bhageerah

I have to agree with the others, I can tell you that while we visited different ports I have spent 14 days on an Oasis class ship, and I honestly feel as if I can do a back to back cruise on one with the exact same itinerary and not get bored.  I know the typical route they take out of Bayonne and I would do the EXACT same thing that you are planning.  IMHO I say book it, you won't regret it! 

We have used several services, but the one that we have enjoyed the most is goportcanaveral.com that way we get the hotel (since we ALWAYS arrive a day early), shuttle, and parking all for one great price.  

I am optimistic enough to start looking at booking something for later in the year, I have vacation the last week of September until the second week of October and am thinking about taking a 7 day cruise either one of those weeks.  The more I think about doing it, the more I find myself daydreaming about the first day onboard, the sights, smells, and sounds of being onboard a ship again!  I know I may be setting myself up for a letdown but I do not believe so! Things should be up and rolling by that time and yes my fingers, toes, and arms are crossed!!!

Sorry to see Majesty go, but I am at least glad that we got to sail on her before she left the fleet!  I honestly did not expect much since the ship was much older, and much smaller than what we were used to BUT that being said the crew was absolutely AMAZING and we had one of the best trips ever.  It was proof that the ship doesn't make the cruise it is your attitude and the crew! We got onboard not expecting much but were absolutely blown away by the time we got back to the dock! 

On 12/11/2020 at 8:09 AM, HeWhoWaits said:

There's the rub - I would not be able to relax appropriately to justify the expense of the cruise. My relaxation doesn't come in the form of sitting around in the cabin/on the balcony or hanging out in the casino for hours on end. I am active and outside most of the time. Masks required while on deck is a 100% deal breaker for me.

Trust me I am active as well, I am a first responder as well as I work part time in the local ER, in essence I am at work well over 300 hours per month. That means that I wear a mask FAR more than the average person on this thread, and to be honest and WAY OVER THEM.  But I realize it is a necessary evil at the moment, I am not someone that sits around and just watches TV it has taken me 5 years to do it but I have dropped 120 pounds.  That being said going on a cruise and being catered to is one of the draws for me.  I would be happy not having to work, come home and get ready to head to the part time job, come home and fix dinner, help the kids with their homework, make sure they clean up after dinner, and keep twin teenage girls from killing each other.  Being on a cruise for me means complete relaxation.  I will be active and end up in the gym, and also forgoing the elevators and taking the stairs.  All this being said this whole thing is personal and depends on your personal preference.  For me, since I have to wear a half face respirator and eye protection at work just wearing a mask is a definite downgrade! 

At this point I really do not want to wear one while on a cruise, but if it meant that I would be able to relax on a cruise ship again, I would wear one.  I will say that the requirement would make having a balcony room far more important than before! Being able to grab some food and go back to the room (or have room service deliver it) and just sit out there and relax would be good enough for me.  I would spend some time around the ship and would wear a mask but I would also truly appreciate the time away from the public and on the balcony.  

It was very tasty!  I honestly do not care for aubergine too much, but I could have eaten that all day long! If there were a Jamies that were local then they would definitely be getting my business on a weekly basis! The bread alone would be worth the trip!!! 

On 11/29/2020 at 6:21 PM, ericfromripp said:

hi, which ship did you have jaime's on? and which for giovanni's?

Please let me apologize for taking so long to reply! With COVID 19 hitting us so hard at work overtime has been absolutely crazy! That being said, we were on Oasis when we had Giovannis and on Anthem when we had Jamie’s. Here are a few photos of our meal! Hope they help! 

I have had both and I have to tell you that while Giovannis was good, Jamies was WAY better!  I have to say that there actually wasn't much of a comparison while the food at both were great, the food and Jamies was almost like comparing the food in the MDR to the food at CK- not a fair comparison at all I know it sounds crazy but until you have had both you can't understand.  I did not think that there would have been such a big difference until I saw the presentation with my own eyes and had that first bite, after that I was in love!

Well, IMHO I am going to say YOLO! You have stated that you have issues that will keep you from being able to do this as you get older, and you are just as much of a cruise junkie as I am!  In other words DO IT!!!  I know it has been awhile since we all have been able to take a cruise and we all need a vacation, so if I were in your shoes that cruise would be booked immediately!!!

I have not done an aft cabin on an AK cruise, but what I can say is that if I had that opportunity when we booked ours I would have taken it GLADLY.  I we had a junior suite on the starboard side on a northbound cruise.  Think of it this way you get to see everything we saw but in rather than just getting one side of the ship you get to see both sides and in both directions.  I would GLADLY take that spot if you do not want it!!!!  

In a heartbeat, I can assure you that I know that I have less of a chance of contacting it onboard that ship than I would  at work.  We had several patients with it today, so I would gladly love to be able to have the benefit of being on a cruise and testing out the new things that they are trying to initiate! All I ask is give me time to pack and get to the port!!

At this point in time I know that cruising as I know it will not be be like I know it, but at this point I do not care!  I will gladly cruise even with the changes, even my worst cruise is better than my best day at work!  I will just be happy to not have to make dinner, cook, clean, shop for groceries, or keep everyone entertained!  There aren't going to be enough changes that will ruin the experience for me!  

Yes @twangster we usually do one or two short cruises with the kids per year, and with the information that you were so kind to provide we will be calling the C&A club and linking them up so we can all get the same credit.  And @Lovetocruise2002that is a absolutely amazing idea, nope you are not a monster just a planner!  I believe that since you paid for them to get to D+ that they could easily help you to get to Pinnacle status, its a fair trade!!

On 10/24/2020 at 8:20 PM, twangster said:

If your spouse and the kids are under 18 then you all become Diamond if you are in a declared relationship and the kids are associated with your account, all by you cruising solo and becoming Diamond.  Under current rules the kids would be Diamond for life even when they grow up.  That's a pretty good gift.  

I only have one thing to say @twangsterthank you and you may have just created a monster with that information right there......

I currently have 67 points, and am about to go up in leave for next year, unfortunately due to the wife being new and only getting two weeks vs my 6 I would have to cruise alone.  I know she would not be a very big fan of this but I am seriously contemplating taking a cruise alone which would put me at the Diamond status.  I would love for her to go but at this point I am honestly looking at the cheapest cruise which would be at times that she would not be able to go.  I know that I would enjoy the cruise, and knowing that I would be able to use my new status on the next cruise.  I find it HARD to resist them throwing double the cruise points at us for the whole year.... I may have to book one or two more for next year if the prices are right! We shall see, we normally go on one when the kids are with their dad over spring break, if it is not going to happen this year then I am going to have to make something happen sooner than later! 

Just my two cents, but I am going to have to agree with the popular vote here.....I would not and can not fly in the same day.  There are FAR too many things that are out of your control that can go wrong.  I know how crazy things are and I can tell you that I am a planner and even getting there a day early I still carry some stress until we are curbside.   Flying in the day of the cruise would drive me absolutely insane!  I know for a fact that I would need to be heavily medicated in order to make the trip to the port that same day.I live about three to three and a half hours away from Baltimore and plan on cruising from there here soon, and I still would not leave it to chance....I know I am paranoid but I have been stuck on 95 for HOURS due to bad accidents or chemical spills.  To me being there a day early allows all of us to destress and relax prior to getting onboard, I consider it money and time well spent!  

Have to agree with @twangster I COMPLETELY understand the dangers of COVID 19, but also understand that it is not as deadly as they first thought it was.  I also know that cruising can resume with certain things in place where it will be safer than going to the local Walmart.  I know that they will clean the surfaces far more than grocery stores do.  I know that they will also be more inclined to enforce social distancing as well.  I have no worries that they can and will do the right thing for their customers, there are too many cameras and people that are  going to be pointing the finger.  The cruise industry as a whole has way too much to loose! 

Can not view the video but I can tell you that I do not need to see it in order for me to agree with you!!  I love that ship as well!  First cruise ship I have ever been on and I fell in love!!  It is responsible for my cruise habit, and can not wait to get back onboard!  Especially since it has been updated since I was on it last! 

Ok I would have to say that there are two memories from our last cruise that were my favorites.  The first one was the first night that we had dinner at CK and how amazing the staff and food was! The second was pulling up at CocoCay and seeing all of the revisions for the first time! I was somewhat against both of them at first but QUICKLY changed my mind after experiencing both of them!

For me it all depends, and it will depend on where the cruise leaves from, and the distance that it is from our home in VA, if the cruise leaves from Baltimore then we are definitely driving, if the cruise is leaving from Miami or Fort Lauderdale then we are DEFINITELY flying.  I just flew from VA to WA to assist my niece in moving to CO, so getting on a plane does not worry me as much.  I do not fear COVID 19 but I do respect it, and take all the necessary precautions in order to keep those that I love the most as well as those around me safe.  I actually must say that I was surprised with how packed the plane was as well as the airports that we stopped at, but once again mask was worn, hand sanitizer was used, and I definitely socially distanced prior to sitting in my seat on the plane.  

Hopefully since the ball has started rolling we can start cruising again soon!  I know that I am beyond ready for a cruise vacation!!!!

All I am going to say is that you had me at cruise!  At this point I would go anywhere, as long as it was with a reputable brand! I do believe that I would enjoy the leisurely pace as well as being able to see parts of the country that I have never seen before, I know that it is a small inconvenience but I believe that it would be nice to be able to take a cruise like that and not have to worry about a passport or going through immigration on the way back into the country (unless it did go out of the USA).  I do enjoy going out of the country and seeing other places but I do believe that it is time for me to start focusing on the natural beauty that we have been blessed with here at home from time to time! 

On 8/12/2020 at 9:26 AM, Matt said:

The number I see mentioned is around 60-70% or so. That could be totally wrong, but it seems to be the figure mentioned, and I think it's what some lines in Europe are doing.

I personally would be extremely comfortable with this number, as I have stated in another thread I would gladly sail the first day that they allow the ships to sail.  I am perfectly happy just not having to worry about what to cook, or cleaning my room!  I would be happy relaxing, ordering room service, and sitting on the balcony watching the waves roll by!  I know that RCCL does a better job of cleaning than my local grocery store, or department store both of which I have had to frequent since this has started.  

Watching this video was just a little heartbreaking!  I honestly never had the pleasure of sailing on her but watching it go like this was just a little depressing!  Knowing the care that it received as well as the entertainment that it gave all who sailed on her, as @WAAAYTOOO has said its a rather undignified process, I understand that it is necessary.  Its almost like watching a friend of yours slowly disappear.