navybankerteacher

Yes - at the Old Pier, gradually rotting away - but I must acknowledge I was happier to be there - in mid-February than at home port Norfolk. When you were there, was the "Black Witch" still moored nearby - an old schooner converted to a restaurant/night club-- you needed a water taxi to get to?

So they still trot out the rodents and amphibian for Christmas? What’s the rationale?

Perhaps if you had visited the Stone you might have been able to expand upon your barely-mentioned visit to the gift shop

My first Caribbean USN deployment port was St. Thomas - I’d looked forward to it for a couple of months, but found it way less than hoped. Now, after perhaps a dozen more visits, I still find it less than hoped every time —- great stay-aboard port unless going across to St. John.

Wow - are you riding Acela, with a last minute ticket? My last Philly to NY Amtrak, about a month ago, was about $65

North Jersey recommendations (likely along I-80) of previous posters makes most sense. You would be about an hour’s drive from cruise terminal, and face much less in-city driving than staying in a NYC hotel would involve.

Based upon the facts. Yes, Panama is hot year round, but the March through May period tends to have lower humidity (a key factor in comfort in warm climates) - November generally experiences highest humidity.

I do not agree. If Cunard accepts a large group booking after selling you passage, they should permit you to withdraw without penalty -- because they are no longer providing the accommodations you purchased.-- and, they should advise you of the modified deal.

But the Spring may well be the most comfortable time there -- while being away from still chilly North America.

Having been to Greenland, Iceland and the northeast coast of North America, I believe that (while less exotic) there is a lot more of interest on the Maine- Canada itinerary.

Maybe ask him to get a passport - perhaps as a wedding gift to you -- kind of suggesting he would like to share the world with you.

But the post to which you took exception was about travel agent "comps". Is there any thread on these boards which adheres rigidly and exclusively to the narrowest understanding the original theme? In any event we were once "comped" for an otherwise extra charge dinner by the TA through whom we booked a HAL seven day Caribbean cruise in a basic veranda cabin. Yes - it wasn't a three day Bahamas boat ride on Carnival or NCL - but it was, in fact, a "cheap cruise".

Including local public transportation route maps -- Rome has a pretty easy-to-use tram system (not to mention a much more formidable bus system which I would only suggest for the true wanderer) which is a great way to extend walking tours.

Unless getting to 30th St Station in Philadelphia is a real hassle, Amtrak then Uber makes more sense than car service all the way.

A “comp” does not have to be massive - one free laundry service on a one week Caribbean cruise is still a “comp” — which is the kind of thing a good travel agent who is interested in building a relationship will arrange for his/her client.

Well, that’s what must be expected —- considering the sorts of people cruise lines will sell to these days.

It’s sort of like the sign in the market over the eggs — “JUST $.35” - without specifying it means per egg, and not per dozen.

Talk about nit picking. I do not particularly object to calling anything anything: rather I simply mentioned that some lines refer to their extra charge venues as “specialty restaurants”. —— while some people like to redefine a word by noting its context.

Depending upon how one defines “all inclusive”, it can be said that there is no such thing anywhere. If what it means is a place to stay with meals included, that is another story.

There really isn’t a neutral term for a shipboard restaurant whose meals are not included in one’s fare. “Extra fee” restaurant” would fairly precisely cover it, but “specialty restaurant” or “alternative dining”, while ambiguous, are more likely to please the line’s marketing folks.

Then they are not what is generally referred to as “specialty restaurants” - they are simply alternative dining venues.

Exactly - you get somewhat better banquet food, but it is still banquet food. If I am going to pay for a special meal, when I have already paid for a pretty good meal, it had better be really over the top.

Which is probably the right lead time for itineraries you are interested in - especially if you have preferences for accommodations.

We rarely go for specialty restaurants on lines we really like to sail. While they are somewhat better than the MDR, we prefer to save our “eating out” funds for really superior (i.e. shoreside) restaurants. Of course if we’re talking about sailing Carnival, or especially NCL, the specialty restaurants really are called for. But some mass market lines- Cunard, Celebrity and HAL - do a pretty good job in the MDR and, in my experience thus far, are acceptable.

If your ship arrives at 9:00 you will be playing it very, very close - you’ll need well over an hour to go the 100 km to the airport - where you should arrive absolutely no later than 10:30 AM for a 1:00 PM flight. Any delay in ship’s arrival, debarking or in getting to Marco Polo could cost you your flight.