shipgeeks

When we did our AK cruise, I packed my usual dresses and such - but not sundresses - for evening. I was fine, except that I sometimes wanted to step out onto Promenade Deck, at which time I would have preferred a long-sleeve outfit. Nowadays I almost always wear sleeved garments in the evening on all my cruises, as I feel the AC everywhere on the ship.

Or even during the cruise, if there is an outbreak onboard or at a port. If that happens, there could be testing onboard, and masks might be required.

"The Lady Eve", 1941, with Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.

And another thing: Checkin process will include You must have the RC App". But then there is a box that says "If you don't use the app, click here", which allows you to proceed without it, no problem.

I haven't done it from a ship, but I've been to all those areas (a long time ago) and they were wonderful.

"Peeper", 1965, with Michael Caine and Natalie Wood. Set on NCL's Starward.

And I see there is a post about a number of people who cannot get their boarding passes, unrelated to photo.

Agree with tag. We've never taken photos, and we always get our boarding passes, including one a week or so ago. We don't do the Health Screening until we get to the terminal, either. We don't use the app.

My understanding is that we can do the same with our regular (home) health insurance. Keep the receipt from the ship, submit it upon returning home.

Well, I have to disagree! Porthole cabins, at least on all the RC ships we've sailed, are all the way forward on lower decks, where the possibility of water damage is greatest. And they definitely are not sold at interior prices! One must read the fine print to even determine whether they are porthole or larger window.

We had one twice, on Equinox transatlantics. Loved it. One time, had a sofa in the slopy part, and one time two easy chairs. I put post-its on the window to help me remember to duck my head before getting too close. After the first time, we learned that the drapes must be closed tight all night, in order to not interfere with visibility on the bridge. So no more stargazing, as we had enjoyed previously.

"Let Them All Talk", with Meryl Streep, set on Cunard's QM2. (Kind of disappointing, but you asked.) Two excellent Bollywood movies set on ships. Be sure to get copies with English subtitles; the stories are very worthwhile. "Dil Dhadakne Do", filmed on the former Monarch of the Seas. "U Me aur Hum", filmed on......(?)

The reference was to sand flies, not sand fleas. Perhaps some of us have used the wrong terminology in referring to the tiny, itchy red spots all over one's skin after some time ashore (not mosquitoes).

Nope, have not had any negative experiences with our MSC cruises in any respect, before, during, or after.

I've had sand fly attacks twice, in the Carib. Very itchy and spotty. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to lie on the beach.

I never watch videos myself; I just find them annoying and at the wrong pace. However, I come across many questions from potential cruisers which are answered by "there are lots of youtube videos on the subject; check them out", rather than answering the question. Especially for someone just beginning to explore what cruises are like, I suspect this sort of reply leads to a lot of watching.... and some misinformation.

A recent post on another site, about bed bugs, concluded that the problem was sand flies, picked up at a beach in a port. And another post noted that a cruiser left his balcony door open all night, and in the morning he found his cabin walls covered with hundreds of little bugs from outside.

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Wasn't there a fairly recent l-o-n-g post about a son who bought an expensive watch while on a cruise, and then was pulled aside at Customs for not declaring it? An earlier poster in this thread mentioned that no form required if under a certain $$ limit. If over that limit, one might be wise to track down a form and fill it in. It was stated that the onboard shops, and many port stores, report large purchases made by passengers.

We've eaten all our dinners in MDR on all 49 of our cruises, and have never ordered any of the "classic"(?) items. We've enjoyed the variety on the main daily menus, and always found things we liked. Our first cruise with the new menus is in three weeks. I don't see any problems with what I've seen of those options.

That kind of negates the safety factor of people knowing where to go in an emergency.....

A question: Our Diamond status expires in February, 2024. Do we have to sail by then to retain our benefits (yes, please!) or just finalize a booking by then?

MSC, You have a unique product, currently, in the American market: the opportunity to experience a bit of the style of European cruising. Please do not dilute it in an attempt to become another RoyalNorwegianCarnival line. There are already plenty of those. There are many of us who appreciate the onboard European experience: the shows, the food, the style of more reserved service, as well as the international passenger makeup that allows us to feel that we are "away" rather than with hundreds of our hometown neighbors. Unfortunately, all of your advertising seems to emphasize only the low prices, not the uniqueness of the product. If you shift to showing what the onboard experience is like, you will attract the people who will appreciate it, rather than those who go only for the price and feel they were mis-informed because it wasn't royalnorwegiancarnival.

Please do not ever take away the option of traditional dining.

Will you consider the Port of Baltimore as a departure port for year-round cruises? RC and Carnival currently sail from there, almost always fully booked. A third ship, around the size of Armonia, would be an excellent addition to the northeast corridor passenger base. Baltimore is well-known as a business-friendly port, and is close to BWI, a major international airport.