dongordon

My wife and I have two martinis each before dinner each night. :)

Losing 24 drinks on my upcoming 12 day cruise negates this plan for me.

Don

I cannot read through all 17 pagers on this thread.

One Question which will probably determine my decision......

Are Martinis included in the UBP?

And if not, and you are ordering martinis, can you receive a discount if you have the package or must you pay full price for the martini?

Thanks.

Don

Do you have to pay for the entire cruise for Vibe or can you pay for individual days?

Wondering what the costs would be on a 12-day January cruise for Vibe and perhaps the cost for the cabana.

The cabana would probably block the wind somewhat.....correct?

Don

We just returned from 5/26 sailing of the Breakaway. We were in aft facing balcony on deck #14 (#14876).

 

Balcony was nice size. Although we only had 2 chairs and a table, there wouls have been plenty of room for a lounge chair.

 

My omly complaint regarding this location came on our second night in Bermuda. The aft facing balconies on deck #14 are two floors below Spice H20, where all the parties are held at night on deck. For some reason, the noise from the Glow Party was ten times louder than any other evening. Our cabin was literally shaking, and this went on till 1 AM. On other evenings, the noise level was really tolerable.

 

I ended up calling to complain about the noise. To my surprise, they ended up crediting my account $100 for being inconvenienced by the noise, which I though was VERY nice.

I am in # 14274....thanks for the "heads up!" :)

Don

Has anyone had any experience with the Vantage World Travel River Cruises (Pros and Cons)?

Mostly interesesasted in their French River Cruise.

Thanks.

Don

Thank you for the great review. Very helpful.

I am looking for a river cruise in France in September 2014.

I want to do an 8-9 day cruise followed by a 3-day post cruise hotel stay in Paris.

How did you decide on Viking as opposed to the other river cruise lines (e.g. AMA, Avalon, Grand Circle)?

Thanks.

Don

Very helpful.....I have already taken the first three steps.

I think I would also add looking at all the reviews after narrowing it down to two or three and looking for a consistency of opinions.

Thanks.

Don

I loved your review and viewing the photos.

I am planning my first river cruise for next year.

How does a river cruise differ from the ocean cruises I have been on?

Pros and Cons.

Thanks.

Don

I viewed photos of the Breakaway's side balcony cabins.....the balcony really looks small!!

I am in an Aft Facing Balcony Cabin (14274) and hoping it is a bit larger then the side balcony cabins I viewed on the photos of a recent review. WOW, the side balcony is real small! Has anyone been in an aft-facing balcony and not the ones on the ends?

I love my balcony and hanging out there.....please tell me it is larger than the photos I saw in the review! :D

Don

I have been to these islands many times during my cruising history.

Here are my choices:

St. Thomas: My favorite ship excursion....Turtle Cove Snorkeling

St. Maarten: Dawn Beach (less crowded than Orient Beach).

St. Lucia: All inclusive day pass at Sandals (not impressed with the beaches of St. Lucia)

Best Day Pass all -inclusive I have ever been to, but a bit pricey, but worth it.

Don

LOVE IT!!!

I booked the Aft-Facing cabin on the top deck on the left next to the corner suite......wished I had that cabin!! :D

Don

Are their certain Aft Facing cabins on the new Breakaway in the B1 category that have larger balconies than others?

I have viewed this on other ships.

Don

Are personal hair dryers allowed onboard the NCL ships?

Don

I am also interested to find out what these taxi / tour drivers charge.

We are 4 in our group and wondering what the approximate cost would be for a 6-7 hour day (e.g. going to Crane Beach and the Harrison Caves)?

Don

duct tape (you just never know)

night light (if an inside cabin)

if briniging an alarm clock...it should be battery operated

spare set of eyeglasses if you wear them

I always bring duct tape, but never had any use for it.

I can't even remember what the uses were for it (senior moment!)? :)

What is it for?

It is not that I want to do this. That being said, I think that it is probably a " very busy" job and responsibility for someone who takes this on. I was just curious to see if a person was rewarded in some small way by the cruise ship for organizing such a nice event onboard and they should be given a small gift from the group besides just a "thank you."

I have two cruises coming up and no one has stepped forward to take on the leadership. Hopefully someone will.

On some of my cruises, different people took on different responsibilities and it did not all fall on one person. Different folks organized slot pulls, cabin crawls, gift exchanges, private excursions in the ports and it certainly added to the overall cruise experience and getting to know others on the roll call.

Organizing a M & G can be a busy job.

I have had some great organizers of our M & G on NCL cruises.

Just curious if NCL (or any other cruise line) provides any perks to those that take on this responsibility (e.g. free dinner at a specialty restaurant or a free spa treatment)?

It sounds like they are a tour operator rather than a taxi firm, so perhaps they aren't bound by the regulations. In that case, I suggest that you don't book with them. Just get a taxi from the dock.

Steve....I questioned his price and he asked me what I was quoted and told him $18 for 4 people to Jolly Beach each way.

He got back to me and said the fare now is posted at $24 each way for 4 people.

We accepted and thanks to you, we saved money and have a round trip ride from the pier to Jolley Beach.

Thanks again.

Don

Steve...thanks - I will take your suggestion.

Don

Taxi prices in Antigua are fixed by law. The last official fare publication, from 2005, shows it as $16US so $18US sounds about right.

 

Are you sure you aren't being sold a tour?

No, we were originally going to do the zip line, but then asked for the price to Jolly Beach, Castaways from the ship and back.

Don

From other posts here: taxi from port to Jolly Beach is $18 for 4 people, one way, about 20-min. drive. Chair rental - $5, umbrella - $10. Jet ski rental $35 for half hour. Castaways Restaurant there. Can get onto the beach by the marina or Cocobay Resort.

 

Jolly Beach Resort there has a day pass - all inclusive food & drink - $60 (10:15 a.m. on). Do a search for "Jolly Beach Resort" for details.

I was quoted $70 round trip for 4 people by Gordon's Tour (only the ride...nothing else).

$18 for 4 people one way is $36 round trip.

Are you sure of this price?

Thanks.

Don

I would say that the ship is first and the itinerary second, except if the ship goes to the same ports each year. For example, I went to Florida and the Bahamas twice and decided to switch to the Spirit this year.

Leaving from NYC is also a huge consideration......I am reluctant to fly to a cruise in the future after experiencing the ease of departing from a port within driving distance from my home.

Don