scamper

You mean one has to actually blend with the hoi poloi!?!? The sorts of people who earn their money?!?!? Oh, really dahling!!! I'm going to need my smelling salts! 😜

I guess some people find using a fork a challenge.

I did a mock routing on Google Maps out of curiosity. Not knowing where in the Poconos you are, I just programmed Wilkes-Barre to Red Hook. Took me in through the Lincoln. I think the easiest way to program a trip from your location to the GWB; input either GWB or Ft. Lee. Wait until you're over the bridge and then program from that location to Red Hook. I have only been over the bridge three or four times. I think eastbound traffic was mostly on the lower level. Not great for the view, but you could try for better luck driving back that way and getting the upper deck. It's a crapshoot which level.

Sunday morning traffic will be a breeze. The only traffic you're likely to encounter around midtown on a Sunday would be the matinee theatre crowd, but that usually only affects anyone exiting the Lincoln Tunnel in the early afternoon. If your GPS routes you via the GWB (George Washington Bridge) or the Holland, you'll be fine.

Advice from someone who worked in the "complaint department" of a major US airline (😱), never fly down same day.

While I will be the first to agree that money doesn't bring class, this, imho, is the result of dirt cheap cruises. Don't ever recall seeing this on Seabourn or Regent.

On Amazon Prime, right? I've seen them...and manufactured drama is right! Always successful at resolving the "problem" at the last second.

Don't be downcast...you guys can truly row like nobody's business when you set your minds to it! 😁

This reminds me of a line of dialogue from Will & Grace when Karen offered to quit coffee to help Jack. "I'll just have to drink my Bailey's straight. It'll still be the best part of waking up."

Not to detract from the arguments that support opening the MDR for breakfast and lunch, but I long ago resolved the "shared utensils" issue by investing in a basketful of Bath and Body Works* hand sanitizers, especially when they are on sale. They come in a variety of fragrances in 1oz/29ml plastic containers. I always have one stored in a pocket. *Here's hoping posting this will not violate any TOS on this site. Really, any pocket hand sanitizer that has at least 63% alcohol content will work.

Imagine you're on your favorite Seabourn ship. Take a look at the time of day right this moment and tell us what you might be doing on the ship, right now. It could be one or more things, but just share.

From what I have seen, fares are higher...just not 200%.

I'm going to echo the responses with respect to cash or OBC rebates from many travel agencies. I think it's one of the best perks when booking through a TA. I have also read here about the difficulties people have when dealing with MSC customer service if they have an issue and need to get in touch with the line. From what I understand, it can be a train wreck. In the future, if you decide to use a TA, look for one that has a good relationship with the line you are sailing with. Some specialize in booking with certain lines and often have direct contacts they can use and skip the on hold music and the press one, press two extravaganza. I use a large travel agency that specializes in luxury travel of all kinds. Don't be put off by their focus on luxury hotels, cruises, and resorts, though. They will work with anyone.

Ever the optimist, look at it this way: you could have been mixed in with the poor shlubs in steerage. Don't give up on the YC. I'm willing to bet a future cruise will be better.

Assuming there are no issues with docking or customs, you shouldn't have a problem. Consider your risk tolerance, however. Because Miami and Ft Lauderdale are heavy cruise port airports, most flights on Saturdays and Sundays are usually very full and if you miss your flight, the airline may not be able to get you home same day. If I fly to the port, I always arrive the day before and book my return flight at noon or, usually, later. Better safe than sorry.

Most of my cruises have been on HAL and they never feel crowded. Of course, they don't have the lumbering, floating behemoths that MSC and other lines have. In fairness, the video's a bit misleading showing the packed Galleria without context. They were having a big party there and of course it makes it crowded. The pool area, if I were the sunshine type, would make me very unhappy. Fortunately, I limit my sun exposure. Skin cancer clashes with every piece of clothing I own.

I'm going to go a different route than other posters by saying I'm sorry you had a terrible cruise and don't blame you at all. I agree, ship's personnel did not handle this well at all. I understand that the ship was basically full and thus they couldn't move you. However, to only offer you 20% in FCC of your fare as compensation is piss poor indeed. Had it been me, I would have made sure to actively look for an officer, the more gold braid the better. If her or she didn't address the issue, I would have kept looking for more braid on the shoulder. I hope you will continue to seek remediation. I don't know if getting a lawyer involved would help, but I am fortunate to have a lawyer in the family who has written letters in the past for me and other people that often get businesses and individuals to sit up and take notice. He never threatens to bring suit or anything of that nature, it's just that oftentimes letters on law firm letterheads are all that is needed to convey the seriousness of the situation. It's 50/50 that such a letter might help, but it definitely couldn't hurt.

Sorry to hear. Gratefully, I never succumbed. I feel your pain.

Fine. Waste the wine. I don't care.

Isn't that what room service is for?

That's why the Coravin was invented. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pour+wine+without+removing+the+cork&atb=v347-1&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQ47qGYpYQeQ

One of the advantages of cruising on the older ships is not having to pay the premium fares that the newer ships generally command. Although this might not apply to cruises to out-of-the-way ports such as the one discussed, it certainly works when a line has several ships in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, etc. during the appropriate season.

I'm with you on the wine issue. I am thinking it's more NCL wanting to limit consumption of higher end wines on their packages. They'd rather you drink what they want you to drink in the most places and restrict the finer wines to one or two locations. They're hoping you have more meals in alternative locations and won't miss the more expensive wines, thus they don't have to pour as much. Alas, nowadays I believe to get better service and higher end products, you have to look more at the luxury and "premium" lines or, perhaps, The Haven.

Weird. I would think if there were something as common as a particular cheese in one venue, it would be in the Haven as a rule.

I am not trying to take this thread in a "different" direction, but I have to say that I never understood why dress codes seem to bring out some of the worst in posters. This one didn't go as far into left field as I was expecting considering the thread starter was a little snarky. Look, I am a guy, but I do admire the way a lot of women (and men) pull off lovely outfits that I would otherwise not be considered "dressy" using what otherwise might be considered "casual." I have walked through the ladies department in stores ranging from Saks and Bergdorff's to Macy's and have seen many smart-looking components that would work perfectly on both the mass market and luxury lines. This is not the Gilded Age. No one is going to point and stare or clutch their pearls and stumble backwards onto a fainting couch if someone appears in the dining room and isn't dressed in $5,000 Gucci or Prada. I would imagine one of the reasons why Chanel created the little black dress was for something like this. What's so hard about a nice skirt, dress, or slacks; blouse or sweater, and attractive shoes??? They fit in luggage just as easily as your sneakers and tee shirts. And don't get me started about not being comfortable in more formal clothing.