rkacruiser

Safe travel and I hope you will comment on your Auto Train journey.  Dining for dinner and breakfast:  if you have used the Auto Train in the past, is it the same or different?  Is the Lounge Car staffed?  

1 hour ago, Jimbo59 said:

Celebrity Edge class ships are different than HAL ships.
The Infinite Veranda (IV) on Edge class ships is not a veranda cabin. It is an ocean view cabin with a window that can be opened halfway down (sometimes). We are on the Beyond now and the Management closes the window frequently without any notice. There is never an announcement that the window can be reopened.

Thanks for posting this information.  Without trying this Class of ships, I know that I would dislike that type of stateroom very, very much.  

38 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

This does depend on who the regulator is, and also on any airline-specific policies.

In your opinion, is the position of the window shades during take-off or landing a potential safety issue?  

3 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

But if you are lucky, MSC will show their short version of La Traviata or another highlight from this category. Only one time, no second chance, be aware of! Much better singers than ANYWHERE else,

I must emphasize this posters comments.  Excellent, abbreviated opera presentations that I have never experienced on any other cruise line with the male and female leads having excellent opera quality voices.  Staging matched the story line very well.

I felt the shows in the main theater of Meraviglia to be the best that a I have seen and reminded me of the kinds of stage productions that were the norm years ago.

Individual music groups in the various lounges were all good to very good.  The one music group that I grew "weary" of hearing was the performers in the YC Top Sail Lounge,  They lacked any "wow" factor in their performances.  

15 minutes ago, brittany12 said:

There is no comparison of a fancy resort lavish buffet for breakfast or brunch

Agree.  When the buffet's are done well, they are a joy to behold and from which to dine.  Cruise lines, once upon a time, could do this well until the long arms of USPH became involved.  

32 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I also don't prefer the galley lunch which looks to me that the kitchen has thrown everything they have out to serve. 

I would like to have the opportunity to try this.  Some cruises on which I have sailed has offered special gourmet dinners/wine pairings that began with hors d'oeuvres in the Galley with glasses of Champagne.  A different way to begin a special dinner and perfectly acceptable to me.  

6 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 I have written that California travel agent (with whom I have previously communicated with by email) and have received nothing back from him.  That tells me lots!!  Right or wrong?  

Your experience reinforces my opinion.  

6 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Oh, a loss of $365 million is kind of like one-third of a BILLION DOLLARS??  And, this is just in one quarter with the ships being some closer to full??

Pricing has to improve for such losses to cease.  

6 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Is this a good time for stock investing?  

Not in a cruise line.  Yet, the data that I have seen indicate that there is significant amounts of income sitting in some people's bank accounts that could be used.  

Another poster on a different Forum of CC provided some surprising news.  Former Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald has resigned from his position as a member of CCL's Board of Directors.  (No reason was given in the news release.)  He hasn't been retired from CCL for very long.  

18 hours ago, MHF said:

The inconsistency is worrisome

Silverseas is among other cruise lines that are afflicted by this situation.  Consistent inconsistency of one's cruise experience is now, unfortunately, to be expected.  And, it was present pre-Covid.  

16 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

We have some flights coming up in business class (have hardly ever done this except for a few times over the years). Not sure - based on some of the configurations -

I have flown on several Business Class flights with both aisle and seats in the center of the plane.  Aisle seats (single seats) are what I prefer and I have control of the window shades.  If the plane's configuration is 2-2-2, than the second seat on the aisle is dependent on what the window seat's occupant does regarding the shades.  (This seating configuration is not one I like and try to avoid flights that have that.)  If the seating configuration is 1-2-1, the 2 seats in the middle section are dependent on whether the passengers in the aisle seats keep their shades up or down.  Even if they are up, the view from the two middle seats is limited.  

54 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

The point of this is to get the inside of the aircraft as close as possible to the outside of the aircraft when it comes to lighting conditions. That way, should you need to evacuate, your vision is as close as possible to the exterior lighting conditions and, thus, have minimal need for you to "adjust" as you try to get away from the aircraft. 

Thank you very much for this explanation.  It makes sense.  

55 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

Regarding window shades - I will say that, in the vast majority of times I fly (which is a lot), the flight attendants are still very adamant about making sure shades are open for takeoff and landing. 

11 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Didn't happen on a single one of my flights during the past week - all with either Delta or United. They were closed from the time we boarded and stayed that way (except for those few, like myself, who opened them). It was very weird and unexpected. 

I don't fly as often as Zach1213, but, my most recent experiences have been such as OnTheJourney's.  I have never observed a Flight Attendant ask a passenger to raise their window shade before take-off or before landing.  

53 minutes ago, SLSD said:

But even more than that, I like the ambience provided by a curated menu and being served at a table.  I do not like schlepping through a line and choosing from many incongruent offerings

While I also preferred ordering from a menu, when I do dine at a buffet, on land or at sea, before I get a plate, I survey the offerings and get an idea as to what I am going to choose.  On ships that are very large, such as Princess' Royal Class ships, their Lido Restaurant is so large with so many serving lines, I can become frustrated because I forget where what I wanted was in which line.  

Park at the Port is my recommendation.  

6 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Also, what about onboard experience for solos?  I've read discussions on the HAL board where it seems solo cruisers have had mostly good experiences

A world cruise is just an extended shorter cruise for me as a solo cruiser.  The longer one is on the ship, the more people one meets and interact with--and maybe even become friends.  The crew will get to know you and you will get to know the crew and that can improve the already good service.  

The society on a world cruise is much like society on land.  When one is around the same people for an extended time, expect to find some that you care not to associate.  That is not difficult to do.  Seated at a fixed dining table where your tablemates are not people you care to dine with for 100+ days, get your table changed.  This can be done in a non-embarrassing manner for both your tablemates and yourself.  "I have made some friends who have invited me to join them for dinner."  Doing something like that leaves no "hard feelings".  

Maybe form a trivia team and play a few games of trivia.  It's hard not to talk during trivia!  

OP, I agree with your desire to have some daylight in the plane's cabin and to be able to look out the window--even on both sides of the plane.  In case of an accident, having as much interior light as possible would be desirable and also, in case of a fire on one side of the plane, with the window shades down, that would hinder the passengers information as to which side is safer to try to leave the plane.  

Something that I have never understood is why the cabin lights are turned off when the plane takes off and lands.  What's the point of that?  

2 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

In 1969 I sailed from NYC to Sydney, Australia on a 12-passenger German cargo ship.

You did what I had considered doing before I retired for a very long time.  I subscribed to a newsletter that morphed into a small magazine made a travel agency that specialized in this type of cruising.  They would publish reports of their members and that only made me more interested.  But, then, when I retired, I was so hooked on non-freighter cruising, that I gave up on that idea.  I do think I missed a travel adventure.  

On 11/1/2022 at 1:21 AM, Crew News said:

It must be noted that the NS dining managers and hosts rotate to other restaurants during their contract .  The PG service on my second week aboard was reported to be much better under new management.

I have become aware that the Maitre d' for the Lido Restaurant and the MDR did rotate from cruise to cruise, but not aware that such extended to the PG.  That's a negative, I think.  The Stewards need consistent management and directions to provide the quality of experience that PG guests expect.  Maybe that is why my PG experiences have varied so much.  

Not inexpensive to do, but very convenient with an excellent connection:  use the phone in your stateroom to make a ship to shore phone call.  I have done this 3 times and have been pleased with the convenience and the connection quality.  

8 hours ago, JAGR said:

the complete separation of the YC restaurant from the Top Sail Lounge.  I prefer having the restaurant open to the lounge like on the Seaside class. 

An excellent and balanced review!  Thanks for posting it.  Have not sailed on the Seaside Class ships, but, I liked the way the Top Sail Lounge and the YC Restaurant was arranged.  I was able to engage in conversation with other guests next to my table for one when music might have interfered with our conversations.  Gained some friends during my cruise by being able to have those conversations.  

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

Got the Prosecco dropped in the room on the last night.

Prosecco on ice was waiting on me when I embarked and my Butler kept the ice bucket filled with more when I finished a bottle.  

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

The People of MSC:  This to me is where MSC shines.  On walkabouts throughout the ship, almost every staff member I saw gave a warm greeting. 

Among many others, I have praised the service/attention of the crews of HAL.  MSC's crew's service was as good as HAL.  When a bartender or Steward outside the YC enclave saw that I was a YC guest, the service/pours were even better.  

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

The Champagne Bar was only open from 6:00 or so, and not every night.  The Brass Anchor (primary sports bar outside of the smoky Casino Bar) did not open until 4:00, even on football Saturday.  (Go Bucks!)

I don't think this was a change from January, 2020.  (Go Bucks as well as the Bengals.)

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

The included drink wasn't that good

I had a Bahama Mama and "Mama" skimped on the Rum.  

8 hours ago, JAGR said:

Lunch is good either in the restaurant or the Sun Deck

Breakfast in the Restaurant is excellent with very good choices on the menu.  Learned late in the cruise that I really liked their Ranchero Potatoes with my eggs.  

On the Sun Deck for lunch (and breakfast), I was disappointed in the selection of cold meats, cheeses, and cracker/bread selections for a European type style of ship.  Barely adequate in my opinion.  

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

YC Director (Allesandro - also very good)

Tall blonde?  The name is familiar and I think she may have been the YC Director when I sailed on Meraviglia.  

1 minute ago, njsmom said:

I cut and pasted every itinerary that I was considering onto a doc on my laptop and reviewed and assessed, including port times, so that I could compare and contrast. 

That is quite a job!  And, one that a possible customer ought not have to do!  My hat is off to you for making such an effort!  

33 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I think it was Fairsea; it was the one doing Mexican itineraries, right?

Yes.  I think Fairsky was sailing Alaska itineraries at that time.  Fair Majesty?  I think she was sailing, but, I don't remember where.  I remember seeing a picture of her decorated in the new Sitmar exterior color scheme and funnel logo.  (Or maybe what I remember was a concept illustration of the vessel prior to her entering service,)  

My Sitmar cruise was an outstanding experience and increased my interest in sailing on an Italian influenced ship.  Home Lines was my first experience with that.  Fairwind was showing some renovation needs, but, service, cuisine, and entertainment was outstanding.  My first experience with Pub Night and that was nothing short of hilarious.  No comedy on the seven seas today equals that!  

19 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

I picked up in Sept Iles Ca Mountain Cranberry Jam. Very different from the Cranberry you get from bogs of the Eastern Sea Coast. 

That sounds good.  I like Cranberries.  One of the things that I do shop for on some cruises--particularly in ports that I have not visited or rarely do--is local food products that I can easily and safely get home.  Almost always return from the Caribbean with a Rum Cake, but, more recently, I will directly order from the company that makes them.  One less item to pack/carry!

21 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I would say economize on the shipping - buy a case!   (I do this with my favorite tea)

🤣   That would likely last me the rest of my life and into eternity!  A different Alaskan company produces a delicious Wild Blueberry Jam that they absolutely will not sell individual jars that are requested.  I have tried repeatedly to order this and the order is refused.  Really don't understand their reasoning.  

20 hours ago, kayehall said:

HA leaves from Whittier.  Can I see them from Whittier?

It would be difficult to do unless you had a rental car and planned an overnight in Seward.  There is some distance between Whittier and Seward, plus, one needs time for the Kenai Fjords Tour.  

4 hours ago, carlmm said:

A number of hotels in various areas of Singapore offer day rooms, to be used eg from 10am to 7pm.

Using this your luggage problem is solved and you can do whatever sightseeing you like.

I support this suggestion and would recommend that the OP select a hotel that is on and near/at a stop for the Hop On/Off buses.  The Marriott is the one that I stayed at and the buses were right there.  

Park at the Port is the best and safest option.  

6 hours ago, commish56 said:

Can you reserve a parking spot ahead of time, if so is there a link to reserve?
 

 

No.  May I suggest you Google Port of Miami parking for more information.