Treasure Hunter

Viking does not have casinos. Oceania casinos are tiny and dead. The reason I like NCL Haven ship within a ship concept. Top of the line service and amenities and great BIG casino and entertainment in the main ship. Regent ( dead). We are on Celebrity Silhouette in January. After our two Edge cruises last winter we are giving Celebrity once last chance. Even in a Royal suite on the Edge we just felt it wasn’t as good as it should be.

Usually you fill out a form for the main shows while waiting in the Haven pre boarding room and then get confirmation that first afternoon . We would meet the concierge a half hour before the theater opened to go down in the crew elevator. Always got our pick of seats. Teppanyaki should be booked online as soon as restaurant bookings open, just to be safe. The concierge will try to make changes for you but a full ship may make it more difficult. The concierge will bring you down for tender ports also in the crew elevator to cut the line. Leaving on the last day is amazing, as they escort you to the front of the line for immigration. Ours also printed the New York Times crossword every day for us. You would be amazed at what they will do for you. And if you are trying to make a show, you can pre-order your starter and main course with the Maitre'd . Be served as soon as you sit down and then come back after the show for dessert. We also tip the head waiter extra.

Also you can have breakfast on the last day in the buffet, the main dining room or room service up until 8:00 when you must be out of your room. I have seen people on the ship sitting around until 9:30 am

Can’t answer all your questions but I would bring a lightweight folding stroller. Cabo is known for whale watching. I’m sure there are princess excursions but there might be age cut offs. Otherwise a beach? I personally would stay on board and have use of uncrowded pool deck. Weather could be gorgeous or cool. Last time we did that cruise in December it was cold.

I should have stated that last winter we were on the Breakaway from NY . This winter break there is no one week cruise from NY so we are on the Encore from Miami ( I’ve been on it before and the Encire and the Bliss are my favorite ships

Kids in the Haven rarely pay the same rate as adults. We have a two bedroom haven suite in February from Miami for ourselves and my daughter and two grandkids. The three of them are costing us about $500 each including insurance. Don’t worry, the kids will have a wonderful time ( and so will you just watching them). Our grandkids loved the kids club ( 7 and 10). The swimming pool, hot tubs and restaurant in the Haven. Service was fantastic and kind to them. They never went outdoors on the sundeck. No need to. And I told them not to. The front lounge is great for reading, card games, puzzles on a cool or rainy dat if you get shut out of the kids club. There was often a long line for the club because there were 1800 kids on board!!!!

Viking does not have casinos. We have five Oceania and casino is tiny( but food and itineraries very good). We love NCL HAVEN on the newer Breakaway+ ships. Best of all worlds. Great food in the restaurant. Terrific entertainment. Big casino jumping every night. No dressing up unless you want to. The Haven service can’t be topped but you pay for it. We have 35 cruises on Princess and we just got off the Emerald. I hit four handpays in the casino and had the time of m life but the food has really gone downhill. The new Princess Sun looks fabulous so might give it one more try.

We sailed twice on the Edge last winter( January and March) in a Celebrity suite and a Royal Suite. That “steak” was vile. In fact the food in Luminae was generally disappointing and weird. On the March cruise we ate all dinners in specialty restaurants because they were included. Next winter we will be on the Silhouette and I hope for the best. After that we are booked on NCL Encore Haven) Crystal Symphony and Oceania Allura. I’m tired of mystery meat.

Thanks. Then it makes zero sense to sail from NY in winter. I too love the lounge at the front of the ship ( big windows, comfy couches): also we don’t sit in the sun anymore ( meds and a bout with skin cancer) . Even in the Celebrity retreat ( we alternate) there isn’t enough shade on the new ships. Finding a lounge under an umbrella is a blood sport. The cruise lines are trying for a younger ( uninformed about sun danger) crowd. Thats really a shame.

The concierge printed the New York Times crossword for my husband every morning.

Why is the Prima getting such bad reviews? It looks so pretty and I think they might base it in NY year round!!!

Same here. We are still in our starter house ( added on a family room 30 years ago) and our cars are 2009 and 2015. We accidentally found out about the Haven about six years ago. My daughter was in an elevator and was invited to see a room by another cruiser. Now unless we are traveling with a big family group, that’s what we book. We are closer to the end than the beginning . Just walking past the long lines at debarking is worth it to us. And yes I charge everything I buy to accumulate airline miles and go business class if the flight is longer than three hours . We sacrifice in other ways. I cook a lot at home. Buy very few clothes or jewelry and have given up broadway shows . I’d rather go on NCL and see Choir of Man. And the Haven restaurant is terrific ( I also love the Ruebens at O’Sheehans.) To each their own.

Also Sthrngary when you are in Athens we went to a wonderful restaurant called Zorba's ( what else) in Mikrolimano ( Little Port) on the water a short taxi ride from downtown. The food was terrific and then strolling around the harbor for a gelato after dinner was memorable.

We were in Ephesus on the Celebrity Constellation in July . We did not need a visa because we arrived by ship and not by air. And it was for less than 48 hours. Check the fine print.

How far is this new dock from downtown Barcelona? From the airport? Too bad it was so convenient before.

We received our yellow fever vaccine at ages 72 and 74 each. Needed it when crossing from Tanzania into Kenya. They looked at the cards. No problems at all although the nurse kept us for 15 minutes as a precaution.

Hopefully there will be a new casino installed for my September 2024 cruise

And entertainment ( The big shows) are often arranged in the pre boarding lounge by an assistant concierge. One reason that I come to the pier on the early side.

Yes, Oceania cancels excursions. We went on a Med cruise specifically because of an unusual excursion out of Monte Carlo (the art colony at Saint Paul de Vance). They canceled the night before ( most likely because not enough people signed up). We were terribly disappointed as it was too late to find a private tour. But if you book a small ship with 650 passengers it has to be expected. So we wandered around Monte Carlo ( having been several times before) and watched them set up the Monaco Grand Prix. Not so bad.

NCL is already trying it out. Last February school break from New York we had 1800 kids on the Breakaway. We had our two grandkids 1O and 7 in a two bedroom family suite in the Haven. The pool and hot tubs got heavy use by the kids but I never saw them ( and certainly not our kids) on the sundeck. Adults complained that the kids in general were too rambunctious. That’s what you get for booking winter break. This winter there are no one week cruises that time of year round trip from NY. Only 10-12 days so we are flying to Miami to take the Encore. The flights are costing $1,000 a person round trip on Delta that week for coach! I guess NCL determined that those 1800 kids didn’t gamble, buy drink packages or anything in the shops but my grandson ate steak almost every meal.

No kids under 16 on the sundeck. I don't care how well behaved their parents think they are. Abide by the rule or I will make a stink. Any other part of the Haven is fair game except actually sitting at the bar ( which I have seen).

Yes. We love the Regal. But this cruise left from NY and in every other way was great.

I made the Love Boat theme my ringtone.

I think the average age on HAL is dead.

Try NCL. We think it falls in between Celebrity and the pre covid RCCL. We cruise a lot. Celebrity, NCL, Princess, Oceania and even two on Regent. Love Celebrity but NCL has better entertainment and is livelier.