Joanandjoe

Boba, good ideas. Hamster, if there's a CC group cruise to Bermuda just before our cruise, we expect to have Lots of suggestion from the group. We'll put out a thread on the group cruise board.

We made the trip insurance suggestion because that's how we were billed for the initial payment on our May cruise: one credit card amount to the cruise line, the other to the agency to cover the trip insurance and their $10 processing fee.

Post # 2. I hadn't noticed that this thread was your first poting on these boards. Welcome to Cruise Crazies, Wildcats7, and look for a post on the "Welcome" board.<]

We'll be cruising to Bermuda on the Celebrity Zenith, on May 13th, with stops in Hamilton and St. George. Our only previous trip to Bermuda was in 1968, on our honeymoon. In a sense, then, this is our second honeymoon (and we're still starry-eyed). Your suggestions as to what do do will be appreciated. We're not divers, so we don't need suggestions for that activity. Thanks.

However, I noticed on our credit card statement that they split the payment in two, sending part to Princess and the balance to themselves, which represents their commision. Never seen it done that way and not real sure I like it. :huh:Skipper, are you sure that the separate amount wasn't for travel insurance? If it really was the commission, you've been given a priceless bit of information: the amount of the commission. That should help you in future negotiations with TAs. If it isn't too confidential, approximately what percent of the total cost was the commission?

Well, of course we're all willing to jump on a ship at any time. I only wish we could, given our three narrow vacation windows in May, June, and November, none of which is exactly ideal. We've only been in the Caribbean in November, and our next trip will also be in November. One factor you should consider other than the weather is the kid (school age) factor. Do you want dates that are kid-friendly or that avoid kids? The September dates are early in the school year, so you're not likely to encounter kids. The other cruise starts on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Kids are probably unlikely then too, but more likely than in September. Why not make life really easy, and join us on the HAL Noordam on 11/25?

Welcome. We're glad to have you aboard.

We agree, as a general rule. However, if the cruise line is having trouble selling rooms, or a particular category, it may have drastic price reductions. Examples: let's take our last two cruises and our next two. Two were booked long in advance: Radisson 9/05, booked in 8/04 and Noordam 11/06, booked in 8/05. The price on Radisson ROSE sharply about 3 months after we booked it, and never came back down. On the Noordam, prices have generally risen; but we switched from a VA veranda room to an SA suite when there was a sale on SA suites for not much more than we paid for the VA. The other two cruises, Wind Surf 11/04 and Celebrity 5/06 were each booked about three months in advance, when there was a price drop. What can you conclude from this? Not much.

Congratulations. It's interesting that the itinerary includes both Costa Maya and Cozumel. I guess the line expects Cozumel to be up and running by then. The Caribbean ports we'd most like to visit would be in a free Cuba. Let's hope it happens in our lifetime. When you get closer to the cruise, ask about Cozumel and Roatan. Our day in Roatan at the Sante Wellness Centre was wonderful!

It apparently has sailed from Canada Place for a long time. We sailed from there on the Noordam in 1998.

Our final payment for our May cruise to Bermuda on the Zenith is due in early March, and we received our notice of the due date of the final payment yesterday. At least for a few minutes, it took our minds off the 18 inches or so of snow.

Our only upgrade was on the old HAL Noordam, from a H stateroom on a low deck, too close to engine noise, to a C or D cabin away from the back. We think we received it because the messes up our dinner reservations. We asked for early sitting more than a year in advance, got late, and couldn't change it. Other who booked onlyu a month or two before the cruise got early, so we think the upgrade was HAL's "make good". If you love your statreeom choice, it's usually possible to specify "no upgrades". Live and learn, Hazelson.

(Maybe we should keep these humerous suggestions under wraps, or the cruise lines will take them seriously! :rolleyes: )

Actually not, Rogue. Instead, the new Genesis class will stay anchored in place, and they'll move Caribbean islands to and from the ship every day.

Commuting to and from the new "ship" will be even worse than now. Hopefully, though, Cannibal (aka Carnival) Corp. will upgrade the passenger ship terminal to make it easier to get on and off the ship. After all, Cannibal has to go "one up" on Royal Carib.'s Cape Liberty port in Bayonne.

Boxing is what they've thought of next<] Following on the heels of the NCL bowling announcement was an announcement that Royal Carib.'s Freedom of the Seas will have a full size boxing ring, complete with trainers, punching bags, etc. Not our cup of tea; but, then, neither is a rock climbing wall or a surfer pool. I guess we're not the target audience.

Not everyone, Arvids. Not us! Never! No way!

Joey, I'm sure you've noticed that, since the poll was 9-0 against the new ship, Crazies have been signing in at about 50-50 (4 yes too big, 4 no, 1 no opinion). I may think that 2,000 is too large, and won't even try Princess or Royal Carib. for that reason; but plenty of people like the big ships. Chacun a son gout!

Well, Joey, it's not unanimous any more. If 1 in 10 cruisers wants to try the ship, that will keep it full. Mebert, I don't know if you were the "no" vote , but you seem to have sailed on larger ships than us. (We haven't yet been on one with as many as 1,500 PAX.) For us, the Regal Empress, which we were on in 2002, was about the largest ship on which we'd like to sail. However, the cruise lines aren't giving us much choice as to size, which is why we'll be on the Noordam (1,918 PAX) in November.

Welcome, Eagle Forest. You may be new to this crazy board, but you've altready made a substantial contribution with your postings.

In case you hadn't noticed, Skipper, Med. prices are done by Crazy Eddie: "Our prices are insane!" We did two weeks on Windstar in the Western Med. in 11/04, and wanted to do 1 week in the Eastern Med. The cost is now more for one week then we spent fopr two weeks. Amazing. Don't forget to look at the small ships, including Windstar, Sea Dream, and Clipper. They give a very different Med. experience than the huge ships. No nightlife to speak of; but your days are so full in the Med. that you may be too tired for night life anyway.

Skipper, that's a pity. Flaming drinks are fun, even though the flame boils off the alcohol. Bringing stuff from the bar just isn't the same. However, cruise lines have become very fire conscious, which is why few of them still offer flaming desserts in the dining room. When Joan and I were first married I used to make a liqueur soaked flaming bread pudding, using leftover challah and lots of eggs and raisins. Yum! With a blue flame, it was a thing of beauty! Beat the famous Holland America bread pudding by a country mile.

Keith & Rita, how silly of us not to realize that the first Stadium Class RCCL ship will be a NASCAR track. In honor of the origin of NASCAR (moonshine runners*), the ship will be the Still of the Seas. Joey, they're not listening, they're counting their money. They'll probably fill the ships. * BTW, for those of you who are NASCAR fans, that really is the origin of stock car racing. The moonshiners added bigger and bigger motors to their standard cars to escape the law, then started racing on dirt tracks, and that led to today's NASCAR. This isn't a joke or a put down, it's what actually happened.

Someone on another board posted a picture of the tendering process for the new Armageddon of the Seas. Here it is: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lc...N-9593R-002.jpg.

Gee, Jeff, you make me glad I'm a tea drinker. As for Joan, there's no way she'd drink enough specialty coffee to justify a coffee card. She views most flavored coffee as a way to turn a no cal. diet drink into a high sugar snack. Our nickname for a large specialty coffee chain (you know which one): BIGBUCKS! Joe