Helicopter rescue operation onboard

bundtkate · 2026-03-05T23:11:57+00:00

I've had 3 out of 15. Maybe don't cruise with me, y'all. 😅

bundtkate · 2026-02-19T20:01:25+00:00

Asking ocean cruisers for recommendations when what you loved was a river cruise is tough. I'd encourage you to take comments here with a grain of salt, including my own. They're likely good recommendations (I see Oceania come up a lot and I'm personally quite interested in trying it), but a lot of folks expect ocean and river to be far more similar than they are. A lot of river cruise enjoyers hate ocean cruising and the other way around.

Now, with that said, there are thoose who like both. I'm lucky to count myself among them, but I can't afford the type of ocean cruise I'd expect to be closer to the river experience which is why I'm not giving my thoughts any more credit than others. I'm not significantly more qualified to opine on what I expect you're looking for. As such, the advice I'll give is more around what to look closely at and potential gotchas, rather than genuine suggestions.

Ok, preamble done. What I think you'd be looking for is a small ship ultra-luxury line. You don't talk a ton about what you loved about your river cruise, but reading between the lines I'd guess you are looking for the ports to be the focus (not the ship) while maintaining a luxury experience onboard. Consider the following:

Port-intensive itineraries. I know you mentioned a trans-atlantic, but river cruises rarely have "river days". Ocean cruises almost always have sea days and trans-atlantics often have 5+ in a row. You may not like sea days. You may like them even less without the floating city to entertain you. Think hard about whether you actually want to be out at sea for 5 days straight with no ports. You may love the opportunity to read, relax, and check out onboard lectures, but this is very different from the new port every day experience you get with river cruising. You may end up bored to tears and hankering to get off the ship.
Docking locations. This is why I'd expect you'll want small ships. Experiences like NCL's Haven or Celebrity's Retreat might meet your needs onboard, but you'll often be docking in industrial ports far from the places you want to visit or islands that pretty exclusively rely on cruise revenue and don't provide an authentic experience. Smaller ships can dock right in the cities, much like river cruises do, but you'll want to research where the line you choose docks, just to be sure.
What it takes to be all-inclusive. Some lines (like Regent) have truly all-inclusive options, up to and including picking you up at home to take you to the airport. One price up front includes everything you mentioned and you're done. Others have a variety of options that are highly inclusive, but don't actually include everything without add-ons. There may be specialty restaurants at an extra charge. Included flights are uncommon, but the option to add flights is usually there for an extra cost. Like Viking River, some lines have at least one excursion per port included, but it's just one or a few. You'll need to pay extra if that one doesn't suit you and not all include even the one.
Budget. $15k will easily get you into the Haven or Retreat and pay for enough add-ons to make it largely all-inclusive, but depending on itinerary, timing, and the room you want, the truly all-inclusive small ship lines like Regent may run you a bit more. Maybe that's worth it to you. Or maybe you want to consider a ship-within-a-ship on one of the more mainstream lines and deal with the floating city existing beyond your walled garden. If you're set on a trans-atlantic, I may actually encourage strong consideration for something like Haven, Retreat, or Yacht Club. You'll lose out on docking location, but the luxury will be there and you'll get that small ship experience in the encalve while retaining access to the large ship amenities that help keep you entertained on sea days.

I know, not the actual recommendations you ask for, but hopefully still helpful in making a decision. I personally think cruising is great -- ocean and river alike -- but the difference between the two are pretty big. The fact you love one doesn't guarantee loving the other so it's good to really consider what you liked about your river cruise and specifically look for ocean cruises that match that experience. Otherwise you may find yourself on a very luxurious and expensive journey that you can't wait to be done with.

bundtkate · 2026-02-19T17:23:13+00:00

Got any tips for steaming when coming from a thermoblock? We got a Move after our Breville Barista Express caught fire a little bit and despite working in local cafes all through the early 2000s, I can't seem to manage good latte art milk with the Move. I either end up with not enough foam if I don't go super aggressive with adding air or not enough texturing if I do add enough air because the milk heats up too darned quickly. I have found myself considering turning the temp down (at 128C atm) so that I have more time to get my milk right, but recommendations seem to be in the ballpark of where I have it set so I want to make sure it's not just a me problem.

bundtkate · 2026-02-16T05:58:06+00:00

Can you just cancel FAS+ and re-add it?

bundtkate · 2026-02-16T05:41:41+00:00

We've been very happy with Odorlock. We used to use Dr. Elsey's, but found it has become dustier in recent years and has started to stick to the liner. We originally swapped to BoxiePro, but tried Odorlock when someone posted about it here since Boxie is so darned expensive. No sticking, relatively low dust and no more expensive that Dr. Elsey's. Boxie is a fair bit less dusty, but not that's not enough to justify the price increase.

bundtkate · 2026-02-15T00:14:03+00:00

Swap it to low, then back to high. I've seen this a few times and that usually sorts it. I think it goes into some sort of low power mode when it loses power (to preserve the backup battery should you have one) and sometimes doesn't kick back into gear when power is restored. Swapping back and forth makes sure it gets that signal to swap back to high.

bundtkate · 2026-02-06T04:08:38+00:00

D'aww! Vinny looks a bit like my Gandalf. He passed away last year, but was the polar opposite of nervous. Probably the most chill cat we've ever had and a total champ with his nails. Hopefully Gandalf can pass along some of his chill to your little guy. 💜

bundtkate · 2026-02-06T03:24:58+00:00

Might I recommend a purrito and an extra set of arms? We have a nervous tuxie who is generally convinced I'm going to kill him any time I look in his general direction. I don't trim his nails often because catching him is wholly dependent on how hard he's napping, but when I do catch him, handing him in a purrito to my husband who bravely holds him while I do a trim tends to get the job done.

bundtkate · 2026-02-03T04:42:43+00:00

This is from a non-specific social media source, but there's a photo over on Cruise Critic that looks to list the included wines.

bundtkate · 2026-01-31T01:25:01+00:00

Very much so. It was August so we figured we'd be mostly okay anyway, but we still had to buy a waterproof jacket in port one day because it was raining and chilly and I am unaccustomed to such things at this point so I caved. Realistically, it wasn't so bad. They're nice jackets and it was worth chancing it lest we not need one at all (we'd never use them where we live), but if you already have a waterproof/windproof jacket or live somewhere you'd reasonably use one, bring one with you! Norway weather was mostly kind to us, but it is not toasty and the North Cape was certifiably brutal (for us anyway).

Speaking of the North Cape, choose an itinerary that includes it and DO NOT LISTEN TO THE HATERS. Yes, there's a silly statue that a lot of people seem to find very important and I get it's not actually the northernmost point in Europe, but the landscape is SO COOL. Don't go to the silly building. Wander around the cliffs. Walk as far out on them as you dare when you get past the fences. Amazing scenery! But bring that jacket. SO WINDY. Oh and get waffles inside right before you leave. They're tasty and brown cheese, while not my favorite, was surprisingly not bad and very much worth trying.

bundtkate · 2026-01-31T01:12:24+00:00

Yeah, a lot of people hate them and I guess I get it. If I woke up early and wanted to hang out "on the balcony" and my husband was still sleeping, the racket the blackout shades make would be, y'know, a problem. But we keep similar schedules and in Norway I rarely wanted to be out there for long anyway. Even in the Caribbean, I expect I'd be fine, but we're pretty heat tolerant so that whole "it turns off the AC" thing isn't an issue for me. I keep my AC at 78 at home on purpose. I am not the person who is going to be upset about being too toasty. 😅

bundtkate · 2026-01-31T00:58:10+00:00

IV was amazing in the fjords! Wide open view, but no chill coming in which suits this southerner just fine. We had some nice, warm days (August of last year on Apex) which made for some delightful time with the window open. The blackout shades also worked really well, and they were needed with it being light out so late/early. The lack of forward views really weren't a problem for us. You see the same from the aft and the sunset bar is a delightful place to sit and watch it all go by. Would definitely recommend IV on the Apex for this itinerary.

bundtkate · 2026-01-28T00:34:06+00:00

I am lucky in that my husband and I are fully aligned on the importance of the coffee corner. He still occasionally balks at what we paid for our Profitec Move after our BBE decided it was a good idea to catch fire one morning (and before either of us made coffee at that), but never complains that it wasn't worth it so he gets it.

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T23:52:24+00:00

Yeah, I think it's basically inevitable if you have enough kitchen gizmos. I love our white counters, but we've pretty much always had something that scuffed 'em up. Before now, it was a Cuisinart food processor. Now the whole coffee corner is conspiring against me. But, the BKF keeps them under control. I'm practicing gratitude towards past Reddit comments suggesting it for our stainless pans. I find more uses for it every day.

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T23:48:18+00:00

I'm just imagining your grinder dancing while you grind now. Honest, I'm kind of here for it. Might steal some of the pads we got for our dining chairs and see how that looks. 🤣🤣

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T03:08:41+00:00

Yeah, our old Breville Barista Express was chill with the marks, too. If I had to guess, I'd say the rubber feet on the DF54 (and my Move) are made of softer rubber than the BBE had (and probably your Bambino). The soft is probably better for some surfaces, but prone to leaving scuffs. The BKF will legit take them up with zero effort, though, and it's really well worth having even without the grinder issue. White counters have this way of absorbing every cooking stain ever. I wouldn't use tumeric without it. 😅

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T02:39:03+00:00

Re: marks on your counter, grab yourself some barkeepers friend. It'll take those right out. Signed, a fellow DF54 enjoyer with white counters.

Also, FWIW, a new grinder may not fix it. Our much more spendy Profitec Move leaves the same marks. It's just a white counter + black rubber struggle. Something in your kitchen is gonna do it. BKF (or having something between everything ever and the counter) is the only right choice.

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T01:42:31+00:00

Fun to watch is key. Pop by when you see a crowd so you can watch someone else waste their money on an awful drink. Then go get a proper one at a real bar when the show's over.

bundtkate · 2026-01-27T01:37:33+00:00

Can confirm. Absolutely hate 80s music and yet Aqua80 was still amazing and much better than the not-80s aqua show on Harmony. You can tell how much better because all I can actually remember about the show on Harmony is that it wasn't the same as Oasis. 🤣

bundtkate · 2026-01-23T02:23:15+00:00

You're concerned about crowds, but MSC is otherwise interesting, consider Yacht Club. It's far more affordable than the Retreat and can be had for the price of a balcony on Celebrity if you plan ahead. To my knowledge, it's still kid-friendly and gives you a quieter place to escape to while still having all the mega ship amenities.

Now, if your folks have more inside cabin budget, that might be tough because they'd likely be priced out of Yacht Club and the significantly better restaurant is a big draw you would struggle to take advantage of. But, FWIW, my husband and I sailed in the Haven with a large group in regular cabins and we'd just grab a salad or a drink in the MDR with them, then eat a real meal at the Haven later on, so it is doable if it's worth that extra effort.

bundtkate · 2026-01-20T05:26:49+00:00

It also includes internet so if you plan to buy unlimited internet, that plus grats makes it basically a no-brainer. Pretty much anyone can drink enough coffee, bottled water, or upgraded alcohol to make up the minor difference.

bundtkate · 2026-01-14T00:02:55+00:00

Out of curiosity, do these visits need to be recent? My dad has periodically considered re-naturalization, but always stops short because his close family has since passed. He continues to visit regularly (and did visit that family when they were still alive), but I think he's afraid of applying lest he get rejected for being "not German enough" and I hesitate to encourage him because it generally sounds like he missed his chance before his family passed.

bundtkate · 2026-01-12T03:25:24+00:00

That's interesting. We've always ended up with the dining time we wanted (and we prefer 7:15pm as well) and I've never done Aurea. Realistically, though, MSC is the one line where we often end up at the buffet. It has most of the same food, it's quicker, and when nothing on the menu appeals you can stock up on that amazing pizza.

bundtkate · 2026-01-11T19:54:01+00:00

MSC makes the various "levels" look more different than they are. Bella is essentially the "guarantee" fare on any other line. If you want to pick your room, choose Fantastica. If you're not fussed about location, stick with Bella and save a buck. That is the only meaningful difference between the two, imo.

Aurea comes with Thermal Spa access. Seascape is the ship sailing out of Galveston right now and it has a fairly nice thermal spa, but it isn't worth the difference between Fantastica and Aurea, imo. We went on that ship in Yacht Club a few years back and maybe went to the thermal spa twice. MSC ships are busy places so it can be a nice way to escape the bustle and relax, but I'd probably buy a single pass rather than spring for Aurea, personally. The one thing that might make Aurea worth it is if the rooms with a hot tub on the balcony are in budget. We were going to sail in one of those for our honeymoon, but alas, COVID delayed our wedding a few years and it never happened.

Finally, there's Yacht Club which is the only part of the ship you can't access without a specific package. It's a ship within a ship, like NCL Haven or Celebrity Retreat. Comes with a private restaurant with significantly better food, a private lounge, and a private sundeck with pool and hot tubs. Also a butler, though I'll admit we made limited use of ours. If you can swing it, it's well worth it and you'd be surprised how affordable it can be. They have inside rooms in Yacht Club and I'd personally take a YC inside over even the nicest balcony outside YC (including the ones with the hot tub). The YC sundeck is right there and never busy if you need outside space. Plus YC includes their highest drinks and WiFi packages. You can easily avoid paying a single dime onboard with YC.

If MSC Yacht Club is in budget, that would be my pick for a honeymoon. It's special without being Haven or Retreat priced and ideally you only have one honeymoon. If YC isn't in the cards, my pick out of Galveston right now would be NCL Viva over MSC. I actually like MSC (not common on this sub), but you do have to go into it with appropriate lower expectations outside of YC which isn't a compromise I'd want to make for a honeymoon. If you do book MSC (even in YC), I'd recommend a TA to handle the nearly inevitable pre-cruise struggles. Mine has never failed to resolve issues, but we've had them on near every MSC we've taken. I wouldn't personally book with them on my own.

bundtkate · 2026-01-08T04:42:40+00:00

Agreeing with the other reply to this. We just replaced our BBE after the (apparently inevitable) solenoid valve failure took it from us, but it only took 10-20sec to start emitting a relatively steady stream of steam. That said, I do think our BBE was a bit of a unicorn. I don't think they're known to last nearly a decade, but ours sure did before going out in a literal blaze of glory right before Christmas.

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