Essiesmom

Welcome to MSC… but im sorry you did t come here before your cruise, you could have avoided some of the boarding day frustrations. Hints such as ‘they don’t adhere to check in times’, and reading the welcome sheet you are given to find out where they are adjusting dining times. Those items have also been recounted on live threads here.

Listed as #5 on the sheet you copied. Other options on the Florida Departures board. EM

@LACruiser88could you please report on your time in Fuerte Amador and pictures on the Ports of Call board for Panama Canal. Reason…people are always asking questions about the terminal and area…but never come back to relate their experiences. Thanks, EM

Pedro Miguel and Miraflores for NCL Gem.

If you use the search function by entering Walkie Talkies you may get a number of threads telling you they don’t work and why, with the very occasional person why claims they worked perfectly. Bring them and be frustrated, and those around you annoyed. EM

It’s Monday and NCL Gem is doing a full transit westbound. She’ll be back eastbound in a couple of days. Gatun Locks.

Caledonian Sky at Gatun

Caledonian Sky is doing a night transit. I don’t believe there are any guests onboard. I caught her at Miraflores but couldn’t distinguish her at Pedro Miguel. Yesterday sported another small ship in Limon Bay. ACL ship American Constitution. According to her schedule she is supposed to be doing coastal US cruises from Baltimore. Someone to watch.

Have you looked at Megan’s live thread? She is currently onboard from San Juan. I believe it is Old San Juan. em

I believe somewhere on JamieLogical’s thread crash course someone mentioned activities for solos. This was in its second cruise when I sailed solo in July. Basically then they met before the restaurants opened and the hostess had table reservations for groups of solos. I think most were on their first VV cruise. It was not an attempt to match people up…just to have someone to talk with during dinner. There are lots of interesting games and trivia in the Social Club during the day. But there are plenty of places to just chill, read, people watch, and listen to live music. Read some of the Live From threads. But I really suggest you go for a 5 day cruise over 4. My cruise was 5 days and really, that was not enough to really get into a routine. VV is a different experience from the other lines I have sailed. You are actually on their lower cusp of the age group they would like to attract. EM

I got her at Gatun on my way to church…and now at Miraflores

They are the same class (Breakaway Plus) si I assume they would have the same layout. But to be sure, ask on the NCL board here. EM

I have read that people sometimes have a printed list of their wants/needs that they give to their butler/steward. I have never done this, never sailed in YC or a suite. But if I did it might read something like: I have arthritis, need the softest bed possible. If bed is not satisfactory I might sleep on the sofa, so would like a blanket. No feather pillows I don’t like alcohol so no liquor or sparkling wind, just Diet Coke For snacks just fruit/chocolate strawberries. I am diabetic. I rise early so my cabin will be available early with your son, a list might be helpful.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There are lots of folk here who have sailed on Seashore. There are Ports of Call boards here for information about the Bahamas, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Lots of cruise reviews and Live From threads that cover Ocean Cay. There is a feature at the top of the page where you can choose a ship and find threads about that ship. I have illustrated it in the picture below. EM

For those that have’t sailed VV…the tags are like the airline tags, except they didn’t peel and stick mine…I have two staples. They ask your cabin number and the letter identifier. Mine was M, as my cabin was interior. I suppose you could ask them for the tag and stuff it in your plastic and wire holders, attach and then hand over to the porter…holding up the line behind you…or step out of line to do this, then hand over the bag.

Are you just testing posting, or did you think you were on the board for ‘Explorer’? There are several lines that have a ship with the name Explorer

The problem is that VV doesn’t send out luggage tags to print. They are issued at the port when you check luggage. And you are supposed to leave them on because they use the same tag to sort luggage on debark. EM

I suspect they are correct. What would you do if the ship was unable to dock in Le Havre? That occasionally happens due to weather or strikes. EM

Mid afternoon or mid forward. If only choice becomes forward or aft, I would choose aft. You probably will only be in your cabin to shower and sleep. Even if you have a balcony, you should be out on the decks to see the changing scenery and wildlife. EM

One of the least used features of CC is the ability to find threads about a particular. In that case, use the Select ship feature which I have a screen shot of below. Click on the ship that interests you and you will get pages of threads that mention the ship, newest posts first. There have been several Live from threads lately that include the dailies. EM

If you are doing the 7 day northbound, I would do starboard. If southbound port side. If you are doing the 14 day it doesn’t matter. But you should not expect to ‘see’ Alaska from your balcony. You will miss so much if you do. You should be moving around, able to move to the other side when the naturalist or captain announces wildlife sighting. EM

Beyond heading back out.

Today Celebrity Beyond is doing a partial transit through Agua Clara locks

The vast majority of CC members are from North America. Most of the cruisers for MSC and other European lines have never heard of CC. You might find a handful of North Americans on your cruise, and you the only CC member. EM

No. EM