shipgeeks

How small do you have in mind? We choose small ships, but those usually carry 2,000 pax rather than 6,000, and that would be on a mainstream line such as RC, Celebrity, HAL, etc. We usually sail out of Baltimore, with itineraries of 9 to 12 nights. Although we started cruising on ships (not luxury ships) that carried around 600 to 1200 pax, we find our current choices very comfortable.

I've been pondering this very valid question ever since you posted it. I hope my thoughts provide at least a bit of clarification. I'm very aware that Lobster and Balcony are the two essentials for a great number of cruisers. When we booked our first cruise, in 1991, none of the ships we were interested in had balconies. Being frugal, we decided on an inside cabin, but the TA refused to book us unless we took an OV. We did, and we loved it. Being close to the sea, right outside our window, was great. Over the next ten years we had some inside, and some OV. Some of the insides were right across the hall from a door to an open deck, and we spent a lot of time out there. Cruise #28 was to be Alaska, just before retiring from the job I didn't especially like but which provided outstanding lifetime benefits along with its low pay. Still frugal, we booked an inside, but circumstances led to us being moved to a balcony. We were thrilled! But when we got there, we were a bit dismayed at how dark the room always was, with the steel "tunnel" around all four sides of the glass door. The sea wasn't there. When we went out onto the balcony, it felt like such a limited view of one side of the beautiful world out there. So we spent all day, every day, on the sunny upper decks, taking it all in. At the end of the ten days, we had spent a couple of hours, one time, on the balcony, freezing and damp. Then in 2020, we booked a Caribbean cruise, 14 nights, for which balconies were cheaper than OV. Still frugal, we took the balcony. We still had expectations of an enhanced experience. It wasn't. Great cruise, but every time we thought "Let's sit out on the balcony" we just found it an unrewarding inconvenience. Whether in a port or at sea, it just was not something we enjoyed. We did enjoy all the excellent outdoor public spaces around the ship, as well as the inside ones. As we all know, balcony doors cannot be left open, even a tad, so having fresh air in the cabin is not something to be gained by having a balcony. So now we know ourselves, and have had a lot of OV cabins, frequently on Deck 4, but occasionally on 3. The sea and sky are right there; sometimes I sit right in the window and just gaze. The exception to that is our two experiences in forward-facing OV cabins directly under the Nav Bridge. Outstanding! We got the same wide views the officers have on the Bridge. The only downside was that at night, our curtains had to be closed tight, which meant we couldn't star-gaze. We loved those cabins, but in the long run, I think our absolute favorite is an OV, cozy, private, and comfortable, and low enough to be able to see the ocean right outside our window. And that is still the case even now that I am trying my best to spend the $$ we find ourselves with.

Speaking of what dining room used to be..... When we booked our first cruise, we must have been asked, in advance, Smoking or Non-smoking? That was standard on airline bookings, too, as I recall. (But I always wondered why they seated smokers on the right and non on the left; why not start smokers from the back, and non from the front?) On the cruise, we got our preference of Non, and had a lovely meal the first night, at a table with a very nice couple. All good except it was right near the dividing line to the smoking section. We spoke with the headwaiter, and he promised to move us. Our companions were moved to the new table, too, but they admitted they were worried that they had offended us, when they received a note in their cabin with a new table assignment. I can't recall whether there was smoking in the MDR after that, for us. It seems like a long time ago.

It might not be your thing, but we enjoyed all the Indian dishes we had, in MDR and WJ.

Due to balance issues (peripheral neuropathy/numb feet) and therefore a lack of confidence, I will be taking a cane on my upcoming cruise. I use it when I go out of the house, but not in the house. I don't anticipate having any qualms about just keeping it with me all the time, onboard and off. I notice the bottom surface could lose some of its rubber. Do you take grippy tape to reinforce that if needed? Any other hints for this newbie?

Thank you, Molly. That's the first actual information I've seen.

Even though it is possible to fall (above), I believe it is up to us as cruisers to not use the word in general comments/reports, thus perpetuating the myth that the media are so fond of. OP did it right in the title.

As it turned out, my 22-metal-button slacks were not a problem at all. (But I would probably not wear them in an airport.) But hubby still has to remove his belt, glasses in his pocket, and keys.

And if you don't have a beverage package, cappuccinos, etc. are less expensive than on other cruise lines. Regular coffee is available from dispensers at no charge.

MSC is not all that different from RC and the others: water, tea, coffee, juice (more choices than on RC in the morning!), are all readily available in the buffet. Tap water is fine; we just fill up our bottle in the cabin or buffet. In MDR we ask for water, and it usually comes in a pitcher rather than having it poured for us. Because non-Americans (large numbers usually aboard) are used to drinking bottled water, you might see a lot of tables with bottles on them; that doesn't mean the tap water is not available or not good to drink; just a different custom. Enjoy!

Thank you again! We hardly ever eat anything in transit or on foot (have never eaten in a car), but you know, cruisers have to eat at least every two hours, lol.

Thank you; that's helpful to know. Just looking for an alternative to a donut, to eat by hand while sitting on deck, if we can't get a Holy.

Any suggestions re where we might pick up a nice snack to take onto the boat? I imagine Holy Donuts will have a long wait line on a Sunday morning. We don't want seafood. (I know, what are we thinking??) What else, and where, might be good?

Lots to DIY in Portland! As well as food and craft beers, there are walks, narrow gauge railway, mail boat trips around the islands. Maps at visitors center at the end of the pier, and people there who can answer any questions. We've been multiple times, never had to go beyond the town.

The excellent Latin band, Son del Rio, were on Enchantment on two of our sailings, and just boarded Liberty, playing in Bolero's, I imagine. World-class musicians! They are from Uruguay. The keyboard player, Martin, has played with some of the top tango orchestras. Worth checking out!

One of our favorite things to do on a sea day is being on the Promenade Deck to either walk, lounge, or stand/sit at the rail to watch for flying fish, along with the beautiful and changing sky and sea. It can be mesmerising. Like some of the above, we also enjoy private cabin time (no balconies for us), leisurely meals (dining room or buffet, never in the cabin), and at least looking in on some of the more active things going on around the ship. We are not pool/sundeck people, though. The daily planner is always a good source of info on what's going on and where.

And now you've made me think some more.... I think that in those earlier days, the buffet was meant as just a backup to the MDR, for people who wanted to stay in their wet bathing suits, dash in, dash back to the pool. We certainly discovered that on our first MSC (US) cruise two years later, in 2002. We were disappointed in the meager offerings in the little buffet at breakfast and lunch, then, perhaps six days into the 12-night cruise, I wandered into the dining room, and found everyone eating from a nice, extensive menu.

Yes, that's our Regal Empress, thank you. We sailed on her in 2000. When did you? Ours was a fabulous cruise in all respects.

I should have continued my comment above to say "wear the caftan!". Jeans and t-shirt are fine for the grocery store; a cruise is special. Comfort is good, and the cruise is a chance to break out of the home routine.

Wait....are you talking about Regal Empress, or Regal Princess? Regal Empress, a gorgeous ocean liner owned by Regal Empress Cruise Lines, had some of the best dining room food we've had in our 50 cruises. Best duck, best pasta, best orange sherbet.....and we still remember them from over 20 years ago. We have photos of the elaborate buffet displays on our wall. Loved that cruise. The cruise director we had on that trip will be on our RC cruise next month.

I am absolutely allergic to photos, too! But jeans and t-shirt have never entered my mind or my packing list for a cruise. And I don't have a caftan. My boarding outfit, now that I sail out of Baltimore after a morning on a bus, consists of black stretch slacks, a nice jersey appropriate to the day's weather, and a jacket appropriate to the weather. Travel sneakers will be swapped out for flats for drinks, dinner, and the evening's activities.

And at least they didn't get caught going far north, with nothing but shorts in their luggage, and no beaches to go to.

I definitely grew up with the "no white after Labor Day" rule. White dress shoes, most likely bought for one's Easter dress, would be totally inappropriate to wear to school in September and thereafter. Likewise a white summer dress, or a man's white linen jacket. or trousers. Those did not get packed for going back to university, either; darker colors were the norm.

Barbados; that makes sense. As well as the geographic and climate difference, I was thinking of the "anything goes" style in much of the Carib (maybe not so much in Barbados) compared to the more traditional/formal Bermuda culture.

Thank you, CDN. I'm not sure we fit the intention of the book, but will explore further. My big question at the moment, thanks to this post, is how to spend what we do have. Example: I do enjoy some shopping, but prefer the adventure of charity stores over department stores. In the past year or so, I have bought two fabulous cruise dresses, and a purse I've been wanting for years. Total for the three: under $20. A drop in my bank account bucket, and a drop in the bucket of the charities, even when I rounded up. (But I have doubled - or more - my annual contributions to my chosen charities.) I am just not finding any luxury goods or services I want, or that will improve our quality of life. I tried some high-end shampoos and lipsticks; found that I preferred my cheap old classics. Both our local laundries/dry cleaners are gone, so we no longer have that little luxury of DH's shirts being washed and ironed. We have more than enough "things" (artwork, rugs, furniture, appliances) in our home, so we don't want more.....so what can we spend on?