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Thankfully, not yet. The nearest I came to feeling nauseous was on The Carnival Triumph-our 2nd to last Carnival cruise 2 years ago. It was on the last night at the Gala Midnight Buffet. Fairly rough seas made my wife and I feel very queasy indeed. Without eating we returned to our cabin and took anti- nausea tablets. My wife Donna became violently ill after a shore ex: in St. Lucia resulting in an afternoon stay in the Carnival Miracle's infirmary.It was extremely worrying as her heart rate was running at 160+ beats per minute!. The wonderful Australian doctor and nurses took great care of Donna whilst helping me to relax somewhat!! We don't want any more illness at sea as you can imagine. To all you Crazies who never take Insurance out, my advice is to do so as you don't know what is waiting around the corner. Regards, James.

Got all six Carnival pins on one of their baseball caps. Princess gave out a pin on our first cruise with them but on our second they only offered adhesive stickers! Regards, James.

Great question guys.I think most of us have to think of our budgets.You're right, I would love to do a World cruise but obviously that is either for the rich and famous or people who have won the lottery!!Frankly a 10 day cruise is within our limit. To the Caribbean. Alaska does not interest us nor Europe.Barbados and Aruba would be a part of the intenary. The ship sailing out of either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Regards, James.

Interesting question this.Normally we book a balcony-anywhere! Forward, aft, mid-it doesn't matter. We do like the Lido deck staterooms as they are usually on the same level as the pools. On our next cruise next week-end on the Sapphire Princess I splurged and booked a suite at the very back of the ship overlooking the wake.This is located on Caribe deck 2 decks down from the Terrace Pool. As I love to stare at the sea for relaxation I'm hoping this view from the Caribe neck will be very theraputic!! Regards, James.

Vital, I would say. We were booked on the QM2 to the Caribbean 3 years ago and three weeks before sailing my mother in law was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was in November. Our trip was booked for February. We contacted Cunard immediately and after a ton of paper work we were fully reimbursed. So yes travel insurance is necessary for everyone. Regards, James.

Oh Dear you can't remember the ship's name!! Tut Tut shame on you. (LOL) WE usually enjoy our cruises to the Caribbean in either late April or early October. These times are usually clear of hurricanes and active seas.Of course that's not guaranteed but having been on 14 cruises to the Caribbean we have had smooth sailing during those months. Regards, James.

That's really awful. My heart goes out to the family. Regards, James.

Awful question to ask as I feel ships' staff are grossly underpaid. I think it is a down right cheek to expect guests to subsidise the staff. My feeling is comparable to a hotel and restraunt. If you fell you have had outstanding service then tip accordingly. If not, leave nothing. These so called pre-paid gratuities are a joke. This is not done in hotels and dining rooms.I could go on and on about this "fireball" subject but it's past my bedtime!!! Regards, James.

A warm greeting on embarkation on arrival in my stateroom to start with. Then telling me he/she is available whenever I want service or a question answered. Finally keep my stateroom clean of sand and dirt. For those simple requests I usually reward them with an additional gratuity. Regards, James.

We don't have a kitchen large enough or available food storage for some of those recipes! No, I think I'll stick to cheese on toast!!! Regards, James.

Normally we take 7 day cruises so there are 2 formal dinners which we attend and I ALWAYS wear a tie. I pack 3 normally and choose from them which to wear. Regards, James

ALWAYS!!! I don't consider it smuggling though. I just don't agree with the Cruise Lines policies. I normally enjoy rum-n-coke as my drink on board so I bring my white rum in a clear plastic bottle in my suitcase packed between shirts/underwear etc. I ask my room steward to keep the coke supplied on a daily basis.No problem so far. Regards, James.

Ah good question as always from you guys! Normally it's the drink of the day as proffered by the waiters before sail away time. Regards, James.

Whilst Donna enjoys her CD's and headset I lay there and enjoy the sounds of the ship! Regards, James

If I remember correctly, it was way back in 1980 something that a mate of mine in Air Canada said he was taking a cruise to the Caribbean on one of NCL,s older ships. On his return he said he spent 90% of his time in the bars!!! So at the beginning of the new decade I took my 16 year old son on the Costa Riviera.I had broken up from my first wife at the time but it was a truly great cruise despite my son being the only 16 year old aboard! Regards, James.

Well I like to think after 6 Carnival cruises I know a bit about them. But an expert-no! Because things change on cruise ships every month or so, it's difficult to give an honest up to date appraisal. Regards, James.

Most enjoyable indeed. Keep up the good work. Regards, James.

Well as a soon to be retired Air Canada mechanic, I would fly them as I know their maintenance is top notch!!! However if I had the time I would travel Amtrack on the Coast Starlight out of Seattle. There is a bus service out of Canada to the Amtrack station. Far more of an enjoyable start to your holiday than crowded airports and cramped airplanes. Regards, James.

Hi Folks, My wife and I just returned fro our 12th cruise and 2nd on the Caribbean Princess. This was the trip my wife won! We decided on the CP because it was supposed to be Entertainer Bert Stratton's last trip before going into the studio at Nashville to record and write songs. It turned out that Bert's contract on the ship had been extended by 3 weeks! Anyway this trip down to St Maarten,St. Thomas and Princess Cays was even better than our 1st trip on this lovely ship. From the food to the service it was outstanding. Entertainment was amazing highlighted by an incredible Beatles impersonation group called the Beatlemaniacs. Now I used to see the Beatles themselves live in Liverpool when I was a teenager in the U.K. so I was stunned when the Beatlemaniacs came on stage for this one performance only. I really thought it was the Fab Four resurrected! Actually the guy who was supposed to be Paul McCartney played the guitar right handed. But this was a minor quibble. They received a standing ovation after their 50 minute set. All the other entertainment was terrific. The only minor disappointment was Stirlings Steakhouse. We felt service was hurried and we felt rushed. The food whilst good was not as tasty as it was in the Palm Dining room. It was not worth the 16 dollar surcharge. We had Anytime Dining and ate between 6 and 7p.m. There was never a problem getting a table. We had lugged a 27inch laminated jig saw which Donna had made, down from Montreal as a gift for Bert. It was titled 'The Music Room' and had pictures of every musical instrument virtually in the world. Bert came to our cabin to view his gift and was overwhelmed! He really is a terrific guy on and off stage. We had fabulous weather and enjoyed Orient Bay in St, Maarten and Magens Bay in St. Thomas. Not forgetting Princess Cays Princess's private Island. Embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze. We were off the ship by 8-30a.m. Our next cruise will be on the Sapphire Princess in October to the Mexican Riviera out of Los Angeles. Now I do like the intenary of the Crazies Group Cruise and we will be keeping that in mind after the Sapphire. Regards, James.

Well I think it's about time!!! But where to? As long as it's not Alaska we may be interested. We have been with another web group and it was lots of fun(but too many smokers)!!! I'll be watching for further news. Regards, James.

I think the next thing RCL introduce will be an artificial beach complete with waves!!! Yes, things have gone too far especially from us 'old timers' point of view. Of course young people or the young at heart will enjoy these new innovations such as rock climbing, mini golf courses, bowling alleys etc. However surely this is a cunning way of getting cruise passengers to spend more time on their ships therefore spending money. In the future I can visualise ships spending 7 days at sea with no ports of call. Regards, James.

Very good question indeed and if I had my life over, as a younger man I'd probably try for Cruise Director or Hotel Manager. Now today if my wife would let me- a Gentleman Host!!!! I'd make any of those jobs my career as I'd never want to work on airplanes again. Regards, James.

We took Carnival Insurance on our last trip and had reason to put in a claim . My wife had heart problems and spent 4 hours in the ship's sick bay. Within one week of arriving home we received claim forms from Carnival's Insurance company. We sent in our claim over 3 weeks ago and have not yet been compensated. We were told it will take up to 8 weeks to process. Regards, James.

We took Carnival Insurance on our last trip and had reason to put in a claim . My wife had heart problems and spent 4 hours in the ship's sick bay. Within one week of arriving home we received claim forms from Carnival's Insurance company. We sent in our claim over 3 weeks ago and have not yet been compensated. We were told it will take up to 8 weeks to process. Regards, James.

Hello Jackie and Tony, Well Costa was my very first cruise line but sadly the ship (Costa Riviera) has been scrapped. However it was the best cruise I have been on. I went with my then 16year old son. He had a great time as I did. That was way back in the late 1980's. I've heard mixed reviews of the new ships of Costa but like all cruises it's what you put into it, not to expect perfection and just enjoy the experience. I'm sure you'll enjoy the European ambience of their ships. Regards, James.