<![CDATA[Cruise Addicts Message Boards - Cruise & Travel Chat]]> http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/ Ask Cruise or Travel Questions or just chat about these topics. This forum is strictly limited to Cruise and Travel related topics. en Sun, 19 May 2013 05:34:50 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/images/tf_ideal/blue/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Cruise Addicts Message Boards - Cruise & Travel Chat]]> http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/ Cruise @ddicts Bon Voyage for those Hitting the High Seas from 5/17 - 5/23 http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/cruise-ddicts-bon-voyage-those-hitting-high-seas-5-17-5-23-a-205575-new/ Thu, 16 May 2013 16:28:46 GMT Another Week has passed and once again its time to take a peek at those Cruise @ddicts getting ready to Hit the High Seas this Week....
Another Week has passed and once again its time to take a peek at those Cruise @ddicts getting ready to Hit the High Seas this Week. :banana:

Click on the Link below to join in the Party and get the FULL


Effect.:egyptian:




YouTube - Sailaway Party with Wavelength - Ruby Princess - Part 1


Hope the seas are smooth sailing as you raise your glasses high and toast :spyglass: all your Cruise @ddicts Friends!!!





.

]]> Einstein http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/cruise-ddicts-bon-voyage-those-hitting-high-seas-5-17-5-23-a-205575/ Motor Coach Transport http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/motor-coach-transport-205521-new/ Wed, 15 May 2013 20:52:16 GMT Any tips for Motor Coach Transport. I'm taking the motor coach to Ft. Lauderdale throug Royal Caribbean with my 10 year old in a couple of weeks. Booked a last minute cruise two weeks ago on the Allure and motor coach was the most cost effective way to get there and a first time gettng to port this way. Any tips on the 5-6 hour journey for comfort and what is allowed/disallowed on board the coach? ]]> 4mizrita http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/motor-coach-transport-205521/ What are the advantages of checking in for your flight, on line the day before? http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/what-advantages-checking-your-flight-line-day-before-205398-new/ Mon, 13 May 2013 20:58:29 GMT I see on the United site that I can go check in for my flight as much as 24 hours in advance of our flight. Last time I actually got an automated... I see on the United site that I can go check in for my flight as much as 24 hours in advance of our flight. Last time I actually got an automated phone call to remind me and was able to do it on the phone.

So what are the advantages of checking in for your flight, on line the day before? Or are there any?

What if I'm going to be busy elsewhere all day, and can't do that, what am I risking by just checking in the morning of the flight, the old fashioned way? ]]> Gayle V http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/what-advantages-checking-your-flight-line-day-before-205398/ caribbean cruise line voucher http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/caribbean-cruise-line-voucher-205172-new/ Tue, 07 May 2013 21:23:27 GMT hey all, my mother received one of those 2 night cruise vouchers to the bahamas in the mail today. i did the research and found that while it... hey all,

my mother received one of those 2 night cruise vouchers to the bahamas in the mail today. i did the research and found that while it is legit, there have been a alot of complaints. it seems that caribbean cruise line is not a cruise line at all, but a wholeseller of cruises for the actual cruise line, celebrations cruise line. what's more are the number of complaints, ranging from accusations of fraud, to misrepresented cabin numbers.

needless to say, the voucher went into the cylindrical file.... if any of you receive one of these that you proceed with caution to say the least. ]]> MisterD21 http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/caribbean-cruise-line-voucher-205172/ Maasdam 4/22 review http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/maasdam-4-22-review-205146-new/ Tue, 07 May 2013 15:02:34 GMT Maasdam review 4/22 11 day eastern Caribbean, this is my 56th cruise and 4th in a row on HAL Pre-cruise flew in night before start at FLL Embassy... Maasdam review 4/22 11 day eastern Caribbean, this is my 56th cruise and 4th in a row on HAL

Pre-cruise flew in night before start at FLL Embassy suite again, picked up 15 bottles at wine at total wine, Embassy suite was trying to sell us a 8 dollar per person shuttle to ship. Taxi fare was under 10 for the both of us.

Check in: was about 15 mins from when taxi drops us off at 12:30 to when we arrived in cabin,suite

Cabin: we had a guarantee BB suite and was given a A suite a few feet from sea view pool, great location, Verandah Suite (292 square feet) seemed a little small, bathroom was very small with odd shape ( for a suite). Only issue were almost yellow in color.

MDR: This was one of the best MDR for food and service , way better than last several cruises , we were not that happy with service on previous Hal cruises in MDR but this was exceptional , we had table for 2 in main seating at 8pm. We always ordered a appetizer and salad and coffee and desert after dinner and had no didn’t even need to ask for water or coffee refills. With all that we were done at 9:30 every night. Food was exceptional , one night my wife asked waiter which night escargot would be served and he wasn’t sure but just wanted to know how many orders we wanted for the next night. We both like wine and brought on a nice selections of Merlot and Cabernets , we had mentioned to our wine steward that we wished wine glasses were as nice at Pinnacles and was very surprised when next night we had 2 of the Pinnacles wine glasses on out table ( she had checked with Pinnacle manager and said we had reservations for several nights there and he allowed her to have the glasses ) , Sommelier on ship stopped to talk to us about our wine selection one night.

Pinnacle: this was a little of a disappointment , meals were ok but not as good as our dinners last year on Veendam which were exceptional.

Le Circe at Pinnacle: Entrees were cooked perfectly this is our 3rd time at Le Circe but 1st time where it was better than Pinnacle normal menu.

Lido: this was fine for breakfast but a major disappointment for lunch, my wife likes the Italian section and never had a problem with it in past, one day special was some dish with “Italian sausage “ and they just used cut up hot dogs!!!!, another day she wanted paste with garlic and oil, they added it to plate but didn’t understand you were supposed to add it to frying pan for a minute or so. Hamburger grill was almost as bad he would cook them till they were totally dry , another day my wife ordered salmon from grill and was told in would be 15 mins, I checked on in 10 mins later and he forgot to but it on the grill. I can understand if it was crowded but it was not.

Ship: Ship was in great shape in general for a 20 year old ship, we did have issues with a/c in room and other parts of the ship, loved the sea view pool never problem getting a chair, most days it was very quiet and relaxing, big exception was they had steel drum training were they had about 7 tone deaf passengers bang on these drums for about 30 mins each day, who in their right mind came up with that idea.,

Entertainment: WE really enjoyed the guitar player Glen Pearson, also excellent jazz trio in Queens lounge every night. We just saw 3 of the show and they were all very good, Rich Pupura was great he has been playing on cruise ships for 30 years. Hal getting cheap on triva only prizes were Hal pins

Formal nights: only 2 formal nights on 11 day cruise

Ports: St marten /St Vincent/St Croix/St Kitts/ Barbados/ Martinique/ Half Moon Cay, I woukd hav eperfered more sea days, did like the fact we never had to change clocks. Only tour we took was in St Vincents were we went to see where some of the Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed- thought it was a waste of money

Departure: got off about 8:40 and to airport by 9am, American was able to put us on plane leaving at 9:30 so we got home 5 hours early

Had almost perfect weather a little rain at Half moon cay, let me know if there are any questions


Read more at http://www.cruise-addicts.com/review...KBwTWFz7YgP.99 ]]> George C http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/maasdam-4-22-review-205146/ Advice needed, re: buying airfare http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/advice-needed-re-buying-airfare-205144-new/ Tue, 07 May 2013 14:44:12 GMT Hi all, Here's my situation.

I need to buy air for four people for November, two going from Houston to FLL, and two going from Cleveland to FLL. We've never paid more than $350 for any flight to any Florida port in the past. Even my upcoming flight to MCO only cost $289 barely two months ago.

Now I've been watching prices on the Nov. FLL trip since Feb. and the numbers have been just awful. The CLE to FLL ranging $497. to $536. and the Houston to FLL staying steady at $410. which my son assures me is high also. Today those prices are $489 and $375, respectively.

That still seems terribly high, but would save over all $182 compaired to what I would have paid yesterday.

Here's the choice: Buy or wait?

(Making it a little more complicated, is that I always have to take a direct (the CLE to FLL) due to issues with my ears and the cabin pressures. Only one choice for that, and it obviously costs more than average. ]]> Gayle V http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/advice-needed-re-buying-airfare-205144/ Happy today...managed an upgrade of sorts... http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/happy-today-managed-upgrade-sorts-204908-new/ Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:47:35 GMT Over the weekend I noted that prices had dropped somewhat on certain categories on my upcoming Silhouette cruise...At least that they were offering... Over the weekend I noted that prices had dropped somewhat on certain categories on my upcoming Silhouette cruise...At least that they were offering some guarantee rates that were quite good...

To set this in some perspective, we were actually very happy with our deal as originally booked...
We booked almost a year ago...while on the Eclipse...Got $200 of OBC by booking onboard...and the incredible rate, including fees and taxes, of $2000 per person for a balcony guarantee rate on a 13 night Adriatic Cruise--Venice to Rome for June 26...

The cabin had since been assigned as a partially obstructed 2C on deck 6...
We knew that one of the risks of a balcony guarantee rate is that we could have gotten assigned an obstructed view cabin...

From our booking last summer until this past weekend, we only saw the rates go up...So far up that our $2000 looked like an incredible bargain...

But, about 3 weeks ago, the "Final payment date" came and went...
But, seeing the new balcony guarantee rate dip to about $65 lower than I was paying, I started thinking about it...But, of course, we would be sent back to cabin assignment limbo...and might be reassigned to a fully obstructed 2D...So, we decided it wasn't worth it...

Then, I checked again and saw the Concierge Class guarantee being offered at about $168 per person more than we had paid...
I called my TA and asked, "I wonder if they may renegotiate an upgrade?" ...she called Celebrity...and after a while, the deal we struck was a move to a Concierge Class cabin tor an extra $100 per person...

So, we've moved from the originally assigned #6268 with the lifeboat alongside and the stanchions in the view...to #1275...a Deck 10 Concierge class cabin...for only $2100 per person!

Sunday night, I checked back on the website...and those guarantee rates jumped back up between $300 and $450 per person!

It really pays to keep monotoring the rates.... ]]> BruinSteve http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/happy-today-managed-upgrade-sorts-204908/ Photo Gallery http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/photo-gallery-204767-new/ Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:54:59 GMT Prompted by BruinSteve's thread about China I realised that I hadn't posted any cruise pics for absolutely ages.

So here, for your delictation and delight (or a cure for your insomnia) is an attempt at catch-up.

Fred Olsen's Boudicca to Norway
China, including a Yangtze River Cruise
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth to the Black Sea
Fred Olsen's Braemar to Senegal, Gambia and Cape Verde
Cunard's Queen Victoria to the Eastern Mediteranean
Cunard's Queen Victoria to Spain, Portugal and France

Regards, Colin. ]]> Colin http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/photo-gallery-204767/ Victoria, British Columbia from 6pm to midnight...what to do?? http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/victoria-british-columbia-6pm-midnight-what-do-204753-new/ Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:50:27 GMT Anyone with ideas as to what one should do with the little time we have in Victoria on our May 17, 2013 Solstice cruise??? I am sure many will not... Anyone with ideas as to what one should do with the little time we have in Victoria on our May 17, 2013 Solstice cruise??? I am sure many will not leave the ship, but seems like one could experience a little of the city that evening. If you've ideas to share let me know. Thanks!!

Suez

Celebrity Solstice to Alaska May 2013
Royal Carib-Mariner of the Sea on Cruise-Addict group cruise Oct 2005
NCL Sky to Alaska Aug of 2000 ]]> Suez http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/victoria-british-columbia-6pm-midnight-what-do-204753/ Tourists Are Giving Stingrays Insomnia http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/tourists-giving-stingrays-insomnia-204443-new/ Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:47:57 GMT Imagine slipping off a boat into warm, aqua blue, waist-deep, Caribbean water. Suddenly, there are hundreds of stingrays swarming around you, ... Imagine slipping off a boat into warm, aqua blue, waist-deep, Caribbean water. Suddenly, there are hundreds of stingrays swarming around you, sliding against your legs. For some people this is a nightmarishly, terrifying scenario. For others, it's a tropical wildlife paradise. Either way, it's what tourists to Stingray City in the Cayman Islands drop millions of dollars each year to experience.

Read the full story by clicking on the link below ...

http://news.yahoo.com/tourists-givin...153518885.html ]]> Cruizer http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/f4/tourists-giving-stingrays-insomnia-204443/