Shih-tzu

You may wish to check further reference the Scooter - perhaps Norwegian has a deal/contract with a provider for their ships and they get a cheaper rate??  Or maybe the supplier offers a discount to Norwegian passengers?   Worth a try anyway. 

It's a Hamilton-Beach.   There are round coffee packets (like a filter with coffee in it) and  I think it brews one cup at a time (I'm sure you can ask your steward for more packets if you need them).  I saw it there but never used it as I was up earlier than everyone else so just got coffee on the Lido deck and then went and watched the sunrise.  I'm looking at a photo I took a couple of weeks ago on my I-phone but have absolutely NO idea how to upload it...… (they are only in Balcony rooms and above though, apparently not in the inside or ocean view from what I was told).  

I just saw recent Freestyle Dailies for the POA not even a few days ago somewhere on here but do you think I can find it now???  Of course not!!!  (but if I do, I will try to remember where it was and let you know).  There were lei making classes listed, hula classes and other activities.  

The last time I was in Hawaii (in Nov '18 but not on cruise) I seem to remember a place that people flying into the continental US had to go for an "Agricultural Inspection" or something close to that title. (I didn't have to because I was flying direct back to Canada).  If it was anything like the one I had to go through in Puerto Rico - no plants, fruits, vegetables, etc were allowed, so I'm not sure if you could even bring back a real lei or not....  But as another poster said, they don't last long - a day or two maybe - the ones we got upon arrival at the airport lasted maybe 3 days before it was wilted.

Hopefully someone else that has flown can verify what you can or can't take back that has actually been through that inspection.

On 5/22/2019 at 11:23 AM, njhorseman said:

Unless something has changed recently, and I've seen nothing official to say it has,  you an use a $5 bill.

The official site says they accept "Cash (exact change/coins only)."  Farther down it says "Exact change only" and "Note:  Drivers do not make change and are forbidden from receiving and depositing money into the farebox".   Maybe they do accept bills knowing that tourists aren't loaded with Bermudan quarters, but I was prepared to have to get coins when I got there based on the website.....  I wouldn't want to wait for a bus only to find out when it got there I couldn't get on it.....  this is on the Government of Bermuda web site (https://www.gov.bm).  Turns out we didn't use the bus after we got there - used the ferries and a shuttle.  Hope this helps....

On 5/21/2019 at 11:27 PM, njhorseman said:

You can use bills for the ferry and although buses are technically not supposed to take bills, some drivers do, although you can't count on it.

Also, to be clear, neither ticket books nor 3 day passes have been sold at the Dockyard for some years. That could have changed this year but I've not heard anything that it has.  Did you see them being sold at Dockyard when you were there? If so we'll be happy to tell everyone that they now are sold at Dockyard.  You can buy them in Hamilton or St. George. Tokens and 1 or 2 day passes are sold at the Dockyard.

I didn't try to buy the tickets or passes, I just purchased 4 tokens to use the Hamilton Ferry.  Planned to until I found out Norwegian had the free ferry to St George so used that one day, and then went to Hamilton the other.... (used a shuttle to go to Horseshoe Bay because of the hill...I'm old....).  I just checked the web site and it says you can get passes and tokens (not tickets) at the Visitor Information Center at the Dockyard.   I had originally planned on buying the pass and had looked it up ahead of time (but you are correct - they don't sell the tickets).  (there is a VIC at two places at the peir - one in front of where each ship docks - not sure if it's both or just one that may have the passes).

I was playing with the idea of taking the ferry to St Georges and then getting a bus back to the Dockyard (that way you would travel from one end of the island to the other).   Changed my mind only because I had a new pair of sandals that decided to do a bit of a number on my feet the day before....  but if you got the pass (or a book of 15 tickets) you could go almost anywhere by ferry and bus.

4 hours ago, carnival03 said:

Do you have to buy a ticket beforehand? Or, can you use exact fare when boarding the ferry?

You have to have exact fare (and from what I understood when I was there a couple of weeks ago, it has to be in change, not bills).  You can buy tokens in the kiosk where the ferry comes into the Dockyard.  You can also buy 15 tickets (which is good for bus and ferries and works out to a little cheaper per trip) or 1,2,3 day unlimited passes (again good for ferries and the bus system).  

On 5/18/2019 at 6:02 PM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

 

There is no way to filter the behavior of others based on stateroom choice or economic status.

 

Some with money are jerks.

Some with less money are jerks.

Some with money are great people.

Some with less money are great people.

 

And....you can't tell how much money a person has based on stateroom choice...….someone may choose to cruise an inside cabin due to the sleep quality you can get and then they can take several cruises a year.  Another may have a suite but it's their once-in-a-lifetime trip that they have saved and saved for.   

Looks like your vacation (albiet modified) can at least happen......which is a good thing as a change in scenery will be as good. Take care 🙂

The thermal spa on the Gem is wonderful and hopefully can help relax or alleviate any pain.   Best of luck on your trip to Bermuda and please keep us posted on how you're doing and how your trip went.

Guess I should pop back on here and clarify a few things....

It wasn't so much that she was using "spicy" language (and I'm used to hearing it day in and day out so it sort of goes in one ear and out the other), it was the decibel level that made it as annoying as it was.   Normal conversation level and it wouldn't  have been noticed - but she was "screaming".  I'd be willing to bet that there were some there though that were watching it as an odd form of onboard entertainment.....   As others mentioned, we could have gone to another area and at times we did, but if that is the designated smoking area then that's where I had to go from time to time to stay in the rules.   (and yes, that's why I go to the bar....to have a cigarette and my soda....).  

Good to know the passenger code of conduct exists and would be good for future reference.   Something like this probably doesn't happen often (I had never seen it before on a cruise or at all-inclusives) so I'm guessing my odds of having it happen again soon are probably slim.   

I'm surprised you didn't hear her......😄.  Guess you weren't in the pool area when she was hollering.  Glad they followed up as smoking on balconies is clearly against the rules (and is posted on their web sites, information sheets, etc).  Sad that smokers that don't follow the rules ruin it for all of us that do.   That man has a smart wife 🙂

Can't answer for the Joy, but there were some decorated doors on the Gem last week.   I would think the policy would be fleet wide (unless because the Joy is so new).   

Thanks Joyce.  I wasn't sure who one would complain to (and I generally don't like to complain).   I think a few of us were just gob smacked at what we were seeing/hearing.   I'll keep it in mind.   Never saw anything like it on a cruise before...

That's such a shame - I hope that things sort out for you and you don't miss your cruise.

I noticed some people had ECVs on the Gem last week.  Not sure if they were personal ones or if they were rented in Boston for the cruise.   There are areas in the Garden Café that have seating for people using wheel chairs, ECVs, etc.   I did see someone going with on of the knee carts but not sure how they did getting on and off the ship in Bermuda.   The staff is very helpful though.

Crutches are tricky, especially at sea when the boat rocks (and it did on the return trip on the 8th and 9th).   IF you can change your cabin, try to get an accessible one (either your TA or Cruise Consultant may be able to talk to the cruise line based on your circumstances) as wheel chairs, ECVs, knee carts all take up more room.   Another suggestion is try to get mid-ship so you don't have to go far from one end to the other to get to things on board.

I hope you have a great trip despite your injury.

Just returned from the 3-10 May cruise on the Gem from Boston to Bermuda.   Overall a great cruise but just one complaint.....

We were blessed with a middle-aged "lady" who screamed most of the time and it was liberally laced with multiple f-bombs and other coarse language.   She spent a lot of her time up at the bar and smoking area on Deck 13 but she could be heard by those of us when we were on deck 12 at the pools as well.   I've worked in the military for many years, and have never heard anything like that before.  Not sure how people with kids explained this one to them.....

Our best description of her was "a parrot that a pirate would give away for squawking too loud and swearing too much".   When she showed up, or the longer she stayed, people would roll their eyes, some would get up and leave, etc.

At what point should or can cruise ship staff step in for cases like this.  They would have definitely heard and seen her (as did most of the ship).   Is it that they aren't supposed to be confrontational with paying passengers?   She was a feisty one, so maybe they didn't want to tangle with her (and the 4 or 5 fellows that always seemed to be with her?).   A few people mentioned that complaining probably wouldn't result in anything but who knows?   I did notice on the very last sea day she wasn't there when I was and security was walking around so maybe there were formal complaints?  Just a bit of a shame that one persons behaviour could affect so many other cruisers.  It's easy to say we could have just gone to another area of the ship, however this was the only designated smoking area for those not using the casino.

I have no problem with people having a good time, etc but in my opinion (and other passengers that mentioned it) this was wayyyyyyyy over the top.  

Leave $5.00/day (just in case it isn't the same steward) and then extra at the end (amount depending on if I've asked for anything extra or if they have done extra).

8 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

May 5th is a whole week away ... you can’t rely on the weather forecast that far ahead. We don’t!

 

Anyway, the ships will not go to Bermuda if there are high winds and/or strong currents. They need to enter via a cut off east of Bermuda and go through the North channel westward and then turn south to the Dockyard. Bermuda is surrounded with reefs so marine must go in between buoys.

 

 

Yes, I was fascinated looking at the reefs both coming in by air and by sea and thought at that time that wind and waves would very much affect a ship getting in.  My fear is that we will go to Saint John NB … wouldn't be too much fun paying all that $$ for a cruise and ending up close enough to home to zip over and do laundry and check e-mails 😞 on the port day.  On the up-side - on a cruise at least I don't have to cook and do the dishes.  I love Bermuda - but hubby has never been there - trying to "sell" him on a two week trip next spring.

7 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

No there isn't going to be any "anchoring".     Who knows what the weather will be.   Decisions will be made by the professionals-    at the time.    

 

Whats the concern now?   No way to predict the future.  

I know it's a whole week ahead but just trying to plan.  Guess looking way ahead at weather and sea state comes from being brought up my mariners..... weather was # 1 concern.

Oh my - I hope I didn't waste my $$ buying the thermal suite passes......

Just looked at next Sunday's weather (5  May) and it's showing winds of 48 kph (approx. 30 mph) and gusts of 71 kph (45 mph).   Will the Gem still be able to get into port and dock or will it have to anchor outside of Bermuda and wait for the winds to go down (and I suspect based on that it might be a rough crossing....).    

Thanks so much.  Appreciate the time you took to do this.   (I just saved them as photos and now I can turn them … I think....)

Thank you - eagerly awaiting the next 3 days (especially the 2 sea days on return).   Appreciate the time you took to get these on this board 🙂

Following as well....

16 hours ago, vince_g said:

Shih-Tzu,

 

You'd better grab it right now.  Looks like they dropped the price to 9,999,999.99

 

Must not have been moving as they expected.

I'll get right on it!!!!   **chuckle**