Travelling2Some

Those are both very good points. I was also thinking that, with all the reports of ingredient shortages these days, I would lean towards booking earlier in the cruise rather than later. Don't want to get that last steak that's been passed over all week or hear that they are out of a favorite dish.

Yay! Back to the silly arguments Cruise Critic is known for! Wear your shorts to dinner and refuse to tip. The good old days are back.

Truly excellent post! We all have causes that move us emotionally. Everyone cannot be passionate over every worthwhile cause in this world. Personally, I am far more concerned about the millions of destitute children around the globe than I am about marine life so that is where I put my energy. Hopefully we all do our own bit to leave the world better than we found it. Please don't imagine that everyone who does not share your particular focus is either evil or ignorant.

Exactly this.

We were "upgraded" once on Celebrity at the last minute (unsolicited and unwanted) to a suite under the pool deck. Frankly, we were astonished that anyone would pay more to listen to that racket. I can't understand why cruise lines routinely locate their suites directly under the pool deck.

Hmmm . . . sounds suspiciously like the very definition of recycling to me. I think it would be very unusual for a normal kid to throw the little prize they just found overboard. I deliberately hid mine at the eye level of kids. The idea is that they can keep it as a souvenir of the cruise or take a picture with it, post it to one of the websites (where the person who hid it might have a bit of fun seeing who found it) and then re-hide it again. It has also been widely reported that the cruise lines are well aware of the game and have told the cleaning crew to just leave them in place.

I hid "cruisin' ducks" on our last cruise and had so much fun with it that I just might dress up my towel animals and order a tea party for them from room service!

Since Europe and (likely) the US will be dropping the test requirement, Bermuda might be the only remaining clunker on our upcoming transatlantic. I'd rather NCL would dump them off our itinerary. For most people who cruise out of NYC Bermuda is in the "been there done that" category. I doubt Bermuda will change the requirement because, like Cayman, they are a wealthy island and can do nicely without tourist dollars.

We always take the Free at Sea package. We are VERY picky about cabin location, we drink cocktails and also enjoy wine with meals. The small gratuity charge for the included specialty meals is an absolute STEAL even though we are fine with the complimentary choices. My DH is internet dependent and the shore excursion credit is sometimes useful if you want to use the HOHO bus or just use their transportation back and forth on one of the ship's "On Your Own" tours it frequently works out to less than the cab fare you would have paid to get there and back independently.

I have found this to be true also. We generally book cruises far in advance and if they raise the gratuity rate then they will give you the heads up and a choice to pay the rate you booked under before a certain date.

You learn something new every day! Had no idea about the 3 tier system. (God forbid anything should be simple.) I can recall being in a restaurant a time or two and they could not make a dish on their menu because they lacked a readily available ingredient. Meanwhile there is a supermarket on the same block. Wouldn't you think they would send an employee down the street to buy it ??? At least a ship at sea has a somewhat better excuse, lol.

Thank you! That does explain it.

I understand that. What confused me was that the OP stated that he was getting 3 because his cruise was over 15 days. My cruise is over 15 days too so I was wondering why I only got 2. The chart posted by TexasGal clarifies it. I did not book a balcony so that explains it.

I'm now noticing that our upcoming 18 day transatlantic only includes 2 specialty dinners each. It was booked last month (June 2022). Did they reduce it again or should it be 3 since it's over 15 days?

Thanks very much. The sports bar does look like a reasonable facsimile.

I've noticed that there does not seem to be a Local/O'Sheehan's on the Sun's deck plans. Is this still accurate?

We took the train (a/k/a the Pickpocket Express) and there were guides for hire at the entrance. The guide formed a group of us and then he bought the tickets for everyone. There was no line for tickets when we were there (October). I had read in a guidebook that all the guides at Pompeii are reliably good (ours sure was) and that this was the standard procedure. Pompeii covers a large area so it takes a good chunk of time to see properly. We preferred to go on our own for that reason. Also, be warned that there is almost no shade. If you are going in summer Capri might be a more comfortable option if you haven't seen either.

Thanks for yet another of your expert posts. Very interesting information, as always. We are on her upcoming 18 day Transatlantic so very interested in the Sun remaining seaworthy (Yikes!).

Don't know if that line was deliberate but it certainly is true that you always get two at once.

This. DH and I have traveled all over the world for over a month at a time with just 1 carry on and 1 backpack/personal item each. I rinse things out that are easy to rinse out and send things to the ship's laundry when we get on board. I also book Air B&B's with a washer/dryer instead of hotels and look in advance to find out where the laundromats are in cities we are going to. All my travel clothes are non-bulky and mix and match and I use a 3 layer system for outerwear - a light zip up fleece, a compressible down "puffer" jacket and a waterproof outer shell/windbreaker. If you put all three on it is the equivalent of a winter coat. I know it is not everyone's style but it works really well if you are fairly low maintenance. Rolling stuff tightly into packing cubes helps too. I've actually come home with a shirt or two I never wore!

I think I got them before they could get me. The current inflation was very predictable so about a year ago I started booking cruises that we are interested in as far out as possible to nail down the price, which I am continuing to do. I can always cancel when its time for final payment and get price adjustments up until then so there is no downside. I've got some good bargains lined up so I'm very happy with this strategy so far.

Just to add a bit of information; Port Canaveral is about an hour from Orlando but there are shuttles that pick up at the Orlando hotels and bring you to the port. I think Mears is the name of one of them. The cost of the shuttle could get to be a factor if you have a larger group. As others have said, if you have no interest in the theme parks then Miami is preferable.

Eventually. But that has nothing to do with NCL or the cruise. I get your point though - on the one had it is a confusing message but on the other hand it might be useful information depending on your plans.

I got the same letter and it is regarding a transatlantic that leaves from New York and ends in Europe. This cruise does not involve entering the United States at all so they are definitely just sending it to everyone and anyone.

We've done both and loved both but I would definitely choose Europe first if you have done neither.