greg_atlanta

It's just an observation, not a recommendation. Circumstances may be different if the cruise is a "party crowd", which was NOT the case with my cruise or the Holland America cruise arriving the same day as ours. May be different at other embarkation/debarkation/ports of call as well. Perhaps others will chime in with their observations.

I just returned from NCL Spirit Alaska sailing round trip from Seattle Our cruise departed from Pier 66 and arrived at Pier 91 (due to other NCL ship arriving same day). Pier 66 had a strongly worded banner in the check-in area about not bringing any marijuana (THC and CBD) including a long list of different formats (edibles, vape, etc.) but I didn't notice any additional screening to detect such products (like dogs). Just the usual metal detector and quick x-ray of your bag. (Not sure if there was additional screening of checked baggage). Granted our cruise sailed from one weed legal state to another with two stops in a weed legal country... including a stop in Vancouver where a lot more is legal (mushrooms, LSD, etc.). I didn't see any additional screening at ports of call either, just very light ship security. So if you can't smell it or smoke it you could probably bring something at embarkation or pick it up along the way. Of course there's always the chance of a random screening, but I don't think it's a regular practice. Like if TSA screened for THC and CBD at airports it would slow things down so much planes would leave empty....

definitely more than wine with dinner, maybe drinks at the pool and private island, pre-dinner drinks, and late night drinks if there's a nightlife (hard to predict on a Nov cruise). when I took a Costa cruise in 2012 and 2014 pretty much everyone had the drinks package.... looks like MSC is chasing the same vibe. mainstream US cruise line drink packages are kinda ridiculous unless you get a last minute special.

I appreciate nice wine but OK with the decent stuff if the price is right. For the cruise I'm looking at the Easy Plus is $150 per person for a 10 night cruise on Divina (Nov 4) with 4 sea days. Is MSC drink package pricing super competitive compared to other cruise lines? Seems that way. I'm just off an NCL cruise and didn't get the drink package, and individual drink prices were pretty steep. Is the tip included in the package price, or do you pay a tip for each drink or for a value of the package? On NCL the tip was a lump sum in advance which made the package price ridiculous. Do you have to sign for each drink or just present your card and go? (On NCL didn't have to sign for each drink unless you paid by the drink).

so if i want several glasses of wine with dinner in main dining room (will drink other stuff rest of the day) are you saying that the Easy Plus wine selection is the same as Easy? or just one more option per varietal than Easy? i probably won't go to specialty restaurants, so that's not an issue. the Easy Plus is offered on a November Divina cruise I'm considering at a very attractive price, but it doesn't give me an option to choose a different beverage package in pre-booking. is that typical? (this will be my first time on MSC... i have fond memories of the 20 euro per day drink package on Costa)

I've done 3 Atlantis cruises and enjoyed them, but it won't be a regular thing for me. The vibe is stuck in 90s circuit culture to some extent, and the formula for each cruise stays the same. If you're traveling solo the smaller the ship the better. My last one was on a megaship and it was hard to stay in touch with anyone you met since you may never see them again unless you're very forward and exchange info as soon as you meet (which is considered creepy on dry land). The megaship seemed to attract a groupie crowd (large groups of guys who already know each other). Most guys are so attached to their phones they pay for service on the ship and stay in touch that way. I think the days of leaving notes on doors is probably fading...

Thanks, I booked inside sailaway traveling solo so I'm sure I'll be at the end of the list. I guess the upgrade system is cool if capacity is tight, but if the ship is half full then they should give everyone a balcony for free! 😁 I don't mind the lower deck balcony at the front of the ship which probably get splashed in high seas. Only my 2nd time on NCL but I wear by brown bag (aka bronze) status proudly!

I placed a low bid (slightly above minimum) to upgrade from inside to oceanview on Spirit Alaska sailing Sept 21 (5 days from now) and still haven't heard anything -- even though I hear the recent Alaska Spirit sailings are well below capacity.

Are the Canada rules applicable to port of embarkation (cruise departing from Vancouver), port of call (cruise stopping in Victoria), or both? NCL website isn't clear. My Sept 21 Spirit cruise (roundtrip from Seattle) has two Canadian ports of call (Victoria and Vancouver).

I paid 150% for solo cabin on upcoming Alaska cruise, but it's last cruise of the season and weather likely less than ideal (but I don't mind). I booked a little more than 60 days out. At least you only pay the port fees and gratuities for one person. Orbitz is good for shopping around if you're considering multiple options, it asks you to reconfirm pricing is for one. Then you can change it to pricing for two to determine the actual markup.

I'm on Spirit out of Seattle Sept 21 and will be in town a few days ahead of time. I was hoping to test locally on the chance the requirement is dropped.... Looks like remote proctored antigen testing through NCL partner Inspire is a better deal ($49) than trying to do it locally. Seems if you do a "pre-travel" test you're going to be ripped off, I've seen $129 all the way up to mid-$200s for clinics in Seattle. Anyone have good/bad experience with Inspire?

Yep that's the 4th day of the cruise (Sept 24) and looks like we're the only ship there. Hope the weather cooperates! I've posted on roll call already and will try to keep up with the various group efforts. Of course there may be a few characters to be avoided but I find most people pleasant enough! 😊

Thanks, for the purpose of this discussion I prefer to dine with others in MDR for dinner since the pace of dinner is slower, and I do enjoy the ambiance of a formal sit-down dinner. I don't have a hang-up eating by myself if needed, just awkward between courses. I guess if I show up late they'll speed up the service since the staff doesn't want to be there all night! On my cruise there are 3 port departures 8 pm or later, so I expect meet-and-greet attendance will be spotty. I'll try to meet dinner buddies early in the cruise and make plans in advance!

Traveling solo and will try to attend Friends of Dorothy (if offered).... or there's always the steam room! 😄 BF just started a new job and other friends are sketchy and non-committal... not stopping me! Looking for dinner friends and maybe hiking buddies. Doing my own thing at most ports. First Alaska cruise for me!

I'm booked solo on Spirit - Alaska - Sept 21, 2022 - 11 nights. I've only done one NCL cruise before on Pearl in 2012 with friends, and I remember dining room setup being geared towards smaller tables. I also found some older posts on the topic which seem to confirm solo dining in MDR for dinner is awkward. I prefer not to eat alone for dinner -- but don't care about breakfast/lunch (usually do buffet quickly). Prefer to have a late dinner. (Often get a early snack from dinner buffet if I'm hungry!). I do plan to take advantage of any available meet-and-greets for solo cruisers, friends of dorothy, etc. -- and may do Teppanyaki one night (which is solo friendly). But... if don't have prior plans and show up to dinner by myself as the "everyone eats at 7:45" crowd is winding down and hope to be seated with others, is that a lost cause? Will host/hostess treat me like a homeless person? Are people extra freaky now with COVID still lingering? Just wondering if anything has changed.....