hallux

This is the part I was referring to

I wonder if the gangways damaged the ship at all. That one that went completely into the water might have posed a problem for coming back to the pier, but I'm really surprised the people on watch in the bridge didn't get propulsion up quicker to try to keep the ship closer - I wonder if there weren't enough generators online to do that...

Nope, still the smoker's problem. Their selfishness shouldn't cause problems for others...

Too bad, so sad. It's a THEM problem as far as I'm concerned, it shouldn't be someone else's issue that they don't want to go that distance.

and, for clarification, that's your CHECK-IN time. You won't board until the ship has reached 0-count from the previous cruise and is cleared for re-boarding. Being in The Haven you'll board early in the process.

Some trips, for some reason are like that. The Panama Canal trip I have booked is guarantee-only for inside and balcony, and that's a 15-day trip...

Not true. There are still 1 or 2 venues on each ship that are 'cover charge' - Teppanyaki and Moderno (or another venue, depending on the ship).

What passengers 1 and 2 are EACH given are listed in the table in this T&C's, based on cruise length and cabin category. https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions

Yes, there is A LOT of discussion on this forum regarding these reservations. Here's NCL's FAQ page for dining reservations https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/when-can-i-book-dining-entertainment If you can't pre-book the times you want, make it a priority when you board, only a portion of the reservations are available to pre-book. Decide based on the cuisine you wish to consume. Here are your options - https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/whats-on-board/specialty-dining Some venues are a-la-carte, two (typically) are cover-charge and are indicated in the listing linked above. Some items on the menu at the a-la-carte places have an up-charge when using the plan (this will be indicated on the menu), but the entire menu is available with the plan, with a restriction as to how many of each course you are allowed (LOTS of discussion about this part as well!).

This and other FAQ's right on NCL's website - https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/when-can-i-book-dining-entertainment

Are you referring to the "gross tonnage" figure? That's not the weight of the ship. https://www.beyondships2.com/faq-gross-tonnage.html

lol, I picked that because I'm on the cruise after yours, January 27 from Miami...

Take January as an example - the Bliss is doing back to back 15-night Panama Canal cruises, if NCL has 21 menus (I think that's what they have) then only one batch of menus will repeat but the menus from the first week will be during the second week of the second cruise. You can't plan on a particular menu being on a particular night based on it being that night on a previous cruise.

Non-Haven and Bronze, Silver, Gold Latitudes status can book at 21 days before the cruise. Haven or Platinum and higher Latitudes members can book at 26 days before the cruise.

21 for the 'plebes', those in standard cabins and lower than Platinum Latitudes status. Platinum Latitudes and Suite guests (maybe just Haven suite guests but I believe that cabin is that) can book entertainment 5 days sooner.

NCL has fleet-wide menus, and has 14-21 of them. This means that your particular cruise would have any mix of them with any 'random' menu from the batch being on any particular day.

Shows will be 26 days before the cruise.

They put it in writing for THAT cruise. That's from a Freestyle Daily. It's not a cast-in-stone cruise line policy that cabins would be ready at a particular time. That time was based on the staffing on the ship and the average 'recovery' time based on that staffing level. Things have changed. Nice work digging up a FSD from a very old cruise so you could match your narrative. For what it's worth, the day 1 FSD from my Escape cruise in March had no such notice on it, it was announced in the terminal that rooms wouldn't be ready until 3:00 or so...

That's my point. It wasn't in writing, it became an unwritten expectation. Things change...

Have they ever set the expectation in writing that rooms will be ready at 1:30? Go find it for me. I'll wait, but won't be holding my breath. Why should it now be in writing?

ah, but how many were this year? Most cruise lines made staffing reductions earlier this year, that's when the later room availability started. I sailed in March - rooms were not ready until after 3 PM, but we were told this in the terminal. I ask the group - has NCL (or any mainstream cruise line) guaranteed room readiness at a particular time? I don't recall seeing anything. Sure - past experience has set an expectation of early room readiness, but the reality of current situations is that it's simply not possible due to reduced staffing. I'm not being an NCL apologist, I'm being realistic when you consider the staffing cuts (which have happened on ALL lines) This may not be helpful to all but when I board I don't carry on anything I'm not comfortable carrying for a couple hours.

Was it published that those injured/deceased were port workers? They were people in a pleasure craft that struck a ferry, causing the pleasure craft to sink and one on board to perish. Other than involving a ferry and being in the channel, there really was no association to the cruise line or port workers from what I understand. I don't see how the employees on the ship would be effected as you wrote...

Yes, I had a 10% on my account, the price I indicated in my post was before the discount was applied.

I'm glad I'm not alone with that. I wish I knew what Una was up to, I feel she was on the same track as she was very personable, energetic and had fun doing her job. She was on the Bliss (as was Rod, still there 6 months after I first met him) for my Fall cruise in 2019...

I found what I consider to be a bargain for a cruise in January 2024 - $1579 (plus taxes and port fees) for an inside on a 15 day Panama Canal. That's as a SOLO!! Is there a possibility I'll be on deck 5? SURE, but there's also some 'room' to get moved up if the prices go down, and I can bid for a balcony upgrade...