wcook

LOL. That wouldn’t go over well on a cruise with friends, would it. I’m just used to giving the speech on big family trips to the yutes and that’s the language I use.

This will be sent to the RCI board, but in general ships don’t sell daily drink packages. You usually have to book by the second day. On a four day they might not even allow that. Keep in mind RCI charges a fortune for the package and drinks in general. If you just buy drinks as you go you can burn through a lot of OBC quickly. But to answer the generic question, I use OBC for the daily service charge. It’s as good as cash that way.

Simple… tattoos. Side note: I happened to be reading an article early today from a nation park completist visiting the one in American Samoa. Sounds spectacular, but a huge PITA to visit. Hope you make it someday. I wonder if any cruises go there.

Rome is pretty easy to tour on your own. You will find many write ups and advice. Florence is a pain in the ass to get to on your own. People do it, but, personally, I’d only go to Florence on a cruise stop if I had a burning desire to see Florence. Consider Lucca as an alternative. Unfortunately, even Lucca is a bit tricky to get to via public transportation from the port. We rented a car which worked out great, but isn’t for everyone.

Must have been fun trying to go back to sleep.

Boo. Lousy cruise. Boo. Booooo

Honestly, I don’t think lines are that different between regions. If you like somebody in the Caribbean, you’ll probably like them in Europe.

Siri says 272 days. Seems way to long. Should I check her math?

I can’t help with info, I always love a toast. I raise a tasty adult beverage in your direction. Salute!

I like to book my cruises directly with the cruise line. But my last two cruises I’ve been unable to book the cruise I want direct and had to go through an online travel agent to book.

LOL. I think you may have that backwards.

Ship: You have an outstanding balance of $23.47 and can’t leave until it’s paid. Me: Oh, gosh darn, I’m completely tapped out. I am stuck on this ship. Woe is me. Ship: And your drink package is cut off Me: Wait! I just remembered I have another credit card. I guess I can leave.

I’ve been lucky. Only one missed port ever, and that was due to emergency repairs at the dock, not ship or weather issues. For pretty much any flight in the world, I can look up stats on how often the flight is delayed or cancelled. It’s a shame we don’t have that for ships and ports. Only antidotal reports.

Keep in mind UK -> Caribbean is usually about nine days in a ship. With work, you could find something that works, but I gotta believe you are better off with the long haul flight.

That kinda undermines your point. The airlines clearly have a gate keeping role. If they aren’t going to let you on the plane without the proper documentation, they can do a lot to help you understand the what proper id they will be looking for. Same with the cruise lines. While the ultimate responsibility lies with the passenger, the cruise lines can and should do more to help

I hear you. Even as an American I sometimes have visa issues. I wanted to take a cruise stopping in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are new to the whole tourism thing so provide incomplete and sometimes contradictory info on their visas. It would have been awesome for the cruise line - which is actively working with the Saudis in the first place - to sit down with their immigration and tourism people and put together a visa faq for the thousands of passengers. Nope. After running around in circles, I gave up and booked a different cruise. Bummer.

Which port? Which airport?

The only times hurricanes really mess up a cruise is when they hit the embarkation/disembarkation ports. Even during a busy hurricane season, the odds of a particular port being hit your week is very small.

Trouble in the Eastern Med?

That has always been our rule when traveling with others (usually family). Dinner is mandatory. Everything else is optional.

The great thing about balcony cabins with young kids is you can usually fit a pacnplay on the balcony.

General advice on room for four: Don’t do it. If it fits in the budget, get two rooms… you’ll probably have to book one parent and kid in each room and then switch onboard. if it doesn’t fit in the budget, there are four person rooms available in all room classes, down to the cheapest inside cabin.

There is no best type of vacation. Cruises offer up wonderful vacations, but so do many other types of vacation.

40 years ago Cathy Lee was doing teevee commercials for Carnival and the Big Red Boat was taking Disney families on three day Bahamian cruises. Both solidly aimed at middle class couples and families.

A MySpace ripoff.