Cruzman

Did the Sept. Bahamas cruise two times over the years; weather was perfect each time. Having said that, peak hurricane season is late August thru mid October. Just a roll of the dice weather wise.

The primary variable is how close to the tender pier is the ship anchored. In Grand Cayman, it's just a few hundred yards. In Belize, the ship anchors 4 miles away due to the shallow water there. Bottom line, in GC the tender ride will likely be just a few minutes, while the ride in Belize might be 15-20 minutes.

Emerald in November = quarters.

There are some cruise Bulletin Boards that allow active discussions of TA's. Use your search engine.

My phone however, uses the AT&T network. Never been charged extra for phone calls made from Canada. Had a different phone that used Verizon's network (still with Straight Talk), never could get a call out anywhere in Alaska (no signal available). The phone did work in Victoria though.

Complimentary upgrades do happen; has happened to me, although it is rare. There is no formula that can ever predict who, or how this happens. It seems to be totally arbitrary.

Understand that on this class of ship, Just about all standard cabins (inside, outside and balcony) are just about exactly the same size (147 sq ft). Balconies are generally 25 sq ft. As already mentioned, mini suites are huge by comparison.

Thanks for all the replies. I hope we enjoy the western as much as we did the eastern. I didn't know the water wasn't blue in the western. I am a bit bummed about that.

This is not the case in most of the western Caribbean ports. Belize and Progresso come to mind as ports with muddy water. Crystal clear water on Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, as well as ports in Honduras.

Here is the information straight from the horses mouth.

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1627529

HAL is in the lower side for public space.

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

Notice that I mentioned R or S class, not the larger newer ships.

Allow me to highly recommend HAL's R or S class ships for your requirements. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Bayport has issues. Just come prepared for them. It is what it is.

Fog isn't always the primary issue. It's the location of the cruise port. Sometimes takes a couple of hours and a big cab fare to get to the port from the airport. There are few hotels anywhere near that one would want to stay in also.

Not an NCL fan at all; mostly due to the lack of a traditional dining venue. Food on board seems to be good only in the extra fee dining venues, and cabins seem to be much smaller. I do prefer the NCL itinerary from New Orleans, however. All things considered, I gotta go with RCCI; better food, larger cabins, great ship decor.

Have never understood why one would cruise from a cold weather port in the winter. The first two days will be pretty much a waste, as well as the last two. To each his own.

Balcony dividers on this class of ship are solid steel and cannot be removed.

Is there any advantage to purchasing ahead of time vs after boarding?

Kinda amusing that when one chooses to sail from a cold weather port in the winter, that one would complain about the cold weather life boat drill.

NCLdoes not do formal, and I don't do NCL. Bottom line; who cares?

I have never understood how people are so gullible as to buy this crap that is called "art". Hey folks, if 'ya wanna blow your money, just tell me what you want and I'll show up on your next cruise with whatever it is that you want to blow your money on,lol. Who was it that famously said that "there is a sucker born every minute"?

They entice you to sign up by offering a 10,000 point credit after first use of the card which is supposed to be worth a $100 onboard credit. Guess what, you are not allowed to use it unless you accumulate at least another 40,000 points.

It's much easier to deal directly with the cruise line. If you leave it to someone else it may or may not get done. Princess won't talk to you if you don't keep control of your booking. TA's are not available after 5 pm or on week ends when many issues arise. I like calling Princess directly and have always been able to accomplish what i want.

Apparently you don't understand "clout". You simply don't have any! A travel agent usually has a lot! Mine does which enables him to get things done.

Your experience is just one of many reasons to never book directly with the cruise line. I have had similar experiences, but I have a TA to intervene on my behalf, and he has always done so. Wait until you have a problem with charges to your on board account and you are left to deal with the cruise line on your own.

If I had to decide between "knowing my waitstaff" or having the freedom of eating when I choose to, well, I'll always take the latter. Seven to 14 days of traveling ( to me) is more about the freedom. It's a lot more important to me to have this freedom than having a waiter "know" what I want on an menu.

Can't disagree more! It's kinda like a lover who knows what you like before the event. There are those who prefer to be surprised, however.

Sailed in late November to the southern Caribbian the past three years; weather near perfect. We are sailing next November to the Panama Canal and expect the same.