new salt

Me too, such threads should carry a POPCORN REQUIRED header!

 

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Sort of gives one a newfound appreciation for butter & honey. On Norwegian, when a staffmember is asked for something that's missing, they tend to (at first) point to what they have instead & insist that's what you're asking for. Might be a "saying no in a positive way" customer service thing.

As the song goes, Yes, we have no bananas today! Am I showing my age?

We had looked into this back in 2012 because we were actually going to be on a cruise on the day of our anniversary. In the end, we decided that it was not worth $500. You get a ship officer, but necessarily the captain. I was told I could request a day but could not be guaranteed the day I wanted. So, we used the money we saved towards our shore excursions and also booked Cagney's on the night of our anniversary.

A good decision, after 46 years marriage my motto remains if it ain't bust, don't fix it! $500 can buy a lot of celebration but only 6" of cake😳

Have a cruise booked for April 2018 ex Port Canaveral but will be flying in to Fort Lauderdale 4 days previously. I considered driving from Fort Lauderdale on the morning of the cruise but given the reports of traffic in Florida am glad I decided to drive up to Canaveral the day before the cruise!

I just did a check with shuttledirect.com from port to airport and it offered an executive car for 2 persons at €213 or economy at €157, which I think is pretty good. I would guess time would be about 2-3hrs, the motorway is very good between the cities and Alicante airport is close to the motorway.

We live halfway between Valencia and Alicante, I would estimate that it would cost about €200 for a taxi. There are train services between the two cities, look at the Renfe website, but on the whole it is not a routing I would have chosen!

I would strongly advise insurance (speaking from the other side of the Atlantic ) Last year a friend was touring on your Eastern Seaboard when he collapsed and ended up enjoying first rate medical care but the bill for four days of intensive care and investigation and recovery to the Uk came to around $40000; thankfully he had insurance.

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I booked a Guarantee Interior on Carnival.

 

We were assigned our cabin. It was on a high deck. So I said to myself, at least we're not far from the Lido.:)

 

Boy, I remember hearing the first barbell drop. I said, oh no, don't tell me we under the gym.:rolleyes:

 

You would think after all my cruises, I would have looked at the deck plan. Nope!

 

Noise from the ceiling above day and night. My afternoon naps were shot. It was terrible and couldn't fault anyone.:mad:

 

I would never book any cabin underneath the gym. I wouldn't care if the ship was old or new.

 

Whatever you decide enjoy.

Same here on the Spirit. We left the cruise absolutely exhausted. Lesson learnt.

The golden rule is the price will drop immediately after you press the Buy now button.

Nice little rumour gaining legs in the aviation world of a merger between Ryanair a and Norwegian (has 787s and transatlantic routes).

First let me state that during my 40 years as a marine engineer, I have sailed on cruise ships as Chief Engineer.

 

You are correct that bunkers could be coal, however, the term is still used today for "marine residual fuels".

 

Yes, cruise ships use medium speed diesels, but they have and continue to burn marine residual fuel outside the US ECA. This is typically "IFO 380", which is somewhat less viscous than the "Bunker C" or "IFO 600" fuel used in steam ships. And their capacity is more in the range of 8Mw to 14Mw. No ship is required to have any "catalytic-reduction" or "exhaust treatment" equipment. What comes out of the turbocharger of the engine goes straight up the stack. This applies to all marine diesel engines, whether they are high speed diesels used for auxiliary or emergency service, medium speed used for propulsion, generation, or diesel electric propulsion, or slow speed engines used for cargo ship propulsion.

 

The IAPP convention of the IMO has regulated emissions for ship's diesel engines, but these are met through design of the engine and/or fuel system, not through exhaust gas treatment"...."

 

The last thing to consider is that essentially, the US EPA has little jurisdiction over foreign ships. We can mandate emissions within 12 miles, but outside of that, it is up to the IMO. The EPA proposed the current North American ECA, and Congress passed it, mandating emissions out to 200 nm, but without the IMO adopting it, it would have no force on foreign flag ships.

Don't you just hate it when someone comes on here and knows what he is talking about!

Our ship leaves Nov 2 from Barcelona to Venice, 12 day cruise. Has anyone cruised around that time and what generally was the water like? (and weather) Luckily we are in port 10 of the 12 days, but i have TERRIBLE motion sickness. And our kids have never cruised before so i just want to be prepared mentally and medicinally! Also any tips you have keeping the queasies away are much appreciated. I am getting seabands, will bring dramamine, and possibly ginger pills.

Thank you!

There simply is no way of telling, I'm afraid. I have lived on the Med for 13 years, in Spain and Malta but with a lot of time in Cyprus, Crete, Gibraltar and Turkey. I have seen frightening seas and weeks of millpond conditions. But remember, you are on a large stabilised ship so take medication before you need it, and enjoy your trip. We are on the cruise immediately after you returning from Venice to BCN and altHough I am very prone to seasickness I have no worries. When we sail across Biscay to the UK however, That is a different matter:(:(:(. I was a long range maritime patrol pilot for a good while, fortunately I never get air sick!

Relax and bon voyage.

A whelk stall would be nice, and a useful sideline could be training courses for politicians:rolleyes:

I do hope they are going to do something about the dreadful amount of drinking that goes on in the bars, and for that matter, banning sugar, bacon, hamburgers, icecream etc; after all NCL has an overarching duty to protect us from ourselves and from our possibly faulty lifestyle choices.

What would you fashion experts say to a white DJ, black shirt and white bow tie?

Er, how about "Don't forget the shades and violin case!"

Definitely the ship; I have noticed that Johny Furriner and other iffy coves are to be found in large numbers in ports, and no doubt up to no good. Best to stay on board.

I wonder if a trip to Portsmouth might be an idea; we recently visited the dockyard museum and saw HMS Victory and the MARY ROSE museum. Also in our ticket price was HMS Warrior and a wide range of other attractions, altogether a really good day out for naval and history buffs

HEY, my singing isn`t that bad, I used to be called on all the time to join different choirs.............oh wait.............I don`t smoke now.....don`t cancel your cruise.... it`s ok you can have the cabin next to us.....

 

 

 

Happy cruising..............don`t sweat the small stuff........life is too short

Er beggin' pardon sir! Was it the choir you were singing with that called on you to join different choirs? :D

Norwegian are new players in this with their new 787s. You may be able to go BCN to Fort Lauderdale via Oslo........worth a look as they are expanding their network all the time. (voted the best European LCC)

Terry,

 

Love the new photos. You continue to Amaze me! Some people may think that going to such gorgeous places ensures you can "take" gorgeous photos. I wish it was true :)

 

Unfortunately I am still not able to email you. Tried when you sent your last email and then again tonight. Not sure what is wrong....cross border issues ?!? hehe

 

Cheers,

Lisa (and Len)

My late mother, when in her late 70's, went on a holiday with a new camera and returned with a magnificent Italy wide pictures of her iris. True

Galeylyn,

Whatever you choose could you report back please?

We have used Air Berlin in Europe and were very happy, but need to plan an international flight for early 2012.

Bon Voyage

Happy Christmas and a prosperous cruising 2011

New Salt

I'm very late to this party but I have to say your review was one of the funniest pieces I have ever read, here or anywhere else!

Thank you!

Seafun, thank you for your Bon Voyage wishes. I will certainly report back idc!

However, I am not sure that I will post much in the way of photos having seen your opus magnus! I do in fact come from a line of distinguished photographers, distinguished by their consistent awfulness, and blood will out as they say! My late mother -I swear this is true - came back from holiday with several rolls of film consisting entirely of pictures of her eye. If anyone can give me an explanation of this achievement, pre SLR days, I would be grateful.

For tnsauerkraut, I am sorry fo your carpal tunnel problems, we have a friend who delighted in needlework who has lost that particular joy. Yes, getting old does suck:mad:, but not as much as the alternative:p Have a wonderful trip, perhaps our paths will cross in Egypt

P.S. thanks to all of you whose advice we have garnered on this site.

We depart in six days, Valencia to Madrid thence Cairo; a couple of days around Cairo then Luxor, nile cruise to Aswan, Lake Nasser cruise to Abu Simbal, back to Luxor for 24 hrs and then Sharm el Sheikh for 6 days R & R.

I did not buy a netbook - My camera has thrown a hissy fit so I decided to buy a new camera and old fashioned notebook (papyrus)

Given the damage that our demented politicians and banksters have done to our economy I thought that this was the wisest move for the time being:(