IrieBajan54

5 hours ago, bmlovell said:

 Sailing on joy for first time this month ,have never tried either restaurant as they were not on the ships I last sailed . We had moderno and I think Q is the replacement for that on the joy . Is the food good or should this be one to skip ?would you consider food republic a true speciality dining choice ,or like a quick eats spot ?for those who have tried thanks for the information.

I was on the Joy a few weeks ago and shared a solo Latitude Q dinner with another cruiser. He ordered BBQ but I got grilled salmon. A few days earlier, I had ribs in the main dining room so didn't feel like eating meat. The grilled salmon was very good. However, the jalapeno cornbread didn't even have a hint of heat/pepperiness.

The other specialty restaurant I ate at was Ocean Blue. The halibut was very bland. No seasoning at all.

I like the menu for dinner. I eat mainly seafood and some nights with the changing menu, I was left without a choice. Sometimes there was a fish offering I never heard of. I remember asking fellow solos if they've ever heard of it. Now with this standard menu, I know there will always be Grilled Mahi Mahi and Grilled Salmon.

On 9/20/2022 at 2:19 PM, phoenix1181 said:

I'm so confused!

 

I am Platinum, cruising solo, in a club balcony.  (cabin type added strictly to confirm we don't all cruise in insides).  Will I be able to dine with someone and use one of my Platinum Dinner coupons for both our meals?

Nope! Solos will have to eat dinner alone.

1 hour ago, fstuff1 said:

 

i dont see for $793:

 

Just checked 5 min ago.
Still $900 solo 😞

 

That is NCL. Another location coded CQ has it at the lower rate.

However, $900 isn't bad for 14 days. Ship isn't selling so should be even cheaper by the end of the first week in October.

Caribbean Princess --- 10 Nights

Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)

November 3 - 13

Solo Interior Stateroom Guarantee (IF)

$824 + $350 port/taxes

10% single supplement

Norwegian Breakaway

Repositioning: NYC to New Orleans

14 Nights

November 6 - 20

Zero single supplement

Solo Inside Sail Away Guarantee IX

$793 + $218 port/taxes

2 hours ago, UKstages said:

 

your comments align perfectly with what i wrote above about the data being cross referenced behind the scenes and how one has to fill out all the information.

 

my main point was that the arrivecan site and app tell you to have the QR code ready to display when you get off the ship. some people fret about this because they don't have a cell phone or a printer. in my personal experience, and from talking to others, nobody has ever asked to see the arrivecan QR clearance code. so, it's a bit of unnecessary misdirection for the arrivecan folks to say that it's required.

 

filling out the data is required... displaying the QR code is - apparently - a once in a blue moon thing... at least for now. with an uptick in covid and more stringent entry standards, everybody may have to display it in the future.

I just got off the Joy. In the Freestyle Paper for each of the 4 Canadian ports, NCL advised passengers to take ashore the COVID vaccine card and ArriveCAN receipt to show upon demand. I didn't think the Canadian officials would need to see them. Anyway, I complied but it was unnecessary. Canadian officials were already satisfied with everything they had gotten in advanced. No one was molested for papers or QR when disembarking. From observation, passenger freely entered the terminals and went about their leisure activity.

Just got off the Joy and I checked my bill daily. One day I noticed a charge for $29.50 from the Spa. I didn't know they provide such cheap services. Spa services are of no interest to me, period. So, I went to front desk and told them it was an errant charge that need to be removed. The clerk got the Spa manager on the phone and asked me if it might have been a port day charge. I explained again, that not only did I not visit the Spa but I also don't know where it is located on the ship. By the next morning, the charge was removed. 

MSC Seascape

Transatlantic 15 Nights -- Barcelona to NYC

November 21 to December 6

Solo Inside Guarantee $359 plus $300 port/taxes

Solo Balcony Guarantee $690 plus $300 port/taxes

Voyager of the Seas

Repositioning: Boston to San Juan

7 days -- October 30 to November 6

Solo Inside Guaranty $421 plus $160 port/taxes

Just now, d9704011 said:

Embarkation check-in.

Good to know! Thanks!

Question:

So I am using an online monitored pre-test site that has been recommended. So when they send me the email results, do I need to print that out for embarkation check-in or does ArriveCan require that I upload it?

Norwegian Gem -- December 8 - 22

Barcelona to NYC

14 nights

No single supplement

Solo Sail-Away Inside: $599 + $195 port/taxes

Plus $50 excursion credit in each port.

Looks like the NCL captain reimplemented "dry foot."

I miss the 20 day cruises from NYC to LA in January/February on the Gem and then there was a reversed itinerary.

For the ports of call Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Saint John is there enough to do just walking around? I'm not really into tours and normally spend a couple of hours exploring a city and what's near the port.

Virgin Voyages ends pre-testing beginning July 27. Bet other lines will follow. 

https://porthole.com/virgin-voyages-removes-pre-cruise-covid-testing/

All 4 Jewel Class ships and the Sun. Pros: The Great Outdoors which is protected from the wind and a wrap-around promenade deck.

I've only done one Australia-New Zealand cruise and was hoping to go back when COVID disrupted everything. The long flight did not bother me one bit. It was nice flying on a different airline: Qantas. Would love to do an around Australia cruise but NCL doesn't. I too am retired and don't like port intensive cruises so haven't done the Med. However, since I have done several transatlantics, I have been to some of the popular sites in Spain, Italy and France.

Whatever you choose, the other can be next on your bucket list.

On 6/1/2022 at 5:29 PM, n4w said:

I'm watching two specific cruises and every week, the prices keep inflating.

 

One kept sinking every week until mid-April when it decided to change direction and hasn't stopped climbing.

The other I've only tracked a few weeks, but it has increased $100pp each week.

 

And then I realized there aren't any more posts about folks trying to get adjustments for price decreases after final payment.

 

Forcing remaining FCC to go stale or milking more out of those who do use it?  Hmmmm 🤑 

or getting ready to follow the other lines and do away with FCC expiration dates?

I cruise solo and I monitor certain cruises I would like to take. I start tracking after final payment date. As a result, I pay no single supplement. Currently monitoring a Canada New England cruise. Last week, it was 200%, now it is 150%. So, yeah, prices are sinking at least on this particular ship. As soon as it falls to 100%, I plan on booking.

Same happened on my Gem 10 day cruise a few months ago. I ended up booking 10 days out and paid no single supplement for a Sail Away balcony.

Seems like an odd month to go to Bermuda. Water definitely should be cold but I guess enough sun for a tan. I like the Jewel Class out of NYC but towards the southern Caribbean. 

I don't drink sodas period and only drink alcohol (wine/beer) occasionally at home. Have been cruising with NCL for the past 9 years without the drink package. Like some others stated, if I had it, I would over-consume to justify the purchase. Luckily, I book Sail-Away which negates the problem of have to decline the so-called FREE at sea.

This is why I only book last minute. I get value for the price I pay!

Ha, ha, ha! 🤣

I got my Sapphire pin last week. It looks nice but who cares? When I got home, it went right into a drawer and that is where it will stay.

I was on the same cruise and because I prefer the Jewel Class ships things went pretty much as expected. I had a balcony on Deck 8 Forward. Never met the cabin steward but he did the job twice a day. Didn't have to ask him for anything. Both Grand Pacific and Magenta were as noisy as usual during dinner at 6:30 p.m. Four good Latitudes meals at Cagney's and Moderno which were accomplished by sharing with another Latitudes solo.

I was one of the first off the ship this morning. There was no face recognition for immigration. The officers were lined up and just did a visual of passports. Mine ask if I had any alcohol. Answer: no! Then, he said have a good day!

An ambulance pulled up to take away some unfortunate cruiser. But a least that individual got back to NYC.

It's unfortunate OP never got the missing luggage. I got a flyer in my cabin asking if I saw it. Kinda weird when flyers like that show up. How many people would keep a piece of luggage in their cabin and not ask the cabin steward to removed it pronto?