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Just returned from a Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg. Great ports: Budapest, Passau, Vienna, Melk, Regensberg and Nuremberg. Service, food, and Viking staff were exceptionally professional and attuned to every customer need. I would recommend Viking to anyone looking to take a river cruise.

"According to data from the 2013 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, MSC Cruises will become the third largest cruise company by capacity this year, trailing only Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International." Jason, any statistics/ratings on passengers booked? It seems that if a line builds more ships they better their "capacity" rating. Wonder what the number would be if all of Carnival brands were under the same name.

We've just been on one so far,the Lirica. This time we are going on one their newest the Poseia to Bermuda. Our last MSC cruise was in 2006. As I said in the previous post, we choose cruises by destination/price. I'll update this later.

Pat and I have cruised on MSC three times and will be going for the fourth next month when we go to Bermuda. We choose more for the price/destination then anything else. Food, service and ports are fine. Never had a bad experience and always felt like we were well treated. Only negative is their five language announcements.

Great Design!

Thanks to Jason for posting the photo! We had just docked on the Costa Atlantica I believe at Pier 19. Not sure about the pier number because when we walked out to get our parking lot shuttle we were across from Pier 25/26. We don't go to Port Everglades often enough to know for sure.

We cruised on the Costa Magica to Bermuda in 2007. I remember we had a great time and don't recall any negative things except how fat I looked in a sheet on toga night. All evidence (photos) have been destroyed. We're looking forward to another great cruise on Costa

Just booked for ten days from today. Fort Lauderdale, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turks. Can't wait to go! Any other Cruise Crazies booked?

Just booked for ten days from today. Fort Lauderdale, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turks. Can't wait to go! Any other Cruise Crazies booked?

Debbie, Just came off of the Carnival Legend this morning. Saw some collections of "contraband" but never heard of anyone 'getting past' the security collection point. Of course, why would they tell? Howard

Joey, Pat and I returned from our first Carnival cruise this morning. We were on the Carnival Legend from Tampa (Grand Caymen, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan). Our only motivation for the cruise was to visit the Mayan Ruins in Belize. Pat and I like Royal Caribbean the best. So our comparison is to them. Carnival Legend entertainment was fair to poor . . . depending on what you like. They had only two 'musical type shows'. Three nights of comedians (how many jokes can you hear?). Food was good jand was prepared very well. All was served hot and steaks/beef was done as people asked. We would go on Carnival again, but not as a first choice. Embarkation/Debarkation was quick and efficient. Also, the quality of the photography was excellent. Many of you may know that I am a former professional photographer and a retiree from Eastman Kodak Co. I very rarely buy on-board photography. However, the Legend staff was phenominal . . . the best I've seen on a cruise ship. Hope this helps. Howard PRICE was great! By the way, the Carnival Legend this week was chartered by an organization of nudists . . . . . hope they have enough sunscreen.

we were greated the first time we went.... but it was part of the vacation package we bought Don't be upset with me . . . it was my job! Before I retired and moved to Florida I lived in San Francisco and my sales territory from 1997 to 2001 was Northern California, Monterey, Las Vegas, Reno and HAWAII. They made me go to Hawaii once a month for four years. Most of the time their were greeters but the majority were greeting "tour package" groups.

Jack and Tony . . . .Thanks, we'll take your great advice. As a Dallas Cowboy fan my season is over. . . . Howard

Thanks, Joey. It's two hour drive from our house to Tampa. Happy New Year

We were excited about our cruise to the Western Caribbean on Feb 1st until we realized that we are leaving from Tamps on SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! Any suggestions on when to leave Daytona Beach to get there on time? We've never been to the Tampa cruise terminal. My Google map tells me it's about 7 miles from Raymond James Stadium. We first thought to go the night before but don't want to pay SUPER BOWL hotel rates. Help!

I found these two stories on the USA Today site. You all may have seen them before but I haven't. These are the ultimate CruseCrazies. Maybe we need to give them honorable memberships. Happy Thanksgiving. Woman who has lived nine years aboard QE2 seeks new home Some people cruise a little. Some people cruise a lot. And then there is Beatrice Muller, the 89-year-old widow from New Jersey who literally lives on the Queen Elizabeth 2. A legend in the cruise world, Muller has booked back-to-back cruises on the Cunard ship in an endless string going back nine years, and she had planned to keep it up indefinitely. The problem, of course, is that the 41-year-old QE2 is retiring in November, and as The Timesof London reported over the weekend, Muller is now looking for a new ship. Muller sold most of her possessions in 1999 when she decided to start sailing full time, andThe Times says she refuses to think about returning to land. “What would I want to do that for?” she asked the paper's Will Pavia this week during an interview while the ship was docked in Southampton, England. "I was married to a wonderful man for 57 years. I have done my penal servitude – I want to travel.” Muller began sailing on the QE2 full time after her husband died (during a cruise on the ship; the couple already had become regulars). She told The Times her cabin costs about $7,000 a month, which compares favorably to the cost of a retirement home in Florida. But “it’s far more pleasant,” she told the paper. “They don’t organize you like senior citizens’ homes must do." So where will Muller go? The obvious choice is Cunard's Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria, but Princess and Holland America also have globe-trotting ships that might appeal to the endless wanderer. The Royal Princess, in particular, already is accustomed to year-round passengers (see our profile from last year of permanent passenger Lorraine Artz, who has spent more than 4,000 days at sea). Full-time cruiser sails the seas like a queen Posted 6/28/2007 8:37 PM | Comments 13 | Recommend 10 Always at sea: Lorraine Artz, who has cruised at least 10 months a year for the past two decades, has been named "Godmother of the Royal Princess." By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY There are people who cruise a little and people who cruise a lot. And then there's Lorraine Artz, 80, of Beverly Hills, Calif. The former dancer has spent nearly all of the past two decades at sea. A growing legend in the cruise world, Artz sails so often on Princess Cruises — at least 10 months a year — that the line just named her godmother of the new Royal Princess (which is fitting, as she recently moved onto it full time). USA TODAY'sGene Sloan spoke to Artz by phone during a port call in Israel. Q: I'm told you hold the record for days at sea. How many is it? A: As of today, I think it's 4,120. But I don't have my little book with me. Q: And this all began when? A: In the early '70s on a ship called the Spirit of London. At the time, I didn't know about cruising. We got on the ship in Los Angeles, and it was a little tiny cabin. It certainly was not comfortable. I just hung my clothes in the shower; that's how small it was. But after that first night on board, my husband and I said to each other, "We'll never travel any other way again." Q: What hooked you? A: It was so easy. On a cruise ship, everything is done for you. You have a room that is spotlessly clean. There is a room steward that takes care of your every need. There are shows, gambling, magnificent food. We'd done a lot of land travel before this, and it's hard work to land travel! Q: Still, 4,120 days. That's the equivalent of more than 11 years. Doesn't it get boring? A: I've got a standard answer for that, which is the smart-ass answer: Only boring people get bored. Let me give you a little scenario of a day onboard. (After some time ashore) you return to the ship and get ready for the evening. You go down to one of the many bars, and you have a drink. You spend an hour relaxing with friends, and most of my friends, of course, are crewmembers. (Then) you go into a beautiful dining room with a menu that any fine restaurant would be pleased to present, and when dinner is finished you have options. You either go to a movie or a production show or a comedian or a magic show. And then you go to sleep in a comfortable bed, and you wake up the next morning, open your drapes and you're in another country. How anyone can be bored on a cruise ship, I don't know. Q: Is part of the allure seeing lots of places? A: It is, and it isn't. I like to see (different) countries. But for me, the best part is the life aboard. I came back to sea about a month after my husband died (five years ago), and from the moment I boarded, it was like I had this enormous family that cared what was happening with me. I didn't realize it at first, but (members of the crew) were taking intervals not leaving me alone. Q: How many countries have you visited? A: You know, I've never counted. But I've been pretty much around the world — India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, England, Scandinavia, Russia. Q: Even suites on ships aren't that big. How do you manage? A: Doesn't seem to bother me. I'm very comfortable. That's why I sold my house. I didn't feel like I needed it. Remember, you've got a whole ship there. You're not confined to your room in any way. Q: And what happens when you leave the ship? A: I keep the cabin all year, even when I'm not here, so I don't have to pack and unpack. Q: I've got to ask: Do you ever get seasick? A: Never (laughing). I grew up in the U.K., and I used to go fishing with my father in the Irish Sea. Do you know how rough that is? Q: What's your favorite place to cruise? A: I'd say Chile. The fiords are magnificent. I've been in Norwegian fiords and Alaskan fiords, and they don't compare to Chile's. Q: Least favorite? A: The Caribbean. Forty years ago, the Caribbean was wonderful. But now you go into a Caribbean port and there are seven ships a day there, it's crowded and (the locals) stand there with their hands out. Q: How much longer do you expect to keep this up? A: Until I die (laughter). I'd like to be buried at sea, but they don't allow it! When my husband died, this is what I put on his tombstone: "If you don't mind. I'd rather be cruising." And I've also ordered my own, and do you know what that says? "Me, too."

Can you give me a short synopsis of your Legend experience? Thanks. Ports: Leaving from Tampa . . . Grand Cayman . . . Cozumel . . . Belize . . . Roatan Island, Honduras . . . back to Tampa

Costa Magica to Bermuda in April 2007. Great time, good ship, good food. Very disappointed in cannoli. Being from New Jersey we know what good cannoli should taste like . . . . Costa's did not make the grade. However, that was the only negative comment we had and we would use Costa again.

Carnival Legend - Feb 1st - Seven Days

We want to go on a cruise and visit the Mayan Ruins . . . . . . out of Tampa, Canaveral or Ft. Lauderdale. The Carnival Legend is the closest we've found. Is it best to go to the ruins from Cozamel or Belize? Thanks for your help Carnival Legend Day Ports of Call Arrival Departure 1 Tampa, Florida --- 4:00 p.m. 2 At Sea --- --- 3 George Town, Grand Cayman 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 4 Cozumel, Mexico 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 5 Belize City, Belize 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 6 Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, Honduras 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 7 At Sea --- --- 8 Tampa, Florida 8:00 a.m. ---

Pat and I are considering a trip through Vantage Travel for 15 days which included a flight to Ireland from Orlando through NYC, 4 nights in Killarney, 3 nights in Dublin and then a return to NY on the Queen Mary 2 and a flight back to Orlando. Has anyone done this? What is the best time of the year to go to Ireland? Thanks. Howard

Pat and I are planning a trip to Europe and want to go down the Rhine on a river cruise. Then go over to Ireland and do some genealogy research. Has anyone done a river cruise? What was it like? Would you do it again? All opinions, both pro and con, are appreciated.

November 1982 on the SS Norway to the Caribbean. Great ship, great time, great quality.