satxdiver

I have been using a CPAP (resmed 10)for the last four years and travel with it (I am retired). Airport security have seen plenty of these devices and don't even blink an eye. The airline does not count it against your limit. I put it in the overhead. Onboard the ship I put it on the nightstand beside the bed (barely fits) and then hook it up to the outlet over the desk. This usually entails a light extension cord that I carry with me and magnetic hooks so I can run it across the ceiling instead of tripping over the cord. The extension cord the ship will give you to use is much heavier than my 15A #16 light wire. I ask the room attendant for some distilled water (usually a gallon) and leave the remains for them to pick up. Works great. We now both use epens to inject medicine and ask the room attendant for a disposer for epens so we don't have to take them home.

The crew will accept any money you want to give them. USD might be easier for them rather than some other currency but they gladly accept any and all monetary gifts.

We were on the Emerald for a 15 day cruise last month. The door signs were present but not in a large number. Our steward did not mention at any time about door signs being not permitted. So not sure about the "fleet wide policy". We sail again this fall and will see if it is enforced at that time and ship.

I have been going to the Veteran's meetups ever since I started cruising on Princess. There are always veterans there that sometimes have very interesting stories to tell. I never miss them. On our last cruise on Emerald there were dozens of veterans present. We are starting to see younger veterans present including women. Thank you Princess for hosting the meetups and for the Veterans OBC. We appreciate it.

I agree. I am vacation even thought it is endless and appreciate the one price which in my case is plus. I can order whatever drinks I want in any quantity and we both get the internet access. To me gratuities are an added cost of the cruise and would never delete them. I have bought plus ever since it was introduced. I hope they keep it and not increase it anymore with gym classes (at my age?), the special desserts (just looking at them adds calories!) and other benefits. I do drink a bit but nowhere near the limit of 15/day. I have been known to penny pinch and keep frequent tabs on my folio several times a day but to me plus is worth it.

OMG!! Never remove the gratuities. If you cannot afford them stay home and save the total cost.

Basically no swimwear. Shorts in the MDR on informal nights can be worn as well as jeans in good repair. Tshirts with sleeves (no sleeveless), athletic shoes or flip flops or some kind of shirts. Dress standards on PCL has been going towards the more informal like other mass market cruise lines.

We were on the Regal for the 3/10 sailing. We were not told anything about door decorations but then we seldom put up anything on our door. This door was two doors down from our cabin and stayed on the entire cruise.

We just got off the Regal on Sunday. In the MDR I saw shorts and tshirts plus hat. It appears that they do not enforce dress codes at all. I was shocked. We both wore more respectable clothing to the MDR with long pants etc. Felt like I was on a carnival ship!

For someone who is accompanying wine aficionados but does not like wine, an alternative is offered. The other reason may be that Good Spirits is crowded.

Texas state liquor laws requires all alcohol served in Texas has to come from a Texas licensed distributor. It further bars all discounts and "offers" such as 2 for 1 or doubles for the price of one which makes the package illegal in Texas which includes offshore waters up to 12 miles. It is a PIA. Further if you purchase any alcohol or cigarettes while on the cruise from any source, you must pay Texas excise tax when you debark in Galveston with the alcohol regardless of your final destination. The state sits just outside the exit from the terminal to get their pound of flesh. In days passed one could simply hide it and just walk by. We deboarded the Regal on Sunday and they had a notice in the pater to scan in a code that I presume collects the fee. We gave up taking alcohol home years ago as it is just as inexpensive locally.

Some of the port charges when you booked had gone done by the time you sailed. So they refund the difference which happens quite regularly.

The night of the first sea day which is most likely the second day aboard having boarded the day before.

We have always ordered a glass of wine at dinner from our table attendants. One can do that whether or not they have a "package". If no package they will ask you to pay for it. Regardless the server will always charge any drink you order to your account which will or not be charged to your folio. Go to dinner, sit down and order your preferred drink from your server first. They will go get it.

Older and experienced cruisers covet the window suits so always expect that they are sold out unless you book when the cruise is first announced or you are lucky and find one just after it was cancelled. They usually are less $$$ than the minis but have the same room.