MyTMo777

I love this! I love just exploring how people live wherever we are. We once paid a cab driver in Nassau to just show us the city - and not the tourist places. He was delighted. He took us to his house and showed us the local schools and shops. We loved that!

Super helpful! My DH asked me to ask this. He’s planning to win big apparently 🤣

If you win big at the casino, do you have to pay taxes on it either on the ship to some country (not sure who it would be) or to Canada when you file your taxes here?

I've literally never heard or read that either. Common sense says to keep it down, usually between 7 am and 11 pm. A lot of campgrounds and hotels have those hours posted. But I've never heard of any "quiet hours" on a cruise ship. I've also never had a problem with hallway noise on any cruise I've been on.

That kind of coat sounds really good. I could work with that.

Every time we cruise I face this dilemma: what do I wear to the airport when it’s -30 that isn’t going to take up space in my suitcase for the rest of my trip in +30? And the reverse - nothing like getting off the plane in capris with nothing more than a light sweater for the cab ride home. What do you do?

Yes, you can book ahead, even on the ship, and should if you want to eat during prime time (6-8 pm). However, we have walked in to specialty restaurants numerous times - just walked up and asked if they had availability. We've never waited more than 5 minutes when doing that, but I don't recall what time we did that. We've also used the TVs on board that show which restaurants have availability and used that to help us decide. It just depends on how flexible you are and how much it matters to you to be in a certain restaurant on a certain night at a certain time.

I feel this way too!! And no masks on airlines! Yay! (I live in Canada.)

THERE'S A HASHBROWN SHORTAGE ON NCL?? Well, there goes my cruise....

We booked our flights with NCL for the first time for our upcoming cruise in November because I couldn't beat their prices, especially with the 2nd person flies free promo. We asked to fly in one day early and for a two-day deviation after debarkation. We decided to add the hotels also. They were about $230 each (LA and Panama City). We just got our flights yesterday (I think we're 57 days out?) and we are very pleased. We leave at 11:30 am with one connection that has about an hour layover (we're very familiar with the airport, and we're staying on the same airline, just changing gates a few steps away), and then direct to LA. On the way home we fly through two airports with a 2 or 2.5 hour layover, and again leave at a very reasonable 9:30 am. Very pleased with the arrangements.

I wasn't aware of that. We quite enjoyed that when we were there.

The swimming pool is free. You can purchase admission to the aviary. There are entertainers to watch for free also. You can take a very inexpensive shuttle into Mahahual and enjoy the beach for free also. It is shallow enough for supervised 4 & 5 year olds to enjoy.

Yes, that’s the one.

NCL should update their website 🙂 Thanks.

@BillB48Do you live in Panama near the locks?

The ship description for the Jewel says it has an Atrium Cafe, but there's also a Starbucks drink package available. Photos don't seem to show "Starbucks" across the top of the cafe, but a traveler on the ship referred to it as Starbucks in a post. Anyone know for sure what it is?

Same, YVRteacher. (Hi there from YEG!) There's a really good one on the Bliss leaving February 24. $852 Canadian (sorry, don't know the US pricing) for 15 nights. If I didn't already have a cruise booked in November (for about double the price!) I'd be booking that one.

Thank you. I would expect that to show I my itinerary.

How do you see which ports are tender ports? I feel like I should know this, but it doesn't show on my itinerary summary online. Where else do I look?

I'm a Canadian/US dual citizen. I would be extremely cautious about trying to cross the border knowing you have DUIs. They will very likely turn you away at the border, and if you attempt to enter again via the cruise ship, that is viewed very badly, like you're trying to do an end run around them. Just call the border and ask your questions. You don't have to give your name, but be very upfront about your past and ask about crossing the border. You need to ask the CBSA if you will even be allowed onto the cruise ship, not just allowed off at the Canadian ports. No, the cruise ship will not know your history, but once they share the manifest with the Canadian authorities, the CBSA has the authority to deny boarding to anyone that they deem inadmissible to Canada. You are not even allowed in their waters. So make the call and clear this up before you continue with your cruise plans. You can also apply to the US government to have your past charges expunged (there is probably a better legal term for that). It costs a bit, but it is probably well worth the effort if you want to travel.

Very easy walk of less than 10 minutes.

Apparently I am not active enough on CruiseCritic to have come across your previous writings, @Sthrngary, but I just can't say enough how much I appreciate this post. So very well stated. We each have our own level of cruising happiness, whether that's Haven or an inside cabin. Realistic expectations are what makes a cruise delightful or not. Recognize that just because something happened a certain way on a certain ship doesn't mean that it will always be that way on every cruise - whether that something was negative or positive.

Very interesting to know. I usually bring my own, but on my upcoming cruise I was thinking that I would skip packing body wash & lotion. But now I guess I will bring my own. I don't want to risk my neighbour being the last cabin to get the last tube of body lotion! Although I'm sure the spa would be happy to sell me a few ounces for $100.

Yeah, I’ve been wondering that too. Still like to have a plan in place if we do go there.

We did this same itinerary on the Bliss in November 2018. You'll only fit through the new locks, and @njhorsemangave you everything else you need to know 🙂 Happy to answer any other questions you have.