squick64

2 hours ago, shadow 123 said:

Can you tell me something about the Star Trek cruise please?

I could tell you many things about the Star Trek cruises. They sail every year (usually February) and have a lot of celebrity guests on board from all the different series. You can get photos with them and autographs. They do various shows every night, panel discussions, science talks...there are various fun activities around the ship, and every night (almost every night) is a theme night you can dress up for if you want. There's also an art auction and museum of props and costumes. All of the other guests are great (I've befriended a fair few of them now), as are many of the celebrities, who you sometimes see around the ship.

All in all, it's a charter (a full charter--you're not sharing with "normal" people). It's expensive (and got quite a bit more expensive for next year). But I think it's worth it. The first 3 were on NCL and all the sailings since then have been on Royal.

I don't know if I'm allowed to link to it here, but you can google it...I believe it's 80% sold out for next year, and all the solo cabins (mostly regular cabins, but they sell them at less than 100% supplement) are sold.

I just recently came off a solo cruise on NCL Prima--it was fantastic.

My next solo cruise is Celebrity Reflection in December, which will be my first time with them, and then the Star Trek cruise (I always do these).

I just today booked two short B2Bs on Virgin (also my first time) in August 2024.

Royal seems to not be doing them for now because of Covid, so you have to sort something out yourself. And I guess that's always been the case on other lines.

I'm a fan (not a non-fan)--I gather that non-fans often love it, even to where they become more enthusiastic than the ST fan down the line (one of the cruise FB admins is the "non-fan"--his husband was the ST person, but he ended up being more into these cruises). I think it's fun either way--people will be dressed up (including themed costume nights, like Roaring '20s), and there are excellent parties with a good band and awesome DJ. There are fun themed drinks to try. There are shows put on by celebrities every evening, and note that ST actors are usually "other things" as well: Anthony Rapp (RENT), Wilson Cruz (My So-Called Life, RENT), Kate Mulgrew (Orange Is the New Black), Doug Jones (Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth, etc.)..and so on. So even if a person's not into ST, they might still see a celebrity they like. I'd also imagine that there are times when normal facilities are more free to use because the ST fans are all doing something.

There's no "normal" stuff, of course. No normal lounge singers/bands, no normal stage show (most of the entertainers are given shore leave during ECP's theme cruises), no normal balloon drop...whatever. And last year, the escape room was closed. However, there are hardly any kids AT ALL. I think we had 2 or 3 under 18s last time, and even in the "before times" (before Covid), it was maybe double that or so? So if the non-fan (or fan) hates having little kids running around and screaming all day, this is a great cruise for it. Of course, you have to put up with a bunch of drunk Trek adults running around and screaming instead. 😄

EDIT, re "Is the pool deck taken every day with huge events or could she swim and enjoy the sun without someone trying to nerve pinch her?"

The pool deck is usually free...there's a launch party on day 1 that she'll want to attend, LOL...celebrities and craziness. There's a t-shirt party on the second day with free drinks for an hour (I think it's held around lunchtime?), and I think the new Collective group party (people with 5+ cruises) was held on the pool deck, although it may have been at an "off" time? I know I felt no need to use the pool then, anyway. But as I say, she may find it a bit more free than usual, too, at other times. I don't know.

Hi! I'm booked! This'll be my third ST cruise. I've basically got everything I need as far as costumes now. Looking forward to it!

I'm in need of transportation from MCO to the Radisson Resort at the Port (I'm coming in the day before my cruise). I've looked at the shuttle options, and they all seem to stop running by 12:30 or 1:00. Alas, my flight's later than that.

What other options would be best for just one person? I don't want to rent a car because I wouldn't even drive it once I got to where I was going. I could do a private car service, I guess, although that's expensive.

Frankly, I'm also open to just changing my hotel to one that has MCO and cruise shuttle service (or similar)--I realize that by the time I get to RRATP, I wouldn't have much time to explore it, anyway.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

4 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Is that his back yard?

I guess he lives in Florida...nice yard to hang out in during the pandemic lockdown, though, not that Florida has had much of one.

His video has brought me some joy today. 🙂

Oh man, I probably should have watched that behind the scene thing, huh? My bad. I see it now. Yeah.

There’s something called “Indulge Outdoor Lounge”, which is the area with the hammocks and associated with the food hall and firepit (seems crazy to me when ships are so fire averse?)...maybe that’s what they mean? It wouldn’t surprise me if that cost extra, yeah. Sort of like Vibe, maybe. An extra fee but not as expensive as the exclusivity of the Haven?

Of course, cushy chairs are “free” on the Waterfront, too, so...hmm.

They’re clearly still ironing it all out, of course.

I can't find anything about a premium area...

I've been going through everything listed on my reservation. They've got hammocks, for pity's sake...I mean, what's the fight over hammocks going to be like? Yikes.

The infinity pools seem very RCI Solarium (adults only) to me. I doubt they'd actually restrict those deck areas by age, but the pools are clearly not for children to play in or for anyone to actually swim in. 🙂

I guess the buffet and MDR haven't made the list yet, although the Local should be free, shouldn't it? Everything just shows up as "Price $ USD" right now. There'll be tapas and Indian food, though, so that is awesome!

It felt really weird trying to choose a cabin on an unfinished ship...I kept going to other decks to see where X is on the ship and finding a white area labeled "to come". 😄 Of course, it wasn't a big worry since I'm in a studio, anyway.

It'll be interesting to see how she comes together. As much as I love the look of the infinity pools and the expanded "waterfront" deck, I'm kind of hoping she still has a "normal" lido deck with a basic pool and bars. Maybe I'm not coming at it with the right mindset, of course, and embracing the new style.

So much of the ship is taken up by the Haven. It looks like a nicer area for them, but I wonder whether it won't get a bit crowded, with that many people using it. NCL is definitely taking an interesting approach, anyway, providing substantially for both the higher priced ship-within-a-ship exclusive set AND the cheap solos. Very much a "have it your way" style...

Well, I pulled the trigger and booked her. As much as I was eyeballing fancy European trips, in the end, I just went with NYC-Bermuda. It should be interesting.

I've been looking at booking Prima today (instead of working). I can't seem to make 2022 work (I already have cruises booked and none of Prima's itineraries or dates are totally working for me), but I'm sort of debating now between a 14-day Europe or B2B (NYC TA to Iceland and then Iceland around to London). Am I clinically insane? I guess so.

Beautiful ship, though.

My first cruise didn't ruin the others, but it led to them. I had never been interested in going on a cruise--I had the usual image people have of 24-hour buffets and trashy tourist ports and so on. My parents had done it a few times, though, and they decided to take me on one--Holland America out of Fort Lauderdale.

I don't sail with HAL now, although I guess I have nothing against them. We joked the whole time that I was the youngest person on board (it wasn't quite true...). Anyway, I prefer what NCL and RCI provide, but HAL did a few things that I particularly remember and sometimes miss. Like the Mexican snack buffet by the pool, or the steel pan lessons (IIRC, the instructor was named Opal?) and her playing by the pool every day, which gave the whole thing a total Caribbean vibe that I've not gotten so much on subsequent voyages. I still remember the Canadian family and this poor guy in a Santa hat (it was winter) who was desperately trying to find someone to dance with him on deck. The matriarch of the family had brought the younger ones along, and I think they wanted a younger environment than what they were getting. Great food and service, anyway. It was a good cruise.

167, assuming it's still good to go.

I'm booked in a boardwalk balcony for August 2021 (if we're sailing). I'd booked it before Covid, though.

I book different cabins depending on the cruise, the duration, the money, lots of things. August is my birthday, so that was a factor. I booked an aft balcony for NYE just because I could get one at an OK-ish price. I'd usually consider a balcony for a long cruise, but I booked a good inside for a 14-day next year with the intention of bidding on an upgrade if/when they offer it. Worst-case scenario, I have a good inside. I'm OK with that, but if I can get a balcony, even a bad one, that'll be better, I guess? We'll see. Oceanviews and balconies are as much about having an easier time to dry swimsuits or sink laundry than anything else, frankly. I'm usually on deck, not in my cabin.

I got my shots already. My next cruise, if it sails, is August 2021, but I'd booked it before Covid happened, so it wasn't like I figured "I have my shots, now I'll book."

I've got August 2021, December-January, February-March (Star Trek), August 2022, and November 2022 booked. I'm hoping we can go maskless and fancy free by December or at least next March! Also, I need a bunch of money to pay for all this now...hmm. Hee hee.

This was something I put up for someone else a while ago--I just took quick photos with my phone, they're not properly scanned. Otherwise, check out the past photos on the cruise website, where they've posted some shots from all of the major events. That doesn't give you everything, of course, like no one took any pictures of Dr. Noor's talk, but it should give you a general feel for it.

In terms of what's happening in 2022, well...a lot of old stuff will be brought back, I imagine. The old script readings they do are very popular. We'll see a game show or two, the science talks, the costumed theme nights, celebrity-hosted yoga, (unofficial) craft swap, door decorating, a make-up artist who can do make-up for you, karaoke, celebrity excursions, a gift shop of ST stuff... This year, we all got to vote on what one of the costumed theme nights was going to be, although we don't know the results yet.

I had my Star Trek cruise in March, which was one of the last sailings, I guess.

July (not solo) was off. My non-cruise trip in August was off. My amazing 16-day cruise in a spa cabin in November? Off. New Year's, off...although that hasn't actually gone through yet.

Next year's Star Trek got moved to 2022, so the next thing on the schedule is August of next freaking year (unless my family reschedules for next July).

I'm in Texas. Our cases surged after the governor largely dismissed it and tried to reopen early, so...yeah. The numbers have dipped a little over the last week, but it's not enough to really matter yet. We're under a mask order (warning, followed by a $250 fine). Of course, my perspective is from the city, not from the state. I know a lot of the border areas have been slammed badly. There was a back-to-school event today in the city, and I know most/all districts are opening online initially, under the circumstances.

I've signed up for the trial, although I haven't gotten the vaccine/placebo yet because apparently, the shipment from the manufacturer hasn't arrived at the clinic. So yes, I'll get the vaccine, given that I'll get it when it's not even finished trials.

I've volunteered for the phase III trial in my area, which should be...fun? It all sounds pretty promising.

If Covid-19 had been the only thing going on, I'd have been making out well financially. Alas, the cat needed surgery, to the tune of 5 figures, so...that's gone. On the other hand, I could have had a year without Covid-19 AND a sick cat, which would have been far worse. I guess I'd be bailing on my November cruise either way, but I feel less bad about it knowing that it might not happen, anyway, or be as nice.

I'd seen they were doing this credit but hadn't even thought that this might be why. How funny. I'd probably already hit my credit (I forget when it goes through).

I can't say whether it'd be a good idea to book right now or not. It'd sort of depend on whether I thought I was getting a good cruise at a good price and all, not just the virus.

While my July cruise is off (and I'm bailing on a non-cruise in August for financial, not viral reasons), I'm still scheduled for November (and then December/NYE, Star Trek, August 2021, and October 2021). I booked it many ages ago, well before Covid-19 was a gleam in its mother's eye.

My view on it is that I'm not touching it until I have to. I really want to go on that cruise, hardcore. I don't know what I'll do if I can't...I'm thinking I'd trade it for October's next year, but I got such a good deal and prime cabin real estate that there's no way I could truly replicate it.

(And I have all my PTO booked, and my cat sitter. What am I going to do with all that time? Sit in the chair I've been sitting in almost entirely non-stop since early March?)

207, I hope.