Musing About Cruising

Chew on This: Tips for Getting the Best Meal on the Sky Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:26:00 +0000

A friend remembers that at his parents’ dinner party in the ‘60s, the talk was about cruising. But not the beauty of the sea or the allure of the ports – it was all about the food.

A sweet finish to a meal at The Catch

Have things changed, really? Of course, today we have bumper cars and bowling alleys, but who among us doesn’t care about the chow? In fact, we obsess endlessly about lobster tails, whether to spring for specialty dining and if waiters will actually serve us coffee in the buffet.

And after all, we’re spending thousands of dollars for the privilege of eating to our tummies’ content. So, with this in mind, I’ve assembled some tips on how you can get the best meal on your upcoming voyage on the Sky Princess:

Before You Go

Plan Your Palate – A real plus today is that we have many more choices for where we can consume our calories – main dining room (MDR), buffet, specialty restaurants, casualty eateries, poolside grills and snack shops, as well as room service. Princess offers traditional MDR seating, as well as anytime dining with reservations or without. You will need to make a selection when you book.

Package Your Pleasure – For the greatest choice, consider the Premier package. Princess’ top bells-and-whistles offering will set you back an extra $100 per person/per day (more if you wait to buy it onboard), but it’s a great value, given all that’s included, such as unlimited specialty dining (as well as casualty dining and room service, unlimited alcohol, wi-fi, gratuities and more). We took full advantage of the package, eating in specialty restaurants four times on an eight-day trip.

Your Best Meal is a Phone Call Away – After you make final payment, make specialty dining reservations a soon as possible through Princess’ dedicated Dine Line (1-833-805-DINE), as the restaurants fill up fast. (You can also use it to make reservations in the MDR.) Also, note that if you’re a Captain’s Circle Elite or Platinum, you can book specialty dining even before final payment is made.

On the Cruise

The highlight of an MDR dinner

Didn’t get in? Don’t despair – If you forget to make specialty reservations before you leave home, if you’re flexible, you may be able to get them on embarkation day, or even well into the trip. Sometimes, reservations are cancelled or there are no-shows. For example, we were able to snag an available slot at a specialty restaurant mid-voyage by visiting the restaurant.

Know where you’re eating – Location of a restaurant can really matter. During our highly anticipated meal at The Catch specialty restaurant, which is located off the piazza, a song contest was underway. A large crowd screamed and cheered all the way through our meal. So, if a romantic dinner is your goal, you might want to check the restaurant’s location and the scheduled entertainment. (Note that when we ate there a few nights later, thankfully, a mellow folk guitarist was the featured performer.)

Main dining do’s – One formal night, we ended up at the MDR at 8:30 p.m. – just 30 minutes before
closing. We were shocked that it turned out to be one of the fastest dinners we’ve had in an MDR – 1 hour and 15 minutes, from soup to dessert. It might not be your first choice to eat that late, but perhaps the key to a speedy meal.

Afternoon fare at the International Cafe

The International Café: A 24/7 Treat – The International Café is the best round-the-clock snack shop I’ve seen at sea in terms of food quality and choice. The variety changes during the day, so check it out whenever you find yourself in the piazza. Note that while the food is included in the cruise fare, the café’s coffees are not.

The Buffet: Come as You Are, Eat What You Want – The buffets seem to be more popular than ever. Perhaps folks are more reluctant to get dressed up for the MDR and/or sit through long meals.

Or, maybe the buffet’s selection is the draw. On the Sky Princess, the buffet is massive, with varying items spanning both sides of the ship, as well as areas in the middle. The meal hours are generous too: breakfast until 11:30 a.m.; lunch until 3:30 p.m.; snacks until 5:30 p.m.; and dinner until 10 p.m.

American fare is among the options of the buffet.

Be sure not to miss the special last sea day lunch, which features a cake extravaganza. Dozens of colorful confections fill the bakery area, designed to send you off the ship with a sweet taste in your mouth.

Musing’s Top Tip: Princess may be the only cruise line left offering a galley tour for free. We gathered in the theater at 10 a.m. on the last sea day to watch a cooking demo led by the executive chef. This was followed by a brief singing performance by kitchen crew, and then we filed out to visit the galley, a wonderland of mastery, mystery and stainless steel.

The galley tour

A Step Back in Time: A Review of the Enchanted Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:02:00 +0000

I was truly enchanted with Princess’ fifth Royal Class ship. With its warm and gleaming wood, and marble décor, the ship was welcoming in its traditional trappings. You might even think you were on a luxury liner from days gone by – except for the shows. Oh, and the medallions.

The three-deck piazza in its warm and inviting tones

Aside from the mixture of the old and new, what else can you expect on the Enchanted Princess?

The Crowd: Lively but Not Loud – Princess, as a cruise line, trends to older adults. While there will always be kids, there aren’t many. A face-painting event on a recent trip hosted only a handful of school-age children. (Note, though, that we don’t travel during school vacations.)

The overall vibe of the ship is lively; piazza parties draw enthusiastic crowds, but you won’t find belly flop or hairy men contests at the pool.

Jiving to a live band in the piazza, where something is always happening

The Food: Quantity is the Order of the Day – Main dining room chow is typical cruise fare. While I had a few good desserts (see top photo below), I sorely missed the Norman Love blow-you-away creations from several years ago. Attempts at recreating his desserts, such as the chocolate pistachio dome (bottom photo below), fell short.

The buffet, however, is a real standout, with a mind-boggling array of choices. Unlike other cruise lines where the choices on one side of the room mirror the choices on the other, Enchanted’s varied spread spanned both. What’s more, the meal hours were exceedingly generous, with breakfast available until 11:30 a.m.; lunch until 3:30 p.m.; snacks until 5:30 p.m.; and dinner until 10 p.m.

And if this isn’t enough, the 24/7 International Café on the piazza can fill in the gaps with breakfast pastries and yogurts, sandwiches, quiches and desserts.

Sandwiches and such in the piazza's 24/7 International Cafe

The Activities: Behind the Scenes and Much More – Princess is one of the last cruise lines to offer free galley tours, usually the morning of the last sea day. There are also behind-the-scenes talks about putting production shows together, ship navigation, Q&A with the captain and the like. There’s also veggie carving, towel folding, and arts and crafts, assorted game shows and other interactive events.

The Entertainment: A Video Game Takes Center Stage, and There’s Music Everywhere – Production shows were modern, including an intriguing one evoking a video game. Karaoke drew standing room-only crowds, and music choices ranged from Irish tunes at O’Malley’s to jazz at Take Five to violins at the Crown Grill Bar. We found ourselves ensconced at Crooners several nights, seeped in nostalgia as we sipped G&Ts to piano tunes of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Strings to sip by at the Crown Grill Bar

The Service: A Newsletter in Print!!! – In another nod to tradition, Princess still provides twice daily cabin cleaning and delivers a paper newsletter, and even serves water, juice and coffee, as well as alcohol, to tables in the buffet.

The Technology: More Than a Token Amount

The medallions – small circular token-like disks –introduced a while back to replace sea cards – worked well to pay for drinks, open the stateroom door, and register our comings and goings at ports. Ours did de-activate once during the cruise, but were easily restored after a trip to the guest relations desk.

The Rooms: Maxi from Mini – Princess’ mini-suites are a particularly good deal, as they provide extra cabin space without the humungous cost of a real suite. And while the verandahs are on the small side, the mini-suites – and the standard balcony rooms – must surely have the biggest closets at sea. There’s also an impressive selection of – yes, you are reading this right – free on-demand movies.

The mini-suite features a full-sized couch, a curtain to separate the sitting area and two TVs

The Final Word (Almost): You’ll Wish it Could Go on Forever

As long as rock-climbing is not what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the Enchanted Princess. In fact, as your vacay comes to a close, you’ll be so relaxed that you’ll be wishing you had booked a longer trip.

Musing’s Top Tips

Specialty dining – Be sure to make reservations well in advance of your trip. Use Princess’s new dedicated dining line: 833-805-DINE. By the time you get onboard, the restaurants will already be filled up.

Pasta primavera at Sabatini's

Formal night – The first formal night is generally the first sea day.

Don’t-miss entertainment – On the last day, there’s a fabulous Princess World Orchestra event in the piazza. (Check the newsletter for the time.) A variety of the ship entertainers do a sampling of their talent. Get there very early to nab a seat.

Sampling the ship's varied entertainment as the cruise sails to a close

Already Booked?

See the post “Know Before You Go” for tips on what to do before your trip to help it go as smoothly as possible.

Be in the Know Before You Go on Enchanted Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 19:08:00 +0000

You’ve booked your trip and paid for it too.

Now what? Do online check-in! With Princess, the process begins as soon as you’ve made final payment. Here are details and tips from our recent cruise on the Enchanted Princess:

For smoother, faster boarding

Download the Princess app and do online check-in right away. Consider having the medallion (Princess’ version of the sea card) shipped to your home. If you have the Premier package, shipping is free; without the package, it costs $10*. You can order the medallion on the app at the same time you do online check-in.

The medallions typically arrive 7-20 days before the trip; ours came 7 days before. If you want to know if it’s been shipped, you can call Princess.

Once you order the medallion, you will be assigned to the "green lane,” teeing you up for faster boarding. At the terminal, agents manning kiosks check your passport and boarding pass. Then, you scan your medallion, and that’s it! It took us about five minutes.

The Enchanted Princess' stunning piazza, the hub of it all.

For better medallion management

Lanyards and clip

Check out the options for holding the medallion during your cruise. Amazon has a slew of choices, from watchbands to key chains. AirTag holders work too.

There’s also a shop on the ship with many options, including bracelets and necklaces.

The medallions are shipped with free lanyards, but note that the holder portion is a thin plastic frame. In just one day on our trip, we saw two people lose their medallions because they popped out of the holder. If you have Premier, the medallions also come with a blue plastic clip.

Musing's Top Tip: I used a different solution for the medallion holder, which worked really well. I bought a keychain and retractable badge holder from Amazon. I mounted the medallion in the keychain and connected it to the badge holder. I hooked the badge holder to the zipper of my little purse, leaving the medallion safely inside (see photo right). When I needed to show the medallion, I pulled it out of my purse with the badge holder cord.

My spouse used the same technique, adding an extra keychain piece that he used to loop it through his belt, and keep his medallion in his shorts pocket.

For hassle-free specialty dining

The Premier package includes two dinners, but if you make reservations in the app, you will get charged, and then will need to visit Guest Relations onboard to have it credited. You can avoid this hassle by calling Princess from home and asking them to make reservations for you, which they do without charging.

Sabatini's, the Italian specialty restaurant off the piazza.

You’ll want to make reservations as soon as possible, as they fill up fast. For example, when we visited the Crown Grill on embarkation day, the restaurant was already completely booked for the whole trip.

For quicker MDR dining

You can book your main dining room meals before the trip on the app. We made reservations for every night, even if we weren’t sure we were going to eat there.

Note on formal nights: If you want to enjoy both formal nights and specialty restaurants, pay close special attention to your itinerary. For seven-day Caribbean trips, in general, if you have a port on day 2 (first full day of the cruise), the formal night will be on day 3. If you have a sea day on day 2, the formal night will be on day 2. (This can vary, though, depending on the length of your trip and part of the world).

Musing's Top Tip: For a faster meal, tell the waiter you have a show to catch. We did this one night and were out of there in only 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Communication from Princess

One week before the cruise, your boarding pass will show up in the app. You’ll only receive a few emails from Princess between final payment and boarding. Some are informational/educational, highlighting dining options and entertainment. The last one, “Last Minute Must-Dos,” comes a few days before the trip and provides reminders on what you need to bring for check-in and details about the departure port.

Musing's Top Tip: To really be in the know before you go, consider joining the Princess Facebook site. I got some great ideas and advice from previous cruisers. Hope these tips helped.

By the way, we loved the Enchanted Princess. Stay tuned for a ship review coming soon!

* Available only to guests from U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico

Returning to Royal: Review of Wonder of the Seas

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 20:12:00 +0000

When the pandemic ended, we chose to regain our Royal Caribbean sea legs with Wonder of the Seas. We’d been on other Oasis-class ships, so we had basis for comparison.

Below are the highlights:

The shows were energetic. With booming music and singing, fast-paced dancing and extensive use of the huge digital screens, the shows were an adrenaline rush, but may not appeal to an older crowd. “The Effectors II: Cash & Burn” brought to mind a comic book. “Taps Factory” featured tap dancing to a range of contemporary music, relying heavily on drums.

“Voices” was closer to a traditional production show, with singers and dancers performing familiar songs spanning decades and background vocals displayed on the digital screens. The aqua show, with its unusual all-female cast, included aerial acrobatics, diving, music, lights and splashing water. The ice show was reliably wonderful, showcasing awesome twirls, dips and lifts, with colorful sets and costumes.

Rehearsal for the aqua show

There were crowds, but empty places too. With 6,000+ vacationers on board, you expect crowds on Oasis ships. Embarkation, debarkation, the buffet and pools on a sea day are when you feel it the most. In the past, we’ve found refuge from the buffet by breakfasting in the usually tranquil Solarium Bistro. Clearly, word has gotten out on this alternative (and free) spot. This trip, food lines were long, the waiters could barely restock fast enough and all seats were taken.

Central Park was often empty during the day.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of places to find respite from the crowds. Most of the day (not lunchtime), Central Park is an oasis and we enjoyed many a drink at the Trellis Bar without competition. The Diamond Lounge (for loyalty club Diamond and above) during the day was peaceful. And nothing can compare to the serenity of your balcony!

Breads and such in the Windjammer

The food was a mixed bag. It’s hard to say if this was due to Royal Caribbean’s pandemic-produced debt, or just a Wonder of the Seas thing, but the Windjammer buffet selection was more limited than we’ve experienced on other ships. If your taste bends toward the basic, such as hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, chicken parmesan and carved meats, you’ll be fine. But if you prefer more varied choices, you may be disappointed. Particularly noticeable was the minimal international food options, usually a buffet standout.

However, the main dining room was a very pleasant surprise. All three dinners we had there lasted 90 minutes or less, a far cry from the two hours or more we were used to on other Royal Caribbean ships. And each meal was decent, particularly the last night of the trip.

Wonder of the Seas main dining room

Service was consistently terrific. Our room steward was not only efficient and responsive, but friendly, always stopping to chat or smile when he saw us coming. We found the overall service—from the waiters to the bartenders—to be helpful and pleasant.

The loyalty club is better than ever. Not only does Royal Caribbean have the best loyalty club at sea, but the cruise line recently made it even better. Its daily drink vouchers (Diamond and above), now good all day and almost anywhere on the ship, enabled us to sample a greater variety of beverages and check out many more of the bars, which was a trip highlight.

Tidbits

Briefly, a few other notable changes: cabin service is down to once a day (you choose morning or evening)…cabin showers have dispensers with a combo body soap/shampoo…the tutti salad bar in the MDR on sea days is no more…printed newsletters are not provided, but your room steward will deliver one each day if

you ask…for a nifty one-of-a-kind souvenir, consider the Starbucks Wonder of the Seas mug, for sale on the Promenade at, of course, the Starbucks concession.

Already booked?

If you’re already booked on Wonder of the Seas, check out “Be in the Know Before You Go” on what you can expect and what you need to do as your trip nears.

Be in the Know Before You Go on Wonder of the Seas

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 17:33:00 +0000

A fellow on YouTube recently complained that when he boarded Wonder of
the Seas, he went to the ticket booth, only to find that all the shows were sold out. Yikes! How did this happen? Clearly, a lot of people knew something he didn't.

Read on for important tips on what you should do and what to expect in the lead up to your Royal Caribbean cruise.

Once You Book

Save on eat, drink and surf packages – If you’re looking to buy a package, know you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get it at a discount before your trip. Royal Caribbean will barrage you will promo emails—ours started four months before the trip—even before we made final payment.

About a Month Before Your Cruise

· Download Royal Caribbean’s app. Then, when you do online check-in, (available beginning about 45 days before the trip), you’ll get a digital boarding pass called the “SetSail Pass.”

Main dining room on Wonder of the Seas

Check out the app periodically; the closer you get to the trip, the more stuff you’ll see for your cruise, such as activities, menus and even loyalty club events.

Print luggage tags – You’ll get a “Guest Ticket Booklet” PDF via email, with the luggage tags on some of the pages. You can print the tags in black and white, but Royal Caribbean prefers color. We loaded the booklet onto a thumb drive, took it to a local Office Depot and for a few dollars, printed the luggage tags in color on the self-service printer.

Sign up for shows now – In the “Manage My Cruise” section of Royal Caribbean’s website, you can make reservations for the date and time you prefer. The longer you wait, the fewer choices you will have.

Dine your way – You can also make reservations for the main dining room if you’re on My Time. It’s a good idea to do this, especially for formal nights, to reduce the wait at the MDR doors.

Keeping track – Your booked shows and meals will be listed in the Calendar section of the app. Also, consider making a paper chart and mounting it on the cabin wall with a magnet. It’s a good way for you and your roommate to see your schedule at a glance. I list for each day what port we’re in, where we’re eating and what show we’re seeing.

Before Leaving Home

· Print your boarding pass – While you’ll show the SetSail pass on your phone at the port, it’s a good idea to also bring a paper copy, just in case the wifi in the terminal is down, you left your phone in your suitcase, you run out of battery juice, you dropped it in the toilet…

· Ban the banned stuff – Double check that your carryon doesn’t include banned stuff. My spouse forgot he had a Swiss army knife in his toiletries bag and it was taken from him.

If something does slip by you, you’ll get it back at the end of the trip. A table was set up outside the cruise terminal in Port Canaveral on disembarkation day. Your possession will have plenty of company—our knife was nearly obscured by a vast collection of irons, steamers and power strips.

Musing’s Top Tip: If you’re doing a specialty restaurant, do it on the first night. Chops Grille was nearly empty, the service was attentive and it was just plain lovely. It was the opposite experience a few days later!

Beyond the T-Shirt: Shopping the Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 14 May 2023 21:48:00 +0000

After 27 cruises and a whole lot of shopping, my home office looks like a shrine to the Caribbean.

Some of the stuff is the usual, like key chains, magnets and snow globes. And I even have a t-shirt. But the souvenirs I really love were made by hand or unique to the island. They’re harder to find than ever, but they’re there.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Woven baskets from Dominica – The specialty of this Eastern Caribbean island makes a terrific souvenir or gift because it’s portable and practical. And handsome.

Wood art from Roatan – Honduras is known for its wood creations – especially those made from mahogany – and you can find cups, bowls and carvings at the cruise port at Roatan or Mahogany Bay.

Peasant tops from Costa Maya – There are a number of shops and stalls at the pier that sell locally made clothing. I bought a delicate, one-of-a-kind colorful hand-woven blouse there for a very reasonable price.

Painted shells from St. Kitts – Walk through the cruise port towards town and you’ll pass an aisle of small vendors in covered stalls. One of the first vendors, is an artist selling her own work—magnets, small boxes and other objects hand-painted with tropical scenes, including the island’s wild vervet monkeys.

Paintings from Labadee – Royal Caribbean’s private part of Haiti has a thriving artisan market (see left), with dozens of stalls selling paintings of many sizes, and painted boxes and magnets. Some of the paintings can even be purchased without a frame to make it easier to get them home. Note that bargaining is expected!

Madras from Martinique – Ramble through the streets of Fort-de-France – or go no further than the cruise pier – to find examples of the local colorful fabrics. In town, you can buy fabric to make clothing. Or, you can get souvenirs made from madras, such as a little parrot I bought at a pier shop (see left).

And then there’s rum. Everywhere!

In short, when you cruise the Caribbean, there’s plenty to buy beyond the T-shirt, but you’ll need a sharp eye to find it. Happy shopping!

Cruising a Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 20:05:00 +0000

A trip on Holland America’s Rotterdam is to harken back to the good ol days, when a ship was a ship and not an amusement park. If it’s an amusement park you’re after—stop reading here.

For this is a review of both a new ship and a classic.

What you’ve heard is true. Let’s start with the demographic, which is most likely on your mind. Yes, HAL’s guests trend upward; mostly 50+. If you fall in this category, you’ll love the Rotterdam. If you’re younger, but want a tranquil, laid back trip, you can love it too.

Winsome and whimsical

Atrium artwork

. The ship is handsome, with muted colors, and music-themed and funky artwork.

All the right notes. It’s hard not to find something to like on the “Music Walk,” which featured venues with bands playing rock (Rolling Stones Rock Room) and blues (BB King Blues Club), two pianists singing oldies pop (Billboard Onboard) and a classical music quartet (Lincoln Center Stage).

On our trip, there were also several performances by the ship’s dance troupe, a singing group, comedian and magician.

With our comfort in mind. The staterooms have lots of storage—especially satisfying were two very deep drawers under the bed that still provided ample space to shove in two large suitcases. There are also reading lights mounted next to the bed that can be positioned perfectly, and outlets and USB ports on each side of the bed and by the desk.

A morsel of food. In short, the food is typical of cruise ships—no better or worse. The meals in the main dining room were decent and the buffet was varied (standouts were the “Distant Lands” dishes, such as Beef Sumatra and Pork Vindaloo). We ate in specialty restaurants Pinnacle Grill (filet mignon) and Canaletto (osso buco), which were very good.

A sweet end to the meal at Canaletto

Having it all. Holland America’s “Have it All” promotion is similar to perks packages of other lines. You pay one price and get a beverage package, wifi, specialty restaurants and excursions. Though it added a lot to the cost of the trip, we felt it was worth it because it enhanced the experience.

Service with a smile. A second cabin cleaning per day is now available on request only. Yet, our room stewards were so wonderful that they did the second cleaning even though we passed on it. And they took the time to create elaborate towel animals most nights. In fact, throughout the ship, we found the vast majority of the crew helpful and friendly.

Special and welcome. The Rotterdam has a Grand Dutch Café (it’s on the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam as well) with Dutch snacks and other treats, as well as a bar and specialty coffees. Also, we loved the unique event in which BBC nature documentaries were shown in the nearly surround-screened World Stage theater, with a dramatic live soundtrack provided by the ship’s classical quartet.

The bottom line on HAL’s Rotterdam? It’s hard to argue with a classic. It’s got the basics—pleasing décor, comfortable cabins, decent food, pools, spa, casino, entertainment, shops. No, you can’t ride a carousel. But it delivered a relaxing, rejuvenating vacation.

Cure for Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:14:00 +0000

If watching the news about cruising is making your head spin, know that you’re not alone. Who knows when and how it will all shake out, but in the meanwhile, we can nurture our passion in any number of ways. Here are a few:

Don’s Family Vacations – If you want to know what’s happening on a daily basis, you can get it from Don. His lively reports will have you grimacing and laughing, as you experience the full craziness going on right now.

How to find it: Don posts regularly on YouTube. Just search for “Don’s Family Vacations.”

Nova, Season 44, Episode 4, “Ultimate Cruise Ship” – This is a fascinating look at what it took to create Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer, from its bronze propellers lovingly calibrated to avoid vibration to its funnel of aluminum, designed to counterweight the ship’s decadent marble suites. We may not all be able to shell out more than $650 a night, but we can vicariously enjoy—at least for 53 minutes.

How to find it: You will need to purchase PBS Passport. It’s inexpensive and provides a vast array of programming.

“Love Boat” reruns – This will date me, but Gavin MacLeod’s recent passing reminded me of the first time cruising hit my radar. For a time, on Saturday nights, I had a date with the “Love Boat.” It made cruising intriguing, if you could get past the PA announcements.

Fast forward to 2021, with 26 cruises behind me, I can enjoy comparing Hollywood’s version to the real thing. I imagine you will too.

Regal Princess' shrine to the TV show

How to find it: You can stream it from Paramount, but you need to be a subscriber. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, it will cost an extra $5.99 a month after the free trial.

Don’t want to spend anything? There are plenty of Love Boat clips and trivia on YouTube. You can even find a Princess ship or two playing the show’s theme song with its horn, as it pulls out of the harbor with some very excited cruisers.

What is it About Cruising that Makes Us Love it So?

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:08:00 +0000

And miss it so!

“Cruise Fans Yearn to Ship Out,” declared a recent Wall Street Journal headline. “Landlubbers who wrote this industry off for dead just don’t get it…it seems hard-core cruise goers can’t wait to climb back aboard,” the article went on to say.

And then the WSJ handed us a responsibility as big as the ships we sail in: it’s the “hard-core cruise goers” who are going keep the industry afloat.

Now, back to my question: why do we love cruising so?

Could it be because of the view? The ocean’s gradations of blue, the Technicolor sunsets or vast unbroken horizon?

Saying "Bon Voyage" to Ft. Lauderdale under an ever-changing sky

Maybe it’s the dancing in the piazza or bodega, or outdoors under the stars.

"YMCA" on the Royal Princess

Or, melting into a massage, sharing secrets at The Marriage Game or gambling the night away.

Healing on Harmony of the Seas

It could be the island hopping, each day bringing a different vibe—from the peaceful Mahogany Bay to the frenetic streets of Aruba to the fanciful Curaçao skyline.

Colorful Curacao

Perhaps it’s nabbing front-row seats at “Mamma Mia,” then hitting a comedy club, followed by jazz—without paying a cent or stepping outside.

Then, it could be all about the food. Whether it comes to our door or we actually have to walk to it, the food is there whenever we want it. From burgers to bruschetta, fries to fajitas and cupcakes to mousse cakes.

Sweet sampling from Harmony of the Seas

For many, it’s the sunning, drinking, grooving to music and people-watching at the pool from sun up to sun down, topping it off with a hot tub dip.

Fun in the sun on Allure of the Seas

Or, is it the chance to do flip-flops 24/7? And unpack just once.

No wonder we can’t wait to climb that gangway. And we’re willing to do it even if it means wearing face masks, keeping our distance, taking our temperature and getting served in the buffet.

If we’re being charged with keeping the industry going, we’ll do it with the passion only a veteran cruiser can understand. So, dear reader, the time has come for us to do the only decent thing—book our next cruise!

Cruise Deprivation and What to Do About It

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 02:19:00 +0000

We’re all reduced to arm chair travelers these days.

I don’t know about you, but I took comfort from the Sky Princess blazing “We will be back” in lights across the ship.

But in the meanwhile, how can we satisfy our insatiable appetite for cruising?

Well, here are a few suggestions:

Book it. Not the trip, your photos. Do something awfully old-fashioned—create a photo album. Yeah, having them on your cell phone is great. But seeing them in print, laid out in a slick coffee table book is even better. It’s cheap to put together and it will keep your mind off the vacation you didn’t have.

Stack the deck. Put your favorite photos onto a deck of cards, a mouse pad or luggage tag. Do what you never had time for. We had Shutterstock make up luggage tags with our faces on them. It would be hard for someone to take the wrong suitcase now.

See a disaster. Watch “Titanic” or “Poseidon Adventure.” Not something you’d want to do while you’re cruising. But now, while we’re all in dry dock, why not? Heck, you might even check out the YouTube videos on the sinking of the Concordia.

Root for Royal. And Carnival. They’ve been heroes, letting us off the hook while facing large losses.

Plan your next one. You know there will be a next one. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but at some point, your ship will sail again. And you want to make sure you’re on it.

You Gotta Love it: Highlights from Harmony and the Western Caribbean

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:58:00 +0000

No matter how many cruises I take, there are always a few things that stand out from each one. Here’s a batch from our recent Harmony of the Seas to the Western Caribbean:

Port Canaveral’s easy on, easy off. Never has getting on and off the ship been better or faster. The baggage drop-off wasn’t crowded, there were no lines into the terminal and because we did online check-in with our phone and Royal Caribbean app, we showed our SetSail Pass and were climbing the gangplank in minutes.

On disembarkation day, we walked off with our luggage, smiled at Customs, which is now using facial recognition instead of asking to see passports, and were out of the terminal and on the road in a flash. (Note: passports are still needed for the cruise.)

Coco Cay, a fun way to spend the day. The beaches were pretty, there was a lot to see and do, and the food was better than expected. It was very spread out and never felt crowded. (Note: our ship was the only one there.) The tropical foliage was photograph-worthy, there were whimsical sand dunes and people-watching galore. A huge pool with swim-up bar (although there were more drinkers than swimmers). Then there’s the water park.

One side of Coco Cay...

...another side of Coco Cay

Hand-made in Mexico. There were many ships in Costa Maya when we got there, with thousands of passengers descending on the small pier area. But somehow, through the throng, I stumbled on a very special shop, d.origen. Prices were in pesos, so I was initially scared off. But the unique clothing, ceramics and knickknacks—and the helpful and friendly staff (who were happy to convert prices to dollars)—drew me back again. It’s an artisan cooperative, and all items were made by Mexicans, using traditional techniques.

From the “You Won’t Believe This” category. Walking along the busy main road outside the cruise pier in Cozumel, we stopped in our tracks to see an extremely tall man with a tiny woman sitting on his shoulders, reaching up to pick a coconut.

Filet mignon at Chops. I polished off a terrific 9 ounce filet mignon, shrimp cocktail, salad with breaded goat cheese and warm chocolate cake with ice cream. Worth every penny. And beats the main dining room any day.

Dinner with wine. If you’re Diamond Club or higher (Royal Caribbean’s loyalty club), you’ll like this: you can now order drinks off the free Diamond Club menu from restaurants throughout the ship, including specialty dining. Wine with dinner. Sweet!

His and hers. One of the great features of the Harmony balcony stateroom is the two separate closets. It helps having your own space—especially when there’s not much to spare.

A balcony for napping. And here’s another: reclining chairs and hassocks on the verandah, which you won’t find on the Allure of the Seas. You gotta love it—furniture tailor-made for napping!

Surviving the Wait with a Cruise on the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 02:08:00 +0000

Cruise on the way? You hardly need help getting excited, but here, anyway, are a few ideas for surviving the wait:

It’s a while away

Weight not guilt. Losing a few pounds now will go a long way toward guilt-free eating on your upcoming seven-day orgy.

These are calling your name.

Calling all rolls. Join an online roll call to virtually meet your fellow cruisers. You can join one on cruisecritic.com: Boards.

Meet and Mingle. Meet your roll call buddies in the flesh by signing up through cruisecritic.com for a Meet and Mingle event onboard. They can take the form of a party or “Cabin Crawl” (checking out the different staterooms) and can sometimes include drawings for logo prizes.

That’s app. Download Cruiseline.com’s free ShipMate mobile app for a trip countdown, cruise ship and port reviews, photos, roll calls and more.

Do your homework. Be sure to find out if you need to sign up for shows in advance (for example, on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships. Also, watch for sales on dining and beverage packages, and read the forums for ideas on excursions.

You need a reservation to see Ocean Aria on Allure of the Seas.

Throw yourself a party. Give yourself a bon voyage with a Caribbean-themed party to the tune of Harry Belafonte’s “Day O,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” or Arrow’s “Hot, Hot, Hot.” Do up a batch of rum punch and practice your moves.

It’s getting closer

Almost like being there. Get a sneak peek in real time of the ports right from your device of choice with webcams. Here are a few sites:

larrysvacationwebcams.com – ships, ports, resorts and destinations
cruise-addicts.com – ship and port cams
cruiseoutlook.com – ship cams

Ft. Lauderdale in your future? Find your pier at Porteverglades.net, the official website of Port Everglades. It includes a port map and two weeks before you sail, you can find out from which pier by viewing the Ship Schedule on the homepage.

It’s 2 a.m. Do you know where your ship is? Check out where your ship is at any given moment, how fast it’s moving and toward where. This can be particularly helpful if you know there’s a delay. The best site is www.marinetraffic.com.

Weather or not. For last minute packing, check out the weather reports for your ports of call at cruiseoutlook.com. Then ignore it, because we know you can trust the weather reports anyway!

Future Cruise Deposits—What’s Not to Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:54:00 +0000

Worst part of a cruise? Hands down, Disembarkation Day. If you’ve cruised before, you know that feeling—the pit-in-your stomach recognition that your long-awaited vacation is over.

And the only antidote is to plan another one—fast. That’s what makes future cruise deposits so delicious. For the uninitiated, that’s where you put a deposit down on your next cruise while you’re still on one.

The way it works differs by cruise line. For Royal Caribbean, you actually book your next cruise onboard and put down a deposit. With Princess, you put down some money and then choose a cruise later.

There are a number of benefits to the future cruise deposits (FCD):

Low deposit – Deposits are often much lower than what you’d put down if you booked back on land.

Sometimes a great rate – Booking onboard (and early) can often get you a better rate for your next cruise.

Refundable deposit – Find out later that you can’t go after all? You’ll get your deposit back—all of it. (That is, of course, unless you’ve paid for the whole trip and you’re in the penalty period.) Note that the period of time this applies varies by cruise ship.

Onboard credit – FCD promotions often come with onboard credit, which you can use for specialty dining, excursions, drink packages, internet access, onboard shopping and more.

You can keep your TA in the loop – You can still work with your travel agent. When you put down the deposit, simply give the sales rep. your travel agent’s name. Your agent can continue to help you on the rest of the trip arrangements, and he/she can get commission from the cruise line. Just be sure to let your travel agent know that you’ve booked a cruise or put down a FCD.

You’ll get it in writing – Once you put down a FCD or booked a cruise onboard, you usually get a confirmation in writing—either in your stateroom before the end of the trip or via email.

To get a FCD, simply visit the ship’s onboard future cruise sales office. Note that it’s the busiest toward the end of the trip.

There’s no limit to how many FCDs you can have—one cruisecritic.com poster said he was sitting on six of them!

Which speaks volumes. With a low deposit—refundable, no less—what’s not to like? You can end your trip the same way it began—by looking forward to your upcoming cruise!

Allure of the Seas Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 02:23:00 +0000

After you’ve sailed on the Allure a few times, you begin to uncover its secrets. You know—those places hardly anyone knows or those things hardly anyone does. Here are a few of what I’ve discovered:

Want something? Ask your room steward. We don’t like the liquid soap in the shower, so we asked our steward for soaps. But the very first thing we ask for is a thin blanket. Really, a duvet for the Caribbean?

Quiet on the breakfast menu. One too many loud and crowded breakfasts in Windjammer sent us looking for something better, and we found it in the Solarium. It’s the same food as the buffet, but scaled back. That’s a small price to pay for a nicer way to wake up in the morning. And, surprisingly, it serves until 11 am.

Leisurely lunch at sea. Sea days always find me in the main dining room for lunch. There’s an impressive “tutti” salad bar, where the crew assemble your greenery as you select from dozens of ingredients.

Think salad is for rabbits? There’s an extensive hot and cold buffet, and a mega dessert array. Or order from the menu. It’s not crowded or noisy and is a peaceful way to do a sea day. But note that it’s only in one dining room and only from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check your Cruise Compass for details.

Walk it off. A few hours later, we’ll be trying desperately to work it off on the walking/jogging track on Deck 5. It extends the full length of the ship; 2.4 laps make a mile. This has to be one of the least used areas of the ship—mostly you see the crew using it as a quick way to get from point A to B. An extra bonus of the track is that it takes you past the ship’s wake at the stern.

Look now, buy later. Don’t rush to buy gifts and souvenirs when you first get on the ship. If you wait a few days, much of it will go on sale. And speaking of sale…

Ten bucks buys a heck of a lot. Keep your eye out for the $10 sale. You won’t find Ming Dynasty vases or Cartier jewelry, but it’s fun picking through the junky jewelry, and colorful shawls and scarves just the same.

Looking for what $10 will get them

Then there’s Inches of Gold. This one is hard to spot—it’s a pop-up stall that shows up from time to time in the Promenade. You can buy gold and silver veneer (it’s over jeweler’s metal) necklaces and bracelets by the inch in a wide variety of designs. I have six or seven of them—they’re very durable. And if something does happen to one when you’re at home, bring it to the stand on your next cruise and they’ll fix it for you.

My time dining works. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a table—even on formal nights. And one secret we learned from a thread in the cruisecritic.com forums—we pick up a glass of wine during our Diamond happy hour (Crown and Anchor loyalty club) and bring it into the dining room or specialty restaurant. Wine with dinner without paying a cent!

What Allure secrets have you found? Drop us a line!

What I Learned by 25

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 03:32:00 +0000

Our last cruise was a milestone of sorts—it was #25. It’s made me think of how much I’ve learned since that first one back in 2005, such as:

Gumby guarantees a good time. The weather's bad. Ports are missed. Someone gets sick. Luggage comes late. Luggage goes missing. We’ve had it all. Bending with the wind can rescue a precious vacation.

Homework pays off. Like knowing you need to sign up for Royal Caribbean’s shows before you go if you want to make sure you see them. Finding out if there’s a laundry onboard. The cost for a massage. The ship’s pros and cons. Perusing the cruise line’s website, reading cruisecritic.com’s boards and checking out YouTube videos are some ways to go about it.

To make sure you see "Blue Planet" on Allure of the Seas, be sure to sign up online before you board

A passport to the Caribbean. While you may be able to get by without a passport on a Caribbean cruise, you won’t easily get by government authorities without one if you’re stranded on an island. And the passport can’t expire within six months of your return to your home port. (If you skip the passport, you’ll need a driver’s license and birth certificate.)

Walking off means sleeping easier. There’s a lot to be said for taking your own bags off the ship. While it may be more convenient to let the ship take your luggage, it comes with risk. Our suitcase almost ended up 700 miles from our home because someone grabbed it in the terminal by mistake.

Specialty dining is worth the money. We fought off paying for specialty dining for the longest time. When we finally took the plunge, we never looked back. Better food. Attentive service. More intimate setting. Yeah, you’re paying for food twice. But it’s worth it.

150 Central Park on Oasis class ships comes with an extra cost, but it's worth it

Whatever comes on, goes back off. Two weeks at home, and your extra pounds will be gone. So eat and enjoy!

Changing it up keeps it fresh. If you’re a frequent Caribbean cruiser, working in something different each trip can add some new excitement. During one cruise stop in St. Thomas, we took an excursion to the stupendous island of St. John. Another time, we got the Unlimited Dining Package on Allure of the Seas. Yet another, we got a mini suite on a Princess ship.

Just one of the spectacular sides to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

It’s all in the fine print. We’ve missed so many great events because I’ve forgotten to study the daily newsletter. Increasingly, you only need to look at your phone to find out what’s going on.

Sanitizing is key—even when they don’t tell you to. We’re fanatical about staying healthy onboard. We load up on wet wipes before leaving home and use them before meals—and during them. The ladles in the buffet, menus in the main dining room, the salt and pepper shakers—these all can harbor germs. We clean everything in the stateroom, too.

Tipping for pleasure. Those extra dollars we give the crew when we leave is so important to them and their families. It makes us feel good too—even when we’re miserable that our trip is over.

Memories of the Caribbean for $5 or Less

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 18:42:00 +0000

Let’s face it; you can’t get much for $5 anymore. Or can you?

In looking over souvenirs I’ve collected from Caribbean cruises over the years, some of my most used, most prized, cost just a few bucks.

Once, I thought these kind of souvenirs were too touristy. But when I got older and wiser, it occurred to me they only look touristy while you’re there. Once you get home, no one else has them. They suddenly don’t seem touristy at all.

And I love them because they remind me of my good times at sea. So, if you’re looking for a memory or two from your next cruise without shelling out a lot, consider these:

Mini sacks for storing. We’ve picked them up in Aruba, Cozumel and Grand Cayman, but you’ll find them just about anywhere. They’re colorful, functional and fun. We use them for storing ear buds, extra batteries and loose change.

Ornaments for hanging. Christmas ornaments make great souvenirs. Some of them are so unique you may want them around all year round. Like the ceramic ones in all different shapes in Cozumel. The replica ruins from Costa Maya. The painted gourds in Bonaire. You can get ornaments for $5 or under, but if they’re more elaborate, they’re also more expensive.

Marking your spot. If you’re like me and still read a book made out of paper, check out the bookmarks. I’ve picked up great handmade ones from Labadee (in the artisan market in the building—they’re at the cashier counter), Bonaire and the Panama cruise terminal.

Encasing your glasses. One of my favorite souvenirs is a colorful heavy fabric eyeglass case that I bought in the Panama cruise terminal. You’ll never misplace your glasses with this one.

Magnets for clinging. Turn your fridge into a scrapbook. You can get a magnet for $1—or for $15. They come in all sizes and shapes—many are amazingly different. I have handmade doll magnets from Nassau and Barbados, mini magnetic paintings from Labadee, faux mini delft “wooden” shoes from Aruba, a ceramic magnet of the Puerto Rican flag from San Juan and many more.

Caps for keeping the sun out. Show off when you get home with a baseball cap like these from Aruba. (For more on baseball caps as status symbols—see the July 27 Wall Street Journal!)

Lots in Labadee. Five bucks go pretty far in the artisan market in Royal Caribbean’s private part of Haiti—especially if you’re willing to haggle. There are painted boxes and other wooden objects, carved stones, macramé bracelets, magnets, small paintings, among others.

Maracas and more. Cozumel is a great place to cheap-souvenir shop. Besides maracas, there are sombreros, ceramics and a ton of other trinkets to remind you of your cruise South of the Border.

One of the great things about this kind of shopping is you can really load up—and still have something left over for a deposit on your next cruise.

Seeing Old San Juan with New Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 00:10:00 +0000

It wasn’t my shining moment. In San Juan on our recent cruise, we were the last ones back on the ship.

We weren’t the ones who come running down the pier just as the gangway is pulled in, to the hoots of onlookers hanging over their balcony railing.

But pretty darn close. One of the crew came running over to usher us in.

I do have an excuse, if a lame one. I can’t tear myself away from Old San Juan.

When we were last there, it was right after Hurricane Maria. Most of the places were shuttered. The few that were open were dark and hot, without power or customers.

This time, however, Old San Juan was restored to its usual, fascinating self. And though I’ve been there many times, I felt as if I were seeing it for the first time. Never did the buildings look more colorful, more ornate or more majestic. The Golden Trumpets and bougainvillea seemed to burst with color and joy.

We wandered down side streets and found places we’d never seen before. Like the splendid little pastry shop shown below, a Spanish Parisian-style patisserie. We took pictures and moped away, tortured that we were in port too short a time to go in.

Another street found us facing a sprawling ceiling of umbrellas—a commemoration of Puerto Ricans who served in U.S. wars.

At every turn seemed to be a beguiling boutique and bohemian café. Lapis-toned cobblestones, mosaic tile stairways and storefronts. Tropical flora-laden parks. The forts. The fountains. And on and on.

How can you not love Old San Juan? It’s old world Europe meets trendy urban chic, and truly one of the best destinations for the Caribbean cruiser.

Better Bring an Unlimited Appetite for this Dining Package

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 01:01:00 +0000

We were intrigued. Royal Caribbean’s new Unlimited Dining Package certainly brought savings over dining in specialty restaurants at their regular price.

And at the specialty restaurants, the food is better, the service is better. And there’s lots of choice.

Intimate and gracious 150 Central Park

What’s not to like?

So we sprung for it. Should you? Consider this:

The broader your food taste, the better. You’re going to be in these restaurants every night of your trip. It helps if you want to eat in many of them. Or if you only like a few, that there’s enough variety on the menu for you.

You need to make reservations. But. Sometimes, we couldn’t get the time we wanted. So we chanced it, and showed up at the restaurant without a reservation, and almost each time, we got in.

Lunch may be wishful thinking. The Unlimited Dining Package allows you to eat lunch in the specialty restaurants on sea days for no extra cost. But after the big meal the night before, and a big meal on the evening ahead, somehow, we didn’t feel much like doing a specialty lunch. And never did.

Good for the adventurous. Since you can order multiple dishes, you can afford to experiment. I tried something at Giovanni’s that I would never have tried otherwise—Tonno Crudo, or raw Ahi tuna with garlic chips and a sweet-ish citrusy flavor. I fell so deeply in love that I did the unthinkable (for me)—I had two.

Ahhhhh...i Tuna Crudo, a Giovanni's appetizer

Better bring an appetite. But the biggest challenge? It was a lot of food. The specialty meals are big. And you’re going to be doing it every night. After a few days, I started cutting down on the courses. And I never thought I’d say this: I got tired of filet mignon.

Filet mignon at Chops Grille

If you’re a big eater, and really enjoy the specialty restaurant food and service, the Unlimited Dining Package may be perfect to you.

For my part, I wish doggie bags were an option. I could sure use some of that filet mignon now…

Musing’s Top Tip: The price for the Unlimited Dining Package went down by $20 a few weeks before our trip. Watch the promotional emails from Royal Caribbean as your cruise gets closer.

Paradise Revived: St. Maarten Two Years After Irma

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 02:31:00 +0000

The French woman kept her shop. But the two vendors next to her weren’t so lucky.

The owner of the Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor Store said Irma blew out his windows, shut off his power and wreaked havoc in his shop. His vast inventory of expensive cheese was gone. Without insurance, it set him back two years. “It’s the price you pay for living in Paradise,” he said with a shrug.

Today, two years after the category 5 hurricane rammed through St. Maarten, Philipsburg is alive and kicking, with rebuilding and rising spirits.

For the cruiser, the heart of Philipsburg doesn’t look a whole lot different than before the storm. The water is just as blue. The shoreline is still lined with bustling bars and cafes, colorful umbrellas and beachy funkiness.

Jet skis keep kicking up their spray as they fly across the harbor. Front Street still sports chic jewelry and clothing shops. And uniformed kids forever fill the streets with their lunchtime laughter.

Yet, signs of Irma remain. There are a few boarded windows here and there. The landmark Belgian chocolate shop with its iconic replica of Brussels’ Manneken Pis is gone from Old Street. In fact, not much retail remains on Old Street. Many small businesses with insurance took their money and ran, says the cheese shop owner. Noticeably missing from the side streets is the once plethora of small vendors and stalls.

But the optimism and openness to tourism that has long been the hallmark of this Eastern Caribbean island staunchly remains.

It’s what led to quick rebuilding, the launch of vibrant new shops, restaurants and bars, and is what continues to make St. Maarten a wonderful port to visit.

Musing’s Top Tip: There are two ways to get into Philipsburg from the ship—inexpensive water taxi (about 5 minutes) or walk (about 10 minutes). If you’re walking, look for the sign for the sidewalk, which is behind the pier shopping. The reward for walking is passing by the wonderful Amsterdam Cheese Shop, with its Gouda, Edam and other international treats, and colorful Dutch-themed souvenirs.

Safe at Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sat, 25 May 2019 13:40:00 +0000

After the muster drill on Allure of the Seas, I had that catchy “Wash Your Hands” tune stuck in my head for hours. And that’s a good thing. The ship wants to remind us early and often that washing our hands is a key way to stay safe at sea.

It’s also a reminder that staying safe during our cruise is everyone’s job—theirs and ours.

What they do

Guide and abide. The cruise industry is heavily regulated. Just a few of the agencies that set and enforce safety rules are the U.S. Coast Guard, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the International Maritime Organization.

Big on little boats. Cruise ships today have ample lifeboats; in fact, every ship must have enough life boats and rafts for at least 125 percent of the number of folks onboard.*

Teach and train. You can’t have missed the drills—they boom over the PA. That’s the crew going through yet more training on handling emergencies.

Poolside protection. Lifeguards are a visible presence today on Royal Caribbean ships at the pools and even the hot tubs.

Keeping watch over us in the Solarium on Allure of the Seas

Looking out for us. The ships have security personnel onboard who can step in when needed. There are also video cameras throughout to help spot and solve any issues.

What we can do

Master the muster. Every cruise kicks off with a lecture. Where to go in an emergency. Onboard do’s and don’ts. That sort of thing. Important stuff. It pays to listen.

Learning the drill on the Westerdam

Watch the signs. Many ships have alert and reminder signs posted—from slippery when wet to watch your children.

Advice from Allure of the Seas

Eat smart, drink smart. With all the tempting consumables onboard, it can be easy to overdo. Pace yourself. Know your limits. You’ll feel better for it.

Tastes great, but packed with punch, on Allure of the Seas

The banister is your barrier. Deck railing is for grabbing if you’re unsteady. Keeping you from going overboard. What it’s not is a balance beam.

Regal Princess reminder

Any other tips to help you stay healthy and enjoy your next cruise? Oh yeah—wash your hands!

For more on cruise ship safety, visit the website of the Cruise Lines International Association, the trade association for the cruise industry.

* Cruise Lines International Association

What Hasn’t Changed

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 12 May 2019 01:46:00 +0000

In my last blog post, I looked wistfully—as well as gratefully—at what’s changed in 13 years of cruising. So it’s only fitting that now I look at what hasn’t.

Two times a day. It’s wonderful enough having someone give us clean towels each day. But twice a day? Nirvana!

Free food. Well, sort of free. There’s still a slew of food for the cost of the cruise—from the main dining rooms to the buffets to the little cafes. And that you can have as much as you want is only sweeter.

Bread a-plenty on Allure of the Seas

We feel like royalty. Crew who carry our bags. Clean our rooms, hand-deliver drinks and food. And smile at us.

Service with a big smile in the International Cafe on Regal Princess

Wet and wild. You’ll still find pools, casinos, spas, and game shows. Continuous ways to help us spend our time, whether we want to hang out at the pool or in the hot tub, blow all our money at the tables, sweat out our calories or compete for the best belly flop.

Once and done. How many vacations can you unpack once and don’t look at your suitcase for a week? (At Mom’s, maybe.)

One port at a time. You get on once, and are transported to different lands, cultures, architecture, languages—all without getting on a bus, plane or train.

The Dutch island of Curacao is a stop in the Southern Caribbean

That’s entertainment. Music for all tastes, dancing, shows, comedians, magicians, karaoke—all manner of ways to keep us entertained.

Blue Planet production show on Allure of the Seas

The view. In the end, that’s why I cruise. A water view 24/7. Spectacular sunsets you can’t find on land. The gentle rocking to the sound of the surf.

Why I cruise--water view like this outside Aruba

Really, is there any better way to vacation?

Perhaps You’ve Noticed

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 03:18:00 +0000

We’ve been cruising for 13 years. If you’ve cruised as long as we have—or even longer—you’ve seen quite a bit of change.

Like most changes over time, some are for the better and some, well, aren’t. Here are a few changes that come immediately to mind:

Formal farewell. Nearly gone are tuxes and gowns. Some folks don’t bother to dress up at all. And the waiters have ditched their formal wear too.

Different MDR. Our first cruise was on Celebrity’s Constellation and we felt like hillbillies, befuddled at the elaborate place settings. Dinners were five courses, wait times were shorter and waiters even had time to talk to us.

Main dining room on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

More dollars for dining. Specialty restaurants have become all the rage. It may come at a cost, but there are so many more alternatives to the food-for-all-tastes main dining room, and some of them are really exciting.

Izumi on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

Loyal cruisers exploding. On any given Royal Caribbean ship these days, it’s typical to find hundreds of Diamond Club members. Proof that once you cruise, you’re hooked.

Tech follows us onboard—and off. It’s not just Internet cafes anymore. Technology is everywhere and doing everything—from turning on lights to helping us track our travel companions to serving us drinks. Our faces will even speed the dreaded Disembarkation with Royal Caribbean and U.S. Customs’ new facial recognition.

A taste of technology on Harmony of the Seas

Room service perk pooping out. Nearly every mass market line is charging for something delivered by room service.

Extravaganzas extinct. We still swoon over our videos of Celebrity’s unparalleled, off-the-charts Midnight Buffet. Its luau under the stars with parading waiters carrying fruit carvings and doling out samples of guava, mango and papaya. Holland America’s amazing chocolate dessert display.

Waiters paraded with fruit carvings, then let you sample tropical fruits of the Caribbean--
on Celebrity, 13 years ago

Cruise ship as amusement park. The cruise lines are outdoing each other with thrill rides, from giant slides to bumper cars to roller coasters. What’s next, a ferris wheel?

The Ultimate Abyss on the Amusement Park of the Seas (aka Harmony)

The great cruise smoke out. Smokers have been relegated to one or two areas per ship. One trend with many, many supporters.

All this in 13 years. Wonder what the upcoming years will bring. Any predictions?

Plan to Cruise to a Great Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 22:56:00 +0000

If you want to get the most out of your upcoming cruise, there’s just no substitute for doing some homework. Here’s where it can count:

To go to the show

Booking a show on Royal Caribbean online before your cruise can make the difference between seeing it or missing it. If you don’t reserve in advance, your only hope is going to the theater before it starts, standing on line and crossing your fingers that there are some no-shows.

For your dinner dining

When you book your trip, on many ships, you have to commit to same-place/same-time dining or “my time” dining. Noting how late the ship is in each port and when the shows run will help you decide what’s best for you.

On Royal Caribbean, if you’re doing specialty dining, you’ll need to plan carefully—the restaurants won’t give you a reservation less than two hours from one of your shows.

You won't get your meal at Wonderland on Harmony of the Seas less than two hours before your show

The ports you’ll visit

So you don’t have any surprises, you may want to do two levels of planning—study the itinerary and research the islands. Particularly:

Is it an island holiday? One trip, we found ourselves on an island during its national holiday and half the stores were closed. Another time, another island, it was Sunday and everything was closed but the supermarket. Here’s one site that can help your research on island holidays.

Short or long stay? The hours of arrival and departure vary quite a bit from one port to the other. We’re late risers and port stays of 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. mean we have enough time to get off the ship and back on—and that’s about it.

Dock or tender? Tendering means you spend more time traveling back and forth, and less on the island. It also means you’ll need to do some careful planning if you’re taking a non-sponsored excursion.

The way you’ll spend your sea day

Note that there are some restrictions on what can be worn for some of the activities. For example, closed-toed shoes are required for the sports court, Rip Cord and Laser Tag. Two-piece bathing suits are a no-no for FlowRider. And you’ll also need to sign a waiver to do some of the ship’s activities.

You'll need to sign a waiver before you surf on Allure of the Seas

The bottom line

Of course, there are many other things you may want to know before you go, and I’ve only covered a few. The best sources for info on your ship are the cruise line’s websites in the section for booked guests and cruisecritic.com (particularly the Boards, where you can ask questions). The more you read, the more you learn, the more likely you’ll get the great vacation you paid for.

Behold the Frugal Cruiser

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:55:00 +0000

Have you seen The Frugal Cruiser?

You can find him toting a bottle of wine onboard to sip in his stateroom.

Enjoying free drinks at happy hour because he’s Loyal to Royal.

Using the casino only as a pass through.

Trekking around port instead of taking an excursion.

Using the medicine he brought from home, instead of from the ship’s shop.

Ordering the drink of the day, even though it’s not his first choice.

Saving on each specialty meal by buying a dining package.

Getting perfume at a shop in port, after pricing it out at home.

Booking his next cruise while he’s still onboard, saving money and getting onboard credit too!

And smiling all the way down the gangplank, with no big bar bill looming, no casino losses—and another cruise with onboard credit—right around the corner.

Cruising for Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Musing About Cruising) — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 02:54:00 +0000

"Nobody knows the truffles I’ve seen.” – George Lang

If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of the stuff. Even when there’s so much other stuff to be had.

Luckily, the cruise ships oblige. The main dining room, specialty restaurants, buffets and cafés—they’re chock full of chocolate.

Some of the ships even go overboard. There was the chocolate buffet in Harmony of the Seas’ Windjammer at dinner. And the same ship had a chocolate fountain and dessert bar in the main dining room for lunch on sea days. The Regal Princess had the biggest surprise—a chocolate buffet at breakfast in Horizon Court on the last full day.

Going overboard? Chocolate buffet on Harmony of the Seas' Windjammer

Then there are the sheet cakes, the layer cakes, the puddings and cookies. Some are so-so, others are good and a few are positively memorable. Among the standouts:

The Bittersweet Chocolate Bourbon Tart at 150 Central Park outshines the Liquid Center Chocolate Cake at Chops Grille—both specialty restaurants on Oasis class ships. The chocolate tart with flaky crust, and cranberries and spiced pecans on top create an explosion of complex flavors.

It's bittersweet when you eat it and bittersweet when you finish it

Of the Norman Love desserts we had on the Regal and Royal Princess, the crème de la crème was the Chocolate Pistachio Dome—as wonderful to eat as it is to look at. Chocolate on the outside, chocolate, pistachio and cookie in the inside. Pure Heaven. Brings to mind Jane Seabrook’s quote:

“If there’s no chocolate in Heaven, I’m not going.”

While the dome is served in the main dining room, Love’s sweet masterpieces are sprinkled throughout Princess’ specialty restaurants, such as the Crown Grill and Sabatini’s.

A dome like any other, only on Princess

And while you’re on Princess, in case you haven’t had enough after the sheet cakes, layer cakes, pudding, cookies, breakfast buffet and Norman Love treats, there’s always the chocolate on your pillow.