shipgeeks

I just read on the RC forum that Grandeur will be delayed by a day, with next cruise boarding on Monday. Emails are being sent to passengers.

Yes, we booked ship transfers and made it in plenty of time for a 10.50 flight.

I agree. We have always booked cruiseline air and ship transfers. We get priority disembarkation, the bus leaves shortly after boarding whether it is full or not, and we get to the airport efficiently. Gives us peace of mind.

Am I missing something? Am I the only one that remembers that RCI at one time posed a notice (I Cant remember where) that Labadee Staff were employees of RCI and no tipping was necessary.

Agreed. In fact, the RCI Labadee brochure says "Just as on board, lounge chairs on Labadee are complimentary. They cannot be reserved and guests are kindly requested not to offer payment."

Cruise Compass says to take ashore "cash for the straw market."

This has been the case all three times we've been there.

Balconies are obviously an individual choice. We've experienced everything from insides to suites. Balcony cabin was probably our least favorite. Our first choice will always be oceanview, with inside quite acceptable. I say try out an inside cabin next, keeping in mind that it will be smaller than an accessible cabin. You won't know til you try it, and if it's okay for you, you will have more money for cruise #3, #4, etc.

One trick we like to do in an inside cabin is to turn the bowcam channel on overnight, with sound muted. It's like having a window.

Excellent position. Handy to many public spaces, more stable than higher decks.

I would suggest posting this on the Fashion & Beauty board, too. Lots of cruisers with a lot of fashion experience.

Enjoy your trip!

Your travel agent, or the cruiseline you booked with, should give you the option of how you would like the beds. You can request what you want ahead of time. If, for some reason, they are wrong when you get there, just ask your stateroom attendant to fix them.

DH and I will continue to dress as we always have: tux and long dress/cocktail dress, sport coat and regular dress.

We were offered next cruise at a great discount once, back in 90's. We could not take them up on it, but met one couple who ended up staying aboard for 17 consecutive cruises.

OP, why are you concerned about getting a connecting cabin?

We like both Holiday Inn Express and Extended Stay America, both on 17th St. Both have free shuttle from the airport, and inexpensive shuttle to the port. Both are also close enough to the causeway bridge to walk up and see the ships in port.

Another option is to research your ports in advance (local library guidebooks), and determine what the attractions are, and how to get there. In many ports you can easily walk to beaches and other attractions. Some ports also have kiosks where you can pick up free maps and other information.

Very good idea. Good ship, good itinerary. Do you have a hesitation about it? Tell us more.

On our two RC cruises this year, our Diamond welcome gift was two waters and a bag of cookies. There were other bottles of water and cans of soft drink next to them, but those were mini-bar (to be charged). Maybe it depends on the category of cabin? We were OV.

My #1 tip for a Baltimore departure is to be on an upper deck, just beyond the pool, for departure, even if it is cold. The first hour or so you will pass lots of historic and interesting sights, and the highlight (be sure your son is there) is the approach, and passing under, the bridges. It always looks like the ship is too tall to make it; very cool when you do.

Grandeur is one of our favorite ships, and Baltimore is an excellent port to sail from. Smooth boarding process, and very nice and helpful staff.

Enjoy your cruise!

Our observation is that evenings are more formal than on other (ie, Caribbean) cruises. Few if any Hawaiian-type shirts, more women in dresses or nice pants outfits every evening.

Creative combinations and light fabrics can keep the packing weight down, if that's important. DH kids me about how many shoes and dresses I pack, but my suitcase has never gone over 32 pounds, so no problem at the airport.

The airlines we looked at for one-way flights quoted over $4,000 each; ChoiceAir gave us the same airline and same seats for about $700 each. We've used ChoiceAir twice, will do so again.

IMO, the flaw in the system is that many people sign up for traditional dining in order to avoid pre-paying gratuities, but intend to only go to Select. Thus, seats are claimed but not used. If you are on the roll call for your cruise, you might want to request that people doing that inform the headwaiter of their intentions once aboard, so their seats can be released.

I didn't leave the house on Black Friday, but today, Small Business Saturday, I got a fabulous Bebe black jersey halter top jumpsuit and a great cocktail dress at a charity shop. Must support my local charities, right?

Meridian, 1997. Eleven nights, everything elegant and perfect. We danced into one lounge and out the other side one night, just like Fred and Ginger. Our first Captain's Table dinner invitation. No cruise since has ever been as wonderful.

We have seen men in shorts being turned away from MDR (including casual nights) on both Celebrity and RCL.

Definitely festive! Or at least it was several years ago on Noordam. Many additional nice activities, and much more participation, and dressing up, among the passengers.

We have found Christmastime cruises to be dressier than others, with children as well as grownups in very dressy dresses, suits and ties. Are your daughters planning to take special dresses? I would do it; it looks like a beautiful dress, and it's a special time together.

Being on a ship, any ship, at sea, is a wonderful thing. Nothing like seeing the sunset from the ship, or seeing flying fish as the ship moves through the sea.

So much to enjoy. Relax beforehand, relax on board, and have a wonderful time together.

You got my fantasy wheels turning. Since this is a fantasy.....

Ship: SS United States, Normandie, France, or 1959 Rotterdam

Cabin: Oceanview, preferably forward-facing

Itinerary: Sail from Manhattan to the Med; spend a week or so visiting Cartagena, Naples, Messina, and a couple of others; sail back to Manhattan.

Features our fantasy ship would have:

The enclosed Promenade of Norway

The Ritz Carlton of Rembrandt

Foghorn of Island Breeze

Wintergarden of Caronia

Two-level Promenade of Ocean Breeze

Food from Meridian/Apollo Catering