crystalspin

My one NCL cruise (on the older smaller N.Star) will remain my one NCL cruise. It was ghastly. If a line can't maintain all of its ships to a minimum standard AND keep their crew happy enough to be pleasant to pax, why would I spend my money to give them another chance? Ensenada is a perfunctory stop as far as I am concerned. I read you can get a massage there? As far as the PV 12-hr visit, most people complain of too short port-times, not the other way. NCL can't spend as long in ports because they have to cover that longer distance somehow. Finally, the K'dam *is* a floating hotel. I haven't stayed in too many (basically no) hotels with four specialty restaurants plus a free multi-course dining room and a buffet, and a Music Walk to please most tastes...

OBC stands for ON BOARD credit. So in general (and in specific) it is true you can't spend it beforehand. A few people on a few lines have reported being able to, which seems to miss the point. The Premium Internet is the only level that can be bought pre-boarding, for a discount that makes it scarcely more than the middle Surf plan. So you will have to decide which is better -- the discount in real money, or waiting to spend your OBC.

That is what "Final Payment" represents. If the price went UP, I would be congratulating myself (not offering to pay the difference) and if it goes down, I'm just glad I got the cabin I wanted with the perks I liked.

We are also at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside booked through Airport Parking Connection (dot-com). I don't know if $25/day is "reasonable", but it was better than parking way out and having to shuttle to the port. Also they were the one close-by place I found that didn't have No NYE Parking black-out date! As we will be in Cabo on NYE!

Here is Florida-Gal-50's link in full: https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

I think Roger @Crew News was offering @Reds4life an alternative for her kids that would not enjoy pre-made pizza crust. Not suggesting that tacos were equivalent to pizza for adults such as yourself.

Two of you cannot be in three cabins...

Yes you can email. Be sure to email the page that shows the number of CCL shares, and black out your account number but NOT your address, which must be your current mailing address. I know they are looking at the emailed statements, because they got back to me (almost immediately) to tell me about not meeting the above requirements!

Your link is not coming through although it has saved my bacon in the past!

Are the ShoreX bookings for one or both of you? You should have 2x$100 per 7-day segment. Originally this was worded as if it were ONE shore excursion up to $100, but rapidly became $100 (per person) *towards* ship excursions. I have $0.05 credit (times two pax) after booking $99.95 ex. (times two pax).

I *live* on my notebook computer at home, but use only my phone (for emails etc) on the ship. My husband might bring his iPad if he has University Board meeting(s) scheduled. The internet/wifi on ships varies from mediocre to poor, so you won't even want to be prowling the web any more than you have to. But if you have to, buy the best plan available: it won't be any faster but will have fewer sites and apps blocked. Oh, and welcome to Cruise Critic!

@tommy you were looking for info on the Volendam?

Patience, little one. Patience.

Whether "all" requirements are lifted depends solely on the ports' regulations. But it makes good press (until outbreaks happen).

OIC, it is a Rite Aid that I was remembering being close!

Hmm, I may have been a bit optimistic about the distance -- I thought there was one closer. It may be a Uber ride, especially if you can't check your luggage for the second trip. BUT you do have plenty of time between earliest disembarcation and latest embarcation! Cross that bridge when you come to it!

They would be my guess. Whether or not NYE is an official Gala night, there will be special menus in the MDR and probably the Pinnacle Grill.

Volendam is the same class ship at the (old) Rotterdam so you could expect the same sort of experience. In the post above yours I linked the Roll Calls of the only two sailings since her humanitarian contract. I would not hesitate to sail on "the old girl" myself!

As Bruce said in the other thread, the requirements are changing all the time. If monitored testing is still needed as the cruises get closer -- there is a CVS close enough to walk to -- see about an appointment there? I did flag the other thread for merging, btw.

Also remember late night pizza at the forward (port) end of Lido. Freshly baked as we would wait for a 'new' flavor to come out. DNK about hand-made crust; did not see anyone throwing it!

Aren't self-administered tests being accepted in most cases? you would just bring your own test(s) along and take a photo of the negative test. Do everything you can to ensure a negative test on the first cruise!

You can spend both Xmas and NYE at sea, either side of Hawaii: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/H3H16A/K389.html This would be fun excepting I have family that I cherish Xmas with.

They are out now! Someone said last night in fact but after the phones were off. ETA: @TGCRUISEOMAHA

Alas, I have found where K'dam will spend the U.S. Thanksgiving and it is not Mexico! https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/L3O07C/K382.html Although TG itself is a seaday on the way to Ensenada, I think is not the Thanksgiving in Mexico you were hoping for. You could B2B it with the Nov 25-Dec 5 10-Day Mexican Riviera & Sea Of Cortez cruise to make it extra special! La Paz and Loreto are not usual on Mex.Riv cruises. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/M3S10D/K383.html

Yup they are early, at least several new ones out of San Diego from Oct23 to Mar24 that weren't there last time I checked. (Our K'dam Feb24 So.Pac had been sitting there all by itself.)