rkacruiser

Thanks for the map. That is something that I never found in 2020 when I sailed from Miami. If that trolley existed. My opinion: to make the trolley really useful for a cruise guest, there needs to be more than 4 stops. There is quite a distance and a few terminals between the RCI terminal and the one shown at the most Western end of Dodge Island.

My January, 2020 cruise on the Eurodam was a booking after the final payment date when I learned friends would be aboard and I would be in Florida after disembarking another cruise. A veranda cabin in the category that I desired was available and the price was acceptable. Worked well. A few years before, I booked my desired veranda cabin. As sailing date approached, I was offered an upgrade (for a reasonable cost) to a Signature Suite. 48 hours before sailing, my phone rang with the news from my travel agent that I was offered another reasonable cost upgrade to a Neptune Suite. I took it. As 5 Star Mariner, HAL had never offered me such opportunities. One never knows what "may be in the cards" as far as booking a cruise.

Never sailed on S. S. France or Norway, but, agree that the France was a beautiful ship. My family visited her in New York prior to a Midnight trans-Atlantic sailing. I made a point of getting us to visit both Dining Rooms as well as the Tourist Class indoor pool. The decor/ceiling of the First Class Dining Room was magnificent. Modern, yet, understated and refined. I bought something from a staff member in the First Class Library, but, don't recall what it was and no longer have it. Deck of cards? Postcards? Most likely as a poor college student at the time.

I think the previous poster was referring to guest relations ashore, not onboard. You are correct that requesting the benefit needs to be done in advance of the cruise. Regarding the posters comment about using RCI's shareholder benefit was a better experience: that is not my experience. Trying to use it for a cruise on Celebrity Eclipse was not as easy to get it applied to my account than it had been for cruises on Carnival, Princess, or HAL.

Sailing year round from NYC by Meraviglia; I hope that is so. But, MSC has said pre-Covid that a "certain ship" would be sailing "year round" from a particular port only to have their plans change. Winter time cruises to the Caribbean from NYC in a YC suite such as I had on Deck 15 on the Meraviglia might prove to be "interesting" as to the ride. One afternoon and early evening after departing Belize, it was very windy. Winter on the North Atlantic can offer a different type of cruise experience. Agree that a Manhattan sailaway is a more interesting beginning to a cruise. Is the ease of getting to the Brooklyn terminal the most important disadvantage to sailing from there?

It is above the Bridge. Impact of the entertainment on the Bridge below? Doubt that there is a serious issue with whatever entertainment is offered. On nights (late) when I attended the BB King's group performances in the Crow's Nest on Rotterdam VI, the Hotel Director and the Captain's wife were sitting at the Bar enjoying the entertainment.

If Noordam is allowed to return to Down Under cruising after the Alaska season, it may be a long time before we see her in Port Everglades again.

Don't be too hard on your DW. This extra charge has been in place for awhile. Plus, have you priced seafood at your local grocery store recently?

This reminds me of the Seadream Yacht Club ships when they first began. Ritz-Carlton, if it succeeds, will appeal to a niche market just as Seadream does. Marriott has been rather successful with that business model. Why not try the world of cruising with a Marriott brand?

Not surprising to me. Since this will be her first cruise in two years, and with how many new crew members in all Departments, it's important that as many as can are "on the same page" when it comes to what needs to be accomplished for sailing.

A vote for a return to those days of yore! I will add that I enjoyed such an experience in the Crow's Nest at that same time as well. Maybe not a band, but, a solo guitarist/vocalist? On the Noordam, I had that experience once and my traveling companion and I enjoyed that. My experience as well. When both are good performers, it's an enjoyable entertainment experience. Allowing guests to provide suggestions for songs to be played/sung/and for singalongs adds to the experience. Not all seem to be willing (or able?) to do this. From a musical entertainment perspective, the one that I have most recently really found to be "HAL Different" was the Rolling Stone Rock Room on the Nieuw Statendam. The group was very good; guests were dancing; the vibe was "HAL Different". One downside, however, the group's play list was limited. Night after night, we heard many of the same songs. Now, I like hearing and singing to Rolling on the River. But, I think the music catalog for songs of that type is a just a bit larger than this one (as well as others that I heard frequently during that cruise).

The Seattle "suits" have never figured out how to use the Crow's Nest during the late afternoon-evening hours. I have lost track of how many different uses that this valuable piece of cruise ship real estate has experienced. All offered good entertainment, sometimes low-key--sometimes not when a BB King's Group performed there on my Rotterdam VI cruise. Entertainment at MIX was the same. Good concepts do seem to arise from time to time in the Seattle Headquarters. But, either they are not well thought through or.......?

Thank you for the information! And, by all means, don't miss Happy Hour! Bon Voyage!

My best guess is that your ship will be at anchor and you will be tendering. On what ship will you be sailing?

Is that when she will start her repositioning to Boston for the New England/Canada season? Yes! I hope there will be someone on this first cruise that will post the embarkation/welcoming experience that they received by the crew.

And, informative as well as being entertaining!

That is a reasonable price to pay, I think. Do you know what hotel you will be using? If I recall accurately, due to traffic delays en route to Agra, my tour arrived at the Taj in the afternoon. I don't recall heat/humidity to be an issue for me (and I am sensitive to such). Be prepared for many people in the Mausoleum itself, but, the plaza around the building and the grounds can easily accommodate many people and they were not crowded. One must remove your shoes before entering the Mausoleum; then, they will a part of dozens and dozens of other shoes. I was concerned about whether I would find mine after leaving the building; I did. I was 65 when I did this trip and was in significantly better physical condition than I now am at 78. It would be most unwise for me to try this kind of an excursion again.

Not for sure. The information that I have is not that detailed as to what new guest enhancements will be available.

It is beautiful! 100% agree. If so, I stand corrected from my previous post. I don't remember visiting this port, but, I do remember the cliff divers

Recently read a report of a person that used their bath towels several times who developed Ringworm as a result. Or, at least, that is what the person's doctor diagnosed was the reason.

If by doing so, that will make you feel more comfortable in traveling, good. Not all of us, as I am sure you understand, feel the same way and for reasons that may be different from yours.

I don't know any details about the tour to the Taj nor your situation. But, I am so very glad that I made the effort and spent the money to do a land tour in India as part of my world cruise. My tour included flights from Chennai to New Delhi, tours of New Delhi, bus trip and tour to Jaipur, bus trip and a tour to Agra, an afternoon visit to the Taj as well as one the next morning (if one wished), bus/tours back to New Delhi and a flight to Mumbai to rejoin the Amsterdam. I did not take the morning tour to visit the Taj again; my hotel room overlooked the Taj and I could watch the changing of its colors as the Sun rose. It was a truly memorable journey!

If Anthem of the Seas docks at the new Royal Caribbean terminal, it would be a very long and congested with people and traffic walk to get to the Bayside Marketplace. Your idea of trying to get a trolley and visit Little Havana. During my one time sail from/to Miami, I never saw such a trolley, however.

Was there any mention as to what ship would be sailing from New York? Like you, I enjoy the Yacht Club experience.

So what? If one is a buy and hold investor, we have learned that what goes up will come down and go up and go..... If one can not withstand such a scenario, then one ought to move their money to a bank's savings account that pays 0.03% or less. But, it will be FDIC insured if that will help you sleep better.