Mike A

I have used the AT&T $10 International plan, and it worked perfectly on the Gem (2017) in the Bahamas and the Joy (2022) in Bermuda. As soon as we were a few miles offshore. The cellular service was available and there was no longer an ability to pick up the ships cellular. I also had Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi on the ship at sea and used Wi-Fi calling. It worked great for me for calls and texting. Not so much streaming.

Back on 1/23/2024 we booked our 4/21/2025 10-night cruise on the Majestic Princess (Rome/Trieste). Princess had a $0 Deposit promotion with $200 OBC per cabin and 40% off. Just keep checking as things keep changing.

My experience is almost identical to yours except I have not sailed on HAL in 40+years LOL. The steakhouses on all lines are meh to me. This is most likely due to the great Steakhouses where we live in Metro NY, and I love to grill good prime steaks. That being said our #1 specialty restaurant on NCL is Le Bistro and #1 on Princess is Sabatini's. Our next cruise on is on the Majestic on 4/21/25 which does not have Sabatini's. However, there are many rumors out there stating Harmony will be replaced with Sabatini's when Majestic goes into Dry Dock in March 2025. I have my fingers crossed 🙂.

I have had 19 crimes in New York. It is very nice.

Given the fact that they sail from Bayonne, if they did not do this the passengers don’t get a good look at the Statue of Liberty at sail away. They can only do this when tidal conditions and the NY Port Authority permits. Captain Kate started this when she was Captain of the Celebrity Summit.

The ship going up the Hudson is the Anthem of the Seas. Since RCCL and Celebrity docks in Bayonne, they will routinely go up do a circle around the Statue of Liberty and then go out to sea.

@JamieLogical I hope you get it. As I stated in post #23, M-L 107&108 are the absolutely best Mini-Suite's on any if the Royal Class ships. Between the HUGE balcony, and spacious separate Bedroom-Living Room, there is nothing like it. Basically, getting a Suite for the price of a Reserve Mini.

@JamieLogical I am looking forward to following along on another one of your great Live From Thread’s 🙂 @Crown Cruiser I totally agree with everything you said above. We stayed in M108 on the Royal Princess in 2016. It was fabulous with a HUGE Wraparound Balcony. I would take over a full suite, now that it is Reserve Class in a heartbeat. Mike A

Most of the time. Embark/Debark almost always takes place in Brooklyn. The only time they would use Manhattan is if NY is a port of call in the middle of cruise, occasionally at the beginning or end of a Trans-Atlantic (not always), or an inaugural. The only other time a Princess ship would Embark/Debark in Manhattan is if another ship is scheduled at the same time to be berthed in Brooklyn. Either a Cunard (most likely Queen Mary), MSC or Princess Ship.

Thank you very much @HoneyBubba. Hopefully Sabatini’s will replace Harmony. If they could transform the Double Down Bar to Crooner’s it would make many people, including me very happy 🙂

On the Majestic, Baja and Aloha 432 and 433 are Accessible. The staterooms and balconies are huge with a stall shower.

Thank You @LACruiser88!!! That’s what I figured too. Hopefully that is the case. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise and look forward to following your great live from thread🙂🙂🙂

@LA Cruiser1st off I have been following your live from and have enjoyed enjoyed minute 🙂. You stated the Majestic will have a 2 week dry dock in April 2025. We are on the 10 day sailing on April 21, 2025, Rome to Trieste. Did the Staff Officers provide you with exact dates in April? Hopefully, we are not affected and will have added pleasure to dine in Sabatini’s, our favorite specialty restaurant.

On the ship I use the medallion net internet using Wi-Fi calling for telephone calls, texting, FaceTime and streaming. As stated above make sure you are in Airplane Mode and turn on Wi-Fi calling. In port I have the $10.00 per day AT&T International Day cellular plan. Just need to make sure that you can use the plan in the country you are visiting. I’ve used it in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Bermuda and The Bahamas.

While I have always auto tipped as well as give additional to the Room Steward and all waiters, back when we used envelopes in 1999, when we were on the Maiden Voyage of the Carnival Triumph, Our Room Steward and MDR Waiter were useless. However the Bus Boy was amazing and more than made up for the Waiter. Therefore, we cut the Room Stewards tip in half and gave the Bus Boy the recommended tip for the Waiter plus more, and the waiter got the Bus Boy’s tip. That was the ONLY cruise where the service was sub par which I attribute to being the maiden voyage. We did not book as such. However it was supposed to be the 3rd cruise just like the Sun Princess. As much as things change they stay the same LOL.