beachys

What about seeing the aurora borealis?

Considering doing an Alaska cruise in 2018 or 19.

Considering shoulder season cruises like May or September. What are the positives and negatives to choosing either of those months?

For those that have done Alaska cruises what was your favorite ship and itinerary and why?

We typically vacation in warmer climates so I'm completely lost in planning this trip.

Thanks in advance!

No, neither of my children napped at that age on our cruises or vacations. Now that they are young adults they will occasionally "rest their eyes"!

Germano, he was on the Getaway September 2016.

Maine Lobster is the common name for Homarus Americanus which is harvested / fished for from Labrador in Canada to New Jersey. The vast majority comes from Maine and Canada. The only way you'll know if you have Maine or Canadian lobster is if you are getting in fresh and you live in an area with an active fishing community. We lived less than 0.2 miles from the MLA (Maine Lobsterman's Association) headquarters for close to 15 years. We only knew the difference because we knew if the boats were going out.

 

There are processing plants in Canada and Northern New England that do a great job of flash freezing during processing. Unless you eat a crapload of lobster (or metric craptonne in Canada) you probably won't be able to tell the difference. If you live in a lobstering village, you can taste the difference between today's catch and lobsters that have been in the tank for a few days. You can also tell the difference between shredders (soft shell) and hard shell lobsters.

 

That last part is pretty much for ChengPK and anyone else who's a stone's throw from the coast. ;)

 

Some cruise lines do indeed offer honest to goodness Maine Lobster. Holland America has since at least 2012. It's tails only, but that's better than those nasty sea spiders (warm water lobsters) that they had prior.

 

Some of HAL's dishes use knuckle and claw meat, but I am pretty sure that the knuckle and claw meat is frozen as well. (It's a food safety thing.)

 

So anyway...

 

Maine Lobster is still being offered on at least one mainstream cruise line that I know of. Probably more. You can say what you want, but it's a cost thing. Not having lobster on a cruise isn't the end of the world. There are plenty of other seafood and shellfish options. (News flash: Many of them frozen.)

 

The current boat price for lobster in Maine is $4.50/lb for hard shell and $3.50 for shredders. The supermarket price in Maine is $7.99 to $9.00/lb. This is usually based on 1.25 - 1.5 lobsters (chicks.) You have to remember that the meat yield is only 5 to 6 ounces. That's where the expense comes in.

Wow, I did not know all that. Thank you!

We went with family who have mobility issues twice. Both times we stayed at Marriott Times Square. Is it cheap? No. However the convenience of being right there was worth it. When they were tired we took them back to the hotel and the rest went out and enjoyed Times Square at night.

I would like to thank both of you and most of those that have posted here. We are all interested in what has happened. We are stunned that it would happen in a place that most of us think of as such a "happy place", and yet "Inside" we ALL know how stressful a vacation can be, especially one (as this one "may" have been with extended family included. It seems from the perpetrators comments (if accurate) that "she kept laughing at him". We all understand, that we are our spouses/partners #1 defender and especially in an "extended family" situation, when tension can get high, and some family members can very easily feel inferior, the spouse/partner should always be aware of the "other persons" feelings. This crime sounds like a terrible, terrible misunderstanding, hurt feelings can be a major thing. I think that most of us agree that is what "bulling" is about - hurting someone's feelings. I am so so sorry that this happened to this family, to any family. Children, men and women are now damaged for life and this poor woman is dead all over what was probably something she did not STOP to think about. He was hurt to the core and did not know how to tell her, she did not know how to listen, so she is dead! HOW PATHETIC!

"Children, men and women are now damaged for life and this poor woman is dead all over what was probably something she did not STOP to think about. He was hurt to the core and did not know how to tell her, she did not know how to listen, so she is dead! HOW PATHETIC!"

Seriously?! How on earth can you blame the victim?

We walked there when we were in port in June.

I have the same question!

I had a package similar on the Gem earlier this year. That was my favorite. It didn't have the dining credit but free phone calls in the stateroom. I hope they bring these back again. Loved all the extras.

Me too! If they bring that promo back I will probably put another couple cruises on deposit! I'm looking at two more out of New York city.

I love anything by Sarah Addison Allen. For Sci Fi I go to John Scalzi, I just love his Old Man's War series. Also if you have not read it Andy Weir's The Martian.

I see those on my amenity confirmation!

Can you use the choice dining credit to buy a dining package on board?

I was checking out my included items for or upcoming cruise. The promotion at the time was two free at sea promos, $50 casino credit, 10 photos, 100 minutes internet, $75 obc from NCL . I also got prepaid gratuities and obc from my TA.

My included items list my SDP promo, beverage promo, 100 minute internet package, $50 choice dining credit, water package. I don't see a casino credit, photo package or any of the obc. I understand my prepaid grats won't show until after final payment.

What is a choice dining credit? Also will I see my photo package on the website?

I would call and book. I've had that happen and they had inventory that was not available online.

Also stayed at Marriott, loved it! The restaurant was great at night for drinks and also breakfast. The best part about the room was the balcony!

It took me a month to get back to normal!

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Contrary to popular belief no questions are dumb! Planning a vacation for a family can be stressful. Our first cruise was a good bit of years ago and I recall people getting their final bills and having a heart attack. Now I can keep track of spending on the tv or the app. To address your initial question I've found plenty of free beverage options besides soda.

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Congrats! That's a great deal!

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We always dress up on the dress up or not nights. Hubby wears a shirt, tie and dress pants.

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We changed names two weeks before cruise with no additional charges.

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With the news that the MCT will be getting 28 million dollars for improvements I hope there are plans for more and different ships, lines and itineraries to choose from. The population for potential cruise passengers within 150 to 200 miles of the New York, New Jersey ports is probably the largest of any ports on the entire East coast.

 

bosco

I hope so as well! We live in Ohio and the drive is fairly easy for us. Plus nothing beats sailing by Lady Liberty!

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I saw others bring one with no issues, so I'd recommend bringing your own. We did a cabana. They are perfect for avoiding the sun!

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Some people may laugh, but my favorite month to cruise the Caribbean is actually September, because that's the peak of hurricane season. Let me explain...

For me, the Caribbean experience is all about spending time at the beach, in the water... and the water is warmest during the peak of hurricane season. The fact that the water is so warm is what creates the conditions that cause the hurricanes.

I love being able to walk from my lounge chair on the beach and directly in to the water without for even one minute having to get used to the temperature of the water. During the peak of hurricane season, the water can be pretty darned close to body temperature.

I do also like to cruise in January to take advantage of some of the lowest prices of the year, but there is a big difference in the ocean water temperatures between a January cruise and a September cruise.

I know many of you are thinking that it's crazy to cruise during the peak of hurricane season because your cruise may be disrupted by a hurricane... but I've done it just about every year for the last many years and have yet to be affected by a hurricane at all. Sure, I'm taking a chance, but even if I lose the bet and there is a hurricane in the exact location I'll be sailing to... the ship would simply re-route to somewhere else. A western Caribbean cruise becomes an Eastern Caribbean cruise, or vice versa. Not that big of a deal.

 

The worst case scenario would be if a hurricane were to hit at the cruise's departure city on the exact day of embarkation. That would be a big deal, and would significantly disrupt the cruise... but the likelihood of that is SO small! For the warmest beach water of the year, it's a chance I'm willing to take.

 

You can always hedge your bet by buying trip insurance.

Its September for me too!

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I love yoga and do it daily. Does the Breakaway have yoga classes? Is there a cost associated with them?

Also do they have any free exercise classes? The Gem had daily stretch and ab classes when I was on her.

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