booinla

As a rule of thumb, the NCL 7-day round trip from Seattle calls at Glacier Bay, and the 7-day northbound/southbound trip calls at Hubbard Glacier. (There are exceptions to the rule, no doubt)

I, too, have booked my first HAL cruise. On the Koningsdam. In 2025 (January). And I'm very much looking forward to trying a new-to-me thing as well! I'll be on a San Diego round-trip to Mexico/Sea of Cortez. I guess that means we are in a club now 😉

The last time I played in the casino (aboard Encore, 10/1 sailing) the roulette table had a $10 minimum

Thank you ever so much for your review of Navigator! Being a native Angeleño, I have sailed the four-day Ensenada cruise numerous times, on several different cruise lines, but haven't been aboard a Royal ship since the Viking Serenade days. (That's one for the Way-Back Machine.) But I am booked for Catalina & Ensenada aboard the Navigator Of The Seas for next January, so I came to CC to find a little info. Imagine my delight to discover your fun/fact-filled/entertaining post here. Many thanks. If you'll allow one tiny addendum: I was surprised that you did not include a link to "26 Miles" by the Four Preps (or a cover version) in your discussion of Catalina. It's the iconic song about an iconic Southern California destination, but since the original is from 1958, I think by now it's just about faded away from memory.

First, the ducks. Next, the naked mohawk-baby carrot jockeys. (oh dear, I am really dating myself with that reference, aren't I?)

I've used the NCL transfer to/from SeaTac several times and have been quite happy with it. They've always had plenty of signs out so I could figure out where to go, I never had to wait long for the bus, and it was easily the best price point for a solo cruiser like me.

I did this excursion in Oct of 2022. The escape room was fun and decently entertaining. How it worked was the escape room managers had the excursion participants split up into groups: challenging, less challenging, easy, etc., and we sorted ourselves out fairly quickly. We were given our instructions, and then we went off a-solvin' in our separate rooms. I think there were four total. The "Victoria By Night" part is the tour bus guide pointing out landmarks as you drive to and from the escape room via scenic route. You don't get to get off the bus and walk around due to the time limit.

I was on Norwegian Bliss mid-October of last year. We made all our ports, it was cold and rainy most of the time, and the weather was too rough to board the park rangers on glacier day. We did not sail to the top of Glacier Bay due to fog and ice. Ports are definitely NOT bustling that late in the year (personally I enjoyed the laid-back vibe, but it would not be for everyone, for sure)

I was on one of the CCL Panamax-sized ships, and we got two days' worth of a winter Caribbean storm. Seas eight to ten feet, which isn't huge by most standards, but they cancelled my scuba shore excursion in Roatán, and deployed the barf bags in all the stairwells. I take Bonine for the duration of a cruise and I had no problems. It became a little hard to walk a straight line down the hallway and I would occasionally drift into the wall a bit but I suspect the Cheers! package had at least part of the blame for that 😉🍸

If I am not at the Alchemy bar, I love an Ultimate XO. At Alchemy, I usually start out with the lavender thing they make. Later, I'll ask the bartender, "do you have time to create a new drink for me?" I will answer a few questions from them (what alcohol? bourbon or vodka or rum, based on my mood. Sweet? No. Spicy? Yes, but not over the top) and then I sit back and see what they come up with. I am rarely disappointed. The Alchemy bartenders know me quite well by the second day of the cruise, it's my favorite place to hang out.

I don't quite remember which handle I went by back in those days, booinla or wrrknggrrl but great to see you again, and I am wild with jealousy (happy jealousy!) for your transatlantic cruise, it sounds wonderful. Bon voyage!!

LAX (and all transportation hubs in Los Angeles County) requires masking It is announced every few minutes over the loudspeakers, but unenforced I last flew through there mid-August

Hello, off topic, but are you the Doribeans I knew from online chatrooms many years ago? if yes, {{{big hug}}} if no, sorry, I hope you have a fabulous cruise!