leisuretraveler223

No, but by calling it a "boombox" you're definitely showing your age!😅

Chasing loyalty perks on a cruise line is as foolish as chasing casino comps in vegas. Be loyal to your wallet and the vacation that interests you. All of these loyalists are wasting money and getting a very poor return. Don't like the offering a company has? Look elsewhere. Simple as that.

Hi all, looking for a little help. I'm a frequent Royal and Celebrity cruiser, but doing only my second NCL cruise next year (last one was close to ten years ago). Wife and I are traveling with another couple. Bookings done separately buy by same TA. On Royal and Celebrity, I can easily see the linked reservations and can book things (excursions, etc.) for any and all parties in either of the bookings. I'm struggling on NCL to do the same. TA has confirmed they are linked, but I can't see them. I'm trying to book an excursion for myself and one person in the other room. Am I missing something, or is this not possible on NCL?

Yep, that's what it sounds like to me too. I guess what I'm asking from those who have been there before is does this sound like a worthwhile excursion from Colon to see the old locks, since our transit will be through the new locks? I have no experience with this and was hoping someone might be able to give some feedback.

I'm not sure what to tell you. It's listed by NCL as an excursion for the day we are in Colon, which is the day prior to Bliss doing the full transit.

I get that, but I'm going to do a full transit the next day about the cruise ship. This sounds like it might be an opportunity to see the old locks, and from a different perspective in a smaller vessel. That was what had me curious. Is there a suggestion of a better way to experience the canal with a day to kill from Colon?

Let me know your thoughts on the excursion below. Doing NCL Bliss full transit next February. This would be the day prior to crossing from Colon. Bliss would be going through the new locks, and this sounds like it would be a chance to see the old locks. Never been to Panama, never done the canal, may never do it again. I'm thinking this allows me to see it both old and new. But I would welcome any feedback from people who've been there and done that! Panama Canal by Ferry Experience the full wonder of crossing the Panama Canal by ferry boat on this daylong adventure. You’ll travel by ship's tender to the Gatun Yacht Club to board your transportation for the narrated drive through the isthmus to the small village of Gamboa. Here, you’ll board your ferry for your canal transit through two sets of locks. You’ll cross the Gaillard Cut and enter the Pedro Miguel Locks, which will lower your vessel 28 feet on its way to the Pacific. Your boat will settle on Miraflores Lake and then you’ll sail over to the Miraflores Locks. Enjoy a light lunch during your scenic cruise of the lake and locks. Your canal experience ends at the port of Balboa where you'll board your transportation back to the ship.

Thank you. It sounds like we should be able to walk it. We did not book through Celebrity. Their train was leaving later in the day. We opted for the earlier departure. Also found booking through the railroad was a much better deal as we were able to book the premium dome car at a lower price than the standard service through Celebrity!

Party of ten sailing out of Seward in July. Taking Alaska Railroad down to Seward. Does anyone have any good intel on getting from the train to the ship? Is it a manageable walk? Do I need to book transportation?

It’s been quite some time since I sailed on Celebrity. If you do not have a drink package, and you purchase a drink from a bar or elsewhere, do they still make you sign a chit every time? Or do you just hand them your card and get it back?

The issue is these are two separate trains. If I book the Alaska Railroad, or anyone else, it's the train leaving at 6:45am and offers the option for Gold Leaf Service. Celebrity lists a train at 11:30am, but does not have various levels. If this is a train entirely chartered by Celebrity, is it possibly there is only one level of service?

So is there an option for the Gold Star seating through Celebrity? It doesn’t seem to show it. Has anyone actually booked the Gold Star on the chartered train and how did you do so?

Sailing out of Seward in July and booked Alaska Railroad, Gold Star Dome for our party of ten. Only thing is, the train leaves SUPER early (6:45am). Celebrity is offering a nondescript train transfer leaving at a much more humane 11:30 am. The price is basically the same, but I can’t find a good description of the train. Is it the same train, same route? Anyone have any experience with this?

Probably a basic question and I feel a little dumb that I can't find the answer. Do Haven bookings include specialty dining? Or is that still an additional fee?

I was in Labadee Friday, no concerns at all.

As a general rule of thumb, the ship will stay on ships time if local time moves ahead, but will adjust if local time moves back. That way if someone leaves the ship and starts looking at the incorrect time, they will think it's LATER than it is and will be back earlier. Ships are much more likely to adjust their time on a western itinerary, so no one making the same mistake will think they have an extra hour and get back to the ship late.

I didn't check out Hooked. I'm sure the lobster roll is good. It's actually really hard to screw up lobster!

Frustrating experience: Night one, about 8:30 pm, we wander into Sugar Beach and decide to get some indulgence for our sweet tooth. I go to the counter with a small bag of candy that totals a whopping $7. I go to pay for it and there's a problem. Something wrong with my account. Twenty minuted I'm stuck there as they are calling who knows where to try and figure it out. Meanwhile, there is a line building behind me and I'm like "forget it, I don't want it that bad", but they literally have my card and I can't get it back. Finally, they come back and say I need to go to guest services and fix my account. Really? It's 9pm on night one of an 8 day cruise, we are literally at sea for the next 48 hours, and I've got a hard stop over $7? of course, at 9pm of day one guest services is a train wreck, so I waited until the next morning, and when I finally got there, everything was fine. They couldn't figure out what the issue was the night before. Grrr.....

That's what I've been accustomed to in the past, but these were absolutely the same tail that you could order from the Chops selections for $16.99. Being from Massachusetts, I don't really lose my mind over lobster, and kinda chuckle when others do. I mean, it's good, but it's not some rarity any more. You can buy lobster tails in just about every grocery store across the country. Watching people gorge themselves on piles of tiny previously freezer-burned and overcooked scrawny tails soaking in butter always seemed kind of hysterical. One decent tail is really enough.

White night and Caribbean night were noted on the planner in advance. I believe they also had an 80s night (or at least an 80s dance party on the promenade).

Enjoyed Labadee. While we were all in suites, we skipped Barefoot Beach Club. I've been before and I don't love it. I prefer the beach on the other side (Adrenaline Beach, I believe). Barefoot Beach Club is fine, but it's just kind of a small beach and cove and I just don't love the feel. Water was great and there were plenty of loungers. One wish: There are a lot of fun things for kids at Labadee, and lots of water areas to be. They have one floating tiki bar in the water off Adrenaline Beach. There is no reason for kids to be out there. It's a crowded bar on a float that says "no jumping". I do not think it would be unreasonable for them to say that is an adults only area. Just the floating tiki bar, not the whole beach.

The ship was BUSY! This is probably my tenth time on an Oasis class vessel since Oasis launched. I've been on as a solo, a couple, a large family and a group. I've been on over holidays, and all seasons. I've been on when it was close to or at capacity (although that is a somewhat ethereal number). But I've never found everything as busy as I did this time. Every bar seemed to always be full. Even the Suite Lounge was crazy. In the past, I found the Suite Lounge was busy immediately preceding the two fixed dining times, but this time, it was basically packed from a little before 5 until 7:30 every night. Had to wait for tables every time we went there. I don't really get it. There are only so many rooms, and only so many people, Why everything seemed so busy this time was a little head scratcher. Even the suite sun deck, which historically always seemed to be under utilized, was pretty much full every day. Not a complaint as much as a general observation.

Hiro was very good. Albeit a little longer than I felt it needed to be. It's about 50 minutes and it was cool, but honestly felt like I could've seen it all in about 25-30 minutes. Didn't make it to Hairspray, but did see 1977, the ice show and that was FANTASTIC! I'm not a big figure skating enthusiast, but to sit close and watch them was really impressive. Great music too!

Traveled in a group of four. My wife and myself and another couple. We were in a crown loft, they were in a grand suite. Enjoyed the suite deck, suite lounge and other suite perks. But dined in MDR every night and were perfectly happy with it. Looked at Coastal Kitchen Menus every day, but honestly liked the wider variety in MDR. Coastal was great for breakfast several days. Lots of talk about MDR food, but I think overall it is much as it has been for the past five years- order the right items and you'll be happy. Items that are made well in "large format" come out great. So the prime rib, fried chicken, beef tenderloin, lasagna, soups, and most of the sides were excellent. Sadly as has always been the case, pork chops were overcooked and dry (easy to do if you don't have a really nice piece of pork), and the seafood for the most part was ho-hum, but what do you expect when it's all frozen? One major bright spot was the lobster tail. Yes, they limit you to one and then have an uncharge, but these are MUCH better tails than the scrawny little ones they used to serve. One lobster tail is plenty, if you're hungry, order something else to go with it.

Had a really enjoyable 8 day trip on Symphony. Will share my thoughts in replies and welcome any questions.