greg_atlanta

39 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Anyone who follows your advice is opening themselves up to serious legal problems if they're caught with marijuana or even with CBD products that contain some THC.

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....

2 hours ago, Nunagoras said:

If one is only interested on wine, better to go by the bottle on MDR....

 

These days from where I live, pretty much everyone receives the Easy package with their basic fare, so...

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.

2 hours ago, skyking said:

It is worth it if you are wine drinker.  

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...

2 hours ago, Aladdin22 said:

We’re on this sailing and we’re notified our bid was successful about four hours ago

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?

1 hour ago, GeezerCouple said:

Enjoy Alaska.  That was such a memorable cruise for us.  Will you get to Hubbard Glacier?  That was a high point of the cruise for us.

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!  😊

5 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

This is very good advice but wanted to add one thing...if you are looking to join a table already seated, you may not find a lot of options on NCL......  I don't have a problem eating alone in the MDR and prefer it to eating with people I have never met.  I have a book or tablet to keep me occupied between courses or just enjoy the view (this would especially be true in Alaska).

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.....

I called Atlantis and they said they're not offering the roommate option on this cruise due to the potential covid risk.  They said I could book for two and add a roommate on my own up until a week before the cruise.

They said it's selling pretty fast, alumni only sale ends today.

I'd like to go but friends are being non-committal as usual.

I've booked with randomly assigned roommate in the past and had a good experience, but don't see that option on the site right now.  May call tomorrow and ask.

The Atlantis cruise did have some late nights (with music in calypso pool til 6 am some nights) and more in skywalkers later than that (which is pretty isolated from the rest of the ship) -- but I heard the groove cruise was going 24x7. So granted the staff was a little worn out after the groove cruise and still off their normal routine with Atlantis. (Food was served nearly 24x7 in the buffet).

Speaking of drink revenue.... the pours on mixed drinks were exactly one shot and doubles cost twice as much. Stuff like that makes charter passengers leery of a cruise line. Loosen the wrist a little bit and everyone is much happier... and probably buys more drinks!

The only issue that we have noticed is that the covered pool and jacuzzis have been closed (no water). I was told during the previous cruise that the pool was covered and turned into a dance floor.

Only the indoor pool (calypso?) was covered for the full week. The pool in the back was covered for the 2nd day of the cruise but open for swimming the rest of the cruise.

If all the pools are closed now, maybe they're still having problems with the water intake system?

I noticed all the pools were fresh water with some chemicals (not too bad). I'd gotten used to salt water pools on other cruises.

It was also interesting that the pool temperature varied widely day to day.

On Golden I noticed that in the buffet the coffee was much better if they bring it to you, so they must be brewing it in the back.

If you get it yourself it's the sludge from the machine, but at least it's strong -- so you don't need much to get your caffeine kick.

Still.... embarrassing that Carnival coffee is better.

I've done it twice and had a good experience.

I heard that the matching process is based solely on smoking preference and booking order, so they don't put any more thought into it.

The cruise guide says that if there's a conflict and the two parties decide to split into different cabins (if extra cabins are available) that BOTH parties must pay the premium (basically double the cruise fare).

water being really hot in the shower

Same problem on Golden last week. Even at lowest setting the water in the shower was almost scalding, esp in the morning. Was quite unpleasant after a mild sunburn!!!

I was on the cruise with the A/C failure (Atlantis Events charter, gay cruise). I think most of the points have been covered, but the ship was docked overnight in Puerto Vallarta and that could have compounded the problem. The captain said the sea temp was about 85-90F instead of the normal 65-70F due to the hurricance.

My cabin wasn't that bad (E308) but I heard the A/C was worse in the back on the ship.

The $500 per person credit is refundable -- but these cruises have a reputation for hefty bar bills! ;)

The communication about the problem was a little slow but once we all got the letter about the $500 most people shut up about it -- and by then A/C was mostly working. We skipped Cabo to keep the ship in "cooler waters" but the Cabo stop was only scheduled 8 am to 1 pm so nobody really minded another sea day.

BTW.... most of the passengers on the cruise were not that impressed with Princess overall. Basically Carnival with a little bit better dining room experience.

Be safe not sorry. Disembarkation on golden (from mexico) yesterday started at 9 am instead of 8 am and lines were huge by then. Luckily 10 am traffic to LAX was not bad but both taxis and shuttles were slammed with long lines.

There may be a clothing optional sundeck -- but usually by "consensus" on a quiet/remote part of the ship (not officially labeled as such).

Most people are pretty well behaved, but in any given situation the ship's staff may say "ummm.... don't go there".