luv2swimwdolphins

That they do! My husband is mid 50s. I’m mid 40s. We both feel the deep pangs of nostalgia and have stopped cruising the bigger ships. I never heard of the fish food golf balls! Thx for sharing! 

Great, I was worrying about the recent outbreaks of Noro in the Relection and Solstice, we are in the March 18 sailing.

That’s great. Just off breakaway ... sadly .. it’s seen better days .. looks and feels scruffy. Needs a hose down. Glad other lines are working hard and reaping the rewards

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How sad! But agreed, Nachos get the job done! Always one night or afternoon, you need some pub food............thanks for info....I was tasked to find out for our upcoming cruise LOL

March 27 Gem 11 day updated. Still cant book excursions..or at least when I checked a few days ago.

I was going to post this very question and found this post. It seems hit or miss or depends if you are bar or seated. (O'sheehan's) Anyone else experience this? This happened to me on Breakaway. Mozzarella Sticks are a guilty cruise pleasure :D

We use a parking lot/deck a few blocks away. Much less expensive and more flexible for what you are describing. For our 10 day cruise we paid 230. And since its indoors no snow or ice removal!! DH usually drops me off. I get luggage settled and he meets me back at check in. Since you're going in May weather won't be an issue.

Thats a good way of putting it! At home they get you out of the place in 45 minutes at the most :eek:

I can spend 2 hours getting a massage, but for me a mani/pedi (as much as I love the foot rub) is grooming. I don't want to spend that kind of time away from the action! LOL

i have thick short hair, the dryer was ok, not as hot as mine. I kind of complained to myself the whole time. But i won't pack mine because i need room for shoes. :)

love it! :d

I also have very thick hair. The hair dryers on the Gem are fine! It is a normal hand held dryer. Not one of those that look like a vacuum!

Well I got the view. And they rubbed your legs and hands/arms with those smooth hot rocks. They also used a lotion that felt warm then one that felt cold (hense the name fire and ice mani/pedi lol) It took almost 2hrs! I was itching to go and DO!:D

Oh! So it is a main event rather than pit stop! Something to think about!

I did see shellac on Gem-and yes the manicure was 50 and the pedi 80 and then service charge or gratuity-whatever they call it so round number 140. I had a 150 credit from the casino. I liked it better when they gave you a one day access for 2.

Me as well. I have the 150 credit, but was hoping to use it for a facial and not my normal grooming. LOL! As for many of us, my work schedule has been crazy so I am off schedule/cycle for my normal pre cruise "beautification"

But one other point of info, I once had to sneak in a hair appt on Breakaway..let's just say I needed a "touch up" The stylist did a wonderful job and DH actually said, "wow, that looks good" I do not remember the price but I remember not being shocked or upset. However, these mani prices are quite exorbitant for a regular, non-spa, mani! If they served a glass a bubbly plus the view.............;)

RE the spa credit for a day/week pass. Goodness I miss that! But I digress. Thanks again everyone. I greatly appreciate the feedback! :D

This can be ship by ship decision. Breakaway? By balcony, no contest! On the Epic, due to layout of the bathrooms (great to some, horrific to others) I do not think it matters much. IMHO

A manicure and pedicure-regular polish-cost me around 140 bucks. I only did it because I had a credit and there was nothing else I wanted! At home I get a mani-pedi for $19.99!

I have a salty retort but will behave in case children are reading! ;) Maybe I better back a travel bottle of remover, cotton balls (soak, soak, soak!)and some nail polish! :eek:

Oh my!! But good to know. Thank you!!

I will be traveling on the Gem and may need a mani on board. (Scheduling is crazy and will be mid mani schedule for my trip) Does the spa have gel polish?

I know I know ..... Such problems!!!! [emoji15]

My DH and I sail next month on the Jade. We are lucky enough to have a suite and are looking forward to it. We have a cruise routine that we follow regardless of line and as it gets closer I spend time every day dreaming about it. :)

 

I thought it might be a fun thread to read about each other's routines. I've learned a lot from you all so I will definitely not be surprised if there are things that make me go, "Why didn't we think of that?!"

 

There are three definites to our routine.

 

1. This one we hate, but do anyway. We get up and get to the gym as soon as it opens in the morning for five out of the seven days. We do this to keep a routine so it's not so hard when we get home. We also want to get it over with so we have the entire day ahead of us, and it makes us feel a little better about the extra calories we're sure to take in during the week! By day three we HATE it because we also stay up late having fun, but we push through it knowing the rest of the day will be relaxing.

 

2. On warm sea days after breakfast we find two loungers and commence to reading, people watching, sipping, dipping, and napping. We probably cycle through that three or four time before lunch.

 

3. On port days we enjoy room service breakfast and dinner. Room service breakfast makes preparing for excursions easier for us, and after running around all day, we love a few dinners in private to decompress and prepare for the fun evenings.

 

I hope you'll share your routines!!!

I love # 3! That sounds so romantic, cozy, special and sweet! I may have borrow that idea!

2 of ours? For at least 2 nights we are dressed and ready for our night out, before sunset and enjoy wine on our balcony while we watch the sun set. (and saying a silent thank you that we get to witness such wonder in such a setting)

WE TAKE THE STAIRS-Our rule? You eat, you walk! Also, realizing someday we may not be able to take the stairs, so lets take them while we can and leave the elevators for those that cannot.

It is still very early in Jan, but are there any prelim reports? I am actually glad to see it go..............too much noise and a bit...IMHO tacky!! There must be better kid program options. But then again I do not cruise w little ones, so before I get bashed, I respect those that disagree! I am just looking for info.

Congratulations! Enjoy! Binoculars are a good bet. It is wonderful to have morning coffee and look for dolphins. Also, a bring a good book! After the madness of a mega ship, sometimes it is nice to sit on your own balcony and just decompress with a book. After 30-60min, you're ready to start whopping it up again!

Best part of balcony? Sunsets and sunrises. Magical. Have a fabulous cruise!

It is impossible to clearly define but we know it when we see it. You are the complete opposite of a chair hog. You're a concerned parent having fun w their kids. Placing things on a deck chair is not hogging a row of seats at 6am with no intention to return to until 2. IMHO

ENJOY YOUR NEXT CRUISE! [emoji51]

No worries at all! I agree w you. You're husband is a gentleman.

I was on the Allure last year, and went over to get some man's footstool when he left at 11:30. My assumption was he was going to lunch. He arrived back in 5 minutes, and before I had a chance to give it back to him the guy sitting next to him starting badmouthing me for taking it.

 

The two of them sat there and talked to each other about me in LOUD voices, insulting me horribly. Talk about passive-aggressive behavior.

 

I told my husband about it when he arrived, feeling kinda stuck in the situation. Give the stool back (which I was going to do, anyway), and cause an even bigger problem, or just sit there, or leave?

 

My husband went over and quietly, very calmly, asked the man if he had something he wanted to say to me. The guy kept insulting me to my husband! Never looked at me.

 

My husband, still quiet and calm, called him an a-hole and sat down. I was afraid of the guy!

 

Within 10 minutes after he came back and started in about me, the deckhands came by and put footstool out for ALL the chairs!!!

 

When I left to go to the cabin to get something, the man walked over and said, "they say the bigger man is the one to apologize", and apologizes to my husband for the things he said about ME. My husband quietly said, "you need to say this to my wife, not me". The guy never did.

I had a physical reaction to this post...as if I was knocked in the stomach. What an ugly experience. I had a similar one during a land vacation and I didn't know the "rules" of the beach chairs. The man actually made me cry...long story short I gave him his chair back and said "I was raised better than that and he could have his chair" Guy was mortified and turned shades of red as I was trying not to breakdown. (He was about 60 and I was about 30) Anyway...sounds like you got stuck . This goes beyond chair hogs, lets all treat each other w respect and realize "stuff" happens and we can make accommodations for innocent faux pas

PS I am NO CRY BABY. This guy was an old bully.

I stay away from the pools, too many kids running around making a racket. No offense meant parents, just a personal choice. I head to an upper sun deck. I miss the bar, but if I can't snag a vibe pass it's the the next best choice. I've dumped people's stuff on the floor, but I've had a few shouting matches because of it and it's just not worth the drama. Let the hogs stick together and snort, they smell anyway...[emoji6]

All my posts of have been relatively mild mannered, but this topic sends me to the moon. DH and I do the same thing. We too avoid the pool during sea days and sit on the upper decks. I can still walk the steps to the pool and why take seats that young parents could really use? (why they let their kids swim without assistance is another thread and one that might get me kicked off CC..but I digress) I can live without another Sexy Legs Contest (enough already!) There's a special room in cruise heck for chair hogs. The sense of entitlement is enough to make my toes curl. And I did see some questions.."I go get suntan lotion and you will dump my stuff?" Absolutely NOT. Chair hogs are easy to spot from those simply running to bar, buffet, bathroom or pool. Chair hogs place only towels and hold chairs on a string of chairs. No sign of life for hours. After their massages, meals, sleeping late, nursing their hangover, etc etc, they stroll in as if they only emit the odor of roses and have a meltdown that that their "stuff is gone"..........Oh the element of truth to the stereotype is so true, it can make you weep.

I guess that depends on how you define low class. For example, I define someone who makes a statement such as yours to be low class. Hope that helps!

I was waiting for that one.............................Anyone want to discuss food again?:rolleyes:

I really don't think asking people to quantify generic statements is too much.

 

From your posts you seem to have a much more behind the scenes look than many here. I will have to take you at your word since I have no idea how you know what you know.

 

More interesting = subjective

Better ingredients = objective

 

So you've got the right idea.

Food is subjective...........but in layman's terms.....there is catering hall quality..(chicken marsala w a sauce that was clearly extended w cornstarch and a side of broccoli florets) More gourmand than gourmet! Then there is wonderful selection of offerings that may be standards, but are cooked without an abundance of salt, extenders and msg.

On my last cruise on the breakaway..Thanksgiving........ I had the penne in the pumpkin cream sauce. Excellent. (and I am not the biggest fan of those creme sauces, but tried it) It truly was excellent..pasta cooked al dente, sauce neither too heavy or too light. Not salty, flavors stood out on their own. For those that say YUCK, DH had the roasted chicken and that was excellent.........Chicken clearly had been seasoned perfectly, roasted to perfection (skin crunchy, meat tender and juicy)................It just wasn't always that good before..........

Anyway, this is close to off topic! :eek:

I agree with you. NCL is and has always been an affordable family -friendly cruiseline. Mr. Del Rio may think that he can transform it into another Oceania or X, but I like NCL just the way it is.

 

Yes, he should upgrade and improve the older ships, keep up with maintenance and safety issues on all ships, keep crew staffing to a level where they are not feeling stressed out. If the UBP, is causing slower delivery times, hire more bartenders and servers to keep up with the higher demand.

I do stand by some of my earlier posts such as I like the improved food, I am ok w SOME of the changes. They fit my demographic (40s/50s..married, empty nesters, we still like to have a good time and enjoy good food and wine)

DH and I cruised on several different lines (before we were married ) and did Celebrity together. Honestly? We LOVED Celebrity......the food, the subtle elegance, the service, the touch of old school cruising with the new approach blended in. Only complaint was the lack of night life (Real nightlife!). NCL has that beat. So, in a perfect world, the changes NCL are making are closer to what we like about Celebrity (yes, not quite close but getting there) but all the fun we love about NCL. (But favor the Jewel class of ships)

It's not for everybody and I sense some real "anger" about it. That is unfortunate.

PS......I fully expect NCL to do what is profitable and align their strategy to what makes sense for the larger corporation. I don't have rose colored glasses on. Right now this works for me.....who knows where they will take it next year! I may have to get back on Celebrity and start the conga line on my own (just kidding)