RussellDrew

In Palermo, Barcelona and Marseille, the weather was great! Upper 50s to even low 60s in the day. And sunny too. Chillier in Genoa/Milano. But it's really impossible to say what it will be like next December. Do what I did: A week before the trip, open your Weather app and look at the 10-day forecasts for all the cities you'll be visiting. Should be helpful!

Yes. Name: MSC World Europa, December 25, 2023

I this this roll call is super quiet because most passenger are NOT Americans and Cruise Critic is largely for English speakers. Typically, other roll calls are super active. This one is quiet as a morgue. First post in a month!

1 minute ago, zqvol said:

 

Personally I would not book anything until they start sailing again. I do not want any money tied up in things like cruises right now.

Totally understand that POV. The only reason I would do it is because they are offering me at 20% discount. Very tempting. And if they cancel again, I'd get even more money or my money back.

4 hours ago, cabincop said:

It was October. Went to Scotland, Iceland. It was beautiful along the east coast ofAmerica. Freezing in Scotland. But I loved it. The ship seemed like it was much more relaxed than a typical cruise. I loved landing in NY too

I live in NYC, so arriving back here by boat would be a huge plus. Who wants to fly back from Rome during Christmas week, right?

2 minutes ago, cabincop said:

As much as I like Dawn itinerary. I prefer the bigger ships. Your going during colder weather. Plus I was spoiled when I did a TA from England to NY. I love having a Home port. That way I only fly one way. I also love TA ships are less crowded . 

Thanks for sharing. Can u tell me more about your experience? What time of the year was it? 

2 hours ago, zqvol said:

I doubt that either of those itineraries sail. I expect NCL to keep all the ships that are near North America here, and just add Caribbean sailings instead of going to Europe for a couple of weeks., if they are even sailing then.

Interesting. So u think the safest best is to perhaps book a Caribbean cruise?

12 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

Ports trump ship every time for me.  Israel is fantastic and you'd have 3 whole days there.  Plus an overnight in Istanbul?  No contest.

I know...Israel is the main reason I am going. Done Istanbul. Does Ephesus. 

2 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I'm surprised you would be considering one vs the other. Rarely does one compare a TA to a fully packed Mediterranean Itinerary. Have you done a TA before? Do you like seadays? The Dawn Itinerary doesn't have enough seadays.

Totally, right? Strange mix. I have never done a TA before. The Med cruise is SOOOO packed. I've done those before and they are incredibly exhausting.

37 minutes ago, complawyer said:

you're probably right, but nevertheless, im keeping my fingers crossed. i really want to see istanbul and israel

Fingers crossed for you. I think you are probably right, BUT December is still almost 7 months away. Staying positive.

41 minutes ago, zqvol said:

I doubt that either of those itineraries sail. I expect NCL to keep all the ships that are near North America here, and just add Caribbean sailings instead of going to Europe for a couple of weeks., if they are even sailing then.

I think you might be right...I feel like all my deliberating will be just a big waste of time since the likelihood of sailing is slim.

7 hours ago, complawyer said:

been on the getaway twice, and we love this ship. that being said,however, the dawn 12/1/2020 itinerary seems much more interesting.  we're booked on that cruise. looking forward to seeing istanbul and israel.  also staying in civitavecchia before the cruise andin rome after.

 

by the way flights from rome to the u.s. on the 19th seem very limited timewise. 

Totally agree on itineraries. My main reason for going is to visit Israel -- the other ports I've mostly been to. And I'd be really disappointed of Israel closed its ports, which I'd entirely understand based on what may be happening health-wise in December. That would basically ruin the trip for me. If not for the three days in Israel, I wouldn't even be considering it. Decisions, decisions! #FirstWorldProblems

44 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

We are booked on Getaway for 5th December but that was only because we have never done a transatlantic and wanted to go to New York.  We also got a great price 🙂

 

Agreed! The price on the Getaway is a lot cheaper...plus on the Dawn, with all those ports, I'd be spending a lot on excurcions. I can see the total cost being at least $1,000 more just on spending.

23 minutes ago, yankees111 said:

Personally I would not be looking at any cruises overseas for at least a year. High probability both cruises will be cancelled and even if they are not I would not want to be overseas somewhere and test positive for Covid-19.

VERY good point too.

Thanks for sharing! What did you like most about the Dawn?

1 hour ago, KSSS2013 said:

Thanks for the advice! So, essentially you'd pick the Dawn because of the ports. During any other era, I agree, but I can totally see a country like Turkey or Israel closing their borders --- that would ruin the trip for me. It's a tough call because it's all so uncertain.

 

 

Tell me more....why do you prefer the Getaway?

All, I would love some advice! IF cruises are actually running again in December, I am torn between two tempting trips:

One is on the Norwegian Dawn, 18 days, leaving December 1. $1,177 per person, inside cabin. Itinerary is 

Tuesday, December 1    Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy    
Wednesday, December 2    Monte Carlo, Monaco   
Thursday, December 3    Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy  
Friday, December 4    Naples, Italy    
Saturday, December 5    Valletta, Malta    
Sunday, December 6    At Sea        
Monday, December 7    Athens (Piraeus), Greece 
Tuesday, December 8    Ephesus / Kusadasi, Turkey  
Wednesday, December 9    Istanbul, Turkey    
Thursday, December 10    Istanbul, Turkey     
Friday, December 11    At Sea        
Saturday, December 12    Rhodes, Greece    
Sunday, December 13    Limassol, Cyprus    
Monday, December 14    Jerusalem / Tel Aviv (Ashdod), Israel   
Tuesday, December 15    Haifa, Israel   
Wednesday, December 16    Haifa, Israel       
Thursday, December 17    At Sea        
Friday, December 18    At Sea        
Saturday, December 19    Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

The other is the Norwegian Getaway, 14 days, leaving December 5. $882 per person, inside. Itinerary is:

Saturday, December 5    Barcelona, Spain      
Sunday, December 6    Cartagena, Spain  
Monday, December 7    Malaga, Spain
Tuesday, December 8    Seville, Spain 
Wednesday, December 9    At Sea        
Thursday, December 10    Funchal, Madeira, Portugal   
Friday, December 11    At Sea        
Saturday, December 12    Ponta Delgada, Portugal   
Sunday, December 13    At Sea        
Monday, December 14    At Sea        
Tuesday, December 15    At Sea        
Wednesday, December 16    At Sea        
Thursday, December 17    Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda   
Friday, December 18    At Sea        
Saturday, December 19    New York (Manhattan), NY

This is the classic choice between old, boring ship with a great itinerary of a newish, exciting ship with a relatively dull itinerary. Also the Getaway's voyage means many days in the North Atlantic in December. On the flip side, I live in NYC, so it would nice to just get off the boat and take a cab home. The Dawn goes to Israel for three days and I think this is probably the only way I'd get to go.

I'd love your advice and opinion. I need to decide before Friday -- that is when my discount expires. Thank you in advance!