended by the State Deartment.

I keep reading where folks say the State Dept recommends taking a copy. They do, but I don't see where they say "Use it instead of the original." This site also points out the passport can be crucial in foreign lands and that some countries do not require them. Any person who misses their ship and has to fly home will need a passport. (I think we've all agreed on that point.)

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies your identity and citizenship....Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license, but all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States.

Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home. Carry the other copy with you stored separately from the originals.

Paraphrased from http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/checklist.html