DarkJedi

Are you arguing about getting off the ship at the end of the cruise?

Really?

I have never had a problem getting off the ship. If I needed off right away we did walk off, if we didn't need off right away but wanted early we just scheduled based on plane flights.

Other than that I have never had an issue getting off the ship.

OK, once, but that was the other side of the problem. They kicked us off, something about the cruise being over and they needed to get the cabins ready for the next passengers.

Google Translate?

We decorate when we travel with groups since it lets others in our group know who is in what cabin.

Traveling by ourselves we just use the cabin number to find our way back.

Keep in mind if you are not using an official port site that the information may be wrong.

Almost all of those sites still list the Jewel stopping in Muroran next month and that has not been the plan for over half a year.

Trifecta:

The Acropolis is too far from the beach, looks unfinished and is not suitable for Americans with disabilities.

Sadly, I have heard the complaint about ancient sites not being ADA compliant many times from Americans.

Find the hottest "escort" in town, and offer her a free cruise. Go on vacation, and don't leave your cabin ;);)

Just make Tander profile saying you need someone to come on a pre-paid cruise with you. Probably easier than the escort route, and who knows, she might be more than Mrs Right Now.

I would. In fact, 14 sea days would be even better. :D

Oh I know there are people that would, and not knocking those that enjoy sea days. But I prefer port days and cutting out ports just for more sea days is not something I would be happy about.

Changes due to emergencies happen, and I understand that, cutting out ports as a pre-planned event is not cool.

You'll get the gist....

Never saw the video. Adds a new ending to the song.

other than getting a small refund on port charges why would you get a refund? I am always surprised people even think of this. The cost of the cruise except for the port charges have nothing to do with the ports.

Because some people boot for the ports and think that adding a sea day is a rip off.

I would never take a 7 day cruise that went out into the ocean and then came back without going anyplace.

Offering a free 7 day cruise for rebound should get you plenty of friends LOL

While I agree that it is wrong for the cruise lines to mislead people, I can also understand the safety issue from them doing it.

Russia requires that people be on a tour from a registered tour group that is licensed and takes responsibility for them. If you go on sites like Viator you will find tours in Russia that are not licensed for foreigners but that are in English. Imagine if the cruise line simply said you had to be on a tour and have a travel voucher form the tour group? Someone might book a tour where they can't get in to Russia and think that their receipt was the voucher.

We are headed to Kamchatka and the situation gets even more confusing there as there are people saying that they did not need the voucher at all, and sites saying you can just walk off the ship and tour on your own. Plus there are 18 countries (not the US, Australia, NZ, or Canada) that can go visa free to that region.

Much safer for the cruise line to say you need a visa or to be with their tour, and then if you do enough of your own research let you off if you have everything right.

On board Diamond Princess - you must take your passport with you to get off the ship if you are not doing a ship's tour. There are inspectors on the ship and they periodically ask to see a person's passport.

You are required by law to have your passport with you at all times in Japan if you are not a resident.

Up to 100 days worth of medications in original containers. Bring copies of prescriptions for any questions customs may have.

This rule is specific to Iceland. DW has a co-worker who goes there frequently because of family and has multiple prescription meds for her children.

Does this ship have a safe and a refrigerator in the room?

 

 

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Absolutely. There is a walk in closet to the left after you enter, in the back on the right is a safe towards the floor, roughly 3 feet high and two feet wide.

There is a stand up fridge in the galley to the right after the entry hallway, a little small, maybe what you would find in an RV? Fridge on bottom with freezer section on top with a separate door. It does have an icemaker but you have to open the freezer and take them out yourself.

Why are you so concerned about this? Do you plan on acting liking a real jerk on your next cruise?

 

Roz

I doubt it. But likely worrying about the person he is traveling WITH.

After all, he KNOWS he will be put off for misbehaving.

If they are sailing out of US ports do they have to get the Merchant Mariner Credential and if so what sort of background check is done for that?

For ships doing entire US stops (like POA for NCL) they are MMC.

As for security on board, yes, they have security, most of it you will see but may not recognize, and some of it you won't see.

A lot of CCTV monitoring, as well as audio monitoring goes on. Add in that a lot of the security staff do come from police and military backgrounds. Many will also come from casino and hotel security backgrounds.

And many lines will have specialist security people who go from ship to ship making sure everything ig going right, training people, and looking for any gaps.

For example Disney employs a counter-terrorism expert who specializes in marine asymetric warfare. Which is a fancy way of saying he spends a lot of time studying ways terrorists and pirates think and trains people in how to spot them before they can act.

Background checks are standard, although like anything people do slip through the cracks. In general though a ship is no more dangerous than a land based resort as far as that goes. In the past it was a little worse, but changes in requirements in the US have forced the cruise lines to address some laxness and fix it.

Don't know where you are going but we loved the Epic. Buy the spa pass as well.

There is no "garden suite" on any NCL ships.

Garden Villa.

I'm currently looking at the Trans-Pac this September, and when I check NCL's website, it doesn't look like it qualified for the Distinctive Voyages.

 

Would you mind sharing the Trans-Pac that you will be doing?

 

Thanks!

Jewel May 6th, 2018 from Tokyo to Seattle

I work hard and in my job I cater to other people's needs. In the Haven others cater to my needs. I find value in that. I budget for that.

 

I am older, I have paid my dues, bought and paid off my house. Pay my bills. Buy a new car about every 10-12 years. Divorced, no kids of my own but dote on my sister's kids.

 

I am frugal in some ways that allow me to justify my decision to splurge on one or two vacations a year.

 

And lastly, I am blessed with a wonderful employer for 27 years who rewards me with a generous Christmas bonus which I allocate to travel.

 

That is my story. We all have our own. Ultimately, for me, it is all about value relative to cost.

Very well said.

I still don't think it is worth it vs a true luxury line for less money. But very well said.

Ship's cameras are linked to wired and slave strobe lights. Your camera would not trigger these lights.

We were on CCL several years ago with a large group. One of the people in our group was taking pictures when they were set up for formal night (not of the backdrops) and one of the camera operators strobes kept going off for no reason. Finally figured out they were keyed to the same codes as our friend's off camera flash.

Sadly he is not much of a jokester, could have had a lot of fun with that.

Evening is a very subjective term in Alaska....

We are in Juneau on May 22, sunset is at 9:30pm, and getting later after that.

What does a suite offer to make it worth so much more than a balcony?

The Butler, who will bring you snacks that you probably won't eat. And who will unpack for you and pack for you.

A concierge who will make arrangements for all your ship sponsored excursions and set up dinner times for you and show times. Assuming you did not already do this yourself online 100 days before boarding.

A private area with a small pool.

Loungers with cushions.

Private sunning area.

A Haven restaurant and bar on board Epic.

A MUCH nicer in suite breakfast.

Stick with the balcony, pick a nice one, and get the spa pass. Epic is a great ship, we really enjoyed her, and the spa was fantastic with plenty of co-ed space.

Well, that definitely looks exclusive!

I heard a fellow complaining about a woman who happened to be taller than average, resting her long leg on his knee at the blackjack table.

Such trouble!

Where I come from we call that a clue...