tfred

single rooms are never going to be a "good deal". Probably have to look at other lines like Crystal for still expensive but better value rooms.

I had been looking at Jan 2025 7 day Caribbean cruises for the last few months. Most were at $4800/pax for a Sky Suite so I didn't purchase. I waited a month, looked again and it was $3500 and I bought. 2 weeks later it was $3100 and had it repriced. It pays to look as for whatever reason, prices are dropping.

Pretty much why X IT makes it harder whenever they can to stop any pax connection with cables of any kind. They don't know what you have connected and reconnected to make your device play. Additional the room attendant isnt going to check so they would have to send someone from the limited computer lounge staff to check so the next pax can actually use the TV (maybe for the muster drill) No IT dept in any company would allow a physical connection to a network - which this TV really is They would duct tape the entire back of the TV and cover every port if they could

X IT probably got tired of resetting any TV that was reconfigured by the previous guest who had to watch their personal video programs. It just takes time to figure out what the previous guest has done to change the TV inputs. Why allow that voluntarily?

Sky suite can board at 11. There is a lounge that is available to wait. Certainly opens at 10, maybe as early as 930 ? Go to the ship as the wait wouldn’t be long.

River ships are close to "better" ocean ships, just much smaller. Restaurant, bar with lounge and a few common areas - mostly on the top deck for viewing. All of these ships are smaller than any ocean ship in every dimension. There aren't 5 restaurants, 12 bars and tons of common areas River cruises are port intensive and almost everyone gets off to tour. There is generally on "river day" for a scenic stretch of the river. Parents with younger kids aren't going to hang out in the room all day or up on deck (too sunny, cold, etc). They set up camp in the bar/lounge with a collection of toys and blankets. Viking and Virgin ocean ships are over 18. Two different ends of the spectrum but they seem to be making it work.

I like the Viking model of no one under 18 I know the argument -I would rather sit with my well behaved 8 year old world traveler rather than your drunk uncle. We did a two 100 pax Crystal River (sad to see them go). First was no kids and great. Second was enough kids that made a big difference on a small ship. They didn't like staying in the room so it was play time in any of the lounges Dinner was kids standing on the seats swaying to the beat with an iPad. No thanks

I can't comment on MSC YC or Explora. But I did look at Explora and that looks like something I would do in the short term Small enough ships, food looks good, reasonable booze included. The 7 day Caribbean on Explora was about $3000/pax for a veranda suite- X is usually $4800 with some savings down to $3500 - sometimes. Explora may not be a forever thing but it would worth a look

Phones are computers that happen to make phone calls and driven by software Apps will not be always be able to be updated forever. Apps require technical resources on the phone that may not easy to develop a work around. Overall graphics, GUI and UI experience cant be adjusted to the lowest common denominator To some extent, X looks at then number of Apple SE (or whatever) and determines that the amount of development required to make an SE run is not worth the effort considering how many SE phones are on the market

If don't like the Blu food offering, you won't like the AQ experience. E Class doesnt allow MDR food menus and that really trips up some folks. Blu food is slightly different (we like it) but some don't. Blu is smaller I think better service, but if are looking for a standard MDR experience then it isnt the place for you.

FedEx handles SSea indirectly. The issue is getting it on/to the ship if you do it on your own There may be a valet system available from Crystal

I know that MSC has a ton of money but what does it take to get on the radar with a brand new cruise line these days? Even MSC is "kinda" known these days in the US market but ask anyone to define who they are?. They have been around for 20 years still looking for their niche. How does Explora market themselves? There seems to be 8 or 10 cruise lines like Explora (especially to the new to cruising crowd). Everyone wants the land resort crossovers Never been on Explora, looks interesting, some of entry pricing is enticing.

T&L writeups are always puff pieces. Just enough info to make it real, but this isn't an in depth review - they never are If I was a T&L reader this piece would tell me there are other "better" cruise lines to look at that I haven't heard of

All of these legacy lux lines have to get newer customers on board now so they can return when retired for longer cruises. 12 day cruises that start on a Wednesday aren't convenient for the working folks No one working (or at least very few) is able to take a 14-21 day cruise plus travel time These lines have to have some "starter" cruises that get people on board, like the product and come back later. The new crowd is now dropping big money at Ritz or Four Seasons and is using that as a comparison to what their next vacation would look like. There will be some changes to cruising as that new group infiltrates the ranks. What they do want is great service at a location Be prepared.

out of MIA, there are no good direct choices to LHR. Weird BA Club seat arrangements, DL 1-2-1 through ATL or JFK. You would think that MIA would be better served VS is dated but at least they are friendly I think they are still using past good tidings of flights past. Sooner or later that goes away.

the VS UC hard product on board is very dated - innovative 25 years ago but way past its prime . Great Clubhouse in LHR, flight crew is great, food pretty good. I think they are slowly changing to a 1-2-1 set up. The new seating is in random routes (BOS_LHR) but not in MIA-LHR (where we live).

This is exactly the demographic that every "better" cruise line is looking for That also includes the Celebrity, NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club suite crowd on bigger ships. They want the historically land vacation crowd that goes to a Ritz or Four Seasons and spends a ton of money. This is a case when it may be better to go after new customers instead of poaching existing cruise customers with very set in stone ideas of what constitutes a "good" cruise. Many of the Crystal, Regent, Sebourne Silversea routes start and finish at difficult to get to ports (as compared to flying to Miami or Barcelona), longer itineraries (makes it difficult to fit time off when you are still working)

I deleted the celebrity cookie in my computer 'settings'. Signed back in with my usual password

In any case, Royal is installing their people own both X and now Silversea. It may not be a function of BM competency, but rather Royal installing their known executives. That said, BM may not have been amenable to what Royal had in the wings Increasing profit and revenue is not a bad thing - that keeps them in business. Raising prices to equivalent of land prices is a natural - why give it away? New customers (from land) have no idea of "what it was like" years ago.

earliest on board is about 11 am for anyone. As a suite you can get on then. I would arrive at the pier 1030, check ins and have a drink and snack At 11 they open the gangplank and you can walk on

you can get on starting about 11 am. There is a small waiting area for Retreat guests that is worth 20 minutes or so. Depending on your parking situation, I would arrive at 1030 at the terminal, go to the lounge eat some food and check in. At 11 you can board.

No matter what, you don't want to arrive the same day as the cruise leaves. The risk is too high for any cancellation and then a recovery to get you in BSL on time. Any flight you take is a connection and that increases weather, mechanical or misconnects Most cruise lines use regular airlines but with weird ticket fares that allow "better" prices. It also can be a problem when things go sideways as the airline may have issues rebooking you

In general Ascent is less expensive than the other E Class ships. Sometime a little, sometimes more Doesnt appear to be itin related

look at any resort style Four Seasons and the nightly rate for a standard room is about $1500 and they are obviously getting. Now add on food and booze and $2000/night is pretty easy. That is a $14,000 week at the hotel. Service is good at FS but it isnt what goes on at Silversea even now with "cutbacks". SSea isnt stupid as they are constantly evaluating what actually moves the needle with customer satisfaction and eliminates services that cost (especially with labor) with little return. Silversea (and others) see that and say "Why not us?" They will jack the rates to match land resorts. Long time pax are unfortunately seeing that increase in real time, not a graduated curve.

many of these people are probably used to land hotels that allow just about anything. they figure that a cruise ship is just a floating hotel so why not bring what they are used to bring on land ?