wally4ever

When I left out of Miami, we got there at 9:00 and we weren't the first ones through the door. We actually stepped on the ship around noon. I'd try to do as many reservations online now, but if everything is booked, they'll tell you onboard where to go (or you can also do it on your room TV).

I love Nutella, but more as an accent to a dessert than the starring attraction. One of my students brought me a tin of Nutella cookies for my birthday, where they basically swapped out chocolate chips for Nutella, and those were the best cookies I've ever had the privilege to eat. I gave serious consideration to looping with my class just to have those cookies again.

I've done two cruises with NCL Air. A few thoughts... Pros: -Cheaper -Airport to ship, ship to airport transportation was included -Transfers were easy to find Cons: -Little margin for error (both flights due after noon on embarkation day) -Lengthy layovers -Bad seats (but upgradeable with the airline)

I ended up in a club+larger balcony for my first cruise; I was originally in a balcony and won an upgrade. The bigger balcony is... way bigger. I don't know the exact measurements, but it was actually big enough for all three of us to be out there and walk around a little.

I did a solo cruise on the Dawn back in spring 2022. It was lovely. It didn't have some of the biggest bells and whistles from the newer ships, but I spend most of my time on decks 6, 7, and 8.

So Teppanyaki and Moderno are both $59. If she's going to go with the adult meal instead of a kids meal (the kids menu is... uninspiring... my tweenager got sick of it pretty quick, and her next cruise she'll be eating off the adult menu), you might find it more cost-effective to buy her a five-meal package, and then choose a third specialty restaurant to visit... just at the third one, tell them you're using the three meals on her package. A two-meal package is around $120 but a five-meal package is only about $100 more.

I was on the Joy for Christmas. The monte cristo was on the menu for the first sea day, and it was as lovely as ever.

333 days, on the Escape

When I was on the Dawn last spring, their game shows, trivia, and "mid-level" stuff was in the Bliss Lounge. The Atrium had piano music for the most part and what I would consider more passive entertainment. When I was on the Joy over Christmas, these were in the Atrium. I found it more pleasant to attend those events in the Bliss Lounge.

If you do the upgrade to Free at Sea plus, the second person also gets the excursion credit. You also get the upgraded drink package, unlimited wifi, and 2 additional specialty meals.

Regardless of what the contract says, there's a real difference between canceling a port because of new information (e.g. weather, change in status of port conditions, etc) and canceling a port because of old information that you chose not to disclose until after the cancelation date. I've never had any NCL cancelations (and if we're being honest, I enjoy sea days at least as much as port days, anyway!) but I can understand the frustration. If NCL knows they won't be going to Port A, they should let people know that as soon as possible, and certainly should not continue advertising as though they will go to Port A.

One question I always have... what exactly happens when you miss a port? Like... they time everything so that you get to the next port based on a six/eight/ten hour stop, do they just... go slower? Give more time at the next port?

I've never been on Royal Caribbean, so I can't compare, but I've done three cruises with Norwegian and I've never had a bad meal.

I love Howl at the Moon. I've seen a lot of great entertainment, but I think that's probably my favorite.

I did the Rodeo Drive excursion. It was interesting. You do get an hour to wander around Hollywood and another to wander around the Rodeo Drive area. I wouldn't plan a plane out of LA based around doing it again, but I consider it to have time better spent than an extra four hours at the airport would have been.

Alas, part of being a new cruiser is not knowing what the pre-COVID days were like. I'd probably be more bothered by the nickel and diming if I had experience from then. For me though, it's just... what cruising is.

When I went to O'Sheehan's December 2021, it was the typical menu, not a limited one.

Elements is a fun show. It's hard to describe, but it reminds me of a cross between ballet and Cirque de Soleil.

Yes they've switched to Coke.

Oh yes there were plenty of chairs. The only people standing seemed to be doing so by choice. Now they weren't particularly comfortable chairs... they were standard metal folding chairs... but sitting while you wait shouldn't be a problem.

Kinky Boots is a great show. What about it is so irksome to you that you would prefer it not to be offered even to those interested in watching it?

I haven't gotten high enough with Latitudes there yet, but I can say that they always ask me when they scan my card if I'm using a dining package.

You do not need to pay more in gratuities. You'll get a receipt to sign, and I usually do put $10 down, but it isn't required. Kiddos can eat off the kids menu for free.

Per-Minute wi-fi is $0.99, so 250 minutes would be $247.50. I don't know if it's possible to buy a minutes package though. A three-meal dining package is $166.80 (plus the 20% gratuity bringing it to $200.16) So if he really wants both, he'd be better off doing the Wi-Fi. Additionally, if he's likely to use more than 250 minutes anyway, he'd probably still want the wi-fi with an unlimited upgrade.

The Brewhouse on the Joy was, for lack of better description… cool. Laid back atmosphere, decent piano-based music, good either for chatting with friends or just enjoying the music. Is it the same vibe on the Escape? I’m gonna be there in December.