Markanddonna

I've sailed the Med several times and took a 23 day transpacific to Australia and New Zealand. Hands down, I would sail to the Med for your first big cruise outside of the Caribbean and Panama. I didn't expect places like Spain and Portugal to be appealing but was pleasantly surprised. We've been on northern, Med. and cruises around Turkey and Israel. I wouldn't go in the summer though. Think shoulder season because of the heat, expense, and crowds. Their "rainy seasons" are much ado about nothing if you live in many parts of the USA.

You can also order it at the reception desk. It is an excellent Italian cream cake.

I understand that the some sites have erased Christian history and others are under rennovation. Any updates or verification to these observations? Hagia Sophia sounds very disappointing now. Hagia Sophia -- There is a tiny section of the downstairs floor that is not covered with green carpet. The only Christian image I saw was in the entrance foyer. Christian images are covered, even during non-prayer times. You are not allowed to go upstairs to see the mosaics anymore. Renovations are complete, and there is no scaffolding. Basilica Cistern is closed for renovation. Theodosius Cistern, older but smaller than the Basilica Cistern, is open. Blue Mosque - You can go inside, but you can't see much. There was some scaffolding on the outside. Chora Church/Museum/Mosque -- Is closed for renovation and conversion to a mosque. My impression is that there is a lot of disagreement between the Turkish government and UNESCO about how to handle the mosaics, and there is a lot of negotiation going on.

We used Magic-Steps for our tour in 2019. Although it was a pagan city, there is a lot of Christian history because that is where Paul, Aquila and Priscilla lived for three years. Focus on appreciating the ruins of Ephesus, the street where Paul probably had his shop and the theatre, and St. John's Basilica. The House of the Virgin Mary is probably only important for Roman Catholics as the only verification of this site was a vision by a German nun (who never went to Ephesus.) Lots of candles, holy water, etc. As a Protestant, I would skip it. The Basilica of St. John gives you an idea of the early church and Byzantine times. The temple of Artemis is in ruins and only one column remains.

Thank you for your advice. Like you mentioned, I found the websites rather incomplete. I will write to them as you suggest. It is always risky to assume that these sites would be open when we are there, considering it is an "off day" (Friday) and also the ship arrives rather late. Some places like this are very accommodating while others have a love/hate relationship with cruise ships. Unfortunately, NCL has zero shore excursions for this port (and several other Med. ports.) Thanks again.

We will be arriving at Patmos on a Friday in November between 2PM-9 PM. I have looked all over for specifics on the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John but have found little, especially hours. It seems they have very limited times. We were hoping to go by taxi but these sites might be closed by the time we get onto the island. I've seen photos and YouTube videos but nothing that can help me plan. This is a tender island. I understand you can walk but that hill looks steep!

I was also on the Anthem for that cruise. You never know when a tree will fall on the tracks creating disruption up and down the coast!

I assume you are going to the Caribbean. Chevk out the features of the ships and also consider the cost of using the extras. I like both cruise lines.

I'm considering flying from Tel Aviv to Rome and then from Rome to the USA the next day, so we would stay in a hotel overnight around FCO. What happens if my checked luggage is delayed from the first flight? Does the first airline get your luggage to your final destination or is that only a service they will do if you book your two flights through them? I'm thinking this effort to save $ has the potential to blow up if there is a problem.

One funny thing: they bring you mid afternoon snacks- cookies, sandwiches, etc "In case you get hungry before dinner." My goal on any cruise is to be active enough in order to feel any sort of hunger pain. Hunger pains aren't something you get on cruise ships (unless you test positive and the room service is not good.)

Butlers on cruise ships don't have anything to do with your personal dressing. They might unpack your suitcase, if you request and will take away and then deliver your laundry requests. Our one cruise in a Haven suite gave us a bit of experience with a butler. Personally, I prefer to not have someone doting on me like that and therefore didn't ask him to do much.

Yes, we had a poor agent who didn't have any back up. This experience taught us that we can do it quite nicely ourselves, and we haven't been disappointed. It would be wonderful to find a great agent but then that means giving up our booking to try out someone.

Especially for port intensive cruises, the drink package is expensive and not a good idea for us.

One experience taught me that we are likely better off overseeing our details. There was a price drop and I called our agent. He never returned our call until after the weekend and by then, the price had increased. I know some people say to get a great agent, but that is easier said than done. We typically book on the lower end of categories and therefore the agent has little wiggle room for perks. Our last cruise was a last minute $307 11 night transatlantic in a nice balcony. I doubt any agent could be as on top of our booking as we are.

Ashland probably didn't see the news about Amsterdam. I think some of tbe problem was a worker slowdown. Also, the usual staff shortage.

We left from Cape Liberty in May and had an 11:30. No one checked our papers. There is usually someone that looks at your e ticket. Nope!

That is one reason we don't use a travel agent. I recall a sailing back in2019 where there were three price reductions and the person answering the phone at NCL always handled it very pleasantly. Some people are more diligent about keeping an eye on their booking while others don't want the bother.

Not true. We were on the Anthem in May and seated with anorher couple we didn't know. As the cruise progressed, more positives popped up. Thw other couple and we had bonded and made a promise that we would not come to dinner if we felt ill. We exchanged cabin numbers. Let the staff know you don't want to sit with orhers if that is your preference. We greatly enjoyed the company. In reality, the coup!e at the next table could just as easily give you covid.

We probably have spent 1/3-1/2 of our sailing time on NCL. We were on the Anthem of the Seas in May and have to say that we (70+) enjoyed the Ripcord by IFly, the Northstar, and the dodgem cars (all at no extra charge.) We look for the itinerary and price. The ship's features are #3. We are also platinum on NCL and Black on MSC, so getting some extra perks tends to draw us back. One more cruise, and I'll be Diamond on RCL. I like that MSC and NCL don't really encourage you to advertise your status like some do on RCL. You just enjoy all the nice perks privately. I find little difference between the mainstream cruiselines (also been on HAL and Carnival.) I think you would find the experiences not much different. Cruising is cruising and things are changing all the time anyway.

Two things to always check in Europe: private bathrooms and a lift.

I don't know if even masking up works. The flaw with this thinking is the dining. On a cruise, you sit with totally unmasked people for about 5 hours a day. All of our efforts seem rather futile since this strain is so very contagious. Hope you are better soon.

Actually, it may be true. Read the stories about what happened with the COVID outbreak when the ship arrived in Papeete. The passengers all had to be tested before they disembarked in Tahiti and MANY were found to be COVID positive even though they were asymptomatic. NCL SAID they tried to get hotel rooms but couldn't so they kept them on the ship! A blue sticker was placed on the door to indicate they were in quarantine. Any blue stickers on doors? Hope not!

Not to scare you, but to provide what can happen, I just read this for the Norwegian Spirit. It shows what can happen when passengers have mandatory testing midway through the cruise. Note that most of the COVID positive passengers were asymptomatic. Just returned home from a 12 day cruise on the Norwegian Spirit that ended yesterday. Started in Hawaii, with stops at Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Then headed 2,000 miles south (4 days at sea) to French Polynesia where we had stops at Raiatea, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. The cruise was fantastic! Great ship, awesome ports, and excellent service. Not a mention of Covid for almost the entire cruise. On Monday, we all had to take Covid tests on board in order to fly out of Tahiti on Tuesday. Once results started coming in, it wasn't good!! Numerous positive test results, mostly from people that were asymptomatic. Once a passenger tested positive, a blue sticker was placed on their door. Early yesterday morning, prior to disembarkation, I made a trip around decks 9, 10, and 11 (the main passenger decks, but not the only decks with passenger cabins.) On those three decks, I counted over 80 cabins with blue dots. Some of those may have had both passengers with Covid, others maybe only one of the passengers. Based on what I observed, I think it's pretty safe to say there were at least 120 positive cases on board, and that's probably a conservative estimate. Keep in mind that there were only 1100 passengers total, and who knows how many staff members have tested positive.

A little historical perspective: when our ancestors immigrated from Europe on the steamships, the steamship companies were required to pay for any sick/rejected passenger who didn't pass the medical inspection on Ellis Island.

I predict the summer cruises will be like the March spring break cruises on MSC: relatively crowded, understaffed, and some shortage of basic food items. They ran out of cartons of milk after day 2 in March.