ladytravlr2

Here's what I always do. At least the night before the cruise I start taking Bonine, the non drowsy kind, or you can use Dramamine. One pill at night is the way I use it every day of the cruise.

Then also I put a couple drops (with my finger) of Motioneaze behind each ear around an hour before dinner. Usually around dinner time the ship is moving and swaying would be more prevalent then.

I also take Ginger pills with me, just in case I need them,but usually don't have to take any.

You can eat green apples...from the main buffet, or find ginger cookies.

If you prepare ahead, it's easier than to try to take something after you already feel sick.

I use it every time I cruise. I take one dramamine every evening before bed, but I use the motioneze...little behind each ear around 6 p.m, before heading to dinner and evening activities.

I never have any ill feelings.

Easy to find at any store like Walmart, or Walgreens.

Keep in mind, that you cannot wait until you get seasick to get a lot of relief right away. You need to be proactive and get it in your system.

Yes, the apples work and the ginger pills, or even ginger snaps work too for last minute need. But if you wait until you are sick...you will have a struggle until you feel better.

I am not sure you would need to take all three remedies at the same time, in fact it might be 'overdoing it".

I have always taken one generic Bonine starting with the night before the cruise, and one every night after that. In addition to that right before dinner I put a drop of Motion-Eze behind each ear. I have found that the most ship movement seems to be in the evenings, especially when leaving a port.

I have had great results using the above method. I have never tried the band, or patches, some people love those. But if I were you, I would check with your doctor to see if using bands or patches with the bonine, might be too much at once.

I have had friends use the bonine and Motion Eze with good results also.

If you take the Bonine at night, if you do feel drowsy you will sleep it off. They do make a non- or less- drowsy version though.

Have a great cruise!

I had stubbed my big toe years ago, and after that damage it kept growing only so far then coming up off the nail bed and then coming off. Kept getting snagged on something, was a real problem.

I finally had it taken off. Now I paint my toe skin where a nail would be. No problem at all. Doesn't always last as long as on the nails, but I retouch then.

I also use Jamberry wraps, and glue that one down to make it stay better. Other Jamberry wraps stay well in pools and water though. I am actually glad that old toe nail is gone!

Taking the ferry over is the easiest to do. Then walk around, watch the parade, see the vendors out along the streets. We also ate dinner at a restaurant after we watched the parade. The ride back to the ship afterwards on the ferry was really nice...seeing the ship all lit up when approaching it from the water. We bought ferry/bus passes for the whole time we were in Bermuda...very reasonable. We took the bus several times.

Enjoy! It is a beautiful place to visit! Make sure to take note of all the scooters/business men wearing bermuda shorts with their suit jackets and colorful knee socks and ties! Gave a new meaning to Bermuda shorts! I realized why they call them that...haha! Very fashionable!

I flew into Ft. Lauderdale and cruise was from Miami port. I came in the day before. I had contacted SAS transportation to arrange a ride to the port from my hotel which was not in Ft. Lauderdale but closer to Miami, and then also from the port on last day of cruise back to airport for my flight home. Easy peasy. Was very reasonable, not sure what it was, was a while back, but very professional company. ( I took a cab from the airport when I arrived to go to the hotel pre-cruise and it cost me an arm and a leg!) Won't do that again, it was farther than I thought.

Google SAS transportation.

In all the cruises I have taken, there has only been one full sea day of stormy rain. It was kind of neat, actually, not that I would want to experience it again, though. It was refreshing, cool rain, and everyone just hung out where ever they could find a nook to get in. When the rain stopped for even a minute people were in the pools. The waves were not too high, yet the ship was rocking some, and winds were howling. There were extra things going on around the ship due to being a sea day anyway, most were held indoors. Good day for naps, that kind of weather is conducive to getting drowsy.

Another time, it rained an entire day at Costa Maya, the ship people sold ponchos, I had brought my own, and went into the shopping area. It poured all day. Some excursions were cancelled, I don't think many went to the beaches either. It ended up just being a shopping day.

Love Jamberry nail wraps! I have been wearing them for over three months, changing styles every couple weeks.

The Vacay or Passport style is great for cruises, or there are bright tropical colors.

I am down to 30 minutes to apply a full set, used to take longer at first. BUT it was taking longer to use nail polish, due to having to wait between coats, etc, and then sometimes getting them messed up...LOL

I just ordered more styles, and I even mix them up sometimes on various fingers. You can be very creative!

Great idea for travel, no more bringing polish and remover. They easily last for a whole cruise and then some.

I have not had a big toenail for years. I "paint" my skin, it stays on for awhile, long enough to look nice with sandals. If you paint all your fingernails, and take the nail polish with you, you might be able to just touch the one finger up, or repaint as needed.

I tried false nails on my toe, didn't work. Not sure if they would stay on your nail-less finger.

But now they have fingernail wraps...I use Jamberry Nails. They will stay on for awhile on the one without a nail, but not as long as on your real nails. I keep my fingernail wraps on for two weeks without problem. On my toes, I need to replace the one on the nail-less toe more often. I recently have tried using nail glue for that one....wanting to see if it stays on longer. Not sure yet.

I have been using the Jamberry nail wraps for three months...great ideas and especially to travel with. Google it.

I have taken Amtrak several times to NOLA cruise port. I enjoy it, actually, USUALLY. The last trip was not as fun, due to such a high volume of passengers. Usually I have been able to stretch out across two seats during the night. Not so that trip....and even got scolded for trying to, they "didn't want to have to wake me up when more passengers got on" and "you should have bought another ticket if you wanted to lay down". Not nice remarks from conductors. So I and everyone else had to sleep sitting straight up. I did manage to go to Observation car in the middle of night and get a couple hours of sleep though.

Anyway, usually I have found it to be a great way to travel to cruises. No baggage restrictions, you can move around freely, etc. The terminal usually has lots of taxis waiting to take you anywhere you need to go.

Left central Illinois at about 10:30 pm, got to NOLA the next day at 3:30 p.m. Plenty of time to enjoy an afternoon and evening in New Orleans before cruise the following day. Approximately 17 hours travel.

Had a sleeper car once, with three girls it was too crowded. So just got coach seats after that.

It was reasonable, around 200 per roundtrip ticket. That is from central Illinois to NOLA. Sleeper adds additional price if you want that.

If it is during a time of holidays or spring breaks, it can be very crowded...just watch for that.

Just got home from Jewel cruise. The casino host said to make sure on your first day of a cruise to check in the casino desk to have your prior cruise points transferred over to your current account, if you want them to accumulate with your current cruise points. We didn't know that, and they said points are only good for 18 months, but you have to ask to have them kept or transferred. I was able to plead innocent...LOL...and got her to get two prior cruise's points transferred, but it was near the end of the current cruise...so she said she would try..and it worked. Then those points were accredited to on board account towards my bill. Other wise I might have lost some of those points without any benefit.

I can't say it would always work out that way, but since I had enough for credit on my bill, it was worth it.

Also, for the first time on an NCL cruise, we had a complimentary dinner to any of the specialty restaurants and chose Teppenaki...it was great and came with a bottle of wine. I don't remember if the comp was from CAS or Latitudes. We had chocolates one night and choc. strawberries one night. Cocktail party, a welcome party, and that is about all I think. This was our 6th NCL cruise so I guess it just all finally amounted to something.

drypak I meant...the blue one everyone is showing...

I have the same one...aqua pak.....works great. Tie it around your swimsuit strap or to your drawstring or in pocket or around your neck.

Me again:

I have to qualify by saying, my sailing in June was one of the first sailings of the Breakaway to Bermuda. I think some things have been worked out on board since then.

LOVED Bermuda...great choice of ports, staying there for three days was perfect!

I totally agree with the OP! I sailed on Breakaway in June, and although I am glad I did for the experience, I have no desire to go again. I too, love the Jewel class, in fact going on the Jewel in 12 days.

We had a balcony cabin, and the balcony size was beyond small, knees practically up to the glass railing when sitting. Room was fine.

My main thoughts were:

1. no large glamorous atrium to WOW!

2. too large, too much time spent trying to figure out where to go, where we were

3. pool area too crowded and cut up in areas

4. buffet area not arranged well for crowds

5. casino placement not good

6. welcoming attitude common on most NCL was not as evident here

Good points:

1. Worth the sailing from NYC, sail away was awesome with the sights

2. Shows were very good

3. Food was acceptable in dining rooms

4. H2O was only place to be restful for adults ( I wasn't in Haven)

I might in the future try another large ship but only if some corrections are made in their layout of decks.

I feel like NCL has their act together on the smaller ships...and you end up feeling very welcome and taken care of. I never felt this on the Breakaway.

I have only gone on 7 night cruises, and not exactly ready to leave. The only thing is I usually missed my dog. Since my last cruise in October, he passed away, so my cruise in two weeks will be the first since then. Not sure how I will feel now. Always dealt with having dog sitter, etc.

I hope someday to take a little longer cruise, so not sure how that might go.

I use the non-drowsy bonine generic version, one each night beginning with the night before the cruise.

I also take along Motion-Eze. It is a tiny bottle of aromatherapy oil that you put a tiny big behind each ear. It's just another layer of 'insurance' to not get queasy. I would put it behind my ears as I was getting ready for dinner each night. It may just be a placebo effect, but I am still going to keep doing it. You can buy it at Walmart or any other such place as you would find Bonine. It's such a small bottle, you might overlook it on the shelf!

Whew! I don't feel so bad now! I thought I had way too many luggage pieces...and now I just might go get another one to catch up. LOL Just kidding, but I do have more than I actually need.

1 27" roller delsey bag, not spinner

2 25" spinner type cases,

1 22" spinner carryon type size.

Many, lost count...tote bags/carry on totes

Too many travel toiletry bags/makeup bags, and travel gadgets.

I always head to the luggage department of stores to look, usually can resist, but love the new patterns and styles.

I can remember the days of no wheels, heavy suitcases and garment bags that hurt your back to carry them. Now I have the lightest possible bags to avoid extra cost.

I start taking Bonine (generic type) non drowsy the night before the cruise and continue, one each night before bed. No seasickness. I also put a drop of Motion-Eze behind each ear before I go to dinner each night. Seems like the evening is when the motion is the most after leaving ports. Motion-Eze is a tiny bottle of aromatherapy oil. It is generally found near the stomach/and Bonine meds. You will miss it if you don't look close...very tiny bottle.

I have been seasick, extremely ill, only once but it was after snorkeling in open water in Cancun. Don't want that feeling ever again. It was not a ship excursion thank goodness so I didn't have to deal with being on a ship later.

Good luck!

Just my opinion, but the Breakaway pool area is lacking in space to even move around. Like the previous poster said, it is cut up into smaller areas, but all congested. Too small for so many people. We did not even get in the pool in the main area, which also has kiddie areas nearby too. It was way too busy. Not the open central pool area that cruisers have come to love and enjoy. I missed that feature.

Spice H2O is nice, peaceful, with a large TV screen (very large). It also has a couple hot tubs, and a waterfall type area with shallow pool areas that you can sit in to cool off. It is an adult area, I never saw a child in there at all. It has plenty of seating, and a bar area too. It actually is where the sail away party was held. If you want to get away from the crowd, you can go there.

I was disappointed in the main pool area for sure.

I think you will love the Spirit. I have consistently cruised on NCL for the last few years, and have no complaints really. I felt like the Breakaway was a little too large for me, but it's a beautiful ship. I think I am more in favor of the Jewel class of NCL. But, the most beautiful pool area on an NCL ship has to be the Spirit in my opinion.

That said, I like the adult pool areas of the Royal C. line that have the adult solarium and the hot tubs jutting out the sides of the ship, and their promendade shopping/restaurant area feature. If NCL could redo parts of their ships, and have exclusive pool areas for adults (not extra pay areas), it would even add to the enjoyment of the ships. Breakaway has one, but not the smaller ships, unless you want to pay extra for Haven.

Just my opinion. I would go on the Spirit again in a heartbeat. Food was very good too.

Many years ago, the night before departing a ship (Carnival), I felt rather sick but didn't associate it with being anything like the Noro Virus. At that time, these types of things weren't broadcasted or even well known to exist where large amounts of people gather.

That next morning I could barely muster enough energy to drag myself to the area where cruisers were gathering to depart (it was a lounge type room). As I looked around, I noticed others looking green like me...and laying down around the floor, etc. I still didn't think it was something widespread across the ship.

To make a long story shorter, the drive back to northern Florida from Miami was the most awful car trip ever. All the typical symptoms of the now known Nor Virus. My car mate, was not sick YET. After we got to his house in northern Florida, he came down sick too. We were sick for over a week after getting back.

I heard later from people we had met on the ship that many ? cruisers on that ship had been ill, most not getting it until almost departure time, or after they left the ship.

So, it was not something talked about, or likely to know you would get at that time. In later years people started hearing about such widespread communicable viruses. It was a seven day cruise, and although some may have felt sick early in the cruise, those people were not known about to the general population on the ship. OR, they may have thought they were seasick.

I have been seasick, I have had food poisoning too before. The sickness I had on that trip felt more like food poisoning than seasickness. And, it did not feel like any regular flu that I have ever had. So, who knows? I didn't even think of going to the ship doctor since it was just a few hours within departing the ship.

I still cruise, and don't worry about getting the norovirus. If I do, I do. I use the normal precautions and wash my hands even more often than that.

Oop! I guess I have been doing something I shouldn't have! I have brought back a few tiny shells each cruise I have been on, I am talking about maybe one small one from each beach, in a plastic zip loc. Never had a problem, didn't think I would. Last summer, I brought back some pink sand, small amount, from Bermuda...same thing, didn't think about it and it was in my suitcase. I know it says, no soil, no live animals, etc. I didn't consider sand washed thousands of times by the sea, to be soil. I guess, I just read the rules wrong. I am apologizing here to you all....LOL I won't do it again. :(

In October the Jewel docked at the one where the two level shopping center is right where you get off the pier/dock. I don't know if it switches between the two piers...one time the NCl we were on went to the other pier that had a small shopping center (open type) right off the pier.