Travel Forum / Travel Types / Cruises / May 2004

I am cruising on RCI's Explorer of the Seas this August.  We tender in
Belize City and Grand Cayman.  We do not plan on purchasing shore
excursions on board.  Does anyone have any experience on getting to
shore off these huge ships at a tendered port?  What time should we plan

Howie,
I'm sending you this public note to clear up an error in your memory of "who
posted what".  
I'd like to see a retraction in the Howie Gazette.  Page One.

My husband and I would like to bid on a cruise and, if we get it,
would like to add my sister as a third passenger in a triple cabin. Is
this something that can be done? It seems like it may be possible by
reading some of the fine print on Skyauction relative to Carnival

1. When is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?
2. What cruiseline has the best itineraries?
3. What length is preferable? I am thinking 12-16 nights
I'm trying to plan a nice Med cruise for 2005. I have a few "musts" and a

We've never neen on an NCL or HAL cruise before, but we have been on
the Mercury to the Western Carib and loved it. We're 30 somethings
going on our 10th anniversary and leaving the kids at home. Yeah!
We're not much into shows, we enjoy sports type things (rock wall,

Some good rates available.
Comments on the ship, itinerary etc ?
Thanks,

As is my custom every year after my cruise I like to post a review here to
pay back everyone else who posts such interesting, opinionated and helpful
information. The material I get from this group has saved the day on many
cruises and avoided excessive expenses on others.

I just wanted to share with the group that my husband and I became
grandparents again last week of a beautiful set of twins, a girl and a boy.
Everyone is doing well, including the new and very tired mommie and daddy.
I just returned from spending a week with them, and enjoying ...

My wife and I took the Celebrity Mercury round trip from San Francisco
on May 17, 2004.  We cruise fairly often and had previously taken two
cruises on Celebrity (Millinneum and Constellation), but this was our
first time on a Century-class ship.  We had a "Category D" outside

Regarding second hand smoke, here's a REAL eye opener.  I read the whole
website.  Wow!

I know this has been hashed and rehashed for many cruise lines -- but
I've never seen Crystal discussed.  Does anyone know their liquor
policy?
Thanks.    Mur

Many, many posts have addressed this issue,
Question
As restaurant tipping is based on the PRICE of the meal (15-20%), etc
why should a passenger who pays $400 for a one week cruise tip the

A few weeks ago I posted a message to the group called "Help! A few dumb questions
from a first time cruiser". For awhile I re-checked the NG and never saw
any response in the group, except (for some reason) one by cup-caked. I couldn't
figure out why, but then noticed that I saw ...

Does anyone have any recent experience with the additional benefits
offered to suite guests on HAL?  The hard copy brochure indicates more
benefits than is listed on their website.  The one that I am most
interested in is the complimentary laundry and dry cleaning.  It is