OK I did a lot of comparison for you, there is a small difference in cost and Gibraltar is an interesting stop.  If you have not been to Gibraltar it might be a reason for that cruise.

Also TAs are usually very different from a "normal' cruise since the ship is repositioning. Some crew is coming on for the cruises that they will be making on my last cruise it ended in South America and there were a lot more Portuguese  speaking staff.  The entertainment is sometimes brought on board in  Europe and some staff are also getting off at the end of contracts in the US.  The passengers are also very different in that you have large amounts of seasoned cruisers very few first timers and few children overall. 

r you

On 6/1/2024 at 11:22 AM, fredflint said:

You do not need internet to use the find my airtag it can use Bluetooth and  NFC.  we were able to find our bags on the other side of the shop and probably  10 cabins  down two cruises ago.

 

https://www.apple.com/airtag/

https://support.apple.com/en-us/109021

1. Follow the onscreen instructions and move around the space until your iPhone connects to your AirTag.

2. Follow the distance and direction information that your iPhone displays. Your iPhone also vibrates as you get closer to the AirTag.

   • You can tap Play Sound to hear a series of beeps that helps you find your AirTag.

Could have been any number of reasons the later season cruises I think are the best deals as the weather is nicer and there should not be any issues with ice like other before peak cruises.

Could also be based on the Salmon season.

https://norrik.com/alaska-salmon-run-dates-and-charts-by-species/#:~:text=Alaska salmon runs extend from,remains strong through late August.

Maybe due to some weather some flights were missed?

7 hours ago, Laszlo said:

These adapters work great. Been using them for years on cruises and when we travel abroad

 

https://amzn.to/4aLecEj

I purchased these for more outlets 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXGZT7H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I have  a Phone  ( pixel) I purchased to use with Google Fi they offer plans where you can just turn it on and off as needed.  The more expensive plan is 65.00 a month or 20 bucks for 20 GB.

I have just used the 20GB plan and have not gone over.

They now offer an E-Sim option but like having the extra phone for travel.

https://fi.google.com/about/plans

https://support.google.com/fi/answer/13390949?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&oco=0

A little easier than getting a european phone number since then you cannot get calls from the US.

It seems most european phones can call the US as I have not had anyone complain about having a US based Phone number.

You do not need internet to use the find my airtag it can use Bluetooth and  NFC.  we were able to find our bags on the other side of the shop and probably  10 cabins  down two cruises ago.

https://www.apple.com/airtag/

Put a tracker of some sort Apple Airtag or Tile in each bag, this will ensure your bags are never lost and when they deliver them 12 doors away you can find your bags after dinner.

My 2 cents!

Also look for inside cabins across from your room assuming you have an outside cabin vs a door the crew uses some people have mentioned banging noise coming from those doors.

Just before COVID hit we were booked on a large inside cabin for a 7 day Mediterranean cruise we figured we would give it a shot and with the port heavy itinerary we would be using the room more like a hotel room.  

Well the cruise was cancelled due to covid and with all the different issues that can come up now that may have you in your cabin for an extended period of time we have decided that it is Balcony ony cabins. 

To me any cost difference is worth it as we have usually used our balconies quite a bit.  We enjoy just sitting there watching the waves go by and enjoying our time alone together.  Now ask me about paying 2x the cost for a Haven cabin or some other exclusive area and we will have a different conversation.

Club Balcony Suites offer a little more space than Balcony Staterooms. All staterooms feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed. These Club Balcony Suites have plenty of room for you to spread out with two beds that convert to a queen and a large aft- facing balcony to take in the amazing views.

https://www.mundomarcruceros.com/almacen/planos/NBR.pdf

club balcony suites have a larger sink and shower. Plus some other amenities, like one free bag of laundry (small bag), a bottle of wine/sparkling wine in your room, extra latitudes points maybe, and two nights of goodies/treats delivered.May 7, 2023

Club Balcony rooms are bigger then regular balcony cabins.  Below is the link from NCL of the additional benefits you get while booking a club balcony cabin. It really depends on the ship the other differences. For example on the Sun, the bathroom, closet area was bigger. On the Epic, I think (not exactly sure) the only difference for the bathrooms is there is a tub/shower and not a shower. Might be a little bigger, but I don't know. I was talking with a couple who mentioned they hoped they would get double sinks on the Epic, but didn't. Some ships have two sinks for club balcony rooms.

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-accommodations/minisuites-and-balconies

So I found a bunch of generic NCL menus and one from the Breakaway, if anyone wants to see how it was 8 or so years ago!

Cagney's Fleet Dinner Menu (8).pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 8.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 7.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 6.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 5.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 4.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 3.pdf MDR Fleet Dinner Menu Day 2.pdf Le Bistro Menu.pdf Teppanyaki Fleet Dinner Menu.pdf

I usually have 2-3 extensions one to get from the plug to the bed then under the bed for the other side and for the tv so I can have my changers and everything else plugged in.

it is funny just before COVID we had booked a large inside cabin on a Princess cruise the cruise was cancelled due to COVID.  Now with all the different possible illnesses that can cause you to have to stay in your cabin we would not book anything but a balcony.  I don't look at the cost os anything but a balcony as the starting point.  The same way I would not book a Transatlantic with a balcony that did not face south.

My comfort is worth a certain amount and that is just my 2 cents.  Imagine if there was an issue with Norovirus and you had to stay in your cabin for 5 days, I could do a balcony but not an inside.

Maybe one of those cruises for travel agents and the press?

Contact your agent or the cruise line for an even somewhat accurate answer.  Anything posted here is either opinion or past experience and policies do change quite often.

Just give the kids one account to use you need to log off or you can kick the other person off it will. be fun watching them.   There is usually a 2 device option and there should not be a gratuity.

Probably not based on this 

I have been on 6 TAs and only had a little bad weather on one cruise.  The weather is usually pretty nice if you like sun get the port side of the ship.  I get seasick pretty easy and on Caribbean cruises I would always be sick for a couple of days but never on a TA the ocean is deeper and there is nothing to move the currents like in the Caribbean, I also get the feeling the captain can adjust the speed and course a bit to smooth stuff out.

As always you could have a different experience but  you should have a good cruise going to the Azores can be cooler than the Canary Islands but both have been good overall.

This has deck plans by  cruise date so it "might" include the changes.

https://www.icruise.com/deckplans/norwegian-cruise-line-cruises-norwegian-viva-deckplans-deck-17.html

Just don't tell them where and when you are cruising and  if they say no contact them a couple of times if you get a yes save it in  writing then ask them what needs to be done to notify the ship 🙂

I found this  https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/packgoprint-all.php?ship=Norwegian-Viva

You can zoom in on thisPDF

https://happygaytravel.com/cruises/Daddy_Cruise/Med_25/Norwegian_Viva_deck_plans.pdf

This actually has a good display of decks and what is located there, watch out for ads though

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Norwegian-Viva

Not a PDF but more useful in my opinion

You can probably see them in the NCL APP on a phone or tablet.

You can have your passport withheld:

Most importantly, there are several legal reasons a passport application could get denied.

If you owe money on child support, you’re ineligible for a passport, even if you fill everything out correctly. All money has to be paid through the appropriate state agency before you can submit the application.

Another financial aspect comes with a defaulted loans. If you’ve failed to make payments on a loan from the Department of State you would need to pay it off before sending in your application.

Certain court orders, being convicted of a felony, or if you’re wanted on an arrest warrant, can also result in a passport denial. A convicted felon you would also need to check with their parole office before applying for a passport.

Funny I thought it was a new class for passengers, I was thinking much cheaper, like third class.

They would be very happy with an extra 100 for sure.

The Canadian "customs" should have a line for people not leaving the airport.  If you look at your flight for a closer date you should be able to see  your gates to get a feel for the distances.  Just remember the gate today does not mean it will be the same in 6 months.

Canadian customs for me has always been interesting, they always seem to be very suspicious even though I am just catching a flight to Europe.  One time coming back we were just staying at a hotel near the airport due to flight times.  The person from Customs wanted to know why we did not plan to go out at all.  We explained we were just going to crash and probably order in some food.

Going out and not leaving the airport they  still asked a lot of questions.

Just my 2 cents.