candydane

Who would I need to contact at the New York port for a wheelchair to help my mom get on the ship?

 

she uses a walker now after a recent surgery and I do not feel she can walk from car as well as up the ramp.

If you're flying into New York, you might want to consider renting a wheelchair at home and taking it with you. Your airline and the cruise line will both provide a wheelchair but it'd be less hassle to take your own. That would give you the chance to learn about using the wheelchair before you leave home. You would also be able to take the wheelchair with you in port.

If you have your own wheelchair at the airport, you could leave your wheelchair right at the plane door. The airline would (for free) load the wheelchair once you're onboard and have the wheelchair at the plane door when you arrive at your destination.

As stated above, a handicap cabin will give you more room since you will probably be required to "store" the wheelchair or scooter inside your cabin and not be able to leave it outside in the hallway. If you have a small cabin, you may not have room for a scooter. They're not huge but definitely larger than a folded wheelchair.

I've used a wheelchair for cruises when my daughter needed one and it worked perfectly for us -- it gave her the ability to do pretty much whatever she wanted without worrying about getting too tired.

We've also had the same excellent customer service on our NCL cruises.

candydane: Your St Thomas info is fairly extensive, but some is out-of-date. Businesses open and close all the time. Atlantis Submarine has not been around for years. Wikked at Yacht Haven Grande has been closed for some time, but luckily "Fresh" has opened in the same spot. Dockside Books is gone, much to the chagrin of many. And I am not sure how Secret Harbour is closer to the cruise ship dock. It is almost at the end of the island, a longer ride and more $$$ than the others listed.

 

P.S. The quintessential St. Thomas drink is the Bushwhacker!!

Yes, you're right on the website. I know that when I use it but of course other people wouldn't :o

So I've added a note to each webpage stating that the information may not be accurate or complete or current and important details should be verified before finalizing plans.

Thanks for the heads up!

For clarification, there will be some tall "permanent" pillars lined up right near the boarding gate. Each pillar will have a sign on each side clearly showing a range of boarding numbers and which direction (before or after the pillar) to help you find the right "slot" for your boarding number.

I THINK it's boarding passes 1 through 40 on one side of the pillars and 39 through 80 on the other side of the pillar.

The gate attendant will call for all passengers with a "Group A" boarding pass to line up along the pillars. When the first group is boarded, he/she will call for the next "Group B" boarding passes. And so on until everyone's onboard. Usually somewhere between groups they board passengers needing special assistance or with small children.

It's really easy and way simpler than it sounds.

If you get confused, people are usually helpful if you ask.

There are no links from the UK site to the menus (that I could find). NCL's website elves - get it sorted please!

Here's how to get to the link on the US site:

• From NCL home page (www dot NCL dot com), select tab "Learn About Our Cruises"
  
• Then select ship (the Epic, right?)
  
• Then select tab in blue border (right under ship photo) "What's On Board?"
  
• Then select button in blue border "Speciality Dining"
  
• Then select "+" for Le Bistro
  
• Click button "Sample Menu"
  

Really good to hear. Thanks for reporting.

Thank you. Hope all the stuff helps you plan great cruises! :)

I've found doing a website for each cruise is a good way to accumulate things as I find them on the internet and not have to use "a forest of trees" to print everything to take with me. And way easier to find what I remember "having read somewhere!

I am planning to use valuetrips for this hotel for next July 2015.

 

The road between the hotel and 17th street is safe to walk at night?

 

Which restaurants are walking distance?

 

If I booked this hotel using valuetrips, the reservation will include breakfast and the shuttle from the airport?

We are booked at the Hyatt Place next April. Here's a link to my webpage of hotel information I've accumulated for our cruise: Hotel. There's a list of nearby restaurants with links to their websites.

It's a safe area to walk around at night -- just (like in all cities) always be aware of what's going on around you.

Your value trips reservation should get the same amenities as booking directly with Hyatt Place. If you're concerned, you can book your room then in a couple days call Hyatt Place to confirm both your reservation and your amenities.

If you don't like what you hear, Valuetrip reservations can be cancelled at no cost up until the cutoff date for the Hyatt Place.

You shouldn't have trouble requesting a van taxi large enough. A couple of times we saw a van taxi waiting at the hotel/airport and made arrangements right there with the driver for pickup at our requested time.

You can also have the hotel concierge (if there is one) arrange for a taxi large enough for your family.

We have frequently cruised with 4 adults and 4-5 full-size bags plus carry-ons and always been able to share a taxi.

AARP offers up to $100 or 5% off for any cabin category on cruises booked 9 months in advance: AARP Member Cruise Deals.

I think you have to be 50 to get AARP membership but it could be worth it if at least one of you in your cabin in your qualify.

Here's a link to my webpage where I've accumulated lots of information from cruise critic and other websites: Sapphire Beach.

Hopefully that should help you plan your day.

Great information. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing the video.

Candydane...thank you so much for sharing your website. I'm going on the Pearl to most of these islands and so far the best information I have seen so far for ship and ports. Again, thank you for sharing!

 

Deb

You're welcome. I've done cruise websites for years. It's much easier and more efficient than having to print things as I find them and end up with a stack of papers! Or worse yet, "remember I read something" but can't remember where or exactly what I read! :(

Thanks goodness for "cut and paste" abilities on my computer!! :D

I have heard back from Value Trips today that the dates I asked for are blacked out - Jan. 16/17, 2015:(

That's too bad because the rates are good for the area and Hyatt Place in particular.

The website lists other blacked out times:

Not valid with any other offers or discounts, during holidays, special events, 8/1-8/9/14, 10/29-11/2, 11/7-11/9, 11/14, 12/26-12/27/14, 1/16-1/17/15, 1/21-1/24, 2/6-2/7, 2/14-2/15, 2/27-2/28 or 10/30-11/9/15.

Thanks for the postings with step-by-step instructions!!! I've tried to figure it out to post photos in the past but couldn't.

I see that Shutterfly also has a website option that I'm going to check out. I use iWeb on my iMac but Apple hasn't supported iWeb for years.

Shutterfly looks like an easy option that's "current".

I just completed my online check-in and printed my e-Docs. The all important BARCODE for the ticket does NOT fit on the first page but carries over to a second page.

 

First, this wastes my paper.

Second, when checking in for the cruise it would be much easier while carrying everything else to have the written ticket info and the barcode all on ONE easily presentable page.

 

Easily done if they would shrink the header and move it up...

 

Just my two cents...

I agree that it's an unnecessary hassle and waste of paper!

It's not a matter of AFFORDING the extra sheet of paper!! Unfortunately it's not just ONE "wasted" piece of paper -- it's 1 sheet for each of the thousands of NCL passengers who print out their e-Docs for every NCL cruise.

And it's double the number of e-Doc pieces of paper that NCL has to process at check-in for thousands of passengers and then file/store them.

A major advantage of today's electronic world is that it helps to eliminate PAPERWORK! As you say, a simple reprogramming/reformatting by NCL would be much more efficient for everyone.

As for the e-Docs, I either print them 2-sided or slightly reduce the font size when I print them out so they'll fit on one side of one sheet of paper.

I see that value trips dot com now has it's 2015 rates listed for Hyatt Place.

Not as low as last year but still lower than what I can find elsewhere.

Virginia has been our concierge on several cruises and is easily our favorite! She has always quickly and efficiently handled our requests and questions. Very friendly and really a pleasure to talk with!

We're always excited when we know she'll be on our ship -- good times!

I couldn't open your YouTube video link.

Error message unknown video.

What is included for the $35 per person?

How many Marriott Reward points would it be for a day pass?

Go into your local bank and talk to a manager about your need for and bank options to get cash in Europe. You may be able to raise your daily limits or open a special account that will meet your needs.

Here's a couple articles that may be of interest:

• Tips on Using ATMs in Europe
  
• Off to Europe? 5 reasons to pack an ATM card
  

You can google "ATMs in Europe" for more information to help you pre-plan and get the right option for your needs.

We use Consumer Cellular and have the Anywhere 1200 for $30 (plus tax) per month. We also get an AARP discount which makes it slightly less.

Consumer Cellular has an Anywhere Casual plan for $10 month. It includes no free minutes and calls are 25 cents a minute. Good for occasional usage. They have minimal usage plans too -- starting at 200 minutes @ $15 month -- and up.

You could also just buy a "burner" phone with a minimal number of pre-paid minutes. Then buy replacement cards as needed. Excellent for occasional, emergency users. Quick look at major online store has them starting at $15.

We were also planning to go to Carambola Beach Club but PGC looks beautiful.

Is there a beach area too or just the pool and garden area? Are there chairs and umbrellas on the beach that are furnished or for rent?

South Panoramic with Beach - MT27

. . . 2) When we get back from our cruise I will review it here. . .

That will be great. We are planning to take what's probably the same excursion through NCL.

There is so little information on Martinique it's hard to decide what to do.

We're especially interested in availability of chairs/lounges, shade (natural or umbrellas) and snorkeling.

Thanks. :)