BrianAlt

Clearing cookies always works for me. I can usually just clear the last hour so it doesn't blow away all my settings (passwords).

This doesn't bother me very much. I don't decide to book a cruise or not based on the deposit. I'm always going to book refundable, so I can get my deposit back. And you end up paying the same total at the end. Sure, it ties up a few more bucks. But I don't tend to worry about that very much. I know others aren't in the same situation.

This is why I'd rather vet the excursions myself and not book with the cruise line. I find the excursions on my own tend to be more personal with better customer service.

For Rome I recommend Rome In Limo. Here's a tour description: https://www.romeinlimo.com/tours-of-rome/sightseeing-tours.htm You have to get your own coliseum and Vatican tickets, which you should buy before you go. They can also secure you a Vatican tour guide, the drivers cannot tour the Vatican. It has to be a certified Vatican tour guide. I recommend doing that because of the limited time. Get as many people together and share a van. That's the most economical way to go.

Almost sounds like a gag. I mean, I'm sure they have the basic information available to them. Might not be all that helpful, but it would have been something!

Also, it's one big dining room with multiple floors. You can wander if you like.

It should be one of the choices among the specialty restaurants. If it's missing, you may not have MTD and may have early or late seating.

I definitely wasn't assuming you did or would. I meant "you" in the general sense.

New post reactions included.

Hey! The forums look different than they did 30 minutes ago!

Make reservations for every night. You can always change them when you get on board if you need to.

Yep! What do you do with the cigarette after you're done? Throw it off the balcony, of course. This is 1) illegal, it's littering into the ocean and 2) very dangerous. I hear you saying, "very dangerous you say? Come on, it's a cigarette." Yes. Very dangerous. Why? Because it blows off the ship and then back on the ship. Blows onto a balcony where it lands on the balcony and starts a fire. Or it blows into an open door and now it's really bad. That cabin is now on fire. What if someone is sleeping in there? Plus it smells disgusting. I can smell it while I sit on my balcony. Smoke makes me physically ill. I get headaches. If you think this is PC, I'm not sure what PC means then.

Hard to say on a 12-nighter. It might be 2 or 3 formal nights.

I recommend Bernard's Tours, especially if it's your first time there. http://www.bernardstours.com/ Do tour II and you'll have about 90 minutes at Orient Beach. Otherwise, my recommendation is, take a taxi to Marigot, get some chocolate croissants at Sarafina, walk around the Marigot jewlery shops and the waterfront market. Then take another taxi to Orient beach. Pay $20 for a chair, umbrella, maybe a drink. Stay there for as long as you want and then take a cab back to the ship.

Officially that's true. But, as you said, it doesn't seem to matter. Plus, if you're Diamond or better it definitely doesn't matter.

No, no advantage to doing it sooner versus later.

90 days and online check in is required. But the advantage is, they have all of your info and it speeds the boarding process.

Don't have a phone with a camera? Yes, you can wait until the port if you need to.

Certainly possible and one of the things I listed. "I think it can be better or worse depending on the ship, time of year, itinerary, availability of ingredients, the chefs."

First time on a group cruise for me in September.

Definitely only available on certain ships.

I found the MDR experience on my Harmony in October, 2016 to be somewhat mediocre. I found the MDR experience on the Independence in July, 2017 to be very good! I don't think it's a thing that has fallen down over time. I think it can be better or worse depending on the ship, time of year, itinerary, availability of ingredients, the chefs. One note: service on both was top notch.

You're welcome! I think it is the CD's choice. But thinking about the itinerary, I think it would have been tough to do it. The only good time would have been an afternoon on a sea day.

We used West Quay Cars (westquaycars.com). £95 for 2 people or £150 for four people. Need a big car for the luggage.