London-Calling

Hi Dorothy, I'm interested to try Breakaway/Prima, whatever the itinerary.

Hi gang, so I've cruise on Jade, Epic and Pride. All quite different NCL ships. How, do you think I would enjoy the new class? I appreciate that the net is full of reviews, but in a few words (or paragraphs) what do the new ones feel like. Thanks (I hear the design is related to MSC Seaside and the Virgin ships, neither of which I've been on)

Everything Hawaiian is VERY expensive. POA is no different. Excursions: I would suggest you wait until a Doctor is present in case the shock is too much for you! Independent operators offer some similar excursions to POA's but for half the price. Check out "Viator". Alternatively, hire a car.

The fares and excursion prices are eye-watering!

I know. Well, they will have to do something in the next decade!

Thanks mking. Freestyle seemed to work on "pride" without them. I wonder how they will replace 'Pride'? I guess she has ten years or so, left. I hear that she is there most profitable ship.

Thanks Dorothy. I've seen them in the past, but I'm just back from 'Pride' which does not have them. Just curious.

Do NCL ships still have video display screens charting how busy the various restaurants are? There ships used to.

Excellent information. thanks you. European river cruising is hardly cheap, but I guess we have more choice and competition. We do have a few "budget" river cruise products.

Thank you! I was not aware of all this. However, I was aware of the issues NCL had with "NCL America". I note that a cruise onboard "Pride of America" can cost twice the normal. I cruised on "American Queen" a few years ago. What a wonderful ship! She will be a sad loss, if they scrap her. I've always wanted to cruise the Great Lakes, but the fares that I have seen make my eyes water! I also have to add the long haul fare from the UK.

Struggle? Please tell me more.

Hmm...the way Viking keep expending, ACL need to be scared! Just found thsi: American Cruise scraps Countess, Duchess, evaluating Queen, Empress (seatrade-cruise.com)

So why has ACL scrapped American Countess and Duchess, when they paid over $3 million dollars for the pair? It also sounds like they are going to dispose of the wonderful American Queen too? Can anybody tell me why? All three ships must have had some life left in them, especially Countess and Queen.

It's funny, people never used to need TVs, balconies, atrium, hot tubs and water parks, on their cruises.

Titanic II should be relatively easy to build, being a small ship, by modern standards (56,000gt). The engines/pods are all of a standard design. There's no LNG capability. I'm guessing that the external apperance and internal decor will be the biggest challenge for Tillberg. Modern fireproof materials will have to be used instead of all that natural wood. There will be some extra fire exits too, in some public rooms. Surely, even even 'steerage' cabins will have private bathrooms. There will of course be no atrium, no pools or hot tubs on deck, no balcony cabins. Palmer even said no TVs and no Wi-Fi.