DocF

Goodrich Transit Lines flagship Alabama. This tough little laker was basically and icebreaker that could carry passengers and freight. The hull may still exist, but that is not certain.

Doc

I can tell you that we cruised aboard the Oosterdam last fall. On both formal nights virtually all the men wore either dark suits or tuxedos. A couple of retired military wore their dress uniforms. I would say about 2/3 of the men wore formal attire.

Doc

The one essential we pack is small LED flashlights with new batteries. The everyday uses of these are many - when one partner needs to use the head in the night, he/she/it can avoid killing him/her/itself in an unfamiliar locale while being less likely to awake the other partner, for example.

The main reason is if one ever is forced to evacuate and the emergency lighting is out (ask the folks who were aboard the Carnival Splendor), it may be needed to find one's way out of the ship. These are cheap and take up virtually no space.

Doc

DW packs the appropriate number of her dressy dresses and I pack my tuxedo. Therefore, we go formal for formal night. If one wants to show up in a wifebeater and torn blue jeans and rubber flip flops, so be it.

Doc

If one does not have small children in his/her/its party, the best excursion in the entire wonderful world of cruising is the "America's Cup Challenge" in St. Maarten. They run a real match race between real 12 meter yachts, most of which actually competed for the America's Cup. One does not have to know how to sail and they can place everyone in a position that suits their experience/athletic ability/desire to participate.

We have done this three times. We won two and lost one. Try it, you'll like it.

Doc

This stateroom is located high on the ship on the starboard side and just about exactly midship. Most folks would say this is an ideal cabin. Now, while it is located just below the Lido deck, we have cruised on other ships in a similar location and had little to no issues with excessive noise.

We are booked into a cabin for our March 26 cruise that is far forward and also on the Aloha deck. This is our preference.

Enjoy your cruise.

Doc

I carry extra meds as I know that things can happen. I also am insulin dependent and always travel with a Frio pouch to keep my insulin from getting to hot. My pills are packed in the small individual daily dose plastic bags that most pharmacies have. This is convenient and compact. Be sure one does not pack his/her/its medications in a checked bag. We went to Hawaii and DW's bag went to L. A.

Doc

I have not gained much, if any, weight on any of our cruises. I do not make a point of eating any particular items, either. I just do not load up on carbs (well except for gooey, delicious deserts) as I am an insulin dependent diabetic. It can be done with little to no special effort.:eek:

Doc

I realize that menus change fairly regularly on this line, but if anyone has recent scans of menus for the Coral Princess, I would appreciate a post!

Thanks,

Doc

Another Starbucks hater here. I just can't understand how anyone can drink the stuff. But it seems we are in the minority.

Add me to the list. Most of the slop they purport to be coffee is made from liquid concentrate and that is just instant coffee.

I have noticed that the state of the coffee machine on the Lido deck is more important than any other factor. Some ships do an excellent job of keeping these machines very clean. This makes for much better coffee. Now I learned to make coffee in the Navy as well as to drink it there. We made 65 gallons at a time and we made it in coppers. I drink my coffee black and I do not like specialty coffees at all. Most cruise ship coffee ranges from tolerable to very good. If one wants to find really bad coffee, hit the pot in almost any rail yard office. :eek:

The best and most likely seating would be with 5 people at a 6 top. I have also seen an extra chair added to a 4 top.

The crew to passenger ratio on Carnival has always been, to put it politely, somewhat on the thin side. Now Carnival is cutting to the bone. This wrong-headed management move will cause the company to lose more and more of the more desirable customers - those who spend and do not occupy the lowest cost cabins and buy nothing except the cheapest.

I realize that cuts are being made at HAL and all other cruise lines, but Carnival seems to be going farther than the others.

We got our stateroom assigned this past week. We booked a VF and got a VB. I think we will be very happy., (Actually, if it has a bath tub DW will be pleased and I am happy with anything above the waterline. :p)

From what I have read, all of your port calls did experience some disruption from the hurricane. The main issue was very heavy rainfall. I believe that there are most likely no lingering effects.

My initial reaction is to go. If it were me, I would go.

Having said that, I remember Jiri Fischer collapsing on the Detroit Red Wings bench. His heart stopped. They saved him with very prompt attention starting with the trainer and the team physician and a heart doctor who was attending the game. This was years ago. Even though doctors have never found out what caused his heart to stop, they cannot issue a medical clearance for him to play again.

If you and/or your husband are not certain that the cruise is the best thing for you, then I would suggest some alternate vacation and cruise next year.

Nassau it pretty much easy to stay safe. Look like you know where you are and where you are going. Do not go out of the immediate tourist areas. Never, ever let street urchins surround you. Keep them herded together. Be vigilant. Tourist maps are a dead giveaway that you do not know where you are or where you are going. We have followed a walking tour we got from a Frommer's guidebook. We have strolled down the main drag past all the jewelry shops. We have done the Straw Market. We have had no problems.

Well, they pay the same as a third and fourth adult sharing cabin would pay unless things have changed recently. This amount is not full fare.

If there had been an alternative, I would have asked to be moved. We were on a cruise from Baltimore aboard the Carnival Pride. We were seated at a 4 top. The other couple were a retired portland cement plant manager and his much put upon wife. He was dull, grumpy (those are the good points) and spent the whole of every dinner telling us how much better everything was done on "Royal".

His wife was very pleasant and spent most of the cruise rolling her eyes and otherwise indicating that she disagreed with her husband. The ship was full. The dining room was full. We at least had two 10 tops nearby that had large families who were fun and friendly. Moving was not an option.

We were contemplating an HAL cruise and told my late mother (she was 85 at the time) about it. She said, "Oh you don't want to go on Holland America; it is for old people." We are booked and sailing on HAL next week. I don't feel old, but my calendar says I am 73.

If you are looking for a port intensive cruise that features a higher level of activities than hairy chest competitions and belly flop contests or rock wall climbing, then HAL is a good choice.

Doc

Well, we are paying less than $110.00 per diem each for our upcoming cruise on a mid-priced line. I cannot get this level of service and food and lodging for twice the price on shore any longer.

Doc:)

I understand your grief. We lost our second oldest daughter two years ago. She drowned while snorkeling on one of the North Shore beaches of Oahu. The whole family is still grieving, some more so than others.

I do have some training as a grief counselor. First, if you are not now in grief counseling, I urge you to find this help. Second, I understand perfectly about not wanting to decorate for Christmas. Still, you should not sit home, in a dark and gloomy house and do the same thing you would do next Tuesday. Going on the cruise may just be exactly the kind of self-therapy you need. Ask to dine with other solo travelers and be as social as you can. Participate in activities.

I know it is easier to give advice than it is to do some things, but ultimately you must be responsible for yourself and to yourself.

I know you can do it. I can tell from your message here.

Doc

If you are not a Naval officer, or, for that matter, some other type of military officer and it is not Cruise Elegant night, then you would qualify for being a very big jerk in my opinion. We cruised with a gentleman who was a Captain in the U.S. Navy. He wore his dress uniform for Cruise Elegant night. He was dressed properly and looked great.

Doc

A couple of years ago, the security post at the port of Baltimore was manned by TSA twinkies. I presume this is still the case. To expect these people to either know the rules or to enforce them correctly is asking a whole lot.

Doc

I went to check out John Heald's blog to find the CD schedule so I could find out who our CD would be for our November 28th cruise on the Freedom would be but it only shows Malcolm until 11/21 and then doesn't show who's coming next. Is there any other information out there that I'm missing that can tell me who our CD will be?

 

Someone mentioned Jen, but I didn't know where they found that info. Also it shows her on the Legend for a few months-until 2016.

 

Thanks (:

No one would be a major improvement over Malcom. He is lazy and spends way too much time smoozing with his social hosts rather than the guests.