d9704011

What day lf the week?

That, I don't know.... haven't done it. My understanding is that if you purchase onboard, they provide a non-refundable OBC for half the onboard price ($15/day). I don't think you'd be too interested in that given the FCC twist.

Yes, but it's pretty much limited to close-looped cruises in the Caribbean (and Canada).

This sort of flies in the face of unsubstantiated rumour!! You're not going to suggest that I ought not trust everything I see on social media, are you?

Pre-purchased with Elite discount - $7.50 per day.

Horrifying seems to a bit of an exaggeration but I think I get the idea... how about: Chicken-fried anything

My experience doesn't count (see #940). If I lived in Florida I could do a very-last-minute X cruise this afternoon or tomorrow and provide some legitimate complaints... maybe.

How about the Vikjng Shores and Fjords itinerary? Relatively short hops between port, little opean ocean transit and time spent in the fjords.

Sure... We were on the Celebrity Eclipse on the December 22 to January 2 cruise. We used the OVC quite a bit and were very satisfied with the selection and preparation of the victuals. So, I guess this is a dissenting opinion from the general concensus on this thread to continue the criticism and complaining but maybe this will reinvigorate the discussion to reach 50 pages. Oh, we are well beyond Elite status with X so do have some history/memory of what things were like pre-Covid.

Agree 100%. What would be the point of having passengers provide an attestation then having 'airline staffers' supposedly validating the attestation? Ridiculous!

What is your idea on 'reasonable'? Less than €350 per night? Take a look at this one... https://www.movenpick.com/en/europe/netherlands/amsterdam/hotel-amsterdam.html

Apparently not in Canada... I'm fine.

Looks to me as though Thalys trains from Antwerp Centraal to Schiphol Airport take 55 minutes.

Try this... https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?SectionId=EFS01&DistId=EFS

You didn't ask... but what the heck; if you're looking for a hotel I can recommend the Novotel Brussels off Grand Place.

Switch to Detroit.... lots of time to plan and enjoy cruises year-round.

Same article, different source... https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-01-03/businesses-sue-bar-harbor-over-new-cruise-ship-passenger-limits

Thalys trains run faster but if you want to end up at Brussels Central (near the Grand Place and most 'touristy' attractions) without having to double back on a transfer from Brussels-Suid/Midi, I suggest you look at the Netherlands Rail site for a non-stop to Brussels Central. https://www.nsinternational.com/en

Maybe he meant sanitary?

One of the problems with sea sickness (motion sickness) is that the motion(s) don't need to be particularly dramatic for many people to bring on problems although rough weather and significant ship movement (mainly rolling and corkscrew-like motion) is more likely to be problematic. I have been in the inside passage on a number of occasions. It's not exactly the open sea but it's not protected either. I'd say that those prone to sea sickness would find little practical difference being there compared to just about anywhere else.

For the OP.... don't pay too much attention to what the Flyer says. Cruise lines provide arrival times at ports to passengers so that they can make some reasonable arrangements regarding their schedules. The cruise line/captain is not going to burden you with all the operational and bureaucratic detail about pilots, line-handlers, immigration and customs clearances, etc... and leave you wondering what time you should 'actually' be planning to be able to go ashore. Of course, you'll have to wait until you're given direction(s) on getting off the ship; you can't just head towards the gangway until everything is ready. Don't worry about that though, crew members will politely tell you to get lost and wait elsewhere until the all clear is announced.

Normally, when you're provided with an arrival time at a port of call that means the approximmate time that you'll be able to disembark. The ship is likely to arrive well before the 'arrival time' in order to tie up, get the gangway(s) in place and complete the necessary clearances. So, an 8 am-ish arrival time will mean an 8 am-ish time for going ashore.

With an early morning departure, I suggest you consider staying at the Sheraton Brussels Airport hotel.

Hmm... I'd say you may be borderline on a cost perspective and then you'll have to factor in the less tangible aspects of making the transfer... time and hassle.

Although I only have a Samsung tablet, I'd guess it would be exceedingly satisfying.