bluesea777

The two cancelled Epic cruises (Nov 1 and Nov 11, 2025) were disembarking and embarking in Haifa Israel. They will be substituted with new itineraries in due course. Ditto with Viva's 4 cruises (two in May 2025 and two in Sept 2025). See post #1.

Grrrr!!! Just wish it wasn't April Fool's!! We were desperate for that sushi galore at lunch times while on the Viva transatlantic, but the Nama remained shuttered up at lunchtimes.

Welcome to CC! We were in Juneau twice in June 2023 as we were on two Back to Back cruises (Seward - Vancouver - Seward) on Norwegian Spirit. The first time we anchored and tendered in to Cruise Terminal in Downtown Juneau, and the second time we docked at the AJ Dock where there were continuous shuttles ferrying the passengers between the dock and Downtown Juneau (drop off was close to the Goldbelt Tram). I checked the 2024 Alaska cruise ship schedule and can see that Encore will dock at the AJ Dock at 14:30 to 23:00 on Tues May 21st. The ship shown in the picture is NOT the Encore, and it is likely your ship will dock port side (not starboard side as shown in picture). If this is true you'll be exiting the ship via deck 5, if not 4. I would suggest you all meet in the Atrium on deck 6 as a group - there are chairs, bar, Starbucks galore there - suggest you arrange to meet 30 mins before the time you plan on getting off ship. As for the sailaway gathering spot, I would suggest you all meet up in the Sugarcane Bar on deck 8 - great spot for sailaway drinks and there are seating outside on the waterfront. But if it's too cold - go up to the Observation Lounge (deck 15) - there is a nice sized bar up there and great views. Be aware, not all the indoors bars are open at sailaway but the Sugarcane and Observ Bars are open. Check the dailies for the opening hours of bars. Wishing you all the best for the forthcoming nuptials and hope you all have a great cruise! May is a wee early for cruising in Alaska, but hey, the schools will still be in so perhaps the ship won't be 100% full. ENJOY!!

Our passports didn’t get stamped by Israel when we visited Haifa for 2 overnights while on the Spirit 4 years ago. Our passports got stamped by other countries we visited on same cruise though, not Israel.

When’s your cruise? So I can give you some pointers.

Not next year 2025 (Sky will be in Asia), but she will be back in early 2026 to do the same itineraries.

The Sky just goes out to sea southward for the shops and casino to open, then makes an U-turn back up northward to Isla Catalina. Saw that on cruisemapper a while ago.

This itinerary was created like 2 years ago. Surely the world has changed since then. Fuel prices for one; they haven't reduced.

Not quite 52 weeks, more like 48. Yes, hotels are easily cancelled if you do not pre-pay (pay in advance) and book at refundable rate.

Jade's last dry-dock was in March 2022, therefore she's not due for next one for 3 years.

Originally the port times were 07:00-13:30 in Curacao, 13:00-19:00 in Grenada and 12:30-19:00 ... these are basically half days and the pax would not have been able to partake full day excursions in those 3 ports. Grenada is way out of the way between Curacao and Antigua - see this map: So it makes more sense to drop Grenada and lengthen the port times in Curacao and Antigua (for the full day excursions) and have a sea day steaming from Curacao and Antigua at reasonable speed to save fuel. Disappointing yes, but ship happens.

The Svalbard cruises (2) are still on this year on the Star. May30-June10 Reykjavik-Tromso and June10-21 Tromso-Reykjavik. We're on the latter which is identical to your now-cancelled June9-20, 2025 cruise.

One catch is your MIL will not be able to go on the White Pass train in Skagway without a passport.

Another beautiful day today: Not sure what time they are leaving tomorrow.

Today, beautiful sunny calm Bermuda but a tad chilly at 62°F (17°C). Oceanic Vista on right and Getaway on left. Cheers!

Yet yesterday and the days before it was sunny calm, etc!!

It was supposed to be Tuesday’s arrival, I think, as I read up in this thread it was supposed to be here in Bermuda Tues- Fri, but Getaway already slowed down to ~ 10 kts earlier today and is due in here tomorrow morning. Just as well she ain’t here today - it’s windy, pouring with rain, lightning, and all the works!!

I would wait until on board before deciding to cancel the NCL transfer to airport, in case the Port Valet doesn’t apply to NCL flights. If Port Valet will work in your favour, great! Otherwise….

Yes, but it depends on which airline the OP is flying on. Port Valet - Enjoy Seattle Luggage Free! | Port of Seattle (portseattle.org)

If it were us, we'd take the NCL transfer (that we'd have paid for) to the SEA airport and go to Baggage Storage to deposit all bags for several hours, and go on LightRail into Seattle and enjoy the day there. Then head back to SEA, pick up luggage and check in for the flight. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - Smartecarte Sea-Tac Airport | Sound Transit A few years ago we stayed in a hotel near the SEA airport for a week and twice we travelled on Light Rail into Seattle (first was to Pike's Market and surroundings, and second was to Westlake for the Space Needle and Chihuly) - both times easy peasy and very good. P.S. Welcome to Cruise Critic!

That 5 O’clock place (the inside) is directly below the expensive deck 8 Club Balcony cabins with very large balconies … so noise was a real factor that the M9 occupants complained bitterly …. so whatever venues going on in that place had to be during the day and finish early. I think they managed to *really* soundproof the floor between the Pour House on deck 7 and the M9 cabins on deck 8 during Escape’s first dry dock when the 5 O’Clock was converted to the Pour House. Escape was the first BA+ ship and the designers had no idea.

But the Gem is visiting different ports on each leg. Also we’re keen on revisiting some of the ports that we went to 2 decades ago! There are still a few that are new to us.

That’s why we’re going on back to back Gem in Dec - we get to thru the Panama Canal twice!

You'll do great with the Jade especially it's a Panama Canal .... you get to go thru the old locks, not the new ones. Jade is a mid-sized ship and due to the length of cruise there probably won't be a lot of lids on board. You mentioned that Moderno is out but why don't you go to the Sugarcane bar for a mojito one time and pop into the restaurant to take a look at the salad bar there. It's quite good! You can use a dining coupon for sushi - 4 items off the menu. We're on the Gem (sister ship to the Jade) for the two back to back Panama Canal cruises in December this year. First one is Miami to Panama City (Pacific side) via the ABC islands, and the second is from Panama City back to Miami via western Caribbean. We're looking forward to that.

No suit or tux!! Le Bistro requires men to wear long pants and collared shirt (short or long sleeved). If you are on the Encore, Le Bistro is high up on deck 17 port side next to the aft elevators - fantastic sea views. lovely place to dine in. On Encore it's not La Cucina but Onda. Our fave (along with Le Bistro). If you're on a long cruise with multiple dining coupons, I bet you'll visit each of Le Bistro and Onda TWICE - just to have different entrees if you are undecided the first time, ha ha. Another restaurant to try is Los Lobos .... 5:30 reservations are quite easy, so you'll manage! ENJOY!