CaroleSS

1 hour ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Reading both positive and negative reviews it seems like the E class are offering better selection and quality in their MDR’s compared to M or S class.

This is not typical with most cruise lines, newer/larger ships have more venues but the core MDR menus are fleet wide.

 

I tend to agree. The newer ships have better food options.

we just got off the Equinox. We've sailed her 3 times before and sail in Aqua. While the servers are wonderful, there has been a noticeable decline in the food quality. We bought a 3-night dining package. I was rather dismayed that, although good, the food even in the specialty restaurants has declined over the years.

We certainly didn't go hungry, but have noticed all the recent cuts. New sailers likely don't notice and we, long-time/loyal cruisers, aren't the current demographic....so I doubt they care much what I think.
 

The "cheerleaders" say X has to make up for all the lost revenue from CV19. While partially true, I tend to believe that it made for a perfect excuse to do something they were planning to do all along. As I heave a sigh, we are planning more land-based vacations. X is losing its draw for us.

YMMV

Most TAs ask for payment a few days or a week before final payment due to the lag in time that it takes for the TA to collect the payment then send it to X. They want to make sure that you don't miss the cutoff date and have your cruise cancelled.

I wouldn't worry about it until Aug 3. If your TA can send you an updated invoice showing that you have paid them, that would ease your mind as you have something in writing confirming your payment. It's only been a few days, plus the weekend; things can move slowly. I totally understand your concern (I would be too), but do think it will work out if you just let "the process" unfold.

Let us know how it turns out!

5 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

 

HB......I recognize that prize......a 24k gold plated plastic piece of shiiiiiP on a stick!

54 minutes ago, PMT51 said:

Ask your room attendant.

We were in Aqua last Feb (2023). Our very patient room attendant put it on ice for us a few days in a row.  When we finally openned it, it was horrible (I drink pretty much anything). It ended up going down the drain.

I would agree....worst "liquid" on the ship. We dumped ours as well....Blech!

6 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Better to tip a kid $1 for every towel he gets that way, just in case 'hawkeye'  the chairhog is watching from the bar.

Make that $2 each and I'll do it myself! 🤪

One solution might be that you have to "check out" a towel. You get charged if said towel is not returned. Soooo, when you see a towel on an unoccupied chair, you simply place it in the used towel bin (but do not check it in) and the occupant has to pay $10 (or such) for the unreturned towel.

if you do that enough, people will watch those towels like a hawk!

28 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

You must have not paid for expedited? I submitted my renewal very end of February and received it middle of April, so 6 weeks total. 

No we did not pay for expedited. At the time, they were saying 7-9 weeks, so felt that 4 months would be plenty!

I will admit that when we hit the 12-week mark, I started to get a bit jumpy! 🫣

On 5/20/2023 at 2:33 AM, Tinknock50 said:

So exactly how many weeks was it when it arrived in the your mail box from when they received your application?

DH submitted his renewal mid-January and it took 13 weeks until it showed up in the mailbox. We have Global Entry so I thought it would be quicker as there should have been less to check.

The news is reporting that it is taking longer to process now and waits are long. Plan on it taking longer than expected and don't expect any country to give you a "bye" with 3 months left.....then you won't be disappointed. Websites are all over the place with expiration dates, they all contradict each other. Some passport officers will let things slide, some won't and some airlines might deny you boarding. It makes traveling difficult and quite stressful!

Moral of the story......plan ahead. Look at your passport NOW!

7 minutes ago, gotcha3 said:

Doesn't make ANY difference. I was just asking the question, sorry to have disturbed your sensibilities!

 

Wow, someone needs a vacation!

I just don't get why people feel the need to flaunt their status...especially when you admit it makes NO difference.

I don't think your CC status shows up on the Seapass card.....but it's been a while since we've sailed. Plus, why would they put that on your card and what difference does it make?

@omeinv/Harris.....you are SOOO right! People don't/won't read the thread before asking a question. I find this prevalent on many platforms. I belong to a Facebook group about an AI in the Caribbean and it is the same questions posted over and over and over again. Unfortunately (on that particular group) I feel that people don't want to put forth any effort to help themselves by doing the research, so will post a question instead expecting others to spoon feed them the answer (things like, "what is the weather like in December", "will it rain during my stay", "what room is the best").

Just a follow-up, not that it is relevant, but closing the loop as they say.

our port times have changed. We are now scheduled to depart at 9pm with an 8:30 "all aboard". Given the new time and walking distance, I'd rather not risk not making it back to the ship in time, so we will have to skip the festival.....boo!

Guess that just gives us a reason to return another time, huh?

1 hour ago, cdn_tbird said:

Mine just said I get to steer the boat on my next cruise..... Great just what I need... To pay for a working vacation. 🤣

Mine said I could be SVP of the IT department......I deleted the email real quick!

16 minutes ago, Cruizerguy said:

My email said 50 points

Wow, mine says 30. Wonder why the difference???

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Respectfully, I would argue that many of the people in the categories 1-6 should reconsider cruising altogether as coming down with an infection that is more difficult for them to fight, be it covid, flu, noro, or whatever...it's just not worth the risk IMO.

Those same people have been cruising successfully for years.....decades even! It never stopped them before. What you are suggesting is that no child should ever cruise again? That older folk quit cruising....smokers? I don't think many will agree with you on that. Plus, I would think that common sense would dictate to someone with a significantly compromised immune system wouldn't book in the first place. 

4 minutes ago, SPacificbound said:

They did give her a choice, and she chose that she and late husband would stay on the ship.

Do you think the outcome would have been different had the morgue been functional? The body might have experiences "some" issues, but I think the decision to store the body in a food locker is the deciding factor.

BUT, if the locker was empty and the same temperature s the morgue "would" have been, then that's a different story. I need more details!

If you think about it, the cost of repatriating the body fro Puerto Rico would not be cheap. 
 

I can only imagine the Captain talking with the widow and telling her not only is her husband is dead, but it will likely cost her $5-6,000 to have the body sent back home. If she did not have insurance, that, plus the cost of a funeral back home, might be a financial hardship.

BUT....given that he knew the morgue wasn't functional, he should not have given her any choice....but it is hard to NOT think with your heart at such times.

5 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

Serious question, is burial at sea an option here if surviving spouse agrees? I’m guessing no, logistics and liability reasons I would assume would prevent. 

I actually thought the same thing, but can think of several issues (mostly legal ones):

1-no official certificate of death, i.e. cause of death, certifying MD (unless the ships doctor can do that?)

2-re: death certificate, what "country" (other details) would be listed.....and would it have to be filed once they arrive back in home port (without the accompanying body)

3-I don't suspect they have a crematorium aboard and I'm pretty sure it isn't possible to just pitch the body overboard, so not exactly sure how the burial would occur.

I'm with you that a burial at sea would be a good alternative, but as you mention logistical and liability (and legal) reasons would likely prevent one.

But, this just goes to show that vaccinated, boosted, masked......still sick. Germs prevail!

As others have mentioned, Covid is here to stay. Testing serves little purpose (as you should be careful about sharing your germs anytime you feel poorly!)

Before Covid it was Norovirus.....which is still with us, just no one posts about it anymore. Germs are everywhere. Wash your hands often, keep your hands away from your face and enjoy your cruise!

Thank you @nzdisneymom for the update!

a few quick questions:

How much were the food offering? (a range perhaps?) 

Could you make a "grazing dinner" out of them or should we eat beforehand?

@mahdnc You are da BOMB! Thanks for all the great info.....on lots of threads!

We are on the Equinox sailing on May 27, an 8-nighter. My Daily Planner has very few things listed and certainly not whether it is a Chic night (or dress attire). I'm trying to plan accordingly, but - is not making this easy on anyone. Why can't they just tell us when the chic nights are?

Appreciate the feedback.......they are still beautiful!

22 minutes ago, thebaehrs said:

How was he notified? Email? 

I keep checking my Junk folder as I'm sure I've missed MY notification!