Treasure Hunter

We actually live in Rye, New York a sister city. We visited the city hall and saw our Mayor’s signature! The diorama of the old walled city was really interesting.

When we were in our twenties we rented a car and drove a figure eight from London, Cotswolds, Oxford, Lake district, Edinburgh, Balmoral, Loch Ness, Oban, York, Cambridge etc. It took two weeks and we had many merry and scary adventures ( especially driving past sheep and over humpback bridges.) Since then we have taken two wonderful Princess cruises around England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. So easy and relaxing. But we saw tons that would have been difficult to see driving like Lands End, the coast of Wales, London Derry and the Giants Causeway. Also they got us tickets to see the Military Tattoo ( amazing) in Edinburgh. We came into the UK a week early and stayed in London as a base to see Stonehenge and Bath and the Cathedrale. In our seventies now , we recently took another cruise out of Dover to Scotland, Bergen and Iceland. Before that trip we visited the little walled city of Rye and Hastings. It's cruising for us now. I just can't live out of a suitcase anymore. We have one that is just drugs. If you do choose a land tour. Tauck is by far the best.

Crystal removed their casinos. I still love the ship within a big ship concept so we shall see.

We were offered an upgrade to the owners suite three days before our cruise but I couldn’t figure out how to sleep five with two children . The second bedroom had a queen bed and no drop down. The main ship was full but the Haven seemed empty. Maybe that’s what they’re shooting for?

And in September I’m going on Crystal

This was absolutely not about eating a ton of lobster tails. It was the unexpected sad change and inflexibility. They are chipping away on the special ish ( a new word). I’ll trade you a lobster tail for two filets and raise you gummy bears. I hope they don’t destroy the experience

Yes, just got off the Encore. I was shocked when I asked for surf and surf in the Haven restaurant as I always do as I don’t like filet and they wouldn’t do it. So my grandkid also ordered the surf and turf( she only wanted soup and shrimp cocktail) and I had her lobster tail. The filet was wasted. But we paid a fortune for the two bedroom suite and I was disappointed in the change. By the way the service was also not up to previous cruises. A 45 minute wait from sitting down until appetizers. If they brought iced tea there was no sweetener , if they brought bread there was no butter. The actual food ( when we finally got it) was delicious. The outdoor dining in the restaurant was great and the almond croissants still fabulous.

There’s no communication. The Captain hasn’t talked to the passengers even once. They just want to know why. Legally MCL can do anything they want but the PR is dreadful.

Ground Hog Day

And check out the “Antarctica” NCL Star sailing on YouTube. There’s an uprising going on due to a change in itinerary made before the sail by Miami but not told to the passengers until at sea. No Antarctic. ( not weather related)

Good luck. Have Hope. You’ll have a great time either cruise. I too love looking at the ocean. The long flight home from Alaska would decide it for me.

Ok. Go with your gut. And you are a spring chicken at 65. We are 79 and 76 and have five future cruises booked. I’m going even when they wheel me on board. I gamble on sea days, they discount my cabin ( it comes out even). My Dad was a Navy man ( WW 2 on a destroyer escort The USS Day ) in the Pacific. Maybe that’s why I love the water.

Any chance of a Princess ship late May or June to Alaska? We did the Island Princess when new for the Panama canal and it was a wonderful trip. We took the small boat excursion through the locks ( you go by bus one way and meet the ship in a big lake. Fascinating . We live in NY and sail NCL all winter to the Caribbean. They have great private islands.

It’s shows the extremes of entitlement

Yes, I know!

When you go to the MDR, just tell them you have a time crunch and order your appetizer and main at the same time. Go for ice cream after the show.

We have been to Alaska with both Princess and NCL. With NCL on the Pearl which is a sister ship of the Jade. There is no comparison. Princess does Alaska way better. NCL cuts short the time in port. Princess has a naturalist on board. Princess is known for Alaska. If the cruises were reversed, I might feel differently. We sale NCL a lot but mostly in the Caribbean. And Princess has the best pizza at sea.

April is way too early for Alaska. Princess usually has a better CD staff with more fun and games on sea days. I gather that you are not a casino person. Try the MDR. Princess is more casual than it ever was and you’d get your variety there.

It was just an example of the kindness extended by the concierge.

My husband is totally old school. He does the crossword in ink over breakfast and after being married 55 years I know better than to change him. He’s petrified that they’ll stop printing a “real” paper. We do share the spelling bee every morning on his phone.

The most incredible incident happened on a Royal Caribbean cruise. A woman and a nurse wheeled a gurney down the center aisle of the theater to around the fourth row. The woman asked the person in the aisle seat to get up for her. The person refused and she started yelling. The man on the gurney looked comatose. It was at the very least a fire hazard. After booing from the audience, two security guards removed them. At first I thought it was part of the show. Bizarre but totally true!

That's terrible. And very disappointing.

We have stopped sailing Celebrity. Last year we sailed in a concierge cabin, a celebrity suite and a royal suite. We do not feel it's worth it anymore. We did not feel pampered or special in any way. The retreat sundeck is jammed and very little shade. The food in Luminae is weird and on the Edge class you can not order any longer from the MDR menu. As you said the prices are thru the Moon. We are on NCL Encore next week. Princess ( a Penthouse Suite in June and Next year a new Oceania ship. Remember you can as the Haven concierge anything. They print out my husbands NY Times crossword every morning.

Other room snacks. Crudités with dip, cut up fruit plates, mini BLTs, cold shrimp platter for extra charge, cheese and dried fruit plate, assorted cookies. We have found that in the Haven restaurant if they have , they will make it for you. Had a great sliced chicken BLT by the pool and a shrimp cocktail instead of Shrimp Louis. Also don’t forget that you can have surf and surf ( two lobster tails) instead of surf and turf. Get my drift. I don’t remember if they had the Japanese hibachi restaurant on the Getaway ( I know they do on the Breakaway,Encore and Bliss) and it’s always great.

We like to eat on the water when it's available and two lunches we enjoyed was DiMillo's on the Water in Portland ( we ate at the bar because the restaurant wait was long) for lobster roll and clam chowder and in Newport RI, 22 Bowens Wine Bar and Grill at the Wharf for two different kinds of Lobster Roll, both delicious. Since the MDR on the ship is closed when in port we really enjoyed walking over to these restaurants from the cruise dock instead of another excursion. But we had been in both ports many times before.