rmalbers

Those are great rooms and with the aft stairs on M class it's real easy to get to a bar!

I did a couple of move up tries but when the move up bids are more than the price of eating in specialty restaurants for almost every meal, that's too much for me, especially ships that don't have the real retreat upgrades.

The mini bar was empty in my CC cabin on EQ the end of Jan. 2023. I assumed the company that ran it went out of business during covid so I didn't ask about it. (I've often wondered how old that stuff in the mini bar was, in the past, when it was stocked.)

Sounds like there might be something mechanical going wrong with it, probably with the 'rollling' mechanism or something.

I've been on deck 12 cabin 2149 on EQ and deck 12, same cabin, on EC. At times you could definitely hear stuff above but it didn't bother us, that's why I've picked that cabin twice. It also really wasn't a problem while sleeping. That cabin is the aft most on the side of the ship and has a slightly larger balcony. I love deck 12 because of the pool level and it's easy to get to a bar, buffet, and other upper levels of the ship. Of course all this is very much a YMMV type of thing.

Yes, I've also noticed exactly what you are talking about. I might try an E class ship if they start doing longer cruises somewhere I want to go.

Yes, I agree, the escargot I had were great and larger than what I had on the previous X cruise, they were so tiny it was funny. I also used a tip I got here about dipping the bread in the escargot butter!

I looked at the Apex food pictures in the link above, the only dish pictured that I had on EQ was the duck and the duck it was good. I have had it before on X and it seemed the same as before. Most of the dishes pictured were not on the MDR menu on EQ at the end of Jan 2023. I have seen that before, it looks like the menus on E class ships have better selections than what is/was on EQ. Another good dish I had was a spicy, thick fish that was really good (I think it was Cajun something maybe) and actually was a little spicy, real change for X on that one.

Very nice review, a guy I golf with took a spill getting off a river cruise gangplank and really messed up his shoulder. It's no picnic out there, I need to watch out more and be in less of a hurry myself!!

1) Mine wasn't on 12. (cabin 2149 on 2023/jan) 2) yes but no menu, it's like their regular lunch menu, basically.

The shrimp weren't 'that' good.

That reminds me, the shrimp cocktail now (at least when I was on late Jan, EQ) only has three small shrimp on it/in. Not sure if that was just temporary or not.

I haven't been following to close but I think the whole 'problem' was created by 'asset quality'. They needed money and had to do a 'fire sale' on their bond holdings, which, these days with the interest rates climbing, well, no one wanted them and they lost billions.

The gov't has already let it fail, it's in receivership. The gov't will have to find a buyer or liquidate it's assets.

I'm sure they may try that but finding a buyer for those old ships is going to be a real problem. China is their only hope. That's why X/RCG had to put up their E class ships as collateral to get the loans.

Yup, you're right!

Ya, I think staying out of the elevators and using the stairs is the best approach to avoiding 'issues'.

When I was on Octantis late last summer (Great Lakes) people where dressed 'business casual' in the sit down restaurants. That grill at the buffet was great!

I've been in the far aft cabin, deck 12, on the ships side (with the larger balcony) (2149) of two different S class ships and I love the location (pool level). I have heard, I think chairs, moving above in each of these cabins but I don't have a problem with it, it doesn't happen often at all. But I'm sure it's a YMMV type of thing. Anyway, on S class that part of the ship is the only place I'll book. (I take the stairs a lot.)

Actually, I'm sure there is something in the fine print about bringing equipment like that aboard. It's usually applied to amateur radio operators (hams). You would have to apply for permission and I doubt they would let you bring it.

That is interesting, I had to look at that (TA selling trip insurance) because that is one of those things that would benefit both the TA and the insurance companies. It sure looks like, according to the ACTA that is not an issue. Anyway, (after a very brief glance) that regulation is probably a good thing to protect the consumer. I would think that if a TA takes the time to comply with the regulation, that would/might be a sign of a good TA.

Wait a minute, they use that song (and sing along) at US sporting events ALL the time, I think what you saw was an example of the US demographic that sails on VO.

One theme I am noticing in this thread: It seems that some people have TA's that are not insurance experts or don't trust their TA. I don't know if this is a 'sign of the times' or not but I can assure you that there are TA's out there that are insurance experts. How to find one in your area, I can't help you with, except to ask your friends who travel a lot and work from that list. Having said that, I do applaud people that take on the insurance purchasing tasks themselves, that's for sure.

I don't understand what you are saying. If something happens that insurance doesn't cover then it really doesn't matter who/where I bought it from, does it?

Because we have known her for years and have used her the whole time. She has been part of every travel decision, (except weekend trips).