I have slept in the interior room before, but this vacation i decided to book a balcony, yes it costs almost another $700 for each person, this is a 8 days 7 night Carribean cruise by RC , i remember when the last day about morning 5 am i went out to the balcony I saw the ship was slowly sailing into Tampa Bay and I saw all the city light along the river and i told myself if I was in an interior room i would have no idea the ship will be stopping any time and i have to get ready. I usually leave a little opening with my curtain in the room so i know if the morning has arrived because they changed the clock twice started from the sea day in day 2 , and I feel like this is my vacation i want to experience a vacation not just sleeping in a hotel room , if I am traveling on land and i really don't care what is the look outside of a hotel room, but in a cruise the balcony is an escape for yourself when you came back whatever from your dinner or events on the ship or excursion, i have walked out to the balcony to see the sea numerous times, i had nap on my lounge chair under the moon and relaxed under the breeze, I had my coffee after I had a shower and bathroom and waiting for the sun rise , many times when i get a little bored and I don't feel like social with other, i would lay down on my balcony to read a book or just resting. Most of the time i did it late at night like After 11pm or early morning. My friend suggested that I don't book a balcony because i have 4 port days and i planned for the excursion and it seems like that's not much use for the balcony, beside the first two day and the last sea day there are 3 days I am on the sea ,however even after a 9 hours excursion came back from hiking in the jungle and my watch told me i have walked 40000 steps almost 17 miles, and outside weather is like an oven , I just straight to the balcony lay down there , yes it was really warm and hot in Roatan island, but I was at the balcony using my binocular to look at the sea , if i spent the money i would use it , i am.a curious person, I like to see the nature, and looking at the sea with the sound of the wave, the white wave slapping on the ship body , the sun and the moon , it is a feeling that I am in a vacation, one day the ship ran into a rain and i saw lighting and then rainbow after that and one day a tiny song bird flew into my balcony and gave me a surprised since it was still two hours from the land . I know myself i am not the person who would go to dance or participate in the travia questions, I am not interested in buying jewelry and watches or diamonds on the ship, I am not an native English speaker so comedy isn't that funny to me cause i sometimes don't get it, i did swim a few times and used the fitness facility, but my best experience is my own alone on the balcony napping in a light breeze, if next time I go cruise, at least i will get an ocean view , because this is the vacation I like and balcony is truly worth it, it gives you another level of experience, for me at least.

Since they'd basically been taking advantage of his dementia for years by having him sign hundreds of painting made "in his style" for decades...what do you think they do now that he can't sign them anymore? Boomer cruisers LOVE their Peter Max paintings!

I will say I much prefer the Thomas Kincaid Studios approach, where he founded the studio when he was still alive to teach other young artists to paint in his style and so that style of art could continue on after he passed while still employing real artists without trying to pretend it was still him making the paintings.

Morning all. I have only been on two cruises, both on the Carnival Celebration. I realize that im spoiled for being on newer, bigger ships for my first couple times. I am now divorced, and looking to cruise more, but now I am solo. I really enjoy balconies, but every cruise brand wants me to pay double (the per person price) for a one room balcony, or any room for that matter. am I just searching wrong? How are others solo cruising for reletively affordability? I am open to all suggestions.

We were on the most recent Oasis of the Seas (Oct 11-18). Overall had a great time, we’ve cruised before with RC and other lines but we might be done with RC.

On Tuesday, we docked at Port Canaveral and did the Kennedy Space Center bus excursion. The problem occurred when we got back to the cruise terminal. Traffic had been bad, so the drive took an hour, when it’s normally 25 minutes. My 9 year old son really had to pee as soon as we got off the bus in the parking garage but there was no where to go there. We got in line with all the other people coming in from their bus excursions to the cruise terminal we were docked at and the lines were really long there (backed up outside on the escalators with just our ship passengers, no other ships were there that afternoon) with everyone trying to get back on the ship.

They had us going through security and metal detectors inside the terminal and not on the ship like other ports. After 20 minutes (with him REALLY having to go) we made it to the inside part of the terminal and the bathrooms were in sight but were roped off and the RC employee said he couldn’t use them because “we” are borrowing this terminal. It’s actually Carnivals I guess, there were signs everywhere.

I explained he was about to pee himself and she still said No and I could tell she had zero empathy. She said we would have to wait until back on ship. The security was taking so long that it ended being another 20 minutes after that before we actually were back on ship. I asked a different employee about using the bathroom that was literally 20 feet where we had been standing this whole time, saying he was going to pee himself and they also said no. He did end up peeing his pants (and socks and tennis shoes) while standing in line and was really embarrassed and emotional about it. We were reassuring him it was ok but I was and still am really mad/sad he had to experience that. When on ship, I talked to customer service/excursions about it, and while they were more sympathetic, they also said their hands were tied because it was the RC port staff not ship staff who manages that. A few people in line around us knew what was happening but I also didn’t want to bring too much attention in the moment because he was so embarrassed about it. Just a super disappointing end to what had been a great day. He didn’t want to go back the kids club after that because he thought kids in line knew what happened and would tease him.

So I just retired and gave up my home and want to travel non stop for several months...mostly using cruises - back to back, repositioning or regular cruising. With so much travel, I will need to plan carefully, mostly for cost reasons.
if any of have a favorite blogger or channel or even a book author, who provides good level of of detail about this lifestyle, please advise? Not so much interested in channels that just show you where they were last week lol.

Many thanks.

I turn 21 on november first and leave november first for my first cruise. I don’t have a passport but i have my photo id that expires on the first and my interim id paper. i also have my birth certificate and my social if needed for extra support. i went and renewed my license the 43 days or whatever before it expires so i will get my new one in time. waited the 3 weeks and checked where it was and what was going on with it, there was an issue changing it to an enhanced which slowed the process down. the person who handled that said i would get it within 7-10 business days and to put a hold on my mail so i can pick it up from the post office. did that. but the first dmv person i had spoke to (very rude) said i cant have a document that says i wont get it until after my birthday because i cant have a document that says im over 21 before being over 21. so i am unsure what is going on with that but i am really nervous about it all. the closest passport office is 4 hours away so that is not an option.

A sight to behold. Fetty Wap blasting as it rolled into one of the greatest cities in the world.

All jokes aside it really is/was wild to see and experience. I am glad they were able to bring a contingent of Americans that would otherwise probably never experience something like this.

Just got onboard the Diamond Princess in Yokohama. This has been the most organized process ever. 20 plus cruises across several lines and it was seamless

i received my passport a day ago and i’ve been yearning to experience a cruise. i don’t really have family or friends to go with so what cruise lines would be best for me (21F) to enjoy solo? or if it’s even a good idea at all. ty 🩷

I am currently working as Junior Front Office Team Leader, I was promoted this summer within 4 star hotel. I am based in Amsterdam, but originally from Ukraine. I am 27, and I earn around 2400 euros net +-. I am thinking about cruise job, as in this case I ca earn some money without living expenses etc. What would you advice me, as there are so many doubts, working schedule every day, Santa Barbara among employers, sharing a cabin.. Like can I pay some money within my salary to live alone? I do not have boyfriend, and I am not planing family or smth like that, so like for 5-6 month just to try I think it is not a bad option, but I read so many negative things about cruise jobs, so maybe I am just tired and want to escape my life, but maybe I will just trap myself more. Please I will appreciate any opinion 👐🙏

Is there an online travel agent that automatically checks for the best cruise price after you booked and gives you back the difference if a better deal is found, similarly to expedia for flights?

I'm considering snorkeling or natural trail with Disney cruising during December. But wondering if December gets too cold to get into the water... I know Florida's winter also kinda cold to swim. Any suggestions?

Explorer of the Seas departing from Ravenna Italy.

Here’s my review of it.

The biggest issue was that the cruise on the RH website was listed as “Venice (Ravenna)”. I admittedly did not look this up. I, like others thought that Ravenna was the port of call near Venice. Nope! Ravenna is a beautiful small town 2 - 2.5 hours from Venice. It’s also an hour train ride from Bologna.

I emailed them on this and they still haven’t responded to me. My original flight was to Venice and was able to get it changed to Bologna. This was wrong on RH’s part. If it’s Ravenna, just say Ravenna. Don’t say Venice when it’s so far. Heck, say Bologna- at least it’s far closer.

Boat: Dated. I knew that before boarding but still an accurate observation. Likely in line of upgrades-I hope. There are various dining options including the windjammer buffet. They have a spa, main pool/hot tub, and adult pool/hot tub. Late night food available at Cafe Promenade is great. That pizza is amazing!

Dining: we did the buffet primarily, but did the main dining hall a couple of times. I really enjoyed the variety in Windjammer. I preferred this over the main dining hall. The food quality could be hit or miss, but not with every item. Our wait staff were incredible. They were helpful and resourceful.

Outside Decks: my only comment on this are that the deck chairs were facing inward. On deck 12 which is just above the pools, there are 2 rows of deck chairs, one on the inside and the second against the balcony. The rows against the balcony, face inward. This makes no sense to me. They should face out to sea. I don’t want to see the people across from me and they don’t want to see me.

Service: no real issues. Everyone was polite and helpful. But I will say that I once asked the rep at guest services about the weather at our next port. She provided a document that had the temperature, but when I probed about wind etc, she said that was the average temperature during that time of year. That doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t take long to look it up.

Ports: kotor, Santorini, Athens, and Split.

All were great but for the weather in Athens and Kotor. It was cold and rainy. What are you gonna do!

Shows: fail. It like they weren’t even trying. I’m used to having shield every night. They had a couple nights where they showed a movie (Young Washington). The two nights they had a show it was pretty good, but this was bad overall. I remember cruises with shows every night.

Regarding the movie-, it’s an about an American revolutionary hero on a ship within Europe with a sizable European passenger list.

Rooms: pretty standard. I had an interior room that worked for us. One note: I know we didn’t come to watch TV, but I like to wind down the evening wi to some TV. They had your typical int’l news channels, and espn, but other than that it was garbage. Just c level shows and a couple of showings of Beetlejuice.

Macallen tasting: I paid $60 for this tasting experience. It was okay. First off, it was in the English pub, and it was already very loud due to us being in the pub and being on the deck where most congregate. Next, we only got to taste 3 items. For $60 you gotta do better. If they could have topped us off I would have been okay but that wasn’t permitted. For $60 I could have done something else.

On the beer selection. Leaving from Europe and staying within the continent, I could have used some local beer options. I had the same stuff I can get at home but far more expensive.

Here’s some free advice for RH. Stop making your drink package mandatory for everyone in the cabin. I would get it if it wasn’t the case. We drank at the ports and barely got drinks on board. I can go to my downtown for this menu.

The App. Major fail. It sucked. Delayed messages. My app was all screed up because it though I was my wife and I was also getting her messages. (Yes, I was logged in as myself). They were able to fix it but then it went back to what it was. Bad experience.

So I just got off a 4 night cruise on Harmony of the Sea and I had a great time, with one annoyance. After about 9pm the only hot food available was Sorrento's pizza, two of the 4 nights we got out of a show at 10:30 or 11 and I wanted to grab something, but that was the only food available and as such the line went halfway down the promenade. Is it normal for cruise ships to not have much available late? Seems to me like if you have shows and parties and such going until midnight you should have at least a couple food options available until midnight. Am I the crazy one? Is this a RC problem? Are there other lines that have better late night options?

First time cruise are going in February…
I’m assuming there’s a gym on the ship probably more than one, but do most ships also have workout classes throughout the day? Yoga, Pilates, and other aerobic classes?

My husband and I each received a complimentary Casino Royale cruise offer through NextCruise on Royal Caribbean. We're travelling with another couple, so I'm booked with my friend in one cabin, and my husband is booked with her husband in the other.

The other couple doesn't drink alcohol, but my husband and I would both like to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package before sailing to take advantage of the lower pricing.

From what I've researched, the person who received the casino offer must remain officially booked in their assigned cabin, so we can't simply switch names on the reservations. Apparently, we can request extra room keys onboard so each couple can stay together, and drink packages remain with the individual passenger.

I'm assuming Royal Caribbean's policy means we'd have to purchase four Deluxe Beverage Packages, even though only two of us drink alcohol.

Has anyone been in this situation and found a way around this, particularly with Casino Royale comp cabins? Or are we simply out of luck when it comes to purchasing the packages in advance?

Current offer for Deluxe package is $104.97 CAD / per guest per for 8 day cruise - so that's like almost $4K CAD.

When deciding on the shore excursion to take while on a cruise stop at port, what would you consider most important—exploring the local culture, visiting famous attractions, trying local food, or engaging in an adventurous activity? Also, do you like to join the shore excursions organized by the cruise line or prefer to go solo?

Hoping for someone who works on a boat to know the answer. How often per cruise do people get left at a port per cruise? What’s the most common routes/ports?

I recently got off MSC preziosa after a week long Norway cruise. My only previous experience was a week on Celebrity Equinox out of Canaveral to the Carribean. So much of what I read on line had me expecting my Preziosa experience would be mediocre at best compared to Celebrity.

In fact, I found the two to be very comparable in many ways. Neither were perfect, both had quirks and faults, but as an overall product I found the ships and experienced comparable. Celebrity had better entertainment and specialty dining options, plus their buffet was better and no table sharing at the MDR, but MSC service was far better and the Italian food at the MDR was fantastic. Given the price difference, it really was a tie for me.

Anyone get a similar offer in the mail? I’m going to do the zoom call tomorrow and I’m sure it’s a timeshare gimmick/sales pitch. Just wondering what the catches are if anyone has been through the rigmarole.

We are going to go on an Alaska cruise this summer. I know that June is “peak” time for best (driest) weather, however most of the ideal rooms and timelines are already booked up. The cruise that I am really eyeing only has availability August 10. From what I’ve read, August tends to be very rainy. While I wouldn’t mind some rain, I certainly wouldn’t want rain a majority of the time. And yes, obviously I know no one can predict the weather. I would love to hear what other folks have experienced in August.

Also, considering doing a round trip from Vancouver or a one way trip from Vancouver to Whittier. Does anyone have any opinions on that as well?

Hey all

I am a single mid 40s male who has never cruised before. As I get older it is something I would like to consider. Would you say that Virgin Voyages is the best cruise liner for someone like me? I looked at their website and I must say their cabin even the one without window looks stunning! I also like that they list prices for single people wanting to book a cruise unlike many other companies that will simply make you pay for 2. The no kids and no buffet thing is also very enticing.

For those of you who have travelled with Virgin, how did you find it?

Hello again! I recently asked for opinions on Virgin v. Celebrity and received an incredible amount of responses and things to consider when planning our wedding anniversary cruise, which will be our first cruise! My question now is, how does Princess stack up against these other 2? We are social, but more traditional people, we dont drink but love food, and will be in our early 30s come cruise time. We are looking at 4-5 night summer time itineraries out of Florida to the Caribbean!

Just got on Regal and sat down. I have been run into 4x by scooters. They are a fucking cancer that nobody will do anything about.