antmaril

Ugh.  ☹️

So, I just found out today that the cruise I have booked on the Sky Princess for January 13, 2024 is a “Polka” cruise.  My friend and I have had this cruise booked for a long time due to canceling cruises because of Covid.  Anyway, she is freaking out thinking this theme is going to have a negative impact on our experience.  I have assured her that it should be fine.  We may not even notice they are onboard.  However, I am starting to worry about it a little.  Will it affect our cruise?   If I hadn’t looked at my Roll Call today, I wouldn’t have even known.  Your thoughts?   Thanks!

I have done the Canada/NE cruise twice leaving out of NYC in mid-September.  We were too early for any color, of course, but the weather was very nice.  I love that itinerary.  

NCL Starward in 1982.  We had an inside cabin and I remember being absolutely shocked when we opened the door and saw how small it was.  I think I had visions of “The Love Boat” in my mind.  😁.   Our next cruise was on The Big Red Boat in 1991.  Our son was four years old and we all big fun!  

Reserve the bungalow in your name only.  You can have up to three more people with you for the total cost of $229.99.   I have done it twice.  It’s nice to have that little air conditioned space.  
 

Enjoy!  

Our first cruise was in 1982.  My late husband and I took a Caribbean cruise on the NCL Starward. The ship was 17,000 tons.  We booked an inside cabin and I remember when I opened the door I was shocked at how small it was.  It felt like a walk-in closet.  I think I had visions of The Love Boat in my mind and this was NOT that.  Ha!   
 

I didn’t vote because my answer makes me sad.  I am 71 - do the math.  😩

I have cruised to Alaska twice - both times in an inside cabin.  The first time (2009) we were on the HAL Zaandam.  I was invited to join my friend and her daughter.  Because I had to pay the single supplement, I chose an inside cabin to keep the cost within reason.   The second time, (Golden Princess - 2012), I was traveling with my cousin, who was on a budget.  Again, I was in an inside cabin.    Both of those cruises were fantastic.  I spent most of my time outside the cabin and had wonderful views of the glaciers from the decks.  I usually prefer a balcony cabin or a mini-suite, but, my cruises to Alaska were fabulous even in an inside cabin.  
 

My friend and I are considering a casino offer right now.  We both get lots of offers.  Hers are usually a little better than mine, as she spends a little more in the casino than I do.  But, honestly, we don’t spend much.  The cruise we are considering right now is on Venezia in September.  Six nights to Canada/New England.  Total with fees and taxes for an Oceanview cabin is $575.  So, adding a flight to NYC, a hotel room (which costs almost as much as the cruise) and cabs, we can do this for about a $1,000 each.  We could book a balcony room for about $300 more, but I’m not sure we need it for this cruise.  
 

Carnival is usually not high on my list, but we did this casino cruise in 2019 on the Sunrise and I have high hopes that the Venezia will be a nicer experience.  I guess we shall see.  

54 minutes ago, Got2Cruise said:

As a local I don’t like the Marquis. Why? Because they allow anyone off the street to come in. That’s where I go to waste time before a show. Lol 

Well, I have stayed there a few times and have enjoyed it.  We haven’t had any problems.  Rooms are big by NY standards.  

We like the Marriott Marquis or the Michelangelo when visiting NYC.  My friend and I stayed at the Michelangelo when we cruised out of NYC in 2019.  I have also stayed at the Marriott Marquis many times, most recently in October, 2022.  These hotels will fall into the higher end of your budget.  

I have had midship angled balconies on Regal (B414 twice) and C410 on the Sky Princess.  I did not notice any wind.  I have M414 booked on the Sky Princess for January, 2024.  

I, too, saw this on social media.  I hope it’s true.  I missed Crooner’s on the Sky Princess.  

I spoke to someone in the Casino Department last week after I put a courtesy hold on a cruise next year.  The call back number I was given is 844-249-9590.  You might want to try that one, too.  

I have sailed to the Eastern Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale three times in January.  The itinerary included Princess Cays (private island), St. Thomas and St. Maarten.   The weather was spectacular.  I don’t think we ever had one bad day.  Sunny and warm.  Doing it again next January.  

I spoke with someone in the Casino Department yesterday, so it wasn’t the Holiday.  I was on hold for about 30 minutes or so.  I had booked a casino rate on Thursday using a courtesy hold.  When I went into my account on Sunday to put down the deposit, the casino rate had not been applied.  I called yesterday and was transferred to the Casino Department.  They took care of it and I am now all set.  
 

OP - Good luck today.  

Just to be clear, you CANNOT share the Drink Package.  

I was on the Regal Princess in 2019 when the Irish group was on board.  It did not have any kind of negative impact on my cruise.  Had a celebrity sighting, as I was on an elevator with Ronan Tynan (Irish Tenor).  😁

I have cruised the Caribbean three times in January (2018, 2019 and 2020).  The weather was spectacular.  I don’t think we had one bad weather day.  I have another one planned for January, 2024.  

February 1, 2020, just before our world changed due to Covid 19.  We were on a Sky Princess Caribbean cruise.  
 

I received an email this morning changing two ports on a cruise we have booked on the NS in March, 2023.  This a cruise I booked when they were offering $1 deposits.  My friend and I had pretty much decided not to cruise because of the high cost of flying into Fort Lauderdale in Mid-March.  The port changes will make canceling the cruise a little easier. They have substituted Falmouth, Jamaica for Ocho Rios and Nassau, Bahamas for Key West.  
 

Nope.  

I am so very sorry for your loss.  

No.  I prefer the newer ships.  

Crew Appreciation = Gratuities. 

My late husband and I took our first cruise in 1982 on the NCL Starward.  I was 31 years old.  We only cruised two more times together before he passed in 2008.  He didn’t love it.   Since 2009, I have cruised nine times with friends.  I enjoy cruising.