JohnG

I had to jump in here. I was in the port of Naples dozens of times on Navy ships and most recently last June when we were on our Summit cruise. I have never felt threatened any more than in any big city like New York or Chicago. In fact I have felt more threatened in some of them. And at night it can be different, but you aren't there at night. In June we walked from the port the train station and took the train to Pompeii. See my Celebrity Summit for details and prices. When we came back we took a taxi to the Castle of the Egg and then lunch accross teh street at a cafe, then walked to San Marco square, the Galleria, an more, before going back to the ship. As long as you stay in busy public areas an off the back streets you are fine. We have a NATO base there and Navy families live there, too. The only scary thing is the traffic!

We're here!

All you folks craving coffee should sail on NCL. The new ships all have coffee makers in the stateroom and supply coffee bags each day. I've had them on Star, Pride of America, and Pearl.

We have done it a couple times, in the supper clubs on the Carnival Spirit class ships. I like the layout with a dance floor in the middle and tables on two levels overlooking it. We also have done Le Bistro on NCL, and the specialty dining on MSC. On Oceania there is no charge for the specialty restaurants. However, in general we think the dining rooms are fine, and we are usually at a table for 2. More often than not we have not eaten in one during our cruises.

Duct tape, for sure. Repairs luggage, belt loops, tears in fabric etc etc etc. Endless uses.

The one I'll never forget was Star Clipper's Royal Clipper....284 passengers, great food and international passenger mix, 32 sails and it does sail. And we love the R ships that are now owned by Oceania, Princess and Azamara. 700 passengers and 400 staff is a great mix.

Any of the islands in Tahiti would be my winner. We loved them...Huahini, Bora Bora, Moorea...

If it's guards with guns that intimidate you, don't go to Europe. You'll see them all over the airports. They make me feel a bit safer.

I say no. I've been there numerous times and no problems. And they are building a new port in Falmouth to handle the Oasis class of RCCL ships. Much development on the northwest and north side of the island. Plenty to do there safely if you stick with organized activities and resorts. Get off th beaten track, as in many places in the US, and you can get in trouble. Sandals and RIU and many other all-inclusives have been building and opening one new all-inclusive after another, and they wouldn't if it wasn't safe to use them.

I love St Lucia, and my wife loves St Martin. The only time we went to Aruba, where it hardly ever rains, they had a deluge with flooded streets etc. We wound up spending the time in the pierside bar!

Go ahead and put Karen down for the slot pull. She loves to play, with a very minimum budget, but has some luck sometimes. Me? I might as well write them a check and forget it. I never win.

http://www.whittiershuttle.com/

Escargot are not seafood. They are land snails. We collected them in the back yard while I lived in Greece. I love them, especially when served in garlic butter. However the last two ships I was on served them differently, not in garlic butter.

The balcony staterooms on the Orchestra were 239 to 212 sq ft, definitely not on the small side.

A new Cruise Review is now available: Ship Name: MSC Orchestra Sailing date: 3/21/09 Author: JohnG View Review

A new Cruise Review is now available: Ship Name: Carnival Pride Sailing date: 3/1/09 Author: JohnG View Review

There are two ports out there. The port for Los Angeles is San Pedro, and the other port is the port of Long Beach, which this article refers to. Only Carnival sails from Long Beach, with the brand new Carnival Splendor sailing 7 night Mexican Riviera sailings every Sunday, and the Carnval Paradise sailing 3 and 4 night cruise on Friday and Monday, respectively. Only RCCL Mariner is sailing year round from San Pedro, on 7 night Mexican Riviera cruises. Except during the Alaska season (May to Sept) Sapphire Princess and Norwegian Star sail from San Pedro on 7 night Mexican Riviera itineraries. The Carnival terminal and the Queen Mary (hotel now) aren't even in the photo above. They are off right edge of the photo.

Click here to view the cruise review

Click here to view the cruise review

This is one Karen and I have done in St Maarten and enjoyed. http://www.stmaarten-shoretrips.com/lordsheffield/

Fist price listed is "was" price, the second is the "now" price, and then % of discount, based on least expensive inside cabin. The fine print: Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy, inside stateroom, in USD, subject to change without notice. Itineraries and prices are subject to change without notice. 2-for-1 savings offer based on reduced per person, double occupancy published brochure rates of select 2009 Alaska and Europe sailings, subject to availability. Offer is capacity controlled, applies to select stateroom categories, and may be withdrawn at any time. Savings may vary by sailing date and stateroom category. Other terms and conditions apply. Price protection applicable to prices advertised by Celebrity only. Excludes Xciting Deals, new bookings only offers and prior sailings. Qualification requirements and restrictions of replacement offer supersede those of prior offer. Requests for price adjustment must be made no later than 48 hours prior to sailing by calling Celebrity or your travel agent. Certain restrictions apply.

For the benefit of those who have asked about dinner seating recently, at time of final payment one of the things I am required to do is submit to the cruiseline is a final roster, who the group leader is (Joey), seating requests, etc. Because it is a group, they will try to seat those of us who are requesting it together. Right now the stated preferences are: Main (early dining) Jim & Mary Lou (cruisetarp) large table Judson & Louise large table James & Donna medium table This looks like one table for 6 so far. Second (late dining) John & Karen table for 2 Joey & David table for 2 Andrea & Debbie (large table) Steve & Lynda (lashl) large table Rose & Howard (sailingrose) large table Paula Weibel large table Raymond (Rat) large table Howard & Cindy (rogue) large table There is only one table for 10 and it is set for the Captain’s table. So far, late dining would 2 tables for 2, and a 6 and a 4 hopefully side by side. But if we add anybody else that could change.

I've done this itinerary twice on RCCL. Ships definitely dock in Portland, right downtown. I, too, think Triumph is in great condition. They have added the large movie screen in the pool area.