ontheweb

Our first cruise was in 2002, and started in Barcelona. That was a time when the cruise industry as part of the travel industry was still reeling from the events of 9/11/2001. Royal Caribbean gave us and the others who had bought transfers a tour of Barcelona that included the Sagrada Familia. DW and I were both mesmerized by the Gaudi architecture.

Just remember that the rules can change at any time. Whatever is allowed or not allowed now could very well change. For instance there have been ships that sailed with masks recommended that ended up with masks required.

Just wondering---all you loyal NCL cruisers who do not want to meet and dine with other people on your cruise, do you participate in roll calls and join private tours with these strangers from the roll call? I know for instance on a Princess Baltic cruise, I set up a private group tour in St. Petersburg, Russia. There ended up 10 of us all together, and we really bonded well. Just wondering, not being critical of anyone else's preferences.

They really ought to extend when your final payment is due given the circumstances.

There is also already a thread about this.

I think that is a very safe bet.

I should also add even if they carried drugs approved by the FDA, they cannot possibly carry all of them. For instance, a prescription was called in recently for DW, and we received a phone call from the local Walgreens that it was not on hand, though they would get it soon (which they did). This would not be as easy for a ship at sea. I suppose that the poster who wants them to have FDA approved drugs would complain if his or her prescription drug was not among those available on the ship.

There once was a book The Ugly Americans by IIRC Vance Packard. This is the kind of attitude the book bemoaned. And they do not carry "what they like". Rather they carry the medicines approved by the country they are flagged under. So, if you want to definitely have FDA approved medicines onboard, sail on a US flagged ship. I guess that lives you with the choice of the NCL Pride of America and various river cruises within the USA.

Unfortunately, the way the stock market is going, it may very well get there or even lower.

Yes, it is still available. Nothing has been done to negate it. It is a marketing tool, and it would be counterproductive to take it away.

I am not at all surprised you forgot about the Little Mermaid. 😊

And the same goes for US into Canada. I saw recently that major league baseball teams going to Toronto are flying into Buffalo and then taking buses to Toronto rather than flying to avoid the testing.

It does sound surprising. Maybe your explanation is correct. Or just maybe that TA does not explain how much one is charged for the "free" drink package.

The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, it was not worth the effort to see it. I should have believed Rick Steves who called it the most overrated attraction in the world.

You know what they say about great minds. 😉

Not the same thing, IMHO. On the cruise you will be together with these people for 3- who knows how many days on say a World cruise. You are not just passing through like in Disney World. But, we are all different. Some will want to meet others, and some will just want to be with those they already know. Neither is wrong, just personal preference.

Let me try to tackle that question, and I realize people will have different feelings about it. A cruise is different from eating in a restaurant. You will meet people from around the world. You also have something in common as you have just been to the same port and can discuss it. Also, maybe you or the others at your table know something that can be shared at an upcoming port. Now there are times one likes to have some alone time with spouse and/or family, but there are other times it is fun to share and learn. And I can see @cruisemom42's point that as a solo traveler, it would be very lonely to have every dinner without company.

I would change "do not seem to be really interested" to "really do not want to know".

10 cruise ship excursions to avoid (msn.com)

They are sailing all the ships now, and we were told so IN CAPITAL LETTERS. And they are having staffing problems which lead to other problems. That cannot be denied. There was a rush to sailing all the ships and at full or near full capacity when they were not ready to do that adequately.

Yes, they rushed to get all their ships sailing before they had enough crew to pull that off in any acceptable manner.

Really, do you understand what the term quarantine means? Of course you cannot get off at the next port.

And she still will be getting free meals.

At least they are trying to make things better. Hopefully all will go well after the horrendous start to the cruise.

@chengkp75, I think this is the thread you are looking for: (Google is your friend when looking for something.)