jean87510

I just booked a 3 day (Key West and Ocean Cay) on this ship for November 1, 2024 prior to a work trip in Disney. No YC but no biggie as we are only on for 3 days and ship is pretty small plus passenger count is low. We did get Aurea just to try it.

Yes it is. On my end, I don't like people calling people cheap if they choose not to do as they do. I think a lot of the pushback against not the gratuities but the extra cash being handed out is due to the overkill for lack of a better word of the tipping culture in the US since the pandemic. I for one would be more than happy with the tips included. I actually just booked an excursion in Grand Cayman where the tip was available pre trip. It saves me carrying cash around. If the cruiselines went this way, I truly wouldn't care where they spread the gratuities because I'm on vacation.

When the gratuities are prepaid, if using a TA, does that factor into the TAs fee?

Agreed. And they will brag how they continue to hand out cash.

If you really want to go, I'd just book through the company. I did that for our Juneau port day and it was cheaper than cruiseline plus they had some alternate times.

An hourly wage is a salary, isn't it? Or am I missing something? I had an hourly wage which I referred to as my salary.

Absolutely agree. I would pay maybe $35 pp. We thought about Hideaway but decided to head to our usual antisocial spot on south beach all the way to the right. Quiet and free with shade.

Actually Exploras has no overnights planned at Ocean Cay. Just 6 times upcoming in 2025 and 2026 will she be at Ocean Cay. Seashore has quite a few overnights starting in June at Ocean Cay. So to the OP, I'd look at the 4 day sailings if that is what you want.

You can use this argument to tip basically anywhere - movie theater employees for handing you popcorn and cleaning the bathrooms, grocery store employees who bake cupcakes or slice meat for you and keep store cleaned. The reason you don't tip them is because they have a salary. As does fast food places. And Starbucks. And the cruise ship employees who clean the Windjammer.

We have an upcoming overnight on the Seashore in June. As a matter of fact, every 4 day cruise on the Seashore has an overnight on Ocean Cay. So probably not yet a thing of the past.

It's actually interesting reading these responses then going on FB where people try to sell lanyards with designs or a few insist one should wear for safety as ID purposes 🤨. Personally for Alaska, I wear yoga pants with pockets off the ship and that's where the sail pass goes or in a zippered portion of my backpack with my license to get back on ship, cash, and a credit card. Lanyards are for work not vacation!

You haven't. People can be overly sensitive usually on cc but I think your post has received different opinions. I have never worn the lanyard onboard or on land during a cruise. And hopefully never will. I understand about wearing one on the ship if no pockets but for the life of me cannot understand wearing one off the ship.

App has worked on Divina since December 2023.

First time in Puerto Plata next April. We have started to look at things to do like day passes, the waterfalls, snorkeling but decided to pass as none look appealing to us (dead reefs, crowded waterfalls, many vendors). We enjoy hiking and exploring so we came across the cable car and this park with the Christ the Redeemer statue. Is it possible to walk from the Taino cruise port to the cable car start on your own? A mile or so does not bother us. After we were done, we plan on just staying at the port area for a bit. This stop is our last stop and follows the ABCs as ports so we will have our fill of better reefs.

I actually was looking at those 2025 runs as although I love MSC YC, I really cruise for the ports and unfortunately, Nassau and CocoCay don't interest me anymore. And am starting to avoid itineraries with Costa Maya and Cozumel as well. The southern Caribbean is much more appealing to us as avid snorkelers although we may be ruined as we just got back from Sydney to Tahiti cruise. I do have a 4 day upcoming with my daughter on the Seashore YC in June plus a 3 day in November on the Seashore YC. Not expecting too much as the 3 and 4 days are a little different from 7 days experiences.