Smitheroo

Yes, the Passenger List. I still have mine from 1966, not sure when they stopped publishing. You know, the privacy thing.

I guess our cabin with a porthole was a little bit above an inside cabin. There were only 3 of us in it and quite roomy but no bathroom. Yeah, it was fun but I do like "freestyle" eating when you want to in a choice of dining rooms. I wouldnt mind bunk beds now

My mother was born in Scotland and emigrated to the US in 1947. We did make a trip back in 1958 by plane. (KLM) She realized that traveling by ship was not going to be an option much longer so in 1966 she decided we would go on vacation to Scotland and England by ship both ways. I dont remember much about the planning but it was exciting when the luggage tags arrived in the mail. (Now, along with the passenger list, a collector's item) I have no idea what the fares cost. I have to admit that as a teenager all the eating got to be boring. A few times I never showed up for a meal. There were many kids on board and lots of fraternizing with the crew lol. The Queen Mary is now docked in Long Beach California. I visited her and that was when I decided I needed to take my mother's ashes over on the QM2. The Sylvania was sold and then later scrapped.

I sailed for the first time as a 16 yr old in 1966 with my mother on the Sylvania (Cunard) going East. We shared a cabin in tourist class with a woman we didnt know. (she was a lot of fun. she forgot her underwear). I was horrified (teenager) with the idea we had to sleep with someone we didnt know and also we were just tourist class, I thought we could at least be "cabin" class even if First Class was not possible. , the bathroom was down the hall, your room steward came around each morning with a wake up knock on your door. Bunk beds and the room had a porthole which actually opened. You signed up for meal "sittings", early or late. You sat at the same table with the same people for the entire voyage. Every meal seemed to have a fish course. No buffet. The crew was mostly young British men and wore stiff white jackets with red trim and black pants. Guest Services was called the Purser. Elevators had an operator. Shiny brass everywhere. Back then visitors were allowed on board to see their friends and family off for a small donation. When it was time for the ship to sail one of the crew came around the decks banging on a drum and calling out "All ashore who's going ashore". Safety drills were held on the decks under the life boats. Afternoon tea (which is really a light meal) was delivered to guests sitting in deck chairs. Midnight buffets. We docked in Liverpool. It was the 60's. Quite a thrill for a 16 yr old at that time. On the way home we sailed on the original Queen Mary. Started with the boat train from London. Our cabin on the C deck was about a quarter of the size of our cabin going over and we shared with a woman who was often on her knees praying. I have nothing against praying if that is your thing but there is no reason why you have to get down on your knees in a tiny cabin. In those days the larger ships were making the trip in 4 days. I preferred the smaller ship which took 8 days to make the crossing. The docks in New York were in midtown Manhattan., although some were at the lower end of Manhattan. After that trip I became a ship "groupie" watching the NY TImes for the ship schedules and going onboard before they sailed. In 2013 I took my mother's ashes over to England to be buried with my father. She would have been thrilled to know she was on the QM2. Like the OP said, so many things are different now but so many things still the same, even across ship lines All make wonderful memories

And the schools in Maine have the third week in April off for Spring break, starting with "Patriot's Day" about 4/17-ish

Cunard (Brittania class) charges a corkage fee unless you consume the wine in your stateroom. However, they also dont allow you to choose a drink over the upper limit and only pay the difference (if you have the drink package) If the drink you want is over the allowable limit you pay the entire cost plus service charge of the drink. This may have changed, I sailed in 2013 which I realize is 10 yrs ago. I can understand the first, but not the second. I like how NCL does it- you just pay the difference in the two drinks

the waiter asked us before every single meal if anyone at the table had any food allergies

I just got off the Joy a few weeks ago. We ate in the main dining rooms every night except for the 1 specialty dinner in our package. Taste and Savory were no problem, at the most the wait was about 10 minutes. However one night we wanted to try out the Manhattan and were told that it would be a 30 minute wait. So we went back to one of the others. A lot of people eat in the buffet, at least that was the case when I was there. The ship was quite full.

Thanks everyone! Some good advice here.

I still dont understand. Why cant you give it by "replying"? (I know you cant mention names) Oh, does the email go to the poster directly? I guess this is one of those sites which censors without explaining why. Anyway, dont see why you cant tell me about your TA without giving identifying information. Unless there is another reason why it is disabled.

Huh?

It was on line travel website I had the negative experience with. Not bad , he just didnt know about things I think he should have known . especially that the cruise line ran buses from the docks after disembarkation to all the major airports, rail stations etc in London. That is critical information. I arranged it all myself with buses, subways etc and then someone on the ship told me just to take the ship bus.

I realize that which is why I didnt name any. Just a general yes or if no, what did you dislike

Does anyone here use one of the online travel websites to book cruises? We dont have a lot of travel agents where I live I looked at a few of their websites. One only quoted the cost of accommodations in The Haven. I used an online travel website years ago to book a transatlantic on Cunard. I dont think I would have gotten it cheaper with anyone else but the thing that bothered me was that he wasnt that familiar with some of the details outside of the cost. i.e. He told me that US health insurance never covers travelers in foreign country (I wasnt on medicare) I called my insurance company and he was wrong. I was covered. He was not at all familiar with travel from London to Southhampton other than hiring a limo. I had to do all the research myself, which I did by reading as much as I could find and asking other travelers. i.e. He didnt tell me the ship line ran buses from the dock to London, another traveler did. So I would say that my experience with that online travel website wasnt that great but it wasnt a cruise site. So lack of travel agents and less than satisfactory experience with a general online travel website have me leaning towards booking directly with NCL. I guess I am asking if the cruise on line travel websites are reliable.

They must disregard anything on your account under a certain amount. I checked my account on the tv and saw that I had 92 cents charged to my account. While we were still docked in LA my travel partner and I had a glass of wine. There was a sign at the bar clearly explaining that while in port there was a tax. I never charged another thing on the cruise. Got home, nothing on my credit card then or now . (I had linked my credit card with my account)

why wouldnt you all get off together? Oh, I got it. Because the son booked with you is on your key card. So he wouldnt match with your wife? (but the other son would) That makes sense. I guess you did this arrangement because you didnt want the kids in a room by themselves?

I have considered doing this also and wondered the same thing as you have. In my situation it involves kids and a spouse that doesnt drink alcohol. So I was thinking of booking the cabin with her spouse (we both drink alcohol) and she would be with her 2 kids (no drink packages needed in that cabin) Then she and I would switch cabins to sleep. No problem with me in the cabin with her kids at night and my spouse doesnt travel. I dont see why it would be considered fraud because there are no rules about only legally married people booking a cabin together.

I just got off the Joy a few weeks ago. There are two water slides On one side the slide looks like a tube that twists and turns. I only saw a few very fit young men doing that one. On the other side the slide looks more friendly and I think you may use tubes. I saw younger people using that one. But only a few in each case probably because the weather was a little cool and windy. I wanted to try the one I saw younger people using. I am 72 years old but fit although I have a few chronic health issues they warn about on the signs! I never did get up the nerve but I might have if more people were lining up. The last water slide I went on, similar to the one on the Joy using tubes, was about 30 yrs ago and it was a rough ride. My joints (elbows, ankles etc) banged against the sides of the slide which hurt. But I will try next time. The one slide might not have involved tubes but it was definitely different than the one on the other side of the boat. (looked easier)

I asked this question before I saw the answer to my question about how NCL defines "fare". It is the "grand total" in which case it is very easy to use up a $300 CruiseFirst certificate.

Maybe if you are booking expensive cruises that is true but they do make a difference with less expensive staterooms.

thank you, I missed that. Does what I have in bold print mean you cant use CruiseFirst certificates except when you book directly with NCL? No online website or independent travel agent? 2. CruiseFirst certificates expire 3 years after purchase date and become null and void at expiration. Limit one CruiseFirst certificate that may be used per reservation. No black-out dates will apply. Reservations are subject to availability. CruiseFirst certificates are not combinable with CruiseNext, chartered sailings, barter cruises, employee discounts, friends and family pricing, Sailaway (categories: IX, OX, BX, MX), interline and travel agent rates.

that's great, clears up my confusion. Thank you

I understand these can be applied towards your "fare" but I dont know how NCL defines "fare" Does it include tax and port charges as well?

Please explain. I get the part about using your card on board. When/where do you cash in the points?

I notice there are a few different itineraries for this route. One has the sea days more spread out and I notice it stops in LA and also San Francisco before going on to Seattle. Is it possible to get off in LA?