Thrilled to hear about your cruise Smitty. I took that noon flight home from FTL. No problem. We also took the shore excursion that toured FTL and then took us to the airport. It was interesting.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Thank you for the pool info, Frank. Interesting---so I'll be able to swim while "at sea". This sounds like a lot of fun!!!
And Vicki, the noon flight worked? Okay, I will call them in just a bit to see if I'm allowed to change it. I booked the flight using my VA points so we'll have to see if there is a penalty (I'll bet there is).
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Smitty we took the noon flight on standby as we had booked the later flight before they added the noon flight. That might work for you. No penalty then.
You do realize you hijacked my thread.
Just kidding. Hijack my stuff anytime. On to Honolulu now.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Sorry, Vicki!! I didn't mean to hijack your thread! (Or did I?……hmmmmm…..j/k).
I hope you're having a great cruise! Just a short time now until I get to go on my first. I still can't believe I'm doing it. I never would have pushed myself to go if it weren't for you guys and for answering my questions the last year or two. I THINK I'm finally ready to go---not totally sure what to expect. I guess the big mystery to me that I'm wondering about is whether or not I'll be able to tell I'm on a moving ship. Like walking down an interior hall---will I feel like I'm moving on the ocean, or will I feel like I'm in a land-based hotel? Absolutely no clue what to expect here. And I still have questions, believe it or not. I'll try to find the answers on Cruise Critic before I bother you guys with any more of my stuff.
Have fun in Honolulu. Every time I've been there, I haven't felt like I'm in Hawaii. It reminds me of being in downtown San Francisco (with different views, of course). Did you hit Maui already? If so, I hope you got to either hit Longhi's (Wailea and Lahaina), or Cheeseburger in Paradise (Front Street in Lahaina), or Kimo's and got their Mud Pie for dessert!!! (Kimo's is almost next door to Cheeseburger in Paradise). A Hawaiian cruise is something I'd really like to take, but those cruises are just too long for my liking. I don't like being away from home (and my cat) that long.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Miss my cat too. I actually called the cat hotel to see how he is. Fine but "a little shy" whatever that means. Maui still to come. Going to the Arizona today, never did that before. Awaiting room service.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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My favorite "lounge area" at LAX is an outdoor bench in the little green space opposite the luggage area. On a rainy day (and with coffee)this would be a welcome alternative.
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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Oh wow, you've never been to the Arizona? Finally, I've been somewhere you haven't.
Be prepared---it is quite moving. There will be people in "vacation mode" at the movie they show with the park rangers, and people will still be yapping and carrying on as you board the shuttle boat. But then once you get there and on-board the memorial and "take it all in", suddenly things are very quiet and solemn. I'm really glad I got to experience it.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Sorry to continue hijacking your thread, Vicki! But I get the best answers here for my cruise questions!! I've been doing a lot of reading on Cruise Critic (.com), but there are some things that I just can't find answers to. Here is one question that I hope an expert can help me with:
I am taking this cruise "solo"---Me, myself, and I. I plan on eating all of my meals in the casual restaurants on-board, such as the buffet, maybe a "regular" restaurant (casual) if there is one, a pizza place, a hamburger place, stuff like that. What I do NOT plan on doing is "formal dining", where you get dressed up and go to a Dining Room where you have a waiter, etc. So here is my question: Since I will not have a waiter, are they still going to add a gratuity to my bill at the end of the cruise to tip a waiter that I never used or met? How do they know whether or not I ate in the formal dining room, or if I chose instead to just stay casual? Also, is what I'm doing "normal"? Do people just go casual the entire cruise (for a cruise of this length----5 days), or does everybody usually eat in the formal dining room?
Also, I'm reading about "Whole Ship Tours" that people take, and that you need to sign up right when you get on-board. I don't have the foggiest idea where to go to sign up for such a thing. Anybody here know where I would go to sign up?
For the two land tours that I've booked through Princess, how do I know where to go, what time, etc, when the ship gets to a port? Do they communicate to you somehow that you need to be at "x" location at "x o'clock", and they will return you to the ship at "x o'clock"? What if, for example, the land tour bus gets a flat tire and you are late getting back? Is there any sort of agreement or something where the ship will wait for you, or is it just like on Amtrak where they take off without you no matter what?
Thanks for any assistance here! I'm a bit nervous because this is all so new to me...I don't have a clue what I'm doing!
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Vicki and Art are still at sea so I'll take this one. Short reply because I'm doing double duty in the kitchen. Dressing and green bean casserole down, working on mashed potatoes…
You can go to Guest Relations to have your gratuities adjusted. I would imagine if you explain that you never ate in the main dining room they would remove those tips (waiter, assistant waiter, assistant maitre d'). I don't know anyone who has cruised this way although I am sure there are those who do. You should be aware that most cruise lines add a 15% gratuity to any beverages you order -- there is no need to tip beyond that unless the service has been exceptional. When we have room service -- usually for breakfast and an occasional lunch -- we usually tip a couple of bucks in cash to whoever brings it.
I'm not sure about the "Whole Ship Tours". If that is the bridge, galley, etc. they have always been complimentary on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. You would sign up at Guest Relations I would think.
You will get your ticket for the shore excursion and the meeting place in your cabin fairly soon after you board or the day before at the latest. If not, contact the Shore Excursion desk. If it is a ship's tour they will either hold the ship or get you to the next port. It rarely happens. If you are on your own, you are on your own…
We've only seen the latter happen once. About 40 people, including some entertainment staff, decided to take the train on their own into Paris from Le Havre. There was an electrical outage and the roads were jammed with weekend traffic. They were all left behind and had to make their own way to Dover -- luckily not too difficult to do. Their cabins were packed up and bags were waiting at Customs on the pier. Not sure about the entertainers.
The Captain (Captain Papanikalau -- a legend at Celebrity) waited as long as he could but he was dealing with tides and a time certain arrival and departure from Dover.
Frank in overcast and cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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How did the food turn out, Frank? Happy Thanksgiving to all! I just returned from my parent's home (a really nice retirement community that they just moved into), and the dinner was AWESOME!! Best turkey and ham I think I've ever had. Cooked to perfection. Mmmmmm…..but my stomach is so stuffed right now.
Okay, I understand on all of those answers. Thanks much! I think the "mystery" of this whole process will disappear once I'm on-board and see how it all actually works in-person. For my shore excursions, I'm definitely booking both through the Princess cruise site.
Oh, and thank you for the info about tipping room service---I would not have thought of that, and just assumed it was all part of the final tipping package. I'll make sure to tip when they bring breakfast.
I can't wait!!! I fly to FLL on January 12th, and set sail on the 13th!!!
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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PS: For my flight home after the cruise on Saturday, Jan 18th....I booked this flight using my VA points, so unfortunately, nothing can be changed without severe penalty and a complete re-booking of the ENTIRE itinerary at the current point level (which has gone up). I also risk losing my seats, as I have aisle seats and as of right now, all aisle seats are taken. Soooooo, it looks like I'll be hanging around FLL until my 5:20PM flight (instead of the noon flight). But I've got a couple ideas, one of them is to go back to my hotel and see if they allow a half-day charge? Since it's a cruise port, maybe they will? Or if not, I can do a little shore excursion and tour the everglades in one of those big-bladed boat thingys. But either way, it looks like I can take my time getting off the ship on the final morning and I will take them up on that buffet breakfast offer.
I booked my two land tours! On Eleuthera (Princess Cays), I'm skipping all of that touristy beach stuff and instead I'm taking a 4 hour tour of the island and having a "local" type of lunch. It looks like a lot of fun! And in Grand Turks, I'm also taking a 2.5 hour land tour that includes their museum and local spots. I prefer seeing the area over laying on the beach. Honestly, I can lay on the beach anywhere---I want to see what it's like in other parts of the world where I've never been. I'm bringing my camera, and can't wait to see the sites! Oh how I hope it's warm weather. I'm planning on shorts/t-shirts every day.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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You might check with Princess. Cruise lines often have a post cruise tour package that does something for a couple of hours and then drops you at the airport. Your bags stay with you on the tour bus. Just a thought.
Frank in dark and still warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Thank you, Frank. So far all I see is the one tour offered to take a tour in one of those air boat things, but other than that, Princess has nothing listed. Shoot....I think my post-cruise day is going to be quite long. Lots and lots of time to do nothing, followed by a long flight in Coach. I'm looking forward to the trip, but not the after-trip stuff...
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Smitty stop worrying. All the info you need will be provided on board. Your tips are taken care of via a hotel daily charge. That money is spread among many people, some of whom you don't see as they are behind the scenes.
And you might try taking the earlier flight on standby. We were successful with that.
I am currently on the Surfliner using Amtrak wifi wending my way back to LAX. Car is parked there at the $6 per day rate. Home is about an hour drive. Already miss my ship but looking forward to seeing Pepe my "devil cat".
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Welcome home!! By chance, did you ever get to stop by Longhi's in either Wailea or Lahaina? Or Cheeseburger in Paradise? Or Kimo's? I LOVE MAUI!!!
I will be happy once I take my first cruise, so that the mystery will not be a mystery any more. I have a thousand questions running through my head, wondering what it will be like. Stupid things, such as, will I even know I'm on a ship? Or will it be so smooth and quiet that you can't tell? I will discover this once we are under way. Maybe some of you guys can "wave" to me on the FLL webcam as we exit the harbor. That would be neat.
Oh, and regarding standby, the airline recommended that I not try it UNLESS I called them on the morning of the flight to see what the "load" looks like. This is because the noon flight takes me to LAX, and my destination is SFO. That means I would have to fly standby twice: Once at FLL and once at LAX. If LAX can't get me on-board, then I'm stuck in LA. Bummer. I think I'm just resigned to the fact that I will have an entire day to blow in Fort Lauderdale. I'll find something to do....I hope! I can't believe the trip is just over a month away. It'll be here before I know it.
Am I making any mistakes by not brining a jacket or anything? I'm traveling as if it'll be shorts/t-shirts the whole time. Am I wrong? Or should I pack a jacket?
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Yes, especially here in N Central FL. Readings in the 50's midday are quite possible where you're going at this time of year. Pack a jacket or windbreaker, or sweaters, and something to cover your legs.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Smitty, why not try a ride on the Tri-Rail commuter line before your flight home. If I remember correctly there is a stop near the Ft. Lauderdale airport. A jaunt up to W. Palm Beach and back might be a good way to wind up your trip. I think it's about an hour ride each way. Might even see one of the Silver trains.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Oh my gosh, Florida could get into the 50's?? I'm really glad I asked---I was not expecting that answer! Okay, I guess I'll pack a pair of jeans and a mild jacket. My fingers are crossed that the cruise weather will be nice and warm though.
palmland: Hmmmm, not a bad idea at all! I would love to ride Tri-Rail. Let me take a look at their website to see where the nearest stop is, when they run, and how much (it can't cost that much). I wonder if they are a "regular" back and forth service, or if they operate like the ACE train where I live, which only runs in one direction in the morning, and the other direction in the afternoon? I'll see what their schedule looks like, but yes, I would like to take TriRail for a ride. That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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It's not typical, smitty, but it's possible. Now today, we are likely to set high temp records where I live.
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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For some reason I'd missed most of the posts on this thread, and only now got to them.
Smitty's post about the Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor was interesting to me, because when my wife and I visited the memorial last January we hearkened to the Navy's request that pictures not be taken on the memorial itself out of respect for the entombed sailors. But 90 per cent of the visitors had their cameras out, flashing hither and yon. I could not believe it. The park rangers said nothing, presumably because they didn't want confrontations.
No wonder the Mormon Church doesn't want non-Mormon visitors in its Salt Lake City temple.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Perhaps there was a language problem. On our last visit to the Memorial more than half of the people on our launch were Japanese tourists. Friends in the Islands tell me that they are now being replaced by Chinese tourists.
BTW, I was looking through some books to send to the thrift store and came across your Zephyr book -- well worn and well used. It will be staying here!
Mormon Temples are sometimes open to the public before they are "sealed" or dedicated. I remember visiting the one on the Westside of Los Angeles.
Frank in sunny but cool and breezy SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax: Mormon Temples are sometimes open to the public before they are "sealed" or dedicated. I remember visiting the one on the Westside of Los Angeles.
Frank in sunny but cool and breezy SBA
Yes, I remember visiting new one too, in the 70's maybe early 80's. It was outside Washington, DC and was extremely impressive. I'm reminded of that every time I see the young men and women pedaling around town in their black suits spreading the gospel according to Joseph Smith.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: Smitty's post about the Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor was interesting to me, because when my wife and I visited the memorial last January we hearkened to the Navy's request that pictures not be taken on the memorial itself out of respect for the entombed sailors.
Henry, they made no such request when we visited and the literature did not mention no photos.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I was just going to say, I have pictures from the AZ Memorial but that's only because there was no request to not take photos. That's interesting----maybe it's something they tried temporarily, since Vicki was just there and the policy was not in place?
Chinese tourists are replacing Japanese tourists on the islands? Wow! That's definitely news to me. What is the new "hot spot" for Japanese vacations I wonder? For years, Hawaii has been printing signs, menus, etc, in all of the touristy areas in Japanese. They are a huge part of Hawaii's economy.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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This is odd! My wife heard three requests not to take photos. One was from our cruise tour bus driver. Another was from the Navy sailor conning the ferry over to the memorial. A third was from the National Park ranger who met the ferry. Maybe it was a special day, but if so, we're clueless as to what it was. Or maybe they just gave up and no longer make the request.
The Asian tourists would likely not have understood, as Smitty pointed out. Don't know why the Canadians (our tour was full of them) didn't comply. They are supposed to be so polite, except on the hockey rink.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:I plan on eating all of my meals in the casual restaurants on-board, such as the buffet, maybe a "regular" restaurant (casual) if there is one, a pizza place, a hamburger place, stuff like that.
That would be a real shame. The places you mention tend to be impersonal without the same opportunities to enjoy the experience with others and to make new friends, which in my opinion are so important to maximize your cruise enjoyment.
My suggestion? Give the formal dining room a chance at dinner only. You are not obligated to remain there if you do not like your companions.
I tend to agree with Don's suggestion. We have met some wonderful people just by being seated with them at dinner. When we cruise alone we usually ask for a table for two next to another table for two. You can talk and if things work out end up with a table for four. To each their own, though.
We are trying to figure out how to get to FLL and home for our short cruise in January. I think we'll non-rev -- it should be doable the last part of January.
The Japanese were keeping a pretty low profile after the Earthquake/Tsunami and taking closer vacations -- Guam, Saipan, etc.
The Chinese are not just going to Hawai'i. They are everywhere. We were on a tour steamer on the lake at Queenstown, NZ and were, for lack of a better word, overrun by a large group of Chinese tourists all dressed alike. I asked their tour leader if they were a team or something. His answer was that they were all workers and family from a factory. The trip was a reward for beating their goals. He had been with them in Australia and said that there had been a couple of serious problems with Aussies who weren't having any of the rudeness! Go, Oz!
Frank in dark and cool SBA
P.S. Vicki, we think this may set a record for pirating a topic!
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Well, then let me make sure I understand the dining thing so that I don't miss out on what you folks are talking about. I am traveling solo (Me, Myself, and I). If I went to the formal dining room, I am imagining one of two scenarios: 1) I sit at a table by myself, looking like a loser just sitting there with nobody to talk to, or 2) They assign me to a random table with random people. What if it's a family of four, and they add me to their table? Wouldn't the family of four be upset as to "some guy" sitting at THEIR table? I didn't think cruise dining was "Amtrak style" where it's known that you will be sharing a booth with 4 people----or is it?? This is the main reason why I don't want to do the dining room, but maybe I'm not understanding something.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Smitty, on both Holland-America cruises I took, one could sit as a singleton at one's own table if one wanted. Or one could tell the maitre d' that one would like to sit with another singleton. Generally those wishes would be heeded.
When alone, I preferred to dine at the buffet.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Smitty, you can do Amtrak style seating. When you arrive they ask if you wish to share. Just say yes. A family of four usually sits at a table for four. Most of the six and eight table are couples and/or singles. Always interesting conversation.
By the way, if I might bring some rail talk into this thread, I met the "train master" upon our return to LAX. He stayed with us while we waited for a redcap to take us to the car. He said his job was quality control and overseeing the train staff, he sometimes came to the platform like this to help and observe. His other job is being in charge of all the trains in the station. Nice guy.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Hmm, interesting. So I can dine in the dining room---either alone at a table, or with strangers. What to do, what to do....That would also mean bringing alone nice clothes, which I wasn't really planning on doing. I'm going to need to think this one out. I really don't want to miss out on whatever they are offering in the dining room, but then again, sitting at a table by myself just seems "funny" to me. Gosh.....I don't know what to do now.
Vicki: Glad you met him. Not sure if it's the same man that I met once when I boarded a PV (on #14---he wanted to see the interior), but it was a job that I did not know existed until I met him. The man I remember was "older", grey hair, and wearing an AmSuit.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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If you book a moderately-priced cruise as most of us do, e.g., Royal Caribbean, not the Queen Mary, you need only to feel comfortable by wearing a suit a couple of times a week
Given that you said that you want to be on "a nice classy ship, not Carnival," get with the program, or you will feel out of place in any public area of the ship on more formal nights.
posted
On our Alaskan and Caribbean cruises, we dressed casually, and shared a big round table for 8 with other people, mostly other couples, but it was a random assignment. We did not have the same big round table every night or for every lunch. On the formal night, we ate at the buffet.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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That's good to know, Mike. I think I'll just bring some slacks and polo shirts, and that'll have to work. If not, then I'll just figure it out. I'm not taking a vacation to get into uncomfortable clothes, that's for sure. No suits for this guy! Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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I had my black wrangler jeans and some polo/golf shirts and it was A-OK, except the one formal night they had.
In addition, you do not need slacks. Jeans and khaki pants are OK. I also used t-shirts with a pocket without any problems in the restaurants I used. I think the ships had 1 formal restaurant and 2 informal restaurants, and the buffet.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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