shipgeeks

Misconception: "My cabin bathroom smells bad, and I'm sure there's nothing that can be done about it". Reality: Find the little drain in the bathroom floor - not the one in the shower - and pour a glass or two of tap water into it. If it dried out because no one flooded the floor recently, it can develop an odor. We do the water trick at the start of every cruise now.

Perhaps the concierge spoke with them privately, later on, to say that guests should not be brought in, rather than pursuing the matter in front of all the other pax.

Now that we have our next C/NE cruise booked, I can see the excursion. It is indeed the Conway Scenic Railroad, and of course New Hampshire, not Vermont (I'm still embarrassed). I admire the planning that went into this, and we do enjoy train travel, especially vintage trains, but we will not be considering this one. The excursion is 8.5 hours long. The price is four times the most expensive ship excursion we've ever taken. The time away from the ship includes shopping (no thanks), and time to explore the village. Just too many factors against it, for us. Looking forward to another day in Portland!

I remember having our passports taken for the duration of the cruise many times in the 90s. Then line up in the theater early (5:30) on the final morning, to clear immigration and have passport returned.

I believe there is the possibility that the offender has been dealt with, and management did not consider it appropriate to pass that information along to you.

Silly me; I assumed that cruisers are now more aware that MSC is not a clone of royalnorwegiancarnival. I thought the days of "There was no cheddar on my pizza!" and "They didn't give me butter unless I asked for it!" had been replaced by an appreciation of the differences. I guess not. Personally, I like MSC for being able to eat things I don't have every day at home, see a different type of show, music, and passenger mix. It's a lot easier than flying to Italy.

Further to my comments above, re my parents moving to a retirement community, they regularly said they were so glad they made the move while they were still healthy enough, and active enough, to enjoy the facilities, volunteer work, new friends, activities, etc. That was a generation ago; now many of my peers are doing the same thing.

We Bellas always had washcloths, and the tissues were in a drawer in the cabin (not bathroom).

Last week I cleaned out the third floor, and took all our Christmas decorations, apart from the two wreaths we put on the outside of the house, to a local thrift store. Inside, they were doing a thriving business with similar Christmas things. Our cruise luggage now fits comfortably in our storage space, and perhaps some younger families will enjoy the decorations. I don't miss them at all.

We have sailed on Enchantment many times, and we love it. Have never had any of the problems mentioned above. When we've been aboard, service (especially MDR), food, cabin, etc. were all good to outstanding. We would sail on her again in a heartbeat.

I'm with Lois on this! My parents sold their house and moved to a retirement community when they were in their 70s. Best move ever! They were safe and healthy. Less house for my mother to take care of. Van trips to doctors, church, shows, stores, so no need to own a car. Company for dinner without having to drive. We could easily visit. When out-of-state brother visited, he and family could stay in one of the guest rooms overnight. My aunt eventually moved to the same community, and all were able to spend time together.

Misconception: "My cabin AC isn't working, even when I try turning the dial. It's probably broken." Reality: Are you in a balcony cabin? Is the door to your balcony open, even a crack? Doing so will shut off the AC, and, depending on the ship, the AC in other nearby cabins, as well.

Our favorite itinerary! We do it from Baltimore every year, and never get tired of the ports or the sea days.

Gosh, I don't think I've ever taken any of the non-clothing items others have listed above, and after 50 cruises, I haven't missed them. We primarily pack mix-and-match clothing, for day and for evening. We do dress up at night, so coordinate shoe colors as well as top and bottom colors, to keep things to a reasonable minimum. Underwear. Documents. Prescription items such as meds, reading glasses. Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, makeup, sunscreen, lotion. There are hair dryers in the cabins. Bathroom can stay fresh by pouring a glass or two of water into the drain in the floor (not the shower drain, the other one). We've never had an issue with shower curtain needing gadgets to keep it in place. Point the shower head down, not out, before turning on. Ship tap water is very pure and delicious (including in bathroom sink); no need to take a purifier. Numer3, you mention that some of your group have not cruised before. Have they travelled at all? I don't think it's all that different, packing for an overnight or weekend at a relative's house, and packing for a cruise. And 7 nights is not a long cruise; really should not be overly concerning for anyone who might forget something. I would imagine if they are family, and one forgets lotion, someone else can help out.

I, too, pack the big things on hangers, and I put them in the suitcase one at a time: One flat item half in and half out of the suitcase. Next one same, but out in a different direction. Continue until full enough, then start folding the out parts in, until all are stacked. No creases at fold lines. As long as I don't wait til day two to hang them, they are fine. Haven't had to use the hot shower method. Packing them on hangers also gives me more incentive to hang them on the first day, as it isn't much of a chore.

I just hang my items as soon as convenient, and I've never had a problem with wrinkles, including linen things.

I read about the gas theft when it happened. Apparently has not happened since.

We and 208 others are currently watching the Miami webcam; waiting for you to set sail. It's a bit later than the published 4pm departure. I hope no one forgot to pack their passport, or to do muster drill! At any rate....have a wonderful time!!

My experience, as primarily a vegetarian, was that there were only vegan, but no vegetarian, options. Something vegan in all categories of all MDR dinners, but nothing with real cheese or eggs, for example. Another case of combining.

Thank you for the reminder; I had heard that earlier. In our case, it's not as if we want to be tech-free, we just don't want to have to add smartphones to our battery of devices. We're not expecting RC to send us printed checkin questionnaires, or have a rep call us to take down our info. Doing it on a laptop has always been part of our responsibility, and surely the info "arrives" at RC whether from app or laptop?

No smartphone, and no use for one apart from checking in for 3 or 4 cruises a year.

Are there any special festivities to mark the sailaway? In other words, is it worth watching you on the Miami webcam?

The website works for everything else, but checkin, for Vision cruises, is via the app only. Laptop users are unable/not permitted to enter any info or to choose an arrival time.

I'm curious what the advantage is to RC, in requiring use of the app to check in. We have always used laptop, but now will have to go to the port (Baltimore, currently) with no checkin completed, and have an agent there check us in. Isn't that an inefficient waste of time for the agents? (Doesn't bother me, but I have time at home to do it, too.) Do they think we will buy more excursions, drink packages, etc. if we have the app? Or? I'm looking for the logic in this.

The Head Waiter turned him away, 2023.