JohnG

I can't recall if they had any small tables for two, but I have had them turn a table for 4 into a table for 2 when they had space. They just couldn't accommodate us either way in the traditional dining room, and I thought the Maitre De's solution was a great one. We still had our same table every night at the same time, even though he made it in the dining room normally reserved for anytime dining.

I've sailed on Princess about 7 times. The last time in a mini-suite. On this class of ship, the balcony cabins (BA to BF) are all the same size. They are identical is size, and balconies are smaller than many other ships. The mini-suite's are larger, and a bit larger balcony. Dawn is one of their mid-sized, older ships, but still very nice. We love the Wheelhouse Bar, with leather upholstery, wood tones, and a music combo in the evening. Room service is very good. I, too, dislike anytime dining. When we couldn't get a table for two in traditional late dining room, the maitre de' just arranged a standing table for 2 for us in the anytime dining room for the rest of the cruise. The head waiters in the dining rooms are quick to offer special items like bruschetta, caesar salad, or a flaming dessert, that are not on the menus. Only on Princess have we experienced that. Also, on Princess, after 5 cruises the internet cafe is free! That is often a more than $100 savings for me, as I need to monitor email from clients while I am cruising.

This is not new news. Note the dateline on the news story is Nov 2, 2006......3 months ago.

We've never had anything missing from our cabin in all our cruises. We do use the safe for passports, money and jewelry.

The under age passenger only needs to get a notorized letter from their parent giving permission for them to travel on that specific ship with a specific above age passenger. Perhaps have them room with the 40 something. Like waitstaff ashore, the ship staff are paid a minimum amount because they count on the tips as part of their income. For them, this is their career, sending most $ home to their own country/family. When you see how hard they work, you'll understand the tipping. While many people preferred the tipping method where people handed out tip money on the last night of the cruise, many people chose not to tip at all, and it hurts the staff. So, most line have converted to automatically adding $10 or $10.50 per person per day to your bill so that the staff doesn't get stiffed. Some may find it funny seeing people dress up on formal nights. However, many people enjoy the chance to dress more formally. I have never been on a cruise, including shorter Carnival cruises, where there weren't people formally dressed. I regularly see formals and cocktail dresses, tuxes and dinner jackets, as well as suit an tie. For those who prefer not to dress formally, they can eat in the buffet, and not feel out of place. Formal night is a great time to get the group together and have a formal photo taken. It doesn't cost anything unless you buy a copy.

River cruises are limited to two people to a cabin, generally. A few have a suite which can sleep 3, but not on every one. The largest lines are Uniworld, Viking, Peter Diehlman, Amadeus, Avalon Waterways. Uniworlkd, Viking and Avalon cater to North Americans. There is no casino, and only local entertainment. The ships dock right in the city where the sites are. Some, like Avalon, include excursions in the price. The guides are locals. The river cruises, of course, go where ships can't go, and are actually like long narrow motorized barges so they can fit under bridges along the rivers in Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, etc. The river cruise are popular with people who have already done the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, and Mediterranean on conventional cruise ships and are looking for something different. The passengers tend to be well travelled, and average age 55.

I found Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta perfectly safe and we had no hesitation riding city buses, very inexpensively, to go wherever we wanted, except in Cabo, where we just walked to where we wanted to go. We seldom take excursions. I don't feel we see the real city when we do, just some tourist oriented expensive site. We do, however, manage to visit every Carlos and Charlies or Senor Frog's we have ever encountered. Till you do, don't ask. Grin!

Local hot sauces.

There are no cruises to Alaska in Apr. The season is mid May to late September. More animals are visible in May. May is the driest month in mainland Alaska. The Inland Passage (7 days round trip from Seattle or Vancouver) visits the rainiest part of Alaska, especially Ketchikan. A cruisetour starting in Fairbanks, then visiting Denali National Park, and ending by boarding a ship in Whittier a (Princess) or Seward, south of Anchorage, for a southbound sailing through the Inside Passage back to Vancouver, with stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan is the recommended way to see Alaska. You do the more active stuff first in upper/mainland Alaska and then the more restful trip back. In the Inside Passage stops we just rented a car and drove to see what we wanted. Much less expensive than excursions. Of course, traveling with two teenagers we don't do flightseeing or anything else that typically runs $120 or more per person!

It is just personal preferences. One isn't really better than another. Past passenger status doesn't influence me at all, and I've cruised 29 times. My personal opinion of Royal Caribbean is that they have great physical plants, and mediocre food compared to other lines. I expect to be wowed by the food. My choices are itinerary first, and who is available at the time I can go.

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