mom2mybugs

I’m a fanatic and I just want to cruise it once. Then I will say never again to the price and have warring obsessions agin...Disney parks vs cruising. Jane

Thank you. So sorry that your last cruise got cancelled. Hope your family is well! Jane

We have had a pretty mild winter until the last couple weeks and it still is bad...so so done! Jane

Good to hear! We have been super cautious and will continue to mask and distance but the vaccine is a game changer for me. Jane

Awww...thank you! Jane

Hi Joe! I watched a lot of Gary’s videos before our sadly missed river cruise. He’s really sensible, and I am totally agreeing with him. I considered a New Years 2021 cruise but I’m not even confident with that, so we may wait until Xmas/New Years 2022. Jane

I will cross my fingers for you! I totally feel your wife’s need for sun and warm. Please tell her thank you for her service! My husband and I are in the current group to get vaccinated (educators) but the roll out is very slow...hoping it speeds up..and my husband has some health issues. If I get vaccinated, we have agreed I will take my almost 18 year old to Disney for spring break. She’s had a miserable senior year and this was the plan before all our lives changed. We will chance it, be as safe as possible and quarantine her when we get back. However, if I don’t get my first shot in the next 3 weeks, then we scrap it and go in June. Maybe we can do an Airbnb on Lake Michigan low key for a few days. Our last cruise was an amazing 12 day med/Greek isles summer 2019 and we cancelled our 2020 cruise so I’m anxious to try...looking like Christmas 2022 might be the time though I’d love to try 2021. I just don’t think I could take another cancelation! Jane

I don’t think there is one I’d say never again to, but after my last 2 cruises on very small ships, I’m ready to sail again on a bigger ship. I haven’t been on any amped ships so would like to see some of the new areas and restaurants. Jane

Hi everyone, Winter in Illinois with no hope of cruising soon and waiting to get a vaccine so I can go to Disney was MAJORLY getting me down! It was time to come back home lol. I have missed thinking about cruising and we have begun to consider a New Year’s Eve cruise with the kids, since spring break is impossible for the next few years (husband and I both teach, and our spring breaks are off until my district shifts again). Anyway, just wanted to say hi again and I hope everyone is well and planning for cruising with a vengeance (and a prayer that things open up soon)! Jane

This is great... More options for my vegetarian daughter! I know the regular menu had vegetarian choices, but sometimes they are a bit confusing or not marked... This gives a "don't think" option. Jane

Keep an eye out for cruise planner sales and also add ons if you are getting the drink pkg. I know my last cruise I got voom for $9 a day. Also if you aren't going to be on at the same time, you can share the pkg (if you get 1 device it's as many as you want, just 1 at a time. Jane

@karl_nj thank you for your review! I agree with you that I definitely could feel I wasnt on a ship with Oasis class. We ended up going to the sky deck a lot in the late afternoon when the chair hogs were gone to get a glance of the ocean. One of these days I'm going to try the tutti salad...I'm just always guarding my deck chair on those sea days! Let us know what you book next! Jane

Thank you! That was awesome! Jane

Not really on the research.. Usually I do a ton of looking up and then call Sharla say MEI and say yolo book it. I haven't found her prices to ever be better than mine... Jane

Nope... Traveling with friends who don't seem to understand my obsession with cruising! Jane

Yes...I have never been asked in the Caribbean! Just Europe. Jane

Awww... Thank you.... Lands end and zulilly are my new faces! Just like heading to Disney... Just take the breaks when you gotta and you will be fine! Also grab lots of water...I think that made our trip so much more bearable (though we got so lucky it wasn't hotter). I will cross my fingers that adventure open turns out to be the best thing ever!! Jane

And be sure that if asked, you pay on the card in the local currency. We were told that the conversion is better when your credit card does this after the transaction and not the store charging in your own currency. Jane

I will not cruise or travel outside the us without insurance. While we weren't covered with our last huge issue even with the insurance, I still trust that the insurance will cover the medical if something happens... And too much can happen! I just take the cost of insurance and consider it part of the cruise fare. Jane

Thanks! We didn't do the solarium alot on vision because frankly the chair saving made me want to strangle people! Did you find the pool deck and upper deck (does empress have a sky deck?) crazy crowded on sea days? And we survived an ocean view on majesty... are the rooms significantly smaller than that on empress? I could go look but you were just on!!! Jane

My daughter and I did this exact itinerary on vision our very first cruise, but my husband hasnt done it. I really like the idea of 4 ports for him! Jane

I never had to show an Id... Just the sea pass card. If you need a picture Id, the passport card definitely works but I don't remember showing any Id other than the sea pass card. Jane

I think freedom will be out of San Juan and those flights are incredibly high usual. Ok.... Obviously I need to organize, because some of the bigger ships are only 300 or so total more. Can someone give me a way to see exactly what ships have what? Anyone done the research already and made a spread sheet of restaurants, amped etc? I can take notes ship by ship but if this is already done it saves me the effort lol! Ok.... Editing because I'm back. Any bigger ship will cost me btw 600 and 1000 more so that just can't happen this trip. the other thing that looks intriguing is empress. It's a tiny ship, but an extra day and it's 200 cheaper on a different ship than vision class. Problem is the itinerary isn't as good (only 1 new port) and 3 sea days on the very tiny ship I will have to go back to @twangster's blog and look at more detail since I didnt read it closely (was too tired in Europe lol). I also hate to give up Tampa so I have to count that as a factor. Jane

I think just like room choice, team drink pkg etc, the key is a highly subjective and personal decision. I don't look at it as 19 per day, but at least 38 because everyone in the room has to get it. Right there I know I'd never get the value out of it if we have any kids with us. Then in addition, I know I usually end up doing specialty dinner one night at least, so the lunch isn't really something I'd normally do. I will say after my Europe trip that you might want it if you have a lot of tender ports and aren't doing royal excursions. My guess is that I will never purchase it, because we will usually share the 1 device so that makes the value go v down even further. Jane

Welcome to all the new cruiding friends! This is a great place to hang out!!! Jane