December 2022 - 15 nights on Emerald Princess
rileyswa
Second Mate
Clinton
Joined 08/2015
2
Cruises6
Reviews261
Helpful Votes63 year old Mom of 4, married 35 years to a guy who booked a cruise for our honeymoon! Bringing our 19 year old "special" daughter with us on this cruise. Live on an island north of Seattle.
Past cruises
July 2015 - 7 Night Alaska Inside Passage With Tracy Arm Fjord (Seattle Roundtrip) Cruise on Ruby Princess
Great itinerary, but not fond of the Ruby Princess
Norwegian Jade
Sail date: August 06, 2023
Bucket List Greece, Israel and Turkey...oh my!
Excursions were generally great, LONG and comprehensive but that's what we were there for! REALLY WISH NCL would add priority line for Platinum and above, both for Shore Excursions/Guest services desk AND getting back on the ship, especially on Tender days! Feels like a "perk" that should be provided for cruisers with so many days on NCL. And seriously?? 1 bag of laundry PER CABIN!! At least 1 bag PER CRUISER! Husband and wife fighting to squeeze dirties into bag was ridiculous. Other lines provide a LOT more laundry for loyal cruise people.
Carnival Liberty
Sail date: February 14, 2016
We loved the Liberty, and her itinerary!
Sailing out of Puerto Rico was wonderful. We arrived a few days early to enjoy the beautiful city of San Juan. The island/countries we visited on our itinerary were both familiar and new. We'd been to St. Thomas, so took an excursion to Tortola. We'd never seen St. Kitts or St. Lucia and both were delightful. We loved the Carnival 2.0 upgrades on the Liberty, enjoyed fabluous new "American table" menu in the regular dining room, and didn't even end up at a specialty restaurant because the food and staff were so excellent there. Would highly recommend the Liberty and will definitely try for another cruise out of Puerto Rico, hopefully to Jamaica, DR and CUBA!
Pride of America
Sail date: February 10, 2018
What a great way to see Hawaii!
This is not a party cruise. This is not a teenager or lots of family/kids cruise. It was in February, we are in our 50's and we were "young" onboard, but it was a terrific cruise all around and it was really a pleasure. We plan to bring "grandma!" back next year to sail with us and it was such a pleasure to have a calm, peaceful relaxing pool area (secret: We NEVER had to fight for a deck chair!) area to enjoy daily. Will definitely be back again. Like the crew/staff are well paid, well, tipped, well taken care of as this is an American registry ship. NCL Should be PROUD of it's Pride of America!
Ruby Princess
Sail date: July 19, 2015
Great itinerary, but not fond of the Ruby Princess
This was our 1st time on Princess and we'd heard that everything was supposed to be "a cut-above" other lines. We didn't find that to be true at all, except for the food at dinner (Nomer and Francisco were great wait staff) was better. We also enjoyed Jules the Naturalist. Princess' way of doing activities and food service was too formal and inefficient. Having popular events in venues that were too small was frustrating. Ship felt crowded compared to other cruises we've taken. No open access to buffet? Dance party in Piazza where only 50 people can fit, with only standing room on the staircases? Frustrating. 1 comedian and only 1 showing for 3000 passengers? Funny stuff like no ketchup allowed on tables, not being able to pour your own, clean silverware every course, Champagne fountain for photos where ALL the champagne is poured out and thrown away? Also mattress was rock hard. Classical music all the time --more formal than fun; and inattentive or limited wait staff at pools or bars. Prefer Carnival and RCCL
Norwegian Jade
Sail date: June 30, 2019
Loved the NCL Jade and our Itinerary
Best cruise ever! Loved the "jewel class" ship, Dave (cruise director), food in every venue was outstanding, beverages great, incredible entertainment/production shows, itinerary was exceptional -- just a great vacation altogether.
That being said, we had only one complaint was pre-cruise (Piram) wasn't good, didn't like our room/antiquity of hotel, poor English speaking staff who didn't seem to understand its relationship with NCL as pre-cruise hotel, breakfast in basement wasn't nice, no pool/hot tub, location in Center of Rome was nice, but had to find other location for dinner, DID like their roof top bar though (!), however, our transfer to ship was chaos as front desk had no info on our booking for this, didn't know when bus would come, said it wasn't their company, confused how it was all supposed to work for us so we were afraid we wouldn't make the ship (!) and had to push very hard for them to figure it all out since it was included in the room cost -- would suggest NCL find another pre-cruise hotel.
Norwegian Sky
Sail date: March 31, 2019
Lifeguard "policing" the hot tub? Yes, yes they did.
Glad we got to see Cuba before it gets closed again and we would never get to see it, but not thrilled with ship experience.
Carnival Breeze
Sail date: February 19, 2017
The Breeze is a great ship; love Carnival
1st time leaving from Galveston. Things to know? Yes, like Alaska only flies in/out 1x/day, meaning when you disembark the ship, you will not be able to get rid of your bags until 2 hours before your flight. Meaning? When you arrive at 12 noon, getting off the ship as late as you can, you are stuck with your bags until 3:30 PM! Warning. No place to store them in Galveston airport either. Suggestion? Go to the Marriott and hang out until the ticket counter opens :) Our cruise ended up missing Grand Cayman because of too much windy weather so they added another sea day. Usually fine, but 4 sea days and 2 shore days made the cruise feel a bit unbalanced. Nothing we could do though. Ship was beautiful, entertainment staff, cruise director (Leigh), Punchliner comedy guests fabulous. Missed that there isn't an Alchemy Bar, but hear it's coming. Montego Bay Jamaica tours with Chukka were crazy disorganized, but we still had great fun on zip line, tubing, and horseback riding tour. But seriously, Carnival? Have signs up for "each and every" tour you sell! We spent 30 minutes just getting matched up to a bus for our particular tour with Chukka because there was no specific sign for us to go to. And the driver was late getting back to the ship, so we did a lot of "suicide" driving on the bus back to the ship...crazy! But we made it. Food on Carnival these days in regular dining room is outstanding. No need for specialty dining. And 1st meal on board? Of course, Guys' Burger! Will be back!
Cruise tips
Norwegian Jade
Bring a shoe bag to hang on doors; hanging storage organizer for your small things to free up drawers and closet space
Easiest disembarkation port we've ever experienced.
We were disappointed they cancelled the CAPRI ISLE excursion, so just stayed onboard ship for an extra sea day since we've been to Amalfi and Pompeii before.
Mt. Etna, Silverstri Craters, Taomina, Messina were all not to be missed.
Went to the UNESCO ruins and they were wonderful.
Hot and still a great place to visit. Saw a monastary, cemetary, great park with view of Hania, and Hania was nice town.
This incredible walled city is a fantastic view from your cabin balcony. Town is very interesting and full of history.
Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy
Bus to Florence and walking tour of city PLUS the Academie and the REAL David were magical.
We went to both the Island of Delos and Mykonos. Loved Delos for its ruins, and Mykonos for it's incredibly sweet town.
Norwegian Jade
No beverages in the "family pool and hot tubs". Signage wasn't clear on this and we got "stopped" by lifeguard for bringing in drinks. There are 2 hot tubs and a pool for adults that DO allow. Ask for drink PLUS a cup of ice. That way you can keep your drinks cold all the way until finished.
Incredible place to visit. Will be back. Cable Car BACK down from Thira to ship took about 45 minutes, so plan ahead for getting back. Long line, but can't be helped.
We went to Temple of Poseiden, south of Piraeaus and Athens. Heat was immense in Athens and they had to shut down the Acropolis, but its an amazing place to visit. Wonderful people.
Norwegian Sky
Bring your own hanging cubbies for extra drawer/closet space because the 3 little drawers were like size of desk drawer, super small.
Dumbest border check ever! Because we left US and went to Bahamas, we now had to go through US customs, passport check and all. Just a nightmare scenario! Come down at 3, they told us, if you have an excursion. We weren't in port yet, but 1000's lined up to get their "turn" at passport check, CBP officers and all. Seriously? What did they think we did on Great Stirrup Cay? Bring onboard "undesirables" through the NCL card key control system? It was a ridiculous overreach of US Govt. Border Patrol, completely unnecessary and took hours and hours. Procedure and logistics by NCL were terrible. Did the little Conch Train and eco boat. Both were really fun but wish there was some time to get on/off at the "points of interest" like "southern point" for at least a picture and it didn't stop at all.
Did an "outside vendor" 8 hour excursion 1st day that was amazing and fantastic. Shore Excursions Group. Loved it. Did shorter bus tour on 2nd day to El Morro, cemetary, nuevo Habana, Revolution Square and got to see lots of things we didn't see 1st day. Definitely want to come back in about 10 years to see how much progress reconstruction is making; the UNESCO rebuilding, changing in political structure with new President and Constitution, addition of more private enterprise, and beauty of city and people worth returning.
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas
Not much there. Went snorkling and there was little to no help with equipment or location. Got between island and point where lifeguard was and caught in really strong outgoing tide. I'm a good swimmer but had husband and daughter also with us and they got in trouble rapidly. I had to pull daughter to sand bar while husband struggled against the tide. Scary moment. Never did see the "underwater garden" and when asked snorkle staff, they said there was a "blue buoy" out there, but no one could see it. Really bad snorkling experience. Other than that, didn't eat buffet because ate on ship before going, thought beach wheelchairs were cool for accessibility for people, but drinks were lame and bar closest to "the action" closed at 3, ran out of margarita mix, even though we didn't need to be back on board until 4:30 so walk to "other" alternate bar would have been a long way away.
We did transfer from ship via Hop On/Hop Off bus through Miami and to FLL, nice tour and good value.
Did the "Circle of Fire" helicopter tour and of course, wish it was longer, and more lava flowing, but still was a tremendous experience! Hilo is a pretty harbor as well, would like to see more of it next time. Wish we could have been in port longer as wanted to do a "night" star gazing at Mauna Kea but can't because not in port early enough or late enough. Maybe they could add some time or not stay 2 days in Maui?
We were on Port Side...I'd recommend NOT doing that...go for Starboard! The port was unusually noisy with fork lift noise almost non-stop while in room so not the best. Disappointed that NCL didn't have an excursion shuttle to just let people go to the Maui Ocean Center nearby...it would have been cool to visit but too expensive to taxi to.
NCL didn't offer many "pre or post" excursions and that was a shame because lots of people we talked to came in days early or were staying days longer having to find their own activities.
Hit it on a windy day, and if it's like that when you get there...My recommendation would be to not leave the ship! It's "tender only" [no dock] and our experience getting to/from the ship to Kailua-Kona was interesting to say the least...saw some people fall getting on/off tender and numerous people were "getting up there in years" so canes/walkers were difficult to manage, even saw a tender have a line break while tied to the dock, and boat was just bobbing like a cork in a bottle all the way back to the ship and while tied up at the dock. Had our "land and sea" had to get cancelled after trying to manage wind with paper boxed lunches and seas knocking drinks off tables, so catamaran captain ended excursion early and took us back to dock. Then we couldn't get to dock because wind was wreaking havoc on all boats coming in/out. Wind can be unpredictable, but we'll stay onboard next time! Kona is a beautiful place and hope to see more of it next time on a better weather day.
Shuttles to shopping, etc. made this a convenient place. We didn't do the Luau, but apparently over 800 of the ship did! Boy, does NCL push this excursion. Even named a "milkshake of the day" Luau Luscious" -- We went to Kauai Beach Resort for the day and had a terrific restful day, and then when back on board, the ship was 1/2 empty to enjoy since everyone was at luau. Trip to Napoli Coast was okay, but weather was stormy so lots of clouds and rain hanging over the area. Did see a few whales in the waters, but will hope to see Napoli another time.
Pride of America
Pssst! You don't need to by Wi-Fi....it's America! 90% of the time you are in an American port, using American T-Mobile (or whatever your Network is!). Couldn't get service when sailing between islands, but that was not often. Checked emails, used FB/Twitter, took pictures, etc. all just using my cell phone's "hot spot". Hope they don't change that! Was super nice. Also, they already add 20% gratuity to all restaurant and alcohol purchases so you don't have to add MORE tip unless you want to. Wish they'd get rid of the "signature" receipts for each and every drink purchase and make their photos "digital" (we never did go to room to view our book...); they have little "photo kiosks" around the ship where you can take a quick picture and send it to your email or FB page and that was super fun to do!
Didn't get to go...but have done Sting Ray City before and fabulous tour.
Isla Pasion...fabulous destination and day.
Chukka tours is a little crazy disorganized, staff nice but wow, not the best tour I've ever done with Carnival, but we had fun time.f
Airlines not set up for cruise passengers. Don't even take bags until 2 hours before flights, so if flights are evening, you're stuck with bags until they arrive and no place to store at airport. Lame. Might reconsider cruise from this port again.
Carnival Breeze
Guys Burgers to start, Guys Burgers to end. Enough said.
We love Victoria, but a 3 hour stop was too short so stayed onboard since we've visited Victoria alot
White Pass/Yukon train was great, lunch tasty, and bus ride back a great time.
Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska
Set alarm, dress warm like for skiing, go up on pool deck for best view and to hear Naturalist, from 5-8 AM viewing. Next time we'd take separate boat to glacier to get up closer.
Didn't spend much time in town, did Coastal Helicopter to top of Herbert Glacier and dog sled with extra landing which was amazing!
Love our city!
Interesting to walk thru, but not much to it; "Deadliest Catch" tour was great.
Ruby Princess
Do Naturalist talks and get the book (very informative and interesting); Request foam pad for beds; Book excursions independently; Do the "Bon Voyage" experience; hire a porter for handling your luggage in port; Nomar & Francisco were great in Bottechelli; Leo great cabin steward; Beautiful sights.
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This was our 1st time on Princess and we'd heard that everything was supposed to be "a cut-above" other lines. We didn't find that to be true at all, except for the food at dinner (Nomer and Francisco were great wait staff) was better. We also enjoyed Jules the Naturalist. Princess' way of doing activities and food service was too formal and inefficient. Having popular events in venues that were too small was frustrating. Ship felt crowded compared to other cruises we've taken. No open access to buffet? Dance party in Piazza where only 50 people can fit, with only standing room on the staircases? Frustrating. 1 comedian and only 1 showing for 3000 passengers? Funny stuff like no ketchup allowed on tables, not being able to pour your own, clean silverware every course, Champagne fountain for photos where ALL the champagne is poured out and thrown away? Also mattress was rock hard. Classical music all the time --more formal than fun; and inattentive or limited wait staff at pools or bars. Prefer Carnival and RCCL