jacketwatch

Sorry to hear that you will be needing a total knee. When will you be having it done? People I know who have had them done say they feel 100%. We will be at sea then, on the Sapphire Princess.

Wow! The DR is really building up their tourism infrastructure. They have so many land AI's and now I guess its time to attract ships too.

Wow. Is that her inaugural cruise?

I will try. I have heard this before too. Let's hope so.

Hello. As you know we booked the Oasis last Thurs. for the Oct. 10th. sailing. Unfortunately traditional 1st seating was not available and we were wait listed. Does anyone have any idea if this will open for us as we are still 6 weeks away? Thank you.

I'd like to think so. :).

No. Sue likes to look at the sea so we got an ocean facing balcony. It seems the prices for sea and promenade balconies were about the same.

Well what the hell. We have time off in Oct. and decided to see the Oasis which seems to be a destination by itself. Its 7 days out of Ft. Lauderdale and we are stoked! We can't wait to see this unique ship!!

I wonder how the huge drop in the Chinese stock market will impact all this. Less spare money, more belt tightening.

I would consider this but wait until the reviews come in.

Though I can't find a news report to paste here I just saw a report on GMA today about private yacht owners who are going to Havana from Miami . It seems that once they get there they do not have to be escorted around like other cultural tours that are being offered but are on their own to go as they please . I wonder how much this costs .

You are not kidding. I suppose its the allure of the once forbidden. Thats always there since Adam and Eve. . However I understand that there infrastructure is very limited so how will they be able to sustain a huge influx of tourists if Havana becomes like a normal open port someday? Well Cubans seem to just finds ways to do things despite their limitations and shortages. I have been watching a show called "Cuban Chrome" and its all about how they have to adapt what they have to make their 1950's and 1960's US cars just run so they can make a living. Its a life that scrimps to get by and survive but they do. If Havana even opens up I think US tourists would be welcome with open arms and that Cubans would do all they could to help them. It would signal and end to the embargo, a great lifting of tensions and much needed hope for a better life for them as they desperately need the income.

For Carnival’s Fathom brand, I understand you will eat and sleep on the ship just like any cruise and they hope to visit a different port in Cuba each day. The difference is the shore excursions – they’re included in the price but are nothing like a traditional excursion. You’ll be doing things like helping kids learn to read in English, planting trees, helping with a fresh water collection or irrigation system and other things that would help the community. They call it “social impact” travel. Sounds like the Peace Corp.

The doors,are opening but for me I want to go but not until I can be on my own and at my own pace. I do wonder how far away that is. If cruises go there then what happens? Do they port in Havana, stay for some time and return to FLA. also do people get to sleep on the ship or are they obliged to stay at a hotel. How does it work?

Wow. After the Concordia incident I am concerned about how they would handle an emergency especially as you have so many more people to try to keep in order who just may be in a panic.,

No way for us. If you want a nice steak with some sides it almost like going to a nice steak house on land. Thats too much.

Sounds like a hostel on the ocean.

I heard of a cruise line some yrs. ago that was very basic, even not providing cabin service or minimal service. Maybe someday HW we will see your idea realized. Great topic for discussion.

Sometimes it seems its true about the maitre'd as i have seen this a few times. And yes I agree about the rest of it in regards to corporate America.

My TA said the cruise line pays them.

This is correct I think. There are all sorts of deals and ways to cut costs out there. its like buying a car. Cut the options and go basic.

Now that I think of it todays cruise industry started as lower cost alternative to cruising which was once considered for the wealthy. Carnival came into being in the 70's to offer lower cost cruise vacations so the masses could experience a cruise. Of course of the decades much has been cut which made cruising so special years ago but yet IMHO you still get the best bang for your buck on a cruise.

Interesting topic HW. I do wonder how such an effort would happen and who would launch it. Most cruise lines are basically under a few umbrellas with Carnival operating by far the most. I doubt if any of them want to launch a new line with such a vastly different identity. That would detract from the image they spend so much on to cultivate. I suppose bottom shelf booze could be used to cut costs and daily fees which are moderate IMHO also figure in to a low cost so cut that and fares go up. You can also choose to not pay the gratuities but that stiffs the crew who share in the tip pool. Actually that's why it was started. Speciality restaurants are optional so there is no cost to you unless you use them. I would imagine there is some cost to having higher priced food items for them so some money could be sav d but not much. You could save by limiting the menu but again if you choose an inside cabin you pay little for that same menu. NCL has some ships with single cabins which I bet other cruise lines will follow. I don't know much about taxes and port fees though I imagine smaller ports do charge less thus saving money. For the the bottom line is is there a market for all this. I think probably not as for me cruising is still a great value so I don't see a niche for this. There are lower cost cruise lines like Celebration and Louis Cruise lines to name two off the top of my head but the latter is based in Greece so there goes you budget getting there. You can also try freighter cruising but that is very basic.

I am not sure how you define "economy" as you can get low cost inside cabins on all cruise lines. What sort of financial parameters are you thinking of?