shipgeeks

Just received notification re our Vision cruise on September 14. Bar Harbor cancelled, we will now have an overnight in Saint John, and some extra time in Halifax. All good, IMO.

What departure port? What ship? I know Enchantment has a cabin all the way forward which has two rooms. Probably the advice about getting two adjoining cabins (inside, OV, or balcony) is the most practical.

Interesting! Up to date/correct? I see Enchantment of the Seas listed in August -- but she will, in fact, be in the Med. We are booked on Vision of the Seas in September, but she is not on the list at all. Still included in our RC itinerary. ??

Even though I believe in being prepared, I hope the new cruisers will not be set up to expect to be seasick. I think the power of suggestion can be very strong! We started cruising before anyone talked about the possibility, so have never taken anything, and so far, 50 cruises, many with very rough seas, have had no seasickness.

Bar Harbor is still on our September Vision cruise. We usually stay on the ship.

All Inclusives.

For us, being at sea on a moving ship is the reason to cruise. Ports are insignificant, as are beaches/no beaches. So we choose a cruise every time. No interest at all in any land vacations.

Is it still called Peanut Paste (not PB) in Australia?

tring, I would recommend that you continue to check in on this board, Canada & New England, reading previous posts about the ports you'll be visiting, and posting any questions you have. There is a lot of good information around! As to Bar Harbor, my understanding is that visits within 2023 will go ahead as planned, as the ban, IF it does take place, will not happen until later than that. We, too, are scheduled to be there in September, 2023, on a ship somewhat larger than yours.

Cabin tap water, and water from dispensers in WJ, are perfectly fine for drinking.

I can't speak to the new menus until I try, so no opinion there. We've sailed on RC four times in 2022, and had only good to excellent experiences each time, in all aspects. As to prices, we book with a group arrangement that includes bus to the port, gratuities, and more, so I can't precisely compare cruise-only prices. However, we can book a year ahead, and nothing will change, so we're covered if prices go up. This has worked well for us, and we have four more booked.

Fantastica has assigned dining time, as well, right? It's only Aurea that has mtd.

We have sailed out of Manhattan twice, a number of years ago. Fabulous! In our case, we arrived by bus, and had hotels booked in the area around 48th Street. Both times, the room was smaller than a cruiseship cabin(!), with a double bed rather than queen. Both were relatively inexpensive. We were able to walk around the area on arrival day, and the next morning, before walking our luggage to the port. Being on deck before departure, and seeing the lights of Manhattan come on, was wonderful.

Yes, in fact when we sailed on MSC, we noticed that because of the high numbers of non-Americans onboard, people overall were dressed much better than on a mainly US ship.

Bravo Zulu to the pilot who took Disney Wish out. I'm glad he didn't have to do that five or six times. Pretty bumpy ride.

It looked rainy, on the webcam, but not windy.

If I ever have to drip dry anything (rare), I just hang it over the shower fixtures and/or toiletries basket.

The Nassau webcam showed five ships approaching. Only one actually came in; the rest turned around and left. Any idea what happened?

Has this happened to any of you? Today I got out my old sewing machine to hem some shorts and pants. I hadn't used it for years. But all the threading patterns came back to me automatically. Is this proof that something we learn and use while still a pre-teen become part of our muscle memory and never leave?

But is carrying them around all day, and keeping them charged, more convenient?

I always have to chuckle when I read that the decor on Grandeur or Enchantment is dated, as we were aboard Grandeur just before and just after the Centrum area was completely redone, just a few years ago. At first I really disliked it (I am a minimalist), but when I understood that it is based on the glamour of a retro Hollywood club, I got it, and now I enjoy it. The sofas and chairs are swoopy and funky, likewise the R Bar is old-school. As mentioned, one of the best things about this class of ships is the huge amount of glass in public areas, for seeing the sea and sky.

Or, if all else fails, use remaining OBC for crew.

Before I started cruising on ships that actually had a variety of foods available(!), I had only occasionally had an Indian dish at one restaurant or another. Now, on ships, I regularly have Indian dishes at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes things are on the menu or in the buffet, and sometimes an Indian chef or waiter will notice that I ordered vegetarian dishes, and ask if I'd like some Indian food as well. Yes, I would! Apart from that, I've been able to try lots of desserts I never have at home (or even heard of), as well as some soups that are not normally on my radar. Variety is good!

Our phone never leaves the safe while we're on a cruise. We spend a good part of our days aboard together, so talking works. If one has gone to promenade deck early, and feels the need to alert the other to a spectacular sunrise, or a request to bring sunglasses, public wall phone to cabin phone works. If one goes to buffet before the other, there is frequently a server who will say "Sir is over there by the window; I will take you to him". Other than that, the cabin is our default meeting place. It has never failed us yet.

Unexpectedly, I am being reminded of my own experience as a legal migrant, US to Australia, many years ago. We went through a lengthy application process that included suitability for work in a field that could be used, health, age, etc. Upon arrival, we were housed in a Quonset hut with communal bathrooms. We were expected to seek employment and housing. Meals were available in a nearby building, and included a lot of thin oatmeal and rice. If going out for the day, we could request sandwiches. Only children could have milk and fresh oranges. The unemployment benefits that we qualified for were taken, in full, to pay for the room and meals. We were exceptionally grateful that we didn't have to seek a hotel and meals on our own, in a new country.