edspec

17 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

oh, she also chastised someone for talking while she was talking 

Sounds like school to me...

5 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

On the way to the next stop. She’s riddling us with facts about how to catch the cable car when we’re done, how the bus can’t get that closed etc…. She may know her stuff, but maaaan she’s making this feel like a job

We had a guide like that on our last cruise.  By the end of the tour I was so wanting her to shut up...please, just two minutes of quiet to look at the amazing view and think my own thoughts.  Didn't happen.  I felt like I'd been beaten up by the time I got off the bus. 

The pictures on this review…I never thought of taking this cruise but I spent quite some time “shopping” today. Thank-you @TxTeach79 and @HelloItsMeB.

Yay, another great review.  Thank-you for the New York information and pics.

I would go.  Your child is this age once and wanting to go on an exciting trip with his mom....that may not ever happen again.  Don't throw this opportunity away.  Rest, get over Covid, decide what books you're taking for sea days, order your son some new clothes or some type of surprise for the first day on the ship and start to anticipate this wonderful trip.

I personally would love to hear about this if you will be doing some type of Live reporting. 

How is it possible tomorrow is debarkation day? You just got on.

Chris made a good call on the sandwich, low fat, protein, and vitamin C. Hope you feel better soon…that the pizza smelled good is positive!

I don’t understand why a child wouldn’t have their own package? Our son gets the same as we do and it’s always been that way. If you can’t afford for the whole family to go in the same manner then you need to tone down everyone’s expenses. A child isn’t less then.

For those that cheat on the drink package…just no. I don’t feel like paying for your skinflint habits and in the end I will. 

7 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

@TxTeach79 Your international trips make me anxious and nervous. I can only imagine how you feel.  I remember last year checking CC site every few minutes waiting on luggage updates.  I guess you can buy a speedo at Venice and wear it everyday.

Yeah, I made batches of pickles to keep myself busy so I wasn't checking every two minutes.  I'm thinking a trip to the store for pickling vegetables is in order.  

I’m hoping Guest Services can help you tomorrow. You’re not being a B****. A vacation should not be hard.  

Yay!!!  Desperately needing distraction from real life.  This and @pirate4me2review will surely get me through the next week.  Thank-you both!

3 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

The gambling guy that recently did a review on I think it was Carnival or maybe Princess claimed he had a 2.5 hour commute each way IIRC. He said he put up with it because of the obscene amount of money he was paid.  His words not mine. If it was that amount of obscene money, I personally would have moved closer to where he worked, but he claimed it was to expensive. 🤷🏼‍♀️ There is no way either of us would do it. We call it a better quality of life. To much time away from home along with the aggravation of it it’s just not worth the extra money.

I’m pretty sure he lives in the Central Valley, at least he did at one time…Modesto t-shirt worn during review. Anyway a lot of commuters in that area do the horrific Bay Area commute for years. It isn’t that it’s so long, 70ish miles, but the traffic is unreal. A friend’s husband left for work at 3 am for 20+ years to avoid it. It’s a killer and I wouldn’t do it but for many it’s an acceptable option.  San Francisco median house price $1,399,925 and Modesto median house price $445;651, guess it computes for them.

Sounds like a great trip, looking forward to your Live.  Have fun!

@LatinaInTexas they should be able to book Chops w/o issue.  There should be restaurant staff around who can book them in the specialties.  

44 minutes ago, roboref said:

I just can't get to worked up about this in any way. I have always figured gratuities and now "customer appreciation" or a daily service charge as part of the price. Do these people who are all so worked up demand transparency on "port fees"? Do they demand to know the % split of the pooled tips at a restaurant? Or the price breakdown for an item on the shelf at the grocery store? Of course not. If it was so unfair to the workers on the cruise lines these workers would stay home and not go to the ship. I will pay the DSC or whatever it is called and cruise happily ever after!

Excellent post, thank-you!!!!

People don't want to pay tips.  Instead of admitting that to themselves they look for justification.  If you're going to stiff the staff at least be honest with yourself. 

Simple solution for those outraged by the policy...cruise on lines that handle it differently.  

On 5/28/2024 at 6:09 AM, mjldvlks said:
 

The so called “discount” has always been a key selling point for cruising. How many of your selling points are you going to sacrifice?  You’ve given up food quality, you’ve given up the “discount,” you’re hacking hard at service. What’s next?  Sooner or later you are going to cut back to the point no one wants your product at any price. There are plenty of examples out there of companies following the bottom line into oblivion. Boeing is the one the comes to mind most readily. Royal is pretty much there for me. 

Great post. The ships are full now, be interesting to see in 12-18 months. I was on Quantum last month and had it been my first cruise wouldn’t have thought to cruise again. I know what cruising can be so will definitely sail again but not with RCL or NCL, both of which I used to enjoy.

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 

 

 I wrapped up my recent live report to Alaska saying that the logistics of getting to and from ports have officially pushed me over the edge.

  It’s a (usually miserable, always exhausting) day and a half of travel on each end for us and I am to the point where my anticipation of the dread of all that is outweighing the anticipation of the pleasure of the cruise. 
 

That’s right. I don’t even look forward to them anymore. I now seem to spend the last month mostly thinking 

 

That’s not much fun, coming up on a big wonderful vacation and mostly just wishing you didn’t have to face the coming gauntlet. As great as the ships are the math isn’t working for me anymore.

I would really love to never fly again as long as I live.

 

The above and @LatinaInTexas and @onlyano's recent experiences.  The travel is too much any more.  Years back we always took my mother with us, me paying for everything so we used SW points to fly to Florida or wherever we were cruising from.  Since I was buying four tickets I always bought the cheapest flights with crappy leave/arrival time and several stops.  Never an issue.  I wouldn't dream of doing that now.  And what's the nonsense of arriving at an airport but sitting on the tarmac waiting for a gate?  The first time that happened to us was in 2019, now it is a regular occurrance. 

We will continue to cruise but only to ports w/in easy driving/flying distance or perhaps overseas if I can use points to upgrade to first class.  Thank goodness we'll be on the east coast soon and have more choices.

I'd like to try Firenze before we leave and I  have a Hawaii cruise booked which leaves  from San Francisco but anything else isn't worth the angst.

2 hours ago, Funsince1983 said:

Maybe she was just emotional and didn't want you to see her cry. Yeah, that's it. 

That’s what I thought. I’d have been a basket case but would have realized what a positive impact I’d had…sort of like teaching. You know that feeling @TxTeach79.

1 hour ago, HeyJut said:

 and of course what did I do but start checking out Venezia cruises.  And I’ve never cruised out of NYC and “need” to.

 

Same here, two great minds...but we'll probably do Firenze first while we're still in California.  Having a new air conditioner installed in the house tomorrow. Ok, it's Sacramento, it'll be super hot very soon but I really, really hate spending money that way 😞

Ok, I was thrilled to see $4.99/gallon at the station I use. Sure it is worse in the Bay Area  or L.A.

I haven't gotten them in a long time either but in my case I never pay for flights with money, just cash. Maybe that disallows me???

4 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

You know, I haven’t gotten drink coupons in the mail from SW in a long time. I used to get four of em or so a month. Is it just me or did they cut that way back?

Great pictures!  I loved the Venezia sweat pants post. Such a dad thing to be looking out for you even now.

@TravelGirlinDallas Happy Birthday!

https://www.google.com/search?q=tilapia+quadruple+amputee&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

Congrats on interview success!!!