seashells

We live in a port city thus see a lot of crew shopping. They are provided a crew bus where a certain portion of crew get a few hours off on that day. Sometimes a bit more IF the ship is staying overnight.
What I see....The bus makes the same tour every hour. Walmart/BJs/ Mall... where there is a special crew area with phones/banking/WiFi. Beach stop and back to the ship.

Walmart...Clothes & personal items
BJs....Cart packed with "Junk food" & personal items plus looking at their list from others.
BJs...Electronics/Games/ Lots in that department.
Mall...Clothes but mostly at the the crew area where they send money home and use the phones/WiFi and whatever else.
Beach to pick up those who decided that use.

I see the local fisheries at the wharf where there are about 5 or 6 Asians sent for FRESH local caught that a:m raw fish...For themselves.
I may see a few at something like Chick-fil-a....Some places they want to eat that is different.

Personally, I write a note for that special someone who made my cruise and was thanked profusely so it must be something they appreciate. I don't ask. A few hunted me down and one was sending it to his Mother, he was so proud he was appreciated.
THAT cruise 'Appreciation Comment Card" that are put out by the ship IS important....TO them... Point out  that special person....Fill it OUT!
Have been asked only about silly head gear at holiday time which I give them.

Otherwise the short answer is...Manners...And "THAT written Comment Card" along with a "Hand written personal "Thank You" in an envelope with Cash MONEY!

We did Alaska but not on a cruise ship the month of July.

We did the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System.

This is the way that locals use.

Loved meeting them and stories they told.

We stopped at many towns not even allowed by cruise ships. Rented a car in Juneau and put it on the Row Row to get to Haines where we traveled for 3 weeks going in and out of Canada because of Roads.

The hugeness of Alaska is stunning....with beauty and California, Texas and Montana ....FIT...In Alaska.

Would do it all in a heartbeat...EXACTLY the same.

21 hours ago, Molokai-Chuck said:

Is anyone aware if they sell single bottles of water in the gift shop? I recall they sold 

single cans of soda, but am unsure on the water.

Thanks...

Molokai-Chuck

You can purchase single bottles of water from some of the bars and restaurants. 

Don't enter the gift shop anymore.

Casino will bring it to you for free IF you are gambling but suggest a tip.

I also suggest you take a few empty small 8 oz. plastic (due to weight) water bottles in your luggage and fill them from the larger bottles you can purchase, IF you don't want the water package offered.

Not going to get into any discussion, other than what you asked. Some are happy with what they do and some not.

I found that I could NOT pre-order.

Once in my cabin I called room service and ordered a dozen bottles to be delivered.

Turn around day is hectic, so you can't expect instant service if you go that route.

Another time I asked my room steward and he handled it for me by the first evening.

Another ship, it was only found in the seafood restaurant and ordered it from there.

Had it sent to our cabin.

Not all bars nor restaurants OR casinos carry it.

Depends on the ship.

It can be a hassle the first few hours on board, but it can be worked out.

I transfer the larger water bottles, once they arrive, (Open one at a time) into small empty 12 oz. water bottles I carry on board, plus a few in my packed luggage.

I take it with me all over the ship, even when dining and have no qualms about placing my bottle on the table and even pouring it into a glass if I desire.

If I take a 12 oz. bottle off the ship I make sure it's empty when re-boarding but it's IN my purse.

NOT just laid out in plain sight in case you get a moody inspector.

It's why I take at least 6-8 empty bottles in my luggage.

Hope this helps you.

Empty your fridge when you get to your cabin.

There will be a Pepsi in the fridge, and when you see your steward ask him/her to bring you 6 more cans...then put them in there.

Pay the $2 each for having them at hand...plus a small tip to the steward for the convenience.

Take a few empty 12 oz bottles with you, IN your regular luggage, and transfer the cans into the bottles as you need them.

It's easier to carry and when you get a 'cup' at the bar you can transfer it to the bottle.

Ship - Getaway

Deck - 13

Stateroom # 13262 and #13264

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Aft cabins

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems)...Usually it would be quiet, but it was a Christmas Cruise and kids in above cabin shoved the balcony chairs back and forth. Had to speak to the parents. Near elevators and stairs... great location

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom?......Yes

Balcony View ....Nice

Balcony Size? .....Normal

Was wind a problem? ....No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? .... N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? .....NO

Any other comments?.... # 13262 bed located near the closet. Sleeps 3.

# 13264 bed located near balcony....Also has a pull down bed above the sofa near the closet. Cabin can sleep 4

As far as I know Uber is not allowed in the port unless dropping off.

Only 888 Taxi company is allowed IN the port without having to pay a fee. 888 does have vans.

You can have them drop you off at the beach nearest the port, which would be a side street, just past the big curve of A-1-A. 2 blocks down the side street to a Public beach area on Ridgewood Ave.

You would have to make a 'Pick-up Time' or at least the cab company phone # in case the cabbie that dropped you off was on a run to the airport and 888 would send out another cab.

https://www.mapquest.com/us/fl/port-canaveral-283563815

Public beaches are every few blocks along Ridgeway, but can't be seen by those that stay on Atlantic (A-1-A). Bring up a map of the area and you can see what I'm speaking about

The shuttle runs for certain stops and 'Times' such as Ron Jons and the beach there, which is usually packed, but does have facility's, shopping and life guards.

Hope that helps you.

The newer mega ships are built differently.

The lower part of the ship, about half of the ship, is built with steel while the upper portion is built of aluminum to keep them from being TOP Heavy.

This site has information on several ports and cruise lines including Miami and Tampa in Florida.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/09/06/cruise-lines-canceling-sailings-port-canaveral/635469001/

Ship-Escape.

Cabin-14902 and Cabin-14904---2 small differences.

Deck 14

Catagory-B1

Aft

Connecting-No

View-Terrific.

Balcony size- extra long----Width -Holds 2 chaises plus 2 chairs and a tiny table.

Wind-No problem.

Soot- no.

Direct view down the corridor/passageway/hallway for cabin 14902 when door is open.

Cabin 14902, Bed near balcony.

Cabin 14904 entrance door opens to a wall for more privacy.

Cabin 14904, Bed near closet.

Problem----Can hear the boom of the bass from Spice---3 decks UP-- even for normal sleepers in both cabins.

Met people from deck 15 and they were very, very upset over the booming bass thumping.

Escape cabin aft 14902, bed near balcony. Has 2 chairs and 2 chaises. Door opens to the full hall/walkway to the elevators/stairs...Better be neat if you don't want people to see your cabin while the steward is cleaning it.

Cabin aft 14904 bed near closet. Has 2 chairs and 2 chaises.

Cabin 14906 bed in the center as it is a HC cabin AND has NO chair to sit in. You would have to bring in a balcony chair if someone needs or desires to sit. Has 2 chairs and 2 chaises. Otherwise you sit on the bed.

All are I/2 covered by the deck above. If you step out to the railing they can see you from above.

If you are a light sleeper the bass sound from Spice will be need to be kept in mind. It's loud.

We met people on deck 15 and they were very upset at this.

Thanks everyone. And sorry about asking. I know many people have already asked, but there are so many threads to go to it was just easier to ask.

There is NO need to apologize for asking a question, no matter how many times someone asks or starts a thread. It's NEW to them!

Cruise lines change policy, and if... 'normal/ new cruisers/new to the cruise line' ...desires a quick answer it's perfectly acceptable.

Not everyone is a 'professional C.C. poster '... (On this site 24 hours a day as some are.)

There would be NO NEED for the site Cruise Critic to survive if we only listened or accepted one or two people to answer a question....It's called open discussion...for a reason...to discuss different ways of handeling a concern to them....NOT the professionals way.

Enjoy your cruise, and ignore the people who post negativity and are IN the thread for no other purpose except to put a poster down.

Hello.

I was wondering if we are able to take water bottles on board Epic in out carry ons? My mom can't drink Aquafina. Are we allowed to bring a case of water if we carry it on? Or just put a few in our carry on?

 

Thanks!

I can't drink Aquafina either so I purchase, once onboard, another kind that has no after-taste.

I asked and received this reply from headquarters.

We have the Following on board Excluding Aquafina.

Aqua Panna 750mL $5.50

Perrier 193ml - $2.50

Perrier 750ml - $4.50

A dozen bottles ordered from room service of Aqua Panna serves my purpose, along with a 1/2 dozen or so of empty small water bottles that I pack for the conveinence of carrying.

I skip purchasing something else onboard to "PAY for the 'bottled" water that I can and desire to drink.

No. Per NCLH's Dec. 31 2016 form 10-K filing, Apollo owned 15.9% of NCLH's ordinary shares and Genting HK owned 11.2%. You can find the data near the end of the 10-K in Note 8, Related Party Disclosures:

 

http://secfilings.nasdaq.com/edgar_conv_html%2f2017%2f02%2f27%2f0001571049-17-001650.html#FIS_BUSINESS

I typed a whole response after reading the accounting of Pricewaterhouse... then lost it. lol

This is correct about the common (They call it ordinary stock)...NCL Holdings Ltd also has Restricted stock.

NCL Holdings Ltd. files what they operate in America. Hawaii ships/leasing of Miami headquarters/ U.S. employee's.

The rest is filed in Foreign Nations.

Genting HK also purchased 3 shipbuilding yards/company's and previously purchased Llyod Werft in Germany that builds NCLs new ships.

Their all around investment is higher than Apollo, who in return purchases NCLs older ships for use in areas other than the U.S.

Answering the OP.

"Norwegian Cruise Line is the preferred cruise travel partner of Diamond Resorts International® and offers the Members of THE Club® the freedom and flexibility to utilize their vacation ownership points to select from a wide range of cruise itineraries."

You can find this information on the NCL website.

On the other hand

It seems they are affiliated with NCL as other Land based casinos are....They may use it as an incentive to 'Purchase' a time share or entice you to a (browbeating) sales presentation.

Genting Hong Kong ...currently owns 22% of NCL along with other cruise lines with the rest of the stock owned by stockholders, and they are the parent of Star Cruises, the largest cruise line in Asia.

Genting's focus is on travel, entertainment, gambling, and is currently building a theme park.

Until recently Genting owned 40% of NCL but sold off stock in order to purchase Crystal Cruise Line.

Large agencies block off certain cabin categories' far in advance in case they can sell them.

If they don't sell them within the number of days of sailing, they have to return them to the cruise line at a certain time, BEFORE sailing, and you will see certain cabins all of a sudden open up.

So you may be looking at a haven cabin and all seem to be booked, then suddenly some open up.

Those are the cabins that the large agencies' didn't sell and are now back in the hands/system of the cruise line as opening.

Your agent is still able to book any cabin that opens up. Your agent may be busy booking other lines or other future farther out cruises and doesn't have/take the time to sit and look at just one booking (Yours).

If you desire a different cabin than you booked, it pays to look at availability from 90 days forward several times a day when final payment is due.

You might just find something you're looking for. Pricewise may change and that could be higher or lower.

Also a cabin might open up due too a death or a family crisis thus a cancellation.

The tipping charges will continue to increase until the hand that feeds them bites back.....Enough complaints and lost passengers.

It worked for taking food back to the cabins.

It doesn't sound as though you are going to Puerto Rico where I would have concerns.

Puerto Rico is rampant. They don't spray and are having a serious problem.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that by the end of 2016 more than 20 percent of the entire population or some 700,000 people in Puerto Rico have been exposed to the virus.

They are finding it through testing the blood donations and have found that almost 3 % of the donated blood is infected.

Mosquitos are more prevalent around at dawn and dusk.

Wear spray you have tested before leaving for your cruise.

Don't go strolling though grass and bushes no matter where you go in the Caribbean.

If you ever cruise on an upscale or luxury cruise line, as well as certain itineraries on mass market lines you will have to get used to not taking your passport on your person while ashore because the ship will be holding your passport.

Very TRUE.

We once cruised for 31 days and they took our passports, which we never saw again until we had to claim them the day before the cruise ended.

That was the worst part of the entire cruise as it was not organized. The wait was.

You can scan your passport and place it in a file in your email.

That way no matter what happens, anywhere in the world, you have access to it no matter where you are left, if the ship sails.

We scan our passports and reduce the size to credit card size, then laminate it. It's easier to carry, doesn't get wet, IF you feel the need to have a copy with you.

It's very handy to have, if you have children who do have a passport but, do not have a drivers license yet.

The only thing I tend to agree about, is the flow.

The Escape needs a third row of elevators for that size of ship, and when walking a deck it's sometimes true you have to do a return.

That drives me nuts about a ship more than anything else.

We sailed shortly after September 11th. we were out in the middle of the ocean, and my husband insisted that there was an "amphibious assault ship"/aircraft carrier accompanying us, protecting us. I don't know if that's true, but we did see the ship throughout the whole cruise, just close enough where we could see it. it was such a scary time.

Not unusual at all.

We also did a trans-Atlantic shortly after 9/11 on Celebrity.

12 days after.

So much so, that the ship was only 1/2 full.

We made 4 port stops on the way back to the States and had military smaller vessels surround the ship equipped with machine guns while in port, and divers were searching under the ship. In one port they also surrounded the ship with a net.

It was the least comfortable cruise we had and was the quietest.

No they're not the same.

I miss the steel band most of all...

That same music I can get at home does not put me into vacation mood.

BRING it BACK!

If I could have ONE thing on a Caribbean cruise.... it would be the Steel Band drum music of the Caribbean.

I miss it.