TheSkipper

In December of 2004 while onboard the Infinity to Hawaii, we heard about a couple of cabins that had this problem, but no one in our group of three couples had the problem and it did not sound like it was widespred. My only complaint about our cruise on NCL Sky was that the bed was like a rock! Friend said "don't know if I'm sleeping on a bed or a slab."

Joe, We have done the Zenith three times including her inaugral sailing, and the Horizon twice, so we know the ships pretty well. One of our trips was a week out of NYC (back when the twin towers were still standing) to Bermuda for a week. But, Joey is right, we need more details.

I've called from both San Juan and St. Thomas with a cell phone in the past. Some services work and others do not. Check with your carrier, they can give you an exact answer.

Depends where the ship is. In Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan, PR many cells will work. At sea aboard most ships they will not work. However, some cruise lines are working at bringing cell service on board their ships. Not sure if any have actually done it yet.

Aboard the Silver Wind of the then brand new Silverseas Cruise Line. Israel to Venice through the Greek Isles. 10 years ago.

Total Days! Wow, like Jeff, I'll have to do some serious counting. I do know that Princess informed us last January we had 178 days with them, but that represents only 17 of our 45 cruises! I have a journal of all these trips, just need to take the time to sit down and run the numbers. Congrats to you Kieth and Rita, you now qualify as "Old Salts." :wink:

Happy to say we just booked our second for 2006.. We will be doing the Coral and Crown Princesses this year. :grin:

Rose, Well we did and went ahead and booked the cruise and like you will wait until all the dust clears before worrying about hotel and ground transport. I understand Princess will begin using Red Hook starting next month, so we should be able to get some info in a couple of months. I wish there was a sailing between yours and ours so I could get all the scoops on the ship. But, before you go I will give you my email address and you can update me when you get home. We have free, unlimited internet access as one of our perks as Elite Captain's Club members, so I expect to be online ofter as usual when aboard Princess. So, drop me a note and fill me in on all the neat people on the crew and secrets of the ship and its ports of call. :wink:

Hey Keith & Rita, We just booked on her new sister ship the Crown Princess which debuts in May. We are booked out of NYC on September 30th. You will love Princess, we have done 17 cruises with them so far. Number 18 is the Coral Princess in May and of course number 19 will be the Crown.

Rose, Joan and Joe: Excellent point, will wait until more info is available. Rose we are most likely going to sail on the 30th of September. Thanks again for all the help.

Thanks to all for the excellent suggestions. As far as the family in the Ft. Lee area (actually Fairview) most are in the 80's or 90's, so don't think they will be much help. We would be staying in a hotel in the area and moving around to visit them all over a two or three day period. So, a car would be a must. And my wife has to make a trip to Callahan's for a hot dog everytime we are in the area. You can get the girl out of Jersey, but not Jersey out of the girl!! :grin: Don't know exactly when Southwest started going into LaGuardia, but they are now. Still going to Islep as well. Will check with some of the major car rental companies and see if we can drop it in Brooklyn. We did that in Manhattan with Avis a few years ago and grabbed a cab to the ship.

Hi Gang, Looks like we will be sailing on the new Crown Princess in September, so I have a question for those of you who know New York. We will be using Southwest Award tickets and flying into LaGuardia the evening before the cruise departs (no redeye on Southwest), so, need suggestions for a hotel and transportation from LaGuardia to the new cruise docks in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn. Any ideas?? Alternative would be to go over to New Jersey (Ft. Lee area) and visit wife's family for a couple of days, then go to Red Hook, but then will have the challange of getting rid of a rental car in that area. Open to any and all suggestions. :wink:

Howard, Thanks for the info on the Princess move to Brooklyn. I'm just about ready to bite the bullet and make a reservation on the Crown.

Hey Joanandjoe, Is Princess moving to Brooklyn?? Thinking of cruising on the Crown Princess in late September and wondering if they are moving out of Manhatten?? :cool:

Wow, what a way to start a cruise! Keep us posted Joey.

The first day out of LA will be cool on board. When you actually get down to Mexico it will most likely be bright and sunny and you will be comfortable in shorts. Swimming??? Doubtful.

Like all of the others who have repled, we too have sailed a few ships more than once. Have done the Zenith four times as I recall, and the Century three times and four times aboard the Viking Serenade. We do like to try new ships, but if a good cruise comes up on a ship we have sailed on, we're off again. Oh, I forgot twice on the Royal Princess.

Just read in the mornings paper that a fifteen year old boy from Ireland has gone missing aboard the Costa Magica off Cozumel, Mexico. Discovered missing about 2AM Thursday morning. Was traveling with his parents. Sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale on New Year's Day. Ship is due back on Sunday. Mexican Navy searching for him. Story stated that over a dozen people have gone missing on cruise ships in the last two years.

Oops! Meant to say Princess Cay not CoCo. But, we love both of these private islands!

What a beautiful day at CoCo Cay. And, they have made some additions since we were last there. Trying to work out a cruise aboard the Star Princess for March. Wife and I have been invited to be Judges in the homebuilders Best of Florida housing show. They pay airfare and expenses for four days, but I can't fly all the way to Florida without going on a cruise! Trying now to make all the dates work.

Ann, These cruises are usually a day over, a day in port, and a day back to Florida. However, there are many seven day cruises that stop in the Bahamas enroute to other ports.

Gina, Been hearing about the shoe bag hanger for years on various cruise sites but have never tried it. Maybe this cruise will be the time go give it a shot. :wink: I always pack my swiss army knife and never fail to use it several times on every cruise. Also pack my binoculars, seldom use them, but they are great when you need them. I also pack a sleep mask. I like the room dark! And, most staterooms are not even close. Used to put towels down to block the light coming under the doors, etc. Now, I just put on the mask and forget all that other stuff, and I always pack ear plugs just in case. They have come in handy a couple of times. :smiley:

So far, we have only one booked. Trans-canal for 15 nights from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco. But, hoping to find another than works. Thinking about an August 25th Alaska sailing aboard the Mercury out of Seattle, but too soon for that one yet. So many ships, so little time! :undecided:

We will be sailing the full transit from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco on May 3rd aboard the Coral Princess, so it would appear that Princess is sailing a bit later than Celebrity. Never done the canal before and are really looking forward to this cruise. It's been on our "must do" list for quite awhile. :cool:

This is not a new thing with Costa. Years ago we were warned away from them by our TA. Her comment was "Costa is not a cruise line for you." She knew our tastes and preferences well and put the issue to rest very quickly. I had though since my wife is of Italian decent and since I love pasta that we should give it a try. No Way said the TA! In talking to other frequent cruisers I have always gotten the same sort of reaction that Jeff talked about -- "Once was enough."