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Have fun!!

Great beginning Greg.

Yes, a Cheapo Dad trip report :):):) I'm looking at the 7 night Navigator so very interested to read what you have to say.

RCL will let you purchase just one drink package if there is a medical reason for the second passenger in a cabin. Also, the drink package might be $80/day on that cruise on one day, perhaps $55 the next day and perhaps $85 for another cruise. You buy and if you see a lower price you cancel and re-book. The package is generous with decent included wines, specialty coffees, and waters. They generally have a decent Black Friday sale which is nice. CCL has not in my experience allowed one person, even w/ a medical exemption to skip the drink package. It is a generous package with all of RCL's inclusions plus canned sodas and waters. I don't drink fountain soda so that isn't an inclusion to me, (NCL). Love that you can get sugar free energy drinks for the cabin.

This. I always check my bag with the porters but I do carry a small bag with prescriptions, an extra outfit, toiletries, and a book. I don't want to have to deal with it 3-4 hours after I've boarded, especially when I'm by myself. IRL I don't even carry a purse, have everything in my phone case. I'd forgotton the lack to TV programming. I don't watch a lot of TV even at home but I do enjoy having some movies and series available in case I feel like staying in my room. Just off Princess and their movie and series selection was excellent and free. Carnival also does a nice job on this, I look forward to watching TCM, HGTV, and FoodNetwork when I sail with them. I am booked on the Sun for a Spice Road cruise in March of 2025. Great Itinerary and a ship I really enjoyed but I'll cancel if they don't get this steward thing corrected. Celebrity and Virgin do the same cruise so not a biggie. The OP wanted good and bad, which will be different for all of us. Things which don't bother you bother me and vice versa. There is such a thing as respecting other's viewpoints even if you don't agree.

I didn’t say staff was lying in bed. I said the rooms weren’t being serviced in a timely manner. I think all of us are aware that ship staff work incredibly hard. Unfortunately if staff has been cut to bare bones inadequate service is what you get. I know some are unfazed by an unmade bed or piles of used towels but those things greatly impact my enjoyment of my cabin. No, I’m not making my own bed on vacation, I do that early every morning at home.

Great review @ceilidh1

I like NCL for their freestyle cruising and itineraries. Things to watch for: -if you're a wine drinker or like coffees, water, or soft drinks you will need to upgrade the drink package -new thing of cabins not ready till after 3 on the first day? No way. I have a 2025 cruise booked, hoped they've addressed this by then -taking entertainment options away....this is ongoing and again, hope they have it fixed by 2025. The product is not what it was pre-Covid or even after the re-start -housekeeping very late to get to cabins, deal breaker for my sister who sailed them once and will not book again due to this I really, really used to enjoy NCL but they need to get their act together on the housekeeping and entertainment.

The pizza is great on MSC. As long as you accept that there are many other nationalities on board, many with different conduct rules than those in America you’ll be fine. A friend sailed with them awhile back and was furious at what she took to be rude behavior. Everyone in the world doesn’t wait their turn…when we were stationed in Germany in the 80s one of the orientation teachers was giggling about our four way stop signs. She said they’d never work in Germany and that if we wanted to be waited on in a shop we couldn’t just stand meekly at the back. Print and have handy ALL package details and don’t make changes to your reservation close to the cruise. DH and I really liked MSC, it was like a trip to Italy and a cruise at the same time.

Thank-you for this. I've now spent an hour looking at floor plans at the various Margaritaville communities 🙂

I use Cruise Plum. Ok for me to post since it isn't a travel agency. They have a price drop section, solo deals, hot deals, and last minute deals. I've found excellent deals there in the past. You can search by cruise line, # of passengers, length of cruise, embarkation ports, etc...

The big box TA shows connecting cabins.

I use two computers and book simultaneously. It’s irritating that the Princess website doesn’t allow you to book two cabins at the same time, some other cruise line websites have this feature.

Fly first. The long flight after is a downer.

Thank-you for this. Have CB booked for next summer and your balanced reflection helped calm some of the jitters caused by recent threads.

The Carnival Cheers package is a good deal. Specialty coffees, energy drinks, and decent wine. Buy or don’t buy, it’s the best deal you’re going to get on any of the cruise lines.

The thermal suite is not coming out of the Observation Lounge. Cabins will take the extra space so those of you wanting to use the spa and Vibe will have more people to contend with. None of us are winning.

I really liked the Joy when I sailed on her in June of 2019 but not at all happy about the smaller Observation Lounge. That was such a great part of the ship and to make it smaller is just greedy. Yes, I know it was originally smaller but that is not how the North American cruiser was introduced to the ship.

How are fake flowers that stay in the suite through many guest changeovers healthier than fresh flowers? I absolutely loathe fake flowers, plants, and greenery, as you said nothing but dust collectors.

My last day of work will be December 20, 2024. I’ve been counting down since the five year mark, cannot wait to be done!

A $10 Carnival gift card.

Great report, we're doing BI next July so taking notes 🙂

I LOVED the studio cabin on the Bliss. As others have said the lounge was great for coffee and meeting people. Have a wonderful time!

Yes, thank-you to @cr8tiv1 and @kapsgp I have 303 and 305 booked for a British Isles cruise next July. It was a good deal, no single supplement for DS’s cabin. I’m looking forward to the space and the free laundry.

Had a great experience at CT on Sky 6/17-7/1. I was only gold and in a mini-suite so no status and no suite preference. $130 with wine, well worth it. I requested immediately on boarding. That said like Carnival’s CT better as you can reserve a spot and pay before boarding. No wondering if you’ll be chosen and the experience was equal.