BC-er

On 5/29/2022 at 4:17 AM, Munsterguy said:

Currently on Royal, departed Vancouver last night May 28th, disappointing to see so many people not  wearing masks indoors, was in an elevator tonight heading for dinner , this man got in without a mask , started to speak rather loud ( for my benefit)  , “ nobody is going to tell me to wear a mask “  It’s clearly marked at every elevator that masks MUST be worn . We will continue to wear our masks as much as possible , hopefully we will avoid getting this disease, I just wish fellow passengers think of others with their selfish actions.  . On a positive note , really enjoying the cruise so far , crew excellent , lovely dinner last night , hearing weather will be kind to us as head north . 

We were on the Royal Princess on it's first trip, a 12 day one from Vancouver and back.  After we got off we felt like we had colds but it wasn't quite like a cold, after 3 days of testings we tested positive.  Yes, i saw on line here that there were 50 people sent to quantineen at the Bayshore Inn in Vancouver. after that first cruise. We were all double vaxed and had negative tests to get on the ship.  Signs all around asking us to wear masks which we personally did.  The problem however, in my opinion, is that Covid is brought onto the ship after people explore ports.  Alaska is only 62% vaccinated!!!  That is NOT HIGH.  When we stopped in Skagway, people who were booked to take the ferry to Haines were told that their tour was cancelled as the entire crew of the ferry was off sick with Covid.  That gives you an idea that perhaps Alaska isn't a place you want to wander through and when a ship arrives, with possibly other ships in port too, those little towns are crowded and filled with people trying to make a buck off the tourists and they were be there for the most part, even if they feel like they have a 'cold' which is probably covid.  But again, it's the several days before you feel sick that covid gets spread.  Take your chances on the ports where ever you go and hope not too many others bring it on board.

just my thoughts,

Dale

"We are debating how comfortable we feel about cruising from the Sunshine State, given the news that the state lifted most restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including mask wearing and social-distancing requirements."

For me and my husband, we would feel totally unsafe even going to Florida.  I think the new Florida State decisions regarding Covid safety are just irresponsible and dangerous.  The cruise industry has been turning themselves inside out trying to make things safer on board for all passengers and staff.  Now Florida says, 'who cares, have at it'.  Those ships have to be safe and there needs to be precauctions or they will turn into floating sick bays.  I think the cruise lines should definatley set high safey regulations and kick anyone off who refuses to comply.  Either comply or don't board.  Personally we are from Canada and have been watching with some horror as to how the US has refused to believe there is a problem or comply to logical safety precautions.  As for taking tours just with the ship, that's an excellent idea.  The countries they often cruise to are '3rd world' and anyone finding their own tour  is putting themselves and as a result the entire ship, guests and crew at risk if they come back infected.  Maybe some of you don't realize it but many, many countries don't want anyone from the US to travel to their counties.  Here is Canada we are advise NOT to travel to the US and our border is actually closed to unessesary traffic, including people just wanting to holiday here.  

By the time you print them and fold the sheet of paper into thirds, it makes a really STURDY baggage tag. It's so nice to get to the pier with the luggage already tagged and just drop the luggage with a porter. Next it appears in your stateroom!!!

Yes, it would really slow things up, especially YOU getting onto the ship. I really think the printed luggage tags are a great invention and cuts down on the costs of handing out a gazillion baggage tags per year! Your TA will print them for you if you don't have a computer and printer.

Mine are already printed along with the boarding passes for our cruise in 2 weeks...can't wait!

We were on the Ruby Princess in Nov. 2014. Hubby does not do seafood. I decided to go by myself. If you are by yourself, you sit by yourself, but I wouldn't have missed it, I enjoyed every bite!!! EVERYTHING was perfectly cooked!

Wonderful food, they tie a bib around you. Everything that comes to you is already cracked but you are given the perfect tools to use. Not messy. Finger bowl afterwards. More food than I could eat. Could have ordered more. Crab was excellent. I had the steamer pot and it had two kinds of crab legs, mussels, clams, shrimp, 2 jumbo shrimp, potatoes, corn on cob, sausage and was totally delicious. I could not eat it all and felt so bad that I couldn't take a 'doggie bag home'.... not our normal home!

Don't miss it. They did not advertise it on this ship (weird as this is a new thing they are trying out on just a few ships). Twice a week in the very back part of the buffet area, separated from the other. In the small print on the back of the Patter. Phone and make a reservation. It was only half full. Stupid on their part for not advertising it like the Steak House or Italian restaurants.

see here

http://surreygal.smugmug.com/Food/Ruby-Princess-Nov-2014-Food/

The water taxi is something you don't want to miss!! See movie star homes, BIG yachts, get on and off at various places including the Galleria mall, where the rich and famous park Jags and Rolls outside. You won't find anything like this anyplace else!!

have fun!

It has consumed me! This will be our first cruise! We are giving it to the kids as part of their Christmas gift. It is so hard for me to keep my excitement in, I can't count the days to the cruise (except with my husband) so I've been counting down the days until Christmas!!!!! I have everything planned on my iPad and in a notebook. Never hurts to be to prepared lol happy cruising everyone!

 

 

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I too, love to plan a cruise and get so excited about it. It's like 'Christmas', the planning is so much a part of the fun. Once we choose a cruise, unless it's a last minute deal including airfare, I'm off and running. On exactly the 11 months before the date of the return date of the cruise, when the airlines start selling tickets, I'm checking Cheapoair or One Travel (for one way tickets), trying to get the best time and deal on tickets. Then the search for hotels, and the earlier booked the better the deals. Only thing is you can't cancel plane tickets. Anyway I love it all and we travel frugally not cheaply, stretching our dollar so we can go more often. When I see a real deal, even if we aren't considering it, I check on airfare prices so I know what's current. LOVE CRUISING!! Glad lots of you are the same. Next cruise in Nov.!!

Only thing I have to be careful about is not letting my 'obsession' drive others nuts, and realizing not everyone cares about things as I/we do. It's always wonderful talking to others who have a cruise booked. I've finally got a permanent check list I use for packing my suitcase.

We are cruising in a suite on NCL next December on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We booked almost 2 years in advance so that we could slowly pay it off a little at a time.

 

We are frugal (not cheap) cruisers and always book an inside cabin (mid ship and low down are the most stable if you have choppy or rough seas ---bow location is the worst and the higher you go the more sway if it gets rough, although the ships are well stabilized.). The difference between the inside and a balcony will usually more than cover our airfare, overnight hotel if needed or sometimes even another cruise! Balconies, in my opinion, are over rated. Often too hot, too cold, too windy, too wet, can't see enough, or just don't have time to use them. We are never in our room except to sleep, change etc. or briefly relax. Inside cabins are roomy enough for us, well lighted, mirrored so they don't feel cramped and are well ventilated. ALL OTHER THINGS on the ship are equal, same food, same entertainment etc. etc. why pay an arm and a leg more for a balcony.

 

We aren't heavy drinkers and often drink ice tea (free on the buffet) all day or just water with lemon, saving our calories for all that included yummy food. Maybe a diet coke or two. Princess has reasonable drink prices in the evening. We sometimes get a bottle of wine with dinner, but you don't have to drink the entire bottle then, they store it for you, for the next night.

 

Personally I'd rather give the helpful staff extra tips than drink a lot of booze...money better spent in my opinion.

 

I don't think the drink cards/packages are worth it, especially if you are going ashore often. Really how much can you drink every day??? Some cruise lines let you bring wine on board to use in your room.

 

If you are doing the Caribbean you can pick up inexpensive and safe tours once you get off the ship, so easy to do, or just bus/walk into towns. Tours run $20-30 pp and usually are very good with tons of info. Often tours not from the ship are more extensive and more informative and better value.

 

We were just (Oct.) in La Rochelle France and Gijon Spain and both these small cities had excellent walking tour maps in English... amazing. Lisbon, we took a city tour from the ship. I think big cities are best done through the ship. Small cities are more interested in tourists and will be more accommodating. It was a transatlantic cruise and was a bargain and we visited England for 2 weeks first. Total for 4 weeks, planes, trains, cruise, etc. Vancouver to England, 2 wk. cruise seeing bits of Europe, Bahamas and plane from Miami to Vancouver $8500.00 It takes time, we planned ahead. Some people spend that on a 2 week cruise alone... depends on your bank account. We have met lots of "well to do" people who also go with inside cabins. My motto, the more we can save, the more often we can go! Look for bargains especially within 3 months of travel as they are filling those empty cabins then.

 

We have been on Holland - Jun/13, Celebrity - Oct/13 and Princess - Nov/12 at least 9 or 10 times in the past 7-8 years and we have decide that we now like Princess the best... we are going on Ruby Princess for 2 weeks Nov. 14, can't wait!! ... yes we did book ahead for this cruise but it's inside :)

 

have a look at this food http://surreygal.smugmug.com/Food/Grand-Princess-Nov-2012/29131670_bHk6sJ#!i=2482208366&k=w3cvBzJ choose the slide show option.

 

 

Just my ramblings and opinions. All cruises are great!!!!

We've cruised on Royal Caribbean, Holland, Celebrity and Princess and they are all good in different ways. We were on the Grand Princess twice, two years apart. The first time the food wasn't very good, one of our complaints. The second time it was fantastic, different head chef and new bakery section, we are still raving about it!

Celebrity Infinity, we were blown away with the buffet and all the choices, snack bar near the pool was great and spa meals appetizing, however we found the dinning room to just be ok.

We've enjoyed Holland but haven't been on them for several years, going this weekend to Alaska for 2 weeks so we will see.

Just enjoy it all. We have found that the specialty restaurants really aren't that much different than the dining room just massive meat portions which we don't really need.

see photos of the Grand Princess food below..... yummy! (I'm a camera fanatic)