Bowen

1 hour ago, Mark_A said:

You are supposed to get a pin in your cabin on your next cruise after reaching diamond.  I didn't get one so went to the Diamond Ambassador and she gave me one.  I never saw any other "Recognition"

This.

We keep our budget the same and bump to different rooms to accommodate. Be it balcony, window, or interior, what’s important to us is the cruising, not the room.

I love the pinnacle pin people, they are adorable! I always talk to them about their cruising and they always seem happy to chat.

It was great on Allure, terrible on Liberty last year (I am not sure if that was Star Link though). It probably is ship dependent.

3 hours ago, Rfk said:

If I’m ever on a ship that parks at Nassau, we’re not getting off the ship. 

Perfectly said. Same.

We’ll be here as well, can’t wait!

We brought cash with us specifically for this purpose, handed it directly to him.

I eat well and keep things in check on the regular so I can do whatever on the cruise, and then when I get home I just increase my daily deficit a little (I track my calories in an app) and get back to my normal weight range within a few weeks. I find that just having a healthy lifestyle normally makes it a lot less likely I’ll go crazy on the cruise, because I’m so used to eating a certain way. That said, if I want it on a cruise I get it, lol.

So do you get this on the cruise after you have reached 140, or on the cruise in which you reach 140?

I would never correct someone else’s kids, it can just get way too messy too fast. It is very upsetting that anyone would treat any member of the crew that way.

Thank you so much for all the detail here, it was a wonderful read (in addition to the much appreciated hotel recs).

15 minutes ago, Zacharius said:

Plenty of good hotels in San Pedro and Long Beach. I tend to just find that area on Google Maps, search "hotels", and it'll show you the ones around and their ratings. They also give some pricing, though I've found that to be frequently incorrect. I recommend booking directly with the hotel on refundable/cancellable rates, as those can be cancelled and re-booked if the rate comes down.

Thanks! I was looking at Long Beach, but I wasn't sure if that was the right area. There are two ports, right? Long Beach and Los Angeles?

It is shocking to me how often this happens now. I have been cruising for 20 years, first cruise as a honeymoon in 2003. Up until the relaunch (I did not travel during the restrictions) I had never once witnessed any type of medical emergency. We've been on four cruises since the restart and there have been medical emergencies (more than one) on each cruise, and two deaths that I know of. What in the heck is going on? 

I'm looking around for a hotel to stay in the night before departure. I don't know the area at all so I'm hoping to get some recommendations for a good hotel or good area to choose that's close to the port (or within easy Uber) while not breaking the bank. I don't need there to be any draw for what's outside of the hotel. We'll be in late so we'll get right to the hotel and go to sleep. Thanks!

I would imagine this might mean you have to soon be Diamond plus and above to use it.

We went up to change for formal photos and heard the Alpha call. We started trying to make our way down about an hour late and they had the exit closed. They were making calls trying to get permission to move the body, so I presume it was a death. The crew came out when there were a dozen of us and escorted through the emergency exit.

Yep we had this happen last cruise. It wasn’t an issue at all at the port.

That said, if goes on for a long time, all bets are off.

1 hour ago, jaygee2729 said:

In one of the shutdowns there were no tours to the Arizona. 

According to their site they do not shut down if the govt shuts down.

No effect. They remain open.

On 9/18/2023 at 8:32 AM, TexasNative said:

 

2) When they say you can bring two bottles of wine per person, is "wine" interchangeable with vodka? LOL  

 

This made me giggle.

4 hours ago, Xaa said:

Nice!  I *think* dialing in has gotten a little easier in the last 6-8 months.  You were getting down to the wire @Bowen.  Bummer on the one who can't go, great news on the one that can!

Do you know what the cut off is? I was thinking it might be a week, and we took care of this on Friday, so I was very glad she found out when she did.

One of our party found out that she couldn't go on the cruise, which leaves in seven days. We were able to call RC and change the guest name without any problem at all. It even updated all of our reservations for the new guest. Really excellent service. 

If we have an adult with a passport, but a child with a birth certificate, do we just go through the BC line when we leave the ship? 

Thanks!

I wonder if it was possibly someone disposing of their loved ones ashes and including a note? I’m trying to see the best here, but it’s a reach.