BostonGal35

we've been to alaska twice and have done both of these.  id do the yukon rail/bus if i were you.  also, do teh train there bus home.  you'll want to doze off on the bus ride back. 

both times, chilkoot had us in the caboose of the train which was AWESOME.  you can step outside and get great photos.

NCL now has about $10K in credits between us and my mom.  i really wish they would just refund people the money and be done with it.  We love cruising... but there seems to be no end in sight, and even when it resumes it wont be the same experience for awhile.  And testing requirements or possibly vaccination requirements just further complicate it.  

we love the Haven, but only sail Haven when its priced right (less than $3k pp) or if we win a bid.

on smaller ships, you get the all the same stuff in a non-haven suite for much less money - just no courtyard access.

2 hours ago, ziggyuk said:

😭😭

 

Never been in this situation before, as I have only paid a deposit I assume the 125% is going to pretty valuless.

 

I had a FFC due to an issue on a previous cruise and also a cruise next credit, does anyone know in these just get credited back to my account with the original expiry dates?

 

What worries me is the FCC had 2 years to book a cruise and expired on 11th May 2020 so would only be valid for about 3 weeks if it has the same original expiry date. 

this is our situation as well.  we have about $850 in FCC that we had one year to use.  it expires January, 2021.  i dont see how we can use it by tehn so we are going to push for an extension.  given we have an April, 2021 cruise booked that we could apply it to im hoping they do the right thing.

I looked at teh Bliss and Joy sails.  i am not seeing anything that appears significantly reduced in price.  and these itineraries are dull - this itinerary was longer and had new ports for us.  i am beyond disappointed.

we will still sail NCL.

that said, i hope to see some offers that make it really enticing to stay with them once things open back up.

if my April 18 TA is canceled, we will probably take the FCC as we have a very expensive Hawaii sail lined up for next April.  125% or 150% FCC will make  a huge dent in that fare.  But, if our Bermuda sail is canceld for this May, we will take the cash for that one.  We had originally planned to put teh FCC toward our August Alaska sail but in light of yesterday's news we will cancel that one now as final payment is due in a few weeks.

Speaking of which, i think its crazy you can cancel 48hours before with Peace of Mind, but they still want full final payments 120 days out.  Im sure its all related to cash flow, but it does seem somewhat contradictory.

i get that its frustrating if sitting in the sun all day is your thing.  fortunately for me it isnt. i avoid the sun like the plague and am happiest when i find a chair away from the noise of the pool deck, in the shade, where i can listen to the ocean, read, nap, etc.

the pool bars are always the slowest because of volume.  for that reason, we never even attempt to get drinks there.  plenty of other bars on board that will instantly get you a drink with minimal lines.

as for cigars, most people do not want to smell and breathe smoke. i honestly like that areas for smoking are limited.

1 hour ago, Petals22 said:

As a "reward" to my husband and myself, I had booked a 12 day Mediterean cruise on the Spirit followed by a 21 day trip on the Jade .  I booked them a year in advance.  the spirit was a balcony cabin and the Jade was to be mini suite.  When I received the  "invitation" to bid on an upgrade, I decided to try for a Haven suite on the Jade since it was 21 days and probably a once in a lifetime itinerary for us (Rome to Dubai).  I did not tell my husband I was doing it.  I found out two days before boarding the Jade while we were still on the Spirit that my bid had been accepted for the 2 bedroom Courtyard suite.  I managed to keep the secret until we got to the pier to board the Jade.  My husband was certainly surprised! 

 

I too fear that I am now ruined and won't be able to go back to our normal interior cabin!  I may have to do at least a balcony!

i have twice sailed in a 2 bedroom suite with just 2 of us.  i love the space and that bathroom is hands down the best one!

to avoid the stress and avoid potential wasted dinners, we just book online as soon as stuff opens up.  you may be able to get in at 5pm or 9 or 930, but you'll rarely be able to walk in particualrly to Cagneys or LeBistro between 6 and 9.  and forget Teppanyaki.  that must be booked ASAP.  

honestly, check out the obstructed windows on deck 8.   we find them a great value and you are steps from osheehans.

we only book Haven on the large ships.  we made this call after experiencing a small ship Haven (Gem, which was fantastic) then large ship Haven (Escape, Breakaway and Getaway).

on teh smaller ships, we will spring for a non-Haven suite so we get the Butler perks and the special breakfast/lunch and free room service, as well as the priority disembark/tendering. But to pay often substantially more for a Haven room to really only get the use of the courtyard (no haven bar or restaurant for dinner on the small ships) isnt worth it to us.

it is hard to go back, but sadly prices often prevent us from sailing haven.  not because we cant afford it but because as awesome as it is, i dont think its worth $4kpp for a 7 day sail.  

Our ship sails on a Thursday at 5pm.  We are folks that like to arrive to port early and board ASAP so really Thursday is a wash for us with really no time to sightsee.

We will be flying in from Massachusetts.  If we fly Tuesday, that would give us Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday.  Is that enough to see Honolulu highlights, specifically Pearl Harbor?  Or should we fly Monday and give ourselves 2 full days?   We dont have a post cruise opportunity as we are on a sail that ends in Vancouver BC.

37 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

You won't use I5, you will use the new roadway.

 

11am is the very commonly mentioned earliest recommended flight. Walk off and catch a cab.

new roadway?  wow, alot has changed in 2 years.  i assume this makes the trek easier/faster?

this is great, thank you!

I know SeaTac is south of the city by about 15 miles give or take.

we will be docking on a friday morning at 7am (NCL Sun, smaller ship).  If we do easy walk off which we usually do, think we can make an 1115 am flight?  I know I5 is atrocious at any time of day, north or south.  but we'd rather make this if we can than wait around until the 3pm flight.

is there anywhere at the port or downtown juneau to rent a car for the day?  we are in port 8am to 8pm, and would love the ability to drive out to mendenhall and cruise the area on our own, as well as take the bridge over to douglas island to drive around.

how did the water taste?  I usually order a case really just for the convenience of having bottles to take ashore.  i hate the tast of aquafina and did not order it back when that was their water of choice.  the NCL brand was good tho.  curious on taste with the papery bottles.

i would be up front particuarly since there may be very few tables that can handle 8 folks or they may have to wait to push 2 tables of 4 together.  if you know that one dinner will be 6, id have the reservation adjusted and that helps all of the restaurant staff and other large parties they may be trying to accommodate.

this is also especially true if its teppanyaki.  those tables only hold 8 and rezzies for that restaurant are hard to get.  

yes and it was awesome!!!  total separate entrance to get to it and everything.

i believe its a monthly award and they look at all cards received in the cumulative.

i have had to go to shorex every single time i use this promo to get my latitudes discount.

i agree with the PP that said make 2 rezzies for 6ppl same time.  Then tell the Concierge to let them know the two tables are one group.  if its super important to you that you all eat together, then follow up with the individual restaurants.

Worst case, youll end up at 2 tables of 6 near each other.

4 adults in a balcony room concerns me personally not from a bed perspective but from a bathroom perspective.  i could not do it, but many do.  

have him attend the solo cruiser events.  or really hang out at any bar or the pool.  at his age, he should be able to meet people without having a formal activity/club.

i always do Grey Goose Cherry Noir with Club Soda.

they also usually have orange, pear and lemon Grey Goose.  all on the beverage pakcage.