Jan115

You are correct, @fishey45. Unless there is a particular sale going on for singles, solo travelers pay close to the double fare. Norwegian has their studio cabins, and some of the other lines are following suit. The rates are still higher than if he were to share, but less than a typical double fare. I know - it’s not fare, and I wish the cruise lines would change their policy, especially now that more and more people want to travel solo.

During Sip + Sail, booking a balcony or above gets you and your travel companion a FREE Premier Beverage Package and additional guests a FREE Unlimited Soda & More Package. Plus, all destinations are on sale! It’s a deal as delicious as the drinks that pair perfectly with each destination. Good for cruises departing Summer 2019 - Spring 2020. Sale ends September 5th! Cary Grant thinks it's great - watch this amusing video and see if you agree ... https://youtu.be/qELh8GjDltg?t=4

Todd - Thanks for sharing your pics and cruise with us. I saw that Lyn has a Coolpix B700. I almost bought that camera, but went with the Lumix dmc fz300 instead, as it was $100 cheaper. It's a teensy bit heavier, but so far I haven't dropped it over the side of a ship yet.? Anyway, nice photos - whichever one of you took them! We have a great Photo gallery over HERE on CruiseCrazies. It would be great if you could create an album or two of your Singapore cruise and Sun Princess ship photos over there. They'll be easier for people to find and view later.

Another important thing to note, at least concerning cruisers here in the USA, most plans require that you purchase insurance within 14 days of deposit to be covered for pre-existing illnesses. Others cover for pre-ex if you purchase coverage by final payment date. Be sure to check with the insurance company or your travel agent to get the specifics before you buy. Many of the cruise line policies are one-size-fits-all, but a travel agent may have a variety of policies with varying levels of coverage, so again, be sure you know what you're buying.

Friday's Food for Thought: Start your trip with a blank canvas. Read more:

How I love this quote: "Travel is like a giant blank canvas, and the painting on the canvas is only limited by one’s imagination." – Ross Morley When I was in the planning stages of my first cruise back in 2001, I combed through every book, magazine, website, review, video and photo I could find in order to choose the perfect cruise. Through others' eyes, I learned of the best ships, the best cabins, the best food, and the best destinations. I listened while others touted their advice on what to avoid and their 10-best lists. I ended up with many pre-conceived notions and over-inflated expectations of what cruise life is like. Granted, I felt prepared for that first ship adventure on the Grand Princess to the Western Caribbean, but I also dispensed with much of the useless advice I was given (despite the 1001 uses for duck tape, and how no one should leave home without it, I have never carried a roll in my 17 years of cruising). I'm not saying that we should make the trip up as we go along - some preplanning is required. But I no longer plan down to the last pad of post-it notes. How many times do we visit the must-see sights in a destination only because someone said we'll be sorry if we didn't. For instance, when planning our time when the ship docked in Florence, it was suggested by some to combine our precious limited time in both Florence and Pisa. After all, how could we travel to this part of the world and NOT experience that leaning tower. Actually, we could. We've seen many a touristy photo - you know the one - the tacky photo of the guy pretending to hold up the tower so it won't fall. We didn't feel the need to waste time when there was so much beauty in Florence to see. In other words, when you travel, create your trip from your own blank canvas. Start with the basics. Add your dream experiences - those bucket list items (the Sistine Chapel comes to mind!), but leave room for the unexpected - the seaside stroll, the impromptu music performance in the square, a chat with the locals over a pint in Dublin. See what that final painting reveals. It's those candid, unforeseen surprise moments that really make a trip!

It's always sad when the classy small ships are sold or scrapped.?

Nice gesture by Cunard. I hope they don't have to dip into the funds to help pay for the rescue operation when they had to pull the protestor down from the statue last week.

The Miami Herald has a few more details to share as to why he may have gone in the water. But whatever the reasons, it's a good thing Carnival Glory was in just the right place at the right time. I can't imagine treading water for 22 hours. His Guardian Angel must have been looking out for him. ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Gittepigen44! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @sgraessle88! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @MamaMoseley! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

It’s that time of year once again. Hurricane season is upon us, and with any luck we won’t see anything like what we experienced with “Irma” last year. While those directly in the path of destruction have probably vowed to avoid ever traveling during hurricane season again, some of us may still see the value in cruising this time of year and willing to take the chance. So I thought this would be a good time to repeat the hurricane-cruise precautions I wrote about in my CruiseCrazies Travel Tips blog three years ago. Here it is, updated for 2018. I hope you find it useful.

[Updated 2018] Now that summer has officially arrived, so has hurricane season in the Caribbean, lasting from June through November, affecting tourists and residents from the Southern Caribbean, and on north to the coast of Maine. Should that stop you from booking a Caribbean or New England cruise in late summer or fall? No, and here’s why. Caribbean cruise rates are never better than they are in fall, especially from late August through mid-December. Crowds diminish, the kids are back in school, and cruising is generally quieter. It’s an ideal time to cruise. Chances are good that a hurricane will not affect your cruise plans. Cruise ships use the latest weather-tracking systems to steer around the path of storms. While you may encounter some rough seas, the crew will do a marvelous job of keeping you safe and the ship as steady as possible. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise in fall, you can take a few extra precautions to lessen the chance of weather-related mishaps. First and most importantly, buy a good travel insurance policy. You might even consider one with a cancel-for-any-reason feature. Arrive at your port a day or two ahead of your sail date, especially if you need to fly. While the cruise itself may not be an issue in a storm, getting to your ship on time could be. Weather delays and flight cancellations may leave you stranded at home. Getting a jump start to the cruise port will increase the likelihood of getting on board. When choosing a late summer or fall tropical cruise, consider a destination less likely to be in the path of a hurricane, such as Panama or Costa Rica. Use a travel agent. They have the resources to keep you alert to delays and cancellations and can get you where you need to be with minimal stress. If a storm does come your way, keep in touch with your travel agent for the latest cruise line updates and advice. If you are cruising during hurricane season, keep an open mind and board your ship with the right attitude. If a hurricane messes with your vacation, the ship’s itinerary may change, and you may find yourself in ports you weren’t expecting. Go with the flow, and enjoy your cruise, wherever it may take you. Jan

Joe, thanks for sharing your first cruise with NCL. Being a diehard Princess fan, Norwegian’s Freestyle cruising was a hard sell for my husband and I, but after recently returning from our 8th NCL cruise, I guess I can say the line grew on us - we love them! We are also New Englanders born and bread, and I agree - cruising out of New York is so easy, and Boston, even better!

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Navarchus4me! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @His3918girls! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Shannon11! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazie @Finn! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

CHOOSE A PERK and GET DOUBLE SAVINGS! HURRY - OFFER ENDS JULY 9TH! See the Promotion Flyer for more info: http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/18062529_4th_of_July_Flyer.pdf or private message to plan your cruise today! HAVE A SAFE AND RELAXING 4TH!

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @ZenasSuitcase! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Penuk2000!Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @ALF!Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Peggy17! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Mary_Elaine!Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community! ??