operafan

We don't care either.........

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Back in 2002 we paid around 86 cents for Euros. I had brought home around $500 worth and by the time we went back the Euro was $1.48. Saved quite a bit on our purchases the second time around.

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We've done the Med in May twice and have had beautiful weather ( 70's- 80's ) both times. We wore shorts on sea days but pants/capris when on shore in order to visit churches etc...... The only time I remember it being even a little chilly was late night at sea when a sweater was perfect on deck.

Navigator had them over Thanksgiving.

That's a perfect cruise to take. We did something similar in 2007 and it was wonderful!

If we drive, one 36 inch check-in with a small duffle for carry-on. If we fly- two 21 inch wheel ons and 2 small duffles for up to a two week cruise. We don't do formal nights anymore unless we drive. Once your luggage gets lost in Europe you learn to pack lighter and keep it with you at all times.

If they can't do it themselves and don't have an assistant, how do they expect to get around the ship?

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

It's not (usually) a matter of being alone, most companions/spouses are handling carry- ons and paperwork and such. It's a courtesy to lend a hand to expedite both embarkation and debarkation.

We were on Royal Caribbean in November with my DF who is in a wheelchair. Not only did they whisk all 7 of us thru check-in, they also boarded us as soon as we were ready.

So many beautiful/fascinating places to choose from but my top three are:

Venice

Rome (from Civitavecchia)

Santorini

bravo

Double BRAVO!!

I will get "flamed" by some of my fellow HAL lovers but my instincts (and experience with most cruise lines) makes me think the best fit for you would be Celebrity (especially the Solstice-class ships). Here is my reasoning. Your Diamond status on RCI will get you "Elite" status on Celebrity (you need to request this at booking and make sure it is done). Elite on Celebrity will get you daily 2 hour free cocktail parties, a special daily Elite Continental breakfast (where you can get free mimosas, bloody marys, smoothies, etc), free laundry (if that matters) etc. Celebrity actually does a lot more for the Elite's then RCI does for their Diamonds.

 

As to other issues, we think that Celebrity food is generally better then what we have experienced on HAL (and we have nearly 300 days on HAL and are Elite on Celebrity). Entertainment will be about equal on both lines although we do give additional points to the Solstice-class Celebrity ships where they will do a Cirque-type main show during most cruises. You also might want to research Aqua Class on Celebrity...which costs a little more but gets you some other options such as being assigned to the small dining venue called Blu. Blu has unique menus which please many (including moi) and do not please some others...but you can do your homework on the Celebrity board.

 

Hank

While we love both cruise lines, we agree with Hank on this one. Celebrity would probably be a better choice for you. JMO.

I am expecting my first Kindle for Xmas. It was the only thing on my Christmas list, so I am fairly confident that Santa or my wife will be getting it for me. But, I am curious as to how hard or easy it was to switch from real books to an ereader. I picked up the Kindle at Best Buy, and it just did not seem to have the same feel as holding a book. Is this something that you get over fairly quickly? Did anyone else feel the same when they first tried the kindle? I really want to like this new device, but wanted to see if how others adjusted....lol

I got the paper white for Christmas last year and love it! I wasn't sure I wanted it but reading in the sun on my iPad was out because of the glare. ( Not to mention the replacement cost should it be ruined, lost or stolen) It took me a few days to get used to reading on an e-reader but now I much prefer it over a printed book.

Timely topic. Our first cruise coming up in January, but on Royal Caribbean. Since I retired 4 years ago, I've put on about 30 lbs. and no longer have a suit or sport jacket that comes close to fitting. I certainly don't intend to go out and buy either one for 2 nights of 'formal' dining on our cruise. I'll wear dress pants and dress shirts and if they don't like it, I'll go eat in the buffet, but it'll probably be our last cruise. Anyone care to offer up their experience with RC?

 

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Just returned from a RC cruise. Dress pants, shirt and tie will be fine. Some people were dressed up, some weren't. No one looked sloppy or real casual though..........

At least one person at my table ate snails each night on the NAVOTS last week. I was not one of them (I had the shrimp cocktail plus another starter each night)

My brother had 3-4 of them every night. He'd order 2, the waiter would bring him 1-2 more. He ate them all...... The rest of us had them once or twice.

We were on this sailing, and had a positive experience. We did have an incompetent check-in clerk, but she was quickly helped by a supervisor. We noticed upon debark, she was staffing a door and no longer at the training session / peptalk being held for the rest of the counter staff.

 

We did notice that there was little or conflicting info about Platinum or Priority boarding after check-in, the crew was down at the TO SHIP end. So we did what we always do, kept our eyes/ears open and watched what was happening. In minutes we were on the opposite end and walked right on as soon as they opened the line. We did have tablemates (non priority) say they waited 3 hours in a very crowded Terminal 2.

 

The ship indeed is ready for a refurb, but we expected that. We saw very few crew issues on board. And really the only thing in memory is an odd shortage of pool towels all the time.

 

MDR was great. Entertainment was average plus. Customer service was well above average.

 

Debark had WAY TOO FEW porters in Terminal 2. That needs to be fixed. But even with that, we were at the shuttle in 30 mins. Of course if everyone would tip better, that would help the supply.

 

 

I do think it was odd the Captain tried for about an hour to hold position at GC. We were Aft so we heard all the propulsion adjustments. It seemed clear to the eye and certainly any high tech weather forecast - that wind alone would bust the stop.

 

We already have a cabin hold on a summer trip...same ol Galveston port, same ol Navigator...no wait, make that a newly sparkled Navigator.

 

Welcome to Texas Navigator. Those of you with attitudes and odd expectations, please book CCL Magic next door, or try Florida.

We too were on this sailing and had a mostly positive experience. Traffic to the ship was horrendous and took forever, but once we got into the terminal it went quickly because DF is in a wheelchair and we got to go straight to the front of the line. (Sorry everyone else, I saw the huge lines........) The only real problem we had was the boiling hot water coming out of the faucet at various hours of the day with no way to turn it to cold. Yes it was crowded, but we knew that it would be. Yes there were loads of kids, but we knew that too. It was a holiday sailing with a lot of families. Overall, a pretty good cruise; service was good, dining room food was average to good and we got everything we ordered up front. No real complaints........

Escargot available every night last week on Navigator. Our waiter brought quite a few extras each evening........

My opinion is that adding in all that driving and you are setting yourself up for exhaustion before you even get on your port intensive cruise. I also think you are doing a lot of hit and run, and aren't leaving any time for exploring or time padding for the Inevitable kink in the plans. What you are suggesting offers zero flexibility. I would rethink some of it. My two cents.

 

 

I agree.......You're going to need a little time to get over jet lag too. Maybe something a little less ambitious?? Otherwise, it's a wonderful cruise. Just be careful of pick-pockets in Barcelona........

117 days! Way too many..........

Elderly gentleman about age 50????:eek: Wow you must be very young!

I got a huge kick out of that too. Not to mention that one goes from being a "girl" at age 35 to "elderly" a mere 15 years later.......

LOL... No shortage of weird..... Especially on the European cruises. We've seen topless women on the balcony below us, a 350 pound woman in an array of string bikini's and a guy in his late 80's that looked like the Six Flags guy accompanied by a woman 2 ft. taller, in her mid 60's with flaming red long hair and spackled on makeup. I don't even want to get into the "speedo" discussion.........

Sheila, it hasn't happened to me for the last several years but I remember one cruise in the Caribbean where the only shoes that fit were my flip flops. I saw a lot of women carrying their shoes instead of wearing them.

230 long, long days!

Along with the ones you've mentioned, I use Kayak to monitor airfares and Priceline for hotels.

We were on Millie in 06 and it needed work then. There was a sewage stench and our cabin was very worn (drapes shredded, carpet dirty, bathroom moldy....) but the rest of the ship wasn't too bad. Since then we've been on Constellation which was in near perfect condition and Voyager of the Seas, an 8 yr. old ship that looked brand new. Granted, the food on Voyager was nothing to write home about but everything else was done incredibly well. Does anyone know if maintenance issues are left up to the staffs of individual ships rather than corporate??