RNSANE

My budget doesn't usually allow massages on cruises although I would indulge if I could afford them. I think it is pure bliss. You are really not exposed unnecessarily and, being a nurse for over 44 years, I'm not all that modest anyway. I always indulge in ports that offer good deals on massage...the best I ever had was in Kusadasi, Turkey....$20 for two hours at a place recommended in the Cruise Compass...oh, my word, if we'd been there longer, I'd have done it again. Also, in Ensenada, we found a great place, highly recommend, that did two hours for $90 so I had mine there rather than on the ship.

I agree with you about the lamb shanks...but they are on the menu on every Royal Caribbean ship and I really think they are delicious.....love the Indian offerings on the menu as well...have them in addition to my regular entree....yummy. It is going to be fun no doubt thanks for your tips... V8 juice in the windjammer huh..

After forty + years as an RN, and eating in hospital cafeterias, I normally don't go to the Windjammer. I much prefer sitting down in the dining room and being served....but, of course, I have so many waiter friends in the Windjammer and, on this May 10th sailing, Sudhir Pillai, my Indian headwaiter friend, who showed me about Mumbai during my ten day stay in 1997, was assigned to breakfasts in the Windjammer so I HAD to go. He totally indulged me and many of my Monarch crew friends were there. Same, of course, in the dining room. We had dinner one night in Chops which was wonderful. Sudhir joined us for dinner as did our friend, the F & B director. I also love Portofino but we didn't dine there this cruise. I love Jade and have only eaten once at Johnny Rocket's - on the Navigator - thought it was fun. For some reason, I preferred the Navigator...maybe because it was the Transatlantic and Europe bound...very few children...not many, either, on this cruise. More international passengers, as well, and I always enjoy that mix.

I think there are pluses and minuses to cruise ship employment - of course, I don't work for cruise lines but I do have friends in all departments and many give me the inside scoop. It is interesting that you will SELDOM find an American youngster working anywhere in the dining or bar departments. When I encouraged my own young college grad to sign on for six months, just for the experience, he exclaimed adamantly, "Do you think I want to work those long hours for so little pay?" The majority of the bar and wait staff are from third world countries who will work for very little monetary reimbursement from the cruise line and hope to get their gratuities from passengers who, sometimes, feel $3.50/person/day is too much to tip for their excellent service. Cruise staff, entertainers, gift shop staff, officers, etc, have it better, but I think you must really talk to those doing the work to get the real picture of what ship life is like. Some really enjoy it and do well. Others last only a few contracts. Some spend their entire lives on board a ship and I've even met their children when they join the company!

Dear Dina, There are so many variables. I, pesonally, cruise mainly with Royal Caribbean since it offers a variety of ships - though it is certainly going to the large, megaships these days. You have to take into consideration the age of the passengers....the itinerary, the activities on board, etc. I have friends, in their late sixties, who really do not like Carnival that much - they prefer Royal Caribbean or Princess, my young friends only want to go on Carnvial! I think you can get some good deals in the Caribbean after school starts...but you didn't say if you have children. The two week period between Thanksgiving and mid Dec is often marked down a good deal if you have money to spare at that time...I was just looking at Royal Caribbean's website nad there are some unbelievable deals coming up at that time. Need a little more info...

I always make my own tip envelopes before I leave home, put graphics appropriate to the sailing, coctails, etc, for the bartender's envelopes, and I try to personalize them in some way. I always tip extra...because, in 80 cruises, I've not yet had anyone who did not provide exemplary service. I had to laugh because, on Wednesday, when I took the matire d', assistant maitre d', and four of the Radiance head waiters out for lunch in Sausalito when the ship was in San Francisco, we had less than Royal Caribbean service at the Spinnaker. I was commenting to them about the difference between cruise line wait staff and shoreside service in most places. Our waitress was okay but she just wasn't very enthusiastic about taking care of us. It just made me realize how wonderfully I've been looked after in my 69 Royal Caribbean cruises!

I feel so bad for that husband and his family. I cannot even fathom the trauma they are experiencing. It is difficult enough when one dies from natural causes but, an incident such as this, which should not have happened, is so overwhelming.

[/url omaopa1942, so glad to have you with us!!!

What a treat to see you here with you, merkelcg!!! Hope you are a regular visitor.

HaliB, Happy to see you found your way here to this delight menagerie of wonderful folks. This is a great place to hang out and we hope to see you often.

Nice having you in our crazie place, Pat2165....don't be a stranger now!!!!