bmct

Yes, he was very lucky.  It was not a pre-existing condition, either.

They did take him to Honolulu instead of Kona.  He is well enough to text me, but he will be in the hospital for a few days.

I was on one cruise where a passenger fell down stairs, had a horrific shoulder break.  We were days from anywhere, mid-Atlantic.  They had a Navy ship meet us and take her off.  Quite a sight.

I'm still waiting to hear that he's been picked up.  The patient is one of my best friends.  

My cousin and I were on the same cruise.  Her first cruise, my 40th, on various cruise lines.

The menu in Taste, Savor, and Manhattan are the same for each venue, but with nightly specials.  Some things the same every night, with nightly specials. 

We thought the room layout odd.  No drawers.  Very small shelves in the desk/vanity, and a silly 6 inch wide unit by the bed with one small shelf for our things, and one for the steward to use for the folded-up decorative panel from the end of the bed.

Walkways and hallways very narrow.  Taste and Savor are across the deck from each other, but there is a bar in between, making it very crowded to walk.  Same with the shopping area, with permanent display units outside of the shops, and one in the middle of the walkway.

What group were you in for Customs disembarkation in San Francisco?  We were in group 2.  They called groups 1-4 in ten minutes, which meant a very long line snaking from the elevator banks thru the casino, zig-zag lines, like at Disneyland, in the Manhattan Room, along the promenade, and both levels of the gangway.  It took us 90 minutes to get thru Customs.  People we talked to later said they waited for three hours, but groups 5, 6, and 7 were never called.

The Garden Cafe was a horrific  exercise in swimming against the current trying to get food and find a place to sit. 

This was the first cruise I have been on where I felt claustrophobic. 

When we sailed on the Joy earlier this month, with an overnight in Vancouver, it was 4:15 on day of embarkation.

I'm Elite on Princess and Celebrity, Diamond on RCI, and have sailed several other cruise lines. 

Just returned for the 5 night Coastal Vancouver-Los Angeles on the Joy.  It was a mixed bag.  The ship was beautiful.  The food was very good, and I loved the Beatles tribute band and music.

On the other hand -- we had a mid-aft balcony stateroom, twin beds.  Not impressed with the layout or design.  No drawers to store your underwear or socks, just two small shelf areas in the desk/vanity, and the shelves in the small closet.  There is a small, 6 inch wide, unit between the couch and bed on one side, bed and sliding doors on the other.  2/3 was used by the room steward to stow the folded, decorative drape from the end of the bed, leaving only enough room to store a pair of shoes. 

The bathroom had a glass shower, so no fighting the shower curtain. 

The hallways seemed very narrow, only 4 feet wide.  Two of the MDR's, Taste and Savor, are across the walkway from each other, with Mixx bar in between.  While waiting for a table, it becomes very crowded with diners, drinkers, and people walking through the area.  The first time we went, they said it was a 30 minute wait.  On Princess, we would have had hand-held buzzers to let us know to come back for our table.  On the Joy, the hostess just called out your name, and it was hard to hear.

Garden Cafe ( buffet ) was a zoo during meal hours.  The worst I have ever seen on any ship.  Yes, they have stations for different foods so you don't have to go in a long line, and multiple stations for some things, like pastry, eggs and omelettes, hot food, cold food, salad bar, and beverages, but trying to find a table was not easy. 

Want to go to Guest Services and ask a question?  There is live music in the atrium area adjacent.  You have to shout to the agent to be heard. 

Shopping -- they have permanent counters in the hallways outside of the shops for daily sales, which makes the walkways very crowded.  And on that cruise, nothing to buy for children.  No t-shirts, toys, books, or anything else.  We asked at two different shops, but they said nothing for kids.  Two disappointed grandmas who had planned on Christmas shopping.

We had to clear Customs in San Francisco.  They divided people into groups, based on decks.  We were in group 2, out of 7.  They called the first group about 8:50, and by 9:00, had called four groups to the gangway on deck 7, via The Manhatten Room.  By the time we got there, the line snaked up both levels of the gangway, all along the promenade deck, thru the Manhatten Room in zig-zag lines, like at Disneyland, out the restaurant and through the casino, almost to the elevator banks.  It took us 90 minutes to get to Customs.

AND -- according to people we talked to later on, they never called groups 5, 6, and 7!  People waited until noon to be called.

Would I go on the Joy again?  Probably not.  Another NCL ship?  Maybe.  Yes, they have a lot more outdoorsy fun spots than Princess, such as water slides and go-karts, but the layout of the staterooms, crowded public areas, and other things I haven't mentioned, would make me think twice.

As for you, if it's only five nights, try it and see if you like it.

Becky Boo, I will probably be on that cruise as well, as a single.  Maybe we can meet up?

Just FYI, I do counted cross stitch, so I like to find a quiet corner with good lighting in the afternoons.  Feel free to PM me.

Getting ready to cruise to Alaska, and  have questions about the dress code.

Princess.com says:   Before opting for vacuum-sealed bags and travel-sized toothbrushes, cruisers may want to thoroughly research their cruise destination as well as the activities available on board. Princess Cruises offers a number of formal dining nights during which ties and coats are mandatory. While some ships provide rental services, male travelers may want to add suit jackets and slacks to their packing list. Women, on the other hand, should bring along dresses made with wrinkle-free fabric, which will survive long hours stuffed in a suitcase. Passengers need not worry about having too few clothes, however, because each ship is outfitted with onboard laundry service.

Jacket and tie for formal night dinners?  Last time we went, which was a few years ago, the Hubby got away with pants, collared shirt, and cardigan.  Will he really need a tie?

I had no idea we could search that far back on the boards!  I've only been on the board three or four times since Bob died, 23 months after the TA. 

Wow!   Thank you.

Hello.  We were on the Reflection from Barcelona to Miami/FLL, the inaugural TA sailing. 

We spent a few days before the cruise enjoying the sights.  One of the cruisers put together a small group tour to Montserrat.  The tour guide was an English woman, in her 60's or so, married to a local. 

By any chance, does anyone remember the name of the tour company?  It was in my late husband's files, which have been lost during a move.

Thank you.

I've heard from a friend, who was on her a few months ago, that the soft goods -- seat cushions, upholstery, carpet etc -- are in dire need of replacement.

I will be on her Jan 27 to Hawaii.

I agree, go with what's best for you. I am Elite on both Princess and Celebrity. I much prefer X. I've been in Aqua Class on the Reflection. Blu for breakfast was good, but I wasn't thrilled with the dinner selections. My DH, on the other hand, loved Blu for dinner.

I'm wondering if there's enough room for my one el giganto suitcase, rather than a standard sized one. I thought I might take it instead of two smaller ones.

Anyone know the height under the bed on Grand Princess? We're sailing on 17 Apr.