oceanbreeze50

53 minutes ago, Baowen said:

I've only cruised out of Bayonne once before but we ended up staying at the Embassy Suites next to Newark airport. I just booked that again. It was clean and safe. It's a pretty quick Uber to the port and there are restaurants and an outlet center nearby. I did a ton of research last time and I just revisited  the East Coast departures board and many said to stay in that area. There are a few hotels in that location

Beth,

Thank you so much for this information!  The Embassy Suites is one of the hotels that I was looking at and had contacted them earlier tonight.  The website shows cruise shuttle but they said at this moment they do not have a cruise shuttle but are working on getting one.  However, it would not be available since this cruise is so soon.   Since you have stayed there before it makes me feel better about this hotel.  I will book here also and take Uber to the port.  Looking forward to seeing you onboard!

Just notified I will be on Oasis of the Seas!  So excited!  I have already booked my airfare and now need hotel and transportation to the port.  Any suggestions will be appreciated as I am not familiar with that area.

On 7/23/2021 at 2:28 PM, Ombud said:

I am a vegetarian so any suggestions on where to eat in Juneau, Skagway,  or Ketchikan?

 

Son wants me to bring him salmon jerky, daughter wants a suncatcher, kids want chocolate rocks, I don't want to spend all day shopping 

For salmon jerky, try Salmon Etc. in Ketchikan.  My son loves their jerky and we have been buying from them for several years.  They also ship to the lower states and I have always had prompt service.  Just hope they are still open and made it through this past year.

Thank you all so much for your input!  

I will contact some of the hotels you suggested and see if I can find something.  I have stayed at the Doubletree Alana in the past and it was a great location for me.

Hello everyone!

Does anyone know of a hotel in Honolulu that offers "day options"?   After departing the ship early morning, I have a flight that does not leave until approximately 8:45 PM.  Having been to Honolulu several times, I thought it might be nice just to get a room for the day and relax before my long flight home.  Most hotel check-ins are not until 3 PM which would not work for me.  

I have also been checking tours but they do not hold your luggage.  Any suggestions will be appreciated............thanks!

NCL has a solo balcony special for the 5 day December 8th sailing out of New Orleans.  You are also allowed to use a Cruise Next Certificate for this 5 day sailing.  Balcony solo rate with taxes approximately $585 less $250 certificate makes it a great deal.

 I am in driving distance so this is a terrific deal for me!

Thank you so much for posting this information!  I had a certificate that I was needing to use by March 1st and was able to book it on a 5 day out of New Orleans.  NCL also has a solo special for a balcony on the December 8 sailing so it was a win win for me!

I was trying to hold off as well to see what was going on with the Spirit, but hopped on that Getaway itinerary because of the studios since I'm a solo traveler. Really looking forward to this trip. It's an awesome one on a newish ship.

Thank you for posting this about the studios! I have been trying to find a cruise to Iceland/Scotland that did not break the bank for a solo. This itinerary has enough of the ports I wanted so I booked today!!!

We've stayed on deck 2 on Brilliance and the windows were decent size, definitely not 12". You said you stayed on Serenade. Serenade and Brilliance are sister ships, built basically the same. If you were satisfied with the window on Serenade, you'll be happy with the one on Brilliance. The only caveat, as CB mentioned, the cabins all the way forward have the small window, the rest are bigger.

Thank you for confirming the larger than 12" windows. The only cabins on Brilliance are mid ship so I will be fine!

Some posts are literally totally irrelevant.

 

We book the least expensive outside 2 adjoining cabins available. Sometimes it is on Deck 3; other times it is on Deck 2. Many times it is so easy to get to and from the show lounge on these levels. We can see the ocean just fine. When the kids were younger they enjoyed watching the close view of the water action outside the cabin window. We use the money saved to book great non-ship excursions.

Thank you for this response as most of the others were just, well as you stated, totally irrelevant. I "love" Deck 2 but were concerned the windows were smaller than on Serenade. If the window is the same size, there is plenty of "view" and being that close to the water make you feel as if you are "just sailing along" and all is right with the world! It is easy access on and off the ship as well as the Centrum and so much quieter than other floors!

Thanks again for a helpful response.:D

I am booked on Brilliance of the Seas for a TA and have chosen Deck 2 for my cabin. For those of you who have stayed on Deck 2, can you tell me if the windows are the small or large portholes. I have researched the boards and on line but get varying answers, anywhere from 12" to 30" portholes. Last year I was on Serenade Deck 2 and loved the location and had a great view.

Thank you for any help you can give me as I may want to upgrade!

Thank you all for your responses! My first thought was to stay in City Centre, but then I started branching out to other locations and really confused myself. City Centre it will be! At the moment, it is actually less expensive to book direct with the hotels which surprised me.

Thanks again for your help!

I will be spending 3 nights in Amsterdam after my TA next April and am trying to decide on hotel locations. Having exhausted myself from research on CC and on-line direct, I am even more undecided. Therefore, I am turning to those of you who are familiar with Amsterdam for suggestions. Traveling alone, I will definitely want to be in a safe area.

The hotels in city centre are two to three times the price of those at the airport and I am wondering if it is really worth the extra cost to stay in the city. Some of the ones I have looked at are Banks Mansion and Renaissance, due to great reviews. A lot of the smaller, less expensive hotels are already booked up since that is the flower festival week.

My question to everyone, "is it easy enough to travel from the airport each day to city centre just to save the high cost of the hotels"? I have two full day tours already booked which I will need to be at Central Station early for each day.

Thank you for any guidance or advice that you can share with me!

NLC Spirit out of Rome ............July 30, 2017 has some great rates for those who can take advantage of them! Low rates and "NO" single supplements..........Inside $599 and Balcony $1279 when I checked early this morning!

Unfortunately, the timing did not work for me:(

I was on the Jade two weeks ago and it is on Deck 11...........usually open during the day!

There is no need to take toll roads in Houston. (And, yes, there are ones where you have to have an EZ Tag and there aren't booths that take money.) Assume you'll be coming into town on 59. Take 59 through the downtown area until it hooks up with 45 South and take than all the way onto the Island. Easy peasy. Don't try to complicate things!

 

Are you planning on staying somewhere in Houston or on the Island? That will determine where to stay.

Thank you so much for this information! I am going out of the Bayport Cruise Terminal so will these directions work for that cruise port?

I will be on the Jade..........a last minute booking! Anyone else?

I am driving down next week from Memphis to Houston (thanks TruckerDave for your input on directions)! My mind is jumbled from reading so many different threads on hotels/toll roads/etc and hope that someone can answer a few questions.

1. Are there any areas to avoid staying in? Being from Memphis, I know some areas here are not the best.

2. Will all the toll roads accept money? I read somewhere on the boardsthat you needed a toll pass on one of the roads, that you could not pay and the fine was tremendous. Is that correct?

Thanks to anyone who can give advice!

I have my first Crystal cruise booked for June 2017 and hope to find out lots more about Crystal!

Sippican,

Thank you for your report on this sailing. For the past month, I have been going back and forth between several lines and ships trying to make up my mind which one I should book. Today I booked the Serenade because it had the ports that I really wanted. Even with large groups on board, I will have a fantastic trip just getting to see all the sites.

I had also read some "not so good" reviews, but even the larger and newer ships will have negatives. It was good to read your postings here as they helped answer some questions for me. Even though I have been cruising for 25+ years, I have never sailed on RCCL and am looking forward to a different line.

Thank you again for your info on the ports!

I was on the Getaway last week and had a balcony port side on Deck 14........it was a great place to watch the fireworks......almost felt that you could touch them! In the daily, they listed the best places to view them and I remember one being the main pool deck. If you happen to be in Vibe that would also be a great view. One of the Disney ships was a short distance behind the Getaway and started their fireworks first..........then Getaway shot theirs.........with this being my first time to see fireworks at sea, I really enjoyed seeing them out in the middle of the ocean.

Have a great cruise...........Getaway is a really great ship! Wish I was there now:D

I just bought this on-line, I usually like to try them on but I love 50 miles from any store that would sell bathing suits. I took a chance and it paid off, the suit is so pretty and slimming.

Love this suit! Do you mind telling me where you found it? Thanks and enjoy!

One more (and final) try for the link:

http://www.creative.rccl.com/sales/E...s_cel_tues.pdf

I truly hope this works! If it doesn't try to google Celebrity Tuesday Specials Link and it should pull up several different options.

Brenda

Forget the above post ............. I tried it after I posted and it would not work..........even though it is on my computer. I will keep trying to find the address for you!

Try this and see if it works for Celebrity Tuesday Specials:

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/E...s_cel_tues.pdf

Always check late Thursday afternoon or Friday for the next Tuesday's specials............you can always get an idea on what airfare will be! I have found some great prices for solos.........good luck!