JimnKaren

Two times we were on ships that indicated a stop at Puerto Caldera and both times we ended up in Puntarenas. Not sure why.

You might want to look at the Ports of Call board to see if anyone has any insight on this.

Jim

One of the reasons that we moved to Florida from Illinois several years ago is that we would have an easy drive to several ports. Living a bit north of Tampa, we can get to Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral with an easy drive after breakfast at home. Being able to snag one of those last-minute cruises makes cruising reasonably priced.

As stated above, Princess has Drop and Go pricing (and some are really, really cheap) and has the military OBC. Holland America offers 10 best deals on their Web site. Some are more practical than others. And there are more. Spend a couple of hours looking at each cruise line's Web site and then contact your TA.

It is not always a 'Florida Resident' thing that makes the deal. Most (not all) cruise lines are willing to discount severely in those final weeks, they make more money on anyone in a cabin, rather than an empty cabin. Some deals are real quick and others are several weeks out.

Jim

I spent several hours touring USS Iowa (WWII battleship). An easy 5 minute walk from the terminal.

Jim

Pay attention to the times of sunrise and sunset. It will be getting dark by 6:30 p.m. in Juneau. Not much to see then.

Jim

Be aware that June will have the longest days and the shortest nights. If you are light sensitive, you might not enjoy something like this.

Jim

I have created a bull-eye type thing with my photo as the target. It is unique and it will generally create a big of laughter. Can you do something like that? Ya gotta be creative.

Alternately, lotto-type tickets are not expensive and just may create a bit of excitement.

Jim

We play doctor and nurse!

Jim

I am wondering...how many of you naysayers subscribe (print or online) to a daily newspaper?

Jim

That means I won't have my crosswords that I usually work on with my morning coffee! Oh No!

Jim

I think that Clo did a great job of explaining.

Think about your car...how much of the operating cost is petroleum vs. tire wear vs. windshield washer solution vs. oil (and changing it) vs. transmission expense. I cannot be broken down without a significant study by someone smarter than the average person.

And...welcome to Cruise Critic.

Jim

Rent a vehicle after doing lots of research and drive yourself around. Explore on your own. It is easy to do on all three islands.

Jim

OK...OK...chill out everyone.

I became Elite on Pacific Princess (2018) and am in a holding pattern. I am an older person (some might say an old f.rt), but I don't mind.

I have a significant hearing deficit and am a bit old fashioned. I have a neat stack of cards in my drawer from previous cruises. I am averse to some new things. Will/can Princes gimme a card? Or would I be stuck with one of those thing that I would have around my ankle as I walk around the ship? I don't like change (I have a rotary dial phone - with a closed captioning devise attached at home). Please make me feel good about this medallion thing!!!

Jim

"No difference in price from TA or Carnival" is appropriate...however, if using a TA (whether local or online) the money for the commission is shared into the community. That does not happen when one books directly with the cruise line. If you want to help the economy, use a TA. If you want to help CCL, then call them direct. As you stated, no difference in pricing.

Jim

I would offer to help keep you warm, but I have too many other obligations.

In 1966, the US Navy sent me to Maine (north of Bangor) having left San Diego. It was February and it was cold. When you will be there it will be cool (as expected), but that is during the evening. You will be there during the day. Will the sun be shining? Will it be cloudy and windy? You don't know. Pack just a little extra and be glad once you get back on the ship.

Jim

Many years ago we were on a Carnival cruise for New Year's Eve. 7 days and it was fun. We went then due to work schedules and such. We enjoyed ourselves so much on that cruise that we booked Carnival for New Years the following year. Had a blast. What amazed me was the way the crew were enjoying themselves on deck, too. We went to bed shortly after midnight and, as usual, I was up early. I got up on the open deck to see what was left of the confetti, etc. It was all gone. It was amazing how well the crew did in cleaning up that once-a-year party. Multi-generational groups were there. It was great.

Jim

I gotta agree with itinerary as the deciding factor. Once you are out in the Atlantic, it does not matter which ship you are on. So, the ports of call at either end can make a difference. Sure, money can mean a lot, but if you are in a port at the wrong time for too long (or not long enough), then it doesn't matter.

We have crossed on Princess and Holland America. Similar demographics as to the passengers. Celebrity is good, but I am spoiled because other cruise lines have a tendency to discount their fares during the last few weeks. Celebrity does not. I live in Florida and can make it to many ports easily. Not the same if you live in the middle Atlantic states.

Keep an open mind (after reading a bunch of posts) and then talk it through.

Jim

Zaandam this spring had a solo piano player during the dinner hours. He was good; but no one danced. It was cocktail time. Later - 8:45 or so (right after the first show in the lounge) a musical trio plus vocalist did about three 45-minute sets. More dancing then.

It used to be the Neptunes (OMG - remember them?). Some trios were better than others. Some would grant requests and others looked at you like nutso. I don't know who makes the decisions on those things. Consistency should be the rule. It isn't.

Ocean Bar will always be a better spot for us rather the "The Mix" or "The Crow's Nest" venues. Once, several years ago, when we boarded and sat in the Ocean Bar as we sailed away, a bar server came up and said, "You want you usuals?" Oh my, Mark remembered us before we had a chance to really see him. One of the great things about HAL voyages!

Jim

We used to live in Illinois. We had to fly all the time to get on a ship. The cat and Karen disliked the winter weather and said to moi, move south. We now live on the Gulf side of Florida. Last minute cruise? Yep. Tampa is one hour away; FLL and MIA are 4.5 hours away, Port Canaveral is 3 hours away. Never been to Jacksonville, but that would be about 4.5 hours. If it is a long cruise, we rent a car (using AARP discount) each way. If 10 days or shorter, we'll park near the pier.

We used to do the inside cabins, but found that we overslept too often. Now it is ocean view with an occasional balcony/verandah. We always book with our Travel Agent, we keep the money in the community that way.

Jim

Our sailaway for our 51-day Tales of the South Pacific is set for 11:00 p.m. I will assume that muster drill will be about 4:30 or so. We will arrive in San Diego a few days early to enjoy the town. It is an option to eat on shore that evening or dine on the ship. If we dine on the ship and order a bottle of wine from the list, my question was whether that would be taxed at the California rate. In Ft. Lauderdale, that is the way it is done - that went into effect a few years ago. Those sailaway drinks got to be a bit more expensive with the 6% tax added.

Jim

So, you leave Barcelona in the evening. What is there to see? Would you really be standing in your cabin next to a window? On a sea day, what is there to see? Would you really be standing in your cabin next to a window?

We moved from inside to ocean view (often with a life boat out there and cannot see anything anyway) to get some natural light in the cabin. We discovered that with no window, we had a tendency to stay in bed longer, you get some of the reverse when far north Alaska itineraries in the summer when the sun sets real late and comes up real early. That makes for a short night!!

Jim

Gotta go with the demographics. Older is more sedate. Older has a bit more money to spend on a cruise. A more expensive cruise will reduce the number of 'casual' cruise passengers. I gotta agree with LHT28.

Jim

Thanks all. That tax stuff would make a $55 bottle of wine a bit more expensive. I'll take one of our carry on wines to dinner.

Jim

Lots of discussion about this in our house. At the end of October, we board Amsterdam for 51-day Tales of the South Pacific. We are 4-star, so we get discounts on the packages and those are good prices. However, on a long cruise as what we'll be on, we are going to bring a case on with us. I'll pay the corkage and drink them in places other than the MDR. I am just not sure whether one case, plus a package, plus our two free carry-ons will be enough. Maybe two cases!!

Jim

We have been on both ships. We have done the trip from Boston. Great ships - both of them. Really neat ports of call.

What you might want to look into is the cost of getting to and from your home. For instance, a flight from Montreal might not have decent connections; whereas something getting to Montreal could be easier. You might consider (if you have the time) renting a car from your home town and drive to Montreal, turn in the car and then cruise to Boston. A flight back to Pittsburgh International should be easy. Compare and contrast (just like the art historians preach).

Jim

Sometimes...the folks in Seattle don't understand what customer service can be. We had an "issue" on Zuiderdam a couple of years ago and I contacted guest services and got nothing. I then wrote a letter directly to the Office of the President of Holland America Lines...and waited.

I got a wonderful personal, 2-page response and a very nice free incentive for our next Holland America cruise. I encourage you to write directly to the Office of the President and describe as you did here what happened and the response (or lack of one) you received.

Without demanding anything, a nice letter just might get you something that you might not expect. Good luck.

Jim