Treasure Hunter

My mother loved cruising. I’m sorry I never got to take her in the Haven. I think CandyApple didn’t mean anything against Gian. Just trying to keep a nice surprise. I have had the speech in both places, in the pre boarding lounge ( which itself is a give away with the pastries and on board in the Haven lounge. Just go with the flow with a big smile and let them figure it out!

We leave on Saturday on the New England/Canada cruise on Emerald Princess. It is 91 degrees in New York. More concerned with rain. The spa menu in the Sanctuary is great and we’ve also ordered hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza from the pool grill in the past. The best is the 3:30 English tea that they served. Hope that still exists.😄

Tried Luminae on Edge and Reflection. Preferred menu in MDR. Go back to The Haven if you want the best suite food. We are on the Silhouette in January in a Celebrity suite and hope it’s an improvement . Service on the Connie in June was the best I’ve had in years. Back in the Haven ( Encore) in February because Celebrity doesn’t sail from NY in winter. Never done Aqua but I hear it’s very nice.

The Butlers on Oceania are not as understaffed. They have time to chat.

I bring my bar of Dove wherever I go. No wrinkles

The lumberjack show is good old fashioned fun too. It’s a great cruise.

You will have a wonderful time. If you can splurge I highly recommend the helicopter to the glacier to do the dog sledding. And if you are on the Yukon railroad sit on the left side. The train does reverse for the scenery but on the way down everyone is asleep!

Thank you

Excursions and specialty dining. 😁❤️

Took the Emerald to Hawaii. Great cruise. Love the ship.

In a way I’m glad that I’m new to Crystal! So no comparisons . I’m so excited to finally be going and I’m sure everything will be delightful. Just worried that I don’t know the ropes and how things work as far as sign up times. We have been on Regent ( long time ago) Oceania, Princess, RCCL with kids, Celebrity Retreat and our current favorite NCL Haven where everything is done for you. Don’t know how Crystal will compare. I’m an Aquamarine renovated suite on Symphony next September.

Please let us know how the excursions are. If you are taking any and if you could still sign up on the ship. First time Crystal cruiser and worried that we can’t sign up far in advance.

Na Na Na NaNa

I bid on and won an upgrade from a standard mini to club class on the Emerald Princess leaving September 9. I bid the max $265 pp as we really wanted it. We love the fact that we can dine whenever we want without waiting and without reservations. When I looked at the staterooms every category except inside was marked sold out for months. We bid on all categories of suites too but We really didn’t want to pay thousands and felt the mini was a nice comfortable size. As Elite we get most of the suite perks already. So it doesn’t matter if they are marked sold. The club class minis are in a great location on dolphin deck with staterooms above and below and not next to elevations ( never heard any bings in 35 Princess cruises). We saved a bundle by using the upgrade system.

Also flexibility for meals. No reservations necessary but can waltz in and be seated immediately with set waiters who know what you like. We love this perk and have just paid to upgrade to this on the Emerald to New England/ Canada in September. This way we can come back from an excursion and go down when we are ready.

Even on a nice Caribbean evening the Roof Top Grill is windy. And sometimes chilly. Dress appropriately. Eden food is great and there are tons of choices both vegetarian and not with an emphasis on seafood. We enjoyed it very much.

We took a family trip around five years ago round trip from England to Scotland, Shetland, Bergman with three Iceland ports on the much missed Pacific Princess. There were strolls involved.

Quick Scampers are no longer on my radar especially with flight delays lately, but I wish you good luck👍❤️😁

Yes. You get what you pay for. The buy one get one free! Ha! Do not be suckered into booking through the cruise line. They almost ruined our Thanksgiving a year ago with terrible flights from Atlanta to Miami that were supposed to come in a day early and were booked by them to come in after the ship left. My son and family drove overnight to get there. And they toss the ball back and forth from the cruise line and the airline. If they won’t change the flight just book your own and try to get the money back through insurance ( which I’m sure you have).

We send our big luggage out the night before and go to breakfast at the Haven restaurant super early with our overnight case. We go down with the concierge in the crew elevator and then there is usually a person with a Haven sign that cuts to the head of the line walking on the outside of the line ( walk offs). We have also after finding our luggage ( especially in New York) gotten a porter . For $10-$20 they take you right thru customs/immigration with no waiting to your transportation.

I have been on the Dawn ( not in a suite) and loved the ship. I think the combo choice will be a lot of fun. We once did a Tauck land tour of Italy and then a Mediterranean cruise on RCCL Symphony of the Seas in a Grand suite. I plan to do that with NCL in the future. We are on the Encore in February. Does anyone know why NCL stopped doing the one week out of NY for February school break? We are forced to fly to Miami at the tune of $1000 a person coach. Last year we had a two bedroom suite ( in the Haven on the Breakaway) that cost less than this scenario.

You will have better luck for sure. Yes we have been those B2B cruisers and it’s great for us, not so good for anyone else. At least we can get it for the second week. ( Have you tried a tip to the head of the Sanctuary?) just to keep an eye open in case someone cancels.

You need to board as early as possible especially if you are not Elite or in a suite. They will board before you. Run do not walk. Go directly to the Sanctuary ( people have been known to run up 17 flights). Perhaps because you want a Cabana and they are pricy you might have a chance ( warm weather cruise). There will be a line but eventually you’ll get a chance. It is so wonderful. Don’t miss the 3:30 afternoon high English tea. And you can also in addition to the spa menu get hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza from the Grill.

Thank you but our French is rusty and we haven’t driven there since 1989. So let’s hope an excursion is offered. We were supposed to do a Tauck riverboat from Paris that was canceled three times. I much prefer an ocean going vessel but I know I might not see everything on this trip.

Keith thank you. I’ve been so concerned since we have to wait to book. At least we know they can do it.