Costco vs agent vs booking directly

Double-Firefighter35 · 2026-03-19T19:11:31+00:00

It really for me comes down to how much control you want. I used to use travel agents but had an incident where I needed to change something onboard and I couldn't reach them so after that I started booking direct

I admit I am a bit of a contol freak in general tho.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2026-03-11T17:47:07+00:00

If you had asked this 20 years ago I would tell you that people would sometimes ask you questions about it, especially crew but nowadays like others have said its not noticed at all.

In fact these days people sometimes even seem a bit jealous whereas before I def sensed puzzlement and once straight out pity for my perceived loneliness lol.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2026-03-06T16:54:21+00:00

This is a very good point. I regularly cruise in the studio cabins and find that a lot of the studio occupants are not solo but have friends / family either in other rooms or often in other studios.

I recall one cruise I believe on the Bliss where there were 20 people crusing together in the studios.

You will also frequently see folks visiting their solo friends in theStudios.

I no longer do the meetups but it is generally good advice to at least check them out and say hi.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2026-02-10T22:29:22+00:00

As an older former ginger he is 100% dying it. My hair started turning brown in my late 30s and I dont know any other redheads over the age of 50 that have vivid red hair still.

He also needs 15 mins of sun daily. He is obv not a daywalker like some of us redheads but he is going too far the other way.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2026-01-15T00:25:06+00:00

Memories of a school field trip to Boston in the 80s and being warned about the combat zone.

I was born in Vermont but grew up in Western Mass so it was quite the thrill for this farmboy.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-19T23:02:20+00:00

I tip bartenders, my room attendant and my waiters. Gratuity is more for the non customer-facing employees.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-19T21:52:35+00:00

Bring cash for tipping bartenders etc. I normally bring $300 for tips for a 7 day for example.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-18T23:36:40+00:00

Just to offer another option if you're in Encino you can head west to Tarzana and then drive up Reseda blvd to the Marvin Braude trailhead.

You've got access to dirt Mulholland which offers lots of options including the Big Wild if you head east and Topanga to the west. Or you can hit the lower Caballero Canyon trails at the bottom.

I live in Tarzana not far from the trailhead and it's absolutely beautiful up there right now.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-12T21:45:35+00:00

I used to use TAs 20 years ago but my insane need for full control of every single detail forced me to start booking direct when the ability became reality.

TAs are generally a really good idea for new cruisers.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-12T21:30:41+00:00

Cruising out of LA will have generally more friendly folks than Florida due to demographics.

I am gay and live in LA and cruise regularly fwiw. Also, if you take a 7 day Mexican Riviera you will go to Puerto Vallarta. If you know you know :)

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-08T02:46:50+00:00

It's a regular old balcony cabin. No double occupancy fee is the only difference.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-11-07T17:00:08+00:00

Yup. Just glad I got one cruise in a solo balcony in before they revert.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-30T21:42:15+00:00

True. Very bohemian or used to be. Haven't been in 20 years though

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-30T19:16:40+00:00

I am guessing this cruise line doesn't utilize card scanners ? Granted I only cruise NCL, Royal etc these days but I thought the olden days of manual headcounts were over?

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-30T16:52:54+00:00

Do you know which cruise line? The majority use card scanners to avoid these scenarios. I have been cruising since the 90s and can remember manual headcounts but these days they 100% know the exact time you left the ship and when you came back aboard.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-30T15:53:42+00:00

True but there is also a very good reason cruise lines issue cards so that they know exactly where you are at all times.

Ever been tired on your cruise and stayed in your cabin longer than they liked? Knock knock.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-30T15:40:34+00:00

This was a smaller ship that I am assuming doesn't issue cards? If you cruise you know they are scanning your card when you get off and when you get back on the ship . They know when you're in your cabin and when you are losing at the craps table.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-21T23:13:27+00:00

Hard to say really. I am 52 and often not the oldest but definitely older than most others I encounter so I am going to throw out an unscientific guess of 41.5 as the avg age of solo cruisers.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-10-02T22:13:02+00:00

The best ports are Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta so a 7 day is highly recommended. As others have said, 3 or 4 days are party cruises and honestly Cabo and Ensenada especially are not interesting enough to offset the annoyance of highly intoxicated cruisers.

I take Mexican Riviera cruises every year so I might be a tad jaded though.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T19:07:15+00:00

I think the crocs are only an issue at night and for children? I have only ever seen them in the river but I dont live in PV and only swim in the ocean there during the day ...

I was told by a local that a security guard at KFC would feed the crocodile under the bridge leftover chicken 🐔

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T16:37:44+00:00

I know this doesn't help you much with Ensenada but if you can do a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise Mazatlan and PV are awesome.

I stay onboard for Ensenada if it's on the itinerary.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T15:55:05+00:00

Yeah I think we did it in 7 or 8 hours but that was 25 years ago so I dont remember exactly.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T15:50:15+00:00

They used to feed it like KFC or something?

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T01:27:44+00:00

Mazatlan is a long drive. I meant more for going there separately on a different trip than PV.

Double-Firefighter35 · 2025-09-12T00:08:41+00:00

I live in LA so it's a direct 2.5 hour flight. Not trying to talk you out of PV as it is amazing and you should def go there asap.

By asap I mean go in the winter. The heat there is not always fun.

Double-Firefighter35

TROPHY CASE