MagnoliaBlossom

We did the Baltics twice when St Petersburg was still available. Will never forget those days and the beautiful sites. And yes, Tallin was such an unexpected surprise! Beautiful town. I especially remember the Orthodox Church.

As a carry on only kinda girl, I am truly amazed at the refrigerator sized suitcases some people bring. People watching is a great pastime in our family, and of course a seat at the bar only makes it better. 🍹

I make my own pods using our favorite coffee from home. buy empty tea bags (WalMart online, nt store) $5/100 fill with grounds according to your taste. I use 1 Tble + 1 tsp fold ovee twice staple across (four staples Do not use the draw string to close the bag, it will leak grounds.

I thought the DSC now is DAILY service charge

Well if you don’t want another birthday, they will literally stick yu in the mud! 😋

They have really beefed up their veterans party in the past year. We attended in May and February and both had very free flowing beverages. It also helps if you tip your waiter.

I always pack a kitchen trash bag for all kinds of possible uses. It works very well as a liner to your paper bag. I always roll my clothes nice and tight to get the maximum use of the space. But in all honesty, I rarely use the laundry option, unless it’s something heavy, like jeans, I wash things in the sink and let them dry in the shower. I had a favorite top that faded and shrunk in the laundry, so since then I don’t chance sending things to the laundry unless I have to.

We have a wonderful person in Cozumel wh does a 60 minute Shiatsu massage for $60. Fabulous! And who doesn’t love a beach massage. Yes, they are not always the best massages, but they are still quite good. And for the price, what’s not to love? We used to go to the Mayan spa in the port area at Costa Maya, but the bar next door has gotten so very loud that it’s not enjoyable any more, and since they have become an excursion with some cruise ships, it is much more expensive than in the past. Too bad it is a lovely place.

I love the thermal suite and almost always get it, but the spa services are so overpriced plus 18% and to add more to that for the overworked massage therapists, who often do double the industry standard for safety each day. It’s too much. I can go to a lively high end spa here at home and get out for far less than on a ship and with a better massage. Just me, but I long ago tired of the film flam of the spa. You can have a discount, except you really can’t. No thanks. We often times find a spa in one of the ports and get massages there.

Thank you, but I already looked there and there was nothing on Bruges that I could find.

I love the thermal suite and almost always get it, but the spa services are so overpriced plus 18% and to add more to that for the overworked massage therapists, who often do double the industry standard for safety each day. It’s too much. I can go to a lively high end spa here at home and get out for far less than on a ship and with a better massage. Just me, but I long ago tired of the film flam of the spa. You can have a discount, except you really can’t. No thanks. We often times find a spa in one of the ports and get massages there.

I only know about our sailing (6/23/24, Dawn) and they did not replace the port, just added a sea day.

Ayeee, yeehaw. What a combo.

I feel your pain. I have a ginormous armoire that is filled with yarn. BTW, I was raised in NOLA and until six years ago, spent my life in Alex. I see you’re a Louisiana girl, too

We will be on the Star next June on a family cruise. Our 14 and 18 yr old grandchildren have never cruises, or been to Europe. I have been to every port on our itinerary except Bruegel/Bruges. None of the excursions on NCLs website, or Trio Advisor, for that matter, jump out at me. We ordinarily do private tours but I’m not even sure what to expect. Any recommendations?

We used Nice Travel and had nothing but excellent tours all three days. A member of our group left her backpack, complete with her lap top onboard. They were leaving a day ahead of us but she called and asked they get the backpack to me, which they did the minute I got on the bus that morning and I got it stateside and shipped it to her. She said they offered to ship it at their expense, but she felt better with me bringing her laptop home.

We used Nice Travels for three days post cruise. Did the blue lagoon, north cast and south coast. Great guides and experience, but it is tiring as each tour is about 12 hours long. We stayed at the Reykjavik Centrum as there was an adjoining cafe that was open until 11 PM and it was delightful. And it is one block from Bus stop #1, and Nice picks up each morning at city bus stops, due to local regulations they all use those stops, only a few hotels allow pick up. Anyway, we were always the first people on the bus. I do not remember the name of our shuttle to the bus station for airport transfer as the hotel arranged it for us. Very efficient. In 2025 we are returning to Reykjavik for several days of pre cruise, just not sure how many days yet. This time sailing north of the Arctic Xircle, ending in Tromso. Should be an interesting trip.

We did the Star London to Reykjavik last August. We stayed in Iceland three days post trip and fell in love with it. So much so that we are. Returning in 2025. We did our tours through Nice Travels and highly recommend them. They also offer discounts for multiple days. I would recommend you go the various tour companies and look at their excursions before you book your cruise. I agree that Iceland is probably best seen by land rather than ship, or at least plan on doing a significant amount of time pre or post cruise.

I remember a fantastic yarn shop. All the wool was grown and processed on the island. It was beautiful yarn, but maybe only a fabric arts person could fully appreciate that. 😋. We were to have seen the puffins but the island where they nest was closed to an outbreak of bird flu, but the island was beautiful. Soooo many sheep, it was crazy!

Yes, our society has lost its way on so many levels, but Carnival is infamous for not enforcing their own rules. It takes no time to check everyone’s card entering an exclusive event, but they don’t do it. Nor do they IMHO, apply proper security to bands of roving teens late in the evening,nor the smoking of pot onboard. years ago Carnival was known as a drunken booze cruise crowd, and it often times was. Then they cracked down on bad behavior and became a respectable line. Since start up, in the rush to fill ships and make some much needed cash, they became very loose in enforcing their own regulations. Compound that with staff shortage and it was bound to happen. we are Diamond and selectively sail Carnival but it is not our first choice by a long shot.

Yes, but if you are a veteran they do a great party with beverages flowing and reasonably good appetizers.

Yes, there are. I would refer you to the travel insurance forum, and for expert advice call Trip Insurance Store. They are very professional, always straight answers and no pressure to make the sale.

Scotland is a magical place. So many wonderful castles and so much history. NCL has some very nice Northern European itineraries since restart.

The new itinerary does not sub the Shetlands for Orkney, which would be nice. But we enjoyed the Orkney more than the Shetland island. Different strokes, I guess, but so glad we saw them both.

JLast year we spent three days post cruise in Reykjavik. We used Nice Travels and they were fabulous. Small bus, not the big 40+ people bus. The drivers were so informative. If you book two tours there is a 10% discount and three gets you 15% off. We loved it so much we are going again in 2025!