JimS4210

Hi all,

Searched the forums and could't find an answer. Do they have docking stations that you can plug an iPhone or iPod into, such as an iHome, so that you can listen to some music in your room? Thanks

Jim

JIM_6234 by JimS4210, on Flickr

Success!

49 days here! Seems like it'll never get here... :)

Jim

You definitely can't take bear spray on a plane!

We spent two weeks in Glacier Nat'l Park last summer and didn't use it once. Saw many bears while hiking and just made sure to make a lot of noise to alert them ahead of time that you're in the area. Just yell out "Hey Bear!" and you should be fine!

Don't wear bear bells. Too quiet for a bear to hear...

Jim

Bring me some Amoroso rolls and we'll call it quits;-)

Deal. I'll even throw in a couple TastyKakes and some scrapple...

Jim

Thanks again. And thanks for all the info that you and others provide on the Vancouver thread every day. We'll be spending a few days in Vancouver pre-cruise and you guys have offered up a wealth of information! It's much appreciated by me and many others, I'm sure.

Jim

JimS4210 - go look at this page. Put in arriving from US, departing to Canada and your airline(s), and it will tell you exactly what you need to do and where you need to go. Depending which airlines you may have to change terminals, so the info does vary - but yes, you go to CBSA then baggage claim, then generally put your bags onto another conveyor belt marked for connecting flights (before having to change terminals, so you don't need to take your suitcases on the train)

 

In very-low-hundreds of international flights we've had bags fail to arrive with us twice. Both came on the next flight, in both cases it was only one of our bags, and since they were both on our homeward legs it didn't really matter (if anything it made life easier as someone actually drove our bag to our house for us). Oddly enough both occasions were also the only times we flew BA, so they have a 100% record of screwing up our luggage somehow!

 

All the advice above is spot-on, especially the cross-packing (his & hers in each bag), essentials in carry-on, and checking the tags for final destination. Memorize the airport code, ESPECIALLY if you're flying somewhere with multiple airports (New York & London are especially brutal as it can take 2 hours to get between airports so if a bag goes astray the odds of it making your ongoing flight are basically zero - although with everything being computerized now there's almost no chance of this actually happening any more).

 

We also always ask when dropping bags about having to physically retrieve bags or not for security between connecting flights - even if you're used to how certain countries normally do things, individual airports may have different procedures for logistical reasons.

Thanks for the reply and thanks for that link. Very helpful. The last time I flew to another country from the US I was a teenager (many years ago!) and didn't pay attention to such details. That's what my parents were for!

I didn't realize that I had to retrieve my bags and also didn't realize I had to go through security again. Good thing we have a layover of approx. 90 minutes. I assume that's plenty of time!

Jim

I'm a first time cruiser so I'm the target audience for the OP. My first cruise is in 51 days to Alaska and I found the information in the post and subsequent posts helpful. Granted, a lot of them were common sense but the forum IS "First Time Cruisers". I'm trying to soak up as much info as possible, so keep the advice coming!

I can't imagine anyone having a problem with a post helping other people, regardless of cruising experience, but then again, I'm not normally the type of person who lurks in the weeds waiting to take potshots at others. If the post didn't help you, that's great. Congratulations! Others might feel differently...

Jim

Yes, you clear customs at your 1st Canadian city you land at, then move your bag over to the connection belt...just ensure that the baggage tag has your final destination on it.

Wow! I'm glad I read this thread! I'm flying from Philly >Toronto>Vancouver. I had no idea we had to grab our bags in Toronto. I just assumed (I know!) that our bags would go straight to Vancouver. Stupid question, do we collect them at the normal baggage claim area in Toronto or is there a special area for connecting flights to pick up the bags? Thanks!

Jim

Thanks everyone for the responses. I think we'll wait and take our chances. My life is regimented enough. I don't want to have to figure out where and when I'm going to eat two months ahead of time!

Jim

Oops... Just clicked on vacation summary and got kicked back to the home page.

Jim

Just got in 10 minutes ago after getting booted back to the home page all afternoon.

Jim

Hi all,

We're 54 days away from our cruise on the Sun and I just logged onto My NCL and saw that I can now make reservations at the speciality restaurants. This will be our very first cruise and we're still trying to figure things out. Our vacation style is pretty laid back and we sort of wing it when it comes to certain things, eating being one of them. We've booked our excursions ahead of time but I'm hesitant to book meals ahead of time. What if we find somewhere we want to eat while in port and can't because we have a 7:30 reservation at Le Bistro that we've already paid for?

Is it necessary to book ahead of time or are walkups possible? Also, we'll be in a Penthouse Suite and I heard that the butler or concierge can try to squeeze you into a booked restaurant. Is this true? Thanks in advance!

Jim

59 days till our first cruise to Alaska!

Started the countdown at 285 days... I feel like I've been counting down forever!

Jim

Here's the correct link to the 9076 photos. I was using my tablet before, an am obviously not an expert on it. :o

Those pictures are awesome! We'll be in 9076 this June for our Alaska cruise. Thanks for posting them.

One quick question for you. I realize the weather is unpredictable in Alaska, but were you able to spend much time on the balcony or was it too cool? I can't imagine anything much better than sitting out on that balcony with a coffee or adult beverage and watching the scenery!

Jim

Tipping 1¢ or $1,000,000 does not make someone either better or worse than anyone else.

Better or worse? Probably not...

Cheaper? Definitely...

Jim

Just got new passports for my wife and me. Applied at our local post office on March 19th. Got them in the mail exactly 14 days later, April 1st. Standard processing time, not expedited...

Jim

Jim, have cruised 26 nights in 9076 and will be in 9276 for 15 in Oct. my favorite ship. My favorite suite. Hope you love it too.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, Donna! Our very first cruise...

73 days! Not that i'm counting... :)

Jim

Keep the aft comments coming! We'll be in an aft suite on the Sun (#9076) this June and reading all of these is getting us even more pumped... :)

Jim

Don't worry, they won't get past Philly.

:D

Jim

Thanks for the quick reply!

Jim

I swear I looked but couldn't find an answer...:)

Are there any bands playing live music in any of the bars, lounges etc. on the Sun. My wife and I are big music fans and love to sit and listen to live bands play (we are both musicians and did the circuit many years ago!). Anything from Jazz trios to 80's cover bands, you name it. Just not into the whole DJ Dance club thing...

I also assume they have a Karaoke bar.

We'll be on an Alaskan cruise if that makes any difference. Thanks!

Jim

I'm interested in this also since we'll be in 9076 in June. I did read online that they only have the regular coffee makers since the Lavazza machines are too big and there's nowhere to put them.

Jim

I thought this thread was about real beer.

 

- signed, a beer snob :)

 

Here's what they had on our Alaska cruise. Check the 4th bottle on the left

 

That picture needs a nice IPA in it. Say, a Dogfish Head 60 Minute or maybe a Lagunitas Lil Sumpin' Sumpin'...

Now we're talking beer! :D

Jim

If they are open and if pricing isn't a killer one of the corner aft suites on the Sun would be perfect for you..... our very first NCL cruise was in 9076. Here is a youtube video showing many of the Sun suites. At 3:24 into the video the suite shown is set up same as 9076 - - separate bedroom with balcony entrance and also balcony entrance from the living room. Hmm not sure if all of the stern corners have the separate bedroom so you'd want to research via google search or asking here on CC. Wonderful balcony that holds lots of people :)

 

 

Here's photo of just part of the balcony with a few of our friends

 

 

k

Looks like it'll be plenty of room for the two of us... :)

Jim