jollyjones

The cabin next door to this one has the beds under the window because it's a quad. This one is at the wall since it's a double.

I haven't sailed in E416 which is a Category E cabin, but I have sailed in E420, E425 and E504 (category FF) - these are all double cabins and the bed is under the window. From my prowling around Emerald deck, I was under the impression that all obstr / semi-obstr OV's on Emerald deck on the Sapphire have the bed under the window.

The 'beds under the window because it's a quad. This one is at the wall since it's a double' is true of other ships such as the Golden and the Grand, but I didn't think it was true for the Sapphire altho' your knowledge is generally better than mine, Pia, so I hate to contradict you.

Has anyone out there actually sailed in E416 on the Sapphire?

Anyone walking past cannot see over the balcony railing because it is higher than their sight line, and the coating on the glass is partially reflective so a passer by cannot see into the balcony during daylight without making a lot of effort to peer in. If you are standing up looking out over the balcony railing people can see you, of course.

I noticed this on the Grand during my recent cruise because it is different from the Golden where the glass is not mirrored so those balconies are much more public.

I was in F 301 May 14 - 21 and I thought the steward, Lawrence, was one of the better ones that I have had over many cruises. There was no smell of smoke in the suite or the corridor outside.

F 301 is slightly smaller than the others with a different layout so my photos won't help you (not that I know how to post them here) but in general you enter the suite to a large marble floored lobby with all the closets and the door to the bathroom, then you go through to the sitting area and turn a corner to the bed. I didn't particularly care about the jacuzzi tub (OK if you like them) but I did love the large, glass walled shower.

Very spacious, very well lit, clean simple lines, pale wood and golden marble, huge bed with millions of pillows. I loved it, and being near the water line gave dramatic views of the waves swooshing past.

I am currently cruising solo on the Sapphire - I love it - did a 28 day solo last Nov. Plenty to do, there are single get-togethers (I never go tho' so don't know how they are), eating options work well, never feel uncomfortable in bars or dining rooms.

I usually pay about 160% fare, (obstructed OV)- just avoid holiday (fare will be 200%) and seven day cruises (waaay too many children) - longer cruises off season are so much more relaxing.

If you want to meet people (which doesn't interest me) your best bet by far is to be active in the roll call before you embark.

.... I think taking light rail is good, but then find a cab for the rest of your trip. I did and it made it pretty easy.

I like the sound of the light rail from Seatac to Westlake Centre, then a taxi to my pre-cruise hotel but is it easy to find a taxi? Is there a taxi rank at the Westlake Centre?

There is a luggage storage facility at MIA - it is located in Central Terminal E, Level 2, open 5am till 11pm. Fees are by size of bag but are quite reasonable.

However, this really isn't much use as you must then get a cab to wherever you wish to hang out for the day and a cab back - not cheap. Unfortunately, I don't think Miami hotels do day rooms - I have researched this quite a bit as there is only one direct flight home to Bermuda from Miami and it is early evening so I am always stuck with this problem.

I either take a post cruise excursion, or give up and just go to MIA from the ship and get to know the airport really well ...

P.S. I have just remembered that there is a brand new (started in Jan) express bus from MIA to South Beach - http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/seri_route_updates.asp#150 - Route 150 - Airport-Beach Express (NEW) - A new express route will start service from the Miami International Airport Terminal to South Miami Beach via 41 Street and Collins Avenue with a stop at the Earlington Heights Station. This new route is being funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The Route 150 Express will make limited stops in Miami Beach at the following locations: 41 Street/Alton Road, 41 Street/ Sheridan, all stops on Collins and Indian Creek between 41 and 17 streets, Collins/17 Street, Collins/16 Street, Washington/Lincoln, 17 Street/Convention Center Drive, and 19 Street/Meridian.

The Route 150 will operate every 30 minutes from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week. The fare is @$2 or $2.35 each way.

This might be something to try!!

POSH - Port Out Starboard Home - from a European point of view. :)

The acronym came about for the wives going eastwards to join their officer husbands serving in India during the Raj: it was meant to avoid the sun (no airconditioning) for an almost bearable cabin. Since the richer ones got the portside cabins, posh came to mean rich or upperclass.

But yes, of course, it does apply nowadays to a westwards transatlantic to be on the sunny side of the ship.

I can confirm Cintipam's info - the rooms are perfectly quiet with plenty of view of the sky (I was in 6033) but small - the glass table takes up what little open space there is in the cabin and is no use for sitting at. I was sailing solo so I kept the table for dumping stuff but I think you wouldn't want it with a couple in the room. Unfortunately, you can really only sit at the desk (one person) or on the bed.

On the other hand, these rooms are usually a good price and the proximity to the stairs so that you can just run down one flight and be out on the biggest balcony of the ship watching the sun come up ... or down ... or whatever ... is a great asset; on a port-intensive cruise I would recommend these rooms.

Very thought provoking question! I'll go out on a limb and put down one that no one has said yet... Darfur! :eek: I know, what are the chances, right??

Pretty slim indeed since it's about a thousand miles from the nearest coastline; even further to a routine cruiseport.

I haven't done that many cruises - only about ten on various lines - but I have to agree that James Russell-Dunford is the best I've met yet. Great sense of humour!

When I go on a cruise it goes up. I have asked that my meal at dinner be prepared with no salt.

But do they actually do it? And what about food from the buffet or ashore? Snacks? I find food on cruise ships incredibly salty - even things that shouldn't be prepared with much seasoning. I deal with it by drinking a lot of water but I don't have hypertension - if you have HT needing medication, even a small increase in your sodium input could have a profound (although hopefully temporary) effect on your blood pressure.