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scamper

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Posts posted by scamper

  1. On 9/16/2024 at 11:14 AM, commodoredave said:

    Resentment to mass tourism, including cruise ships and their passengers, is growing. This is particularly so in highly visited cities and regions such as Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam and Norway. In fact, Norway has already announced some restrictions on large ships in the fjords.

    In this changing environment, smaller ships may become more popular with both passengers and ports. 
    In this regard, I recommend the smaller Seabourn and Silversea ships in addition to SeaDream. I am also giving Emerald Yacht cruises a try in the Caribbean this winter.

     

  2. 8 hours ago, P2l said:

    Back to the titular topic, the ship is decidedly wobblier of deck than on preceding days. Not just due to the gin either. Sat in the Panorama Lounge and the candelabra are noticeably swaying. On the plus side, we’re at the aft of the ship, so less distance to go to the engine room, where - assuming ship design hasn’t changed in the intervening years, and that the movie was in fact a documentary - the hull is thinner, facilitating an easier rescue following capsize. 

     

    Not likely thinner as passenger ships are propelled by azipods rather than the propellers of old.  Your best bet is to go forward and use the bow thruster shaft like in that terrible 2006 remake.  I'm sure at least one of those won't be spinning. I know that completely negates your need to negotiate an upside down catwalk, but life is full of disappointments. Buck up and be glad you didn't fall down an elevator shaft.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  3. On 7/29/2024 at 12:17 AM, Até said:

    There are cracks starting to show caused by MSC's ever increasing YC prices.  It used to be every YC interior was scooped up almost immediately but I'm seeing more and more sailings where they are going unsold.  At $4K per week I'm not surprised.   

     

    It also used to be every YC balcony filled pretty fast but that's not happening either.  Plenty of bidding opportunities is the current way MSC is filling the Yacht Club. 

    I look at it this way: it's still cheaper than NCL The Haven that it is equal (and sometimes superior) to.

  4. On 7/14/2024 at 3:50 PM, Barb Nahoumi said:

    The only cruise line where I found a self service laundry room was Carnival.

    Holland America had/has them on a handful of their older ships.  Seabourn had them on the triplets.  I know because I would often enjoy a serving of caviar and a glass of bubbles in the old days while doing laundry.  Decadence. 

  5. On 5/21/2024 at 8:09 AM, CDNPolar said:

     

    I know some mean Canadians... will introduce you one day!  Haha.

     

    You would think after 140 cruises you would be immune to snobs?  I find them everywhere I go.  New money, old money, no money, and middle class all have snobs.

     

    If someone asked me how I could afford this cruise my response would be:

     

    "Oh, you know, I've been surviving on a diet of ramen noodles and dreams for years.  Turns out, dreams pay dividends if you wait long enough and eat enough ramen."

     

     

    Snobs can be found just about anywhere.  I am rather proud of the fact that if I choose to, I can out snob just about anyone.  I learned it from my grandmother.  One of my favorite expressions she used was when she referred to "the sort of people who buy their silver." 😆

    • Haha 1
  6. On 6/9/2024 at 9:31 PM, astera said:

     

    I take it none of their fleet have self-service laundry facilities, not even bigger ships like The Escape?

    Self-service doesn't allow them more opportunities to nickel and dime their customers.

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
  7. 18 hours ago, ysolde said:

    Agree with all this.  The other thing DH and I do is we each pack one outfit in each other's suitcase.  That way, if the airline loses one case, the one whose suitcase is lost will have an entire extra outfit to wear until their suitcase is returned by the airline.

     

    Great idea! Hadn't thought of that.

  8. On 6/25/2024 at 2:49 PM, TheBeardedCruiser said:

    I can think of a few things...

     

    1) Paying 1/3 of the cost of the people in the Haven and still getting amazing food and not having to cook or clean;

     

    2) Drinking the free lemonade or ice water;

     

    3) Walking around the ship and meeting new people!

     

    It's all about perspective. You all enjoy that style of cruising, I enjoy my style. We can coexist. I don't envy you, and I sure hope that you didn't look down on me!

     

    Plus, I have to imagine that the people in the Haven are subsidizing the cost of my cruise by paying so much. Thank you kindly!!

     

    Perhaps, but we in The Haven truly do appreciate that you guys in steerage can kick up quite a breeze when rowing down there.  My valet hangs out my fine washables on the balcony and he says with the Third Class efforts, his work is done in half the time.  Good on you!  😊👍

    • Haha 1
  9. I have yet to be impressed with HAL's desserts, period.  Although I haven't been on HAL in quite a while, about the only thing worth eating was the bread pudding with vanilla sauce in the Lido.  I usually just had fruit and or cheese with a glass of port after dinner. Baked Alaska is overrated and I haven't had it in decades.

    • Like 1
  10. 15 hours ago, njhorseman said:

    The OP applied for and received their new passport. That information is in post #84, just a few posts before yours.

    Thanks. As I pointed out in my post I read the first two pages, then it was tl;dr:  too long; didn't read.

  11. I skim/read the first couple of pages of this thread and then, tl;dr.  I'm not sure what the OP decided to do, but I would ask the OP how much peace of mind is worth?

     

    It doesn't matter what other people's experiences have been.  Anything can happen, especially when you are dealing with bureacracy.  For myself, once the date arrives that I can start the renewal process and if I am not leaving the country between the date I can start the renewal and the passport's expiration date, I am renewing that puppy.  Period.

     

    The US State Department is in the process of starting a program to renew passports online.  It's Beta testing now, but if you go to the site you can research the details.  Hopefully, once the testing is done and the program goes into full operation, then renewals will be done at a faster pace.

  12. My advice:

     

    Always, always, always buy travel insurance.  Make certain policy covers baggage/loss delay, passenger delay, and trip cancellation

     

    Always, always, always carry one (two is better) complete changes of clothing in a carryon bag from your residence door to your stateroom door, and don't check it if you're flying.

     

    Never, never, never pack anything in checked baggage that can't be replaced at WalMart, Target, or a similar retailer in other countries.

     

    Always, always, always (if flying) travel to the city you are sailing from at least one day before you sail.  This allows for time for misrouted or delayed bags to (hopefully) catch up.

     

    Your nerves will thank you.

    • Like 2
  13. 17 hours ago, Cloudyrain said:

    if you want shows or something lively you need to venture out in to the main part of the ship. 

    You mean one has to actually blend with the hoi poloi!?!?  The sorts of people who earn their money?!?!? Oh, really dahling!!! I'm going to need my smelling salts! 😜

    • Haha 1
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