WAAAYTOOO

If you have non-Pinns in your group then that’s a different story….and the check-in times would apply (to them) but for Pinns, the arrival time is entirely moot these days, as it is for Suites.  I have not cruised out of Bayonne since making Pinn so maybe they’re still going by check-in times, but every FL port now just ignores them anyway.  Priority boarding is one of the best Pinn perks.  Enjoy it !

We actually booked one of the “complimentary for one person” offers recently.  It was the oddest thing…so long as we stuck with the interior offer, it included both of us.  When I tried to upgrade to a higher category, suddenly they wanted to charge for person #2.  So for the first time ever, we have an interior booked !  Yikes !  I plan on hitting the RU HARD when it comes around.  It’s only a 4 night on Indy, so I guess I would survive if I don’t get any upgrade….but I won’t be happy !

I agree with @smokeybandit.  In order to file an insurance claim you must have suffered some financial loss that you are trying to recoup.  There is no financial loss in missing a port unless you have a non-refundable excursion already purchased and that’s not even possible on Labadee.  There is no claim to file.  

I always have trouble checking in with the app…so much so that I have ceased even trying.  I just go straight to the website now.

@Pattycruise you do know that now that you’re Pinnacle you don’t need to worry about a check-in time, right ?  I used to stress but now I just wait until I can easily get to the website and whatever check-in time I get is entirely moot.  It’s one of the best perks of being .Pinnacle.

On 3/17/2024 at 6:04 PM, bobroo said:

Just this morning I booked the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for my upcoming January stint on Brilliance. I admit I am paying a premium for this stay so that I do not walk outside on embarkation day and it is essentially kitty corner from Harrahs. I'm over spending by $50 for the night probably because of the free hour of indoor tennis I will never use. If I were you I would look up The Riverwalk on Google Maps and ANY hotel within a couple blocks will make for the easiest embarkation day you've ever had. 

 

@bobroo, just to clarify....the Hilton is directly adjacent to the cruise terminal ?  Slightly confused about your "...do not walk outside..." comment.

@GatorCruiser, do you have any idea if there are any access restrictions for the Pinns ion this sailing ?

Thanks !

@OCSC Mike, I read somewhere that the DJ booth has been completely removed from the Oasis pool on PDCC.  Is this true and how was the noise level at the pool when you were there (yesterday ?) ?  I may actually consider going to the pool on PDCC if that ungodly noise has been eliminated.

Thanks !

I read recently that "pending" means that your bid is being considered.  Whether or not your bid wins, in the end, is yet to be determined....apparently.

You’ve really done your homework, @jbrinkm.  I’m impressed.  I know you will have a great time.  You have chosen a magnificent ship with a top tier itinerary.  Congratulations on achieving your OW cert.   Looking forward to your live blog.

Unless I’m mistaken (and I’ve never bothered with any freebie from a concession onboard), the “charms” are just rope bracelets.  I’m not sure if there are any dangly parts that might be called a charm.  I believe @Lovetocruise2002’s daughter(s) might have snagged one or 2 in the past ?

4 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

fighting a headache from lack of sleep

...uh....you sure this doesn't have anything to do with the multitude of cocktails yesterday ?  

I'm too chicken to ever try to make a phone call while on a ship.  I don't use my phone for calling even on land ( I HATE talking on the phone) so I've never tried.  I'll stick to my internet and leave it at that...

That's really bizarre, @Pattycruise.  I've never seen that before on any ship.

I agree with you about Vision's machines - particularly video poker (which is pretty much all we play if we're going to play on a machine).  It seems to me that the VP machines are disappearing on all of the ships, but the last (and only, to be fair) time we were on Vision they still had a pretty good number.

The thing I HATE about account information on the machines is that it seems to change all the time.  One minute I will have 320 points and suddenly it drops to 0.  It's all over the place.  The casino host has told us in the past that the points info showing now includes both table and machine number but I don't believe that for a minute.  I'm still mystified about how points are accumulated and applied.

@OCSC Mike I see that you brought your wife one of those fruit-covered danish.  I do love those....not so much for the fruit or the danish but for the yummy custard.  LOL  I'll betcha if you ask the CL Concierge that they will get your some chocolate croissant for later in the week.  They're usually pretty good about that kind of thing.  Good luck !

Wait util you see a casino booking invoice that has been upgraded !  Those are hysterical....and completely unintelligible.  

IMO the promenade view is a lot better than an interior but that’s just me.  We actually like the promenade view but I would never want an interior.

It depends upon the type guarantee you have.  A neighborhood balcony can be any balcony including Central Park, Boardwalk or ocean view.  An ocean view balcony can only be an ocean view balcony -no CP or Boardwalk.

4 minutes ago, Smokey79 said:

It was not on purpose, but on day 1, I was chatting with the manager? of Giovanni’s and mentioned that I was disappointed that chicken Alfredo has disappeared from all the menus He just laughed and said that if I wanted it when we came to just let the genie know so they would have time to prepare it for me.

It was wonderful. LOL

Can’t say the same for my wife’s eggplant Parmesan. It was just gross. Bad enough we may not go back. 
 

My daughter ordered steak, shrimp, and scallops at Izumi. Not that big a deal but it was nice to be able to do so. 

Yikes....talk about a mixed blessing !  Glad you were able to get it though....sorry your wife's EP was bad.  UGH

We have a little walk-about (actually, drive-about) scheduled for mid-November.  Dan has a reunion of Marine aviators in Pensacola so we figured we would just keep moving west and try a Brilliance cruise out of NO.  Then, we will move north to visit my sisters and spend Thanksgiving before looping around and coming back home.

Even though I am from LA, I have spent very little time, and NO recent time in NO.  It's always been a bit sketchy (in spots) but the last time I was there (realizing it's been a WHILE ago) it seemed worse than even I remembered it.

Looking for advice/warnings for pre-cruise accommodations.

Since Dan and I have never been to NO together, we will probably do the tourist stuff so while we don't feel like we MUST stay in the French Quarter, we will be trapsing about in that general area most of the 2 days we will be there, pre-cruise, I would think.  We would also like to spend some time at Harrah's but I have absolutely no idea whether Harrah's is somewhere we would want to stay or not.  It's been there a WHILE.

Anyway....any help will be appreciated.  I have done a little preliminary research and I am unable to find whether there are any "stay and cruise" hotels in that area or not.  My guess is, no....but maybe others have better information than I do.

@JeffB,are you by any chance going to the reunion in Pensacola ?  

2 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

We haven't seen any mailers show up at our house for you in awhile

Me either.  I haven’t gotten a snail mail offer in more than a year.  ….but then, I don’t get any offers except for those that we win onboard…

…and Sorrentos.  SMH

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Quesadilla from ELF was so much better this time. Hot & melty.

 

You’ve already been to the WJ AND ELF ?  OMG….youre going to explode before the ship leaves the dock !  

What a wonderful live blog, Sabrina.  Thank you so much.  Have a safe and enjoyable (inasmuch as that is possible) trip home.  Can’t wait for the next trip !

Have a great time, @OCSC Mike and @GatorCruiser !

We don't get anything from the casino either.  Once, when we were on a TA, the Casino Host(ess) gave us a complimentary specialty meal but that's it.  I don't want anything though....I get enough of the cheap wine/champagne and over-ripe fruit from C&A.  Just send me some *#$@#% offers !