HUNKY

MSU...it is VERY important to note that this service is ONLY for flights departing AFTER a certain time. I believe 11AM for domestic flights.

From what I understand, cruise lines do not make money on the base fare, but on all the extras. Especially alcohol and the casino. Many cruise lines have great rates on the short five night voyages. That way they fill the ship, which is paramount. Empty cabins produce zero revenue.

Correct, they put your stateroom number and name on a tag which is placed on the bottle. In no time your bottle appears the next evening!

My former boss, who was always well dressed, wore a Rolex. I figured it was authentic based upon her title and the size of her office. She chuckled when someone complimented her on the watch. She said her husband, who was a pilot with Delta, would pick up a fake Rolex for her on the streets of NYC about once a year. They always seemed to freeze up after about twelve months. It was probably just the battery, but it was easier just to toss.

Enjoy your watches, and hopefully their batteries will last until your next cruise!

Late seems to have more advantages to us than early. I can't remember ever eating dinner before 6:30PM, especially at a restaurant. There are fewer children and fewer guests at the late seating. They never need to rush your table to get ready for the next seating. We aren't farmers and need to get up before sunrise! No need to rush back onboard ship after an excursion. Who wants to have cocktail hour at 4:30PM, that would mean getting dressed for the evening at 4PM or so.

Since you are paying top dollar to go over the New Year's Eve holiday - I'd book a Disney ship. Second choice NCL. Princess would be last after RCCL and Carnival.

Hmm...guess I have to hope no one wants the Sanctuary or Chef's Table on my Regal cruise. Thought the BVE would be my ticket!

There's still time for Princess to take the leap and make those options available online though. I'll just watch CC, the news, and my cruise personalizer.

We are in the same exact situation. I've been watching the My TSA app for security wait times, so far so good. If average wait times increase over the next few weeks I might book a limo or use Uber since there would be no line. On Sunday 03 August 2014 at 9:15AM checkpoint E the wait was 11 - 20 minutes, for instance.

It would be AWESOME if Port Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport got together and built a light rail system since they are so close!

From what I understand, unless you are onboard first, as the Elite tier are, the Sanctuary and Chef's Table will be booked already...

Since I'm in a guaranteed inside, with only one other Princess cruise, I might have to try the BVE to get onboard first.

Corfe...The way Disney does it first priority goes to those guests who have paid in full, booked in concierge or suite cabins. These are the most expensive accommodations. Lower priced cabin guests with little cruise history have the lowest priority and as such, are pretty much unable to obtain cabanas or paid dining reservations at preferred times.

Pam...again first priority goes to those guests that are paid in full in the most expensive cabins (Elite tier status does not come into play at this point). Onshore concierge will make the reservations based upon earliest full payment date and time. Any leftovers can be made online at midnight based upon the guests' various priority. Do a search for getting reservations at Disney World's most popular restaurants.

Carnival Corporate would LOVE to have their guests paid in full 180 days prior to cruising!

As the stern of the Royal/Regal is stepped, the balcony is not 100% covered.

I have no idea why the Caribe and Dolphin decks have many cabins available.

Regarding soot, is the cheaper fuel burned during a TA, outside the Emission Control Zone, more likely to cause soot? Maybe someone who has been on the Royal TA could tell us.

Yes you can take the aft staircase or elevators up three decks to the Horizon Court/Bistro buffet, and main pool deck. Or go up four decks to the aft deck pool!

Early prebooking would have no cost to Princess, but a decided value for suite guests and those that are frequent cruisers.

I will not find it relaxing to have to run to the Sanctuary to make my cabana or lounger reservations, while the other half calls the dine line to hopefully make Chef's Table and other reservations.

Heck, Princess could team up with Open Table to handle the reservations! Allow reservations for suite/frequent guests at 180 days out, others at 120 or 90 days. Close online booking a week or two prior to sailing so that the reservations could be transmitted to the ship.

Any rumors on when Princess will begin precruise online reservations for the Sanctuary, Specialty restaurants, Chef's Table and Winemaker's dinners?

It was great to be able to reserve dining on Disney and Royal!

A "South Miami" vibe - do they mean like Little Havana?

I think they may have meant South Beach...Guess the drinks start at $19 and of course there will be a doorman to keep the wrong people out! You know, the ones wearing sneakers and the wrong jeans.

Bruce - I'm somewhat surprised by item 6. Unless playing bridge takes hours upon hours, I would have thought that players would have automatic social contacts. As such, going on tours together, pre-dinner cocktails and dining in the specialty restaurants.

I'm pretty cheap myself, but that is so I can splurge on vacation!

A quick search noted NO Hyatt branded hotels in Brooklyn.

They are all in Manhattan.

Any corporation that does not have a social media officer or manager is certainly behind the times.

On the Princess forum, Princess Cruises responds directly.

I've not cruised on Cunard, but on other lines I almost always tip more for drinks.

Why? Because I tip more at home, one dollar for a beer, two or three dollars for two cocktails.

Surprise! On board ship, the bartenders quickly learn that I liked to be served promptly and guess what - I get quick service, even if the bar is crowded!

I've not taken the train from that far north, but a 17 hour cushion will hopefully be enough. They should take the train to Hollywood, it is a bit closer to the hotel and the port.

On the Amtrak site you can check the status of their train. For the past few days, the Silver Star train 91 has arrived between one hour early to well over four hours late.

Hopefully they will have a roomette on the train, it makes the trip so much nicer, and meals are included!

I don't think it would be fair to your regular travel agent if you did not give them the chance to beat your best offer from the other travel agents. After the first round I would send a second request stating your best offer to see if that can be topped.

I'm still surprised that cruise lines book via TAs. I would imagine their shareholders would like to retain those commissions. When was the last time anyone used a TA to book a hotel or flight?

DM Thanks for the link to pic of the glass wall on Regal!

Would think Princess could of saved a ton of money by expanding the curtains the full width on each side.

UH OH!

The curtains don't look like they close! What's the point?

That will be a deal breaker.

Does someone have a picture of the Regal Retreat Pool cabana walls?

Thanks to "cruise time tables" it starts to get busy next month September.

For our non-US cruisers, chicken tenders are most often strips of chicken breast which are breaded and fried. They are usually a frozen food product. Often served with ranch or honey mustard salad dressing, or ketchup.