goldmom

Thank you again for your very detailed report!

1 hour ago, Mike A said:

In 2017 during Fleet Week, I was on the Gem. We went out of Pier 90 and returned the following week to Pier 88. In 2022 during fleet week on the Joy we departed from and returned to Pier 88. Both times we parked at Pier 90. I did not know until we arrived at the pier as the Fleet Week website was of no assistance. Good Luck and enjoy your cruise. 

Thanks!  Appreciate the information.  Guess I'll just have to wing it.

Thank you for the replies!  Sounds like it shouldn't be an issue other than a little extra traffic (or misplacing the car!).  Probably going to be harder for those trying to board the ship.

I read on someone's post that Fleet Week will be happening as we return to NYC on the Joy on Sunday, May 26th.  Does anyone know how this will effect our docking?  It sounds as if the ships will be docked at MCT and there are only so many berths.  I would hope our spot is reserved but who knows!

I'm also parking at the pier so the hope is that we will be using the same berth which would make it much easier to access the parking area.

Just something new to stress over!  LOL!

I guess it can't be as bad as when we got back and the Westside Highway was closed off for a bike race.  That was fun.

Very much enjoying your report.  I know you usually do a pretty extensive tour of the ship in your reviews, which is much appreciated.

I was wondering if there is still a mini golf onboard.  I see it on the deck plans, but no one ever seems to mention it.

Thanks!

Thank you so much for doing this.  We are also getting on when you get off and hopefully this will add to the cruise excitement and anticipation until it's our turn.

Really looking forward to following along with you and appreciate your wealth of information.

We did the train ride into Berlin many years ago.  We felt at the time that it would probably be the only time we would see Berlin and felt it was worth it.  The train ride is long but it wasn't awful.  The scenery is nice and we probably slept on the way back.

That said, I wouldn't plan to do the train to Berlin unless it's part of a ships tour.  There is too much of a chance of delays and the timing is pretty tight.

My suggestion would be to see if the tour is offered onboard and book it if it is, if not offered then just tour the areas around the port as others have suggested.

10 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Yes, I have several devices - selectively - connected directly to our stateroom's USB-C and USB-A ports, also use them to recharge our portable battery pack.

 

UK already helped answered & explain, I concur 100% from experience & knowledge.  It's something that I don't do at airport public charging stations - and - the reason for carrying the battery bank to boost & recharge.  Ship's outlets aren't exactly "public" unless it's hacked by ship security or housekeeping with access to tap into the wirings ... there are many other ways of gaining access if and when it's being carried out.  Evil apps sneaked into Play Stores and those continued to be a problem. 

 

There are countermeasures available but ... nay, I am not worried or going to be paranoid about.  It's the banking and corporate database breaches that can inflict more damaged ... enough said. 

 

Thanks for following along, again and to allow us to share the journey.  Regards 😎

Thank you so much for the response.  It was very helpful to me.

Have a great cruise.  I will continue to follow along and enjoy your travels!

Thank you for your response and all the information.

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.  I'm really enjoying following your reports.

I hope you don't mind a techie question as you are tech savvy and I'm not.  I noticed in one of your photos that it looked as if you had a charger plugged directly into a USB port.

I've been reading articles lately that say to not plug your devices directly into public USB ports as hackers can get your info, which has now, of course, made me paranoid!  Do you feel that the ports in the ship cabins are safe to use for your devices?

I appreciate any guidance you have.  Thanks.

I would also suggest calling CAS.  Maybe they will let you take over the reservation.  Possibly they may charge you an additional amount to cover the cost of the discount they gave the family member.  If that's the case, it might be worth the additional cost rather than lose everything.

I'm assuming that you don't have trip insurance.

May I ask a silly question?  Why did you rent a car if you're only in the port city overnight?  Did you just rent it for one day or are you using it to drive to the port and park it there?

It seems it would be easier to just arrange a shuttle or taxi to the hotel and port.

Just curious.

2 hours ago, bluefish17 said:

Just off the Prima and we had to call to have the hot tub filled and then drained.

That is not good news.  Hopefully they will be able to follow Viva's lead and get them up and working.  Thanks for the info.

8 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

We had them on the Encore this past February and I struggled getting the hang of opening them without the contents going all over the place.   

Hah.  I agree.  When they first put them out I kept asking where the creamers were.  Took me awhile to realize what they were as we were used to the little cups.

The only place I can think of that might have something is in the Casino.  They sometimes put out little snacks in the evening, it's pretty hit or miss, but might be worth a look.  When I've seen them it's usually around 9pm.

Enjoy

56 minutes ago, Radio said:

I didn't know that you could get liquid "Half and Half" in a pouch . . . Who knew?

 

Radio

 

 

.

That's a relatively new development.  When we were on the Getaway in March they were just changing over to those half & half pouches from the coffee mate cups.

Enjoying your "live".  Thanks for taking us along.

1 minute ago, Mike A said:

The ship going up is the Anthem of the Seas. Since RCCL and Celebrity docks in Bayonne, they will routinely go up do a circle around the Statue of Liberty and then go out to sea. 

Thanks for the explanation.  I never knew that! I was surprised when I saw it was a RCCL ship as I knew they docked in NJ.

Watching the Joy sail away now.  She is passing right next to another cruise ship in the Hudson going the other way.  Don't see that often.  Couldn't tell what ship it is.

How was the parking situation?  Did you park at the pier?  I'm considering driving in for our cruise next month, but don't want to get there and not be able to get parking.

Thanks!

Enjoy!

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

 

if it's the same "kim" i have spoken to over the years, working out of her home office in arizona, she was indeed a delight. (her last name is the same as the first name of a title character in a dickens novel.)

 

 

 

Yes!  That was her.  She was terrific and sounds like there's a lot of us who will miss her.  She was the one who told me I would still get a drink card for drinks in the Casino which we now know is wrong.  Maybe she just got tired of the cut backs to the programs and being limited as to what she could offer!

Another option is the Astronaut's Hall of Fame museum which is outside of Kennedy Space Center, but relatively close.  We were there many years ago and found it fascinating.  You can sit in an actual space capsule.  Boy are they small!  You can probably spend an hour or two there.

Enjoy!

Almost docked.  Hope everyone boarding today has a fabulous cruise.

On another note, does anyone know if the issues with the hot tubs in the Owner's suites was ever fixed?  If anyone sailing today is in one of those cabins, I'd love confirmation of the status.

Thanks!

Looking forward to your review.  We met you many years ago, I think on the Gem.  We gave you a tour of the Haven.

Have a great cruise.  I can't wait for all the info as we'll be on her in a few weeks.

Enjoy!

54 minutes ago, snorklinbarb said:

Yes!  While on ship it seemed weird to get an email to her back "undeliverable" so called CAS.  Asked and a rep said, "No longer working here."  

 

Not a newbie....she had many yrs under her belt!

 

 

I also lost my rep.  She was really great and always tried to work her "magic" for me on pricing.  I had sent an e-mail, but never heard back and it wasn't even returned.  When I called I was told that she now longer worked there.  I had another male rep for years and when he left I worked with my latest one.  I now have a new rep and she's very nice, but I don't really have a relationship with her yet and she isn't quite as generous.  Although that may just be CAS cutting back as she took time to look up everyone sailing with me to see what she could offer.

If we're allowed to say names they were Alan and Kim.

Yes, you can check your carry-ons.  Just make sure they don't have any medications, electronics or anything fragile or valuable.

Enjoy!