Pattycruise

Best way to get over a cruise "hangover" is to plan a new one! Stop by next cruise and book it!

According to Cruisehive Norwegian was forced to cancel another cruise on Norwegian Sun.  This time it was a 9 night Alaskan cruise it was to set sail on July 5th that was axed last minute as the vessel is still undergoing assessment with the US Coast Guard in Seattle.  It has been a tough spring and summer for some Norwegian passengers, who've seen their Caribbean, Alaska and even European Cruises all canceled.  
I can't imagine what the people on the July 14th cruise are feeling, they have to be on pins and needles hoping and praying the ship is ready to set sail for their cruise which for now is still schedule to depart.

I don’t think they are pandering, smoking has been allowed all along, except for a brief stint during a Covid surge.  I believe the CEO tapped around the answer of a smoking ban by alluding to the loss of revenue.  I’m sure they’ve put a lot of data analysis into the decision.  As a non smoker you can vote with your wallet, as many have.  

"Vroom!"  ... +18 % gratuity.  

I just hope they don't market it as some sort of "Ultra" Voom and want $30/day for it.  

Please be advised. Although it's rare, the menu items you see on the app (especially in the main dining room) in advance of the cruise may not necessarily be what they are actually offering on a particular day. It will give you a good idea what to expect though.

Well Covid craze is almost over but I’ll share a thought on leaving one in the cabin  for the next cruiser.I found one on my balcony.  So my first thoughts were did someone leave it behind? Did no one clean the balcony?  Or did the neighbor push it through under the divider?
During these Covid times typically the rooms are cleaned and sanitized between cruisers, but on my dozen cruises since the return I’ve been in 2 cabins that clearly were not, and noticed the sign “this room had been cleaned/sanitized” was not on the door. 
I think if that sign was on my door and I found a duck in my safe, drawer or other location I’d question the thoroughness of the cleaning staff.  

I know you don't have to have it, but we found that WhatsApp worked much better than our usual message app on our phones (Android phones, from new to 3 yrs old) on the ship. Very fast, whereas the message app had a lag and sometimes didn't go through. Others have said you don't need a separate messaging app - and you don't! - but thought I would let you know what our experience was so in case you have the same problem, you have an alternative to try. Very easy to set up.

My wife definitely got Covid on our last cruise, developing symptons on night 8 and testing positive when we arrived home Day 9.  She initially thought she just had a sinus infection.  It really wasn't practical to contact Royal's medical department given the timing.   I previously reported that we wore masks inside the ship and on tour buses except for about 4-5 hours per day eating or having a drink/dancing at Boleros.  We were fully boosted.  To me, this just shows that Covid 19 is very contagious and one doesn't know how susceptible one will be when exposed to it.  I tested negative, but I wasn't sleep-deprived like my wife.

Treason Day.

I had such an issue getting if for one of my sailings….I finally sent an email inquiry, in the interim I got the credit and while on that sailing I received an email reply to my inquiry saying it could not be processed because the stock statement was over 30 days old (it was not).  They suck!  Sorry that happened!

good luck.  I do believe they ask for a longer lead time.
 

It’s difficult to start a sailing with that surprise parking lot at Bayonne, been there find that..  
the casino set up on Adventure leaves a lot to be desired.  The narrow path between table players and the railing leads to being pushed and elbowed by passers by  im so thankful I go to need a wheelchair or  walker as it’s near impossible to navigate that casino without.
the pool staff can address the towel situation if you point out particular chairs  in violation   It took a near uprising on Oasis to get it done   But that ship is reportedly better on marking the chairs with a warning and  then following through with the removal of items.
 
As far as the food, I sailed Adventure the end of May and it was fantastic,  I can’t imagine what’s happened between now and then.
This is peak sailing season for kids.  I know it’s easy to forget that when ours are grown or if there’s a particular itinerary you are interested in.  Celebrity cruise line might be the one to go with for a different vibe. 
 

We were notified today that we are upgraded from interior to balcony for Sunday's cruise.  I was very surprised, but happy, to get notified so close to sailing!

If you answer yes to to any of the health questionare you will most likely be denied boarding

It's always the area I decide to walk through and I always forget. 🤢

Actually, I am just as excited today as I was last October when we started our 14 cruises thus far this year. Eleven more planned before Feb. The last cruise, we didn't even get off the ship. Do we like one ship over the other? Do we like one Port over another? Yep. However, I enjoy it all. Yes, we have a lot of data points, but we know what we want: refuge, sameness, free stuff (food, drinks, room). We set different goals. Our current goal is 26 different ships within 3 years. January 2023 gives us 15 of the 26. Our secondary goal is every different Port we can hit. Jenny, I'm a simple man, but I do like to cruise. 
I feel a tad sorry for the once in a lifetime or once a year cruiser who has a bad time. These people put a lot of resources in a very special event and I hate that everything does not work out (flights/weather/excursions/entertainment/rooms). 
RCL has 26 ships and hundreds of Ports. If the first time is not perfect, please try again. We love it. 

As a platinum member you’ve had experience with Royal before.   What was different this time around? Is it a post Covid thing?
What is better about Carnival? (I’ve never sailed them) and have you been on Carnival post Covid…is the experience the same as preCovid?/better than Royal? And if so how?

I’d get really creative if for  some reason you can’t play the games, I’d FaceTime into a loved ones watch party and have them point the phone to the tv!  

Sharing opinions on the ships does help others to ponder whether or not that ship might be a good fit for them.  
my very first experience on Anthem, I had a gorgeous ultra spacious ocean view all the way forward.  I thought my feet would fall off from all the walking ( traveled with the kids, had to go back to the cabin multiple times for things forgotten). It was all I could focus on, how much I hated that walk.  However, reading things like that here (didn’t know this site then) I’ve learned to not book that forward on  ship that size and to really think of cabin placement. Same can be said for small ships with the centrum, learned yo book “down the hall” to avoid the late night party noise from the centrum. For that particular cruise I didn’t want late night partying, knew nothing of the centrum and all the noise that came with it, just a bad fit.  So I can appreciate the gripes, I sympathize and learn from them as well as share the knowledge I’ve gained to help others.  Btw, I’ve sailed Anthem many times after that first “bad” experience, and to me, it’s a great ship, it’s the cabin location that had killed it for me.  Glad I gave it another shot.

Sharing opinions on the ships does help others to ponder whether or not that ship might be a good fit for them.  
my very first experience on Anthem, I had a gorgeous ultra spacious ocean view all the way forward.  I thought my feet would fall off from all the walking ( traveled with the kids, had to go back to the cabin multiple times for things forgotten). It was all I could focus on, how much I hated that walk.  However, reading things like that here (didn’t know this site then) I’ve learned to not book that forward on  ship that size and to really think of cabin placement. Same can be said for small ships with the centrum, learned yo book “down the hall” to avoid the late night party noise from the centrum. For that particular cruise I didn’t want late night partying, knew nothing of the centrum and all the noise that came with it, just a bad fit.  So I can appreciate the gripes, I sympathize and learn from them as well as share the knowledge I’ve gained to help others.  Btw, I’ve sailed Anthem many times after that first “bad” experience, and to me, it’s a great ship, it’s the cabin location that had killed it for me.  Glad I gave it another shot.

This is the new cup, on Oasis. 

Sharing opinions on the ships does help others to ponder whether or not that ship might be a good fit for them.  
my very first experience on Anthem, I had a gorgeous ultra spacious ocean view all the way forward.  I thought my feet would fall off from all the walking ( traveled with the kids, had to go back to the cabin multiple times for things forgotten). It was all I could focus on, how much I hated that walk.  However, reading things like that here (didn’t know this site then) I’ve learned to not book that forward on  ship that size and to really think of cabin placement. Same can be said for small ships with the centrum, learned yo book “down the hall” to avoid the late night party noise from the centrum. For that particular cruise I didn’t want late night partying, knew nothing of the centrum and all the noise that came with it, just a bad fit.  So I can appreciate the gripes, I sympathize and learn from them as well as share the knowledge I’ve gained to help others.  Btw, I’ve sailed Anthem many times after that first “bad” experience, and to me, it’s a great ship, it’s the cabin location that had killed it for me.  Glad I gave it another shot.

Sharing opinions on the ships does help others to ponder whether or not that ship might be a good fit for them.  
my very first experience on Anthem, I had a gorgeous ultra spacious ocean view all the way forward.  I thought my feet would fall off from all the walking ( traveled with the kids, had to go back to the cabin multiple times for things forgotten). It was all I could focus on, how much I hated that walk.  However, reading things like that here (didn’t know this site then) I’ve learned to not book that forward on  ship that size and to really think of cabin placement. Same can be said for small ships with the centrum, learned yo book “down the hall” to avoid the late night party noise from the centrum. For that particular cruise I didn’t want late night partying, knew nothing of the centrum and all the noise that came with it, just a bad fit.  So I can appreciate the gripes, I sympathize and learn from them as well as share the knowledge I’ve gained to help others.  Btw, I’ve sailed Anthem many times after that first “bad” experience, and to me, it’s a great ship, it’s the cabin location that had killed it for me.  Glad I gave it another shot.

For Indy: