Oakman58

The birdseed burglar has become brazen in her behavior.

23 hours ago, PayneAS said:

I was embarking when you were disembarking. And with the Mardi Gras parade (and apparently some state holiday that day) it was utter chaos in the port area. It was the first time I ever just wanted to turn around and go home and not even bother going on a cruise. 

You mentioned the varnish smell and I smelled it too. For my cruise it was in that lovely Jungle area unfortunately. 

Thanks for the review!

Yes, Mardi Gras is crazy in Mobile and New Orleans.  Apparently those two cities make Mardi Gras a month long celebration every weekend.

The day after we had that strong varnish smell, I saw crewmen varnishing the rails on some balcony cabins.  Perhaps that was the source of the odor for us, or not?

I really didn't care for the design of the Epic.  I would choose the Breakaway if for no other reason than the size of the balcony cabins.  The Epic has slightly smaller balcony cabins but feels even smaller because of the wave wall design.

14 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Does it matter which direction I face?  🤣

 

(jk) I have some very good friends that sail in the Haven regularly.  🐀🐀  If it's worth it to them, and they gain more enjoyment, then I'm happy for them.  Since we're friends, they can make fun of me in steerage (they don't) and I can make fun of them in the Haven (I don't).  That doesn't mean that I still can't be amused by the elite parade coming through.  That's just fun for everybody (likely for different reasons 🤣)

Many years ago, we were cruising with my sister and her husband who were in a suite on the star on a Panama Canal cruise. One evening while we were having a drink with them in a bar their concierge happened by and began talking to them.  My brother-in-law introduced us, and the concierge completely ignored us, didn't even acknowledge us.  Apparently we were nothing more than flotsam and jetsam to the concierge.  It happened a second time while the four of us were on the Lido deck only this time the concierge made a point of having her back to us.  For the rest of the cruise the four of us joked about me and my wife being the lowly trash on the ship.

My wife always enjoyed cruising, but I didn’t truly get hooked until we took our first cruise with NCL which was a full transit of the Panama Canal.  Everything, crew, food, service, and entertainment was 5 star in my book.  Then a few years later NCL introduced Free at Sea (perhaps it was called something different back then) which included not only the drinks but also the gratuities.  That got me hooked on NCL.  That was NCL’s peak as far as I’m concerned.  Shortly after that the cutbacks began and continued and continued.

After taking an outstanding Alaskan cruise with Holland and we followed that with a less than stellar cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Bliss in 2021, we decided it was time to try other cruise lines.  We found that currently, we enjoy Royal Caribbean, Holland, and Carnival more than NCL.  Our Hawaiian cruise with Princess sucked and we swore we would never book with Princess again.

We do have a New England/Canada cruise booked with the NCL Breakaway this October so this will be their chance to impress us.  The only reason I booked this cruise was the ports of call and the price.

After our New England cruise, we have our 50th anniversary cruise in November with Royal Caribbean.  We also have a January Mexican Riviera cruise on Princess.  Our previous cruise with Princess was so lousy we decided to give them a second chance and the price was right to do so.

We also have a 15 day Panama Canal cruise in March with Carnival. This should be interesting because Carnival only does PC cruises for repositioning, so they don’t have many port stops.  Not including the day we transit the PC, this cruise will have 10 sea days.

On 6/8/2024 at 4:28 AM, chengkp75 said:

Of course, I've been to Portland Head many times, having lived here for over 40 years, but my special sight is to see it from offshore.  Get up at least an hour before arrival time in Portland, and get out on deck (port side), and you will get a unique photo opportunity to see the lighthouse as mariners see it, with the rocky shore all around it.  While Fort Williams park is nice, I can think of other things to do here in Portland, than take a bus back and forth just to see the park.  You will also get an even closer view of Bug Light from the ship as she comes in to dock.  

 

 

Thanks for the heads up about seeing the lighthouses from the ship. My cabin is on the port side so I'm hoping to get some nice photos of them.

I quit going to the Latitudes Party, it's nothing more than a sales presentation IMO.

If you are doing a one and done, then be sure to pick a cruise that does Glacier Bay National Park.

BTW, Holland began Alaska cruises in 1967 and Princess began 1969.

Bring a good pair of binoculars that are fog proof and waterproof.

There was a hawk on the roof of a house down the block from us that was being harassed by a mockingbird.  By the time I had my camera in hand I was only able to get two quick shots of the hawk before he flew off.  You can see the meal in his talons.

Finally, they fixed the problem with accessing excursions.  I have to say, many of the cruise lines have crappy IT departments not just Princess.

15 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

Deluxe balconies have a loveseat and small coffee table and standard balconies only have one desk chair.  I would never book a standard balcony.  

I booked a standard balcony on the Discovery for January and I'm going to ask the room steward if he can bring me another chair.  It never hurts to ask.

Accessing shore excursions is ridiculous.  Princess needs to correct the issue.  Right click, ctrl key, use a different browser, how incredibly screwed up.

48 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

If I, @Rocketman275, understood, then everyone should have.  

Actually I thought it was just a troll post.

4 minutes ago, wolfie11 said:

Bait and switch seems to be the new norm at NCL.

So true!

4 hours ago, antmaril said:

I have been struggling with this question.  My friend and I are cruising to Alaska on the Discovery Princess out of Seattle next August (2025).  I offered to pay for the cruise if she pays for her airfare and excursions.  She accepted.  😁.  I have been to Alaska twice, including Glacier Bay, but this is her first trip.  Of course, GB is spectacular.  The cruise I have booked for us does not include GB, but rather, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.  There is a pretty significant difference in the cost of these two cruises.  Since I am paying for both of us, I chose the more cost effective cruise.  
 

What do you folks think?  Will it be okay?

 

 

Just because it doesn't include GB doesn't mean it won't be a fantastic cruise.  She can always pay for her own cruise some other time/year that includes Glacier Bay.
 

23 hours ago, SPNJHockey said:

We were on that 10-12-24 itinerary, and got no good explanation.  After finally "Googling," I got the scoop on why.  I cancelled the Princess trip yesterday and began looking at the Crystal Serenity itineraries since its capacity is 740 passengers.  And, like you, Bar Harbor was the purpose of the trip.  BTW...Sydney Nova Scotia??? Don't think so.

You might look at cruises on the NCL Breakaway.  Most of them (not all) in September and October will be making the Bar Harbor Port of Call.  NCL scheduled Bar Harbor before November 2022 so the port is allowing them to call.

The odds of anyone winning more than $50 in Deal or no Deal are very high so winning a cruise the odds must be ridiculously high.  I'm glad to hear it's actually possible to win a cruise.

It's been years since I've been on the Epic so my info is based on that.  If you booked the cruise using the Free at Sea then you have free minutes of Internet.  You can go to the Internet Cafe on deck 5 and use their computers to access the activities you booked and print them out.  The cost years ago was 50 cents per sheet.

If my info is outdated I'm sure someone will correct me.

We usually go to Deal or No Deal just to watch but not play.  

I'm totally with you on elevators and scooters.  It seems like there are more and more scooters on ships each year.  I think a lot of people have decided having a scooter is the easiest way to get around on a ship, regardless of whether or not they actually need one.

My opinion of course, for Alaska go with a bridge camera with a long optical zoom lens.  I have a canon powershot SX540 which I'm very happy with. I believe the current model of my camera is the SX70 HS and Walmart has it online for just under $600.

Cell phones mostly a use digital zoom for distance pics which reduces image quality. Compact cameras don't have the super long optical zoom lens.  If you like the Panasonic FZ300 then buy it and don't second guess yourself.

I hope when you received your Carnival email asking for your review you mentioned your terrible experience in JiJi including names.  I think I would also contact John Heald and mention that experience.

16 hours ago, Bestofthe last said:

Just notified by Princess that the stop at Bar Harbor for the Enchanted Princess September 21, 2024 cruise will be changed to a sea day. A bummer. Do not want another sea day on a 7 day cruise to New England. Also, Bar Harbor was the reason we booked this cruise.   Have until June 23, 2024 to decide to continue or cancel.

I would cancel and book on a ship that will be making the port at Bar Harbor.  Cruise ships that booked Bar Harbor before November 2022 will be allowed this year.  

I'm looking forward to the rest of your story.

7 hours ago, mitsugirly said:

 

 You can't force someone to take something if they don't want to...no more than we forced him to do this dive. I would hardly say he went through a lot to please my daughter. Actually, totally the opposite...she decided not to do the second dive to please him and missed out. He only did what HE wanted to do/try and said he will try it again. 😉 I just don't think it was the best circumstance  for his first try (I had no idea what it was going to be like since we've never been there before). 

I don’t think you understand the machismo of a young man in not wanting to look like he’s a wimp to his girlfriend’s adventurous family.  Seasick pills for him?  Naaaa, he says. Now think of him mentally making guttural sounds similar to what Tim Allen did on the Home Improvement show.

Want to go scuba diving?  Sure!  Him making those same mental guttural sounds.  As I read your report my first thought was, he has a fear of deep water and didn’t want anyone to know, hence the panic attack.

Of course Karl’s biggest sacrifice to be with your daughter, being confined in a 185 square foot cabin with HER parents for 8 nights. LOL!

I’ve been enjoying your report and pictures.