runnerandme

Andy,

Good to know. We are looking forward to seeing Perry's show.

Connie

Wow glad for the post about moving chairs. I certainly won't touch them in Michael's. I would not have moved the chairs back, I would have simply left. Maybe this is part of his "act"??? I would hope so.

Connie

My sister suffered this after two cruises. She had used the transderm patch both times. Dr. did a vertigo treatment, ( she was turned upside down , etc) made her sicker but it went away. She now uses Bonine ( chewable) before she gets on the plane to go to the cruise, and one a day in the morning for up to a week after she gets home. She has never had the problem again. She too was going to give up cruising. So glad this works for her.

Wonderful photos. I am now convinced that a PH is the stateroom I want. I will need a very relaxing cruise. This ship looks like it will be a good choice. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this.

Connie

I would have a "meeting" with all that are going beforehand. I would have a plan. Think about how much stuff the cabin can hold. ( my two sisters, daughter and I share cabins about this size). AND we made a fast rule, No one could spend hours in the shower.AND no complaining about where you were sleeping. If everyone is paying the equal share, than the bed situation should be decided in advance. If MIL, sister and BIL are just paying the 3rd, 4th and 5th rate, then no complaining about the sofa beds.

Also make sure they know about any extra costs, like tipping, cab fare, and most important if you use something from the minibar keep track of it, it will appear on the account of the main person on the reservation. I know I paid for many sodas and nuts for my sister ( gladly I may add).

Our oldest sister always got the bed with my daughter and other sister and I always took the sofa bed...( I always paid for the entire trip LOL) but that is just what we decided because it worked for us. I never complained because my sister would have slept on the sofa if I had asked her to.

MY one picky neat sister had to adjust to allow my not so neat sister "space" and let her shove her stuff out of sight. NO complaing about not folding things neatly...lol

My not so neat sister had to learn not to take every pair of shoes she owns..and to leave stuff out of sight.

I learned to take more money and less clothes.

This can work, if you all agree in advance to share the space how everyone thinks is fair.

Good luck and have a great cruise.

Some items are shipped from different locations. I also ordered a "set" and two came from one location, the third from another. The third item was processed the same day but not shipped until two days later..I am surprised they all match perfectly. I thought maybe they just ship from different locations due to stock on hand??

Sunlight, Starlight, Moonlight of the Seas.

Sunbright, Starbright, Moonbright of the Seas

Love the photos. It makes me feel like I am there.

Best advice would be to ask your personal physician. One sister had no problems with the patches, two of us had side effects. ( one with serious complications).

I now take a Bonine chewable before getting on the ship, and one every morning there after. NO seasickness and NO after effects after getting off the ship. I take it for two days after I get off.

An old sailor once told me to eat bread and salami when I was seasick. Made me puke and I felt better!!! I don't think that is what he had in mind, however.

Buy her a cheap camera..:D

My niece ended up with a $500. cell phone bill after her last cruise. She had purchased an international text plan for fifty cents a text. She was gone 16 days. Needless to say next trip the phone stays home.

I have enjoyed this thread. It has cleared up some confusion I had about specialty dining. Enjoy your trip on Allure.

Thanks, Connie

Laura SF,

First let me say wow to your impressive resume. I hope you and your Mother and of course Asta have a wonderful cruise.

A solution could be to put Asta in doggie diapers. I have never seen a trained service dog pee "along the way" before. :eek: I think for health regulations this would be a major issue with the cruise line.

The frozen food issue might cause difficulty. I would check to see what temperature the fridge in the cabin maintains. You don't want Asta to get sick on "spoiled" food. I would check with your vet about sea sickness and what to give the dog. Also maybe find a comparable food subsitute that does not have to be frozen/refrigerated. The vet may be able to suggest a good substitute.

Traveling with a daughter in a wheelchair has been a joy, a challenge, and mostly taught me patience. Good luck.

Connie

I also bought a premuin non alcohollic package and on my summary it says zero packages ordered. However, I clicked on view beverage packages and it comes up. Also under make a payment..it lists the beverage package as paid. However in one place it shows it as a paid shore excursion. Called Celebrity and they have it right on their records. I printed it ALL out to take with me just in case.

Robin, That was just too funny..

My sister came back to the ship with sand in her beach purse. I am fussy about a clean cabin and she thought she better shake the sand out of the bottom of the purse over the side of the balcony. She was shaking it hard, I walked in and asked her what she was throwing overboard. She was not paying attention and the pearls she had just bought were in an unzipped pocket of the bag. We hope some fish is wearing them in good health. Oh yea the wind blew the sand back at her and got all over the balcony, but she was so sad about the pearls I did not say a word about the sand..

Mitsugirly, What a great review with good photos. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Connie

To Karaokelady , I think you are so wrong. Your analogy that your booking a H/C cabin is like a couple that books two studios is so far off base. I am actually considering booking two studios for my sister and me. She can have her space and I can have mine. We are not single. We are not going solo. We are traveling together. I feel that If I chose to book a studio, I am as entitled to that cabin as much as you. What about a couple that needs two beds? Insomnia, snoring, etc. Studios fill a need for anyone that cares to book them. I do not see NCL ever saying that only a person that knows no one on the sailing can book these.

We book h/c cabins because my daughter is in a wheelchair. If I can't get her in the door of the cabin she can't go. You on the other hand have the pick of the ship. So if ALL the studios are taken you can sail in other catagories. If you book a H/C cabin and don't need it, that cabin is unavailble to us. AND if you don't understand the difference nothing anyone posts on here will change that.

So what about friends that are traveling together. Should they not book studios because , gosh they could share a cabin..

I think it is like comparing apples to oranges. ( I happen to like both).

A relative worked on Matson Line's Lurline. We would go to the pier to drop him off. I remember dressing in my best clothes. Going aboard and seeing all the women dressed in beautiful dresses and suits. Men in suits. Steamer trunks being pushed up the gangways by porters. The elegant atmosphere. I was awed.

We could never actually sail. We just did not have the money. Then the bong, bong, of "all ashore going ashore". We threw confetti rolls from the dock. Classic musicians played on deck. And off they sailed.

Now at sail away, you see jeans, shorts, flip flops, carryons with 12 packs of soda. You also see people that could never have afforded a cruise in the 50's or 60's. I still am awed. I see people with wonderment in their eyes when they see the ship, so huge sitting at the dock. THe rock music plays on. And off they sail. But now I am onboard.

Cruising has evolved. I can even afford the luxury lines if I chose to do so. Not the luxury many had in years past.

Besides capris are so much more comfortable than a stuffy suit!!!

We used Romeinlimo in Rome and Florence. It was wonderful. There were four of us total with a folding wheelchair. It was worth the cost. If we go back to Europe again, I would do private tours at all the stops. I would check with Carnival special needs dept to see what the policy on tendering is if you have tender ports.

How about.

Chip off the old block-( toothpick)

Round pusher-( spoon)

English dumpster- (tea bag)

Dreaming Ideas- (travel brochure)

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas- ( casino chip, cuz you really do leave them there most of the time)

Stretched flyer- (rubber band)

pits and strings- (an olive and a piece of celery)

Dagwood's little one-(cookie)

Dentist's nemisis-( pack of sugar)

of course you don't tell the answers!!

Kit, Please read the cancellation policy on NCL's web site. If you cancel less than eight days before a cruise, 100% of the fare is forfeited. Then insurance would kck in and pay the full fare minus the insurance fee( if purchased thru NCL) From 8 days to 45(I think) 50% is refunded by NCL and 50% refunded by insurance. 45 to 75 days the forfeited amt is the deposit. NCL would reimburse the fare minus the deposit amt and then the insurance would kick in the deposit amt. Taxes and port charges are figured in there somehow by NCL to be reimbursed.

We had to cancel a cruise (dh had unexpected surgery). Our very reliable TA advised us to wait until the last time frame (seven days).because we did have insurance. It was the thought that possibly he would be given the clearance to go. OR if I wanted to go alone, I could. I chose to cancel also and we did so sooner than the less than eight day time frame when we agreed it would be best to wait for another time.

I would check with the insurance company to make sure.

Also call NCL and check to see how much of a supplement it would be if the cruise is cancelled at the 50% and one passenger still travels.

So many things to consider. NOW, the important issue, I hope your friend's husband is doing okay and I wish them the best..Connie

We are on the Gem in April and plan to add a charm. Great idea of the list and do I assume the smaller charm the better??

Connie and the gang( dh, dd, dsis x2, mil, fil.)

I have just read your reviews for the third time. I love the Smoke SOS. It took me twice to get that one..lol. I would without a doubt buy the book if you ever wrote one..Merry Christmas to All.

Connie

THanks for posting the pictures. It was a big help to see how the bathroom was set up. Please do not let a few negative comments take away from the fact that you were trying to be helpful and it was a very nice thing to do.:D

Connie