UkuleleCruiser

Dagnabbit! Is it over?

That's true. We are booked on a free at sea cruise, and the money we are paying is making it clear nothing is free. I don't know that "free" is the reasoning. "Taken care of" is more like it. I don't mind specialty restaurant charges: It's the all you can drink costs on Royal. In order to make them worthwhile, I'd be drinking all day and all night and probably be carted out on a stretcher. However, the individual drink costs are reasonable on Royal, so we just buy as we go. Another unnamable cruise line used to have a wine package where you could get a bottle of wine each day. That worked great. Anyway, the free-at-sea package will save us a little bit, but it's not a knock on Royal: Just different. And really this comment I am replying to is just about the idea that you are getting something for free, which you are not. Last I checked, all of the cruise companies are for-profit busiensses.

I'll drink to that! Wait a minute: That would be extra. Unless we were at an art auction. I'll drink to that at an art auction!

This particular cruise line worries me because supposedly they are not ukulele friendly. Can you imagine?

I haven't read everyone else posts yet. Flame me if you want, but I am not specifically loyal. I am happy to try other lines, and experience other ports. For instance, we are planning a river cruise. We also have a cruise next year on a ship I won't name. Now, the majority of my cruises are on RC. And i will probably hit diamond with RC before I hit whatever the nameless ship line's equivalent gets hit. That will probably hold my attention. I mean, you can teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry, gut give a man a free drink and he'll never get off your boat!

I am very interested in this. I love they store inside each other. But mostly I love that they are pretty inexpensive. Now if only they were decorated with seashells, light houses, and flying fish....

Zip Lock: The Ultimate Cruise Survival Tool. They aren't just for keeping your phone dry in the tub.

Oh, wow! Didn't know we had to show passports again. That's new. I might settle for the very high tech ziplock bag. Which we always bring anyway. You, know: for leftovers. Oddly enough, even though we have always done this, none of our cruises have ever run out of food...

This is a great topic! When i go ashore, i bring phone, sometimes binoculars, sometimes a separate camera. I often bring a ukulele. My go-to bag is a convertible fanny pack -- Sorry, JL! It converts to a backpack, which is also useful for bringing back junk.... I mean, wonderful treasures... I don't think Eagle Creek makes these anymore, but here's a similar find: https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Convertible-top-Portion-Inside-Expandable/dp/B00UOCUI3S I also found a fishing vest that has a sleeve across the lower back. My plan is to stash the ukulele there. Maybe that will replace some of these other items I would normally carry in the fanny pack...

Wait a minute: I like ships, palm trees, and light houses...

Good tip. Thank you!

Good to know!

I am infected by your enthusiasm. To heck with hiding soft-sided bags under the bed.

That's funny! I was going to ask if you put a board across the top and made them into a table.

That's the second reference to ebag. Will definitely have to check that out! Kohl's is another good lead. The Briggs & Riley bags are a bit pricey, but with a lifetime guarantee.....

Thank you very much! They look darned sturdy! Do they fit under the bed? Where do you stash them?

I have a collection that I have gotten from various bid sites. I might be willing to trade some of them, so let me know what you might be looking for.

The old, thrift store luggage we have been using is not in good shape, so it looks like we are buying luggage for our February cruise. We do not have to fly to the port, so we have that advantage. But I need some advice: Recommendations for luggage? What would be perfect for cruising based on your experience? How about cost: What particular brand or style seems most cost effective?

Good plan. I do use my phone for pictures, but it's in airplane mode. We also don't buy internet on board. My ship purchases are when I am not cruising. We do go to Senor Frogs to check email.

I never buy anything I can get elsewhere. And so far my model cruise ships come from online websites. But I do like the T-shirt sale. I get RC shirts when they mark them down. Prefer to spend my money on drinks. Glad you had fun anyway. Does the watch at least work?

Sorrento's tastes better the later/earlier it is. At 11:30 PM, it's the best pizza in the world.

We love the art auctions. You can also win door prizes. Just know that if you win art, they will charge a shipping fee of about $30. We did that, and have our art proudly displayed in the tube they shipped it in. The more free champagne you drink, the less the $30 fee seems!

In no particular order: sit on the deck, or walk around the deck and enjoy the sea and the sea air. Sit on the deck and read guzzle free champagne in the art auction Live music live shows, including the ice show wandering the promenade They usually have a brunch and galley tour. Loved that.

Hmmm. Definitely gonna have to lower expectations.

Wow! Time flies!