Brighton Line

No rock band, no true band in the sense of anything more than a keyboard, guitar, and maybe a small drum set. I think sometimes the bass guitar is even recorded. I miss the show band, now everything is a track on an iPad. 

4 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Not true.  With very few exceptions, 

Not true but with exceptions? so true, thanks for being clearing up my "mistake" 

15 minutes ago, CruisinShips said:

If this is not what some of you have found, then I'd love to be wrong.  Are there certain MSC ships to focus on for the better experience?

I believe it is all related to the size of the Yacht Club. Meraviglia a large ship the YC is only around 210 maximum guests over four floors forward and even when maxed out it did not feel crowded. Yes, the rest of the ship if sailing close to max double occupancy will feel crowded but the experience I had in YC beat Haven hands down.

Now on larger ships where YC is over 400 people, I would tend to agree it is too crowded even with the so-called ship within a ship. Other ships the cabins are on one end of the ship with the YC areas on the other and not just an aft facing suite.

Uber and Lyft are required to have WAV or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. In their app scroll down towards the bottom you will see WAV as an option once in NYC. You will probably have to wait longer but T&LC requires them to be available. Other options above as well. 

The Brooklyn Terminal was specifically built for Princess and Cunard, I've only sailed Princess from NY from the Brooklyn Terminal except returning after Hurricane Sandy since the Brooklyn Pier and parking lot were underwater we went up to the Manhattan Terminal to disembark and embark the next cruise. 

On weekdays only NY Waterway has service to Pier 11/Wall Street from Weehawkin 6:20 am to 9:20 am 8 trips total current schedule. 

The main reason I try to book Deck 16 on Mera is the access from the hallway to the lounge. 

You can also depart from Pier 90 and return to Pier 88 or vice versa all depending on what ships are calling on the day your ship is arriving at the port. I have done that with the car parked at the "wrong" pier for a Carnival cruise even. 

Take the key card out of the slot when you go to bed. Light by the door will still work as well as the TV and fridge. Yes, not perfect solution but you don't want to chafe when rubbing so much.

24 minutes ago, lx200gps said:

If we do decide to veer off into Manhattan into the "affected" area, would our EZPass transponder be the way the fee would be collected?

@lx200gpsDrivers will be charged a toll on their E-ZPass to enter the Manhattan CBD. This includes streets in Manhattan below 60 Street. Drivers without E-ZPass will be mailed a toll bill to the address of the registered vehicle. 

Since the program is not in effect, and this is NYC I'm sure there will be updates issued right before the toll starts. Right now this is the same setup as the MTA Bridges and Tunnels but we don't know if there is any EZ-Pass discount like with the B&T's and what agency issues your EZ-Pass and if other tags like SunPass will work, you can assume probably.  Not to mention the various lawsuits still pending against the toll. 

1 hour ago, NE John said:

@Host Hattie may find this more relevant on another CC site but I’ll start here. 
Starting in June, New York City is adding a $15 surcharge for driving into Manhattan below 60th.

A little misleading. Yes if you drive your own passenger vehicle it is $15 below 60th Street. If you are in a Ride-Share then $2.50 will be added to the total you pay and if you are in a Yellow Taxi the meter will get $1.25 added to it. 

No charge for those traveling FDR Drive, or West Side Highway but be careful if you exit any of those major roadways to enter a street within the newly designated area, you will be charged (if you take the West Side Highway up to 50th Street, for example, you will not be exempt from the payment).

So you could reach the Manhattan Cruise Terminal via Hugh Carey Tunnel and Westside Highway without paying the extra fee. Note that with Rider-Share/Car Service in NYC you cannot instruct on the route but with a Taxi you can, but will the driver listen 😉 

On 3/28/2024 at 8:50 AM, chengkp75 said:

I don't know of any way of stowing an anchor where it cannot be dropped without power, gravity is a wonderful thing.  And, typically, both anchors are prepped for release as soon as the ship leaves the dock.

No power can't release hydrolic brake. 

Appeared to have lost power twice. The pilots (some info that there was a Senior and Junior) did more than just get a cup of coffee before it went cold as without power there is nothing to do. Depending on how the Master stores the anchor you might not even be able to drop it without power.

It is reported the pilots reached out to stop the traffic on the bridge, they were true heroes.

YC Luggage is all in one group number I recall I think it even stood out like a gold number towards the front closest to the face scanners as you can get if I recall. Yes it is all dumped with the group number. DW suitcase was nowhere near mine and they started their journey next to each other 😉

It depends on how you can handle your luggage to determine how extensively you would use public transportation from subway/bus to commuter rail.

If you can handle your luggage on a subway, then I have done NYC Subway to PATH to HBLR and then Uber from HBLR to the Port and this has been from/to Brooklyn on a weekday when PATH has a lot more options. 

On 3/18/2024 at 10:29 PM, oceansandseas said:

Thinking of taking the ferry also. Just wondering how reliable ferry would be if there was a freak snow storm or a strike.

Strike? No close to no chance. 

Weather, with the exception of the Far Rockaway pier this year there hasn't been many closings for weather. With the current warm winters, there hasn't been ice in the East River for several winters and both Pier 11 and Atlantic Basin are on the river or upper bay where there is rarely icing. 
Get the NYC Ferry app for your phone, updated schedules and service advisories are posted there. With the coming schedule change at the end of March they are planning to add additional trips on the South Brooklyn route when a cruise ship is calling in Brooklyn. 

Not only envelopes, the Concierge also seems to always be busy the last full day breaking bills for passengers and combining bills for crew and doing currency exchanges as well. 

From my experience, only one MDR is open for breakfast and lunch as it is open seating and it does not matter your experience level. Hours are limited and if you are late they just point you to the buffet. 

This is how lawyers make money and court systems are flooded with cases. Everyone here is playing a lawyer and they aren't even on TV. 

15 hours ago, mmbcater said:

Typically no they will not. Just make sure it does NOT have a surge protector.

Ship wiring is different than US home wiring. A home surge protector when overloaded on a ship will not stop the flow of electricity as both the “live” and “neutral” wires carry current on a cruise ship and your home surge protector only breaks the circuit on the “live” electrical wire.

22 hours ago, no1talks said:

Can an unforced error like this still be partially recouped with the cancel-for-any-reason provision of travel insurance?

Sorry, I believe all CFAR policies require that you cancel your insured travel plans and notify suppliers at least 48 hours (two days) before your scheduled departure for your 75% refund minus whatever the cruise line gives back like port fees and prepurchased shore-x. 

Don't forget it is rush hour in the reverse direction, lanes are reversed in the tunnels and such for bus or any rubber wheel transportation. Additional time is needed. You might want to rethink the no rail option allowed. 

If flying out of the new Terminal B, factor in the long walk to the gate post security/gift/news stand/food hall...

On 3/9/2024 at 3:33 PM, MisterBill99 said:

They also got $28 back per person, presumably for the port fees (although I find it odd that they have to pay it for their own island).

It is not the nation of MSC or Carnival. The island is still part of the Bahamas so the government takes their cut every time a ship visits their own island and the amount is probably negotiated between the cruise line and the government as well. 

22 hours ago, Jay Es said:

Got a new eTicket today, and my embarkation time is now 12:00. Great!

I got four different times from four different emailed e-Tickets so save them and pick the one that works for you. No one checks the time on the ticket.