SpeedNoodles

There's only 2 when I'm there - I assume that's a positive sign?

I'm trying! My husband has an intense fear of flying, so it's difficult to go anywhere. Plus the fact that he has zero interest in the Caribbean limits our options (although I did talk him into one next Feb to try it out - and while I think he'll love the ship, I think he'll still be pretty "meh" on the ports, finding very little of interest to do. But I keep trying!

I never have issues with holds with credit cards anywhere, just debit cards (which is why I've stopped using/carrying it altogether).

I'm very appreciative of this thread - I'm glad to know Blue Lagoon is so beautiful - now I'm looking forward to it even more. I'll be on Mariner in 9 days (!!!!!!!) and I finally settled on the Blue Lagoon Eco Walk - I'd love to do the dolphins excursion (or even more, the Sea Lion excursion) but after being a zoo keeper for 16 years, I know I'd be really annoyed having to share their time with other people (#wildlifesnob).

This alone might be incentive for my husband to reach Diamond level.

Resources are necessary everywhere, no less in this industry, I'm sure. 20 years ago, it was very rare to get a crisis call on 911. Like, maybe once a week. Now we get about 20 a day. I don't know what's changed, I just know things have changed, and the system is ill equipped to deal with it. I feel for the family and friends. So sad.

We haven't had a vaction since our last cruise in 2010. We were unable to find a house/pet sitter, so we could only go places that we could take 3-4 dogs with (not many options there). We finally found a sitter, so we planned a 3-week vacation to Yellowstone, the Olympic Peninsula, ending with a 7-night Alaskan Inside Passage cruise on Ovation for June 2019 - we were so excited - our 25th anniversary and his 50th birthday. Then in September my husband tore his quad, had to have surgery and was out of work for 4 months. He had to burn a lot of PTO so we had to cut the vacation down to just the cruise (and fly out to Seattle instead of driving - which is absolute hell for my husband). Because I had to take a month off from work and take care of him 24 hours a day, along with all of the critters, he offered to take care of everyone once he was on his feet and I could take a vacation, so I booked a 4-night on Mariner for this February! THEN I mentioned to him that since we were saving so much money by cutting our June vacation in half, maybe we could book another cruise for the following winter - and he actually agreed. So, while not in 2019, we'll be on Symphony in Feb 2020. So going from no trips for 9 years, to 3 trips in 12 months, I'd say I'm doing ok! (and I mostly blame all of you, LOL) As an aside, if anyone knows of any good programs to desensitize someone to fear of flying, please DM me ?

For those ships that have the Panoramic Suite option (as found on the Freedom Class ships), I understand that it's a suite, double C&A points, etc. They are more expensive than Jr Suites - not as expensive as Grand Suites. Do they get suite perks like a Grand Suite, or are they treated like Jr Suite in that regard?

You don't get double C&A points with a solo cabin. You do if you're the only one in a regular room. So if you book 2 people, and the other one "cancels" (even if they really weren't ever going to go), you would get double C&A points (according to what I've been told). And really... being able to cruise using this technique vs not being able to cruise at all? Even if it's only single C&A points (which I don't believe it is), you're still going on a cruise. ? She said she only needs 3 points to get to Diamond, so either way she'd be fine.

I recall some people saying that they book for 2 people and just have the 2nd person to not show up - if it's affordable to you with that price, maybe that'll work for you? I think I heard, or read, it from @Matt

^^^ This

So it looks like the only ships not confirmed to be offering it are Majesty, Vision, and Quantum?

I don't know, but I'd be happy to look when I'm there the week of Feb 4th for ya.

I sail in 14 days. I haven't received my reject letter yet, even though every cabin other than interior have been sold out for at least a week. But at least I can stop hoping, lol

Ha, I can't say that image ever came to mind for me. But, as they say, it can't be unseen and I guess my fantasy of an adults-only, enjoyable cruise is down the drain, lol. It was nice while it lasted.

I'm so glad to read about your experience with this - it's in my wish list on Amazon and, although I never get sea sick, my husband is prone to it, and I was thinking about picking one up for him. So awesome.

Maybe I'm alone here, but I see this and think "Phoebe Buffet: Gladys and Glynnis". It'll definitely be on my items for Scavenger Hunt on Symphony next year. Great blog, THANKS for sharing your experience! I hope your Uncle didn't bruise anything other than his ego on that Segway blunder!

Wow, has the pier area improved since 2010! I love Skagway for many reasons, but mostly for things you can do out of the town - the town itself is pretty lifeless (or was- maybe that's improved). Can't wait to go back in June.

Bask in the glow of your Pinnacle status here ?

As long as I can get a drink, I really don't care what time I have access to my room ?

Ovation has it.

Awesome! That didn't even occur to me. Thanks!

Yep, it's me with another dumb question. (In my defense, things worked differently back in 2004). Anyway, I'm sailing on Mariner OTS on Feb 4 (16 days, baby!), sailing out of Terminal A in Miami, and from what I've gleaned elsewhere some ships give you your SeaPass card in the terminal, and others will put them in a slot at your stateroom. Sooooo....if they go the route of putting them at your stateroom, how early are these available? I mean, I did get the UDP and I may want to have a Bloody Mary when I board in the late morning, or something with my lunch at Chops (part of my Key experience!). Is anyone familiar about how they work this for Mariner at Terminal A? (As always, you guys rock).

No, I redeemed them from the Visa site, but they apparently won't show up until right before the cruise. When I did it I assumed they'd show up in my cruise planner right away. Who knows, maybe they never will.

Yeah, I paid those last June. But if it comes 2-4 weeks pre cruise I can use it for a shore excursion.