navybankerteacher

You might - perhaps even probably will - make it. But given the fact that there are many trains, do you really want to accept the reasonable chance that you might not make it -- meaning that you will have to buy another ticket for a later train?

There are people who like to push the envelope. Those who manage to get from ship to plane or train in record time are delighted to chat about it. You rarely (if ever) see posts from people who tried to make close connections and wound up missing flights or trains -- no one wants to admit having lost a risky bet. That is why we often see posts from folks who "always" come out ahead in shipboard casinos -- but never from people who regularly lose. Of course, the people who REALLY know how casinos work (the guys who own and operate them) are in business because they know that, at the end of the day, the customer always loses.

Of course not -- I was only kidding. Not only do ALL departing cruisers hold warm thoughts for the happiness of those who will occupy the same staterooms, they frequently go to great lengths to pre-clean the accomodations as an altruistic gesture -- and will sometimes hide little gifts for them.

A good thought - but do you really think departing cruisers have ANY interest in the convenience of their successors?

You were lucky to have an on time arrival, a smooth debarkation, and good connection. 10:03 is really pushing it.

HAL does a good job out of Seattle -- it was close to 90 when we sailed - but cold enough when up by the glacier that the hot pea soup they served on deck was welcomed.

When the cruise is over, it is OVER. The ship's staff want you off, your fellow cruisers want to get the best flight time possible - those driving want to get on the road. I usually have no need to be first off, but I also have no wish to linger

Ridiculous - New London, CT to Newark Penn Station is $21 if bought a bit in advance.

Yes -- but that is THEIR exchange rate -- and very unlikely to be set in your favor.

I guess I have to 'fess up: I never bring door decorations myself, but I frequently use nearby staterooms' door decorations to help me navigate my way home

While at sea you are rarely close enough to land to be able to see much more than a lump on the horizon a few mikes off - yes, you “see” the islands but not well enough to recognize anything.

You hit the nail on the head - we are on Insignia to Bermuda Sept. 13-20. When we return on the 20th we’ll be sharing the terminal with close to 4,000 people debarking Norwegian Joy - from Quebec. We will plan for our pick-up to meet us a block or so away, to get past the debarkers — as well as to avoid meshing with the thousands trying to board Joy early for her trip to Bermuda.

Most of the time.

While many (most) lines have largely dropped restrictions, the fact is that, since many book and pay for cruises well in advance, there may be a new surge which will bring restrictions back by the time you sail.

Exactly -- we spend two or three weeks on Sint Maarten every January -- we make careful note of cruise ship schedules in planning our days --which largely involves "sheltering in place" on those heavy days with five, six, or more ships in at Philipsburg - dumping 25,000 to 40,000 folks to jam the streets, clog the roads and mob the beaches which welcome them. Much as I resent them for turning a large part of the island into a rush hour mob scene, I pity them for not being able to get any real idea of what the island has to offer. On our (now very few) Caribbean cruises, we essentially board ships to enjoy sea days and largely empty ships on port days.

It is unfortunate that there seems to have not been any effective thought given to picking up debarking passengers at MCT. Given the space limitations, it might require simply not permitting boarding passengers to arrive before 11:00 AM or so- to dedicate the limited lanes to handling debarking passengers in a reasonable way.

Depending upon where you are on LI, car service, or train plus car service, might beat driving and parking.

Footnote: for an October Amtrak trip to New York you could probably buy your round trip Acela Business Class tickets for about $120 today. If you were to buy Acela round trip for a ride next week, it would likely run more than $250. Amtrak prices go up as the date nears, so it pays to make up your mind sooner gather than later.

I am not certain why a blue and white striped shirt with khakis would not be acceptable -- would you also block a blue oxford cloth shirt? Frankly that brown and beige striped shirt with beige pants would look a lot like a khaki working uniform (USN). I do share your apparent lack of enthusiasm for the untuck look.

Reminds me of the Whaler Bar at the Midston Hotel on Madison Avenue. You entered via a gangway from the pier, over the water, through the curved hull. There were portholes - with a moving backdrop creating the impression of being on a ship at sea.

In Chaucer's day some people, while walking on pilgrimages, would put pebbles in their shoes -- believing that suffering was good for the spirit. I thought that sort of thing was passe.

You took the damn bus BACK across the continent (and after a California coast round trip)??????? Your wife sounds like a keeper -- and certainly the more competent vacation planner of the family.

Of course, Half Moon Cay (while a decent beach) and Nassau are not in the Caribbean to begin with : and Ocho Rios (which should not be done on your own), Grand Cayman (which offers little), and Cozumel (a fair beach and Senor Frog's are its only draws) hardly represent much more than the dregs of the Caribbean. Try the Eastern or Southern Caribbean.

Good decision --- anyone going between two points on Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington) should consider Amtrak.

How many days did that ordeal take? Was it because you lost a bet? I cannot imagine doing that sort of thing to myself voluntarily. The Trailways bus between --- Norfolk Naval Station (stopping at several of the piers) and NYC Port Authority was bad enough -- but at least it was cheap; thankfully I have never had to take longer bus rides. That law officer taking a prisoner --- verges upon cruel and unusual punishment.