SonomaMist

I know that when the ship is in Glacier Bay, the captain will turn 180 degrees for both port and starboard to get equal time -- but what about AFT cabins at the back of the ship? It would seem both sides would get a very good view but not so sure about AFT cabin that we are considering. Is it worth it? Any comments are appreciated.

Anyone else on the Norwegian Spirit Oct. 23-Nov. 4, 2024 cruise around Japan from Tokyo to Tokyo? I have been questioning the arrival time with NCL in Osaka on Friday, Nov. 1. It was originally 7AM on the Norwegian Sun but changed to 7 PM on Norwegian Spirit when they changed ships. As of today, I again checked with Norwegian who indicated it is not a typo. Others also checked on Cruise Critic who received the same info. We leave Himeji, the port before Osaka, on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 pm. This really begs credulity, as I have taken the train from Himeji to Osaka in 2016 and it took less than an hour - and this a local train, not a bullet train. I am very disappointed by this news - seriously, spending a day at sea to go what can be done less than an hour by train? Others have confirmed that it is not possible to disembark the ship in Himeji and reboard in Osaka due to Japanese customs laws. I did check other cruises and none really match this itinerary -- but that doesn't mean other cruises won't be added. I will continue to track this development but just wanted to see if anyone experienced this? Thursday, October 24 At Sea ~ Friday, October 25 Sapporo (Otaru), Japan 10:00AM to 7:00PM Saturday, October 26 Hakodate, Japan 9:00AM to 6:00PM Sunday, October 27 Akita, Japan7:00AM to 3:00PM Monday, October 28 Kanazawa, Japan 7:00AM to 5:00PM Tuesday, October 29 Busan, South Korea 2:30 PM to 9:00PM Wednesday, October 30 Cruise Kanmon Straight to Beppu 11:00AM - 4:00PM Thursday, October 31 Himeji, Japan 11:15AM to 7:00PM Friday, November 1 Osaka, Japan 7:00PM (overnight) Saturday, November 2 Osaka, Japan 5:00PM Sunday, November 3 Shimizu (Mount Fuji), Japan 10:00AM to 7:00PM Monday, November 4 Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan 8:00AM

Thank you for all your details posts on this voyage. We are on the Oct. 8-15 Escape. While missing a port is always a possibility, I'm glad you were able to get in St. John. Safe travels.

Will be on the Escape Oct 8-15, 2023 so have been watching this thread. As for the ships already in in port, here are their next scheduled sailings: Emerald Princess: Sept 16 - Brooklyn Liberty of the seas: Sept 16 - Bayonne Escape: Sept. 17 - Manhattan Seven Seas Mariner - Sept 17 - Manhattan Oceana Vista: Sept 18 - Brooklyn Jewel of the Seas: not scheduled until Sept 28 - must have interrupted a one way itinerary from NJ. Silver Shadow: was probably today as next scheduled until Sep 26 from Quebec to NYC

10% FCC is assigned to an individual's Latitudes account so both would get it.

Does anyone know the status of the 7-7-23 trial to ban large cruise ships from Bar Harbor? The legal challenge of a town ordinance limiting the number of cruise ship passengers allowed in Bar Harbor will begin next week. After months of preparations, trial proceedings begin Tuesday for a lawsuit pitting Bar Harbor businesses against the town. The businesses sued the town over an ordinance that limits the number of visitors who arrive by cruise ship to 1,000 a day. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-07/trial-over-bar-harbor-cruise-ship-passenger-ordinance-to-begin-tuesday

Is there a guide to how tours activities are rated for determining easy, moderate and strenuous? While each tour has a rating, is there are matrix type document into how these are determined? For instance, everything for an upcoming port for Pompeii seems to be strenuous, likely due to the walking but it's relatively flat. Just curious to see if such a thing exists. Thanks for any feedback.

Jumping into the fray here - there are several coverages specific to the marine industry. Princess likely has Protection and Indemnity insurance which is specific to marine operations. Liability to the dock will be assigned based on who caused the accident - the pilot or the captain. This will not cover damage to the hull itself as that is a separate coverage. The biggie is business interruption for the cruise industry: loss of use, loss of revenue, and unexpected additional costs. Due to the size of Carnival Corporation and worldwide fleets, there is an outside chance that they may choose to self insure or enter into a reinsurance transaction to partially insure part of the loss over a certain dollar amount. https://www.thomasmillerspecialty.com/products/marine/business-interruption-cover-for-cruise-ships/ Thomas Miller Specialty's Cruise Cover Business Interruption insurance is tailor-made for owners, charterers and operators of cruise vessels. It protects the revenues of the participants of the cruise industry against the very special perils involved with this particular part of the marine and the tourist industry. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/what-is-protection-and-indemnity-insurance-164291.aspx The primary purpose of P&I insurance is to provide policyholders with protection against personal injury, illness and death claims from crew, passengers and so forth. P&I insurance also covers things like: - Liability claims as a result of collision - Removal of wreck - Stowaways and repatriation - Damages to or loss of cargo - Damages to fixed or floating objects - Civil liabilities imposed after pollution or oil spill - Liability under approved towage contracts It does not cover risks that would fall under a workers’ compensation policy or under the collision clause in a traditional hull policy.

We ported in Victoria this Wednesday, July 6, 2023 - Carnival Luminosa.

I would too and I live in the North Bay. For the out of towners, be sure to visit Baker Beach, the Presidio National Park Visitor Center, a walk to Golden Gate from Chrissy Fields -- and the park at Sales Force Tower right in town. Amazing. Also, consider taking a ferry to Sausalito!

This is a very fair offer, recognizing that people have planned their vacations well in advance and it is not the cruise they wanted. I just returned from Alaska yesterday on a Seattle cruise on Carnival -- and scheduled for Ruby Princess from San Francisco on August 15-25 2023. Ketchikan is a great port with 12 hours. This will allow those who are interested to go to Misty Fjords. Believe it (or not) but when I was there July 4th, I spoke to a local who said he could arrange tours to Misty Fjords. If any interest, let me know and I'll share the info. I don't know the price but the one I booked with Princess was $225ish. Best wishes to those who are going.

The August 15-25, 2023 sailing is back on the Princess website - but not the August 5, 2023 sailing. https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/results/?resType=C

Also on the 8/15 sailing - keeping fingers crossed.

We will be on the Ruby Princess in August and wanted to see what time normally Princess will normally bring the husky puppies aboard the ship. Trying to plan our shore trip and would like to see this is possible. Thanks!

Question on non refundable OBC - can you use it to buy future cruise deposits or HAL gift certificates? Thank you for all responses.

I'm fairly new to Holland America and have the following questions on Specialty dining: 1. HAL will offer a 1 specialty dinner as a perk - if you do not reserve ahead of time, will HAL assign a dining time and restaurant? 2. If you reserve ahead of time, and do not like the time or date, is there an opportunity to change? 3. Are all dining times preserved prior to the cruise or does HAL set aside a number of days/times to book once on board? 4. On embarkation day, does HAL have a central location to book and reserve dining times? 5. Can you request to get on a waiting list prior to the cruise? Thank you for your responses. Kathy

From what I can tell, no. I asked a similar question earlier for a Verandah Spa room. It doesn't state it's included, I called HAL and they could not confirm that it's included.

In looking at a Spa Verandah, it does not mention if it includes the thermal suite. Does anyone know if it's an additional charge and what it is for a 7 day cruise? The HAL website mentions "Spa amenities, such as yoga mats and exclusive treatments from Greenhouse Spa & Salon" but does not indicate what those exclusive treatments are -- assuming it carries an additional fee as well. Any feedback is very welcome. Thank you. Kathy

Thanks for all responses! Much appreciated. Kathy

I understand that cruise lines are no longer sailing from Venice due to new regulations by Venice, but MSC indicated they are sailing from Venice. Since they are an Italian line, not sure if they received a special waiver. Can anyone confirm if MSC is still sailing from Venice? Thank you!