rkacruiser

Why do you object for a poster to gain perspectives from others? The observations/experiences that I post are for informative purposes. What accommodation on a cruise is most certainly a personal decision. After one has gained whatever information that one wishes to do. In comparison to what value one receives from a YC suite on a MSC ship, the value is lacking when booking a Neptune Suite.

That's a rather early departure.

Agree. The size of the veranda made the stateroom very attractive. The additional amenities available also were attractive: hors d'oeuvres (hot and/or cold) delivered in the afternoon when one wanted them, breakfast in the PG, Concierge service and the Neptune Lounge.

I was gifted a pair of Jos A Banks Christmas socks (must have cost quite a bit for a pair of socks). But, I wouldn't ever consider wearing such with my best Tux.

None of us know this. That data is not available for us shareholders. Such data has never been available. it is--and has been--a source of frustration for us long time owners of CCL.

Agree, but there is a difference in the experience--even during a 7 day cruise--between the stateroom categories. As I said.

I wonder which is more important to cruisers asking when Gala Nights will be on cruises that include Christmas and New Year's holidays: the menu for the night or the atmosphere/attire for the night? Gala Night menus are sometimes inferior to what the MDR menus.

Agree. Not pizza and do not care for such cuisine.

$3,100 I think is what you meant to type. Only you can make that choice. As I said, if it is within your budget, you are buying not just a stateroom, you are buying a different experience in a Neptune Suite than one has in "just" a Verandah stateroom.

There will be tuxes worn by gentlemen that choose to do so. New Year's Eve, most will be very well dressed.

Guten Nacht, Mein Schiff 1!

OP, thanks for your brief report. Having sailed on Celebrity Eclipse, I think their MDR cuisine is lacking in comparison to HAL's. But, their Tuscan Grille and Murano were superior to many of my dinners in the Pinnacle Grill.

If the cost to upgrade is within your budget and is reasonable, yes, it is worth it. For one 7 day cruise booking on the Westerdam, I booked a Veranda stateroom, a few weeks later, I was offered a reasonable upgrade offer to a Signature Suite and accepted. 48 hours before sailing, I was offered an upgrade to a Neptune Suite and accepted. Very pleased; I cruised in excellent accommodations at a fraction of what booking the Neptune Suite would have originally cost.

Too late to see Nieuw Statendam, but, can watch Mein Schiff One depart. It good to know that this will be a sailaway weekend from Port Everglades!

The Stewards were adorned with veggie symbols as I recall. Just ridiculous. How could I have not thought of that! A sight that I saw during my first cruise on Rotterdam V. Formal night with ladies wearing gowns with open backs. At an adjoining table, a Steward was serving her from a platter with some kind of meat with au jus. He lost control of the platter and some of the au jus spilled down the lady's back. Her reaction was interesting to see. And, the dining room's officials came rushing to her aid. That was also interesting to watch! But, Silver Service is elegant dining. And, pre-Covid, flying International Business Class, the course by course dining service approximated this kind of luxury dining.

MSC and Carnival has similarities. Italian Officers and International Crew; very good, diverse entertainment, beautiful ships, and ships are well designed for guest movement from venue to venue (for the most part). The exception to this on Meraviglia is when the show in the Main Theater is over, the crowd in the elevator foyer is very large. But, once getting through that throng of humanity, the rest of the ship on that deck is easily accessible. MSC's pizza is better than Carnival. MSC's service is uniformly very good and personable. (I have no complaint about Carnival's service.) Drinks on MSC may be better made. As a YC Guest on Meraviglia, cuisine was excellent; when I walked through the Buffet restaurant, what food I saw looked very good. Pastas are delicious. (How many ways can Risotto be made!) Pool decks are very nice with lots of loungers. And, the pool deck games, at the Mid-Ship's pool, were fun to watch and different than anything that I have seen on Carnival. I am glad that I chose to sail on MSC Meraviglia.

Me too! Steak and eggs for breakfast? Yes! Have enjoyed that a few times. But, Lamb Chops? Never thought of that! Sounds good, but, does Mint Jelly go well with Scrambled Eggs and Toast? 😀

This poster offers several good ideas that I support. I found the tour that I took that visited the entire city: new, old, and very old to be interesting. A folkloric show that the tour attended was fun and colorful. (I think lunch was included; don't remember for certain.) Maybe having dinner at a local restaurant would interest the OP.

I have taken Amtrak from Fort Lauderdale and it was about a 20-30 minute taxi ride from Marriott Harbor Beach Hotel. I was on the Silver Meteor which left early morning and I didn't think the traffic was bad. If the train leaves later in the day, then traffic may be an issue.

Have you checked with other rental car companies?

I have never smelled Weed in the San Francisco hotels where I have stayed. One was a Sheraton that was on the cable car line and the other was a Marriott in the Fisherman's Wharf area.

Agree. They helped make a cruise just that much different from any land dining experience. I also recall the flaming Baked Alaskas.. The one type of parade that I did not care for was when HAL began parading "vegetables" as dinner came to an end. Thought that was rather "dumb" and not a "Signature of Excellence". (Probably an idea that originated in some Seattle executive's mind to justify his paycheck that month?)

I had forgotten that position! There are two women whom I remember in particular in that role. One was the Social Hostess who was also an entertainer (excellent voice!) on S. S. Monterey during my first Hawaiian cruise. The other woman was the Social Hostess on Royal Viking Sky whom I met again a few years later on a HAL ship. Very engaging and, surprisingly, she did remember me.

Covid has not been just a virus affects one health. It has also been a disease that is a sociological one as well. Has our civilization ever experienced such a situation?

I understand what you experienced. I wasn't "pushed", but, I was mobbed. And, when my goody bag was empty, I had a bit of a time before the folks understood that "Santa"s bag" was empty. I never felt threatened. All that I felt was appreciation. Mine was a very good experience.