laudergayle

Last year, mid-May, we took Bliss to Alaska out of Seattle and back. For us, it was an awful cruise. We saw Sitka, then missed Juneau, ISP and much of Ketchikan due to contracting Norovirus. Also, the two excursions we booked were in Juneau and ISP…figures! The Bliss made it to the entrance of Dawes glacier but could go no further due to an ice field…so no one on board saw the glacier…and the smaller boat excursion was cancelled due to the ice. Needless to say, this cruise was a bust. I have finally convinced DH that we didn’t really take an Alaskan cruise and we should try it again. I like to cruise just off season cause I’m “thrifty” and fewer kids. There is a cruise on the Jewel mid-May from Vancouver to Seward. It has decent times in each port: Vancouver- cruise inner passage - Ketchikan - Juneau - Skagway - Glacier Bay - Hubbard’s Glacier - Seward. my question is mostly about Glacier Bay and Hubbard’s Glacier. Is mid-May too early to expect to get close to these glaciers? Does Hubbard Glacier have an excursion where you can get even closer..,and would that be an option in mid-May? also, would whale watching in Juneau be good? Thoughts please…as we really want to hit a home run this time. Thanks.

Sounds like an awesome cruise. Are any of these ports new to you? Did you do NCL air promo?

If I am interpreting you correctly, this means I can take a few bites of entree #1 and proclaim I’m finished/done with it, then order a second entree? Clever.

I love the thrill of the NYC taxi rides AND they are very regulated. We use Curb app for the taxi. Also, NYC cab drivers tend to really know the city better, many of whom have driven it for years. Our experience with Lyft and Uber in NYC has been mixed…twice being charged (later easily disputed) when the driver got lost or drove in circles. And those notorious faux Lyft/Uber drivers just outside the terminal. We have taken NCL transfer bus to LGA and EWR with no issues. You just have to disembark at the early NCL transfer time, which I believe is right after self disembark. It doesn’t take very long to fill a bus to any of the three main airports. Maybe longer if you wait to disembark.

As @BirdTravels said Mexican Riviera. Nice coastal beachy destinations with a different vibe.. From ATL airport the airfare to LAX stays around $500-$750 per person in main cabin. All European fares are running $1800+ from ATL. If you want to do Mediterranean cruise…which I’m sure you would enjoy…look at 2025. Book now and take the extra time to save for airfare.

No. If you do encounter someone who doesn’t understand you…just find someone else to help you. Most people in Rome speak enough English…especially in areas where tourists are. And don’t let the signage at the airport intimidate you. Once you know what you’re looking for just follow the signs. I suggest knowing a couple words in Italian…like Exit, Restroom/Toilet, Baggage, Hello, Thank You. I also recommend arriving in Rome with some Euros. At the airport buy something small so you can break your paper Euros into Euro coins for tipping. Familiarize yourself with the coins so you know what is what before you go. You can get Euros through your bank with about a week turnaround. You’ll be fine with a little prep and confidence.

I would venture to say that Room Service is not a money-maker for NCL. They levied a deliver charge for continental breakfast to discourage guests from requesting it…and for those who do, NCL will happily collect a Delivery fee. Reduced buffet hours is a tactic to save $$ on both labor and food costs. By reducing staffing hours they can hire fewer crew and spread their hours throughout the breakfast, lunch, dinner service. NCL would prefer we go hungry (haha) than offer service to meet its guests desires.

If Epic is sailing where you want to go and the price is right…don’t hesitate. Epic is perfectly fine, especially in warm weather. There are three pools, 6-7 hot tubs, three slides. The specialty restaurants and MDRs are all similar enough to every other NCL ship. Epic entertainment is meh…but that’s becoming more of the norm across NCL fleet. Epic casino is large with a nice variety of slots and tables. We’d choose Epic again if the itinerary/timing was right. Enjoy.

You all have been so gracious posting your Ciopinno pictures. I thought I should post the pix of that delicious Ciopinno I had last fall. Typically I am quite accomplished with our food photography.

Personally three cruises in ‘23 so far and we haven’t felt impacted by the dining hours. At home we typically wake later than many…and are fine getting up and at it earlier to make the most of our vacation experience. And, we also don’t seek late night food (although I do seek nibbles while drinking snd have been known to bring on chips while in port). That being said…NCL marketing really needs to rethink their brand positioning…as the current NCL is anything but “freestyle”. Here’s some of their current marketing rhetoric: Experience Freestyle Cruising Imagine cruising just the way you want it: with no schedule to follow but your own. That is what Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising provides for all our ships and itineraries. Indulge your taste buds at one of our wide-ranging dining options, or perhaps you would prefer a dinner and a show combination? Savor a three-course meal and a great bottle of wine. Or grab a burger hot off the grill. Dress up. Dress down. Sit down with friends or make new ones. Thanks to the flexibility of no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating, you have the freedom to enjoy more dining options than days of your cruise. I will continue to cruise with NCL…but I would love to get my hands on their marketing team…lol. There is Sooo much opportunity!

Yes more similar to what I recall minus a few calamari…and that broth …yummmm.

LeBistro is one of my favorites. I might try the coq au vin in November…have you ever had it?

See it first hand…brilliant idea! However I’m leaning towards an expensive bottle of champagne with a quiet exit when no one is looking🤣

Oh no…an outlier to the previous posts. What to do now as yours sounds like the one I loved so much on the Breakaway!!

I’m thinking this an accurate assumption. I noticed on past cruises breakfast hours changed based on port or sea day.

As said earlier…there are plenty of reservations held back. Haven, suite and Platinum and above can reserve at 125 days.

Thanks all. Those bowls look like appetizer size. Definitely not what I loved so much in 2022. Looks like I’ll be ordering something else.

Lol. Yeah…NYC taxi is a total NYC experience, of which, is our preferred city transport experience. We recently did Carmel car service from Newark hotel to the port for $79 plus we tipped extra. Last cruise taxi from LGA to Times Square hotel with reasonable tip was $63.70. So I would say $75 to NWR for two as very reasonable.

To each their own…but we didn’t find the $75 for two to Newark to be unreasonable. It was easy and reliable.

Lucky you!! Seattle Port Authority will take your bags directly from the ship to the airport. When you put your luggage outside your cabin at night, the next time you will see it is at baggage claim at your home airport. It is free and such s wonderful program. The cruise will give you the paperwork to complete and the luggage tags for your airline/flight.

Where are you disembarking and what is your transportation from the port?

You can also get a porter to help you with the luggage for a tip.

I will take 10 videos to 1 in-person drill. Besides, the videos remind me our cruise is near.

@cresx please let us know how things work out. Hopefully you are more than 2 weeks out and a name change for the cabin can be made. Hopefully other adults are traveling on the same flight as the kids and can be their guardians. I think the gentleman who can’t travel could just no show for his flight without disrupting the kids flights…but I’d call the airline direct to ask. 🙏🏻Prayers for the gentleman for quick remission from the cancer.🙏🏻

We typically take the NCL bus transfer to Newark. You will get a departure right after walkoffs and as the buses fill they depart.