papadave

The initial sign on bonus was worthwhile, but long term benefits are not as good as other cards.  

I'm still thinking that if you want to spend any time in NYC, you may want to stay in a hotel (or Airbnb or something else of that nature) actually in the city    You can take a taxi, or an Uber, into the city from the airport, so the time of arrival should not be very important.  

Are you looking to see more than the 9/11 memorial?  If you only want to see one thing, then return to New Jersey, you may want to stay in a hotel in New Jersey.  If you are spending time in NYC, you may find it more comfortable, relaxing even, to stay in NYC.

If you are staying near the airport, you will spend a lot of time getting to and from the city.  Generally, I do not recommend staying near the airport.

I suggest you look at Google maps before you book anything.  If you want to spend two days sightseeing in NYC, you may be better off staying in NYC and using Uber to get to the port.  For September 4-6, I see quite a few hotels charging close to $200 per night.  The Candlewood Suites in Jersey City will save you around $40-$50 per night, but you will spend a fair amount of time getting back and forth and won't be able to just stop and refresh yourself in your hotel if, for example, you want to see lower Manhattan, rest before dinner, wash up again and go out in the evening.  As a resident of Manhattan, I have a strong bias, but if

ake t

you want to get the most out of your trip to NYC, spending an extra $100 over 2 nights might be worthwhile.

On a back to back Alaska cruise, the southbound portion tends to have less fresh fruit and vegetables.  It makes sense, as very little is grown in Alaska, so most or all produce goes onto the ship before it heads to Alaska.  Expect fresh watermelon on the way up, canned peaches on the way down.  Not a big deal.

Try it once.  It is possible that a lot of people do this, after seeing the show.  If, however, you are the only folks in the dining room, you are probably keeping waitstaff and kitchen staff that could use the 30 minutes of rest, 30 minutes too late.  Crew staff can be quite accommodating, smiling while they are working harder than most of us can imagine.  It is the job that they applied for and were happy to be hired to perform.  However, once you have a chance to assess the situation, be as good a person as you can be.   Enjoy your cruise.

We were on the Summit last summer and really enjoyed the food.  Sea day lunch was surprisingly good, as well.  Generally, a bit more refined than Carnival or NCL, but when they are sending out 500-1,000 orders of prime rib (or something similar) it will be around the same as if you were attending a large wedding.  If you want items that are cooked to order, ask your waiter.  You may find that there are some things on the menu which they make in limited quantity to order (sometimes, the fish) or food that is better made slowly in large batches (braised veal shank, braised lamb shank).  

The buffet was not so great, although okay.  

Solo is not for everyone. I'm a huge fan. Most cruises are with my wife, my daughter, or other family, but every once in a while there is a price that is so low, that I cannot turn down the cruise. Sometimes it is nice to get away from home, sleep a lot more, not worry about shopping, cooking and chores. Read a book. Soak in a hot tub.

Try it once or twice, see if you like it. Eat when you want to, without having to consult anyone else. See all the shows. Don't see any of the shows. That's up to you.

If you want to mingle, there are always people around, and they are not always stuck in their groups. Many times you'll encounter someone who is out on their own because their spouse had a bit to drink and is sleeping it off, or was up gambling until 3 a.m. Just because others got on the ship with a partner does not mean that they won't be looking to hang out and chat or share a drink.

It's a cruise. For most people that are on these message boards, that means a good time. have fun!

This sounds like the type of information you can get most easily by calling the cruise line directly. Have you tried that?

Apologies if some of this information is redundant. If you are going to be using the bus and subway a lot for 3 days or more, just get the 7 days pass and don't spend any more time thinking about it. If you are only using 1-2 days, you probably just want to put some money on a card. Transfers are free (subway to subway in station, bus to bus or between subway and bus, generally, as long as you don't transfer from the northbound bus to the southbound bus on the same route number) so you don't need to calculate accordingly.

Walking is also a great way to get around and really see more of the city. As a tourist, assuming no mobility issues, plan on walking up to 30 blocks from time to time rather than spending the same amount of time on a bus or getting on or off subways. You will get a better experience.

You won't find many hotels in Staten Island. Airbnb might be a better bet. The Comfort Inn Staten Island appears to offer both free parking and a shuttle to the Staten Island Ferry. Call them directly to confirm this before booking, please.

I do not know if you are still planning or if you are already on your way. Assuming you are still planning, here are my suggestions.

When you get on the ship, and every night when you receive the daily publication, go through all the options with your in laws. Let them know what you are willing to do together and leave it up to them to decide how they wish to participate. Most people will find their own level. Even if your mother-in-law is hovering over your father-in-law, joining them and being available is helpful. I have cruised with my parents in the past, and I know it has helped to let them sit and play trivia, but to be nearby. Sometimes they just want to know what will be available for meals. Or, if someone actually gets involved in an activity and the other wants to go back to the room, one of you can stay at the activity with an elderly relative, while the other is walked back to the room.

Don't try to change people completely, just be available to lend a hand.

And take lots of pictures together.

A number of years ago I got an offer I could not turn down. Volcanic activity in Europe caused massive cancellations on a Quebec to NYC 13 day voyage a few days into the future. It was priced at around $300 per person, so I booked it expecting that my wife would not have the same flexibility I had to go on this cruise. It turned out to be a great experience, meeting others and having a lot of time to decompress. I had to pay the cruise fare for 2 people, but only the taxes/port charges for myself. My inside guarantee stateroom was upgraded to a balcony cabin. The ship was way underbooked.

That much said, we go on most cruises together.

If you are asking whether you can have a good time on your own, the answer is rather personal. You have the opportunity to read and relax, but if you are lonely or not comfortable meeting new people, you may not want to try this on a longer trip.

And here some additional food pics...

 

Broiled cold water lobster

 

Scallops Rockefeller

 

Crispy Thai beef spring roll

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Is there a game or card room? If not, where did you see people playing cards on the ship?

We've been on the Millennium for two Alaska back to back cruises. The itinerary can't be beat. One cruise turned from good to bad when there was engine trouble (this is a few years ago), but we went back to the same ship for the same itinerary and had a great time. We bought a restaurant package for 7 days of luxury meals. The Olympic Restaurant is worth every penny. QSine, for us, what interesting, perhaps a little silly, but fun for one meal. Icy Straight Point (Hoonah) is such a nice port. We saw whales, and I means lots of them, from the shore. Icy Straight Point is not yet a built up t-shirt and cap shopping experience. We walked to the local public library, saw an eagle's nest, ate Dungeness crabs twice.

You should have a great time.

We have stayed near the Skytrain in Richmond (at the Radisson) -- a great way to be near lots of good Chinese food, shuttle from the airport to our hotel -- and at an Airbnb in North Vancouver. While I prefer being near lots of good Chinese food, and we had some friends to visit in Richmond, it is not really a tourist hub. Still, it is a relatively quick and easy ride to the center of the city. There is a hotel built into a shopping center in North Vancouver, right across the water from the cruise port (Lonsdale Quay) that's a fifteen minute ferry ride from your hotel to a stop very close to the cruise port. That also works.

There certainly was more than just “hot” and “cold” on my previous cruises.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good to know. I was hoping that this was just a flaw on the Gem and that they would not have a sake bar with only two choices.

My only beef with O'sheehan's is that they have no Irish beers on Tap...not even Guinness.

They did not have anything on tap from October 21-31. I assume this was a temporary situation.

Just off the Gem and answering my own question. There are two options -- hot and cold. They are both acceptable lower priced sake of no particular distinction. Neither is from Japan. Neither is premium, despite NCL frequently promoting the premium sake at the Sake Bar with their on board video monitors. It would be difficult for them to have anything less.

Just off the Gem. They had Sam Adams lager, nothing else. Seasonal is on the menu, but not on the ship. Newcastle Brown is available along with a couple of other choices. A vast improvement from 5-10 years ago. Not perfect, but so much better.

I'm curious as to how previous posters know, for a fact, that the gratuities charged are somehow used as revenue by the cruise line and not passed on, in full, to the staff. The proposition sounds morally wrong, perhaps even illegal. If NCL, or any cruise line, is telling customers that they are paying a gratuity, but that money is not reaching those that are represented to be the recipients of that gratuities, at least the Board of Directors should answer for this.

Does anyone have any actual evidence?

I believe there may still be a couple of cruise lines without specialty restaurants. A few years ago I was on a Costa ship and the dining choices were buffet or main dining, nothing else. The main dining was impressive. Those who wanted different table mates or perhaps a quicker meal ate at the buffet. I am quite certain that there was no specialty restaurant option on that ship because I was solo and was, at first, seated with a group of people who were conversing in German, so I went to the front desk and asked about my options. By the way, I was seated with a larger group that had one free space and we are still friends today -- I send them a card every Christmas.

I digress.

Your suggestions is valid. But, also, it is similar to suggesting that a cruise line remove the casino. You and I do not need to go there, but giving the cruise line the additional revenue source makes it possible for them to charge us less for a cruise and still turn a profit.

To all of you who pay extra on a cruise, keeping my price down, I thank you for subsidizing my trip.

Just curious to find out if they offer more choices than "hot" or "cold." Please only reply if you can answer the question. Thanks.

I highly suggest checking with those on the roll call board for this cruise.

My, oh my, eight pages of people complaining about the lack of anything resembling real cheese on a mass-market cruise ship.

First, you are right, you'll find processed cheese-food slices sooner than you will find anything that tastes like cheese on nearly any US based cruise line. What they have will be served ice cold, with crackers wrapped in plastic. Don't expect dried fruit, nuts, etc.

But, in deference to these cruise lines, they used to try and they gave up. Americans, on average, don't seem to know how to order the stuff. I watched years ago as someone insisted on a half pound slice of cheese. Also, I have seen the plates of wasted cheese heading for the trash.

If you want interesting cheese on a cruise, stick with the cruise lines with European customers or treat yourself to the fancy restaurant on a Celebrity ship which has a proper cheese trolley. Even there, be sure to let them know in advance if you want them to have cheese ready for you at the end of the meal so that it can come to room temperature.

Also, next time I go on a ship, I need to bring my own mustard. I ordered a venison pate on a cruise and requested mustard. The only available mustard was bright yellow American hot dog mustard. That's how they do it!