Dgoddess61

On 11/20/2023 at 2:32 AM, tlw said:

How did you contact this tour guide?

 

https://www.facebook.com/sadik.anvarali?mibextid=LQQJ4d
 

Above is the link!  Sadly tomorrow is my last day of touring with him!  I promise he will not disappoint!

If anyone wants to make the most of their visit when in Lisbon I highly recommend Sadik Anvarali.  We booked him for 5 days to show us the sites.  We never felt rush or hurried.  He was so kind & caring.  His car was luxurious with massaging seats and WiFi.  We visited Pena Palace, Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, Casis, listened to Fado Music, visited the Westernmost Point of Continental Europe, Évora, Chapel of Bones, Roman Temple, Cathedral of Évora, Christ the King Statue,  viewpoint for Golden Gate Bridge, Nazaré, Porto, Douro Valley, and many more 

EVERYONE!  I am the original poster on this topic.  I did not need to have comments about Covid is everywhere, etc!  I want to hear from people who were on the Jewel during my sail dates that became ill!  I also wanted to share with others who may have concerns about this topic that there were passengers who were obviously SICK in public areas spreading whatever cooties they had with fellow passengers.  In this particular case I don’t need opinions.

Wondering how many fellow cruisers have become sick with Covid?  I became sick the evening before disembarking the ship.  I noticed people walking with boxes of Kleenex sucking on cough drops and even checking each other for fever.  They were sitting in public areas and spreading whatever they had with the rest of us passengers.

7 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Whale watching

Jayleen picks us up at 1:00pm and we drive to the small boat harbour.

This is not our boat.

 

This is our boat.

 

The plan is to enter Auke Bay (Auke means lake) head up to Stephens channel then enter Saginaw. Locals flood the beaches, some in bathing suits and some getting a full-body tan!  Jayleen says no laundry or dishes get done when the days are hot and sunny like this because they know it won’t last. 

Usually when we do whale watching in Juneau the Chilkat and Coastal ranges are shrouded in fog but today the peaks are clear and crisp. We learn that the mountains with curvy tops are less than 5000ft above sea level and the ones with craggy peaks are between 5000 and 8000 ft. Why the difference? Glaciers covered the mountains up to 5000ft and as they shifted and melted the wear and tear smoothed the mountain peaks.

 

Zooming along, we bounce by Admiralty island which has the 3rd highest density of brown bears in the US with 2 bears per square mile.

 

I asked Jayleen why some whales have white markings on their flukes and some are all black. White is the ressesive gene and black flukes are dominant. Whales in the southern hemisphere where the bottom of the ocean floor is light-coloured sand tend to have more white markings and whales in the northern hemisphere where the ocean floor is darker (Jayleen said it’s black shale) have more black markings.

 

 

It takes a humpback 30-60 days to migrate from Hawaii to Alaska.  95% of the whales in Juneau do migrate from Alaska to Hawaii while 3% go to Baja and 2% don’t migrate due to lack of hormones and not getting a signal that they need to put on the weight needed to migrate. Some skinny whales somehow know they wouldn’t survive a migration so stay in Juneau year round. When she was 12, Jayleen and her dad were part of the scientific study and data collecting that proved that some whales stay in Juneau year round. They took photos of the same whales every month for a year. Jayleen’s dad bought her first boat for her 11th birthday. When I was 11 I got a Michael Jackson record.

 

 

We saw more than 20 different whales today.  For two hours we focused on a group (not a pod-they are not a family and are not related) of 14 whales bubble net feeding.  I will never forget the gift of this day! Humpback whales are not born knowing how to bubble net feed and only 20% of these whales know how to bubble net feed.

Today I learned that the start of bubble net feeding is the alpha whale dives down as deep as it can go.  It targets a school of fish (today herring) and starts blowing big bubbles underwater to confuse the fish.

The alpha whale then makes a feeding call and the rest of the whales that are working as a team to feed dive down as deep as they can go. All the whales swim around blowing bubbles and scaring the fish tighter together in their school. The alpha whale takes the position directly under the school of herring and uses both bubbles and its body to bring the herring to the surface. At this point all the whales rise to the surface with their mouths open and voila! Mouths full of fish!  Humpback whales need to eat 2000lb of fish and krill daily and the size of their throat is only as big as a softball.

 

Jayleen opened up the bow and one of us (me!) got joyfully soaked as we bobbed through the rigorous waves.  At one point I caught a whiff of garbage mixed with unfresh outhouse and I turned to Jayleen and said “it stinks out here!”

 

She said that’s whale breath!

 

As I got sprayed (drenched right down to the skivvies) Jayleen asked me if was ok and I said are you kidding? I just got to smell whale breath! (see above photo!). That’s like a once in lifetime opportunity!

 

(The sun was bright and hot and I knew my clothes would dry quickly.)

 

There were 5 passengers on our mighty little boat and we had great karma because there was no scarcity of whales. Bubble net feeding, tail slapping, tail waving, breaching, arguing (we did see an argument where one whale out of 14 left the group), diving, 2 sets of mamas and babies. Sea lions. Bald eagles. Moment after moment someone on the boat (including the captain!) exclaimed wow!  

 

One word to describe our whale watching adventure with Jayleen?

 

Wheeeeeeee!

 

I had a friend who attended one of Leonard Cohen’s last concerts. When I asked her how it was, she said it was so incredible she never needed to go to another concert.

Today was our Leonard Cohen concert of whale watching.

 

Dad, enjoying a spectacular afternoon whale watching 

Can you please share the tour operator for your whale watching in Juneau?  I sail next week and would love to see these majestic animals!

Received notification from NCL stating Visa's required for our trip In November be prepared to be sticker shocked at cost of those visas $214 per person!!!!!!

I have LOVED cruising with NCL! 

FOOD - Excellent;   

BARS -

SID NORMANS was our favorite for music and hanging in the evening, to small to accommodate everyone wanting in; We Miss not having a BAR indoors on many ships now to sit in and view our journey (loved the GALAXY LOUNGE in front of the ship on the Spirit)

WHISKEY Bar - would love to partake at this bar, but the smoking area is adjacent and sucks for us non-smokers, if NCL is viewing this please consider putting the smoking area near the casino as it always smells smokey when entering.

MARTINI Bar - Excellent Martinis and love the piano entertainer.

ICE Bar - such a waste in my humble opinion (and yes i tried it)

POOL Bars -  Have always had great service, (we do however tip bar staff well throught our trip)

BARTENDERS -  Exceptional in providing a great drink 

CABIN - Balcony cabins, aft cabins & Haven forward facing penthouse - Good, not excellent due to our Haven on Breakaway as Haven Penthouse was 1 deck above crew bar during New Years week  (Loud most nights until 2 am) and no view over front of ship both not disclosed at time of booking;  Beds have always been comfortable, and cabin has had plenty of storage.

CREW:  EXCELLENT!!!!  Hardest working people I have ever met.  I wish everyone realized how little off-time they have while on the ship, and the sacrifices they endure while being separated from their loved ones for months at a time, and yet they project upbeat positivity with the guests.  I believe many of these employees suffered great hardships financially thru the Covid Crisis and no sailings, many sought other more reliable work to sustain them.  Perhaps this is why NCL is having to cut back some services while trying to rebuild their crews.

ITINERARIES -  If NCL is reading this...please lengthen times in ports, and more overnights to allow passengers to experience these ports both day and evening hours.  (or all aboards at 10 pm)  I would also like NCL to provide a policy that if they must miss a port for ANY reason that they will guarantee a future cruise credit for each port.  On my Baltic cruise in 2018 we missed 4 of our 7 ports and had additional sea days, and our port ST Petersburg ended up arriving after noon cutting short our 2 days in that port.  

Finally.... I agree with OP in that I want to feel like I am on vacation, and overall that has been my experience on NCL.

On 3/14/2023 at 6:58 AM, Mrs f. said:

Private guide..you can tell him what you already have planned and he can suggest other stuff.   We had our guide for 2 days. He did all the basic stuff. But he also took us to this fantastic library. Also a famous coffee house called Confiteria Colombo. Place was amazing.  Also we rode on an old style train for a few stops....he dropped us off and met us at our get off stop. Then we walked across the street to a typical Brazilian restaurant. For lunch. We were the only ones who spoke English.   With a private guide you can customize.

Would you please share who you hired for a private guide?  We are sailing from Lisbon to Rio in November and will be spending 2 nights post cruise in Rio.

Trying to find information on Norwegian Star for Suite Passengers.  (We have an owners suite)

     1) Is there dining area for Suite Guests, and for what meals?

     2)  Do Suite Passengers have access to the Thermal Spa?

If any of you cruise critic members have other info that may be helpful for suite guest I would love to hear them.  Much thanks in advance!

Anyone have information on Star Suite 12500?  (owners suite). Specifically wondering with that big wall of windows what is in front of us?

We are in the Haven and social distancing is so easy!  Masks wearing is enforced unless you are sitting having a drink or eating.  While in pool and sun deck areas where distancing is possible no masks are required. They are not offering anything extra for the loss of activities on the ship.  The crew is no longer allowed to leave the ship and I feel bad for them.

I’m on Breakaway now, letter is authentic, no compensation offered to guests even those in Haven rooms such as ourselves

Just FYI - to all who like entertainment on the ship.  Received this notification about entertainment cancellations!

2 hours ago, ddlb said:

Please more info! I’m booked on the breakaway on January 23 in a regular balcony.  Trying to come up with a good bid.  With all the publicity the breakaway has been getting lately I’m hoping I don’t have to bid real high.  Really would like to experience the Haven one time if I can swing it!

 I went from Aft Balcony to Forward Facing Penthouse Haven.  I took a screenshot of notification and as you can see at the very bottom of image on right it shows other bid as "expired". 

013EC98A-ED08-4351-87C8-292394AF1868.heic

Woo hoo, just checked my bid for 12/26 sailing on Breakaway and found our our bid is processing for Haven forward facing penthouse!!!!  I am thrilled as it is my 60th Birthday trip.

Thank you for responding so quickly with an answer to my inquiry.  Merry Christmas Everyone

Having never sailed on a 7 day cruise, only longer durations, wondering if anyone knows if a laundry day is offered?  You know the 1 bag for set price?  Sailing on 12/26/21 out of NOLA and will be staying 5 days post cruise in New Orleans and it would be nice to launder our dirty clothes while onboard.  Thanks in advance for the info.

21 hours ago, ShelleyQT said:

@dggoddess61 we will be on the ship with you!  I really hope we aren't expected to wear masks!

 

14 Days!  I will be celebrating my 60th Birthday December 27th

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said:

We are currently  on board and enjoying  a great cruise.  We were tested  Tues and  will be tested  again tomorrow midday.   Haven't  heard of anyone positive.   Only about  1800 passengers  on board. 

 

Biggest  crowd we have seen was in the theater for Six.  We are required  to wear  masks indoors for this cruise.  My opinion  is future cruises will not require masks.  I think CDC was showing  extreme caution due to prior cruise news.  They had us held at cruise terminal  for hours until CDC and NCL worked out conditions  for us to cruise.  There might have been  a few who decided not to cruise but a huge majority cheered  when we were cleared to board.  NCL  has given us 200 OBC each  for first and second  passenger per cabin.   

 

We are having a wonderful  cruise.  Hope all works  out to make you  comfortable  to enjoy  your cruise.

 

Don't  miss excellent  shows at Syd Norman's Pour House.  We were  able to get great seats due to less than full ship.   Staff is happy to be cruising and readily available  to take great  care of us.

 

Thank you for answering my questions!  Can you also tell me how much of your vacation time was occupied with testing those 2 days on board. (30 minutes, 1 hour, longer?)

I am booked to sail on 12/26/21 out of NOLA, wondering if there is any info on further cases of Covid since December 5th reports?  I know they are testing passengers twice on current sailing during their cruise.  And if you are onboard how is it going?  I am only seeking information not opinions, please & thank you.

35 minutes ago, droundtheworld said:

From what I have been seeing they upgrade about 7 days out. If your sailing is 12/26 they haven't started to process those yet.

In my roll call group several people have received accepted upgrades.

I'm really happy for those of you who received upgrades on my sailing 12/26 out of NOLA on Breakaway.  I also am super sad that we bid in good range and not had a bid accepted going from Aft Balcony to all Havens except owners suites.  Hopefully that changes

I spoke with NCL yesterday and was told invitation for upgrade will be sent 55 days before sailing.  (this was for my sailing 12/26/21)

My husband and I tip everyone aboard a little each day in addition to the prepaid gratuities.  Then on our last night we decide which crew member made the greatest impression on us and tip that individual $100.

we actually booked cabin 9320