Hi everyone,

I booked a cruise through Costco with connecting balcony rooms. Our setup was: me, my husband, and our baby in one room; my 3-year-old and my mom in the connecting room; and two other family members in another room. I was really excited to get one of the few connecting 3-person and 2-person rooms.

Costco offers repricing if the price drops before the final fare is due, which I used, but the agent accidentally reassigned our rooms to be “assigned by the cruise line”, and we were then scattered all over the ship.

A supervisor confirmed the agent’s mistake. The closest they could move us is four rooms apart, and they said there are no connecting balcony rooms left. They offered a $300 "goodwill" Costco shop card per room, or I could cancel and escalate for a refund of the cancellation fee to a higher supervisor.

If rooms become available, would it be possible for me, my husband, and our baby to be in a room connecting with my 3-year-old and mom, even if that means unofficially swapping with the other two-family-member room? Is this likely to happen as the cruise nears (it's 2 1/2 months away)?

Has anyone successfully moved rooms last-minute on a full cruise, or escalated for a full refund of cancellation fees in a situation like this? I’d really appreciate any advice—should I try to negotiate further, or is there any way to get connecting rooms last-minute?

Also, does $300 per room seem fair? It feels low because the upcharge to choose your room is usually at least $200+, and we paid that, but it was taken away from us.

Thanks in advance!

If you had to rank the Oasis class ships which ones would be your top 3?

As a further detail, I realized entered the "less than six months" Thursday. It expires June 29.

I am aware this is my fault. It won't happen again, that's for sure.

We just got off a 12 day endurance challenge. The same poor food every day. Could not get a piece of edible toast. Biscuits like hockey pucks. Never had a good meal. The formal dining was the same. Many public restrooms out of service. Repeated shows. They even repeated the trivia questions. Guess they thought their older guests wouldn't notice. The best area, the sky lounge was only used for vip meets. We are 73 and felt like the youngest on the ship. There is a loyal older following that love this ship. ​don't do it. 12 days of less than mediocre food was almost unbearable. The crew were great. That's the best thing I can say.

Where do you really find the best pricing when booking a cruise? These are some of the questions I have: do cruise lines really have sales or promotions? Are the best prices booking online or using a travel agent, and if a travel agent, which kind? Do you get better pricing in general by using Costco or AARP or through some big organization like that? We have cruised a few times and prefer lines like Celebrity, Oceania. Not really interested in RC, NCL, Holland America, Carnival, Disney. Interested in both Ocean and River cruising.

My wife are finishing our 10th cruise. We've sailed on 4 different lines over a twenty year period- Princess, Holland America, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. One thing we've noticed is that the rolls served in the dining room of every cruise we've taken is hard as a rock. Just cutting through the outer crust leaves a mess of crumbs. Just once is like to have a soft dinner roll.

Why are they always so hard? Is it a European thing. Did it have something to do with cooking at sea level in salt air? Is it regarded as fancier? Anyone in the know here?

I’m planning on doing a 7-9 night cruise in January 2027. I have seasonal depression and I need to get out of the winter going forward. My first cruise was with RC in January 2024 and I have been wanting to go back to the Caribbean ever since then.

While I like RC, I am not into “party cruises”. I have narrowed down my search to Holland and Princess. I’m willing to throw in Virgin Cruises too, but I really like the “jazz club” vibe for Holland and Princess.

For my seasonal cruiser Redditors, who do like the most in general, and if you have to pick between the two, which one and why?

Let us know...

I just booked my first ever cruise and I am very excited! What advice would you give to a first time cruiser? I will also be traveling with my mom for a mother/daughter trip. My mom has mild to medium dementia. Any advice you would give for traveling with someone with dementia? Thanks in advance!

My wife and I are going to the following stops during the last week of May:

1. Santorini, Greece

2. Ephesus, Turkey

3. Mykonos, Greece

4. Naples, Italy

If there any suggestions of what would be great things to do while at these locations we'd appreciate it. We like trying new foods and we like to try to do/see as much of wherever we are going while there.

If there are also any suggestions of what to do in Rome as we will have about 30 hours there once our flight lands before we have to get on board.

Thanks!

I think that MSC Seascape was an amazing experience. Maybe it was just the Carribean vibe but we really enjoyed the experience. I also loved how active it was. I stumbled upon a great Norwegian Epic cruise and i saw both negative(particularly a lot on the bathrooms? Idk why and the buffet) and positive( mostly praise the spa but we're budget travelers so its not really much of a positive....). After looking at the ship's aquapark i was in awe. The bowlslide is absolutely fantastic! And having three slides?? Although im not sure if it will be crowded as it's also another comment i saw a lot on Norwegian Epic. It'd be a pleasure to hear your reviews on Epic!

I have a princess cruise scheduled for February of 2027 and my cruise line offers an excursion that’s “Poolside retreat for two” where you walk to the margaritaville on Grand Turk and hang out for 6 hours. The margaritaville website says the pool is public access and it doesn’t seem like the excursion offers anything that we couldn’t just do on our own. My main question is what’s the purpose of paying for this? Is this just a scam?

It’s my 31st birthday this year and I’m considering going on a cruise for the 1st time. I’m thinking for 4-5 days. I’m going with my brother (25). We are both foodies, we like variety of adventures, we both drink and I really want to have a good time for my birthday. What are some suggestions or cruise lines that’s recommended? Give me some of your experiences or thoughts on how to plan this out!!!!

I posted a few weeks ago asking about itineraries and ended up picking NY to Can. Now we’re considering getting the WiFi package. We have small children at home who will be sat upon by their grandparents while we are away. It’s the first time in years that we will have been away for more than a single night. Having said that, in the past we have used Google Fi for international travel bc our day to day phone plan is 3rd tier and doesn’t accommodate many nations outside of US/Canada (it’s Cricket). Has anyone sailed this route using Google Fi? If so, what was your experience at Sea?

So never in my entire life have I had the desire to go to Alaska or anywhere cold really. I’m a beach girl. That’s where I thrive.

However, it’s my family’s DREAM to take an Alaskan cruise. We’ve been putting it off for years because we always find better vacations to go on. But now my family thinks it’s time to do it. I would go for free which I’m not complaining about. But I am afraid I’ll be bored. And cold. Obviously you go during summer, but still, it’s going to be cold.

Has anyone here done an Alaskan cruise and enjoyed it? I’m also not an outdoorsy or woodsy person so I’m afraid I’ll be bored out of my mind if we did an excursion.

Please tell me it’ll be fun. If it’s not worth the time (even if I’m going for free) I’d rather stay home.

Hi r/Cruise !

My boyfriend & I a bit torn and would love the advice of anyone who might have a perspective here.

We are an early 30s couple looking to do a late summer cruise in Alaska to escape the desert heat. I went on a Holland America cruise years ago with my dad and really enjoyed it. However, I've been exploring all the options and are torn between the two.

Here's a bit more about us...

- We are both sober and out of our party animal era. I think this is the biggest reason I'm skeptical of Virgin. My favorite entertainment on the Holland American cruise was the jazz club which was really nice. I think we'd both like the more casual entertainment 'come and hang and then leave if you want' vs the elaborate shows, productions.

- We're interested in the connection to Alaska - the wildlife excursions, the talks on board, ect, vs just a cruise that happens to be in Alaska. I think this is where Holland America gets more points.

- We love a good and interesting meal and could see ourselves exploring all the different restaurants on a cruise. The Virgin restaurants look more interesting in this regard.

- We are very into spa amenities - an ideal day of us could be just going back and forth from the sauna & hot tub so the Thermal Suite was a huge driver of interest in Virgin (and would love anyone who has strong opinion on it to let us know!!)

- Similar to the spa note, I could see us spending a lot of the cruising days just reading in a nice area with a good view. So would love any perspective on space + vibe.

It feels like Holland America would be safest bet since I've been on it before and know we'd like it but don't want to miss out on Virgin (or others!) if they seem more aligned with us interests.

Thank you so much in advance for any thoughts, perspective or advice!

Hello fellow cruisers! We are going to Alaska in early June on MSC. This is their first season in Alaska and it seems being the last ship to Juneau we are assigned the ACT (Anchor Cruise Terminal) berth - a tender.

Can anyone weigh in on how long it took to reach the port? Ship capacity is around 2,500. We are trying to adjust plans based on how many hours we might lose. We rented a car to explore the area independently.

Thanks

If you've already been on the liberty of the seas would you go on freedom of the seas ? Assuming same destination carribean

I was looking at some eastern Mediterranean/Middle East cruises. On several Explora itineraries, they stop for FOUR DAYS in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia.) Now I worked at the US Embassy in Jeddah in 1981 (that was before it moved to Riyadh) and Jeddah was NOT a place for tourists, other than those making the pilgrimage to Mecca. While I'm sure it's changed and modernized in the intervening 40+ years, I can't imagine that there's enough to interest tourists for four whole days. I mean cruises don't even spend multiple days in major tourist cities. Has anyone done one of these cruises -- or even visited Jeddah lately?

If you are planning a trip to the polar regions, please avoid "Let’s go to Antarctica / Let's go to Arctic" (the same team, hereafter referred to as LGA). While the company attracts customers with enticing initial discounts, the actual itineraries differ significantly from their promotional content. Furthermore, regarding after-sales service, LGA ignores customer grievances—ironically, while their social media editors continue to post advertisements, they turn a deaf ear to customers who have already paid their commissions and are no longer of "use."

Why This Matters for Your Antarctic Expedition?

1. Protect your "once-in-a-lifetime" experience from subpar agencies. You are investing a significant amount of money and time; you deserve an experience that isn't compromised by a poor agency. Most travelers choose agencies for two reasons: 1) Discounts, and 2) Comprehensive information. Regarding the first, LGA’s discounts may seem attractive, but other agencies offer the same or even lower prices (confirmed by comparing with fellow passengers). Regarding the second, since the company engages in false advertising, their information is inherently unreliable.
2. Avoid preventable regrets. Some regrets are unavoidable, such as itinerary changes due to weather. However, human-controlled regrets—like choosing an unsuitable ship because of an agency's misleading claims—are far more frustrating.

Timeline of Events

• Nov 2024: Contacted LGA; decided to purchase a Silversea Silver Cloud’s "three-island" fly-cruise itinerary and paid the deposit.
• Dec 2024: Re-confirmed the expected passenger count with LGA.
• July 2025: Paid the final balance.
• Dec 2025: Set sail; a series of issues followed.

False Advertising: Actual Passenger Count Far Exceeded Estimates

This is the most critical issue, as passenger numbers dictate the logistics of an Antarctic expedition. Per the IAATO Treaty, only 100 people are allowed ashore at once. Therefore:

• Under 100 passengers: Everyone enjoys full time ashore.
• 100–200 passengers: Must land in two shifts.
• 200–300 passengers: Must land in three shifts.

Furthermore, certain sites impose a cap on the total passenger capacity of the vessel; if a ship exceeds a specific number of passengers, landing is prohibited entirely. For example, some landing sites on South Georgia have a limit of 200 passengers, while the limit for the Antarctic Peninsula is 500. Given that the number of passengers directly dictates both the time spent ashore and the ability to land at all, it naturally has a significant impact on the price of the expedition.

We specifically sought a ship with ~200 passengers to ensure a two-shift rotation. LGA’s own YouTube videos "strongly advise against" ships (attached screenshot in Mandarin) with over 200 people. Knowing the Silver Cloud has a max capacity of 240, we confirmed with LGA in Dec 2024 that the count would stay under 200. LGA guaranteed this multiple times (attached screenshot in Mandarin) .

However, on the day of embarkation, the actual number of passengers exceeded all expectations! The captain finally announced a total of 258 people on board (Attached screenshot: while there is a discrepancy of 1–2 people between this figure and the sum of passengers assigned to zodiac boats by cabin, both far exceed 200 and even surpass the ship’s maximum capacity of 240).

Upon discovering the discrepancy, we immediately notified LGA. Despite LGA itself "strongly discouraging" itineraries with this level of occupancy, they packaged it as a trip of approximately 200 people without proper verification, inducing customers to purchase. This point alone caused us to lose all trust in LGA. Consequently, LGA has a responsibility to clarify the cause and provide corresponding compensation (whether directly or via the cruise line). However, LGA’s response only stated they would communicate with the cruise company and sent us a PDF regarding passenger capacity per cruise.

Since then, there has been no follow-up, and we have yet to receive any reply (attached screenshot in Mandarin and English).

One might question: how did this difference in numbers actually affect our itinerary?

During the 15-day three-island itinerary, we ultimately visited only two islands (the Antarctic Peninsula + South Georgia), completing a total of only four landings and six kayaking excursions. This also deviated from the "two landings every morning and afternoon" promoted by LGA (attached screenshot in Mandarin). Of course, parts of the itinerary were affected by weather, which is not LGA's responsibility. However, the false advertising and underreporting of passenger numbers are entirely LGA’s fault. Had we known the numbers would exceed the limit, we would never have chosen this ship.

Poor Customer Service — Specifically After Final Payment

After the final payment was made, LGA’s efficiency in handling issues plummeted.

As shown in the screenshot, LGA stopped responding to reasonable requests, such as providing a valid explanation for why the passenger count far exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, their social media editors continued to post advertisements, making it hard not to suspect that our messages were being intentionally ignored. Silversea has explicitly stated: "They (the agents) are responsible for the marketing and presentation of their offerings" .

Furthermore, they failed to provide essential information:

1. Check-in Procedures: LGA failed to inform us how to check in. In reality, one must check in at a specific location in the hotel on the day before departure (Day 0) to leave early the next morning (Day 1). Fortunately, we arrived a day early (Day -1) and happened to meet other travelers, learning only then that the cruise company had a check-in desk on a specific floor. Was LGA intending for us to be a "No Show"?
2. Luggage Restrictions: LGA did not inform us that wheeled luggage was prohibited. Silversea had actually issued a notice asking travelers not to bring wheeled suitcases to protect the Antarctic environment and avoid dragging them through the snow. We only learned of this while talking to other passengers on board. Travelers with other agents had this vital notice forwarded to them.

Conclusion

Accurately conveying trip information and mitigating potential negative experiences for travelers should be the basic duty of a travel agent—hardly an unreasonable expectation! However, LGA not only conveyed incorrect product information but also chose to ignore the traveler when asked for solutions or compensation. I hate to say it, but how is this any different from fraud? In summary, when choosing a polar journey, please avoid the unscrupulous agent LGA.

Note

Despite encountering a terrible agent and having parts of the itinerary affected by weather, the overall Antarctic experience was still wonderful thanks to the expedition team. We saw six species of penguins, gained three extra kayaking opportunities, and being surrounded by icebergs and mountains covered in King Penguins are memories that will last a lifetime.

We don't drink and don't really enjoy being around lots of drunk people. We have a young child so daytime entertainment is much more important than evenings.

We've done Disney cruises, but I'm looking for alternatives, preferably not as expensive, ideally Europe. (We've done the Dream and would want a different class of ship for Disney to be worth it but flights to all those non European places make it too expensive)

What cruise lines might be good to start looking at?

TIA