tsahall01

Some blaring facts or nonfacts. Who was the tour operator?? Why weren't they mentioned in the article?? Did the tour operater try contacting the ship when they knew they were late?? If not, why?? I find it odd that only 2 people missed the ship if they were on an independent tour, especially on a bus!! I use a LOT of independent tours. They all guarantee on time arrival back to the ship, but we all know things happen. The tour operaters that I use also say that they would get us to the next port at no charge to us (Viator, Spain Day Tours, Get your Guide, Italy Tours, EU all have this guarantee). No tour operator wants to be known as the one that doesn't get you back on time and if they don't, get you to the next port--that's why the tour operator should be named! Another point is why didn't the family know earlier that their elderly parents were not on board yet???? I would have been in panic mode trying to reach them or the tour operator. Trying to garner sympathy for being elderly and without medicines and hearing aid batteries. That just doesn't fly--how can they be responsible, seasoned travelers and not bring these along. I never go anywhere (including the grocery store!) without backup hearing aid batteries--you never know when you might need one. I also would not let elderly parents on a tour in a foreign country (ANY foreign country) by themselves--again, anything can happen and they might not know how to respond or act in that situation (stroke, heart attack, fall, etc). Sorry--this is all on them and not NCL. You have to be responsible and a responsible traveler--the cruise does not revolve around you.

Excited to be following along. Just might do my first Carnival cruise next year! We'll see! It will definitely involve the Canadians coming with me!

It was mid afternoon at the snack table by the cashiers. In the morning they had pastries

I was walking through the casino yesterday (on the Epic as well)—there were cookies available there!!

Did you name the pager Bob?

Out of interest, how much are the VIP tours? Does the price vary with the time of year (summer, holidays)? Thanks, Susan

I'm on the Epic as well!! Looks like it will be full, but again, lots of solo's.

OMG!! I saw the picture of the cave of hands and thought to myself--That's a creepy bedding set, I certainly wouldn't sleep in it!! Then I realized it was the picture of the cave! LOL!! All the pictures are great, BTW. Haven't been to Antarctica, but did the cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago on HAL--great cruise and we had perfect weather, so we made all the ports, including the Falkland Islands. The cruise around the cape was beautiful and very calm. The captain got as close as he could so we could see the memorial quite well!

The Gosling's Rum Tasting Sunset Tour goes right out of King's Wharf. I googled it and Carnival does do a shore excursion for it

The sunset cruise done by Goslings Rum is really good--I always booked it through NCL, but I'm sure you can book it through Carnival or independently. Free flowing rum and a great tour and introduction to the great Goslings Rums!

Not really like, but more like oh no! You need a hug!! Hope the rest of the travels go well--at least you are returning from a cruise and not trying to race to board a cruise!!

Great Brewery! But if you continue just down the street you are on, there is the Tap Haus!! An even better brewery!! BTW did you try the Mango Beer? My all time favorite! As I was taking some friends to the Airport today, I saw the Epic pulling out of Crown Bay. I will be on the Epic TA in April--looking forward to some good times with my sister!

I just hit the part about @sunsetsoon review. Of course, I had to go there. I ended the evening sobbing. My father was from Okmulgee, Oklahoma where Mary was born. He was born a few years before, but most likely, my family knew her family! My grandfather had a grocery store there and had a haberdashery with his brother. Small world indeed! Jamman sorry to hijack your review for a bit!

You should try for every continent! My sister and I had a competition to see who could do it first. We were tied in 2017 with one continent to go--so we did a Buenos Aires to Santiago cruise--we counted going around the Cape as close enough to Antartica!

Long time lurker here!! I had to jump in to say that there is NO sales taxes while in port in St Thomas. In fact, there is NO sales taxes ever as St Thomas does not have sales tax. I do have to say that I really enjoyed your review. I got hooked on Sid's reviews and meandered over here to see his Carnival review. Have never sailed on Carnival, but it looks like fun. I have since read his entire review and Megan's review. I then hopped over to the Tribe section on CC and have started to read the first Tribe post--yes, the one started in 2019. I am now up to page 383 of the post--I have laughed, cried, and am totally hooked. I read 100 pages yesterday (it was a VERY rainy day in St Thomas yesterday!) I have really enjoyed following along the antics and heartbreaks. Glad to see that so many of the posters are still crusing and survied the mess of Covid. As I am reading and hearing about their future plans and cruises, I felt like shouting IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT WAS REALLY IN STORE FOR 2020! I hope that Deedle has continued--I haven't seen any recent posts by her. I am getting ready for my sister's cruise from Port Canaveral to Civitavecchia in April. I really love trans Atlantic cruises and those are usually what I do. Love sea days and exploring all what the ships have to offer. I usually do a spring cruise and then a late fall cruise, but lately I have stepped up my act to 3 cruises a year. Just finished a cruise on MSC--really enjoyed the cruise. I sailed with them back in 2014 and enjoyed it then. Really loved sailing out of Red Hook as my BIL lives in Brooklyn Heights--just a hop, skip and a jump away! Thank you for the information on Disney Springs and River Walk. My sister and I have 3 days in Orlando before our cruise. We are staying at the airport, so we will be using SunTrain and Uber to get around. I would rent a car, but I am old and don't drive after dark--I am also used to driving on St Thomas where the speed limit is 35 and we drive on the other side of the road! I was happy to see a Jaleo in Disney Springs. I always try to go to Jose Andres restaurants whenever I see one! Jose really helped out during the horrible hurricanes of 2017, so I try to return the favor. The food is really good, but pricey. He has a few restaurants at Hudson Yards in Manhattan that are also quite good! I have also been to Cooper's Hawk winery Restaurant, but the location by the Miami Airport. I haven't been to Orlando since I did the Disney Princess half marathon in 2018 and haven't been to Disney Springs since my cruise to South America back in 2017. You and Patti should really look into a TA--fares are usually lower and Europe is awesome!! Barcelona is my favorite, but I keep ending up in Rome!! On your road trip to NOLA, Pigeon Forge is a great stop over--lots of GOOD breweries and Whiskey places!! Not to be missed. Also, the bear restaurant is great--I forget the name, but you can't miss it as there are bears all over the building! LOL. I'm rambling now, so thanks again for a great review and enjoy your upcoming cruises! Cheers, Susan

I just did a status match with MSC. I am also Sapphire with NCL. I got Gold with MSC. Other than a 5% discount on the cruise and a 1 hour Spa pass, not much more comes with Gold status. No free laundry or Specialty dining. I had a wonderful cruise on Meravigilia and wouldn't hesitate to go again--in fact we were so happy with MSC that we booked another cruise with them (MSC Fantasia, r/t Trieste) Their drink package is much better than NCL--specialty coffees, waters, and better wines included! I did pay for their specialty dining . Was not happy with the package--you order off a limited menu, have no choice with which restaurants and the venues did not carry the same wines and liquors that the MDR did, so we had to do an upcharge on the drinks. I would not order the package again unless they change the terms.

It would be nice if all the ships had great TV set-ups like this!! On the Jade, we couldn't even access our account--we had to do it on the app. BTW, did dining have menus for the MDR?

Funny story! My sister, bless her heart (meant in a nice way), is a retired college professor with a PhD. She has little problems with computers, but when it comes to ordering off of a tablet, she is utterly lost!! We were in a Panera with order tablets--I had placed my order, paid for it, and was awaiting my order. My sister was shaking her head, clearing things from the tablet, and having an awful time--I tried to help her, but she gave up and just went to the line for the cashier!! It may be that I have an extensive restaurant background and placing even difficult orders is a no brainer for me! LOL! BTW--my sister is only 5 years older than me!

I like them on my phone as well! Big problem, though, is when they DON'T update properly--sometimes it isn't updated until the afternoon! It would also be nice if they would post the menus in the main dining rooms (not a problem for Haven, but for us steerage people)--it's a PITB to go to the Manhattan room everyday just to look at the menu!

Back in 1985 (gasp!!) when I worked for American Hawaii Cruises in Tahiti, the Pursers on duty (don't even know if they have Pursers now!) loved it when people exchanged money--it was a horrible exchange rate, and they all got a cut of the money over the official exchange rate! Again, don't know if this is still the case, but it certainly was back then!

The Local or O'Sheehans would have regular ice cream available 24 hours. No soft serve, though

If there are 2 NCL ships in port, be sure to get to the ferry EARLY. This last November, we were there over 30 minutes early--we were not able to board as there was no space! A LOT of angry people!! They only had one ferry going from Dockyard to St George and one coming back. This could differ for those sailing to and overnighting in Bermuda in high season, but in November, there was only one round trip offered.

I would go to the Lattitudes desk on the first day of the 3rd B2B and ask. The worst they can say is no. You never know, though. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I would at least ask.

@Hydro ergo--once off the train, you only need to catch the bus--it will take you to the port--you have your bus ticket already included, so you must take the bus--again, it will take you to the port in the loading area of the ship--no need for another bus/taxi Going the other way, you must also take the bus--the taxis cannot be bothered for such a short trip. The bus will take you right to the train station--no other bus or taxi is needed. The buses will run continuously, so you will have lots of options to go--they leave as soon as they fill up!

@Hydro ergo--just the one bus from the port directly to the train! I just did a seach and what @mapleleaves says is true--you learn something new every day! When doing your ticketing, put in Civitavecchia Porto to Roma Termini or wherever you are going--it will include the port shuttle bus so you don't have to buy a separate ticket for the bus! I've always just put in Civitavecchia, did not even know that you could set it up this way. BUT! Going to the ship, I think I would much rather take the taxi directly to the ship instead of the shuttle bus--looks like it would be easier--the cost is exactly the same!