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cwtravel

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  • Location
    Columbia, Maryland
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Celebrity & Princess though I am liking the Signature Suites on HAL Vista Class ships

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

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  1. Booked on a European Carnival cruise departing Barcelona late May. Daughter just diagnosed with breast cancer. Final payment for cruise due March 1. Not sure what the treatment schedule will be or when it will start but, is cancelling due to daughter starting chemo a covered situation? If we make final we will have vacation protection thru Carnival.
  2. Is there a men’s and woman’s sauna on the Oasis of the Seas? Going over Christmas and I would love a good steam/sweat while onboard. Thanks!
  3. Hi- Going on the Oasis over Christmas. We have family flying into Miami from all over the US and Europe. Does the Oasis have self serve laundry machines onboard? Thanks in advance for the responses!
  4. I think they are “smoking the drink” - think dry ice, not a person smoking. But, I could be wrong.
  5. On the Legend from Baltimore departing Sat. 9/16. I expect to be routed south, would enjoy a stop in Charleston. Something different.
  6. Not sure where you are going but: May 2023 BWI to Athens To- British thru London Heathrow From - Air Canada thru Toronto No issues with either set of flights
  7. Just flew thru CDG in May going to Athens from DC Dulles and based on my experience that is a very tight connection for you and your luggage. Fortunately our return flight was on Delta thru Atlanta. You probably will need to switch terminals and will need to go through immigration (get your passport stamped as you are leaving the Schengen zone) at CDG.
  8. No. depending on the airline ( United and American) you can probably purchase the economy plus type seats (additional leg room). If you want premium economy don’t do the BOGO promo.
  9. I am fortunate to have taken six European cruises with the most recent one being in May on the Norwegian Jade from Athens to Greece/Turkey and Israel. My advice: - Read and understand the terms and conditions for the BOGO air promo to determine if it works for you/your group. If you must fly together with another couple or are looking for business class or premium do not use the BOGO. Living in RI if you open to fly from Boston Logan (where more non-stop flights to Europe depart from) vs. TF Greene (where you will probably be routed through NY/Newark) put Logan as your departure airport. In my opinion the BOGO is a great deal for flight to Europe if you want to save money but are willing to make a connection or fly on an airline that you might not typically fly such as Icelandair. The BOGO air amount was $500 per person round trip from the DC area for the guests in my group that used it while published rates were over $1200 per person round trip to Athens. One thing to remember, buying the air on your own does not mean there will not be problems. I did not use the BOGO air and had all kinds of issues with Air France with cancelled and changed flights. I also would avoid Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at all costs! - Go to Europe at least one day early though two is better. With the BOGO you can fly in up to two days early. The vast majority of the flights from the US to Europe are overnight so if your cruise departs on a Saturday you would want to depart the US on a Wednesday to arrive in Europe on Thursday (2 days early). - Book your own hotel, do not do the cruise hotel package. The cruise generally charges about double the amount of the room. You should also arrange your own transfers to/from the ship. - Use Viator and Tripadvisor to research and book private/small group tours. - Make sure your passport is good for 6 months after you return from your trip Hope this helps & good luck!
  10. I do not believe there are any “dress up nights” on this or any other NCL cruises. This is a very port intensive cruise (especially the Israel stops) unlike say your typical Caribbean cruise. Feel free to dress up but fortunately there is no formal/smart casual, etc type evenings. Getting in/out of both Ashdod and Haifa is a bit of a challenge as you must deal with Israel security and procedures at each port. Ashdod certainly took the longest, once off the ship you went into another building (think customs facility) where you line up, answer a few question & then go through metal detectors before being allowed out. The various tour companies were waiting in the public area. Haifa took a little while just to get off the ship as the Israel security people were checking passports on the ship before going thru the metal detectors. It seemed to be pretty well organized but you will not just walk off the ship. I doubt you could walk out either port though there was/is a shuttle in Ashdod to a local mall where bus transportation is available. The only real negative I had with NCL was the evening return at Patmos. Most guests returned around 10:30-11pm and the only place open for food was O’sheanes which could not handle the volume. I was surprised they did not have stuff in either the buffet or Great Outdoors. Overall I thought it was a great cruise. I would certainly sail on the Jade again and for a Europe sailing would definitely use the BOGO air promo. If you read the kind of small number of people complaining about BOGO on this board the vast majority did not seem know or understand the terms and conditions with the air promo. Have a great trip!
  11. Thanks for the answers. Seems kind of silly as the ship would have already been to Canada plus made the stop in Portland.
  12. I am on a Canada/New England sailing from Baltimore in September and now have a conflict with my schedule. This booking was made after numerous cancellations from what was originally a booking on the Mardi Gras for its first season. Between building delays and Covid there were at least three cancellations and each time additional cruise credit (both onboard credit and future cruise credit) was awarded. I did this booking because at the time (early 2020) this was as far out as I could book plus living near Baltimore I have always wanted to sail from Baltimore and I did not want to lose any of the various credits that had been awarded. Last week (final payment is not due until later this month) I called about changing to a different sailing date and the amount of cabin credit and cruise fare credit that would not transfer would be about $1500. That's not going to work. So, the last few days are a stop in Boston (a stop in Maine is earlier) than a sea day before arriving back into Baltimore. I would like to get off in Boston, which is the last stop of the cruise. Any idea how I could arrange for early disembarkation? Is there a specific department that would handle something like early disembarkation? Thanks!
  13. Was in a Club Balcony on deck 11 in May and there was a magnifying/lit mirror in a drawer at the desk/television piece of furniture.
  14. I had a group on the May 14-21 Athens sailing on the Jade. Everyone (except my wife and I) used the BOGO, most from the DC area. There were no issues with any of the flights except for the flights I did that were not BOGO. The biggest issue is the very limited number of flights available for the return from Athens given the time to get off the ship, get to the airport and make the flight. Delta has one thru Atlanta and two thru JFK, United has one thru Newark and alsoWashington Dulles. Otherwise a limited few on Air Canada, BA and possibly Lufthansa. I am not a NCL cheerleader and did not use the BOGO myself but, there are many that do not know or understand the terms and conditions and thus are not happy when say their friends are on different flights or they are routed thru Toronto to get to Charlotte. If you are flexible and do not need a specific airline or do not need premium or business class the BOGO is extremely cost friendly. Good luck and enjoy your cruise. I was pleasantly surprised with the Norwegian Jade and the onboard experience.
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