parasailor

Thanks. If you are directly west of the tunnel, I am surprised Google would think the bridge was 50/50 with the tunnel.

Thank you both for your helpful advice.

Our last trip to the cruiseport through the Lincoln Tunnel and 12th Avenue went great--until turning from northbound to southbound on 12th took forever.

Is going up 10th Avenue and making a left on 55th and left on 12th usually better or is it all happenstance and hope you have an app which helps you pick?

If coming up 12th, can you drop the passengers and luggage off across from the terminal (similar to where you get picked up at disembarkation) or do the police keep you moving?

Thanks

Thanks, all, for such practical advice

Thank you all very much for your helpful advice. September sounds like a much better time to go.

I will appreciate advice on what weather to expect on a Baltic cruise in October.

thanks

They have salmon in fact a huge serving in the MDR every morning and the buffet has a Salmon mouse or you can ask for salmon and they will get you some. In the buffet even though they do give you a huge serving of salmon, you only get 1/2 of bagel and very little onion and cream cheese. You have to ask for extra.

Thanks. We have never had breakfast in the MDR as we like to sit at outdoor tables. Good to know that I can sk for it at the buffet, although I wish it were just there for the taking.

If you have found buffet lunch medicore, consider looking at MDR lunch menu as it is usually quite good. I just can't bring myself to pay a la carte for nachos, burgers, fries, tacos on a ship and have always found the MDR lunches to be much better than the buffet.

 

Not sure about "atmosphere" on the Away's, but on the Escape Margaritaville has no real atmosphere. The jogging track cuts through it and there's no live entertainment.

 

Breakfast on the Escape just was using the space of M'ville, not an M'ville breakfast menu (that existed shortly when the restaurant debuted) and had an omelette line.

Thanks. I agree that paying $7 for a burger for lunch on a cruise sounds like the nickel and diming that annoys so many people. I have been in the MDRs for lunch on Breakaway--I was happy to avoid the buffet crowds, and the food was better, but in warm weather if we are already on the pool deck, we may not decide not to just deal with the buffet.

I have taken the #7 (cheaper but slower) and the shuttle (glad to hear I do not need coins) in both directions. I take the first one I see with room on it going (sometimes a crowd at the dockyard) and the shuttle back, as some are always waiting.

Hi. My recollection is that the shuttle buses from the Dockyard (not the #7 bus) to Horseshoe Bay is $7, exact change in US coins, not bills, and that you can also purchase tokens at the Dockyard. Am I correct?

Thanks

Can anyone tell me what the breakfast is like there? Couldn't find breakfast menu anyplace, sit down or small buffet? Smoked salmon?

Thanks

Safe saililng

I did not see smoked salmon at breakfast anywhere on Breakaway last September or Gem in February. Perhaps a budget cut victim?

Thanks everyone! I note that NCL told me they had no menu for it. They also told me the free ferry to St. George was not starting yet, even though news reports showed it had. I don't expect them to know everything off the top of their heads, but I have often been surprised by their taking time to research something and still giving wrong information.

I see the Uptown Grill on Breakaway, my favorite lunch spot, is now an extra charge restaurant, Margaritaville. How much are the burgers and fish tacos there and what is their quality compared to the lunch buffet (which I found mediocre)? Are there long lines at lunch? Thanks.

Thank you both!

For a half day snorkel trip, try Dive Tortola to the Indians or the Island Caves.

Coki Dive Center is great for cheap but expert scuba diving or intro instruction. Otherwise Sapphire Beach is less crowded and prettier, plus easier/cheaper to reach than St. John.

Sapphire Beach on St. Thomas, unless you prefer a boat tour, in which case, Coki Dive Center

Neither--Sapphire Beach on St. Thomas--much less crowded than Coki and much easier/cheaper to get to than Trunk. BUT--Coki Diver Center is a great place to learn how to scuba from the beach in one day.

I second Coki Beach Dive Center on St. T and Dive StKitts on St. K! Enjoy!

St. Thomas is much better than all except perhaps Puta Cana (haven't been). Sapphire Beach or Coki Beach at St. Thomas are excellent. Coki Beach Dive Club will also teach you how to do scuba that day off the beach for a very reasonable price. Enjoy!

On St. Kitts, I second Shipwreck.

On St. Maarteen, the off the beach snorkeling is poor. Check out the Robinson Speed Boat Tour which offers snorkeling at 2 locations (and other fun things) or the boat rides to snorkel amid turtles.

We are going on a small boat for snorkeling. They will also provide snacks and drinks. It costs $75/person. What would be a reasonable tip?

Thanks

I suggest your best bet is Hat Trick Charters--a small boat (max 12 people). VERY nice crew, Snorkeling is very easy--you will love it. Tell them you are worried new snorkeler. If they think you are better off elsewhere, the Reckless Native catamaran is much larger and probably has a lot of experience with new snorkelers.

Bravo for admitting your anxiety--and for facing it.

As an alternative, beautiful Horseshoe Bay has a cover to the right--shallow, lots of fish and no chance of winding up in deep water.

As I have the Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy for the relative, it is not about thinking that professionals need my assistance, but about assisting the relative who sadly can no longer make certain decisions which have previously arisen without warning.

Obviously, I hope they do not and would prefer being blissfully focused on the waves.

Your situation may have been different, or your decision in an identical situation may have been different. Everyone has to deal with such situations on their own and I respect whatever decisions others make.

Thanks very much for your helpful reply. Did you ever try the NCL iConcierge app on Gem? It worked ok on NCLBreakaway for $.79/minute