Suzila

Thanks for your post cruisinmama. I had read all that on the NCL site and was just hoping someone who had experienced freestyle dining would give me some info about it. I did call NCL and they told me that the main restaurant and 'some others' were included in the cruise price. But if we wanted to take advantage of one of the freestyle restaurants, it would be something like a $15 cover charge. I'm still looking into booking a Hawaii cruise, but not so sure I'll like the freestyle dining. I'm still hoping someone who has done it can give me some insight. Sue

Hi everyone, I'm considering a cruise next summer on NCL/Pride of America. They have 'Freestyle' dining. It is my understanding that they also have traditional dining...in the main restaurant. So, if we don't want to go to another restaurant onboard, we won't have to pay extra to dine. Is this the way it works? Does anyone know this? Truthfully, both hubby and I enjoy the regular, traditional dining room experience and I don't want to have to go on a cruise and start paying for every meal. However, we are very interested in a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands...not a cruise GOING from the mainland to Hawaii. So, I think NCL is our only choice. Am I right? Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks, Sue

When my oldest son was 18 and just graduated from high school we sent he and his friend on a 5 day Baja cruise as their graduation gift. The next year, when my youngest graduated high school hubby and I had to go with them because the rules had changed. We heard the reason was that the cruise lines were finding that the kids who were on cruises by themselves were trashing the place, and wouldn't leave tips for anyone. We specifically gave our kids sealed envelopes with tip money in them, and the rule that this money was to be given to the steward, the waiter, the assistant, etc...not used for anything else. My son, who had the sealed envelopes, called home and said he wanted to leave the steward more tip money because the guy was folding up their underwear and putting it back in their suitcase every morning...the stuff they had left wadded up in a ball on the floor! My son thought the guy was great...except he couldn't tell which underwear was dirty and which was clean! LOL! Sue

Have a wonderful anniversary and cruise, Maria and Ken...many more happy ones! Sue

Thanks for that site, Keith & Rita...I guess the hurricane damage is what they'll be showing us on our tour of Cozumel. Sue

I'm going to ask one more question about FLL/Miami if you don't mind...maybe if I get an answer to this it will help you too, cruisinmama: We are flying into FLL. Still trying to decide if we want to rent a car, but if we don't... How far is South Beach (Ocean Drive) from the Miami port? 1. We're trying to decide if we should take a shuttle to the port, and then a taxi to Ocean Drive. 2. or just take a taxi directly from FLL to Ocean Drive in South Beach. So, how far is Ocean Drive from Miami port? Our cruising partners are staying in South Beach the night before we arrive and we could go to their hotel, leave our luggage and walk around for a bit before it's time to get to the port. Any help on this, please? Thanks, Sue

Where are the pictures posted on that website? I don't see it. And according to that website, it says Cozumel experienced 'minimal' damage, not significant. We're right behind you sunshineforblue...our cruise is scheduled to be there next weekend. Truthfully, I don't care if they have to change ports (although it doesn't sound like they will)...I'm just not excited about getting caught in any major weather. Sue

Yeah, Joey...we're worried about you. You don't sound like yourself at all. This heat getting you down? Plant yourself in front of an air-conditioner somewhere. I know a food poisoning or flu can get you down and the heat can't be doing any good either...feel better soon! Drink lots of water! Sue

Chris, I wasn't even thinking about movies, but now that you mention it, usually when a critic says the movie stinks, it means I'd better go see it! There have been so many movies that a critic has a certain opinion about and I walk out thinking, gee, I liked that just fine. Everyone to his own opinion. Sue

I have to agree with your second post, ABoatNerd, in which you said that reviews are 'just like the range of people'. One of my hobbies holds a national convention each year and the first time I attended, I was amazed at the range of people...we all had the same interest, the hobby, but when it came down to it, there were people at the convention I'd never socialize with much less becomes friends with. And then there were people I was attracted to...intelligent, knew what they were talking about, people I'd want to spend more time with. The range of people cruising is phenomenal. Some people expect a cruise to follow exactly what a brochure shows. Some people are on the ship for a good time, to relax, and could care less what activities are going on, other than drinking and lying by the pool. If all these people post a review, when I go to the review board to find out if I'd be likely to enjoy being on that ship, I'll read all the reviews, and decide for myself. Same as if I'm buying a book on Amazon.com. If I have an interest in the book, I'll read the reviews. Some people may have enjoyed the book, some may not. But at least I'll have an idea about whether I want to spend my money on the book from reading the reviews. On our Alaskan cruise I picked out an excursion to experience the white water rapids at the Mendenhall Glacier. The brochure said specifically, that it would be an 'easy-going, pleasant trip down the rapids on a raft with metal sides, and no chance of tipping over'. I am not adventurous. However, I was on the cruise with my hubby, and (then) two teen-aged boys. When we got to the place where the excursion started, we were singled out by a tour guide (because he saw the boys) to get in the raft that had no metal sides...just a very large rubber raft. They dressed us up in a life vest, rubber boots up to our hips, raingear, etc., 'in case we fell in'. The people in the metal-sided raft had their easy-going trip down the falls...we, on the other hand, experienced something I hope never to have to go through again...but I am soooo glad I had the chance to do it. It was an absolute thrill and something I'll never forget. (the boys, by the way, still have the scars from my nails digging in to their legs!). You write that you are a very informed and highly demanding consumer. Yes, so am I, as I think most of the people on this cruise board are. In actuality, I was expecting an easy-going, drift down the falls, like the other people on the metal-sided raft received. I didn't get what I wanted. However, I did post a review about this experience on another cruise board and explained how it came about and why, and what a thrill it was for all of us. I think when you're on a cruise, and on vacation you should relax a little and enjoy whatever comes your way. Unless of course, you're a x and not on vacation, but working to report in a magazine, etc. You said you bring a copy of the brochure with you on board ship and expect the cruise line to provide you with the advertised product everytime you step on board. You see, I would have missed out on the experience of a lifetime if I had complained about the fact my raft didn't have metal sides, as advertised. I think I prefer to 'go with the flow' when on a cruise, instead of being as rigid as you seem to be. Just my opinion. Sue

I need some help with a rental car in Florida. We are arriving at 6:00am on 7/28 in Ft. Lauderdale. We are getting on a ship in Miami between 1-3pm that same day. It has been suggested that we rent a car rather than take a shuttle, so we can see a little bit of the area rather than sit around in either the airport or the port for hours. I have been on the phone for some time with a few of the car rental companies and I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out how to go about this. The question is: if I rent a car in Ft. Lauderdale at the airport, and the closest car dropoff point in Miami is at the airport, how do I get from Maimi Airport to the port? I assume there is a shuttle from there, is that right? Or is it feasible to take a taxi from the car rental place to the port? How far is the Miami airport to the port? What is the cheapest way to get from the airport in Miami where we drop off a car to the port? I asked these questions before from FLL, but now we've decided we will probably rent a car...so I need the info for Miami instead regarding how o get to the port from the car rental dropoff point. Thanks so much, Sue

WOW! Congrats Sewut51! Hubby and I are together 35 years, but married 30. Time flies when you're having fun, huh? Many more happy ones to you both! Sue

The tablemates post makes me wonder whether you enjoy a table for just you and your significant other, or a large table with people you don't know? I prefer a large table...even though I know we're taking our chances with whom we get seated. Both hubby and I enjoy meeting new people and talking about cruising. We are empty nesters now and have dinner together every night at home, and on a vacation it's nice to talk about something other than finances, or the kids, or work, etc. How about you? Sue

I paid the same for my subscription that jtutak paid...$0 through freebizmag. Everyone should take a look at that site...I receive a number of magazines for free through them. Free is a good price. Sue

Now, why in the world would you want to RUIN<] a cruise by exercising? I never step foot in a gym on a cruise. Too much work. I do, however, take the stairs all the time...never take an elevator, (I also don't have the patience to wait for an elevator) and we do walk around the track during the day, or the promenade deck. Sue

I think we've been pretty lucky. We've had some really good tablemates along the way...three different times we've kept in touch with tablemates and even visited with a few ladies who live in Massachusetts. Our kids were penpals with kids they met on our Alaska cruise. However, we have a next door neighbor who has to be a cruiser from H*E*Double Hockey Sticks! And HE admits it...so does his wife. Numerous times they've asked us to join them on a cruise and we've so far ESCAPED! But his recounting of their last cruise nailed it for us. We'll NEVER go cruising with them. They were on a Mediterranean cruise on Oceania a few weeks ago. 2 or 3 week cruise (can't remember), so it was an expensive cruise. They were at dinner one night and he asked the waiter to bring one of each entree, because he wanted to try them all. The waiter said he'd have to ask his manager if he could bring them all at once...I guess their policy is to bring one at a time. Bring a meal, the diner has it, and then asks for another. Well, our neighbor went balistic and pounded his fists on the table and made a scene about how much he paid for the trip, yada, yada, yada. His wife said she felt like she wanted to crawl under the table. He would be the kind of tablemate I'd be happy to forget. Thing is, we love him as a neighbor...he's really a great guy, but sometimes he's just way over the top. Sue

I have mixed feelings about this. I have two sons whom we took on many cruises as they were growing up. My thoughts always ran the same as Jeff's do...'there's no place safer than a ship'. My MAIN concern was that the boys not go close to the railing and horse around. I was always afraid one of them would throw the other one overboard! But, these days, there are a lot of crazy people in this world, and you never know who is on board. Will the kids be in the camps? In that case, I wouldn't worry too much. But if they'll be on their own, and for your own peace of mind, go ahead and get the walkie talkies. I have to tell you though...knowing MY OWN kids...the walkie talkies wouldn't be returning home with us...they'd be lost for sure! Sue

I haven't always bought insurance, but back in 1996 we had a cruise planned with our kids and my oldest son had had a collapsed lung a few months before, so we purchased insurance, 'just in case'. Sure enough, two days before the cruise he had another episode and spent 13 days in the hospital. We got all our money back..the insurance company was great about it. Now we have a cruise planned in another week or so, and I have my two elderly parents (89 and 90 years old) to care for. You bet I have insurance. Sue

Thank you all for reassuring me...I love you guys! You must know by now I am a nervous nellie. Excited about the cruise coming up, but very anxious about any storms that may come along with it. I appreciate your posts immensely. You're all wonderful. Sue

How about a little more reassurance? We're leaving on 7/27 out of Miami for a western Caribbean cruise. I don't mind at all if they change the itinerary...I'm nervous about flying into Ft. Lauderdale, then launching from Miami. I really have no desire to experience a hurricane. Not in the air, in a plane. Not on a cruise. C'mon you Crazies...tell me everything is gonna be okay, and I'm<] CRAZY! Sue

Food Sampler

I'll go along with everything that GottaCruz just said. We started cruising with our kids when they were about 10 and 11 years old and they loved every cruise camp they went to. They really gear all the activities to the kids. Our kids had penpals from those camps for years. We had our sons dress in a nice pair of slacks, that weren't jeans, a button down shirt and a tie...no jacket. And, immediately following the dinner and the pictures on formal night, they went upstairs to the cabin, changed into jeans, and met up with their 'friends' from the camp. We only saw the boys at dinners and on excursions we did...otherwise, they were with the camp. They had their vacation, we had ours. I'm trying to remember what excursions we took. I know in Cabo San Lucas the kids did the para-sailing...not me. I'm not that adventurous, but they loved it. None of us like horseback riding, so that was out for us too. In Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta we took a city tour. I think in one of those locations they rented atv's and rode along the beach. They have beach excursions in all those locations. If you already have your cabin number, when you get to the port, park your car, take the elevator downstairs in the parking lot, give the steward your luggage to check in, and DON'T stand on the line in the parking lot. If you don't have your room number, you will need to stand on that particular line. You can go directly to the domed building if you have your room and your fun pass (you can get that online). It will only take you a few minutes to check in if all this is done in advance. I know you'll both have a blast on your cruise. Hope this helps. Sue

I was really hoping that ericinCalifornia would post about his Pride of America cruise. I'm hoping to possibly take the cruise when it gets to Hawaii and wanted to know what he thought of the ship. Since it was his honeymoon, I don't need ALL the details...just about the ship! LOL! Hope you and your new wife had a great trip Eric, and come back to us and post a review. Thanks, Sue

I personally enjoy being around kids...I've had two of my own, although they are both now grown. We did take numerous cruises with them, but I like to think they knew how to behave in public. If a child was annoying me, I'd certainly speak to the parents about their behavior, and if that didn't work, I'd resort to reporting them to one of the cruise staff. Better to allow them to handle an unruly passenger when the parents won't take responsibility. I'd never grab a child myself, nor would I stick my foot out the door, trip them, and possibly hurt them when they fell. I don't consider that being reasonable, nor respectful. They are children and need to be taught the correct way to behave in public. Tripping them doesn't teach them anything. I'd be willing to bet they'd pull themselves up, and continue running through the hallway. If you travel during the time of year when kids would be out of school, you have to expect to put up with them on a vacation. Hubby and I took one 11 day cruise to the Panama Canal in an April...school was still in session and there were no kids on the ship, except for the captain's. The average age of the cruisers were 70, and we are in our 50's. Truthfully, we enjoy our cruises WITH children on board. Sue

Great...thanks, John! Sue