Cruise Talk: Oops, I did it again!

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»	Cruise Talk » Idle Chatter » Oops, I did it again!

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Topic: Oops, I did it again!

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 01-27-2011 12:18 PM

Well, I took the plunge and booked another cruise, this one for the week after Thanksgiving. Since NYC is really difficult for me to get to without flying, and wanting to avoid that added cost, it left me choosing between the Carnival Pride or the wonderfully 'stretched' Enchantment of the Seas out of Baltimore. After seeing a thread over on CC with shirtless male passengers in high heels, bras, carrying purses, and wearing lipstick in a lounge contest, it wasn't hard to decide.

The itinerary is 9-nights and looks like this:

Day 1 Baltimore, Maryland
Day 2 At the Sea
Day 3 At the Sea
Day 4 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 5 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
Day 6 Samana, Dominican Republic
Day 7 Labadee, Haiti
Day 8 At the Sea
Day 9 At the Sea
Day 10 Baltimore, Maryland

Got an Inside Cabin this time with all port charges and taxes for right at $1000. I havent been to STT in close to 30 years. Never been to Samana or Labadee. Looking forward to the four days at sea. Will keep an eye out for any price reductions for possible upgrades but I kind of doubt it.

302 days and counting!

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 01-27-2011 01:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dmwnc1:
After seeing...shirtless male passengers in high heels, bras, carrying purses, and wearing lipstick in a lounge contest, it wasn't hard to decide.

I guess I should have clarifed that a bit more. It won't be on this one:

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 01-27-2011 03:50 PM

On certain points of my Regatta cruise, the Carnival Glory and Density were in the same port and had no problem in identifying who were the Carnival and Oceania passengers.

I think you made the right decision.

You will encounter the Gulf Stream and a rough Atlantic in that time of year.

In St Thomas if there are more than 3 ships in at the same time; stay on board and avoid the crowds in the Jersey Shore/Blackpool/Coney Island of the Caribbean.

Experienced cruisers do not get off the ship on St. Thomas and enjoy the lack of crowds onboard.

[ 01-27-2011: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 01-28-2011 12:45 AM

We will only have five ships in St. Thomas (Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Epic, Grand Princess, Eurodam, Enchantment of the Seas) and having not been there in decades I wanted to at least do the tramway to Paradise Point. Shopping is not my thing, and any beach excursions or side trips to neighboring St. John are pretty much axed because like you said it will probably be a freaking circus.

The single biggest aspect of the itinerary I do not like is the late arrival in San Juan leaving less than three hours of daylight, and for some reason I don't feel safe walking around at night down there. Is that being paranoid?

As for Labadee I really want to do the zip line and that's about it. Can't think of any other 'must do' activity unless anyone else has a suggestion? Same goes for Samana.

Weather? I am hoping to at least get ONE good rough sea day in each direction like I did back in December!

As much as I really loved the Celebrity MERCURY I am going to have to keep in mind NOT to compare ships, food, passenger demographics, etc, etc. but it will be hard! Enchantment of the Seas looks like a nice ship, and as hard as I tried, can't ever see myself on Carnival regardless of the deal.

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 01-28-2011 12:35 PM

Eurodam will be at Crown Bay and probably also the Grand Princess, so that only leaves 3 at Havensight.

The Paradise Point Tramway is very close to Havensight, in fact I believe it is within walking distance.

In the "old" days we always got off the ship and either went to Megan's Bay, and/or shopped at Havensight & in town. Now we don't even get off the ship. You can tell I'm getting old, I can't take the crowds anymore.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 01-28-2011 02:37 PM

Well after a lot of deliberation we booked today on Princess. We thought about HAL,but this cruise will put us in the Platinum class on Princess.
(Grand Princess) 14 days Carribean to few ports not previously visited. Looking at the cabins we took the Mini suite vs the oceanview with balcony. Sail date March 13th-had to get away from the cold and snow. Leaving a day early just in case of bad weather. Got the air through Princess. to FLL.
BTW air fare for March jumps up due to Spring Break, but we got a good deal with a non stop from ORD to FLL.
Frosty4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 01-28-2011 04:08 PM

Spring Break, I was advised that one of the Princess's had a group booking of a 10th anniversary high school reunion. The captain put them off at the next port. Use your imagination.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 01-29-2011 12:53 AM

Spring Break, Summer Break, or any major US holiday 'school break' tends to draw out more families with kids and teens, which is a demographic I really try to avoid at all costs. This is why I was very hesitant in booking this cruise since it starts on that 'Thanksgiving Saturday', but it is 9-nights (and the lead-in price suggested that it was 'off-peak' compared to the week before). I also figured that most parents would pull their kids out of school the week of Thanksgiving and not the entire week after Thanksgiving as well since the big Christmas/New Years 2-week break was also right around the corner?

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 01-29-2011 10:21 AM

Our cruise is 14 days with no back to back type sailing. !0 ports of call. I doubt there will be any Spring Breakers aboard. Even with good pricing now.
I also refrain from booking Summer cruises as "Rug Rats" are all over the ship. Alaska especially seems to draw a lot of kids as there were 400+ on our Alaska cruise.
F4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 02-07-2011 01:49 PM

Well crap. After reading a plethora of reviews on the Enchantment of the Seas, smoking policies on RCI, problems with cigarette smoke filtering out of Bolero's and the Casino on the EN into the Centrum and up 5 decks, and the mixed and unappealing reviews regarding the average food on the ship, I just couldnt get excited about it any more. As hard as I tried. Someone even said 'that is a long time to spend on a ship that is 2nd choice'. So true!

After a bit of research and some heavy pondering, I am super excited to report I am now booked on a 9-nt B2B (5nt + 4nt) on the Celebrity MILLENNIUM out of Miami, as well as having already booked my first airplane flight in almost 9 years. YIKES! Dont care where the ship is going, just excited that this is my first time ever on this class of ship!

YEA!!!!

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-07-2011 02:36 PM

I hope things have changed on Mille,but I recall the midship area that had a few cafes and pastry shops that permitted smoking. The smoke was BAD there and I rushed through the area and held my breath till past.
I think however most ships have eliminated smoking in all interior spaces and have a designated place on deck. I would call Celebrity and find out their policy.
Good luck
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 02-07-2011 03:27 PM

I found this from 2010:

Smoking areas on M-class ships (Millennium, Infinity, Constellation & Summit) include the following locations:

Deck 11 (Sunrise Deck forward) – Port-side only -- in the Nightclub (also called Disco) –– this is the only indoor area

Deck 10 (Resort Deck mid-ship) – Port-side only – outside between the Buffet (Waterfall Café/Grill) and the AquaSpa

Deck 10 (Resort Deck aft) – Port-side only – outside of the Buffet (Waterfall Café/Grill)

Deck 4 (Promenade Deck mid-ship) – Port-side only – outside between restaurant (Cosmopolitan Rest.) and Celebrity Theatre

Note that the official names (Nightclub, etc.) are the designation on the Summit, but will be different for the other M-class ships

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

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