mom2mybugs

I know...I've put in my email several times...i don't get them but my husband who doesn't plan anything with the cruise gets a gazillion daily! Arghhh! Jane

Ok...that was the most amazing 2 episodes. I loved their shows and want to watch more. These were incredible at showing the pluses and minuses, and in fact did the same ship and cruise we are looking at, including the 3 day pretour. Gotta say that i may have to do a day at disney! Thank you so much...these and the river cruise podcasts have been so much fun to listen to! Jane

Ok...that sounds way fun! Jane

Im pretty sure i had a malbac on freedom last time but can't remember...they all blended together in a user the drink pkg haze. Jane

And this is why we got into looking at the europe river cruises...the airfare isn't that much more. It used to be that i could be 250 max for a chicago to Orlando spring break (late March) flight. I just purchased tickets for 550 to fort lauderdale because im afraid to risk them going up. Although if you can believe it, American was cheaper to fly first class than coach by 30 bucks or so a ticket and it included 2 bags each so we did that. If time isn't an issue (more in the summer), then we can drive the 21 hours...it stinks, but doable. For spring break, even if we drive straight through both ways we have a hard time fitting it in. My airfare for freedom next march was literally 500 less than the whole cruise. Yuck... Jane

It was on one of the shore excursion threads...maybe the nachi one? Jane

Ok, so i have been trying to put in a picture for my little profile circle and it always exceeds the memory allowed...what am i doing wrong, or how can i take a pic with less memory? Jane

I did but alas, it world have cost 300 more! But i always have that dream lol! Jane

You are a wealth of knowledge! Viking does do the paris pre cruise add-on, and stays near paris the first 2 days. I want to be cost conscious....this is a ton of money...but not too cheap since this may be our only trip like this (though who knows...i said that about rc cruising lol). I think the extra drink cost won't play a huge factor, since it seems like i will drink less than on a caribbean cruise, but does anyone know how much wine and drinks cost per glad on any of these lines? Just curious! You have all persuaded need that french balcony worth it, veranda not at all! Thank you everyone for all your help...i feat that river cruising could become a third obsession to compete with disney and rc cruising! Jane

I agree...im always cold in air conditioning so i would always bring a light sweater with me to dinner and the shows. I found i hardly ever used it though....and i repeat, i can freeze on 80 degree days! I would say that it is warmer in the whole than your average Florida restaurant or movie theater. Jane

I haven't seen any bad reviews on it...hoping that is a good sign if we go with them. Jane

The veranda thing is very good to know...i will save the 800...that pays one of the airfares! Ama is more expensive, but has a very interesting wine cruise when we want to go. It also seems to have a lot more tour options included...since some are more active, im wondering if we won't be the only people on board under 50! It may come down to a slight difference in cost and the extension paris trip...whether we can do it pre or posy. Thanks for the help! Jane

I would be interested in freedom as well. Does the vintages on freedom offer taps type singer options or is that just on oasis and quantum class? Jane

This would be adult only...we'd be leaving the kids at home. So no worries about bored kids or double occupancy. I will definitely look at some of the podcasts and dream cruise episodes. If anyone had been on one, is it worth getting the veranda vs french balcony (or is this a too subjective question like balconies on rc?) Jane

I have kind of a random question. I booked our flights for spring break freedom 2017 and after gulping, realized that for about 300 more per ticket, we could have traveled to europe. So instead of cuba, i am thinking about Europe summer 2019. My husband and i have a hard time agreeing on this trip...i love cities and museums and he loves vistas and countrysides. We were thinking a river cruise would satisfy both (although im not totally ruling out a rc cruise...i will see how he does on his 2nd cruise in march). Does anyone have an opinion on river cruise lines they have had good luck with)? Im thinking something that starts or ends in paris. If we do a big rc cruise im thinking italy or Greece. Thanks! Jane

And frankly, i love disney but i think for a company that is such a leader in so many things, their website just stinks. Its slow and constantly had stitch showing up saying he ate the page! Seems funny these companies can't get their websites running better. Jane

It is really any child traveling with one parent. When i took my 3 kids on a cruise without my husband i was told to bring the notorized letter. I never had to show it but it was the same as if i was divorced...they just want to make sure you have 2 parent consent. Jane

Yes that is what i meant...brain cells not firing! Jane

Thanks! So when you buy it in the cruise compass, will they leave it in your room?

Is the specialty coffee card like the 10 drink punch alcohol cards that you can share, or is it assigned to 1 person? It would be a great deal for my husbands and daughter to share, not so much if it's only one person. Thanks, Jane

The risotta was amazing! Jane

And piggybacking a question ...do all the ships have these tours? Or just the bigger ships? Jane

Very good point! There is only 1 sea day so i would really have to decide what is "don't miss". Thanks for your input. Jane

This will be my 5th rc cruise (my 4th will be my shortest...a 6 day on freedom in march). The problem with the 5 and 7 nights is they overnight in cuba and the price skyrockets vs the shorter one that doesn't. You are right...the weekday thing is normally a problem, but my husband and i teach so we are putting a cruise in between summer school and the regular year. Im hoping with empress of the seas being a smaller ship that there won't be so many "man we missed that" moments like there would be on a big so like oasis. I guess i have to decide if being able to drove down from illinois because we have time will save us enough to plug into a longer sailing. Jane

Hi all, My husband and I are looking at a 4 day cruise to cuba in July 2018. Because of the timing, cost etc, we are looking at what seems a hugely short 4 day cruise. I just was wondering how people treated the short cruises vs long. I don't expect those to be like the 3 day party cruises, but do you pack differently, do fewer specialty meals, consider or don't consider the drink pkg? Or do you just prep as you would for a 7 night and overpack, look at ports in determining drink pkg, etc. Not sure if all this makes sense! Jane