Traveling Mike

I have stopped looking at other cruise lines because I was disappointed, and any cruise is too expensive to be disappointed. Disney priced me out of the market. I look every now and then, but the prices are still way too high. Carnival, I got tired of drunk people that were rude. Norwegian, I have one left booked for 2024 but I am not looking anymore because they are expensive when the entire trip is done, and they just are not as good to work with before the cruise and during the cruise. Princess, the last two cruises made me feel out of place. The music and activities were designed for an older crowd than me and I am 62. Celebrity, I am going on a B2B in November, but they keep changing their pricing structure. I cruise solo and it is very hard to find a good deal with them.

First you need to understand that Alaska has two completely different cruises. One is the inside passage; it starts in Seattle or Vancouver and goes up the middle of the Alaska Coast. The other one starts in the south and goes to Anchorage or starts in Anchorage and goes to the south. The large majority of the cruises are the inside passage. I have done two of them and enjoy all the towns that you visit. All of the ports are ones you can explore on your own and do not need an excursion unless you want one. I have not done the one to or from Anchorage, but I would love to. The difference is to be able to spend extra days in north Alaska. After you pick a cruise enjoy doing your homework on all the great places you will visit.

RCL Air2Sea (844) 278-9745 I do my homework and call.

I just paid $4.95 for a gallon of gas and felt I was getting a good deal. If I can get a burger and fries for under $10 I am doing good. 2 1/2 years ago gas was $3.25 and lunch as $4. Inflation is killing everything including the cruise market. We have been waiting to go back to Disneyland until the prices goes down and I just read Disney is raising prices. Lucky, I have been booking 2 years out, so I am OK for the next year. All I can do now is book my 2025 cruises when they come out and hope the prices come down.

Looks like you can book both ways and have been able to do it for a while. Can you book a Celebrity Cruise at Next Cruise on Royal? - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community

Everyone has to have a drink package, but you can get the Zero Proof Drink Package if you do not drink Alcohol. You just have to let them know why. Classic Drink Package Premium Drink Package Zero Proof Drink Package (Premium Non-Alcoholic Drink Package)

Royal did it all wrong. They should have kept the ports in Israel and gave each of the cruiser a gun and helmet as they exit the cruise ship at port. They will get the real Holly Land Cruise Experience. Or maybe Royal is looking out for their cruisers....

Everyone should have known it was coming. If I was a cruise line, I would have done it years ago. From what I have seen, people cannot just enjoy a lobster dinner. They have to be gluttons and have 2, 3, 4 or more lobster tails. If the cruise line charge people for the extra and they have a fit. It is easier to just remove them from the menu.

If you read the fine print, it is all covered there. You should appreciate the cruise line putting your safety before everything else. You did or will get the port fees back. My last cruise they put it on my ship account and if you did not pay attention, you would miss it. Everyone is expecting to be compensated for everything. I drop my hot coffee on my lap, sue the company that gave it to me. I missed a port because it was not safe, give me extra money. We need to relax a little and enjoy life (and your cruise)

I have 7 cruises booked right now and all of them are paid in full. I know there are 4 of them the price will not go down because they are studio balconies and those were booked when the cruise was opened and filled within weeks. The others might go down and from my experience I can get refund or onboard credit for the difference. I like to have my cruises paid in full, it just makes me feel better. It would be easier if I left some unpaid when the price goes down but they always seem to work with me and my travel agents.

I have done a S2S from Miami and one from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. On both of them the cruise line supplied transportation to the next ship at no charge. The one in Miami just put us on a shuttle van and took us to the second ship. The one from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, they put us on a large bus with the people going to the Fort Lauderdale airport. They dropped them off then took us to the cruise port.

This is one of the sites I used planning my New Zealand cruise New Zealand in November: Travel Tips, Weather, and More | kimkim

With there being 18 decks, you will not see much difference in deck 6 and deck 8. If you were talking about deck 6 and deck 18 you would see a bigger difference. I think most of your differences in movement will come from front to back. The front will have more up and down movement from waives. The back would be next with the middle being the pivot point and have the least. Now going on an Oasis class ship you should not have any sea sickness but if you do the Guest Services has sea sickness pills.

Here is a great video from @Matt that walks you through the entire check in process.

When I cruised out of Seattle, I did my research and stayed by the airport. I then got a shuttle that took me to the cruise ship. I was told because of the homeless and drugs downtown Seattle was not a nice place to visit. The hotels near the airport were cheaper than downtown. I used Seattle Express for the shuttle and did not have any issues All Transfers Seattle | Seattle Express

Unless they changed it lately the Unlimited Dining Plan you can eat at multiple restaurants in one day. I have had dinner at one restaurant and went to another just to have their desert and coffee. I have also had two small lunches at Johnny Rockets on the UDP.

The prices have come out at the 10-month mark in the past. As soon as the price comes out, I will book the flight. Then I watch the price on Air2Sea and on the airlines. if the price on Air2Sea goes down I call and rebook for the lower price. If I get a good price with the airline, I will cancel the Air2Sea and book with the airline.

I started mine on my Birthday so I would remember to renew it. It goes for a year, and I figured I would not forget that date.

@Jonathan Tanner Welcome to the Solo cruise world. There is so much to learn and know. If you spend a little time on these blog posts, you will learn a lot. here are a few items from a Solo Cruiser: There is a difference Solo and Single. Just as on land be careful and know what your expectations are. There are always Solo Cruser get together but in my experience they are terrible. they are a no-host and in a bar that is busy with other cruisers. It is very hard to figure out who is there to meet people and who is there to have a drink. Join the activities to meet people. I meet people just setting at the bar, eating at the buffet and doing ship activities. If you want to meet people eat dinner at a large table. If you want to get dinner done quickly go at 6 pm and set by yourself. I can show up at 6 pm and have dinner done in 30 minutes when I eat alone. Look for the Facebook Group for your cruise. Just search Facebook for your ship name and date. You will end up with many friends before you get on the ship. last one for now. As a solo cruiser I love the longer cruises on a smaller ship. They tend to do more planning before the cruise and more activities during the cruise. You also see the same people for 14 days and have time to meet them. I love sea days to relax and enjoy the ship and people I have meet.

Does anyone know if the ship caption rotation is posted anywhere on the information jungle? I am going on the Celebrity Beyond this November-December and everyone on our Facebook group is asking if Captain Kate would be our Captain. I figured I would ask the group that has all the answers (most of the time).

What you are forgetting is people with junior suites probably have bids in for the Grand suites also. RCL will make more money giving them the Royal Up then giving you the Junior suite.

Something is not right about those prices. I travel solo all the time and have never paid more than the price of 2 people. Some of the time I have to all in to get the GTY rate because they do not show it for solo travelers but i have always gotten the price.

@Matt Where do I find the group cruises? I would love to join one.

I have heard about people having trouble getting credit on B2B cruises. They have to go out of their way to get credit for the first cruise applied so they would have the next tear for the second cruise.

I am also from California, Fresno. I have always carried travel insurance and it would cost me anywhere between $80 and $150 depending on the age of my son. Now I am a solo traveler and paid about $120 per trip for travel insurance. This last year I purchased an annual policy for $259. this year I have done 5 weeks on a cruise ship and 6 road trips. All of it was covered by the annual policy. The one thing about the annual policy is you cannot collect multiple times on the amount. When you collect on the policy it subtracts from the maximum payouts. they do have a number for issues while you are traveling. I have never used it and am not sure how good it is. Standard Packages ACCIDENTAL DEATH/DISMEMBERMENT $50000.00 Per Insured BAGGAGE COVERAGE $2500.00 Per Insured BAGGAGE DELAY $1000.00 Per Insured $200.00 Payout Limit Per Day CONCIERGE SERVICES Included Per Insured EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND REPATRIATION OF REMAINS $500000.00 Per Insured EMERGENCY TRAVEL ASSISTANCE Included Per Insured IDENTITY THEFT ASSISTANCE SERVICES Included Per Insured MISSED CONNECTION $500.00 Per Insured PERSONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE Included Per Insured SECURITY EVACUATION $100000.00 Per Insured TRAVEL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Included Per Insured TRAVEL MEDICAL EXPENSE $50000.00 Per Insured TRIP DELAY $1500.00 Per Insured $150.00 Payout Limit Per Day TRIP INTERRUPTION 100% Trip Cost Per Insured WORLDWIDE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE Included Per Insured