HardToPort

Are you doing the 4 day, or a B2B? I’m on the 14-21. The pass is cheap, only $83 CDN pre-cruise. If you’re going to post from the cruise, I’d love to hear your first impressions.

My SO and I were on a Carnival theme cruise in 2008. It was a Cayamo folk cruise. Because the cruise was a charter rules for dress went out the window. On “Gala” night I wore tux, wife wore evening gown. Others did the same. Dressing up is fun. On “ Gala” night others wore flip flops and dressed like they were at a Jimmy Buffet concert. Many of them complimented my wife and I. We told them they looked awesome and we talked about how much we were enjoying the music (Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlisle). No one cared. On a mainstream cruise ship … you do you. We all think that sometimes we’re the main character. But we’re not.

Hi, Lovetoeat, Google is your friend. https://www.msccruises.ca/terms-conditions Cancellations By Passenger 13.1 Cancellation of the Booking must be requested in writing (registered letter, email or fax) to the Company or via the Passenger’s Sales Agent. All tickets issued and the confirmation invoice must be returned together after the notice of cancellation. 13.2 Save what set forth in clause 13.3 below, to cover the estimated loss incurred by cancellation, the Company will levy cancellation charges in accordance with the following scale: CRUISE 4 NIGHTS OR LESSCRUISE 5 TO 14 NIGHTSCRUISE > 15 NIGHTS OR MORE Bookings starting from 01 January 2022 and Winter 2022 onward 74 - 51 days prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable89 - 61 days prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable109 - 61 days prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable 50- 31 days prior to departure50% Penalty60 - 46 days prior to departure50% Penalty60 - 46 days prior to departure50% Penalty 30 - 16 days prior to departure75% Penalty45 - 16 days until departure75% Penalty45 - 16 days prior to departure75% Penalty 15 - 0 days prior to departure100% Penalty15 - 0 days until departure100% Penalty15 - 0 days until departure100% Penalty YACHT CLUB 4 NIGHTS OR LESS YACHT CLUB 5 TO 14 NIGHTSYACHT CLUB 15 NIGHTS OR MORE Bookings starting from 01 January 2022 and Winter 2022 onward 51 days or longer prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable61 days or longer prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable61 days or longer prior to departureDeposit Non-Refundable 50 - 31 days prior to departure50% Penalty60 - 46 days prior to departure50% Penalty60 - 46 days prior to departure50% Penalty 30- 16 days prior to departure75% Penalty45 - 16 days prior to departure75% Penalty46 - 16 days prior to departure75% Penalty 15- 0 days prior to departure100% Penalty15 - 0 days prior to departure100% Penalty15 - 0 days prior to departure100% Penalty

Hotel guests are generally more scheduled than cruise guests. Morning shower and out for the day. Cruisers don’t have that same “rush hour” experience. I’ve never had pressure or heat problems in nearly 20 cruises. Regardless of cruise line including river cruises. Here’s a Tip as well if you are doing a family cruise with heavy demands on bathroom time. All ships have plenty of public washrooms that are lightly used as well as workout facilities with showers. If someone’s in your bathroom and your “morning meeting” is calling, you’ll be able to take that meeting in a stall somewhere else on the ship in relative privacy. Or have a shower in the gym. Or take a quick rinse in the pool area at the outside showers.

If you are leaving from a US port and he has a valid passport he is likely to be allowed to board. On most Caribbean cruises I’ve never needed anything more than my Cruise Card and a photo ID to enter. I can’t recall ever having my passport scanned in the Caribbean. in Canada you can apply for a pardon for old convictions (except for extremely serious crimes). Your record is then expunged. your friend should look into pardons in the US. Felonies may be treated more severely than a misdemeanour when it comes to getting a pardon. surprisingly, a foreigner would have more trouble getting into the states with a felony than your friend will likely have in leaving the states and visiting most foreign countries. Many Canadians get turned around at land borders with US for admitting to high school drug use when they are now in their 40’s-50’s. (Note: I did not say convicted. Simply telling a customs officer you smoked marijuana / used drugs in your youth.) If he is not under any parole conditions I like his chances. Have your friend apply for a Nexus / Trusted Traveler card. If he gets one, then his felony is likely not impacting him in any way.

Appreciate the feedback. I’ll probably pass on the Pass. pre Covid I did a cruise (not sure if it was Carnival or NCL) and they had a spa area that was, I think, called Serenity. It was quiet, spacious, and had these amazing heated tile loungers. They gave you a full body heat and were life savers for someone with some sore muscles. The area was in the bow and the view was fabulous.

I never get up at 6 AM and “claim” a deck chair with a towel and then leave for 4-5 hours. I never do shore excursions anymore. I never buy photos, or art.

Good advice. I’m always an early walk off but don’t fly out before noon.

I’ll let you know when I get back!

Other threads have also mention that you will only be charged the price difference if you decide you want to teat yourself to a more expensive libation.

Hard wearing fabrics only for cruise ship laundry. Learned the hard. Everything goes in hot. Everything gets desert level drying. I have a couple of nice silk Tommy Bahama shirts I like. They don’t get laundered. Same with silk shorts. But everything else socks, underwear, T’s and golf shirts go in the bag before I go home. Always washed, neatly folded and ready to go back in drawer when I get home. Tip: I have a white t-shirt I wear in the pool, ocean or hot tub along with my bathing suit. When I get back to my room I hop in the shower with them on. Soap them and rinse all the salt / chlorinated water off. Hang ‘Em after and they dry or nearly dry the next day.

Departing from Brooklyn doesn’t look like it gives you the same close of view of the Statue of Liberty as from the Manhattan port. But I always love to go under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Roll everything. I fold shirts in 1/2, sleeves folded over. Then roll them tight starting with the collar. Only takes a few seconds but when unrolled and hung they look perfect. Cotton, silk, polyester, blends everything I’ve tried works. Shorts and pants too. The benefit, other than being wrinkle free, is you can fill every crevice in your carry on and fit more stuff. You’re right that a few wrinkles is nobody’s business. Personally, I hate wrinkled clothes so I do this for me, not the spectators.

I’m cruising next month on Divina. Some extras are less expensive to book prior to boarding including the Thermal Area Cruise Pass. I’d appreciate feedback from anyone recent Divina cruisers who have experienced the Thermal Area. Value for money? Crowded? Also, is there an adult area on the Divina with pool, bar etc? Excluding the Yacht Club, of course. Thanks

2009. 50 years old. I had just left one job when the US parent downsized the Canadian position (me). I already had another job lined up and a nice severance check. Called my Dad who I’d never spent significant time with because my mom divorced him when I was very young. Asked him if he wanted to go on a cruise. We did Carnival out of Miami in a junior suite. We did a cruise every year for 8 years until he got too old to travel. We moved up from Carnival pretty quick (we loved Carnival, just too young family friendly for us) and developed a close bond that had never previously existed. Cruising gave us the one on one time we needed to clear the air, discuss the difficult father / son things that needed to be discussed, forgive and move forward. I do a solo cruise every year and still wake up expecting to see him in the cabin.

Good news if true. I am 99% of the time fine with the Best Plus package, but occasionally I like something nicer.

Grant, expand the quote boxes above for all my answers in bold.

The “no shorts” rule is for the Main Dining Room and often the specialty restaurants. You’re perfectly OK to change after dinner.

Styles27, I’ve had someone tell me, to my face, “you’re in my country. Spend money”. This was in Ocho Rios. I was barely off the ship. So instead of walking into town and actually buying some things. I just walked into the port bar (Senor Frogs or Margaritaville, not sure which), had a drink and went back on board. umm … aggressively getting in my face isn’t the way to my wallet.

Senior observation here. When I wear what I consider appropriate clothes during the day (dress shorts, Tommy Bahama or similar tropical shirt), or a jacket and slacks for dinner in the MDR, I often get asked why I’m “dressed up” while I’m on vacation. Or I get complimented for looking sharp. I think I’m neither dressed up nor sharp. When dinosaurs roamed the earth this was considered proper attire. So I accept that I’m a silver haired dinosaur. However, the trend amongst men to race to the bottom surprises me. Flip flops, board shorts and over large tanks with a ball cap. Then the pikachu surprise face when the MDR shuts the door in your face. Here’s a tip. They may not say it but women appreciate a man who makes an effort just the same as you appreciate their time and effort on make up and clothing.

THIS ^!! Should have its own thread. I have a throw away phone for travel. I just buy a SIM card at location. My (nearly) new iPhone stays home. Fancy watches, cufflinks, diamond pinky ring. Stays home. On shore excursions I dress down. I have a very low limit cc ($4,000 max) I leave the ship with along with minimal currency. Other cash and high limit cc stays on board. Frankly, I’m not worth the effort to rob. Dress and behave like you’re worth robbing is the best way to get robbed. My next cruise has two stops in Mexico and, honestly, I may not even get off the ship. I think I’m getting Caribbean fatigue. I love the ship. Love the sun. Love Ocean Cay. But the harassment of tourists is just getting too much for me.

My daily wear watches are Citizens. Sturdy, functional and inexpensive. I have a valuable, vintage gold Bulova that is not only valuable but was gifted to me by a now deceased uncle. If I lose or have stolen my Citizen I go to duty free and buy another. I don’t lose a minutes sleep. I’d be crushed if I lost the Bulova. So, are your watches just expensive accessories or sentimental in value? If they’re just accessories and you can afford to replace them, by all means take them and enjoy wearing them. if you can’t afford to replace them or if they are sentimentally irreplaceable then leave them home. Keep them in your cabin safe. Travel insurance is unlikely to cover them. They should be specifically insured on your homeowner / tenants policy. Note I say Specifically”. High value items should be appraised, documented with matching provenances and reasonable efforts in place for their safekeeping. As for packing, I’ve read too many comments here about luggage pilferage. I’d safely pack your watches in your carry on and keep it with you at all times. Enjoy showing off your bling.

For cruising solo or business travel solo, can travel for 7-10 days with a carry-on and a small back pack. (Lots of clean socks and underwear. Durable mix and match clothes). I’m usually packed 2 days before departure. I’ve just learned I often wear the same thing multiple times and used to hate going home with half my clothes un-worn. T’s and swimsuits easily washed and rung out in the shower. Traveling with the Missus is a whole other ballgame. She packs very last minute. I do the usual carry-on and backpack. Then she fills her suitcase AND mine. Shoes of every description. A makeup bag the size of microwave. Entire outfits per day rather than mix and match. <sigh> Love is truly blind. My toilet bag consists of pills, deodorant, hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, cologne. I use the cabin’s shower gel from head to toe. The Missus’ toiletries and assorted potions would fill the trunk of a small car.

They have a child’s price for an excursion that specifically excludes children? Well done, MSC. Well done.