HLR

Hello!

Sailing May 4th 2014 out of NYC on the Carnival Splendor! Any Gaysters aboard?

HLR

we already sailed - january 20-28th :)

Okay! Tell me all about the Splendor! Is it as wonderfully garish as it looks in the pics????

I just booked with NO single Supplement and a cabin upgrade and OBC. May 4th 2014. Carnival is having a big sale.... If you'd like to send an email instead of on here it is Cowboychef at Verizon dot net. I do have some questions.... Of course everyone has different opinions and that is what makes the world go round...but would love to hear fun stuff and any tips to make for a more enjoyable solo cruise...

Howard

anyone still with us? nothing since Sept 2013!

Hey there...when are you sailing on the Splendor?

Howard

Me too me too! I'm sailing on September 2nd! hlr9@verizon.net

How are the shows? Just off the NCL Gem and though the performers were top notch...the show material was just awful!

HLR

My partner and I did a FOD meeting the first night on the ship, and there were lots in attendance, but not really our scene. Plus we had my brother and his fiancé with us so that added a whole other flavor to our trip with those two :)

 

I honestly loved the cruise. It's funny because my parents heard about how fun the trip was and they'll be sailing on Saturday with you, lol.

 

There weren't lots of kids on the June sailing, but there might be on this one. There's so much to do on the ship I barely noticed. Have a great sailing!

I'll look for them! Like we'd ever find anyone... Alas it looks like kid city....the roll call for this sailling is all "I'm coming with my husband and our two kids...or three kids...or new born...or three teenagers and their friends...." The roll call for this particular sailing [and I find most in the US and Caribbean] are sooooo lame compared with European roll calls where people really connect and set up meet ups and shore excursions through private groups...I guess the nature of the activities is very different in Europe than "the Beach". I was referred to as the "shore excursion guru" on my last Mediterranean cruise as I did off the beaten path trips to little towns and such in Italy and France and Spain...and gained followers like the Pied Piper!

Howard

Nice! A few weeks back we did a trip to Florida and Bahamas on NCL Gem. It was only out second cruise though...your list is never ending lol

So how was the GEM? I Live in Jersey City and sailing with a friend on the GEM on Saturday. FOD Meetings?

Did you get a spa pass and was it worth it? I know there is free steam in the locker room of the gym too. I'm sure there will be lots of kids on this sailing.

Also sailing solo on the Carnival Elation the day after Southern Decadence in New Orleans Labor Day weekend.

HLR

During Passover I wouldn't sail on a cruise. The kosher for Passover logistics are too complicated for me to cruise.

 

Hey all...I am rather mystified by this thread...

I am Jewish and was brought up in a conservative kosher home. What mystifies me is not the food issue...but that anyone who is so concerned about observing one of the major Jewish "holidays" would even consider going on a cruise when there is so much more to Passover than just what you are eating.

There may be "Kosher Style" food on a cruise ship....but there can't possibly be Kosher unless they are sterilizing a portion of the kitchen and using new/sterilized/separate preparation pans and utensils and serving utensils and dishes and flatware...and training a staff that has probably never even heard the word "Kosher".

Hey...people do what they want to do...and believe how they want to believe. But if someone is that religious that Kosher is that important...wouldn't you want to be with family or at one's Temple to observe one's beliefs?

Before you jump on me! I do not keep Kosher any more, nor do I attend temple...but I do cook for an orthodox family in their home for Passover [doing all the cooking prior to sundown before the first seder evening] and am grateful for the chance to spend the two Seders with them and their family since my parents became too ill to host the yearly Seders any more.

HLR

Anyone going to be on the NCL Gem departing July 20, 2013?

Ah! We're booked on the GEM August 3rd!

Just off the Spirit!

The men's "spa" area has a changing room where there is a robe in each locker. There are three showers in there and sinks. Then you go down the hall to the steam and sauna where there are an additional 2 showers. Lots of towels...nice and clean and both steam and sauna were quite hot!

The Aqua Swim pool has been covered over with a floor as an exercise room.

HLR

Hello!

The NCL Spirit was originally built for an Asian Market named the Super Star Leo and then bought by NCL. It is the only ship in it's class in the NCL fleet. There is either steam or sauna...I forget if there's both. The facilities are separate for men and woman and the woman's side is said to be larger. There is no spa pass as there are no special rooms as there are on the newer larger ships.

That said...I think the NCL Spirit is a beautiful ship with amazing decor and carpeting and I am actually sailing on it in 4 days! I will try to report back upon my return in 2 1/2 weeks!

HLR

I'm off to the Mediterranean in less than 3 weeks! "El Solo" here...never got any responses to a roll call on the Gay roll call board...oh well...we'll see on board if folks show up to the FOD get togethers!

Howard

We were easily at the airport by 7:30 for a 10:25 a.m. flight and didn't rush to get off the ship. Cabs are plentiful as you disembark and it's not a long ride to the airport.

Since this is a current "today" thread....not from like 2007... How much will [or should] a cab cost from the port in Barcelona to the airport? I am sailing Venice to Barcelona on the NCL Spirit.

HLR

Great!

Here's hoping Verizon is "my friend"! Meeting relatives in Newport and since we are tendering timing is at the Seas whim!

HLR

Question about Cell Phone use on the ship...when off shore in Newport.

When anchored off shore are you too far from the shore to get a "real" signal and not be charged roaming or International charges? [Verizon]

Does that question make sense? Anyone know?

HLR

I couldn't tell you what kind of changes/refurbishments that were made to the ship but I would like to say that the Carnival Glory was my first cruise and I had a blast! I met tons of couples and a few singles at the FOD meetings that were held at the Champagne Bar (or was it the Wine Bar) - next to the casino. :D

Well goes to show you never know! Sailed the Carnival Glory on a short 5 night to Canada last summer and NO ONE showed up at the FOD meetings. Single gayster here and I was traveling with a Lesbian friend for the short sojourn from NYC...

I just booked for myself...solo...for my birthday...the NCL Spirit 12 night from Venice to Barcelona on October 1st, 2012. The regular cabin prices are wayyyyyyyy low and the single supplement was only 40%! AND a $75 OBC. Airfare was a wee high though...though not unexpected.

I have sailed the Spirit twice out of NYC and the FOD get togethers were always well attended! The ship is beautiful!

Howard

Hey all!

Just booked 12 night NCL Spirit...Venice to Bacelona at an amazing price for October 1st! Even with the single supplement the fare for an outside was amazing! Airfare...not so amazing...but....

Howard

Hey all...

Next Cruise for me is in July as the ballroom instructor on RCI Enchantment of the Seas - Bermuda/Boston/Newport. Not terribly exciting, but traveling with a friend as my dance partner and another friend is going along for the sailing. Will see family in both Boston and Newport...I'll see a Brother and relatives in each port.

And never been to that "gayest" of ports...Bermuda! Ha! Anyone have any "Gay" suggestions? We'll be in port overnight on a Saturday.

Sailed the Carnival Glory 5 day to Canada last July...had a very good time. So easy....one hour travel time from my front door in Jersey City to the NYC Pier on Public transportation! FOD meetings were a bust though...no one else came [that we saw?]...though met a few Gaysters here and there in passing. Loved the fish and chips up near the top on the Panarama deck...never a line and some unique things there aside from basic fish and chips. Though the MDR food was pretty good...I was not impressed AT ALL with the dining room service. [This was my second time on Carnival and now I remember that the first cruise on Carnival 12 years ago...we had the creepiest waiter! He was kinda like a cross between Uncle Festor from the Addam's Family and Squiggy from Lavern & Shirley!"]

Once the ship got up north however it was pretty breezy and "murky" outside...so laying out on the deck was not much of an option.

HLR

Hey Guys!

Glad the first meet up went well and I trust I'll be able to make the next one!

Howard

Well yea!

Hopefully this will turn into something and I can make the next one! I am sailing in July on RCL with two friends out of Baltimore...will be teaching Ballroom classes.

Howard

Unfortunately I can't make it as I am working...but is this just a couples thing? It sounds like it...and I'm a single...

HLR

ahhh...just found this thread...I can't go on the 20th!!! Working that evening....

HLR

Okay, I had to get real sneaky and creative to get the answers to the questions (translation - don't try this at home). I went to the MDR and asked.

 

Both Cappucino & Espresso are available in the MDR for about $3.50 each.

 

There is a men's locker room with showers. When I asked about the steam room or sauna I was told it is a steam shower. There is no cost.

Thanks! A "STEAM" shower...can't wait to see what that is! Hee hee! Now a question on everyone's mind....well at least mine....Are current menus for Enchantment posted anywhere? Not that I NEED to know what's being served before I sail...but it's fun to see! The only ones I can I find on the web are from 2002!

HLR

Hello there!

Can I ask...

1) Can you get a cappucino or espresso in the MDR with you meals? And is there a charge? I heard it is now Starbucks...which I am not a fan of...alas.

2) Is there a men's locker room and showers at the gym? Is there a men's steam room and/or sauna free of charge?

HLR

Hi All!

A) Which Specific Ships have Single Cabins? (I know Epic is one)

B) Which Specific Cruise Lines tend to offer an Exceptional Deal for Single Cruisers?

Starting my homework! Actually I have a friend to go with, but she smokes and [oh my goodness!] does she snore!

Is there already a thread asking this? You can guide me there!

HLR

NCL is part of Star Cruiseline, which is based in Malaysia. With it being a Muslim country, they are conservative. I wouldn't be too surprised if they aren't too keen on having a lot of gay passengers.

Can you say more about this? NCL is the cruise line RFamilyVacations uses for all their cruises...and I have sailed as a dance host with them numerous times in the last few years and there were FOD meetings EVERY night.

HLR