PhillyLady

Perhaps you can remember the popular Love Boat television show featuring the Pacific Princess, which I sailed on way back in the early 80's. The Mexican Riviera cruise itinerary was very famous then, leaving from LA and then visiting Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, and ending in Acapulco. It was great to stay down in Acapulco a few nights in one of the fantastic resort hotels and watch the cliff divers. There was tons of shopping, great restaurants, discos open until 4 AM for dancing, and very comfortable beaches. Do you wonder why all that has more or less disappeared? Crime and violence, especially from drug cartel gangs in those areas of Mexico created so many advisories that cruise lines just stopped doing that route. Most Americans no longer travel to Acapulco due to the high advisory level. I have also done the LA cruise going to Ensenada and Catalina, very sweet to see those places, but not necessarily hot spots to return to again and again. And yes, I visited Tijuana way back in the day when it was a fun shopping escape from San Diego --not sure I would ever set foot there again, sadly. Again, a lot of the violence comes from gangs. I am sure the Central and South American countries would LOVE to have more cruise lines and tourists, but do they have the capacity to create the infrastructure, and can they guarantee safety? Even Ecuador, traditionally a very safe place to visit, now has increased cautions in place. A long, long time ago I visited Caracas, Venezuela, twice on cruises--who goes there now? Unfortunately, it is unlikely that any cruise line can help these countries become safer for tourists. You have to think of a West coast cruise as more about the cruise experience itself rather than great ports. By the way, I cancelled my tour to Brazil I had scheduled for last month, because their new visa process required access to bank account information and/or pay stubs, which I was not comfortable sharing with a foreign government. They are doing that because the US requires similar information from Brazil citizens to visit here. If you want to see a lot of great ports, just save up and head to the Mediterranean. That is my favorite cruising destination in the world!

When we cruised on the Radiance in April we definitely had it--our cruise director came as Elton John, and others wore costumes as well. They did a mini dance show in the Spectrum, and it was lots of fun!

How funny that you are posting your thoughts on a blog that is SPONSORED by a travel agency that specializes in Royal Caribbean!! Do you know that there are more than 75 ocean and river cruise lines? Probably different agents have different preferences, experience, and expertise--that is the way most agencies function. Poor Harr Travel--getting named in your post--completely unprofessional. Don't you think it was also a waste of time for them to spend time with you and not get a booking out of the process? Maybe your travel agent talked to someone at RC and received the wrong information. Using a travel agent means developing a relationship--not just to save money, or time, but to have a resource that can assist, advise, recommend, and cover bases for you as needed. I always use a travel agent for cruise bookings, and when I contact my agency, I basically say--this is the line I want, the ship I want, the date I want, the cabin I want, here is my deposit, thank you. My agency is not as assertive at checking price changes as others, but that is okay--I do receive additional frequent flyer miles that I use later to book free airfare. They get a nice commission, and I let them handle the payment process. For my other trips, not cruises, I do book it all, but it takes a lot of detailed work: EXAMPLE--Finding FF reduced mile air RT to Switzerland to coordinate with vacation time, booking local trains in advance, reserving hotels along the route, reserving ski equipment, making restaurant reservations, booking Rome opera tickets, etc. Not much of a commission on most of those chores for agents. Full disclosure--I was a travel agent decades ago, and my agency booked very expensive cruises, so I learned from the best. Another disclosure-- I have been cruising for more than five decades, on many different cruise lines all over the world, and it is rare that there is something I do NOT know. But I knowing which cabin holds five people and an infant is not information one keeps at one's fingertips or memorizes. Travel consultants do not just BOOK travel--they can also DESIGN travel experiences for people, and try to match travel ideas to personalities and budgets. By the way, more and more RC cruisers are new cruisers, so they may not understand or appreciate the role of a travel agent, and just look for cheapest prices. Oh, I always double and triple check everything--with or without an agent. But when I make mistakes, I only have myself to blame, and must figure it out. With an agency, at least, there is another helping hand to make an error go away! Best wishes in finding your ideal agent!

I would never cruise on a cruise line just for my status "perks." I rarely drink alcohol, never do my laundry on ships (I am picky about the soap!), and I am a small eater (4 oz. meat maximum), so all that is just lost on me. Also, DH and I are in very good shape, so we do not need to be first on or off--we always allow those who use walkers, wheelchairs, etc. to go ahead of us. In my lifetime I have also cruised on cruise lines which have disappeared, so loyalty meant nothing in the long run. The truth is I pay little to no attention to any of my perks on any cruise line, and often pass using most of them. We cruise first for the itinerary and the wonderful on-water experience, which is pretty similar across all cruise lines. I am actually doing MORE cruises as I age, because I have more time and more disposable income, and I truly LIKE bouncing around lines because I get a lot of different experiences and perspectives. In April I was on RC (W. Caribbean), next month we are on Celebrity (Iceland/Ireland), in November we sail Carnival (Thanksgiving Bahamas), and next Summer Princess in the British Isles. Last Summer we cruised the West Med on Cunard, and right before that, a Viking Danube River cruise. And yes, we do lots of land vacations as well--husband is a skier, so we have to visit the cold, tall mountains many times during the Winter. For the past three years we have been taking the trains in Switzerland to different ski resorts. (No, I am not a millionaire, just a wise travel planner!) As soon as he retires I will book my dream trip, a tour of India staying in the Majaraja palaces, and visiting Nepal so I can see Mt. Everest. Life is short, and variety is the spice of life. As I always say, I am loyal to CRUISING. But, I do love to travel the world in all ways!

I happen to LOVE Salem--it is the quintessential spooky historic town, especially in the Fall nearing Halloween. I think the House of the Seven Gables is just a fabulous architectural treasure to see, and the town is very walkable. However, if you want to follow in the footsteps of some of the most important historic figures of Boston, then yes, the Freedom Train is a must-do! We like the Union Oyster House for a lunch stop. Have fun!

We were just in Costa Maya in April on the Radiance, and I was interested in that excursion when I also saw the beach had been switched, and the beach time was very limited. I also thought the tour cost went up a lot just for adding the beach component. We decided to just do the Mayan ruins and then return to the ship area for shopping. The Chacchoben ruins are interesting--not an extremely huge site, but there is enough to see and tour for a few hours.. The day before we were at Lamanai Mayan ruins in Belize--much more grand and stunning, with more to see and do. Many people like the beach for the whole day in Costa Maya, if you find a nice location. I booked the San Gervasio Mayan ruins and beach tour in Cozumel, and I really enjoyed that, as everything is small and close, so you get a little taste of everything. Cozumel has some of the most wonderful beach experiences, but I have been there multiple times, so I did not wish to repeat on this trip. Husband went scuba diving, but snorkeling would also be great. There are no Mayan ruins in Punta Cana, which is a stop of the island/country of the Dominican Republic. Have fun planning!

Dear Chris, Best wishes on your final contract. I know it is an interesting adventure working on a cruise ship, but it is also a long slog lacking a place to put down roots. I am sorry I do not really follow anyone on social media, just because I have been cruising for more than five decades, and traveling internationally even longer, so I don't have the energy or time to see what you younger people are up to all the time, but I completely support your creative efforts! I've been in that business class on a different airline--so nice to help recover from massive jet lag. I wish you lots and lots of future success in all endeavors! You are a bright spirit and will go far! Stay healthy, stay positive, and rock the travel vlog world! Au revoir!

Cruising in the Mediterranean is my favorite location in the world, and I have been blessed to enjoy the beauty of those blue waters for decades. I often feel that when I am on the water there traveling by boat I am following in the footsteps (the waves!) of great mythological figures like Odysseus and historical figures like Antipater of Sidon, who helped create the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Strangely enough, I almost always travel to Greece in the Summer, and I have never found anything closed. Hours may be adjusted, however, with earlier openings or later closings to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Yes, the sun can be hot, but you just have to prepare. Occasionally there are wildfire threats. We enjoy Celebrity because they offer comprehensive full day excursions with lunch included, similar to other lines like Princess (another line we often choose). My goal is never to save as much money as I can, but rather to SEE and DO as much as I can with limited time. After all, I chose this itinerary for the ports, not just for the cruise ship. Flying to Europe can be pricey! Rhodes is a wonderful place, and the medieval old city is very walkable from the ship, and certainly visiting the Palace of the Grand Masters is an interesting experience (lots of remodeling). We took a short walking tour to get our bearings, but then spent hours exploring, shopping, eating, etc. If you want to see an ancient site, you can head over to the Lindos Acropolis. Of course the beaches are famous and popular in Rhodes as well. We did not want to leave! To me, visiting Ephesus is a must-see in life. We took a very busy but marvelous ship tour (we were first off the ship) that stopped at Mary's home, the Basilica of St. John, and caught a glimpse of the Artemis temple ruins, but strolling through Ephesus itself was the highlight. Our tour guide provided so much detail and information, and the sights were just so superb--remember Cleopatra and Alexander the Great both walked these same streets! Another place I did not want to depart--just so much to see, and not enough time. After the tour we spent a short time shopping right at the port (nice bazaar), then had to run back to the ship. Okay, Mykonos, the playground of the jet set. However, I prefer to head off to Delos once I arrive, the desolate but stunning sanctuary of the gods. This ancient island has a number of great ruins to explore, especially the famous Terrace of the Lions. If archaeology is not your thing, you can find some great beaches on Mykonos, or spend a lot on shopping, or have a nice lunch with the view of the windmills. Arrival in Santorini is stunning--going to Oia is a must-do for the photo op and yes, it is usually quite crowded, but we took a tour that also brought us to famous Akrotiri, the possible original site of the Atlantis myth. Fira can get very busy and the cable car line can be very, very long (if it is even operating after all the earthquakes). I have not yet been to Thessaloniki, but it looks like a pretty city to visit. Well, I almost always build a pre-and post-land component into all my cruises, so I can stay for a few days and see more things, especially museums and local sites. I try to get a hotel with a pool so I can relax in the heat. Next month we are cruising to Iceland and Ireland--I will be bringing my raincoat. Have fun planning, and bon voyage!

I cruise in/travel to Europe frequently, and I always purchase a few hundred Euros from my local bank even before departure. I try to get a mix of bill sizes, but you can always run into a local bank in Europe and ask them to do this. Often the cruise ship only deals with US dollars. Many countries have exchange kiosks as well, but the rates might differ. Yes, many places accept credit cards, but there are some countries and places where fraud is more prevalent, so cash is easier. You can also use cash if you bargain when shopping in places like markets. Yes, I always tip all my local tour guides in Euros, about 10 pp or so for all day tours. It is always appreciated, and I do not feel taken advantage of as an American, as tipping has been in place since the Middle Ages, and originated in both England and the Middle East. Even in Switzerland, a very wealthy country, if you hire an all-day private ski guide you are expected to tip AND buy him/her a very nice lunch! I give my servers and room stewards, etc. extra tips at the end of the cruise, and sometimes in Euros, sometimes in dollars. Remember the Euro exchange means twenty Euros is worth more than twenty dollars. I would definitely tip extra to bartenders with whom I create relationships, but not to folks I just use once on the cruise. I always carry Euro coins for emergency use of public bathrooms, although some bathrooms even accept credit cards! We will be in Iceland (ISK-krona, NOT Euros), Ireland, and the Netherlands next month for our Celebrity cruise.

Wonderful information!! Thanks so much for sharing!

I use Chrome, and last week I could not make any of the RC ship deck plans load and update to different decks. Today it works fine. Sometimes I just think their website goes on the fritz a bit...

I have done several family reunion cruises about 15 people or so from child to senior--we usually try to meet for dinner, book a few excursions together based on ability (Grandma could not take the bike tours, just the bus), pose for some family photos, and so forth. Cruises are wonderful because they offer everyone an opportunity to do and enjoy something, even the recalcitrant teens who prefer solitude. On one cruise my niece ordered room service six times in one day--all chocolate mousse desserts! Family is a different dynamic, because there are relationships based on decades of interaction, AND you will have to probably get together and see everyone again and again in the future, so a good travel agent can be an asset by avoiding any favoritism, reducing competition, and staying neutral. The agent can also negotiate the best deal directly with the cruise lines, and help with cabin configurations. An experienced group travel agent can also provide ideas and recommendations for pre-cruise and on-board logistics. Do not put yourself too much in the spotlight, or you can be overwhelmed by family drama. Okay, a long, long time ago I took a large group (50+) on a cruise to nowhere (remember those?). As the host I had to be solicitous of all needs, check in with people and resolve their issues, and make sure everyone was having fun! I will say we had to be on a bus together back and forth for seven hours each way before we arrived at the port, so trying to entertain a bit, answer lots of questions, and pass the time is also part of the role. Have fun planning!

My brother and SIL are on that exact same cruise right now! I actually think it is their first cruise ever on RC so I will get a report when they return. 100% they are NOT daily bloggers--in fact, they are not on any travel websites, ha ha. I think they also stop in Portugal, not sure if you do, but if so, you'll need to add Portuguese to your language list. Have a wonderful time!

I have been on cruises for decades, and I know when there is a show that involves audience participation, always sit far from the stage, and always say no to participating. We had a couple from the romance game on our cruise last month gain everlasting ship fame as they confessed they had sex in a JCP dressing room. Of course the show was repeated again and again on the TV. Even young children were yelling "JCP" at them! Well, once they are off the ship no one knows who they are or where they were from, so it all becomes a bad memory. But, hopefully you can look back one day and see the humor in the experience. Please do not let one unfortunate show experience stop you from ever cruising again! Next time, just go dancing in the nightclub or hang out in the bar!

My father joined the Navy at age 17 and fought in WW II, but in the Pacific. I think that is where he developed his love of the water, which he shared with us by taking us on our first cruise decades ago as children! Yes, our young soldiers were very brave, and we are so proud of them!