Kiran

As above poster said:If your budget permits I really recommend two cabins. 

When we took our kids on 30th anniversary cruise we booked two obstructed view balconies next to each other and could close an outer door so two interior cabin doors could be left open and we could talk and walk back and forth between cabins. This was Celebrity Silhouette 10 years ago

Thank you!

I was hesitating on some things but sale made me buy

After my two cruises in March i need 53 for for Elite, so just one 10 Day cruise in Concierge or Aquaclass will give  me 50. 

So I too was hoping for 3 CC points. Yeah for 5!

Paid most attention to perfect Day as Island was overwhelming in my one trip there. Thought that the showcasing at end of Back to Back cruises that didn't repeat was interesting. I have only done Caribbean/Mexico/Alaska/Bermuda so far but only 62 so still time to go a little farther.

We had been to Alaska (Anchorage) once and visited Denali including the Long Bus ride inside option.

So when it came to a cruise I chose a HAL 14 Day RT out of Seattle because it had 10 different ports.

We did only 2 excursions, a boat ride close up to a Glacier and a sled dog excursion on wheels as we went in August.

My Choice would be the 28Day cruise out of Seattle on HAL Westerdam!

Not central Alaska but:

Norwegian Spririt 16 day Alaska and the Hawaii departing Vancouver 8/30 saves the airfare to Hawaii

I am skipping balcony for more cruise time in Alaska myself

Balcony worth it when traveling with my elderly Mom as she could sightsee while in her nightgown and a cup of tea at hand

Drink package not worth it for me either

port fees and taxes add a lot to the bare fares

Many options 

Good Luck!

Old San Juan Best Kept Secrets Tour  Has any one taken this tour?

It is offered through Air B n B . Experiences.

My daughter is very interested in this particular tour.

We went to Cartagena January 2020 on a Panama Canal Tour.

We had signed up for an excursion to Emerald Jewelry making workshop. But sister went to a different elevator with Mom in mobility scooter than i did and we missed our tour bus.

We went out and there were people offering Taxi guided tours. I hired a car with driver and guide to just take us to workshop making clear that was what i wanted. Guide tried to talk us into ditching our excursion and doing a city taxi tour with him. He was pressuring us. Sister noticed we were swinging way wide of destination. We are getting a little panicky.(detour was for Bay of water). We did get to jewelry workshop and thoroughly enjoyed workshop, museum, and store. A apprentice jewelry maker helped tour people make 3 pieces of jewelry, with a real but very low quality Emerald rock and silver wire. One piece of our choosing was free. If we wanted to buy our second two pieces it cost more money but very reasonable.

As for security:

The taxi had to register it destination before leaving the port and register when it reached the destination. This registration was one or two people at a counter with radios or walkie -talkies and papers. So it seemed taxis were under tight oversight.

The guide remarked on a tourist couple on their own with the man having a big expensive camera hanging in front of him. Guide said that was dangerous to be such a tempting target for robbery.

They often offer 5 minute taster massages so you can get a mini taste of style of Massage staff.

My biggest disappointment was a 90 minute massage on Disney 12 years ago when I requested a staff person who could give a really intense deep tissue massage. The lady assured me she herself could do it but she was lying. I kept waiting for the massage to start. I should have asked the recommendation of Spa Manager.

Didn't book another Spa service until last year. I tried a taster 5 minute massage and then booked with that lady. My massage experiences were so incredibly much better than i booked 8 treatments in 2 weeks of cruising, 3 with her and 5 with another staffer who combined Theragun massager with directed stretches. Fantastic!

There are land based LPC  , some short run at hotels and their quality uneven,

The land based sometimes show vegetarian and child menu options.

Le Petit Chef & Friends is a cooking competition with a different chef each course

Tomato salad, truffle ravioli, steak frites, matcha cake

alternate: onion soup, sea bass, chicken breast, sorbet

Le Petit Chef & Family has him growing up and marrying

pea soup, crab farfalle, filet, fudge brownie

alternate: lamb asparagus salad, duck breast, halibut, cherry almond cake

This is the dinner where my daughter exclaimed "This isn't Disney, I hope they don't kill the Bunny!"

The food is pretty good but the experience is great if you enjoy technology such as 3-D movies.

It is very amusing and brought a smile to my Mom's face at 91.

Le Petit Chef  Bouillabaise, half lobster, filet ,ice cream sundae

                     Alternate Onion soup, sea bass, chicken breast, sorbet

Le petit Chef and Friends 

Le Petit Chef and Family

Are the three I enjoyed on the Equinox May 2022

But someone posted a video of a different show this week

I bid and won my Move up  bid to a Family Veranda Dec. 2 for a Jan 13th cruise.

I had bid $410 pp on a 10 day Constellation cruise, moving up from an inside cabin.

They might look at moveup bids before releasing Family Veranda but just a guess on my part

I would recommend getting a full face mask as it makes snorkeling so much easier.

I suggest discussing with Steve Dasseos of The Trip Insurance Store if anything possible 

in the same situation i insured trip for costs excluding FCC to provide coverage just  in case i got Covid.

FCC for two people was less than $2,000 total so if we had to cancel it would have stung to lose money but Covid medical expenses could be a potential nightmare if complications

I bring a washable bed pad as a protection for the mattress whether hotel or cruise

so their mattress / some with protective casing

My washable bed pad 

sheet

disposable bed pads

You force me to admit that on our precruise stay at the Mark Hopkins, i did ask the front desk to pass on a ten dollar bill to the plumbing worker for unclogging our toilet.

There are certain things  i  am really grateful for , and a working toilet is one of them

11 hours ago, Charleyben said:

…but I always seek out the more deserving.  Those staff who maintain the plumbing , ….receive my appreciation.

On 5/9/2022 at 9:40 AM, Guppy99 said:

 

These are just a few issues with drugs being prophylactically prescribed.  I'm not saying there are not specific situations where it is warranted, but they are few and far between. A drug that is not universally approved and given only under tested circumstances with known medical histories should never be in that group.

 

I agree

But when I am are one of those atypical asthma individuals, it is a good idea for me to ask my Pulmonologist what he would recommend for me, prior to me going on my next cruise

2 hours ago, Kiran said:

We had a terrible time on April 2nd cruise  both hardware (cabin tv), internet connection lost a lot, user error (me) and nonintuitive options

 

the request for pick up of room service tray appeared under stateroom amenities

 

 

Now it us a piece of cake in second medallion cruise  with a working cabin tv

15 minutes ago, minnesotasisu said:

I do read a lot of opinions about the Medallion but I suspect that those who are having issues are the ones posting negative comments. For many of us, we have no issues with the Medallion and love it for a variety of reasons. However, reviews are typically based on negative comments and those who love it don't post much if any reviews.

We had a terrible time on April 2nd cruise  both hardware (cabin tv), internet connection lost a lot, user error (me) and nonintuitive options

the request for pick up of room service tray appeared under stateroom amenities

Prices have been ridiculously low at times.

The people who plan their cruising 2 years in advance for the cruise line, ship  , cabin and the itinerary seemed to be the ones cancelling when Omicron reared up in January. The planners were faced with uncertainty and so better to cancel now and rebook when know what to expect.

I would guess that the guests willing to pay a premium  price for a premium experience, are cancelling as experience subject to stress of figuring out how to use emed/Navica, reductions in services due to Covid, far less socializing and socializing a bit strained.

so , “price destruction”

I am benefitting with being able to afford and space to book, 7 weeks of cruising in April and May of 2023.  2 weeks will be on the Equinox starting May 15th.

Inside cabin but still so glad to be aboard.

I was impressed by Celebrity cruiseline, that they would choose as Godmother, such a spectacular young woman.

6 hours ago, caribill said:

 

From a recent brochure:

 

Live like the VIP you are

 

Doors unlock for you. Anything you need - a burger, a jacket, sunscreen - finds you. And everything seems to be just how you like it. Get the Medallion Class® treatment, only with Princess.

 

 

At beginning of cruise we needed to press medallion to surface of door screen

as of  two days ago, the cabin door unlocks when i am near

1 hour ago, cltnccruisers said:

I appreciate the shot but please don't spend a lot of time on it.  I don't smoke but I do like the smell of a good cigar and a nice bourbon so if Churchill's turns out to be the spot it will be OK with me. 

 

Thanks again for the Canal experience.  I still hope to do it up close and personal but if I can't this was the next best thing.  😀

Spoke to Guest Services

when i asked if there was a sports  bar onboards, she told me yes, that is was Churchills

I asked if Churchill's still a smoking allowed place and she said yes

i asked if there was another sports bar , and  she said yes, that in the casino they have screens

again a smoking permissible place

then i asked what about a big sports  event , might it be played on MUTs?

she said it would have to be a major sports event to be played on MUTs

i asked “like the superbowl?”

and she said “yes, like the superbowl”