MGB555
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Posts posted by MGB555
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Thanks for all the replies. Looks like Bonaire it is. We're booking with woodwind for trip where they take you out on a catamaran with a guide. You can snorkel, swim or stay on the boat.
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I've only snorkeled once and I'm trying to get my partner to give it a try. We are doing a 20 day NYC to San Fran in January. Caribbean stops are Bonaire and Aruba.
I've heard good things about Woodwind in Bonaire. Which port to you recommend for newbies? There are very conflicting reviews of the conditions of the sites in Bonaire on line. I want my partner to like snorkeling so I want his first experience to be a good one.
Thanks
Michael B
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Just got back from NCL. They said there are a few smaller ships coming in the next 4 years or so. The announcement got a big round of applause. Not everyone wants waterslides and rock climbing walls on a ship.
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Just back from the Norwegian Dawn. Someone asked this question during a Q and A session. The hotel and restaurant staff get the gratuities. Bar staff get tipped when drinks are purchased. Staff that don't serve everyone (not everyone drinks, not everyone has children in a kids program) are not included in the mandatory tips. I agree that it would be nicer if the cruise lines just paid there staff better but I'm sure that no cruise line wants to be the first to have to raise their prices by 25 dollars and up per cabin per night. I'm happy to pay them. The staff on board work very hard for low wages, often sending money home to spouse, children and parents.
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When we cruise we always book an inside cabin. (NCL) We also book the sailaway price that does not include any extras like the drinks package or shore excursions. Although I wouldn't mind having the drinks package, the price jump to inside cabin that does include the "free" perks plus the 20 percent gratuity one has to pay on the drinks package does not make economic sense to me. I can buy a couple of drinks a day and still be ahead of the game....
Back to my original topic. Does anyone else prefer inside cabin? We don't spend much time in the cabin and enjoy spending our time in different parts of the ship. If we do spend time during the day it's most likely to nap! I hear about people bidding for Haven suites etc and wonder if I'm odd that I don't aspire to that. Every cabin goes to the same places, has the same food and sees the same shows.
Michael B
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This thread inspired my partner and I to go to the LGBT meet up on the Norwegian Dawn. There were about 5 or six other people there though I did see other gay people on board that did not attend. The timing of the meet up was bad...every night at 9:00 which conflicted with shows/events/dinner almost every night. We had a good time and always stopped and chatted with the people we had met when we ran into them on board. We got "knowing" nods and smiles from other LGBT people on board as well. Met wonderful people on this cruise from all walks of life.
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Very gay friendly. Just got off the Dawn and had a great time. Met some other gay people and had zero problem with anyone. No funny looks or comments. Many cruise staff are gay too so and there is that "knowing" connection with them which is nice. The LGBT meet up was always at 9:00 PM so which conflicted with many other shows and events. I don't think anyone went after the first night or 2 but we kept seeing people from it on board and always stopped to chat.
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We were on the dawn in September captain went all the way up to Nova Scotia to avoid storm . We still had bumpy ride but could’ve been worse .cant believe captain went through it!
We were on this cruise too. We really didn't find it very bumpy at all except for a couple of hours one afternoon on the way back. And we had a 93 year old in wheel chair and walker. It was a very good cruise.
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I can't seem to see any threads that mention this. What does one do with their money, phone, ship card etc while on the beach. I don't see anything about beach locker rentals in change rooms (if they exist). Do we have to take turns swimming? Still trying to pick a beach in Aruba for a morning or afternoon. We're not big beach people but I'm determined this time to spend some time in the water! Thanks
Michael B
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What would you do if I walked up to you and said hello?
Most likely have a nice chat. If you or the conversation made us feel uncomfortable in anyway we may make a polite excuse to cut it short. Once we get started we're fine. Have met some wonderful people, gay and straight on cruises.
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"I think that in the last 5-10 years, LGBT is more mainstream and there is less of a need for community. I miss community of the old days. Where we fiercely loved and encouraged each other... "
I agree with this statement. I noticed that on my last 2 NCL cruises the "Friends of Dorothy" gatherings were now simply listed as "LGBT Meet Up" or something similar. No longer any reason to hide behind the FOD code word.
We've done 7 cruises, 6 of them on NCL and for the most part do not go to the LGBT gatherings. Usually because we often find the times conflict with other things we want to do. I meant who puts Movie Trivia at the same time as the LGVT meet up! I think in general, a lot of gay people just play it safe when travelling. If approached in conversation, we find most to be friendly. We probably seem standoffish as we are a bit on the shy side until we get going!
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When I got around to reading the 41 pages of the roll call for my Snowbird migration cruise in fall of 2018, I found out on the first page that another cruiser was happily reporting they had booked the previous cruise as a B2B. Another poster apologized for being the bearer of bad news but said that Royal shouldn't have allowed them to book it because it violated the Jones Act/Passenger Services Act. As I continued to read the posts, there were others who were happily sharing their plans as well, and then getting them dashed. Not sure at what point Royal intends to contact people like me who are also booked on both, but that original post was two weeks prior to when I worked with someone on the phone to insure I got the same cabin for both cruises. I'm rather frustrated that Royal hasn't trained their phone staff, since this all happened last spring and I'm now just finding out I have to change my plans.
In any case, I'm looking for suggestions. So far I have come up with three options and would welcome any input so I can make sure I end up with the best possible experience. What would you do in my situation and are there other options that you would suggest I consider?
Option One - Anthem to Bermuda (5-day) Sept 29 – Oct4
Sailing From New York, returning to NewYork
Option Two - NCL Escape to Bermuda (7-day) Sept 30 – Oct7
Sailing From New York, returning to NewYork
Option Three - NCL Dawn to Canada (7-day) Sept 28 – Oct5
Sailing From Boston, ending in QuebecCity
Hello! It's Mike and Rob from Trivia from the Norway Fjords cruise. What a strange law to have to deal with. What I find really odd is that Canada doesn't count as a foreign port! So if I understand, you can't start and stop in two different USA locations? Hope you are well. We have booked an 11 day southern Carib. on Norwegian in January from Tampa.
Aruba or Bonaire?
in Scuba and Snorkeling
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Yes, we are on this cruise. I plan to book with Woodwind. They had space a week or so. I'm hoping they still do. If not I'll book through the ship.