SoloAlaska

Tried to add it for my cruise this December but it turns out it can only be done before final payment. Half my flights are already booked but since I upgraded to FAS after final payment I thought I’d try getting a better deal on my flight, no luck. All is good however since I just upgraded my cabin including adding FAS for $62 CAD.

Thank you. I use to operate an eco tourism company in a national park in Canada and live within the boundaries of the park as well. As you said just pay the fee and support the park/forest.

That’s a huge plus for me. I might need my next NCL cruise to be in a studio cabin.

I think comes down to if your using your phone for 2 days or less than just pay the travel fee per day. If your going to use it 3 or more days including while in port and money isn’t a concern then use your usual plan. If you rather save some money and your phone has dual sim then get the Esim card from Europe. For some countries you can order online ahead of time and install before leaving home or also some airports have them in vending machines etc. but for the OP I would recommend having help setting it up before leaving home.

Hahaha you know it. I also get a US pay as you Esim card for my travel.

I personally would rather spend 20$ and have access to data for the days before my cruise as well as all my European port days. However I travel solo and don’t like carrying maps or anything so I depend on my phone a lot if I’m visiting ports outside an excursion.

Solo cabins are also on newer ships which are usually more expensive.

I don’t know all the technicalities but it’s a National Forest. A taxi would be a commercial vehicle so it may be subject to additional fees. If your 2 or more people though the taxi price seems equal or less than the tour operators and it’s a more comfortable ride.

Yes because you also pay for the park fees etc. they have to enter the national forest in order to drop you off.

I contacted a taxi and there was a ton of different parts to what they charge. Pricing was complicated but upfront.

You can also buy a sim or Esim card for Europe. I know this may be well beyond your tech comprehension but it’s basically getting a European phone number for cheaper than North American plans. what kind of phones do you have?

I’m doing a TA on Gem which doesn’t have solo cabins but because this cruise doesn’t have a singles supplement it seems there will be a lot of singles. Looking forward to the NCL experience of being a solo friendly line. Last year I cruised on Celebrity without a singles supplement but now I am not willing to pay double so I’m trying NCL.

My friend did a month in Europe with her 9 month old and loved it. Now that he is older travel has became very difficult so she’s glad she snuck a trip in while it was easier. One thing don’t forget to bring medication for your little one for a variety of potential illnesses. The last thing you need to deal with when you have a sick kid is finding medication that is different than you are use to with different dosages marked in another language. Civitavechia to Rome is a 47 minute train ride away (plus a shuttle from the port to the train station) so not a huge deal. Trains are such a way of life in Europe and don’t require a car seat. Make sure you pack smart and as hands free as possible however because you have to carry your stuff up and down a few stairs though which will be harder when carrying a child.

Being kind to baggage agents has paid off big for us. Our luggage was located much quicker by being kind and having an agent go out of their way to help us instead of just waiting for the system to work in its normal way. I can’t travel carry on only for most of my trips but all essentials and irreplaceable items go in my carry on and personal item. I did a big post not long ago about how I prepare for lost luggage. How I pack just in case and how I even have a plan for how to quickly replace clothing I need for a trip. everyone I know in aviation say the same thing, don’t check your luggage unless you have to. But people need to play within the rules. One thing I always check though before flying is if I’m on a shorter flight will I need to gate check based on the size of the plane. If that might happen I always pack accordingly so I have essentials and dangerous items (stuff with batteries) in my personal item.

After the final payment date I was able to upgrade rooms and to FAS for almost nothing. The ship is 1/3 empty and there was already no single supplement.

Completely agree. For me it depends on the trip. My TA is a solo writing retreat so I’ll be working throughout the cruise and want a clear mind. My trip to Alaska I won’t be solo and I’ll be drinking 2-5 drinks a day plus coffee and water (included since it’s celebrity). Give me a good European coffee over the over roasted stuff any day. Thankfully I have several European ports where I plan to be drinking my share of espresso along the way.

As someone who doesn’t drink soda at all and is going on a 15 night TA the FAS drinks didn’t make sense for me. I don’t plan to drink daily so when I do it will be less expensive to pay as I go than the cost of gratuities. Definitely not a teetotaler Now the drinks package on Celebrity will be used to it’s fullest on an upcoming trip but it also includes bottled water and specialty coffees. The NCL package just doesn’t cover what I’ll be drinking most of the time.

I found searching for cruises with the number of people set to 1 didn’t limit me to solo cabins. It was cheaper to sail on a ship that didn’t have solo cabins even though I was travelling solo. More space was a great bonus.

The basic wifi if your lucky might send a picture but don’t expect it to.

I take about 20-30 flights a year so a reasonable amount I’d say. I reached out to a friend who flys for work more than I do and he says the airline I usually fly is why I don’t see it. Some airlines don’t tolerate it and so it happens much less.

The ceiling was great for drying out clothes (jacket) during my Alaskan cruise.

Oh very nice. We are on the sailing just before yours and I was on millenium last year. If you have to wait for a table Cellar Masters is my go to spot and just outside the MDR entrance on 5.

Ok millennium only has one MDR. I would reserve for the nights you know and walk up for the evenings you might run late. What sailing are you on?

Usually anytime dining means you walk up and wait at the MDR. Are you referring to reservations to a specialty restaurant? It would also help to know which ship.

Waited till the price dropped after final payment. Instead of sail away interior I am upgrading to an obstructed picture window with free at sea for about $120 including the gratuities. I did not get the open bar however. The bar gratuities would have been over $300 and I don’t plan on even drinking that much. wish I had waited to book my flight or I could have saved a little more by doing the flight with NCL but I am still very happy overall.