ConnieTact

I certainly will report back this information. It is my understanding that all are tender except Belfast, Killybegs and Cork.

Thanks for all that fabulous information and photos. That last one is particularly stunning! I’d love to see that! The video was fun too! Great to have violinists in the ship. I wonder what entertainment we will have. The areas you mention all sound good. So glad the service is still good, I remember the staff all seemed really happy and the captain was friendly too. I’m sure that makes a difference when the people at the top are happy it filters down through the team.

That’s great to know! We were last on it 2016 and 2017, both of which predate the refurbishment the Star was given. I am looking forward to seeing her now. Can you remember what you liked most?

That’s great! I will be happy to let you know about tendering. Although I am not an early riser for trips, my friend is -so I will get chapter and verse from him and report back!

Stunning photo Clay! Wish I was there!

That’s great! Let me know, if you want me to check anything out in particular Jennjess.

Good you got to enjoy at least some of Dario this trip. We loved him and look forward to seeing him again on the World Europa in January. I enjoyed your live report. Always good to see everything Virtuosa! 😀

Although I have never hidden ducks on a ship before, this time I will! There is a craze for hiding rubber ducks for other passengers, children, and even staff to find! People often find them and post on social media using #cruisingducks Others just keep the ducks, and some decide to hide them again, for another person to get the buzz of finding a little beaked buddy! Still others are left in wonder as to why any one would ‘waste their time and money leaving ducks around!’ Well, I guess some answers are, the joy of giving, the fun of finding the hiding places, and the satisfaction of knowing you will make another person smile! I’m still labelling mine up! It’s taking ages! A good friend helped me with designing the tags and my son used his colour printer to make them look cheerful. Mr CT and I have been diligently tying them on with orange and white string to reflect the colours of the Irish flag. 🇮🇪 I joined a dedicated group of Cruise Duck Hiders on the Book of Faces too. Apparently this can become addictive! 😅🐥

Oh, that’s brilliant news! We’ll definitely pop along and listen out for Eddie. I hope to meet you both onboard! Are you going to the meet and mingle being organised by @ziggyuk Here’s a link to the details. I think we have nearly 100 attending now!

Over the past 13 years, we have sailed 31 times, with various lines and sizes of ship. To start with we sailed with Royal Caribbean, until we discovered the more relaxed dress code and dining style of NCL. We then tried MSC and loved it for its Italian roots and extremely fair prices and generous upgrades. We found that the newer ships were more stable and the larger ones even better. In the past few years we have generally stuck with new, larger ships. This month though, we will return to a smaller ship to give it one more try! We are booked on the Norwegian Star and our itinerary circumnavigates Ireland. We have been on the Star twice before and a few of the main ports in Ireland, such as Dublin and Belfast. We haven’t gone to all the other smaller ports though so we’re attracted by this cruise. We wonder if we will be disappointed by the smaller offering of entertainment, dining venues and bars having been spoilt by larger MSC Grandiosa, Virtuosa nod RC Anthem of the Seas. Maybe there will be benefits of a smaller ship? I will let you know! Follow along, and I promise lots of port pictures, and food ones too! Anything I think that will help future passengers to know before they board the Star I will also add.

I think you did well to cash in now. Otherwise you risk not getting anything at all! Not worth the gamble. May response was in just 24 hrs so it must vary from region to region.

European countries protesting about austerity measures by governments. A lot were planned for May 1st. Glad you got to see the flowers though.

Ha ha! Your idea of fun and mine must be different! 😬😂🤣 that’s great then. I just love maxing-out all my benefits!! 😜

Hi Clay Enjoying your live report. We love the Epic. As platinum you both have two free laundry bags on a cruise that is more than a week. it is one bag each per week per person. You can check with Cruise Next/Latitudes desk. I just write my Nane and Platinum Free Bag 1 and thenPlatinum Free Bag 2. No need to overpack your bag! In fact on our last 12 day cruise we only used three between us.

I am in the U.K. yes. I didn’t have a guarantee stateroom though. I chose my cabin so I could get midship. It didn’t cost that much more.

I phoned NCL yesterday and gave them details of booking. They said they would get back to me and sure enough in just 24 hours I had an email to offer me just under £400 in FCC, in total for my booking for two. I wasn’t planning on sailing with NCL again in the next 12 months but as a result I probably will!

I just called and asked and my case is being looked at. I should be within 24 hrs. I’ll let you know what the result is.

So, 7x £14 champagne makes it worth buying the Premium Extra Package? I may have covered that last trip but couldn’t drink any more! 😅 I guess if you’re buying it by the glass onboard you have to pay gratuities on top. It makes YC look worthwhile if you can get a good fare as the too drinks package is included.

The open return tickets are often on sale 12 weeks before the date of first journey. Having said that, I bought a single already for my forthcoming October cruise for Southampton. I only needed a single because we will fly home to London. We are on the Virtuosa from Southampton to Barcelona that time. The return was almost cheaper than the single I bought! https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/Train_Tickets.aspx It is very handy being able to catch the train to the port as it is so near the port and always Ubers and taxis available. Getting a flexible ‘off peak’ return means you can use any service that is not before 9.30am. It is also worth noting in YC, you can usually stay onboard a little later if you speak to your butler and let them know your train is later.

Don’t forget to bring a pop up vase or something to put them in! I have sometimes brought an arrangement on but alto own a plastic pop up vase I bought on one of my holidays.

I wonder what that mission is? 🤔

When we were in our last cruise, uncertain of changed itinerary, I asked at the excursion desk in the Galleria-although I guess YC concierge may do this for you. They seem well informed because they have to plan alternative excursions etc. Maybe MSC are hoping the industrial action will cease and they can keep to their original plans? As you said, it would be easier if they just skipped Le Harve for a while and made firm plans. This would be hard for people planning to board in France, getting coached all the way to Amsterdam!

So you may end up doing Amsterdam twice! 😅 if you can ascertain that you are definitely going to Amsterdam and not Le Havre, you could consider changing your existing excursion to medieval Ghent at Rotterdam and then do your own thing in Amsterdam. The MSC Ghent trip is worthwhile and it’s beautiful there.

It’s great you’re going to Amsterdam instead of Rotterdam twice as we did! I always love Amsterdam and don’t tire of it. The ship docks close enough to just walk in so that’s great. When we’re sailing YC we don’t go to the ordinary buffet at all, as we like the sun deck offerings and the lack of people! Enjoy Rotterdam! Are you going on an excursion?

Great photos! I’m following along. Never cruised with Azamara before but interested to learn more!