GALSews

This is from NCL. If you son will still be twelve when you sail, if he likes the kids' menu, you won't need to purchase the package. Just in case, you might want to keep a copy somewhere to show, Here is the link: Family Cruises: Cruise Dining, Entertainment & Activities | Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com)

Find a Jewish friend of yours and wangle a visit to their home for some sizzling latkes starting next Thursday night. The latkes are great with apple sauce, sour cream, or a little sugar

Very true. For whatever reason, I've not eaten in Food Republic. Lunch has been MDR on the Garden Cafe.

Being a little picky. "go to any specialty dining restaurant twice" sounds like you can go two times to any specialty restaurant. Rather, I'd say, guests 1 and 2 each get to have 2 meals at specialty restaurants as part of their FAS. Additional meals at specialty restaurants include costs. Also, if there are additional people in the room, the guest can purchase dining credits online for them. NCL has been running a special $82.80 per person for two meals for the first two people in the room. (The $82.80 includes the gratuity.) I don't know if you can get the special 2 meals for $82.80 rate for additional people in the room as there are only 2 people in our party.

Lovely photos. The mountains seem to be using that special epoxy for clouds.

We manage to still require support from grid. One of our biggest draws is charging the electric car. We usually run under 5 kW, even running the dryer. Plug in the electric car and 10 kW.

The rain the DC area had yesterday has moved north, so not a lot of sun to power panels. (From the local news, .5 mile visibility. How many panels do you have? Our 39 are currently at .2 Kw,

Thanks for the photo of the showing the National Historical Park sign. We will have to remember to bring our National Park booklet so we can get a stamp in Skgway. .Hopefully, also one for Glacier Bay. Two of our least favorite lines: 1) Gee, we should have brought the binoculars. 2) Gee we should have brought the national park booklet for and done a stamp. The fox we sometimes see on our street, Quick Fox Lane, is red with a black tail.

In winter are you sure it is a 4-hour drive to NYC? I remember on trip from Rochester to Troy. Got at far as Senecca Falls as they closed the Thruway. We live 50 minutes from Dulles (on a routine day). If we have an early morning flight, it's stay overnight at a hotel with a van to the airport and leave the car at the hotel and, of course, leave at least the day before for a cruise a) to avoid missing ship and b) checking out the outbound city. Enjoy your cruise. We only ate at Indulge once on Prima in June, but enjoyed this new concept. So, from almost newest ship to the smaller Star in exactly a month.

Bon voyage.

I really like the picture of the spices.

Last year we watched a full moon rise behind a bridge while in Istanbul. La Cucina's windows gave us an amazing view.

Based on you photo of the whale, I am definitely going to check out these two. Thanks for letting us know.

We were on deck 14 and mostly used the stairs. The only thing about the door is that it reminds me of the original doors in the student union at the college I attended. The door is quite sturdy!

The lack of shower curtains bugged me. Especially as the door to the outside is close by.

The Haven bathrobes are the best. I periodically check to see if they are on sale at the NCL site. The last few times the site says sold out.

Just looked at out Dec. 16-day sailing on Star. The show What the World Needs Now had been showing as leaving Oct. 11 since June of this year. NCL just started showing Deal or No Deal with these words "Play cards will be available for purchase onboard." At least, they are keeping Paradis and Band on the Run. There are 6 sea days on the cruise. I guess I could be doing a lot of trivia and reading.

One of the Haven perks is that you can make dining reservations at 130 days out and no, full payment is not required. For completeness, without any perks, people can book dining reservations 120ndays out, Latitude members platinum and above can book at 125 days out, as well as those staying in Club Balcony Suites. Note that if you want to book the same site twice, you need to call as online your are only allowed to pre-book at a restaurant once.

Will be heading through your area in October on way up the Northway for a big numbered reunion for my hubby. Reunions are usually a few days early for peak foliage, Last year it was my big reunion year at that college on the hill overlooking Troy and the Hudson. The reunion worked out well for us as a classmate joined us on our Epic cruise from Italy to Israel and then this year, we decided to join her on Star for Xmas/NYE cruise to South America and Antarctica.

Interesting. I was on the Prima in June, so it is not that long ago. But, I still bet if you asked the day before, as they have it at the regulat buffet, they'd probably accommodate a person.

On Prima, I gathered up the lox, cream cheese, capers and onions from the buffet and then requested toasted bagel and lettuce and assembled myself. No problem. I'm sure they'd even assemble it for you in the Haven, if you ask nicely.

Just want to remind you that choices aren't only buffet or specialty, there are also the main dining rooms. Depending upon the cabin level or your Latitude Rewards level, you may be able to book earlier than 120 days out. Even if you can't do that, there is actually only a fraction of the times available pre-boarding. Once on board, you can book at dining rooms, monitors or else use the app. If you are staying in Haven or a true suite (S* cabin, NOT club balcony suite) or are Latitude Platinum or up, you can use concierge (though I've never figured out where concierge is for Latitudes!) We've always booked specialty as early as we could and then adjusted on-board, if necessary.

Have seen them twice and look forward to seeing them again next year in Alaska on the Encore. BTW, I always enjoy following your posts, Bird. Thank you.

Digital photos of "all selected photos", i.e.. the 8 you select. If you buy more photos, then they will also be included.