KKB

HA--I checked out Oak Mall. "high street names"?? It was an unimpressive mall.

3 RCCL cruises since 2010, 9 Celebrity since 2014. Celebrity is our fav line...we find food & service to be a notch above other lines, ESPECIALLY on the new E class ships. (Ascent, Beyond, Apex, Edge) We like RCCL only if it is the larger ships--we found Mariner had few activities each day (could have been a bad cruise director--he was a pompous a**) RCCL does "bells & whistles" better--lots of activities on big ships. (we aren't into them...and they are charging extra for nearly all of them now) RCCL production shows are better--ALTHOUGH, Celebrity Eclass give those a run for their $. Biggest reason we choose Celebrity over RCCL is their all inclusive pricing. By the time we pay for tips, wifi & drinks on RCCL, the cost is higher than Celebrity. And we find Celebrity to be a better product for the price. Now, if kids are involved I'd probably choose RCCL (2/3 were with our kids)--tho they sailed the Celebrity Constellation when they were 15-20 & still had a good time. (they like the same things as us--trivia, gameshows, shows, music, hanging out together playing card/board games)

OMG MY FAV SYDS GROUP EVER!! (OK I've only seen 2 groups--but I really connected with this group since I saw every show for 2 weeks...Hailey (blond) & I still connect)

I know EVERY song all week...tho one Police song escaped me. Probably the only song that wasn't a HIT. I wasn't a huge FM fan...but I LOVE that performance of Rumors & I have learned to appreciate it MUCH more now.

Unfortunately you aren't wrong. Yet, a lot would be lost if they moved it to say the theatre.

There are 4 different shows (last one being Prom...) PLUS the Rumors album (2x in one night) Nope...not a groupie...😎

YES--Valetta, sorry!! (I accidentally posted in Italy forum 1st thinking it was Messina...) Thanks!!

We are looking at a walking food tour in Messina that meets at the New Parliament Building. Are we going to easily be able to get there from the port? Thanks!

Been there! Last summer on the last day of 2 wk cruise I was pretty tired...but thought, hey, been having a good time on a cruise for 2 weeks, not totally surprised! Next day woke with plugged ear & drainage. Wore mask home on plane JUST to be cautious--but I really felt fine. Took test b4 going to see elderly father. YEP COVID. 2nd time--had it Jan 2022. Sheer exhaustion & nasty headache for 5 days, then felt fine. DH never tested positive. This time, I felt FINE--cleaned garage the next day! But a "COVID kit"--tests, meds, etc. goes on every trip now. Feel better! Thx for your great TR!

Looking forward to your report! DH & I will be doing BI on Regal in April. Yeah...I got a glass of "pinot grigio" on my BA flight in May. It was dark yellow...like a chardonnay. Just tasted BAD. (and she poured me a FULL cup). Was sure disappointed!!

I did the HOHO bus in Belfast & LOVED it (luckily gorgeous day in May). Cab was about the same price as the shuttle--I'd recommend that, particularly if more than 1 of u. (DO know where u want to go--a lady ahead of me seemed to thing the cabbie would tell her where she should go; he looked over at me & asked if I knew where I wanted to go & I said yes & he took me instead) THAT BEING said...there were only 2 taxis at the pier when I walked off; luckily not many seemed interested, but were otherwise in shuttle or excursion lines.

OMG I LOVED that smoked peach margarita on the Encore!!

I'm with you on Syd's... LOL my 77YO DM wasn't into big band or Elvis--give her the Beatles or Lourde (NOT kidding: she drove the grandkids to school & let them pick the station)--she had a great range of musical interest! I'd say VERY few big band generation still cruising (esp. NCL)--big band was the 30s-40s. My parents were BORN in the 40s. OK I was born in the 60s & appreciate Beatles but not my #1 music of choice (GIVE ME SYDS!) I would say Elvis' big core is 80+ (again, always some "younger" who appreciate)...but again, not a huge part of NCL's demographic.

It was for us. DH would only dine at sports bars if given a chance...but he has grown to be more adventurous after 20+ cruises. We did Chef's Table on the Miracle in January & both loved it! It was 26 different bites of food--and many of those were more than a bite! My advice--take a bite or 2 of each item. I got 1/3 of the way thru & already felt quite full...that huge delicious popover covered in angel hair Parm did NOT help...should never have eaten the whole damn thing! PACING is key!

North Star has broken glass & will not be working until after dry dock. Honestly, we did it on the Anthem in 2018...not impressed at all. And it was free...I wouldn't even do it again for free, so no big loss. (BTW iFly is AWESOME)

We were in Retreat on the Beyond in April. Having done MDR on Apex & Edge, we found Luminae not particularly better. It was good--but I rather expect it to be a lot better. Enjoying your TR! DD & I are doing Italy & Greece on NCL in 2 weeks so I thought your TR would allow some vicarious living through you to bide our time!

I stand corrected.

"After its success at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Choir of Man was licensed for performance at sea by Norwegian Cruise lines" Not created by NCL.

We Will Rock you on RCCL's Anthem was every bit as good as NCL's Broadway shows. I find Celebrity E-class shows to be darn close as well. (but not the shows on M or S class ships) Choir of Men was not developed by NCL--it is from London's West End (akin to Broadway).

Bartenders & servers were fantastic like other cruises--I befriended several on each cruise. Guest services & officers left something to be desired.

Nope, exactly the same.

Oh rude guests everywhere...there were just A LOT more than usual. it was bizarre. Now, if you have never sailed any other line, you might like it. I had a comped cruise & the rest were DIRT CHEAP--still not cheap enough to go back. And I'm a gal all about value... Celebrity is our fav, followed by Princess--honestly I'd put Carnival right up there too. But our Carnival was 14 day Hawaii cruise--our bartenders said stick w/ the longer cruises on Carnival. Only sailed DCL once--it was great, but at 30% higher price, we didn't see the value. MSC is not a slower pace--it s crowded & loud. Hard to find a quiet corner (I was on smaller ships: Preziosa & Divina). Many wonderful crew members as on other lines. Owner of the salon I went to felt the same as me...but I met a gal on the Europe trip that LOVED MSC.

On both cruises (which was odd--2 very different demographics), I have never encountered more rude passengers in my life! Complete disregard for common courtesy & politeness by far too many--ramming trays in the back of others in the buffet, ignoring lines, physically moving children aside, etc.--and sadly, I saw these things multiple times.

Sailed Carnival for 1st time in Jan to Hawaii & LOVED it (we had sailed Celebrity, Princess, RCCL, NCL & DCL prior). Bartender said longer Carnival cruises r the best. Sailed MSC B2B in Feb (Caribbean) & B2B in May (Europe) & won't be back.

Chef's Table at Le Voyage--you don't know what day until the day before the meal! It was AWESOME--we didn't find it heavy. The Garlic Almond soup over grapes was AMAZING--we all wanted to lick the bowl clean! (I know, they don't SOUND like they go together, but THEY DO) My only "complaint"--this was Day 2. We had Le Voyage reservations Day 3--felt like a tiny let down after Chef's Table. And Luminae seemed basic after that... My recommendation--do Le Voyage 1st (the tasting menu is PRETTY similar to Chef's Table). I would prefer Chef's Table later in the week if it is offered...better to end on a high note!