S.S.Oceanlover

Isn't that the official death knell actually? :) :) :) ;)

Bill

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Are the blocks of rooms for all itineraries? Are they only available when bookings open for that itinerary? I'm asking these questions only because when calling big online agencies there never seem to be group bookings that offer anything better than what the cruise line is offering.

Our upcoming cruise in December we booked with a TA that had group rates that were about $150pp less than the cruise line prices plus they gave us $175 OBC. We are booked in a regular balcony cabin.

Everything has been smooth as silk so far. We met this TA at a travel show in Philadelphia.

This is the first time using her but will use her again if the deals are like the one we got for this cruise.

Bill

Have you checked flying from another near-by airport?

That worked for us.

We live in Philly but we are flying out of Baltimore. Got R/T tix on Southwest for $244pp and they are direct flights.

Bought them the day they opened up bookings for our dates.

I would go the same day if I could get an early flight that is nonstop but my nerves would be frayed until I got there.

Bill

I said Bluebeard Dave Thomas is still cruising Carnival and he is. You assumed I was referring to Wendy's Dave. Both are equally related to a steakhouse price increase.

 

Until there is an official announcement, everything else is inside information, and could still change. Even now, it could still change. Not everything is a leaky as the White House.

Bill

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Has to do with why his burgers are square

 

 

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Sorry about that Jimbo.

As for JH's lie he did a poster on fb that the Triumph would not be renamed and about a week later the renaming was announced.

Of course I would consider that a little white lie. He was probably not allowed to say anything at the time the question was posed.

Bill

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Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Mr. Thomas was one helluva good man.

Bill

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I apologize that this thread has turned into “Lottie Green’s guide to Cruising” :')

 

I’ve never priced Disney Cruises but have heard they are expensive, no clue if that’s actually true. Given how we cruise, it may be a cheaper alternative. But, my husband and I like to play craps and slot machines, Disney doesn’t have them so can’t see us going. We started cruising before our state had casinos and for us it’s a big part of the experience, for better or for worse (usually for worse lol).

 

We did Disney with the kids in the 90s twice, once each to both Florida and California. My hubby and I didn’t grow up with it and the boys thought it was “girly” so we didn’t really have too much fun. It’s been a common theme here, but both times we went due to having work confernces so that may have had something to do with it. We’re about to get a grandchild so maybe we will give it one more try with him or her some day, but the Disney experience wasn’t for our family when we tried it. I’m sure Blerk will flame me for saying that, but I just answered your question as honestly as I could.

Be prepared for sticker shock if you ever check into Disney.

We have cruised with them 4 times but none in probably the last 8-10 years.

7 day Caribbean cruises starting $2100pp for an inside cabin.

They were nowhere near those prices when we cruised with them or there would be no way we have ever gone on a Disney cruise.

Doesn't sound like Disney is your cup of tea. I think in your case that money could be better spent elsewhere but ya never know.:)

Bill

I really don't understand this person. This site is called cruise critic and he or she doesn't care about reviews. What is the point? I cruise all of the major lines pretty much (never disney, no thanks) and they all have positive and negative aspects, strengths and weaknesses if you will. Carnival doesn't do the steakhouse experience well, but they have the best MDR and I love the sushi. You'd think we have castrated his prized bull or something for saying something negative. Give me a break.

Bill

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If you don’t want to understand (or admit you understand) I can’t make you. ;)

Please I am not trying to be a smart arse and I would definitely admit it if I understood.

I'm trying to see what you are paying extra to subsidize the money withheld from the non tippers or pax who take their DSC's off.

NCL is not making you pay anything extra. The people that get hurt when pax do this aren't the fellow pax but the work staff.

Bill

Easy. Many of them do this not to “tip in person” or because service was bad (they do it during the first day when quality of service isn’t known yet), but just to save money. Some even brag about it and give advices to others.

 

So they don’t participate in paying for services they’ve received unlike people who don’t remove DSC (or autogratuities on other lines)

Bill

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It's their opinion, just like you have yours.

 

I for one don't like to subsidize cruises for people who remove tips just to save money.

 

On all lines, not only NCL. I sail with 8 (now 7)

Bill

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Server and bartender gratuities are different. Not everyone uses the MDR. Those who get the UBP pay 20% on it. I don't agree with those fees either, but that's another story.

 

Other examples in life where we don't "tip", but maybe should...

 

When I call an office and make an appointment for a service, why don't I give extra money to the receptionist who squeezed me in because I couldn't make it any other time?

When I see the street cleaner cleaning up garbage around my house, why don't I give him an extra $5 bucks because he spent a little more time around my driveway because it was a little more dirty?

When I'm on an airplane and I ask the stewardess to bring me a glass of water because I'm coughing, should I leave them extra cash too? They're not even allowed to accept extra money.

 

The list goes on and on. As a society, we pick and choose arbitrarily what professions should or should not be entitled to tips, and then within those professions, we feel it is our duty to determine the specific people doing specific jobs who should or should not be tipped.

 

Collectively, workers of the world are uniting and stopping the tipping economy in their own way. Each little action we take (such as withholding "D"SC) helps. Tipping is not the way an equitable society operates. It is not a fair way that society works.

So on your next few cruises coming up just tell the waitstaff, room steward, and the others you are stiffing the following:

"Listen I removed my DSC's but one day you'll see that I started a movement to get you fair wages but until that time comes I am sorry you are going to have to suffer with a little less money in your pay".

I don't see anybody having a problem with that.:rolleyes:

Bill

Curious how you got a special deal, as the steakhouse certainly wasn't $20 in May

 

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Not sure that poster was saying they paid $20. The way I read it I thought they meant it wasn't even worth $20 let alone $35.

I have been wrong many times so this could possibly be another one.:)

Bill

I'm due to set sale on my first cruise on Sept 30, and the Horizon reviews are starting to worry me. Does anyone have any advice on what to expect? Also is it really that bad? It's a brand new ship so I am shocked to see so many things this early on.

Enjoy your cruise[emoji1]

Bill

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Fortunately, the Eagles have a bye during our November 4 cruise on the Adventure, or we would all be quite unhappy to be missing one of our games! Won't stop us from flaunting all that super bowl attire we feverishly bought! ;)

Last year we were watching the Eagles Redskins game and a Redskins fan got quite upset with us and got a little nasty. LOL

Bill

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I got the answer....we were on St. Marteen last week and yes, there are taxis that will take passengers with mobility scooters to Holland House, no problem. Although, depending on who you deal with, the rates can differ...we were charged $8 each with scooters to Holland House but on our way back, the honest driver only charged us $3 each that's WITH our scooters, we appreciated his honesty so much that we ended up giving him $16 anyway, LOL!!!

 

Anyway, enjoy this beautiful island, they've recovered from hurricane Irma quite nicely.

 

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Glad it all worked out for you. How did you like HH? We will be in SXM in December. Not sure we are going back to HH. Going with another couple and they might want to do something different.

Bill

Has anyone ever heard of Carnival letting one person purchase the cheers program if there spouse cant drink do to allergies they allow it on RCCL as long as you buy the soda package for the second person?

You have to at least get the refreshment package which is 20 something dollars a day and you'll have to call RCL and plead your case. You cant purchase the two different packages online.

Bill

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If the Colts were playing, I'd have definitely been upset but maybe not as upset as my bff would! She is an Eagles fan by the way and I, for one, would not get in her way if she became upset!:eek: So, how upset were you and what did you say? Hopefully, that wasn't the SB when the Eagles won?!!!!

 

Probably not since it was a late game.

We hung around for karaoke and really enjoyed it and went every night for the rest of the week after that so it wasn't a bad thing at all.

Last year the Eagles played the Redskins and we got to see the whole game in the pub and this year while we are on the Jewel of the Seas the Eagles will be on playing the Cowgirls.

Bill

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Planning to watch the Super Bowl in On-Air on Oasis in February!! Go Colts!! Cheers!!:cool:

We were watching a football game in there one night when the shut it off because karaoke was scheduled in there at 11pm.

Don't know how often that happens but happened on our cruise.

On the Allure the sports bar sat empty except for 2 patrons when we cruised on her. They said they had no way to change what was on. They were showing a rerun of an old world series game.

They had the NFL game on in the pub across the way so no harm no foul as long as we got to see the game.

Decision as to where it was shown was kind of odd but I don't make the decisions on the ship. lol

Bill

it's on the 2nd formal night.

Don't see any cruise compasses with your itinerary so can't tell when the first formal is. Day 2 you are in Nassau but only til 3pm so it could possibly be on day 2 and day 3 you are at sea so could be that night.

Usually it's day 2 though but that usually a day at sea.

Have fun and enjoy your lobster.

Bill

Be sure to wear closed toe shoes that fasten (not slip ons, tennis shoes are best), or you can't ride the zip line.

if you don't have tennis shoes can you wear sneakers? :p

Bill

I think RCI was brilliant in designing Oasis Class. For the most part, they are very uncrowded. NCL, on the other hand, wasn't so brilliant. Escape was the most crowded ship I have ever sailed. Unfortunately, I think Carnival is going more the way of NCL's model with these new ships. Still a good time, but very chaotic. In the end, these mega ships seem to be a great business model.

Bill

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Sea days aren't boring to me. Those of us who remember the good old days before shopping malls, loyalty programs, and other nonsense, and why we love to cruise in the first place. Just looking at the ocean go by and losing track of what day it is. Beaches to me are boring. Give me the sea.

 

Others might have a constant need to be nurtured by cruise line activities, shows, etc. They can have them.

Bill

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Transatlantic cruises are great - just one boring sea day after another. Love it!

Let's see if I got this right?

A cruise ship is not a destination, just a convenient way to wake up somewhere different every day without having to pack and unpack and rush, but a TA with all those boring sea days one after the other you love?

Bill

I would say 30-45 mins. The problem is bingo is being held before a lot of the shows and the seats are already taken up. So if your not playing bingo you are stuck with the crappy seats. Will agree the shows were amazing.

It's a shame that the sight lines on these newer ships are not that good.

Bill