Smitheroo

my travel partner reserved our specialty meals for our cruise last week online before the cruise. he had to pick 2 at 8:30 pm which isnt ideal but we had no trouble on board changing them to a time more to our liking. But he did reserve them- 3. Two were purchased as part of the dining package on sale (2 for $88.99) but 1 was from the FAS package. I have already decided to avoid this whole mess by removing all specialty dining when I travel alone. The main dining rooms have enough variety for me to last me a long time. I didnt notice much of a difference between the MDR and Ocean Blue, Cagney's or Le Bistro. Maybe a little more elegant or intimate. But that's just personal opinion. to be honest I cant even remember what I chose in them

Thanks, good to know Its been awhile since I walked NYC but I have been hearing terrible reports.

"you get what you pay for" is subjective. There are situtions where you pay a lot and are disappointed, other times a budge hotel is a gem.

some people are extremely picky about hotels. I've seen reviews where they report that there were two people in the parking lot, must have been a drug deal. I stay at Motel 6 frequently and have never had a problem. In some of my comments I mentioned the Hampton Inns in Revere (close to Logan Airport) Nothing wrong with them. I paid between $85-100 a night. More than I like to pay but after all, it is a city. Public transportation is great as long as you dont have a lot of luggage and a tight schedule. A lot of this is on the internet. I go to either Booking dot com or Hotels dot com and they have a wide range of hotels and prices. You can google Boston Subway or public transportation and you will find maps of the subway lines with all kinds of advice. I dont know how we traveled before the Internet I dont know your situation but there is a Hostel in the downtown area, I think its HI, something like that. It gets good reviews. I think a bed was something like $45 and there were also private rooms if you are more than one person, or dont mind paying rates comparable to reasonable hotels. They often come with a private bathroom. I read that the bathrooms at this hostal are outside of the sleeping areas but are individual, which is better.

There are also a couple of Hampton inns outside of Logan. I paid about $100 or a bit less at both of them. Public transportation isnt bad. I know 1 of them had an airport shuttle so you could take that to the airport and from there connect to the T (subway) which can take you all over Boston. Not hard if you arent on a tight schedule. The last time I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Revere for a flight out of Logan the next morning I took the train into the North Station and then got the orange (I think, not positive) line from there to the airport where I got the hotel shuttle. Yes, if you want or think you need a big ritzy hotel in the center of the city you will pay a lot. Lower standards a little and savings can be found. I agree that popular dates can be a problem. As far as hotels go, not much wrong with Hampton Inn

Google hotels with park and stay, boston I'm sure you will find some. I remember seeing billboards advertising that on the approaches to Logan.

I have friends who did a Park and Stay so they could leave from Logan early am. I heard of no complaints

I have stayed at Hampton Inn that is fairly close to the airport, not sure about the cruise terminal but public transportation in Boston is good. The Hampton Inn was under $100. There is also a hostel in the downtown area The reviews were good and praised how easy it was to hop on the T (subway) but that was to the Airport. Also, might not be your style. I would consider it (age 73) especially if I was in a group of 4 and could get a room for 4 which means no sleeping with strangers

Good advice! I forgot about the West Side Highway Bad weather could make it a treacherous walk

I wrote in another comment that sailing from NYC to Southampton England in January was not bad. One night the seas were a bit rough but not terrible. Maybe I was lucky

long walk from where? If its from the Port Authority terminal I dont think the streets from that and the docks will be crowded with people. Might be kind of "sketchy" though

Yes, it could be bitter cold walking to the Manhattan Cruise Termial, or maybe not

Is that this coming January 2024? I am booked on that cruise. I've sailed the Atlantic in January. It was pleasant although definitely not pool weather. Snowed some.

I am also considering walking from the Port Authority in NYC to Manhattan Cruise Terminal with a carry on only. Rome2Rio says it is a 24 minute walk. I grew up in NJ across the river from NYC so familiar with it but worry a little that the neighborhood between 41st and 8th ave might be a bit seedy.

thanks, I will do that!

I was just on the Encore and I admit that my hike to my cabin only involved deck 13 (i didnt go exploring other stateroom areas, something I would have done as a kid, especially if it had a class barrier lol) but I never saw one door with anytihing like garlands or spiderwebs. I did see one sign that might have indicated a same sex couple, or maybe not, glad to know it did not impress me one way or the other. If it were me, I would wonder who would actually even care I was a passenger. I should have said that " *I* would have found political signs repulsive. In any case, I did see signs and other decorations on doors very recently on the Encore (last week) so whether outlawed by NCL or not, they are still there and not enforced in any way, apparently. I did think about a steward considering the effect on a possible tip if he/she recommended removal of a door decoration. I find it pathetic that someone would alter their tip amount due to a steward trying to enforce a ship rule Talk about shooting the messenger!

What are some ways to get from the Port Authority on 41st st NYC to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal where NCL docks? Rome2Rio has two choices 1) taxi - is it really only $11-14 or 2) walk- 24 minutes. How feasible is it to walk? I am very familiar with NYC from many years ago- grew up across the river in NJ. Would this walk go through a seedy neighborhood (in the am) I plan to have a carry on so luggage not a problem but the taxi is a no brainer if only $11-$14 for ease and safety. I first planned to take the bus from Portland, Me to the Port Authority, NYC for $170 round trip. I found a flight with a much better arrival time (due to it being much shorter to fly than by road) for not that much more. It arrives in Newark. There is a bus from Newark to Port Authority for $9. Aside from an NCL transfer from Newark Airport to Manhattan Cruise Terminal (which I havent investigated yet) what are other choices? Has anyone done this, interested in your experience. If the NCL transfer from airport to cruise terminal was $75 , going by bus from Newark airport to Port Authority and then Taxi to the dock might be about $25. I like to consider all possibilties. In January weather could be a big factor. Anyway, interested in all experiences I would rather arrive at Newark than JFK or LaGuardia unless I was taking an NCL transfer. Making your own way from those 2 airports would be a hassle. Newark much easier

All of this is fine. I would not be happy if my connecting flight was the next day though (unless I arrived on my first flight just before midnight) Of course I would prefer a direct fly but at the savings I think I have gotten I can be flexible.

Across the top of the NCL website it reads: You have unused future cruise credits and then in smaller print next to that "Book any stateroom on any sailing through 12/31/2025" What does this mean? I am logged in I have seen this before, then it disappears

What was the point of Choir of Man? I could appreciate the talent and the energy but failed at getting the point. But that's true for other choices that others might love.

You need to specify in your 2nd sentence you are still referring to Teppanyaki "anyone that wants to use a free specialty meal from a package cannot reserve before the cruise". I know you are probably still referring to Teppanyaki. I know nothing about Teppanyaki but you can definitely reserve "a free specialty meal from a package" before the cruise. My travel partner reserved the times for our choices. online before the cruise. Many others did also because he remarked how there weret many open times to choose from. But the late dining times that were still available on line were easily changed to earlier ones on board. So people must change their minds. In fact, at Ocean Blue we had reason to inquire about something and were told we could come anytime, didt have to wait until the time we reserved.

I dont think they are very careful about the wording on their website for many things

sounds like an annoying problem that at only 5 ft 2 have never had to deal with.

Its a new policy so it might take a little time. I agree about the website not syncing with shipboard practices many times

Yes I do remember reading not to put your dirty dishes etc outside your cabin door. Clearly not enforced. I can remember "back in the day" that it was common practice for passengers to put their trays and dishes from room service outside of their cabin door. More people used room service back then it seems. I'm referring to the 1960's. I remember because I was a teen who would have loved to sleep in and ordering breakfast to my cabin but my mother would not allow it. The stewards used to come around and knock loudly on your door "7;30, good morning" unless there was a do not disturb sign on the door I would imagine.