Sealegs

Talks are still not going well: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/largest-port-on-us-east-coast-new-yorknew-jersey-begins-prepping-for-what-could-be-first-union-strike-since-1977/ar-AA1qRnKU. We are sailing out of Cape Liberty on 9/29. Hoping for the best!

Thanks Ashley, that's the inside scoop I was looking for.

So we will be stopping for a day in Port Canaveral in a couple of weeks, and will be renting a car. As a New Englander, we grow no oranges (that I know of), so we would like to visit a place that has fresh Florida oranges while there. Two questions: are they in season in early October; and if so, does anyone know of anywhere near the cruise port that we can go to try legit Florida oranges? Thank you!

Thanks @Ampurp85. Makes sense, I was not aware of the distinctions among the wi-fi plans so very helpful.

I am looking at a Celebrity cruise, not booked yet. My wife and I usually get the RC refreshment package as we don't drink alcohol. On Celebrity, it's hard to tell if we would be better off getting the classic drink package along with wi-fi at the time of booking or get the zero-proof package and the wi-fi separately after booking. Does anyone have any insights? Thanks in advance!

I have been getting this message also trying to book a Teppanyaki lunch. Several days and times appear as available, all sea days, but none of them can be added, all this same error message. I called RC and the person said it is because there is no lunch offered on those dates. I was able to book a Giovanni's lunch on other sea days on the same cruise. I keep trying, but it has been several weeks of this. I assume it is a technical issue, as I am reasonably sure there is a lunch on that day.

That bread wagon and the barrels are so on point that I would go just for that.

I also believe there should be options in terms of the size of the refreshment package refillable cup. There is only one size, maybe 12 ounces or so. I tried to fill it and pour it into a larger thermos for the evening on the balcony, but the machine fought me on the second refill, giving me some kind of error message. the refreshment package carries unlimited soda, so why not allow larger containers to be filled for those who choose to do so, particularly since there are not that many machines and refills are a bit of an errand.

We were recently on Anthem and room service came by like clockwork each morning with a carafe of hot coffee, heavy cream, two china cups, spoons, i.e., the way I like it. If we go to a hotel we go so far as to bring our coffeemaker from home, so yes we are particular but the great ship crew made sure we were happy.

According to the union, they represent "maritime workers in North America, representing 85,000 longshore workers along the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Great Lakes, and major U.S. rivers" including "includes longshore workers in Eastern Canada and the Bahamas." (https://ilaunion.org/2024/06/ila-halts-negotiations-with-usmx-amid-automation-disputes/). A different article states that the union covers most of the east coast. https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dockworkers-halt-labor-talks. I'm not sure if this would affect cruise ships though hence my original post.

Looks like the longshoremen contract talks are not going well and the contract expires on September 30. To those who would know: would a longshoremen work stoppage also affect cruise ports?

We bought a 20 photo package before boarding. On a seven night cruise, there were two formal nights and one in tropical dress, so the photos were taken then for the most part, although we also had a photo from each of the ports we stopped at. There were photographers around the ship, mostly evening hours. They were using varying backdrops, so we stopped at the backdrops that appealed to us. The photographer will take several shots, very carefully directing the pose - put your foot here, your knee this way, etc. The photographer got our name and room number each time. At some point near the end of the cruise, we went to the photo area and reviewed our photos after swiping our sea card. Then we picked out the best twenty, although we could purchase additional. I thought the twenty photo package was worthwhile, especially for a first cruise. We got digital copies downloaded on the spot and then an email download a few days after the cruise, so we could do whatever we want with them, such as print 8x10's or post on Facebook.

Glad you had fun - we would like to try lunch at Hibachi, but we are not looking for sushi. Do they do the hibachi cooking at lunch, or is it just sushi?

It could be that no other ships are there the day you are, so demand is soft as a result. I see on cruise mapper that Icon is by itself at Perfect Day on two different July days of this year.

Tania (or anyone else who has gone to the Bahamas in late September or early Ocober), did you have any problems with rough seas or other hurricane season related issues? We are considering that season, but hesitatnt as my wife has had some motion sickness issues in the past. Thanks!