SteveinSC

1 minute ago, wstephensi said:

Large cargo ships, trucks and trains are at the current terminal 24/7 along with large cargo cranes that cover the sky line. 

 

I thought about that. Literally, every time ive been downtown, there are huge cargo ships there, and the cranes are loading and unloading.  I would think that the cruiseships arent much more, or less, a "nuisance" and the added revenue from added tourism would be welcomed.....buuuuuuuut....I dont have to live there, either. So...... 

This is a pretty good article that, to me, sounds like local residents are concerned about the "What ifs" and things that will affect them, pertaining to the construction, added traffic, and potential nuisances of being so close to ships and the terminal. Not sure if anything has been determined, beyond this.     

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/how-the-sc-supreme-court-defines-affected-to-determine-charleston/article_5c24c93e-8bc9-11e9-9ba2-2329c72fa493.html

7 minutes ago, AnnetteJackson said:

You should stop by Dust off Brewing CO - look for the bald bar tender with a beard - that is my son.  Tell Jonathan that his mom and MATT sent you

Ive been to Dust Off several times!!!  Awesome place!!!  Ill definitely look for him next time im in there.  

Keep pushing at those sales meetings for them to use Chucktown!!!  Weve decided to stick with RC going forward, to build our Crown and Anchor status....but boy is it hard to pass up a Bahamas weekend cruise where I can be off the boat, and home by lunch at the end. 

1 hour ago, AnnetteJackson said:

I love a driveable port!  Allows you to cruise more often.

I would think, from a sales stand point, this would be a HUGE benefit to RC.  It would open up cruising to more and more people. Not everyone can afford to pay cruise fare, AND purchase airline tickets. I would think they would want to spread out the options to make it more available to more people. 

1 hour ago, AnnetteJackson said:

And Rock Hill..... My son lives there!  I am there a few times a year.  great place you are at !

....and getting better, all the time. Its changed A LOT just in the last few years. You should check out Legal Remedy Brewery, for lunch or dinner, next time youre here. Its by far my favorite spot for beer (they serve a local hard cider, also) and food (pub nachos with pulled pork....amazing). 

Putting the knowledge of this group to the test. I could google, and find out, im sure....but Id rather ask here.  Currently, to my knowledge, only Carnival sails in and out of Charleston, SC. I love the idea of having a port so close to home, and would LOVE for there to be a RC offering out of that port. How are the ports determined, and would it ever be a possibility for there to be an RC offering out of Charleston?  

1 minute ago, CruisingCrewser said:

I guess they are sufficiently paranoid to make donors wait out  the incubation period. 

C.Y.A. in full effect. 

Ive seen cruises that are labeled as "Panama Canal" cruises, but they just stop in Colon, as a port. Is that what you mean by "partial?" 

Edit: ive not seen them with RC....but with other lines. 

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

What would it do to a baby’s nervous system ?  Don’t mean to be glib...just wondering if it’s safe for someone who’s preggers.

Yeah....thats why I say take it with a grain of salt.  No human studies have been done, during pregnancy, but no fetal implications have existed in animal studies. The actual science of it is way beyond me and my mind.....too many beers drank, and too many sports stats stored.   I did product training for associates with Cabelas for a while, and this stuff was one of the most impressive items I encountered. 

Somewhat related, somewhat not.....what I can recommend (and its considered safe for pregnancy...but take that with a grain of salt because no human studies have been done) to keep mosquitoes away, no matter where you are, is permethrin spray. You thoroughly spray your clothing, before you travel, and it will stay on your clothing during your trip (generally lasts through UP TO 6 washings.) I use this stuff, backpacking and fishing, on all my clothes and gear. IT WORKS. It was developed by the military for jungle use, and affects the insects nervous system. 

 https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-insect-repellent-treatment/

My wife is an OB/GYN nurse, and I feel that qualifies me as an expert. Kidding....but what I do know is that, like @Matt said....the Zika thing was blown WAAAAY out of proportion.  GASP! Media would never do that, would they? What you should worry the most about is being that far away from your OB during pregnancy.  The further you get into pregnancy, the more they discourage you from traveling, not so much because of outside dangers (though they are to be considered) but more because you are going to be impossible to care for if something were to happen. If youre dead set on traveling during pregnancy, just call your physician's office and they can advise you on what would be necessary, and recommended. 

6 minutes ago, Geraldine said:

I wss in tides the first night had booked had to queue for 15 minutes food was cold service was rushed, i was realky looking foreward to the entertainement in the 9 days only 2 shiws that were good .We decided to stay and eat in the windjammer a buffet, something we are not use to, was just expecting so much more friom this company, used to the finer thing this certaintly was not, this is why im on this blog , to see if im missing something Should be able to take the negstive as well as the posive

This is why @Matt says to start out on the bigger ships, I guess. They offer SO MUCH that people can find their cruising groove on a ship.  I started cruising before the bigger ships existed, so I dont really have any unmet expectations....Its all extra icing on the cake, and I love icing.  

I know someone who, literally, just cruised on Jewel of the Seas in the Mediterranean a couple weeks ago.  It was a 10 day out of Rome ( or whatever that port is north of Rome) and went to several of the islands of Greece. She came back bursting at the seems at how wonderful it was. The thing she kept going on about was the level of service, and how everyone she encountered remembered and addressed her by name. This was her first cruise, and she stated it would not be her last. 

I say all this to point out the previously made point about "cruising isnt for everyone." I dont mean to belittle anyone's experiences, but cruises are like ALL things in life. Two people can experience the exact same thing, and based on their preconceived notions and perceptions, come away with completely opposite descriptions. 

Something else to note....its a good idea to not carry all your cash, together, in one place.  Some in wallet, some in pocket, some in shoe, MOST in your safe in your room. 

Ive never done it, but I can say I have seen people carrying their clubs on and off the ship. Depending on the size of your bag ( staff/cart/carry) its as awkward and annoying as it ever is, with the added inconvenience of getting them off and on the ship through the scanners, and youd have to lug them around port to and fro.  Might be worth checking with the golf shop, where you plan to play, and inquire about rental sets? Unless, like me, youre not mentally prepared to play with who knows what kind of clubs....lol .

4 minutes ago, Matt said:

I truly believe this is a result of years of people complaining the website is bad, and so they are waiting till the chat is more complete rather than releasing it in early stage.

When @Matt says "I truly believe" or "I think...." im convinced he KNOWS. He has his RC news story videos completed so quickly, and blog posts done so quickly, that im convinced he has these things done, waiting for RC to release a statement, and BAM....he goes live with it. Either that or hes the quickest content creator ever.....perhaps hes a wizard, or a genie....hmmmmm......

.

AWESOME feedback here. Thanks everyone!!!!  Rainy weekend coming up here in the Carolinas. Perfect timing. 

1 hour ago, Jack_Lime said:

Im going to Cozumel this december on majesty, and already bought a neat little stack of pesos because my bank had a decent rate.

All these replies say that they would prefer USD... Did I make a mistake?

 

Nope. It still spends....and it's a cool souvenir, because you will probably have some left, when you get home. 

Theres this one crazy documentary....Poseidon. Boy, talk about intense.

Thanks for the quick replies, all! 

2 minutes ago, coneyraven said:

I still enjoy watching "Drydock, A Cruise Ship Reborn" off of YouTube when they were doing a rehab  of Soveriegn back in 2004.

Having been on Sovereign a few times, that would be great! Thanks! 

Your bank, locally, can either do this for you, or best advise you where to do it before you travel for your cruise. You'll want to ask the conversion rate, as the business doing the conversion can determine their own (within reason) rate. A quick Google search can give you a quick reference point. 

That being said, I wouldn't bother. You don't need to worry about conversion rate if you use US dollars, and in each Latin American country I've been to, they DO prefer US dollars, as it's commonly more stable than their own currency. 

Alright, fellow obsessed cruisers. I'm looking for some content to binge. What are some documentaries featuring RC (or other) cruise ships that I can watch, and what app/service are they on? Thanks in advance. 

15 minutes ago, twangster said:

They have learned that there is more profit to be had with big ships. 

Bottom line....if they can make more profit by building bigger ships, even at the cost of losing ports, they will. Its ALWAYS, ALWAYS about maximizing profit. 

3 minutes ago, Jill said:

I would imagine as these ships age with their dated systems, RC might bring in new, smaller ships?

Good question! Seems like the strategy is to build juast big, and bigger ships.  Cant continue to service ports that require smaller ships, AND build bigger ships....something has to give, eventually. I know, personally, Id rather have more ports than more big ships. Part of the reason I love cruising is seeing places I couldnt, otherwise.   

Depends on what the "base price" is, I suppose? I feel like the sale prices are always a wash. With all these sales that come and go, ive not seen it be significantly cheaper than any other time, yet, even though the catchy promo titles would lead you to believe they might be. Id venture to say your costs are similar to ours, at the end of the day, just without the promo titles. But I could be compleeeeetely wrong. Just a hunch.