Liz

.....if they changed the plan to MB's instead of minutes, I don't understand what you mean by your statement above? Even if it is a slow connection the MB's should be the same.

 

:confused:

 

wasiii

I'm no techie but it seemed like I blew through the allotted MB's much faster than I "should" have. I was online for less than ten minutes and the meter said I had used 70 MB. I complained to the internet manager and she reset my account, but the second use had pretty much the same result. There must be something wrong because every crew member I mentioned it to said the new system was much more expensive. Your results may vary....

Liz

I've just returned from the June 22 sailing on Breakaway. There were a few things I thought I'd share, since I rarely have time to do a review. I do not have the Cruise Dailies and have no information about the kid's programs - those are the usual questions that people have so I figured I'd clarify up front 😊.

I booked a studio (I traveled solo) and there was plenty of room but I don't think I'd want to spend more than a week in that cabin. There is no refrigerator in the studio cabin, regardless of the NCL brochure description. The studio lounge was very nice. There is a daily gathering from 5:00-6:00 for all solo travelers in the lounge, hosted by Jovan; Maricel is the bartender. Drinks are not free but there is a cappuccino machine 24/7 as well as pastries, orange juice and fresh fruit. Jovan organizes different activities during the week like Cirque Jungle Fantasy and dinner as a group. He is terrific.

There is no lobster. Apparently ours was the first cruise without lobster and there were quite a few upset people. The "replacement" was a lobster pasta dish that was okay at best.

Do not miss the shows! I missed Rock of Ages but really enjoyed Cirque and Burn the Floor. If you take younger children to Burn the Floor you might want to sit near the aisle so you can leave if the kids get bored. I saw several groups exit during the performance. All of the performers in the atrium are excellent.

Moderno was just okay at dinner. I prefer to have rare or medium rare beef, but almost all of the beef I was served was medium well to well done, and the chicken was overcooked and very dry. The ribs were too tough to eat. The only other specialty restaurant I visited was the noodle bar, and it was very good.

There is a very interesting history museum inside the Commissioners House. Admission for adults is $12. If you go to the top floor you will have a nice view of the ship.

Hamilton hosts a street festival, Harbor Nights, on Wednesday nights from 7 until 10. I took the 5:30 ferry and arrived around 5:45 - plenty of time to wander around a bit before the festival started. If you stand outside the Spinnaker shop you might see the Gombey dancers line up before they parade down the main street; it's especially fun because most of the dancers are little kids!

I hoped to get a Vibe pass but arrived too late (at the port around11:15, and on board about an hour later). It was okay though; I had no problem finding a lounge chair on deck 16 or deck 17 (right outside Vibe) every day. You can't hear the poolside music up there but there is some music piped in and a bar close by.

The internet program has changed, apparently. You can pay $.15 per MB without buying a package or buy one of the three package plans. The small package costs $9 for 100 MB, medium costs $19 for 300 MB and the large package costs $39 for 1000 MB. If you are a silver Lattitudes member you'll receive 20 free MB's when you purchase 1000 MB or 10 free MB's if you purchase 300 MB. I purchased the $9 package and blew through it very quickly by checking two email accounts. Translation: connection is slow, plan accordingly.

Goslings rum is the big deal, since it is made in Bermuda. Check their website before you sail, to see if there is a distributor near you. Remember, you cannot carry bottles on your return flight! You will have to check the bottles or pack them in your luggage.

Overall, it was a fun week. The ship is very nice and the crew is quite pleasant. I think I may change my mind about NCL after this one!

Liz

I purchased my Philip Stein watch at Joe's in April. Monica was the sales associate who helped me and she was very patient and not pushy at all. I did my pricing homework before cruising and believe I got a good deal; she included an additional two year US warranty in the purchase price. I have gotten many compliments on the watch and would definitely shop there again - but I think this watch will last for quite a while!

Liz

The transfers were not well publicized on our Baltics cruise, so be sure to go the the excursion desk and ask about it.

If you have not done so already, be sure to read Rick Steves' book on Northern Europe cruise ports. It contains a lot of terrific information but should be read before you cruise!

Liz

Yes Liz. As a solo, the transfers do make the best sense.

 

Yes you can find wine right at Heathrow. Actually tho, we were disappointed in what we found in the store we went in. (lots of liquors tho) Maybe some of the stores have more choice. You can make a Heathrow map online to help you find the stores that sell wine.

I usually find transfers to be a fun way to begin a cruise adventure... until I almost slept through my stop on the train from the Rome airport to Civitavecchia! Note to self: cruiselines transfers make more sense when arriving in Europe on sailing day!😊

Liz

Pick one up at the airport :) Depending on the terminal at LHR you will pass through a small World Duty Free shop as you leave airside (literally pass through - the passenger route is lined by the shop) or there may be a Marks and Spencer Simply Food supermarket in the landside arrivals area.

Thank you, Cotswold Eagle! I was wondering if I could purchase anything at duty free in the arrivals terminal. I usually find all kinds of goodies when I am departing.

Liz

P.S. - you live in a lovely area!

If you don't mind a little pre cruise exercise, there is a Morrisons supermarket just over 1/2 mile from the cruise terminal. A is by the terminal, B is Morrisons.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=51.947598,1.256132&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&sll=51.94445,1.257677&sspn=0.015767,0.037723&geocode=FU6oGAMdxCoTAA%3BFWePGAMd4T4TAA&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&z=16

 

Simon

Great idea, Simon - thank you! After an overnight flight it would be nice to get some exercise!

Liz

No. You will be in a big coach bus. Would make a lot of folks unhappy if told someone wanted to go shopping before heading to the pier. :rolleyes:

 

If you want to make a stop, book a car service. Plus you won't be sitting at the airport waiting for flights and people to arrive before leaving. You'll for sure beat the coach to the port even with a stop.;)

Thanks - the car service is cost-prohibitive for a solo traveler, and there is no one from my roll call with a similar arrival time to share a ride with. :-( My hope was to stop to pick-up a bottle of wine for my cabin. I usually find my way to the port on my own but am using cruiseline transfers for convenience this time.

Liz

Does the coach stop at a supermarket or grocery store prior to arriving at the port?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Liz

I had similar concerns last year before my Baltics cruise. I had purchased insurance from TravelInsured and called them because I did not have "cancel for any reason" coverage. They suggested I purchase an additional medical rider, which would cover evacuation for political reasons. I questioned this recommendation so I called back and spoke to a different agent, who told me the same thing. I did purchase the coverage for about $25. I don't know how insurance works in other countries or with other companies, but it might be worth a phone call and a few extra dollars.

Liz

The vouchers were loaded on my card as mentioned by other posters, but be very aware of the time when ordering. I ordered a glass of wine in the casino at 7:50 and it was delivered at 8:10 - with a charge of $8! The server said it was the computer that messed up, but I think she was playing a game for tips. The bar was not that busy. ( I was on a winning machine and lost track of time.). I will definitely report this on my questionnaire when I receive it.

In all fairness, this was the only negative experience I had with the program. It worked fine every other time I used it. And I did not order anything else from that server.

Liz

Notify the cruise line at least 6 weeks before you cruise....tell them the allergies. And then follow up once on board.

When you board the ship, go to the dining room to find your dinner table and tell the head waiter about her allergies. It will be tempting to explore the ship but make this visit a priority.

My sister is allergic to soy, sesame and all seafood. We are departing on Freedom this Sunday and we will go through this process as soon as we board. If I can find this thread when we return, I will let you know how things went.

Hey sailinglisa - We're also from Tosa!

Liz

I'd like details on how to best take the train from the port of Dover to Canterbury. I understand there are direct (~16 mins.) and local trains (~30+ mins.).

 

-Are there shuttles or buses to Dover Priory or would a taxi be required?

 

-Should the tickets be purchased in advance online or is it easy to purchase them at the Priory Station in Dover?

 

-Are the 2/1 tickets available in late spring and do they require advance purchase?

 

-Do you have any helpful advice on making this trip or suggestions in Canterbury?

 

Thank you so much!

In the interest of time you'll probably want to take a taxi to the train station. They were plentiful when we got off the ship. I don't recall seeing any shuttles. We purchased our tickets at the station, it was quick and easy. The city of Canterbury is quite walkable. There was an outdoor market when we were there with food stands, in case you need a snack (look for the baked goods, oh so yummy!). The Cathedral is a must-see but try to take your time, there is so much history inside. There are plenty of pubs so you can have "real" fish & chips with a half-pint of local beer. The people are quite pleasant and very helpful, in case you need directions or just want to chat. Be sure to look up at the buildings as you walk through the streets, architecture on some of the upper floors is very interesting. I think we spent about 6 hours away from the ship, including train time, and it was a delightful day! Enjoy!

Liz

I chose SPB for a two day tour of St. Petersburg, the evening "vodka fun tour" and the day tour of Berlin. Three outstanding tours. The guides are both knowledgeable and friendly; not only did we learn about the culture and history, but also learned about growing up and living in the region. The Berlin tour was a bit different; our guide was Lee, who is an American living in Berlin. He is truly passionate about the city and its history. One of my most memorable moments was touching the Berlin Wall - what's left of it - encouraged by Lee. Several people used them in the other ports and were very satisfied with their tours, too. I highly recommend them.

Enjoy your cruise, but be prepared for an exhausting experience. There is so much to see in such a short period of time, you will be on the go the entire time - but it is worth it!

Liz

I think many of us solos do a similar assessment when planning a cruise. For me it's more than the money. Itinerary matters most, especially if there is a port I have not visited. That's followed by overall ship amenities, excluding the loyalty perks. There are times a smaller ship is more appealing because I want to recharge my batteries and don't want the distractions of the shipboard activities that are offered. I have tried CCL and decided that they would have to offer a spectacular deal to win me back. I just didn't care for the general vibe. Now that I am Diamond on Royal the C&A perks do matter, especially since CCL's loyalty club was pretty nonexistent - but I don't know how it is now. Since it seems you have specific cruises in mind, check out the roll call for each and get an idea of the group(s) that will be onboard.

Rather than commit to seven days of the unknown, why don't you go with Royal for now and hold off on CCL until you can try them on a long weekend cruise? Three or four nights would give you a taste of what a seven night cruise would be like, and they seem to have some pretty cheap weekend trips from time to time.

Let us know what you decide!

Liz

I always say, it's the happiest sound in the world.... and at the end of a cruise, it's the saddest!

Wonderful reviews. I'll be on the Star 9/1/2013 Baltic cruise. I'm also booked with SPB Tours for the 5 ports.

Love your snaps.:)

Come on over to our roll call - we have a great group:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=38313808#post38313808

Hope to see you there -

Liz

Be sure your family asks for your cabin number and full name (in my case, Elizabeth instead of Liz) when calling the ship, too. They should be able to leave a voicemail message if there is no answer in your cabin. I have been in your shoes with older parents and it is nice to know that you can be reached if necessary.

If you have a smart phone, check with your cellular carrier to see if your calls and emails will be "pushed" to your phone while at sea. It can get a bit pricey!

Enjoy your cruise - Jewel is a nice ship and I hope you get hooked like the rest of us!

Liz

Very nicely done - thank you for sharing!

Liz

I'm so sorry to hear the sad news. I always enjoyed readings Nancy's comments on the various CC boards. She will be missed by many -

Liz

Hi NW! congrats on your cruise -- if you're happy with it, that's what's important!

I've seen some great prices on Alaska cruises, but flight from Chicago make it almost double! Since your cuise is in the summer and you're in the NW that may be a great deal. My budget restricts me to non-summer and non-holidays.

 

Have a great time!

Nancy

I just came back from Alaska on Radiance OTS and it was wonderful. Check Frontier Airlines for good rates. I think they fly from Midway and they have different levels of service, depending on whether you want the basic flight or a package that includes DirecTV and your baggage fee. It was the cheapest I could find, and they seem to have specials on their website that don't make it to Kayak.

Liz

I started with 3 star SEA area, 5/20 to 5/21. $35 bid was rejected. Increased bid to $40 and added 2-1/2 stars to search. I won Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport (3*, go figure) for $40.00, total with tax $53.07.

My first PriceLine win - that was fun!

Liz

I'm a little confused here:confused:. You booked Princess for 5/16 but you already are going on Voyager on 5/13?? Busy woman. As for the comment about dogs in cabins...that is why I like to get away. I have 4 and hubby usually stays home to take care of them.

Well, sometimes I wish Icould be in two places...

Actually I have not had time to change my sig yet... but now I gyess I will have to get to it!

Liz

I booked Sapphire Princess 5/16, northbound, for $675 including taxes & fees for an inside cabin. Let the planning begin!

Princess had some good rates for other AK tours; in fact, I thought there might be something wrong with their computer, so I went ahead and locked-in the rate!

Liz

Royal Caribbean Voyager OTS May 13, 2009 from Southampton to Barcelona, 11 nights, just had a price drop. My interior cabin is now $1769 including fuel surcharge and taxes, etc. Not bad - $160/nite. PLUS if you have 100 shares of RCI stock, you receive $200 OBC. Great itinerary - come on along!

Liz