dmwnc1959

14 hours ago, BlueRiband said:

At worst it's about as appealing is spray paint graffiti.

Yup. 😎

8 hours ago, ldubs said:

Fad or not, door decorations are not something that should cause anyone else any grief.  But it sure seems to do just that.   

Most definitely not the right word. However, some will say that there’s something just so tacky, classless, and trashy about it. Others will say it’s like someone’s yard sale plastered all over their door. It’s the same sentiment some have when they walk done the corridor and see half-used food trays sitting on the floor. Grief? Not so much. Ruin someone’s day? Nah. Snickering sarcastic amusement. Probably.

On 3/21/2024 at 9:22 PM, GTO-Girl said:

I was told the area is okay in the daytime but to be very careful at night.

 

we elected not to stay there…

On 3/22/2024 at 9:06 AM, Pyrate13 said:

Agree with GTO, we do not go there at night either.

On 3/22/2024 at 12:14 PM, Cienfuegos said:

My wife and I have visited Ybor City several times. And had lunch at Columbia (one of the inventors of the Cuban sandwich). And the cigar museum.  It's a lively place in the day and into the evening.

 

The TECO streetcar is free, and runs every 15-20 minutes through the area and into downtown. If you see something you like get off, visit, or walk a ways to get on a subsequent streetcar.

 

I haven't been on the streets in the later evening, but it looks like a younger persons' gathering place. Many bars.  For better or worse.

I too am looking at booking a hotel in Ybor City for a 2-night mid-week stay in early April 2025. I’m not a nighthawk by any stretch of the imagination, and am always back to the hotel before dark no matter what city I’m staying in. This looks like it would be a good part of the Tampa to stay in for a wider selection of culture and dining options. Do you believe this is a safe and viable option?

I’ve had friends and family that collected little trinkets like those tiny little silver spoons, key chains, and shot glasses. Some of these can be destination-specific and quite unique. On one cruise to Alaska I came back with a wooden train whistle that one kid loved. Lots of other ideas included inexpensive (but very attractive) small hand-carved artistry, and bookmarks for my friends that are readers. Find out what they like and collect, and browse the port stores for affordable gifts. 

3 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

I'm beginning to wonder if you are one of the hall monitors?  

 
Hah! 🤣 Not possible. I’m usually booked in steerage where all of the serf live - we don’t have doors or hallways, just hundreds of army cots in a vast dungeon. 😉  Seriously though, I can’t recall on my cruises that door decorators existed, even going back a couple of decades, and would include Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, and Holland-America. Maybe it’s just the cruise line or time of year. This phenomenon of door decorators and duck hiders seems the be a more recent fad. And I don’t do fads. 😎

14 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Sadly, yes.  I was recently on a themed cruise that was HUGE into decorated cabin doors (they even had a contest awarding $$$ to the winners).  I heard multiple reports on their FB page that the decorations of others had been damaged, vandalized, stolen, or destroyed. 🤬

5 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

That’s a true shame. But it just goes to show, that even ‘sanctioned’ activities can fall victim to the malicious mischief  of others. 

This also may be why some cruise lines have turned to banning door decorations - to prevent this sort of outcome and restore some since of discipline to the people that just can’t help themselves. 

6 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Sadly, yes.  I was recently on a themed cruise that was HUGE into decorated cabin doors (they even had a contest awarding $$$ to the winners).  I heard multiple reports on their FB page that the decorations of others had been damaged, vandalized, stolen, or destroyed. 🤬

That’s a true shame. But it just goes to show, that even ‘sanctioned’ activities can fall victim to the malicious mischief  of others. 

Just now, d9704011 said:

Well, OK.  This sort of addresses the unfortunate fact that some people just steal stuff.

 

I believe the original objection was more related to the implied inclusion of a small door magnet in the class of 'but others also look at it as an unsightly blight, low-class, tacky, and an all-together visual irritant that needs to disappear.'

Like I said. Not pulling any punches. A small door magnet is not ‘all of that’, the description I offered was for covering cabin doors in steamers and assorted Etsy or dollar store decorations. You’re just renting the space for a week, not decorating a home. 

6 minutes ago, LindaD22 said:

 

Hmmmm, that seems unnecessarily harsh! I mean, we don’t leave in a beige world where the main objective is to never have anyone else offended/confronted by our own personal preferences. If door magnets are not your thing, that is fine. But no need to be so judgmental about those who do put up a magnet, even if it’s only to find their cabin! 

Not pulling any punches by telling someone that it’s all rainbows and kittens. Even on a cruise ship, in the real world, people can resort to their primal instincts (especially when they’ve had a few drinks). 

If someone has that much trouble finding their cabin that they need to cover it with graffiti - and some of the pictures I’ve seen look like a hot mess - maybe look into something more subtle like a strip of international orange painters tape on the door number plate. It’s easily removable and won’t stick. But a cute little fridge magnet or personalized door hanger is equally subject to every onlooker strolling by desiring it for themselves.
 

😁

5 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I hate thieves.  Stealing something like someone's cabin door decoration is really low life.  Who would do that I wonder.  

You can never tell, but depending on the cruise line and time of year there have been very recent reported incidences that could involve just about anyone: a passerby may like your magnets or fancy your dry erase board, they may want to the take your things just for spite,  or as a ‘joke’ destroy it all. It does happen, and recent threads of cruise lines banning door decorations and people stealing your things have surfaced.
 

Yes, it’s your vacation, but also the vacation of everyone in your passageway that has to look at that display on your cabin door. I know it may be ‘cute’ to you, but others also look at it as an unsightly blight, low-class, tacky, and an all-together visual irritant that needs to disappear. 
 

😁

Don’t put anything on your cabin door that you don’t mind having stolen. That seems to be a thing now also. 😎

NCL now has a price increase on the mid-week laundry bag…

10 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

When are sailing, again? If fairly soon, I think you can assume the Land's End is sold out. It went quick on our trip.

 

April 2025. A few (23) excursions are already showing up and I’m just going book the the ones I want as they show up.
 

1 minute ago, IAcruising said:

 

That seems really cheap for the Land's End excursion. I'm going to guess, since it says "from $45" that it's after the discount.

 

Regarding the Connell Lake, that is before the discount.

 

👍 I’ve already got a laundry list of shore excursions I want,  just waiting for them to show up in my sailing to book. 😁

Another quick question if anyone knows the answer. I’ve been browsing shore excursions on the in NCL website, not signed in and not attached to my booking. Is the price I’m seeing for the shore excursions the cost prior to the $50 credit? 
 

These two for example: the first one from just browsing NCL shore excursions; the second screenshot when I am signed into my booking where the NCL credit has been applied: 

On 3/12/2024 at 1:24 PM, bkrickles1 said:

Based on this post you should definitely cancel the beverage package.

Pay as you go. You'll never spend $545 if you adhere to your ordinary drinking habits.

Also, I wouldn't pay for the Flow Water either. The tap water is better and can be had in quite a few spots.

Well, after lots of hemming and hawing, that’s done. I’ll still get the Flow Water package, I think maybe it’s just the convenience of it all that has me fascinated. And I have a few unused cruise line beverage tumblers from past cruises to choose from that I can bring. I’m sure they sell them onboard too. Never hurts to have another ship souvenir. 😁

2 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Do you know what year those pictures are from?  Looks like maybe late 80’s to mid 90’s

Unfortunately, like most of my pictures not in albums - these are just loose in a folder - they’re not dated. Just random scribble or nothing on the backsides. I have drawers full of old cruise stuff I’ve been dragging around for decades. 

Love these old threads! 🥰 I only ever got to tour NORWAY when I was a travel agent. Back then it was self-guided, and I had complete free-roaming access of all her public spaces and staterooms/suites - touring an empty ship… so amazing! I still have all sorts of post cards, flyers, brochures, etc. and not sure why I even kept them. 
 

Here are a few pictures from my private collection, sorry for the quality I don’t have a scanner. 

3 hours ago, crystalspin said:

The link you posted is good for a sink-full only, or rather 6 sinks. The Simply add 1 packet to wash 2-3 garments in a sink WashEZE is a sheet that is good for a washer full, or cut in half for a sinkful, or in quarters for 1-3 small items by my experience.
 

Liquids + travelling = not attractive.

I’ve seen the laundry washing sheets before on travel blogs and have been fascinated by them. And the reviews are quite good.

Being such a long cruise, with both sink washing on the ship and machine washing in port on Day 16, it might be a good idea to take a few of both types (just in case). 😉

And the item description for the Sink Suds indicates it is TSA compliant for traveling, so that’s a plus. And ‘Simply add 1 packet to wash 2-3 garments in a sink’ is about all I’d want to wash in a sink anyways. The sheets I can use for several loads at the laundromat in San Pedro. 👍

2 hours ago, mammajamma2013 said:

I've used Wash Eeze  laundry sheets from Amazon. They are used for both washing and drying and you can pack a few sheets (1 per load) rather than the whole box. I've found them to be very good.

https://www.amazon.com/WashEZE-Laundry-Detergent-Individual-Efficient/dp/B00C2WAX5G/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2PZZL1DVLCK89&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h2lXH8vq4Q_838tYHHFXF8PcXSljDmXLGtCaHNGD8ru-GZmDp4OhrvOR_MdJykKRDXmG7I13XqPGnLAsuI5TgOSQi05v5EvouI7Uxp5iexark_tNDjyD8Q_ZYjgBhZtC.QPG1X2P-mtOt7c9sc6DNsSBqHPmzogs2lXfQp7ORTe4&dib_tag=se&keywords=wash+eeze&qid=1710951036&sprefix=wash+eeze%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-6

 

sorry for the giant link.

 

 

These were the ones mentioned in a YouTube video, being a liquid makes it a little more attractive to me for some reason. 🤔

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D1X2QJG/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

30 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Wow, this is a challenging pack!  My thoughts: 

- You really don't want any shorts for the Panama portion of the cruise?  So no swimsuits either?  

- Engage the 3:1 method for your daytime wear ... for every pair of pants, bring three shirts.  I'd bring four pair of jeans /casual pants + three shirts to match each.  Lots of short-sleeved shirts that can work in Panama.  My family's from Panama, and Guayaberas are super-popular in that warm climate.  

- Add four layering items ... sweatshirts or jackets. Things that can match the pants you've already packed /cover the shirts you've already packed. 

- Dinner wear ... I'd bring 1-2 pairs of nicer pants + three dress shirts to match each pair.  Done.  No one will notice if you're wearing the same pants over and over, and classic men's dress shirts aren't much different.  Since you'll only wear them a few hours, it's not going to be a problem to re-use them.  Just hang them up nicely after each dinner.  

- Will. you need a heavy jacket in addition for the time of year you'll be in Alaska?  Gloves and hat?  

- You mentioned doing laundry in port on day 16.  If you can do a big bundle and get your pants /shirts cleaned for $30, I'd consider letting the ship do it, but -- since you know the area and aren't really into touring on that day, hitting a local laundry mat isn't the worst plan.  Do bring along a roll of quarters and some laundry sheets; that'll be a money-saver in the long run.  

- I'd bring a pair of comfortable sandals for the Panama portion + two pair of shoes (in case one gets wet).  

- As for the suitcase, you're almost certainly going to need two ... I'd try to choose one that'd stack on top of the other, allowing you to pull just one.  

- Bring a backpack for your carry on /let it double as your ashore bag.  

 

What a great trip you're going to have! 

 

😳 Just an absolute superstar with a TON of great ideas and tips! Thank you for taking the time to detail all of this. Actually had to take a screenshot and add your post to my iPhone Note packing list.  

As a matter of fact there have been soooooo many great ideas and thoughts in this thread so far it’s like a master-class on packing.  

Bookmarked, along with another one of my favorites…

On 3/13/2024 at 8:51 PM, SightCRR said:

Do a search of the Whale Project and AK museum. Both close to the Douglas Island Bridge. People have raved about the Hanger restaurant (very close to the seaplane dock) on the way. Nice webcam views here. TheSnowCloud Juneau area Webcams

These are great views! 😍

1 hour ago, Coral said:

It seems like a "fake port" for me. I enjoyed going to Hoonah - a real Alaskan village. Just my thoughts. ICP is "very shiny".

Totally agree. It is a ‘port’ stop completely manufactured by the cruise line from quite literally nothing but a vacant cannery. Sort of reminds me of what I’ve seen on the ultra-budget version called Ward Cove (that has basically nothing). That looks like a hot mess. 
 

Even on my first cruise to Alaska over 25 years ago a lot of the ports seemed fake-ish and really touristy. During my five cruises up there I took a lot of shore excursions away from town out into the surrounding areas so that I could experience a more ‘authentic’ Alaska. This next cruise I’ll visit the same ports I’ve been to time and time again. But at least Icy Strait Point will offer something new to me. And I’m pretty excited about that. 
 

😁

4 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

There is bear watching, kayaking, zip line, cultural heritage presentations, the gondola, beach, scenic walk into town, and charming authentic Alaskan village. So lots more than just whale watching. 

I’d heard of this ‘port’ stop when it was first opened. It’s now much more than I had imagined. I’d be very excited to just get out and walk around without having to dodge cars while window shopping blocks of touristy stores. This place looks really nice. 

6 hours ago, Travelling2Some said:

That's good but I find it interesting that they are still pretending they will port in Nicaragua.  When we sailed the Bliss Panama Canal a year or so ago I expected them to cancel it when we booked so I didn't care and wasn't "fooled" but many were disappointed when it was announced.  After final payment and for our convenience, of course.

I think if I had booked: 1) an Iceland cruise, and after payment they changed it to a Baltic itinerary out of an ‘abundance of caution’; 2) or a Canada & New England that turned into Bermuda due to ‘weather’; 3) a Mexican Riviera which reversed course from a hurricane turned into a California Coastal; 4) or most any itinerary into something else, I’d be fine. If I had travelled to the ends of the earth and spend my life’s savings for something specific and it was cancelled or altered that’s a different story. But that’s life. I’m too old to get bent out of shape from a first-world problem. There’s a silver lining in there somewhere. Find it. 

😁