TheSkipper

Celbrity sails out of Lauderdale, San Diego, San Fran and several other US ports, but not Texas, as far as I know. We agree with Jeff's ranking right down the line, except I don't thing I'd be so hard on RCI. We too hope this change will not effect the food quality aboard the Celebrity ships.

I usually go for a cabin on one of the lower decks, midships. More stable and shorter distance to get most anywhere. The only exception is if we come across a great deal on a balcony, then we will move up a few decks. We have NEVER not gone on a cruise because we could not get the cabin or area we wanted. Have been all the way aft and all the way forward at times and did not bother us a bit. I am very careful however about what is above and below the stateroom we are considering. Normally most folks do not want to be above or below a food serving area or an entertainmet venue, such as the disco, showroom, etc.

Well, as my signature line shows, at the moment we are stacked two deep for 07. Love that feeling, but after our Italy/Croatia cruise it will be a long dry spell unti January 2008 When we will celebrate our 50th <]cruise, aboard Carnival's Spirit, eight days out of San Diego. Will have to do something special for that one.

Sounds good to me. Costa Maya has a great beach excursion, one of the best we have ever been to. That's what we are planning to do on our return in March. Trying to get my Brother and Sister in Law to go Cave tubing with us in Belize, but not on the ship's excursion, found a better one.

Love the cold soups also and the specialty coffees. All you Carnival buffs a question: Does Carnival serve cold soups?? Can't remember. And that's our next cruise line.

Princess, Sitmar, Majasty, RCI, Celebrity, Silver Seas, NCL, Carnival and I'm sure I've missed some. 47 cruises so far with two more booked for 2007. Reminds me need to make a final payment today!

Interesting list. Lots of neat places, but I have a problem with the friendiest people in the Caribbean. Everyone I've ever met there was trying to sell me something two for five dollars!!

Jeannette, I called Thrifty in Cape Canaveral today and the lady I spoke with said they are the office for the cruise ships. She did not sound like the sharpest pencil in the box, but I have to assume she was correct. I just booked another van for our disembarkation from Thrifty. When is your cruise??

John, Is Coca Beach the same as their office in Cape Canaveral?? Just booked on line with them and that's the drop off point I selected. Actually we will be renting two cars from them. A sedan when we arrive in Orlando the week before the cruise. Then, we will turn that in at MCO and get a Van on Friday evening. Need the van because my wife's sister and her husband are joining us at our condo mid-week and we will all be heading to Port Canaveral on Saturday and would never be able to get all of us and our luggage in a sedan. Let me know about Cape Canaveral?

Be sure and post what you find out. We will be doing the same thing in March.

Sounds like a smart idea to me. Think I'll do the same prior to our March cruise. I've got a whole box of the right size photo paper, so may as well do it up right once and for all.

Atta Girl! Great idea with the lamanation! and, of course the photo quality paper. Did you laminate it yourself or have in done??

No you do not have to pay in full at booking. Usual deposit required. Be sure and check for any hidden agency fees, and abnormal cancellation fee, doc shipping fees, etc. I have seen some of the above when analyzing some of the quotes.

I've used CC agencies a couple of times with fair results. Always seem to be same few agenies who respond with bids and some of them are using different names and submiting multible bids. Several are home based agents. We got what we paid for both times but little more. Our "onboard credit" did not appear until I emailed the administrator from the ship on our last cruise. We were double charged for our insurance on our upcoming trip from Rome. they made it right after we called it to their attention, but it should never have happened in the first place. After two dropped balls, I think I'll use them for price comparisons only in the future.

I guess I'm the only one who answered "shows". We do enjoy them a lot, I guess that comes from being in Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World!! Must have rubbed off on us. There is nothing we do not like about cruising except "Disembarkation".

With Rosie as the Godmother, we know the ship will be LOUD.

I would also suggest you take some Clorox wipes in a sealed plastic bag and as soon as you enter your stateroom wipe down everythiing you can reach including the TV remote, light switches, telephone handset, safe, door knobs, etc. While the room is clean it has not necessarly been disinfected. Been doing this for the last few years in addition to all the stuff already mentioned.

Byron, I think you will enjoy Princess, they do a nice job. We have done 20 cruises with them and ten with RCI, and give Princess a slight edge. Their eCheck in is the wave of the future, I think we will see most of the cruise lines using something like that before next year is over. Congrats on you docs, and enjoy your cruise.

Looks great, Jason. Will proudly hang it on our door aboard the Glory in March.

I'm with you, way too big for us.

Looking forward to your Spirit review. We are taking a group on board her in January 2008. Going on the Glory next March to check out Carnival again. We have done ten cruises with them but nothing recent. The port at San Diego is great for cruising, as you have heard from Joey. I love it. You are right in the heart of the city not out in some industrial area as in many other ports. We recently sailed out of Brooklyn and the Red Hook area is not exactly a garden spot! But SD is another story. Are you driving or flying in??

That's one big ship! With the upper berths we are probably looking at right around 4000 passengers. That's one long buffet line! I'm not sure that bigger is better as it relates to cruise ships.

Looking forward t our Comfort Bed on our March cruise aboard the Glory..

Just trying to expand their marketshare. Cruising used to be pretty much for the "older set", all the lines are attempting to attract more yourng families. With seven 2000 plus new ships next year, can you blame them?? But, that having been said I'm glad we too are past that stage!! Only have to enterain ourselves, and that's easy. :grin:

Have not done it either. Weight limit is usually 225 lbs and I'm about 10 lbs over the limit. Don't want to kill the poor horse. We did go riding at Christmas here in Las Vegas and the horse they assigned me looked about the size of a Clydesdale! But, she was very gentle and a lot of fun except I walked like John Wayne for two days afterward.