Thanks for all contributions to this thread. We did a last minute cruise (same itinerary) Sept 3-10. Drove to NYC from Toronto (8 hrs driving time, a bit more with stops). Parked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal onsite ($320 US for those wondering). Tried parking nearby first, in private car elevator spaces....they wanted $270 and it was a distance to walk with luggage.
Calm waters, so the tender stops were seamless.
I will say that the most disappointing shore excursion (ever ! any cruise line) was the NCL HALX1411 'Views of Halifax' bus tour. Ticket said meet onshore at 2 pm. We arrived a few minutes before that. Long hot lines in the sun. We boarded at 2:45 pm. The bus (Tidal Bay Express, bus 1152) was not air conditioned on a brutally hot day. Many people advised the tour operator they were 'done' at the first stop, Victorian Garden. The poor tour guide was taking their names, while those who wished to continue stood idly by. Waste of time. More left later. Sounds like a first world problem, no AC. And it is, for the $129 or so spent by each of us. But the galling part was that the bus driver knew, played with buttons, all he got was air. We registered displeasure with NCL onboard, were reassured they'd get back to us (how, I asked. Voicmail in stateroom. Didn't happen). Want to warn others to stay away from this red bus in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Really not fussy or picky eaters. Buffet upstairs met our needs. Savor one night was great. Steak supplier has changed, gone are the thin, but 'tough' steaks. Replaced by the current thicker product.
It was a last minute trip for us (gap in work schedule). 'NCL assigned the room, only inside left' - fine with us.
The good:
Clean ship. Seemingly happy employees (always a hello, always lookng to imporve our day and we, if we could, theirs - big believer in regular, daily tipping ). Two comedians (Frank Townsend, from memory, seen him before..always good); Motown; Dining.
The bad:
NCL shore excursion.
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Glad to be travelling again. We'll be back aboard NCL and wish all bon voyage.