jsn55

Awwwww, so sorry you're missing even ten minutes of the cruise. Sounds like it's a quick 'sickness' ... your attitude no doubt helps immensely! Look forward to more info when you're back at it. We appreciate you!

Having dropped my phone after the first photo I took, I found the kind of accessory you describe, and it also comes with a long adjustable lanyard so I can wear it around my neck and park the phone in my shirt pocket. Best investment I ever made ... maybe $15 for two of them on Amazon.

So happy to have found this thread. The Volendam reviews I read yesterday are quite 'dismal', so all these posts are wonderful to read. I really like a couple of her itineraries and now won't hesitate to book Volendam.

Yup, you are right Ruth, even tho I don't know how you type so well with chocolate in both hands. No CPAP, but I travel everywhere with an American 3-way outlet plug, a double USB to electric plug and an extension cord. Out of the country, I throw in the relevant adapters. I don't like to be inconvenienced!

Wow, I remember a Ramada Inn at EWR twenty years ago as being the worst hotel I'd ever experienced. Guess it's good to know they're maintained their standards at the Ramada chain.

Interesting ... since balcony doors are clear glass, this sounds like it might be an invasion of privacy issue. Certainly I've never been informed that my balcony may be observed by a camera. Logistically it seems like an impossible task given the sheer numbers of balconies on a cruiseship. Not trying to start an argument or be critical ... just find this an interesting statement and I'm curious.

I always book air and hotels directly because I don't want a 'middle-man' involved, I want to pick my own flights, I often use points to book hotels. But sometimes booking through the cruiseline is much better price-wise. Only way to tell is to do your research and find the best deals that work for you. Then compare to what the cruiseline can offer you.

What a wonderful 'trip report'. I'm looking at Volendam for the Med next fall ... the reviews are not very positive, but the itinerary is fantastic. Your words straight from your cruise will be very helpful. I know you'll enjoy it all, and so will we.

I so agree about who should deal with the smokers. Cabin stewards are really excellent at taking care of pax and making them happy. To expect them to confront a smoking pax is quite ridiculous. The problem, of course, is catching someone actually smoking on a balcony. Not sure how you'd get a photo from your balcony ... stick your hand out around the partition? But counting on the stewards is very myopic.

Being realistic, not snarky. Since threads are usually clearly labeled, why read those that you don't want to read?

Great story, made my morning. I'm a casual smoker and morons like this make my blood boil. There are almost always places to have a cigarette anywhere you go ... and smokers should be grateful instead of myopic. Very happy to hear that these people were properly 'punished'.

I think I'd read as many reviews as possible for each ship; so many aspects of "best" that you want as much input as you can find.

I've read all the excellent responses, and it seems to boil down to this good advice: with his likes/dislikes in mind, find some itineraries you think meet his standards. Read the reviews of any ship that sails those itineraries. "Rank" them by how much you think they fit your boyfriend's interests. Show him your 'top 3' and let him pick one.

I hear you, but a local should be able to get that info easily ... and they should know that it won't be confirmed until your ship's at the dock. For what it's worth, I just used Viator for the first time (I'm extremely leery of third-party travel providers) in Roma and it was a terrific experience. I hope you can book just the right excursion in Punta Arenas.

This kinda reinforces my opinion that the whole hysteria about smoking is just that ... so many other awful things in life, but everybody just screams about the smokers. People don't realize that they're being brainwashed by the media.

Interesting situation. Makes me think that the tour provider may not be legit. I don't think a pax could possibly know which dock the Oosterdam will use on January 1. The dock might be planned and published ahead of time, but could change at the last minute; it's all governed by the Port Authority. Tour providers are well aware of this fact, and know it's their responsibility to find the exact location of a ship once it's tied up at the dock. I'd look for another tour provider. But perhaps others here are wiser than I.

Beyond the obvious question of how exactly one would take a photo/video of your neighbor's balcony (stick your arm/hand out around the balcony divider???), I think confronting this goon is a pretty bad idea. If someone knocked on his door, he'd just not answer. Doubtful that he has any concern about setting the ship on fire, he'd just scoff that the last incident was in 2006. I'm a smoker, and like CCD, these kind of ignorant dolts make my blood boil. However, confronting strangers who are obviously morons is never a great idea.

I'd create my own 'cruise to nowhere' ... just book a short cruise to Bermuda or someplace and not get off the ship.

This must have been quite annoying. But how else is the ship going to take some action if you don't present proof? The ship isn't going to assign a crew member to 'watch your neighbor's balcony'. How do you know the 'steward was well aware of this'? A cigarette takes about 5 minutes to smoke, so if that's annoying, you'll need to take some action. Your neighbor was obviously not concerned, since he just blatantly denied that he was smoking when your husband talked to him. So no hope that he'd change his ways.

SO TRUE! Just returned from 17 days in Europe, including 11 nights on a cruise. I use one checked bag and a rollaboard, no extra anything. I could have done it just as well with 33% less stuff. My checked bag on the way home weighed 39 pounds; 25 pounds is a much better goal for me. I think my basic 'wardrobe' was OK, just need less of everything. Probably the only way I'll accomplish this is a smaller bag, forcing fewer shoes and far fewer 'accessories'. As I get older, I'm less inclined to 'do dinner' because I'm just tired at the end of the day, so for sure need to pack fewer dressy items.

Of course it's annoying. I'm sure some cruiselines would make their pax whole if they cancelled a cruise. But NCL probably doesn't think they need to do that. I'd not book air these days unless I knew I could cancel and rebook without a penalty. Every cent you invest in a trip that is not refundable needs to be insured, that's just the way it works these days. I'm an early Chase Sapphire Reserve customer, there are so many good perks with that card, including travel insurance.

Cunard's Queen Victoria, hands down. The queens are not much different in pricing than the mass-market cruiselines and the experience is wonderful, such elegance. We did Norway on QV and absolutely loved it.

A great many people don't understand the difference between credit and refund. I can't imagine anyone thinking you'd expect a refund if you left the ship early.

Agree ... watching TV on a cruise is something I'd do if I ordered room service because I didn't want to 'go out'. The rest of the time? No interest at all. TV shows are such a matter of personal preference, how could a cruiseline provide a good experience to the pax, other than a few of them who want to watch a game of some sort? I'm surprised they even have TVs in the staterooms. So you have no beef with NCL at all. Perhaps some clever company could offer sports on a pay-per-view basis to cruiseships. Then the sports fans could see their games when they wish.

I couldn't agree more! Every time I read an awful review from someone who obviously doesn't know what he's talking about, I think about the person(s) who are responsible for the incredible nightmare in this guy's mind and hope there are no negative repercussions. It must be awful to be 'accused' by an avatar on a website ... you have little chance of righting the so-called wrong in the reader's eye. I post many positive reviews, but when something goes completely off the rails, I'll get all berzerko about it and post an accurate, detailed negative review. One that I would send directly to the 'bad guys' if I could reach them.