florida eagle

Does MSC's shorter cruises have a higher partying atmosphere like the Carnival Line? Or is it more reserved? 

18 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

Truth?  If you do totally disrespect disabled people by booking these cabins when you are not disabled not only is it a total jerk wad move on your part and you being a total tard, but also there is a high probability that you will be moved to whatever cabin NCL chooses to move you to when they realize that you are doing so.

There seems to be a lot of people living high off the hog not worrying about what you said. I saw a lady do that on a cruise some years ago. She had a cane and when she went on the secret deck of a Carnival ship, she was almost doing cartwheels. People playing the system in all ways seem to live good with much less resources then those who play by the rules.

19 hours ago, ScratchTheRat said:

You think it likely that those working in poor conditions on carribean islands are going to be vaccinated as fast as those of us in privileged places to let us cruise?

That is an issue. We seem to not get real conditions in the 2nd and 3rd world areas of the planet from our news people. How bad is it for them? How good is it for them? As it stand now, we are stopped or slowed down dramatically from being mobile to go to many places in the world. Interstate travel is still existing for now.

22 hours ago, oteixeira said:

I look forward to chair hog and not enough pools on this ship posts.   LOL  Also, any posts complaining about the gratuities, since it means we are onboard and people are complaining about them.

Technically speaking...chair hogs tended to be a form of social distancing.

On 1/20/2021 at 8:38 AM, island lady said:

 

And sadly many not only took advantage of it, lots of plates of partial eaten food piled up in the hallway (which was totally gross)....but many did not tip.  

This is Royal. But on Carnival also they started to charge from a certain time at night to morning while adding more choices. They said what you did about waste. But I will tell you when bringing younger mature people on the cruise who party at night and come back to the cabin and order food at 1 or 2 A.M. that it takes at least an hour or even more for it to arrive and they may crash out. That amount of time and more causes some consternation as people are sitting in their cabins. 

The two small ships you saw several months ago on this cruise with nets were from Space X. They are used to attempt  to collect the fairings that surround the satellites they launch to be reused. The fairings are made of a rare metal and are several million dollars. How they transport  the first stage rocket that lands at a sea barge back to the Cape I do not know.  Maybe they turn the stage on its side on one of the ships. The fairings though do not survive a landing in the sea to well.

16 hours ago, LHARTWICK said:

I had my yearly visit with my allergist/immunologist yesterday, and we had a good discussion re: COVID-19 and the vaccine.  I had my questions ready!  He and his wife are also cruisers.  He strongly thinks that the cruise lines will require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations prior to cruising - he just didn't see anyway around it. Too risky for all involved.  He also recommends the vaccine to all who are eligible for it.  And even with a strong number of people getting the vaccine (which remains to be seen), he doesn't see a great improvement in the overall situation until fall of 2021.  He also mentioned the reactions people are having to the 2nd dose - mostly a day or two of a low grade fever and a little achy - recommended just taking acetaminophen or the like.  So far, that's the most common reaction.  My nurse friend said the same.  She works at the largest hospital in our state, and that's what they are seeing, too.  And as far as the numbers being falsified, tell that to those who have lost loved ones.  (When this all started almost a year ago, I was one of those who thought it to be nothing more than a hoax in an election year. Not any more.)  My husband and I plan to get the vaccine, especially if that's what it takes to cruise again.  Blessings to all no matter what you decide! 🥰

Covid became politicized. Trust is not easy. Being on a cruise ship can be a petri dish for disease to the vulnerable.

1 hour ago, Don Kehote said:

You are free to choose that. 

That seems to be a lot of hoops and restrictions to having a good time. The nature of the beast is that people are closer together in many areas of the ship. The virus was politicized and disinformation one way or the other seems rampant. They are also going to add many surveillance cameras on the ships whatever happens. Where does the line cross from liberty and control? I know. Cruising is fun.  

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

 

Nostalgia is a great thing. In the hustle and bustle of life, it is always nice to be reminded of a simpler time, and great memories. Nothing wrong with that.

 

Cruising was no where near as big in the 90s and it is today. These ships just aren't nostalgic to the vast majority of people because they weren't sailing them, and many who did, aren't alive today. For all of the people who post on here why companies like Carnival need these ships, their low fares prove that they are not in high demand.

Those ships are for the masses. And they are not that bad. People go for different reasons. To party to go on excursions. To explore other lands in ports. To go to the beaches in many areas. To stay on the ship and relax. Most all enjoy looking at the ocean and the serenity it provides. Affordability has helped to cause the massive expansion of cruising. Combining the gratuities and the slow loss of what was normally standard for cruisers as part of it at one time needs to be addressed properly though.

On 1/7/2021 at 8:41 AM, TheMastodon said:

 

Woohoo.  Tip what you think is appropriate ! I don't tip the bots behind the computers in the Suite Lounge unless they have a direct impact on my experience.  Coming up to me and telling me I have a nice watch, kissing my a$$,  or asking how my day has been doesn't deserve a tip - sorry.  If they pull some strings and make something happen, sure.  But saying hello and goodbye as we leave doesn't cut it for me. 

 

The cabin attendant, the servers - those folks get my $ and it makes me feel good to over tip them.  I can't imagine the folks they have to deal with!!!  

So after pre paying gratuities, giving the cabin attendant an extra tip as at the end of the cruise there is an envelope given on the last day for that option and the servers is acceptable and done by most people? If resource are limited, tipping and tipping some more can reduce amount of things you can do. Extra tipping for drinks as an example. If done all the time it can be expensive. So there can be times to do so or not. 

12 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

The Private Islands are all part of another country, so they do qualify as a foreign port, and thus it would not be considered a cruise to nowhere, so it would be "legal".

 

However, even though those are private islands, they are still governed by the laws/rules of the country they are a part of, so it would take specific negotiations with that Government to bypass/alter any COVID restrictions in place.

 

i.e. the Private Islands are not governed by "The Republic of Disney" or "The Country of Carnivaland", they are governed by the Bahamian Government or the Government of the Turks and Caicos or whatever.

So if a ship can not go to Nassau for instance at this time, a cruise ship can connect and disconnect at their own islands with an agreement with the Bahaman government. Being that this would be temporary over a period of time, then giving the Bahaman government a few thousand dollars or several thousand dollars for each connection and disconnect would be possible over the prospect of receiving nothing. A lot of ships can do this if enough people who are cruisers and would accept this for the present issues we have.

5 minutes ago, Maddox121 said:

I would kinda like the Fantasy 2.0 class to be a tad bit longer. I would also kinda see Fantasy 2.0 class maybe be a "wiener" ship, with length over height, although i wouldn't like it because it wouldn't be a true Fantasy class.

Fantasy Class was the last one built with mostly ocean views with few balconies. That can be more budget conscious. They fit in ports with issues on larger ships. The Lido Deck on the Fantasy Ships I like better then the Destiny/Conquest ones. They seem to be cluttered. However that would not be a cruise choice killer for me. 

13 hours ago, Maddox121 said:

And honestly, it's still nice today, even though i was born in 2004, i'm a killer for vintage and nostalgia.

There are ports with restrictions because of limitations like bridges. Tampa and others. So a longer ship with lower height can be built with more weight. And with modern technology and better use of public spaces can be priced for the budget conscience. Spirit class or Destiny/Conquest class with the top chopped off may work. A 90 or 100 thousand ton ship replacing the Fantasy class will prosper. 

Would stopping at a Cruise Company Private Island Like Coco Cay or Half Moon Cay qualify as a Ship to Nowhere Cruise? If so, multiple ships can dock and leave.