Cruise

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
11,870
19,639
113
We just wrapped up a five day Disney cruise to the Bahamas. Included ports in Nassau and Disney’s newest private island, Lighthouse Point. This was our fourth Disney cruise and seventh total (other three in Royal Caribbean). We had some friends from school on the cruise, which was nice. Me and the other dad would hit up trivia (which I won one time - general trivia) and get cocktails from the nicer adult bars in the evening. The barber shop - ‘Hook’s Barbery’ - had a hidden whiskey bar that specialized in old fashioneds. Their most expensive shot was some 70 year old Irish whiskey that went for about $1000 an oz. We love Disney as the quality of everything (including guests) is a notch above Royal Caribbean and there are plenty of adult hideaways if need be. Was not a big fan or believer in cruising until doing it; definitely recommend.

Hook’s Barbery

 

Tgar

Heisman
Nov 14, 2001
6,252
14,107
113
Best cruise we ever took was seven days exploring the Galapagos. It was one of the first sails of the Flora, a new Celebrity ship back in 2020 before Covid. The ship carries approximately 100 passengers and has a crew in the 40s including guides. We circled the islands stopping for hiking, exploring and snorkeling everywhere.

Remarkable ship. We had no balcony but had a window that you could raise up or down. Everything about the ship was beautiful and the guides were incredible as well.

We have also done Un Cruises in the Sea of Cortez and Alaska for kayaking, snorkeling, hiking etc. Those are really cool as well but the room accommodations spartan. The Shoilet was particularly bizarre. LOL.
 
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BUFFALO LION

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2001
1,044
1,624
113
You forgot you get broke or can get broke. Gotta love those cashless societies which can get out of control :)

Just have to be smart. I figure I saved about $2,600 on the drink package alone on this last one on Royal Caribbean by paying as I go. There were three of us on this last cruise, and on RC, they make you pay the drink package for everyone or none. Obviously, we went with no drink packages.

On some ships, the food in the complimentary dining areas is so good there is no need to pay for a speciality restaurant, although we do like the Moderno Brazilian Steak House on the Norwegian ships. The funny thing about Moderno is that at Moderno, not only do you get the same steaks off the skewer that you get at the Cagney’s specialty steak house, but you get a nice salad bar to boot.

I will say that the food quality on this last cruise on the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas was probably the worst we have experienced on any cruise yet. The Windjammer Buffet was by far the worst buffet on a cruise ship we have ever experienced. We also had our worst dinner in a sit down Complimentary restaurant that we have ever had on a cruise ship. But overall, once you had a couple of days to figure out the lay of the land, the food was just a minor Inconvenience. It was by most standards pretty good food overall, just not as good as we have had on other cruise ships. Like I said. You get spoiled. Everything else was so good I would hop back on that ship tomorrow if I could. 🙂
 
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Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
11,870
19,639
113
Just have to be smart. I figure I saved about $2,600 on the drink package alone on this last one on Royal Caribbean by paying as I go. There were three of us on this last cruise, and on RC, they make you pay the drink package for everyone or none. Obviously, we went with no drink packages.

On some ships, the food in the complimentary dining areas is so good there is no need to pay for a speciality restaurant, although we do like the Moderno Brazilian Steak House on the Norwegian ships. The funny thing about Moderno is that at Moderno, not only do you get the same steaks off the skewer that you get at the Cagney’s specialty steak house, but you get a nice salad bar to boot.

I will say that the food quality on this last cruise on the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas was probably the worst we have experienced on any cruise yet. The Windjammer Buffet was by far the worst buffet on a cruise ship we have ever experienced. We also had our worst dinner in a sit down Complimentary restaurant that we have ever had on a cruise ship. But overall, once you had a couple of days to figure out the lay of the land, the food was just a minor Inconvenience. It was by most standards pretty good food overall, just not as good as we have had on other cruise ships. Like I said. You get spoiled. Everything else was so good I would hop back on that ship tomorrow if I could. 🙂

We ditched the drink package last time and didn’t regret it. Between paying as we go and free drinks from relatives (in-laws get four free drinks a day and don’t drink) we made out. Honestly, one of the bigger differences between Disney and RC is the outrageousnamount of drinking. No drink packages on Disney but I saw many, many parents carrying a toddler drinking a glass of wine or an old fashioned but it’s not to the degree that you see on RC, where pools close because college kids drink so much they throw up in them.
 
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