deb1220

I like the 9 nighter out of NJ also....a nice length for a cruise. The prices are good too!

It's not too long for me, but I know it would be too long for many of our working Crazies. As for NCL, I've also heard they've made some positive changes and frankly, the price matters more to me than the cruiseline. As much as Carnival and I don't get along, if it were the right price and the majority of the group agrees, I would go in a heartbeat!

I think I looked forward to the martinis more than the dinners

...not all of us at one table (on the Connie) but our tables may as well have been one big table. I guess it would be possible to have side by side tables of 6, 8 or 10. Wouldn't that be great!

Wow Keith, thanks for posting the video link. I just saw the same video on NBC News but they didn't show the whole thing. I can't even imagine going through that!

Here's the article... http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/03...dex.html?hpt=T1

Steve - that will all depend on exactly how long you have been in the Martini Bar when we pass the Statue of Liberty. Howard, that's good!!! That pic served a dual purpose....

CONGRATS, ELLIE!!!

There's a water side restaurant by the semi-sub (we've done that excursion....very nice) and there's a "Margaritaville" too.

We sailed to Alaska in July, 2004. Most of the time we had jackets, hats and gloves on.....but one day, it got up to 72....you never know.

so sorry...... I plugged in 'Sep. 2011' and that's what it came up with. I guess I need to learn to read better

I just spotted a cruise in RCI Explorer (9 days) out of Cape Liberty, NJ.....but it costs a bit more. Sept. 2, 16 and 30.....and Oct. 14 Portland, ME; Bar Harbor, ME; St. John, NB; Halifax, NS; Boston, MA. Inside-$695...Outside-$1000...Balcony-$1261....Deluxe/Suites-$1870. Just throwing it out there...

That sounds great to me! I have sailed with NCL twice and agree that some may not like it but I still believe a cruise is what you make of it....It's still a cruise I also like it because it means I don't have to fly....YAY!

I've never been on a Mexican Riviera cruise but our 3rd cruise was the Alaska cruise and it was the first time we had a balcony cabin (the 1st two were Oceanview). I enjoyed having the balcony for the Alaska cruise (we went in July) because of everything there is to see on the Inside Passage and if it got too cold, you could duck in your room. Maybe it would be best for you to book an Oceanview room for both but I would definitely not have an Inside Cabin for the Alaska cruise.

Great story....yes, they should buy a lottery ticket!

Rose and Howie!....AND....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOWIE!

There is a NEW show on the Travel Channel today at 5:00 pm Eastern about the Carnival Freedom. 6:00 pm Eastern - Samantha Brown - Mediteranean Cruise - Brilliance of the Seas (repeated at 11:00 pm). 7:00 pm Eastern - Samantha Brown - Long Weekend - Carnival Inspiration (repeated at midnight).

2/11/2010 Princess Revives Nostalgic Cruising Tradition with New Bon Voyage Experience Passengers Can Once Again Invite Friends and Family Aboard Ship On Embarkation Day SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 11, 2010) -- Reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, Princess Cruises is debuting an innovative, new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to wish them "bon voyage" and get a taste of the onboard experience. Called the "Bon Voyage ExperienceSM," the program is a new twist on the departure celebration of bygone days, when friends and family would routinely come aboard to see off passengers. Because of increasingly tighter security procedures, this practice disappeared more than two decades ago, but it's now back -- complete with lunch in the dining room and tour of the ship. Unique in the cruise industry, the Bon Voyage Experience enables passengers to extend an invitation to their guests to join them onboard during sailing day for a four-course dining room lunch with wine, a ship tour and even a souvenir photo. Passengers and their guests can enjoy priority embarkation and will be able to spend approximately four hours together on the ship before it sets sail. The cost for the program is $39 per person, which can be applied toward a future Princess cruise. The program will debut in March in the ports of Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, and then roll out to New York, San Francisco and Seattle. "Long-time cruisers will recall the fun of the bon voyage send-off with their family and friends, and we're excited to re-introduce a new, modern version of this experience," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. Cruise passengers will be notified about the program through the pre-cruise emails they receive from Princess as their cruise date approaches. In-port guests can be booked through a travel agent or by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, beginning 120 days before the cruise and up to six days before the sailing date. Once registered, guests will be able to input their required security information through the line's Cruise Personalizer. The number of guests who will be able to participate in the Bon Voyage Experience on any given embarkation day will be approximately 50. The roll-out schedule for the launch of the Bon Voyage Experience is: •Sapphire Princess -- March 6 in Los Angeles •Crown Princess -- March 6 in Fort Lauderdale •Coral Princess -- March 7 in Los Angeles •Emerald Princess -- March 7 in Fort Lauderdale •Island Princess -- March 10 in Los Angeles •Ruby Princess -- March 10 in Fort Lauderdale •Golden Princess -- March 14 in Los Angeles •Royal Princess -- March 27 in Fort Lauderdale •Star Princess -- April 10 in Fort Lauderdale •Caribbean Princess -- May 18 in New York •Sea Princess -- June 1 in San Francisco During the Alaska season, Sapphire Princess, Golden Princess and Royal Princess will offer the program in Seattle, beginning in May. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

2/11/2010 Princess Revives Nostalgic Cruising Tradition with New Bon Voyage Experience Passengers Can Once Again Invite Friends and Family Aboard Ship On Embarkation Day SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 11, 2010) -- Reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, Princess Cruises is debuting an innovative, new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to wish them "bon voyage" and get a taste of the onboard experience. Called the "Bon Voyage ExperienceSM," the program is a new twist on the departure celebration of bygone days, when friends and family would routinely come aboard to see off passengers. Because of increasingly tighter security procedures, this practice disappeared more than two decades ago, but it's now back -- complete with lunch in the dining room and tour of the ship. Unique in the cruise industry, the Bon Voyage Experience enables passengers to extend an invitation to their guests to join them onboard during sailing day for a four-course dining room lunch with wine, a ship tour and even a souvenir photo. Passengers and their guests can enjoy priority embarkation and will be able to spend approximately four hours together on the ship before it sets sail. The cost for the program is $39 per person, which can be applied toward a future Princess cruise. The program will debut in March in the ports of Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, and then roll out to New York, San Francisco and Seattle. "Long-time cruisers will recall the fun of the bon voyage send-off with their family and friends, and we're excited to re-introduce a new, modern version of this experience," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. Cruise passengers will be notified about the program through the pre-cruise emails they receive from Princess as their cruise date approaches. In-port guests can be booked through a travel agent or by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, beginning 120 days before the cruise and up to six days before the sailing date. Once registered, guests will be able to input their required security information through the line's Cruise Personalizer. The number of guests who will be able to participate in the Bon Voyage Experience on any given embarkation day will be approximately 50. The roll-out schedule for the launch of the Bon Voyage Experience is: •Sapphire Princess -- March 6 in Los Angeles •Crown Princess -- March 6 in Fort Lauderdale •Coral Princess -- March 7 in Los Angeles •Emerald Princess -- March 7 in Fort Lauderdale •Island Princess -- March 10 in Los Angeles •Ruby Princess -- March 10 in Fort Lauderdale •Golden Princess -- March 14 in Los Angeles •Royal Princess -- March 27 in Fort Lauderdale •Star Princess -- April 10 in Fort Lauderdale •Caribbean Princess -- May 18 in New York •Sea Princess -- June 1 in San Francisco During the Alaska season, Sapphire Princess, Golden Princess and Royal Princess will offer the program in Seattle, beginning in May. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

Same here!.....but I have had something taken out of my luggage too - a clutch purse....

One time after boarding, we got a phone call that they spotted something suspicious looking on the x-ray of Zack's suitcase - it was some cables and camera accessories. It was on AOS....and they asked if someone would come meet them at the crew entrance and they would escort them to the luggage area to unlock the suitcase and take a look. I went down....no problem....no inconvenience on my part. I would much rather do that then have my luggage unlocked....

We always use zip ties too, Rose. I would think that their policy would be illegal.

I would say something about "drunken sailors" but it's probably inappropriate Seriously, it's a good thing that nobody's been hurt in any of these incidents.

Thanks Carmen. Very interesting!