barbeyg

We only requested wine at CK lunch a few times, and there was no charge for it. And yes, it’s many types of drinks at happy hour. There were a couple specialty drinks they couldn’t make for me, but the choices of liquor are pretty extensive (on Oasis class). 

We just booked our first Celebrity cruise last night. Beyond in Sky Suite, 9 night Southern Caribbean over Thanksgiving 2023.  We have several RCI cruises before then, but have kept an eye out for a great bargain on Celebrity. Excited to sail Celebrity!

We are loyal to a brand, because of the benefits.  We will be D+ this year, and will also now consider Celebrity.  We sailed Carnival years ago and it just wasn't our cup of tea.    Everyone has different preferences.

9 hours ago, ChrisK2793 said:

because if it doesn’t and Canada doesn’t allow cruise ships in their ports again this year, all Alaska cruises will be CANCELLED.

Yeppers.  Or at the very least, the first part of the season (when we are trying for a third time to take my oldest sister and aunt to AK) will be a washout.    I would rather see this bill pass, just in case.  

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

That being said, I absolutely love going to Victoria.

I do too. But it IS the only port we haven’t booked excursions for right now. Waiting a bit longer first, to see how things shake out in Canada.

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/02/18/bill-from-alaskas-congressional-delegation-would-allow-cruises-to-bypass-canada-ports-again/
 

“Alaskans cannot gamble again on the goodwill and commonsense of our Canadian neighbors, who failed us last year,” Sullivan said in a statement announcing the bill.

19 hours ago, jack_4321 said:

The Ultimate Family Suite entrance

 

 

Was thinking about this again, since it's so "cartoonish".   Do you think this is a nod to the broad enjoyment of graphic 'novels' in Asia?  Since Wonder was designed for Asia?  That's what this reminds me of, a graphic comic. 

If so, maybe this is proof that they will send her to Asia as soon as it is feasible to do so.  Just a thought.  

32 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

OMG, that is just hideous. 

I guess if you are a five year old, you will be amazed. I prefer a bit more of a refined look if I’m spending a fortune.

On 2/15/2022 at 3:28 PM, smokeybandit said:

All my cruises went up a couple hundred dollars with this new "sale"

CLS went up by $2200 on our Allure sailing in September. RCI must be feeling optimistic.

12 hours ago, BowTieBrigade said:

If you’re like me, YOLO book some more trips over the next couple years so you have even MORE to look forward to!

I can't get off the ship without booking another one.    Not only do I get the shipboard credit, but the number of cruises in our Cruise Planner doesn't go down.  I can't wait till we retire and the number can go UP instead.  

A quick search of the internet shows that much of this pollution IS  due to Haitian citizens.  People on rivers inland toss their trash into the river.  The corrupt government not using the billions provided by the US and other nations to address sanitation.  And that's just to name a couple of the reasons.   It's really quite sad, and nothing will improve the situation as long as there are corrupt individuals willing to step up and take charge so they can loot the island nation.  

We love cruising, but for it to stay special to us, we can’t live onboard. We hope to retire early in less than 3 years. We want to travel 2-3 months a year, and would like one of those months to be on a ship. A month per year, tops, for us.  

We have contemplated selling all in retirement to travel, but can’t get past giving up our stupendous mountain view. For us coming home in retirement will be like vacationing in our favorite mountain town. Because we will be.

But, hey, someone has to be the ‘super Mario’s’. Hope to see you onboard.
 

On 2/10/2022 at 12:14 PM, smokeybandit said:

With multiple launch windows, is a captain expected to honor the exclusion zone for every launch window, even after the rocket launches?

Or, worded another way, whose responsibility is it to reaffirm the exclusion zones on a subsequent launch day after an aborted attempt?

It is my understanding that NASA announces and the USCG enforces.

Here is an example of the announcement, made well enough in advance for the ships to avoid the exclusion zones:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2008/release-20080201.html

The big deal, IMHO, is that this is published for several hours before launch, every 5 minutes on the emergency channel used by all mariners. This gives those plotting courses plenty of time to change course. In this case, the staff of Harmony should have taken this up in their usual meetings before sailing, since someone on ships is always monitoring that channel.  This was also avoidable by a simple change of course. They didn’t have to delay sailing, even though they were already running behind. If the USCG decides to fine RCI for this disregard of the exclusion zone, the fine is hefty. Even if the USCG delayed warning the HOTS to move out of the exclusion zone, the HOTS staff is still responsible since they should have been monitoring the emergency channel for those hours before sailing, and changed course.  I cringed when I first heard about this happening. 

One final note, this was a big month for rocket launches. There were published announcements, for all vessels, about the large number of launches in January, and mariners were advised to stay informed.  No matter what, the ship had the info necessary to avoid this.

We were on the suite deck every day on our cruise in December, so were many others. We don’t do some of the activities, but we observed all of them in use.  YMMV

6 hours ago, twangster said:

How is it that this bridge crew completely missed the exclusion zone? 

That will be the heart of the investigation.  

Thank you. I have no doubt this entire bridge staff is on the hot seat with Corporate right now. These exclusion zones are for the safety of vessels, and this was no ‘accident’. At best, someone did not do their job properly, at worst it was gross neglect.  The fine for this could be hefty, wiping any profit from the sailing, and all the ship needed to do was to maneuver a bit further south.  There was a path available without breaching the zone that they had to know about since the USCG message on the zone is published on the emergency channel every 5 minutes for 2 hours before launch. 

On 1/22/2022 at 9:59 PM, Jax said:

Pan Pacific Vancouver is a beautiful property within walking distance and offers cruise packages. 

I agree.  Pan Pacific, while pricey, is our go-to in Vancouver.  It was awesome walking off the ship, and into their lobby.  Then, after checking our luggage, and asking the desk if there was an early check-in available, being assigned a room right away, and before we could get to the room, our luggage was already waiting there for us.  Service is exceptional.  

We also have a balcony booked for AK for $1860 this year. We sailed our last time there in a JS. I can’t justify the $5300 for the JS this time, but we personally have other factors to consider. We are taking my aunt and sister, and are def spending the difference in prices on private tours instead. If you aren’t returning, you may want the JS.  If you plan to return, slumming in the balcony should be fine. At least my husband considers it slumming.

That said, the pricing is normal for AK.  When Covid first hit in 2020, we were booked in a JS for $5100, and they were in an inside virtual balcony for $2800.  Today, after cancellations 2 years in a row, and grabbing every discounted price for both cabins, we are in balconies for $1860 (Diamond discount) and $2050.  If the JS drops below $4000, we MIGHT reconsider.

The utter ridiculousness of governments in their handling of Covid (nearly 2 years in) makes me think of that funny (but profane) movie Idiocracy. It was hysterical….and yet, with bureaucratic nonsense like this, I have to wonder just how long it will take society to reach Idiocracy.  It doesn’t seem like such a big stretch any more.

40 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Welcome to the Boards.  Care to explain your post?

You are nicer than I am, obviously.  The only emoji that was even remotely applicable was the laughing one.     

5 hours ago, BrianAlt said:

Just off of Anthem of the Seas and it's depressing to think that my next Royal cruise is 484 days.  

We are on this cruise too! But we have 3 before it.

I think the cruise ships are the last bastion of control the CDC has left. So they cling to that control because when this is all over, their moment in the spotlight, their fierce grip, is gone.  Too bad they don’t understand that for many of us, we hear circus music in our heads when they come out with their latest statements on cruise ships…and nothing about other close contact activities.  

The CDC, and the WHO, have no idea how much damage they have done to their reputations during COVID. 

1 hour ago, DunwoodyDad said:

Also While the snack shacks are open it seems like the larger restaurants are closed (at least from what I could see). 

Probably didn’t have time to set up after that mess. Hope you enjoyed the time you had!

I guess it comes down to having to have flexibility if choosing to cruise during a pandemic.  

3 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

Currently on Oasis. Staying flexible! We were looking forward to Aqua 80s. Darn the luck, we'll just need to book another cruise on Oasis. LOVE THIS SHIP! Shane our Genie, our Suites Sun Deck bartender Dana, Yethiwe in the spa, ALL are so wonderful, staying positive and friendly

 THIS IS WHY WE CRUISE!

We loved Dana a couple of weeks ago! Awesome bartender! 

1 hour ago, MattHird said:

I’ll probably end up cancelling and reluctantly trying another cruise line if they can’t put us together on a ship with so many balcony cabins and decks. 

I think there will be some cancellations, and maybe mid-January, more cabins could be available. If you can wait till then, possibly you can get what you want. I hope you get it worked out, whichever cruise line you guys sail with.