CrimsonCruiser

We sailed Aug. 3-7 on the Serenade to Progresso Yucatán peninsula Mexico. The cruise was awesome and relaxing, we booked a balcony room based on what I’ve read on the forum.  We thought the food was really good and the the crew were really spot on. I did a lot of this on sea days and evenings. 

I just want to give a big thank you to everyone that answered all my questions and offered advice, you really helped our first cruise experience. We had such a great time that we are set to book our second. Once again everyone, THANK YOU 😀

A barking dog in a vest either has an owner that is abusing ADA rights or is in need of immediate medical attention.

I actually didn't know there were small breeds that were trained as alert dogs. This was helpful to know. I will be better about judging seeing small dogs in "service animal" vests. That said, any service animal that is actively working (aka in vest) is usually quiet, calm and non-obtrusive, right? So if I see a yorkie in a vest wandering all over and barking at strangers...can I assume the owner is a person abusing ADA rights?

I actually didn't know there were small breeds that were trained as alert dogs. This was helpful to know. I will be better about judging seeing small dogs in "service animal" vests. That said, any service animal that is actively working (aka in vest) is usually quiet, calm and non-obtrusive, right? So if I see a yorkie in a vest wandering all over and barking at strangers...can I assume the owner is a person abusing ADA rights?

I actually didn't know there were small breeds that were trained as alert dogs. This was helpful to know. I will be better about judging seeing small dogs in "service animal" vests. That said, any service animal that is actively working (aka in vest) is usually quiet, calm and non-obtrusive, right? So if I see a yorkie in a vest wandering all over and barking at strangers...can I assume the owner is a person abusing ADA rights?

ooh ooh - I actually follow a tiktoker who is a type 2 diabetic and has a medical dog. She has both a monitor and the dog and the dog not only alerts her (often times before the machine) but can also help get her juice if she needs to raise her blood sugar but is too foggy to get her attention, can help comfort her when she has the side effects from a crash or spike, and can alert her in a car so she can pull over and address the spike/crash before putting herself or others at risk. And, of course, the dog is trained to get help if she goes into diabetic shock or whatnot.
Her tiktok is abbey and darby and it's been really helpful for me to learn things like this I wouldn't have known before.

" five times larger than the Titanic"
I'm so sick of people comparing the new ships to the Titanic....EVERY modern cruise ship is significantly larger than the Titanic. I just checked and the Vision Class would be the closest in size, still coming in about 70 feet longer and 30,000 tonnes heavier...
I think this only happens to "hold weight" because people never actually comprehend the ACTUAL size of the Titanic. If they realized how small it was, (to what we consider standard now) I think they would stop saying this. But I think people legit imagine Titanic to be the size of Freedom-class ships so then yeah...something 5 times larger is bonkers to picture.

THANK YOU @Va4fam
🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹
 

omg omg omg omg omg!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

that was NOT what I expected when I clicked this topic....I was certain it was going to be about something as "normal" as people leaving their trash around the ship.....
what was even in the bag that it had to be disposed of at sea? That doesn't just seem rude and against the rules...seems suspicious to me

I really do think living near a terminal is the biggest key. A lot of the cruise lines have low last minute pricing, especially on short 3 or 4 night sailings. If you're a even a 4 hour drive from a port, that's doable. Take 1 day off from work (if you can't work remotely), pack a bag, hop in the car and boom, you're there. Where as for those who have to fly, last minute flights are not nearly as kind on the wallet as last minute cruises. Then factor in that you have to get there a day in advance (so additional PTO used if you can't work remotely) and lodging for that one night and that costs and time outweigh the benefits.
Choosing lower cost cabins definitely help as well. Because we can only make a cruise once a year we sail in Grand Suites almost all the time - to really feel like we're splurging - but for that cost we could get at least 2 sailings in interiors depending on the ship.

that was NOT what I expected when I clicked this topic....I was certain it was going to be about something as "normal" as people leaving their trash around the ship.....
what was even in the bag that it had to be disposed of at sea? That doesn't just seem rude and against the rules...seems suspicious to me

Retire. Move to Florida. At least that is my plan 😂

If on an Oasis class and have the issue with deck 6 not going through use either 5 -browse the shops or 8-through the park! Any time in that park is great!

Usually, yes, the cabin hallways are pretty much open from end to front, but I don't know that I'd say they are the best way to get around.
1 - they tend be pretty narrow with just enough space for two people to slide by each other. Add in the regular presence of the cleaning carts or room service plates and sometimes that gets narrowed down to a single file space.
2 - the ships are pretty much designed so that you can get to the main public areas through public walkways. I only have 2 experiences where I've used the residential hallway to get through.
 - Deck 6 on Allure and Harmony: because of the design of the promenade, deck 6 public areas end midship so most people go down to 5 to cut across the ship. But if there is a parade, dance party, sale etc that makes the promenade busy, using the cabin hallways - which do go all the way through on 6 - can be a great way to get to the other end.
 - Deck 4 on Harmony: the casino is in the middle of the deck and if you want to get to the other side without having to go through it you either go up to 5 and over or through the cabin area on 4.

that was NOT what I expected when I clicked this topic....I was certain it was going to be about something as "normal" as people leaving their trash around the ship.....
what was even in the bag that it had to be disposed of at sea? That doesn't just seem rude and against the rules...seems suspicious to me

I think the hard part with Thrill Waterpark tends to be the lines and feeling like you've gotten enough runs on the slides to justify the cost. I would personally think at $200/person in the middle of peak season...no...not worth it.

I think the hard part with Thrill Waterpark tends to be the lines and feeling like you've gotten enough runs on the slides to justify the cost. I would personally think at $200/person in the middle of peak season...no...not worth it.

yes it is possible to get the stateroom attendant to open the doors between balconies. They don't open entirely to make one huge balcony, but there is a door that opens to allow for easy walking back and forth.

Usually, yes, the cabin hallways are pretty much open from end to front, but I don't know that I'd say they are the best way to get around.
1 - they tend be pretty narrow with just enough space for two people to slide by each other. Add in the regular presence of the cleaning carts or room service plates and sometimes that gets narrowed down to a single file space.
2 - the ships are pretty much designed so that you can get to the main public areas through public walkways. I only have 2 experiences where I've used the residential hallway to get through.
 - Deck 6 on Allure and Harmony: because of the design of the promenade, deck 6 public areas end midship so most people go down to 5 to cut across the ship. But if there is a parade, dance party, sale etc that makes the promenade busy, using the cabin hallways - which do go all the way through on 6 - can be a great way to get to the other end.
 - Deck 4 on Harmony: the casino is in the middle of the deck and if you want to get to the other side without having to go through it you either go up to 5 and over or through the cabin area on 4.

yes it is possible to get the stateroom attendant to open the doors between balconies. They don't open entirely to make one huge balcony, but there is a door that opens to allow for easy walking back and forth.

I clicked on this thinking it might be Indy, and describing the trashy behavior we saw on our last cruise on her, which convinced us we're never taking less than 5 night cruises and never from Port Canaveral again... alas, it was about Indy, but not about drunk topless lap dances in the hot tubs while kiddies are watching a movie by the pool in the early evening. Sigh. 

that was NOT what I expected when I clicked this topic....I was certain it was going to be about something as "normal" as people leaving their trash around the ship.....
what was even in the bag that it had to be disposed of at sea? That doesn't just seem rude and against the rules...seems suspicious to me

So, my wife and I were on our Independence balcony while in Perfect Day this weekend.  It was later in the day after we had decided to come back on board.
We looked across at the balconies on Freedom when we saw a lady take a bag out and just dump it out over her railing.  I saw some papers and other items fall out.  I'm normally a live and let live kind of guy, but why the heck would someone do that?  Littering on land is aggravating, but on a ship, the cabin steward would have taken the trash out.  It requires little effort to get something in a trash can.