CruzinMel

She's on her way!!! Escape has left Portugal and is headed to the Caribbean on her TA! I'm seeing an uptick in folks asking for Escape Dailies on this and other sites, but yours truly is just waiting. . . I will start grubbing for dailies once she gets through with her first or second Caribbean itinerary later this month. Meanwhile, I have managed to not write something every day here, because how boring is that? But we are moving along, getting closer every day, and some pieces are falling into place. The passports arrived, so now everybody has one and no, I probably didn't need to pay extra for expedited processing and priority mail return, but I'm glad I did. I have carefully hidden them with my pre-packing bag, and am adding vaccination cards because DH thinks he must have his and why not? We got those jabs - might as well show it off. I finally called the Concierge Desk, mainly because I noticed that when my PCC rearranged the placement of our cruisers (I wanted Mom moved from #2 and DH moved into that spot, because he is more likely to use the specialty meals than she), it rearranged a bunch of other things, including the Percussionist. For some reason, both his and DH's booked excursions disappeared, and I got refunded for them - I didn't notice for a while, and I figured since I had to call the Concierge Desk anyway, I'd ask. The Magic Concierge adjusted everybody's names, fixed a couple of messy things, and arranged for mattress pads, snacks, juices, loung chairs and anything else I could think of, plus rearranging some dining and recommending a more cost-effective purchase of dining packages compared to my plan to pay a la carte. I luff her, too. When the 50% promo came on, I requested FCC and have yet to hear back - my suspicion is that since the Haven 2 BR family villas were already sold out on my cruise, there's nothing to price the drop against, but I need to hear that from a person before I will believe it. So SOMEBODY is going to be getting a call from moi. I did get very excited and booked DH and myself our Alaska bucket list trip - we have been trying to get to Alaska since 2020, and dangit, we are going in 2023!!! I got a fantabulous price and itinerary (only one short port day and no wasted trip to Victoria!), but I'm finding out that getting from Atlanta to Alaska with DH is going to be almost as expensive as the cruise itself. NO matter - it is a bucket list trip and I have a year to pay for everything. I was sweating bullets about the Percussionist's tour in Puerta Plata being canceled, because it was the Damajagua Waterfalls trip and it is currently sold out - I was going to have to book it privately as a guarantee, and just keep checking back on the site to see if there was availability from someone else canceling. Then, when the Percussionist came down for Mom's birthday dinner last night, I actually discussed it with him. . . and he's not interested in it at all. He'd rather go to Ocean World, or a beach, or a Puerta Plata tour. So I have to break it to Indiana Jones that we're changing tours (I don't think she'd mind) and then I gotta call the Shore Excursions desk AGAIN and cancel her - the website won't let you book 2 tours for one person on a port, which I guess is good because it prevents people from holding spots that they aren't going to use, but it's a little inconvenient when your plans change on the fly. And speaking of changing plans, I gotta call back the Concierge Desk and see if they can rearrange some of our dining - I had La Cucina booked for the first sea day, and thanks to another GF traveler, have found that they need 48 hours to make a GF Osso Bucco. I love me some Osso Bucco - like, it's the same thing I get every time I eat at La Cucina, Osso Bucco and panna cotta for dessert. Have also realized that my 2 favorite football bowl games (the Peach Bowl and the Sugar Bowl) are on NYE, and it is possible that my beloved Georgia Bulldogs (Go Dawgs Class of '93!) will be playing. That means DH and I will spend NYE not dressed up, but wearing our custom 15th Anniversary UGA jerseys, with a "15" on the front and "Husband" or "Wife" on the back. (This year was our 15th anniversary and we went to a game, but the jerseys got stuck in Customs so we didn't get to wear them then.) Anyway, we shall be easy to spot on the ship!!!

I'm working on my airfare now, actually. If I had the time and $$, I'd probably cruise from Vancouver to Seward, and then cruise back - much more fun than a plane! 🙂 I have always wanted to do a BTB cruise, in all seriousness. Seward is small and doesn't have a large airport - you fly to Anchorage and then either drive or take a bus or train to Seward. I'm leaning toward the train, myself.

Oh, but Pickle, when you are stuck in the grind of your daily obligations and stress, how marvelous is it to think, "This time next year, I will be floating on a ship . . . ". I have 2 planned right now, and probably going to book a 3rd - and I will spend all my moments daydreaming about it and planning things to do (or not do) right up until the night I start packing. TBH, there are days when the cruises are what keep me going. One day, I will have far fewer obligations, and only myself to please - but that day is a long way off, and this makes me happy for now. Isn't it cool, though, that everybody gets to do what suits them best? Maybe that would make you crazy - maybe you just like to GO. 🙂 I would, too!

Cruising is my happy place. It's where I don't have to cook or clean or plan or plot or schedule or mind. I get on the ship and I'm just DONE - all I have to worry about is getting fed, and getting some time on deck with just me and the sun and the water. Give DH access to a bar, and he'll do anything else you want - I don't even *have* to take him off the ship. Plotting excursions is really sort of a pain these days - but that could be just where I'm at mentally. Cruising is where everybody is going to have a good time no matter what I do or don't do; nobody will complain or fuss, because if you don't like the option in front of you, there is ALWAYS something else going on. For a Recovering Mother of Teens, it's heaven. And cruising is my catnip. I am a happier girl if I have a cruise to look forward to and obsess over - I live on CC and that tube thing and I study all there is to know about ports and itineraries, to the point that I end up thinking I need to be a TA. My children are grown; my dogs are aging; my Mom is still able to come along and I can park her on the ship with a butler and she's happy. As we are not independently wealthy, that's probably a once every couple of years solution, so my cruises are limited while I'm the meat in this sandwich. I long to be able to book a last-minute getaway - put in a week of vacation at work, and then find the best-looking cruise closest to me and just . . . GO.

We did Jost Van Dyke several years ago on our last cruise on Escape, and it was amazing. . . but I can't think of a single thing that I want to get up at 6 am for when I'm on vacation, and the Jost excursion (which is sold out already on our cruise anyway) leaves at 7 am. Nuh-uh. The only way you'll find me on a beach that early is if I fell asleep on it the night before, or The Rock is having a yoga class. We *might* manage to walk around a bit after breakfast, but that's probably about it. Short port days stink. I thought about Virgin Gorda and the Baths, but then I watched a couple of YouTube videos of the excursion and said, "no." From the land side, at least, it looks like bad signage and large crowds = congestion and frustration. I started to get a charter and do it from the sea side, but the one I wanted was booked that day. But any day is a good day if you're on a cruise! I mean, I'm the person who got to Harvest Caye, never left the ship, and had a fantabulous time. It is all good!

It took me a minute, but basically it sounds like it's a cool music/cocktails venue. I've been reading on other cruises about the bands that play there and the general irritation that you have to line up way early to get in, much less get a seat.

Thank you! Ours is a Monday departure, in the evening. I'm planning to get to Seward from Anchorage on Saturday morning, and hoping to do a Kenai Fjords trip with Major Marine either that day or Sunday before embarkation. A visit to the Sea Life Center is also on my list. I'm struggling with the timing, so understanding the terminal helps. If it's walkable, we are good to go - the maps didn't help me that much Thanks again!!

Hi there - I've been digging around, looking for a review from someone who embarked from Seward for an Alaska cruise, and I can't find anything. If you have started from Seward, do you mind sharing what you remember about it? Specifically, I'm looking for what time you checked in, how difficult it was to get to the terminal, and any advice. I've reserved a room at the Harbor 360, but that's as far as I've gotten. Thanks in advance!

As a sandwicher (I'll be old enough for this forum in a couple of years), I must say - I *expect* to handle my Mom's luggage, traveling, et cetera when we cruise together. TBH, it's easier for me and I want her to save her energy for the fun stuff. But then she gets irritated because she thinks I'm trying to compromise her independence. At an "older" and less-healthy 78, she's not as strong or as fast as she used to be (physically or mentally), and I'm coming off my child-care-heavy years, so I'm used to juggling things - she was like me when she was in her 50's, too. So how do you handle THAT - when the youngers want to do/arrange things, but the elders want to hang on to things they might not be as equipped to handle? It's not ruining our cruise, but it's causing dissent. Sigh.

GEN POP! I love that! If we weren't cruising with Mom, I wouldn't have booked the Haven - it's one of those things that are VERY nice to have, but not essential for me - all I need is a balcony room and a good bar. (Well, the Haven *does* have the best bar . . . ) The last time I was there, it was on an upgrade bid from a cruise that someone else paid for (DH got a cruise as a work reward). Any room on a cruise is a good room! I usually stink at sharing Dailies, but I will do my best. Not knowing when the shows are likely to occur is really messing up my planning, and since Escape won't hit the Caribbean for a couple more weeks, I have to just wait.

So this is interesting - looking at the Alaska Railroad site, there are 2 options for the Coastal Classic route on the date of our embarkation in September. Adventure Class prices out at $105/each, compared to the NCL offering of $119 (one wonders what the extra $14 gets you, if it's not luggage handling*.) The Adventure Class offers the large picture windows and dining/adult beverages available for purchase, and it appears to be the NCL purchase, as you suggest. (Adult military with proof of service is $84/person, and the NCL offering does not seem to have this same distinction, so if you're military, it's an obvious choice.) The Goldstar service prices out slightly more than double - $213/person, unless one is active or retired adult military ($174/person with proof of service). But Goldstar has the glass domed ceilings and the outdoor viewing platform that you mention, plus dining, soft drinks and 2 complimentary adult beverages. *The price difference is because the railroad prices fluctuate - for the same trip in August, Goldstar is $243 ($198 military) and Adventure is $119 ($96 military). So that's something to think about, depending on timing - we'd pay $119 to NCL, but our ticket would only cost $105. So - it's the same excursion. With NCL you get luggage handling but you miss minor price drops and if you are military, you way overpay. There are still amazing views, even if you can't access the Observation car. With the Goldstar service, you get a more fantabulous view, plus food, beverages, and 2 adult beverages, but there isn't luggage storage at the depot and you will have to schlep it around until you can check in at the port. On our date, the train arrives in Seward at 11:15 am, so that could be a couple of hours of hauling luggage around. This is a bucket list trip; I'm going to tote my own luggage. 🙂 Thank you so much for your input on this!

Question - we have the option to book this train on our embarkation leg. I'm leaning toward booking through NCL because it looks like they'd handle the luggage bit once we get on the train. Does anyone have experience with this? Outside of luggage, would there be a difference besides price, booking through NCL vs DIY?

I most definitely will say hi for you - I was not wise enough to get her direct number for a callback, but I'll find her if anything goes south. I absolutely love my PCC, but it was fascinating to see the difference in what Maria could do vs Brandi.

I guess when Gary says inconsistent, he isn't kidding - I called the concierge desk this afternoon and had a great experience. I got a call back because the wait time was longer than 10 minutes, but I didn't mind because I was working. Maria helped me and she was WONDERFUL - I had one question, but she kept bringing things up and before I blinked she had reordered the pax on my reservation, requested a dining time, recommended a less expensive option for all the dining I wanted to do, gave me advice on a sold-out shore excursion, offered me juices and snacks and cushioned loungers, told me she was ordering the mattress pads for the sofa beds, got us pillows, and was in general a joy to speak with. The Concierge Desk really is the way to go - Maria did things that my PCC had to send off requests for. I have yet to see a concierge email, and we are 56 days from departure - but as long as my gummy bears and apple juice show up, I'm happy.

Oh, how could you!! All that water would ruin a cruise!! 😀 We have a Caribbean 🛳 cruise in 58 days 😀 and my elderly Mom is coming along. She is a Diva, but after reading about your Dad finding the errors in the dailies, I realized there would be lots of unexpected entertainment for her. Whales have been on my husband's bucket list for ages...Jayleen, here I come!

How bumpy would you say the ATVs were, on a scale from maybe Smooth as Glass to Toronto Potholes? Such beautiful scenery!

This is the Best Thread Ever. Thank you- I am getting some wonderful ideas. And not remotely luxe, or anything like that, but when they had cream of cauliflower soup in the buffet, I ate 4 bowls of it.

I have read every review of yours that I can find, because they feel so personal and present - I have cruised with you. I just booked a September 2023 cruise on the Jewel (right before an October drydock, so now I'm going to be wondering about the toileting situation.) I've been nervous about the small ship - we usually go on the big ones - but I think it will be glorious! We are going on the Seward to Vancouver portion - I chose it for the time in port and that it hits all the "must sees". . . now, to spend the next 11 months dreaming. 🙂 Hoping all is well with you and your Dad . . . and that you are able to cruise soon.

ACTUALLY, I think you get an extra week for packing - your family will possibly want the whole Christmas shebang, which means you will lose at least a week, possibly 2!! I was planning on no tree this year, but Indy rioted (she loves the decorating). So we will do the tree, but less of everything else, because it has to come down before we leave. In a normal year, it's a week to set up and 2 weeks to cram it all back in the closets!

Shoot- I wish I'd thought of that - we'd have had a blast, especially if I'd won the Spa Club balcony bid! DH took me out for dinner tonight and was trying to game plan Mom...he offered to Mom-sit and send me off with the kids, because " she doesn't like me as much, so she'll sleep all day and I will drink on the balcony."

Ever wanted to know what happens when your kid swears they will be able to go on your cruise, so you book them a cabin after the final payment deadline, and then they CHANGE THEIR MIND? (Because they were going to quit their job that doesn't let them take off between Thanksgiving and February, but their boss threw them more money so they stayed.) Well, $1200 bucks is what happens - as in, we donated $1200 to Norwegian because yours truly was an idiot. If I had not been an idiot, I would not have trusted Jr Mint, and would have made sure to get "cancel for any reason" insurance before I booked his room. As I was not smart enough to do that, we lost at Cancellation Bingo and forfeited a chunk of change. I am exceedingly ill about it, and part of me hopes he works through the holidays rather than coming down to what will be a frosty, present-light reception at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The only small silver lining is that we forfeited a % on the actual price of the cabin - if I'm understanding this right, the FAS package and other things were not included in what we forfeited. So while I paid about $2700 for his cabin with the package, and we were at the 50% forfeit date, I'm getting back $1500 rather than $1300. Yay. 🤑😐🤢 So, while I had intended this to be a pre-trip diary and a possible guide to what to do. . . it has turned into a guide on what NOT to do. Get the insurance, people - get ALL the insurance, and get it when you book. Our PCC is looking out for price drops, to see if she can get us anything to soften the blow; I'm not hopeful, but we shall see. I think she's as bummed about it as I am - we started to hang on to the cabin and see if I could find someone who might want to go, but I wasn't willing to waste 5 more days and hit the 75% cancellation window. (ETA - I had already gotten the upgrade email and had put in bids on 3 categories of cabins; once the cancellation took effect, I got a new invoice, and an email from the Upgrade Fairy saying that they'd "noticed" things had changed on that reservation, so they canceled my bid. Duh.) Work has been busy, so the most I have been able to do is deal with the Jr Mint debacle and find the Shareholder Benefit Form (DH owns stock; he is trying to say that our "donation" to NCL is going to help his stocks. 🤐). Going to send that out tomorrow. We decided on what Scooter to reserve and are focusing on keeping Mom's spirits up - we told her she can start packing in a month. Another poster here has indicated that Scootaround isn't dropping off mobility aids in the cabins any more, but rather is making folks pick them up at the terminal - that won't make me sad, actually, because it would remove the need for a porter to push her around in a wheelchair. We shall see. Indiana Jones and the Percussionist went and got the flu in 2 different cities, at the same time (they do that - it's really weird). But we're about to hit 60 days, and things are getting REAL. If you are also hyper-sensitive about downloading random links from Google, here is a gift - the Shareholder Benefit Form straight from Norwegian's website (or, rather, NCLH's). Perhaps you are better at this than I am, but I had a tricky time finding it straight from Norwegian. One notices that it would apply to Oceania or Regent. Meanwhile, Escape is cruising in the Med at 16.4 knots, being followed by the Oosterdam. We shall see her soon! NCL_Shareholder_Benefit_Request_Form.pdf

One more thing - start NOW if your dates are firm and you have particular things in mind. I am 62 days out from a cruise, and if I'd wanted to be in the Haven, I'd have had to get 2 cabins because the 2 BR villas are sold out, and I have 5 guests. (Mine leaves on NYE, though. The holidays are trickier.)

I think it depends on how much leg work you want to do, and whether your TA KNOWS NCL. I've only worked with a TA once. In a cruise my hubs received as a bonus from his company. She was a Carnival expert, but didn't know much about NCL, so her tips and tricks didn't do me any good. I ended up finding the cruise I wanted, with triple Latitudes points and a past guest OBC, chose my angled balcony cabin, and let her book it and arrange payment. I did my own shows and dining reservations. She also did my pre cruise hotel, airfare and transfers but we ended up canceling everything except the plane because I got better deals and transportation on my own. And then we did our own upgrade bidding, paid the difference, and ended up in the Haven. Frankly, the main benefit was having all the reservations in one spot for easy access. But I LIKE doing that stuff. My mom, OTOH, hates it - she likes to say what she wants and have it arranged so that all she worries about is how many outfits to pack. She's a TA user all the way. ( Or, rather, I am her unofficial TA.) So maybe start with that - both approaches get you a cruise, and that's the best part!!!

My family of 5 is going in the 2 BR Family Villa on Escape in December (and somehow we booked the room next door to the one we had our last time on the Escape, so it's a duplicate.) I echo what others have said about the 2nd bedroom - on Escape, it's a basic cabin room. It's cramped, and not nearly as luxe as the rest of the cabin. Neither is the bathroom, which is a standard cabin bathroom with prettier soap and a shower pouf. There were 3 of us on the last cruise, and my mother has yet to forgive DH or myself for giving her "that hole" while we took the king bed. With the promo, the price of the room is essentially the same no matter how many folks you've put into it. We booked originally with 4 people, and then added a 5th when someone pitched a tantrum about getting left at home. It was another $1K to add a 56 year old adult into the room, and that was mostly port fees and taxes and travel insurance and gratuities and the packages. That said, an adult who shares equally in the cost of the trip is going to be MIGHTY ticked off after a week in the "hole." A detail-oriented numbers freak could probably work it out equitably ...need some spreadsheets. We love spreadsheets. 😀 It is not difficult to move the order of the pax around. After we added #5, I called my PCC to get the new pax moved into the #2 spot because he is more likely to use both specialty dining meals (original Pax#2 tends to skip evening entertainments.) What is tricky, as Gary mentions above, is REMOVING a pax. Last week, my PCC explained that you can add to a reservation up to really close to embarkation (she told us 3 days was the cutoff.) Removing or canceling after final payment, though, puts you into Cancelation Penalty Bingo unless (like Gary and unlike moi), you purchase Cancelation insurance. (Shoulda, woulda, coulda...) The timing of that around final payment is also important. (Gary or someone else probably knows that better than me. Obviously ) But oh, how fun to be going with friends!!

So, I don't know if this will work, but I did it by accident and did not see a charge - my mom always had breakfast in the room, so I ordered multiple sodas and kept the ones we didn't drink in the fridge. That was before I truly understood the Power of the Butler (that they would have brought them if I asked), but it was always nice to have extras if we didn't want to walk down to the bar - DH likes to drink a Coke on waking up.