knitty nora

Yet again an American view...they are doing a job...they are paid to do it...no tips necessary..call me mean but the rest of the world would agree.

Thank you for your views, they are very helpful . I have poor mobility but we have looked at the Intrepid museum. We have 4 nights in New York after the second cruise before we take the QM2 back to the UK. We've got a lot planned for those days!

We are doing 2 cruises on the Jade next week. The first is to New York from Southampton, then the second is a round trip back to New York. We have the same cabin on both cruises so our luggage can stay where it is. Will we have to disembark the fist time in New York or can we must stay aboard? We would only have a few hours, so we aren't planing to go anywhere.

Given the age for drinking alcohol is 18 in most of the rest of the world, I don't see why they insist on 21.

We are returning from New York on QM2 in October this year. I am more than happy to dress up , but due to walking difficulties, I have trouble with long dresses. Well I be ok with smart knee length dresses with flat shoes?.

We cruised transatlantic on ncl epic last year and there were 2 small yapping 'service ' dogs on that cruise. They seemed to be everywhere and we're allowed in the buffet etc. Not to my taste.

We ate at the Asian on the Epic last year and it was the best I've had...including in Hong Kong and Macau.

We're booked on the Spirit this wednesday, with a free dinning package and I had booked 4 resurants a few weeks ago. I went to "My NCL" to book some more on Thursday and Shogun was not shown as an option and my already booked reservation had disappeared!!!

After 2 e mails and a couple of phone calls to the UK ( I live in Spain) we have sorted out my booking but there has been NO MENTION of Shogun no longer being a speciality resuarant!! Maybe NCL staff should know look at cruise critic now and again!!!

Its a real pity their staff don't know this!!!

We're cruising on Wenesday out of Barcelona ans our reservation in Shogun had vanished. I long phone call to the UK re booked it , but there was no mention of it not being on the "special dinning" option any more.

I was on a Costa cruise 2 weeks ago and had the AI drinks package for 19.50 euros a day. You can buy it at most bars on the ship when you board. Make sure you get your room key changed to one that says "extra" on the back.

Its very good deal!!

:)

Even a suit is ott!

That's the joy!

Sorry that just not so!

Its an Italaian line, the food was great..at least it was 2 weeks ago.

And as for live music there were 4 or 5 places to enjoy it every night!

I'm British and live in Spain, its part of Europe but Europe is not one culture/country but many.

Just what is it with lobster??? Its an Italian cruise line in the Med, why would you expect lobster??? Go on an American line it you want an American style cruise!

You are allocated a sitting,rather than asking for one and they usually put English people on the first sitting. The tables are by nationality, we had a table for 8 but ended up with just 1 other (very nice!) UK couple. English speaker are very much in the minority but it wasn't a problem and there was a good English rep,John Patrick, who could sort anything out for you.

You'll have a wonderful time..just go with an open mind!

The med is not a particularly rough sea.. we live about 500 yards from it!

It was quite smooth 95% of the time and a little rough overnight a couple of times. There was only 1 morning I felt a little queasy..but that may have been the GTs. I didn't use anything for sea sickness.

We're doing trans atlantic back to Barcelona in late April and I may need something then!

WE have just come back from a Costa Pacifica cruise and the answers to your questions are

The " formal" evenings are very informal...I saw 2 bow ties and a couple of long dresses and that was it......most didn't bother.

If you read the All inclusive terms youw ill see that you both have to take the package..its well worth it and even if you don't drink alcohol the coffee, soft drinks and mock tails soon add up. Its about the cheapest there is!

As for the food, I loved it..very Mediterranean with 7 courses available for dinner ..but its not your slabs of beef/lobster type cruise fare..but its very much my opinion.

It sounds like you need to do some searching and reading of this forum before you go. We had a fabulous time!!