arebee

Park here, https://www.parkcruise.com/  only minutes to the port and they run buses every few minutes.  We park there every time, half price compared to the port.  Never had an issue.

We did Carlbe Sky Canopy Tour.  They drive through some poor areas of town and up a poorly graded steep hill.  It was fun.  But that was back in 2014.

2 minutes ago, DocLC said:

@twangster I'm a huge advocate for Norway. It truly is a spectacular cruise and traveling through the fjords is unbelievable.

I actually had little interest in the Med until we found a killer deal on a winter cruise this past January. Our interests had largely been Northern Europe and the British Isles. However, we fell in love with the Med on this trip, which is why we're doing the Barcelona to Venice cruise next summer. Better yet, there's only one repeat port.

I've done 2 six month meds when I was in the navy, I know its not the same thing but I've been to a lot of the ports and we get to stay for a while so you get to do some good site seeing.

3 minutes ago, DocLC said:

I haven't sailed HAL in years, but am looking forward to the Koningsdam next month. Overall, they offer a good, low-key cruise product and they were actually the line where my child became hooked on the kids' clubs even though he had been on a couple of Disney cruises prior to this.

I'm sure you'll have a great trip. We did the Inside Passage on the Oosterdam and had a blast.

We're on Nieuw Amsterdam. 

1 minute ago, DocLC said:

In almost 30 sailings, I've only been on 3 ships more than once and one of those was a back-to-back sailing, so I'm not sure that even counts.

For us, the itinerary has become much more important than the ship itself and we're seeking new experiences while using the ship for our base of exploration. Sometimes, unfortunately, this means that we have to go with other lines as Royal doesn't always go to where we want to go. For example, we have an affinity for Europe as of late and have done some excellent cruises on the Radiance class ships to the Baltics and Norway/Iceland. However, to experience more of Norway this summer and wanting to go much farther north into the Arctic Circle, our only choices were Holland America or MSC. Next summer, we're doing a Barcelona to Venice cruise, which Royal doesn't offer with the stops we want, so we're going with Celebrity for that one.

If we do the Caribbean again, it will likely be the Southern Caribbean as we've visited the Eastern and Western Caribbean enough. And while we have taken cruises for the ships themselves, we found that the ship itself wasn't enough for us and that we've become itinerary-based people.

We are doing Holland America in September on an inside passage.  For us it was a timing thing, we will be in Vancouver at a conference and decided to take a cruise after and HA was the only one at the time.

I've done Brilliance, I have no complaints.  Doc beat me to the theater thing... I think it also has a miniature golf too.  One think to watch for (if you aren't D, D+ or in a suite) the Viking Crown Lounge is with the Diamond Club and Concierge Club.  We got kicked out so Diamonds could have their party.

51 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

The Radiance class ships still have a small theater, I believe.  I don't know if they are systematically removing these or not.  I hope they don't.  I always enjoyed going there to see a movie. 

Yes, I've seen a couple movies there.  Nice theater but small.

There are a few ships that have a dedicated theater (I don't remember which class) but others show them in the main theater.  But most show them outside on the pool deck in the evening.  I do agree, the aqua theater really isn't comfortable enough for 2 plus hour movie.

They've done away with custom forms, at least in the US.

22 minutes ago, monctonguy said:

But regardless....its not a good situation when you lose all your market gains from the past year(I went back and looked from April 2017, not twangsters chart)

They'll get it all back with the increase in price to Johnny Rockets.

Cool, welcome....

For some reason when I think of RC, Pink Floyd's money starts playing in my head...

43 minutes ago, whitsmom said:

Oh fun!  I have always wanted to try it.  There are 8 of us with our reservations linked so I think we will be at the same table.  This will be my first time at Giovanni's Table also.  We fly out in 37 days so hopefully, the time will pass quickly!

You aren't assigned seats so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to be at the same table.

I've done it twice.  Once it was played in a bar and once in the restaurant.  Then the actors come to the tables one by one and you get to ask questions.  You will be at a table with between 6 to 10 people.  Its fun but twice is enough.

13 hours ago, ADK said:

 Biggest problem was no one was checking their phone!

Once we pass the sea buoy,  My phone gets locked in the safe until we return.  I have no need to be connected 24/7.  That is the problem with todays society always want to know if someone likes your post, have to check in or have to text someone.  Unless there is an emergency reason for me to be connected, the reason for my vacation is to be un-connected.

I had it happen on Rhapsody, but I was tipping in cash.

I've heard it works but no experience.  Let us know, I have about 8 of them still wrapped in the closet.

I've found if you go to the same bar, they don't always swipe it.  Some just look at it.

54 minutes ago, Todd W said:

Just realizing i've never introduced myself.    Name is Todd and i'm from a small town just north of the Dallas metroplex (Wylie).    My wife and I will be married 7 years in October.  I have 2 boys from my previous marriage (14 and 16) who definitely keep us on our toes.    Michelle and I both took our first cruise in 2012 for our honeymoon.  We chose Mariner out of Galveston and instantly fell in love with cruising!   Second cruise we took our boys on Carnival Breeze which was a blast for all of us but she and I quickly felt like we were missing something.    We were in such awe of Mariner and while Breeze was a great ship, the overall feel of it just wasn't the same for us.   Not to say we won't try Carnival again but we've opted to book our next 2 cruise back on Royal  (Liberty in '19 and Harmony in '20).    As an added bonus, through our love of cruising, we've also (re)introduced both of her sisters and husbands to cruising again.   Both couples last cruised back in the early 90's.   2 of them went on our Breeze cruise and loved it so now we have all 4 of them coming with us on Liberty next year which will be great!  As for me, i'm the obsessive planner and want to know everything about our trip LONG in advance.   She leaves me be and doesn't want to spoil the excitement ahead of time so i have to make sure i parse out my info to everyone, keeping it minimialistic at  best so as to not burn everyone out.    LOL   i can't figure out why none of them are as obsessed as i am   HAH!      anyway, happy to be here.   It's a very refreshing break from all the drama over at the other site.      Love getting to know everyone here and appreciate all the feedback i've received so far on my questions.     Cheers!

Welcome, if you haven't make sure you sign up everyone for the crown and anchor society.

Freedom is older, Anthem is fairly new.  I've never been on Anthem but have done a few on Freedom.  I've also done the Oasis class, my favorite is Freedom.  Its smaller but it doesn't feel like it, less people.  I think Harmony is coming to Port Canaveral so there is another choice.  Some of those things you mention, I haven't missed on any ship that doesn't have them.  You find other things to do.  Something else Freedom doesn't have, Boardwalk.  But if you only take one a year, might as well pick the ship you really want to sail.  No sense settling.  I always start by looking at the deck plans for the ship I want to sail.  Then I read as many reviews I can (some people you can't make happy and some you can't disappoint) and filter what I want on the cruise.  There is a lot of experience here and I'm sure you will get all kinds of answers.  Good luck with your choice. 

6 hours ago, cruise-y said:

The Windjammer usually has hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries on the buffet at lunch.  I don't understand why people want to pay extra for that.  I think some of the ships have added a free burger/hot dogs and fries grille back by the Flow Rider as well?  This is a concept that needs to go.  

  I think you are talking about the wipe out cafe.

8 hours ago, CGTLH said:

Carnival is the only line that I'm aware of with a daily limit.

Glad I could help.

Holland America also has a drink limit.

Welcome.... Big "O" is a nice boat.  

3 hours ago, henrysea13 said:

ah it is so nice to not have such worries we lowly emeralds which I finally achieve the first night of my oct sailing will have to do for now and I know for a fact I will never be able to enjoy the mysteries of the suite lounge my income has doomed me to this fate but my booked future cruises will get me to the diamond watering hole sometime in feb 2019 for now I will deal with the luxuries Jack experienced in steerage on the titanic maybe I can meet a rich spoiled girl as he did to show me the luxuries of the suite class if not for the cruise but for an hour or so but with the spectrum now going to segregated experiences this may never happen I love the cruise life and will always enjoy it whether I have to do it from below deck or above some of us have it and some of us don't being one of the don'ts is not so bad I'm still riding the seas and for now will have to be satisfied with my deluxe plush C+A robe happy cruising to all 

I'm right there with you... Guess being in a suite is a rich mans problem.  Wow, someone who someone else think shouldn't be here even though they've spent about 100K to cruise on this line.  If thats the case maybe those who cruise in a suite shouldn't be allowed the the MDR or Windjammer, after all, we're just steerage...

We've used parking doctors several times.  Just a warning, its a dirt lot but we've always had good experiences with them and will use them again. They were always outside waiting when we returned.  They use a van so it gets tight but they run quick and its about 1/2 mile from the terminals. Our last from Tampa was a few months ago but and it was at a different terminal than the ones before.  If you get there early (before 11) and you have a suite (or pinnacle and D+ I think ) you will stand in a different line than others. I don't remember which terminal we were at but found it kind of unorganized for check in.  If no C&A status you will be directed to a long line I call Disney line (back and forth).    Others have a shorter Disney line.  I notice this terminal didn't allow anyone on until 11:00.  We've go on earlier in Canaveral.  It seemed like a longer walk from the terminal to the ship but once things got moving it went pretty smooth.  I'm usually up tight until I get on the ship, but this terminal made it worse.  Being Emerald we were sent to a separate line but all lines converged at the check in counter.  Even my wife said I was a wreck, most of the time I'm focused to get on board.  This terminal threw me off.  Wish I could remember which one it was.  I'm sure you'll be fine, they will point you where to go, if you can get there about 10:30 so you won't have as long to wait.