olemissreb

On 3/19/2024 at 3:47 PM, Nebr.cruiser said:

So far we are too cheap to use porters!!!  

If you ever have a cruise that ends in Boston, I HIGHLY recommend using a porter. Totally worth the few $$ in tip. My mom and used one and he not only helped with the luggage, but (here's the worth it part) also was able to bypass the loooooooooong line of people waiting for cabs/ubers and got us into a cab right away to take us to the airport. Saved us probably 30 minutes of standing in line which would have been difficult for my mom who was 82 at the time.

On 3/11/2024 at 9:46 PM, BirdTravels said:

. Most AT&T plans include free Canada. 

I don't believe this is true at all with AT&T. In looking at theit website it appears that Canada is not on any plan...at least not back in 2019. I know I had to add the Intetnational Day Pass at $10/day (which is still pretty cheap) in order to be able to access my Google Maps so I could get directions in Halifax. 

I'm probably the minority here...I love cruising because someone cooks, cleans, and serves me for a week! I do look at itinerary and love getting a taste of new places. I have my preferred cruise line, but I'm not married to them. Trying a new cruiseline this next cruise because there will be 2 'virgin cruisers" with us and I wanted to make sure there was enough to keep them busy so they'll eventually fall in love with cruising like my sister and I.

Basically, it's mostly about relaxing for a week.

What bar is the Blantons in? We are on this cruise March '25. My BF is a Blantons drinker and I did upgrade us to the FAS+ so I'm happy to hear it's covered. 

Was traffic horrible getting to the pier? Doesn't sound like it was, but just wondering if you caught a "window".

2 hours ago, jimsig said:

I know people who spray paint their initials on both sides of their luggage with safety orange. Makes them stick right out.   

I haven't flown anywhere or cruised since 2019, but I think I'm going to get some stickers to put on my luggage for my trip to Key West next month and my 2025 cruise.

3 hours ago, carma7007 said:

We have found that including all the years that were at the school with us gets us a better result for attendance. So we will do that again.  Maybe try that.  Many times this helps siblings attend together. 

We may try again one day, but with a couple classes above and below us. We did invite the class immediately after our to join us at our 40th reunion and we had a few show up. It was so much fun.

Not sure where you're from, but my philosophy for the Caribbean is to always start from the warmest port possible.  It's the reason my next cruise starts in San Juan. Plus my sister and her boyfriend will much enjoy getting somewhere warm after a Wisconsin winter.

My high school class tried to do this for our 35th reunion. Only 2 people ended up actually cruising...not sure how many actually booked and then couldn't go (I know of 2 for sure). 

Someone local (we sailed from NOLA) was able to meet with a travel agent and get all the info so she could post it on our class FB page. It was only a 4 day cruise to Cozumel and back.

Hope your reunion turns out much better than mine did.

Thank you @luv_crusing. This sounds great. How long was the excursion? Did I read correctly that you booked this thru the cruiseline? If so, which cruiseline? Still thinking this could be fun for my boyfriend and I.

The advantages of living in the town of my college alma mater...baseball!  Some parks have the Tool Race (Atlanta), President Race (DC) or Sausage Race (Milwaukee)...we have the Solo Cup Race and Yellow has never won.

Thanks for your review! I'm actually excited about getting on the Viva next year. 

Did you do NCL excursions? Or did you do your own? I'm having trouble figuring out what to do in Tortola and St. Lucia and looking for ideas.

Is the Southern Caribbean you are considering on the Norwegian Viva? I'll be sailing on the Viva next March (52 weeks from today). I love sailing out of San Juan...March '25  will be my 3rd time sailing from there and the itinerary has 4 islands I haven't visited yet.

We've got a regular balcony room because I can't sail in anything less. 😁

It will be my first time on NCL. I've sailed on the Connie (my first Southern Caribbean actually) and I loved Celebrity. We were originally booked to be on the Summit till Celebrity cancelled that itinerary. Since we really liked the idea of sailing from San Juan, we switched to Viva.  Yes, itinerary is most important to me, but you may decide differently.

Down to 365!

If you look at my signature, you can see that I regularly go a year or more without cruising. I'll be back on a ship in March '25 and can't wait.  Much as I love cruising, I also like variety so this year is a land based vacay in Key West. I haven't been there before, so I'm looking forward to it (almost as much as the cruise).

9 hours ago, Miss Ellsworth said:

I hit the buffet in the evening and make up a cheese and fruit plate (and sometimes bread) to take back to my cabin. I also make sure that I always have a bottle of wine in my cabin. In the evening, I love to sit on my balcony with a glass of wine and fruit and cheese plate

 

I also have a tradition that I call Prosecco Out, Prosecco In. I have a glass of prosecco as we are leaving the pier on Embarkation Day, and then another glass of prosecco as we are pulling up to the final pier of the cruise - no matter how early that is

LOVE the fruit and cheese plate idea. I'll need to bring wine from the bar though and my BF can bring his beer or bourbon from the bar too. I do like to have some champagne as I board the ship, but now I think I'll have to have some as I stand on my balcony and cry as we pull away from our last port on our last night (I love sleep too much to drink it as we arrive back in San Juan. 😁).

4 hours ago, ChrysFox said:

Try it fried.  Little crispy bites.  I love fried okra, but can barely tolerate it in any other form.

I was like you (and it took a miracle just to get me to try it fried and I grew up outside NOLA!!!), then a co-worker of mine brought in homemade pickled okra. YUMOH!

2 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Typically our family/friend groups will split among two or three different excursions.  Once folks start sharing their preferences, the groups form up pretty fast.  Like you say, each doing their own excursion booking is so much easier.  

It worked out great for us. My inlaws did cruise excursions every port day (except St. Thomas and they went sailing with us...I did give them the option in the other ports too, but they did their own thing) and when they hears about our excursions, they'd wished they'd gone with us. 😂

I, too, would suggest RCL.  I would also suggest that each different family do their own excursions. Don't try to plan something for everyone. I did this when I cruised with my kids and now ex and his parents. 4 of us did one thing and his parents did soemthing else. Then we would meet up together for dinner and discuss our day. My boys were 10 and 14 (24 and 28 now) at the time and they still remember their first cruise ever with their grandparents.

Just now, RocketMan275 said:

I'm about two out of three.  Almost always Caribbean cruises.   Those that didn't result in a price drop, booking early saved a ton of money on price increases.  For example, my Jan 25 cruise is up about 35%

I think my March '25 cruise is up double digit % since I booked. I truly haven't checked in a while. That cruise is Southern Caribbean out of Puerto Rico.  I just love sailing from PR...it'll be my 3rd time doing that. Cruise is a different port every day that includes 4 that I haven't been to yet.

38 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Good for you. Much better paying off early than charging it to a credit card at 20% interest.  Just be sure and watch for price drops.

Always looking for price drops. Sadly I've never gotten one. Guess the times and itineraries I pick are just too popular. 😀

Just because it's hard as heck to find...and I actually got it on sale. 😂

12 hours ago, LloydJr said:

You don't have to pay for any of that until 120 days out (drink and dining gratuities) or when you are on the ship (excursions and DSC).  Sure, if there is a "must do" excursion, go ahead and book that early.  Otherwise, why let NCL have your money interest free?  T-bills are paying over 5% now.

I'm disciplined enough to make monthly payments, but not disciplined enough to keep myself from spending it if it's there.

8 hours ago, david_sobe said:

Guess what?  Only 2 more years till my next NCL cruise on the Aqua.  God willing I will boarding today February 22, 2026!  Please feel to check back for my semi-live report.  Will I be able to find cookies or hash browns?
Stay tuned!

 

Has anyone ever booked a cruise this far out?

My Alaska cruise was booked the day the itineraries were released which was probably close to 2 years out.

I booked my Viva cruise this past August for March '25. I tend to book my cruises way far out so I can pay it off over time as well as the drink packages, tips, and excursions.

Have had some really great sunsets lately.

On my first cruise, I got a little queasy and so took some dramamine, but it knocked me out. Since I didn't want to sleep thru my cruise, I got the wrist bands and they helped.  I've since tried bonine and even though it's "non-drowsy", I still got sleepy so...I read somewhere (probably here on CC) to start taking dramamine or bonine at night a few nights before you sail. It helps me sleep well and it's already in my system by the time I board the ship. I keep taking it the whole time I'm on board, but again only at night.

As for the anxiety, talk to your doctor. He/she should be able to help you with either medications or other mental exercises that you can use. I pray you find the answers that will work best for you to work thru your anxieties.