Traveling Mike

I do not like the 4-day cruises, but I have been on 2 of them in the last year out of Las Angeles.  How do I pass up 4 days on the Navigator for $300 a person?

I spent a lot of years cruising without any electronics.  I am a computer programmer and that was my way of disconnecting.  It was great.  The day we got on the ship the cell phones went into the safe and stayed there until the end of the cruise.  We would take friends with us and as long as I paid for the trip they were under the same rules.  My son is 26 and he still cruises disconnected most of the time.

Full Disclosure:   Now I have to tell you; in the last 3 years I purchase the internet package every time because of my work.  For me to be gone from work for 7 to 14 days can be an issue and they are willing to pay me overtime to take care of issues.  This helps me pay for the trip and for the internet package.  My son is taking online classes getting his teaching credential, so he uses the same internet package to do his homework while on the cruise ship.

Last Note:  If it was not for my work, I would not get the internet package and would cruise disconnected.

I do soda package on all of my cruises including the Sympathy.  The soda is unlimited.  I have never had the free style machines stop me.  You can go to any bar or dining facility and get a soda without the cup.  Most of the time I do not use my cup.  The only time I use the cup is when I want something different like Diet Root beer with Vanilla.  You need to get 3 or 4 sodas a day to break even.  

On the ship they do not check your ID for alcohol, it is on your sea pass card.  With you turning 21 on the ship I am wondering what will be on your sea pass card/ account.

My last cruise out of Los Angeles they would not let me take my luggage on the ship.  They told me there were to many people going through security.  They made me check it with the porters.  

Extra bottles will be returned at the end of the cruise.  When I go to Ensenada, I purchase bottles of Tequila and wine and get them back at the end of the cruise.

I have had the same issue in 2 of my last 3 cruises.  This is what I have done:

1. go to the casino and get on a slot machine.
2. put your sea card in the slot machine and connect to your stateroom account.
3. Request the money from your stateroom account.
4. Cash out the slot machine and get your ticket.
5. Take the ticket to the cashier and get your cash.

Note:  Do not try to double your money.  The Casino is there to take your money does not give you money.

When I am on the ship alone can-do dinner in 30 minutes.  I tell them to keep the bread (don't need the carbs).  I skip the appetizer unless there is something amazing (don't need calories from something that is just ok).  Then I eat the main dish and take my time and enjoy it.  About 1/2 of the time, I get my dessert to go (my snack after the show).

16 hours ago, CruiseRoyalDad said:

Mike, how do you communicate via text, when you are on different areas of the ship but only one of you have a device on wifi? Or is that not a concern for you?

RCL has a free messaging application.  You connect to the ship free Wi-Fi and you get the messages and updates of schedules.

Me and my 26-year-old son share one device for one person.  We just communicate who is connected.  While on the cruise I am working and he is doing his school work but we seem to make it work without any issues.  This allows us to save the money for other things.  

I have never taken my passport on an excursion with me.  Also leave it in your Cabin Safe.  I see where people said your suitcase, but you want it in your cabin safe.  If anything happens when you are on shore and the ship leaves without you or has to help you on shore, they will go to your cabin looking for your passport and important documents.  They will get them to you if they can find them.

As you can see it is a 50% 50% call.  It depends on your likes and dislikes.  The GTY will be a room with an ocean view.  It might be on the middle of deck 3 or it might be in the bottom back of the ship next to the closet.  I have cruised enough I do not really care where my room is so I purchase a lot of GTY cabins.  The reason you would pick the GTY is because of the money saving.  Is $150 a lot to you?  I look at the $150 as two or three shore excursions or 10 drinks on the ship.  I would rather have the GTY and have money to pay for something else.  Many people do not want to be on the very front of the ship or the very bottom of the ship.  For them the $150 is not worth giving up the location of the room.  Now you have to look at your priorities.

The ships staff is used to people not having their cards on the first day.  You will not be able to get to your cards until after 1:30 pm.  Anytime during the cruise, they can look up your purchasing information just by telling them your room number.  When they type it in their computer, they will see your picture and what packages you have and your Crown and Anchor status.  They can also see if you are a B2B cruiser.  Often even when you give them your card they will ask your room number.

I would like to thank everyone for the great advice.  I just booked my award travel and upgraded the seats for extra space. 

Thank you @smokeybandit @CruiseGus @WAAAYTOOO

I found the same thing when I cruised out of Miami.  After a lot of research, I ended up staying at an Airbnb and was happy with the stay.  I took a Lyft from the airport to the house and the next morning an Uber from the house to the cruise port.  I found an Airbnb that was in an older residential area and was very quiet.  It was a 2-story house where the top floor was sectioned off and I never seen the owners.  There were 3 or 4 rooms, 2 shared bathrooms, a setting room and a kitchenette.  The only issue with some people was you have to carry your bags up the stairs on the side of the house.  I paid $60 a night for my stay.

Here is the link for my Miami stay:  https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/12183643 

Here is the link for my Fort Lauderdale stay:  https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/42155778  *** this one was great, she picked me up at the airport and took me to the cruise ship.

I have never had enough airline miles to book award travel.  I currently have the miles with American Airlines because of a new credit card and I am trying to decide what way to book.  I am sure there are lots of people with experience on the boards to give me some advice.

I am traveling from California to Sydney Australia for a TP cruise.  I am looking at booking Los Angeles to Sydney on March 29 or 30, 2024 and then Honolulu to Fresno on April 30, 2024.  

1. I have it booked through Air2Sea for $900 with Fuji Air to Sydney and American Airlines Hawail to Fresno.
2. I can get American Airlines to Sydney and Hawaii to Fresno for 64,000 miles  + $32.60

The advice I am looking for is should I keep the Air2Sea and save my miles for a later trip or is the 64,000 miles a good deal?

I have always just showered in my cabin.  I use the walk back and up the stairs as the last part of my workout.

When I am by myself, I like to do the smaller Freedom class ships and do Trans-Atlantic or Trans-Pacific cruises with lots of sea days.  I am 62 and do not use all the toys and enjoy the smaller ship that are more interment. 

When I am on a port intensive cruise, I like the Quantum class ships because they have nice places to eat and bigger shows.

When I am with my son and friends, I like the Oasis class ships.  My favorite so far is the Symphony.  The ship is a small city with everything to do.  All members of the family have something to do.  

I have left my son on the ship multiple times.  The first time was when he was 10 years old and the last time was a few months ago when he was 26 years old. 

That sounds just like what they did in Galveston in April.  I would rather them do that much scanning than let a bad actor on the ship.

I have 6 on the books but 4 of them are B2B cruises so I figure I only have 4 on the books.  I don't have any for 2025 so I will feel better when those are released.  

On my cruises I have seen the same as @Xtentions.  On the ship it is about $25 a day and pre-cruise it was $14 to $18 a day.  The only time it does not pay to get the entire cruise is when there are lots of port days where you can use your cell service and not the ship internet.  Before the ships filled up, I was getting internet for $9 a day.

I have been on several Disney Cruises and loved all of them.  Their service is second to none.  The problem is they are so good that people are willing to pay the high price.  Disney priced us out of their market.  I could not see paying the price for one Disney Cruise when I can go on 3 RCL cruises.  

My April 2024 cruises (10 day and 18 day) on the Ovation are not available.  Everything else is there but not UDP.

The evening cleaning is a must for me.  That allows me to sleep in if I want to or get up early do things, eat breakfast and go back to bed if I want.  Then the room will be cleaned when I am gone for dinner.  The last two cruises this worked great.  We have dinner about 6 pm and the room is cleaned at that time.