TheSkipper

Cruise Question of the Day - Monday, June 23, 2008 Do you attend the Production Shows when cruising??

"Spunds like" you've been hitting sauce again, Jenn. A Red Hat cruise?? That sounds scary!!

Congrats Jenn and Hugh. It's getting closer and closer.

I bought a Tux for our first cruise. After a few years the salt air caused it to shrink and I think I've bought three more since then. I guess I'm one of the old relics who wears a tux, including patent leather shoes on a cruise. Usually take the dinner jacket for the second formal night. My logic is it takes no more room to pack a tux as it does to pack a suit. Roe pretty much always wears a long formal gown, which sometimes means an extra suitcase because some are very full and have a long train. Dressing up has always been a part of cruising for us. All that being said our most recent cruise on Azamara was Country Club Casual and we did not take formal wear. And, we kind of missed it.

Cruise Question of the day - Sunday, June 22, 2008: Do you take and wear "Formal Wear" on your cruises??

Roe bought a "Spa Package" on one of our Celebrity cruises and I've been for one massage. Did not like the hard sell on their products and found their prices quite high, so we've not been back on any of our other cruises.

Cruise Question of the day: Saturday, June 21, 2008: Do you use the Spa while cruising?

I guess only time will tell, Joey. But, I did talk myself into holding off on booking the Sapphire out of LA for a few weeks. Want to see what happens with pricing during that time. Plus, I wanted to give California time to raise the gas prices a bit more.

On recent cruises we have taken only one bag each plus our carry-on's, of a backpack for me and a roll aboard for Roe. So no change for us. We will not us an airline that charges for the first bag. So, all in all now big change for us.

Interesting article. But, no surprise. I think we will see an overall softening in cruise travel due to high fuel prices for both automobiles and airplanes. Then add in the dollar's weakness against the Euro. None of it helps the cruise industry.

Thanks, Joey for your candid comments. I read several reviews since my post and they were less than "steller." So, I think NCL is not a prime candidate any longer.

Working on an October cruise and came across some good pricing on the NCL Star out of LA. Anyone sailed her? Comments, please. The Sapphire Princess is the other in the running.

Sue, All the diamond stuff and watches we have purchased in the islands have appraised for about double what we paid for them. Always have them appraised by M.J. Christienson, Las Vegas's best jeweler when we return home.

We HAVE mad the big purchase, several times. Usually in St. Thomas or St. Martin, never been burned and always found our stateside appraisals pretty matched the one given us in the islands. All that said, none of the purchases were made in "Ship Recommended" stores, which in MHO tend to be overpriced to make up for the payment they make to the cruise line for their "recommendation."

Cruise Question of the Day - Wednesday, June 18: When shopping ashore, do you tend to go stores which are "Cruise Ship Approved."

Perhaps a West Coast cruise is not a really good idea.

Back in our early days of cruising we went to a couple, since then we have not bothered. And, as mentioned you can always catch it on the stateroom TV.

Cruise Question of the Day - Tuesday, June 17, 2008: Do you usually attend the Port Shopping Lectures?

For us it would be: Shows Games (Trivia, etc.) People watching Art Auctions Exploring a new ship

Cruise Question of the Day - June 16, 2008 Other that eating, what are your favorite on-board activities??

We are still traditional fans with large table preference. Enjoy meeting and getting to know our fellow cruisers.

Cruise Question of the Day - Sunday, June 15, 2008 Do you prefer traditional or "anytime" dining on your cruises??

Ya, I did hear about your Polka Dot jammies aboard the Monarch.

I think ours was aboard the River Duchess in Amsterdam. Walked from the bus onto the boat and the Captain carried our bags to our stateroom. But, Joey is going to tell me that's not a cruise ship, So, I'll list the Silver Wind out of Haifa.

Cruise Question of the Day, June 14th, Flag Day, What, where and on which ship was your best boarding experience?