mking8288

Maybe OP decided not to use ship's satellite WiFi, even if he has the limited free minutes and or upgrade to the unlimited base plan. Dexddd did mentioned during his TA crossing last week that WiFi was inconsistent & nothing close to near fully reliable. Once the ship get to or near Dockyard, 4G signals would & should make a big difference. It is very slow to upload HD photos at sea 😳

Here, it's that warm & fuzzy feeling on a cold morning or late night ...they just don't have them onboard anywhere, not even in the premium suites. Accustomed to having/using them when we traveled in north Asia and upscale resorts & hotels in Hawaii etc. Saved many rolls of tissues, especially during the pandemic surge.

Yippee, going to be along for the virtual cruise … bon voyage 🛳️ Beautiful day to sail out, great Fall weather. Let us know how’s your trip to Pier 88, getting checked in, etc.

NCL wins the flip-flop award for Q3 of 2022 in reversing their silly policy ... will this be the end of stories. Probably not. For now, let's just hope they are consistent in applying the shorex credit. The dining package has been a mess in recent years with exclusion, exceptions and extras - among corporate's cruise consultants, CruiseNext staff onboard, the server team and the manager on duty, etc. Consistently inconsistent is what they are known for 🙄 For the time being, the news is a welcomed and values-added one to some, not all - if and when the ship scheduled to call on GSC is able to make a stop there to tender.

Your clamshell reservation(s) will serve tender tickets to be among the first or second group to go ashore, each double-decker boat can take up to 400 passengers ... you will get instructions or info on where to meet and what time. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them near the beach and not far from the tender pier, pick the ones you like & the shore team will open them & set it up for you as needed. The vented ones are better to allow for air circulation under the hot sun & strong UV lights, bring your high SPF tan protection products & beach sandals to walk on top of the hot sand.

Dan - Whew, amazing miracles happened every day and so glad to hear that your issues are in good hands, recovering from the procedures - and, in a little over 3 weeks ... you'll be traveling and on the ship again. Thanks for sharing your personal story with us on CC. Get some rest now.

Whether it's high tea or low tea in the afternoon at sea. What is being served onboard mid-afternoon on the Joy in the Observation Lounge isn't anywhere close to what's really considered proper as served. Not to mention, it's all DIY. Next time in Victoria, BC - perhaps while on an Alaska cruise in 2023 ... plan ahead and book an afternoon "Tea at The Empress" at the Hotel's historic lounge and enjoy. It will set you back $89 CAD per person, plus GST, etc. plus tips. Dress code should be noted and it is enforced. https://www.teaattheempress.com/menus/ When in Hong Kong, there is - of course, the Peninsula is well known for it but also available at a number of other high end hotels (pre-Covid) ... The Regents on the Harbour was excellent then for their high tea, but that was some 35+ years ago.

How to restrict ... in a nutshell, certain sites and it's ip addresses are whitelisted to permit access, while all other URL's are blocked since all the data traffic onboard are cached thru their firewalled (Cisco & Lenovo, etc,) hardware servers.

Dan, you'll be fine regardless. We're put our trust & faith with our cardiologist too, amazing medical advances happening nowadays. Health and well beings come first, then sit back and enjoy continued living longer. Among the reasons that DW opted for early retirement path, preventive detection & intervention made a key difference. Think positive and it'll be #3 just fine. Henry

Thank you for sharing the Prima's trip with us and welcome to NY. Pictures alone are priceless in telling the stories. That's the Disney Magic docked at Pier 90, overnighting here via Bermuda.

Looks like you are "Breakaway" sailing late in the Fall season to Canada / New England out of NY - most definitely, look at the weather forecast 2 to 3 days prior ... before finalizing your packing of clothes, dress in layers when going ashore. Unlike the Joy, I don't believe they retrofitted the BA with outside heater on the waterfront and/or deck deck for those chilly & cold days but I stand corrected, should someone recently on the BA can confirm otherwise. There has NEVER been (AFAIK) any kind of luggage transfer or forwarding services in NY, unlike port of Seattle and most definitely, none whatsoever this year (3 cruises out of Pier 88 ...) There are porter services inside the cruise terminal to assist. The reservation desk onboard will have all the venue's menus available, and at least the specialty restaurants will have their menus shown on the stateroom's interactive TV ... the Norwegian App has been hit-n-miss as far as properly shown the menus. On our 2 earlier cruises this year, they also have QR codes - changed out as appropriate for the MDR ... breakfast, dinner and lunch - to scan with your smartphone/iPhone, but not most recently last month on the Joy - for whatever reasons. If and when it rain, NCL will have for sale, those disposable rain poncho near the gangway as you exit to go ashore.

If one is booking one of the "SC" penthouse "suite" exclusive to the Joy (only) - highly recommend that one review & look closely at the included "amenities" as currently provided & included for these cabins. Earlier extras and perks have all been discontinued and no longer offered / included ... unless one has this booked in 2020 or 2021, before the recent changes (in 2022) were done, and "grandfathered" in. Priority "check-in" at embarkation for NYC has NOT been honored or recognized inside the cruise terminal (although, you might still get "priority" luggage tags mailed in advance for use ... doesn't really meant anything) and same for "priority luggage tags" for disembarkation - you might receive them, or not. You might get a letter toward the end of the cruise week onboard about getting priority disembarkation, to the gangway only (it's essentially, the same as those with Platinum/higher status & supposingly, entitled to get to skip to the front of the line) ... NOT the same as being in Haven. There might be an (one) umbrella in the closet for your use (i.e. going ashore) but not yours to keep. There should be robes & slippers inside the closet (well, you can always ask for those if staying in a balcony or higher tiered cabin anyway). We had the upscale bath products in our "SP" (similar class) 2 BR suites instead of the regular wall mounted dispensed ones (that is, until the fleet convert to the bulk dispensing walled products) As for the the 2 "special" treats delivered to the suite (by room steward/housekeeping in the cart ... along with others) twice during the cruise, it's nothing to write about - 2 baked cookies that you can grab or take yourself in the buffet (take as many as you want / need ) and walk it back to the "suite" to enjoy. We laughed & chuckled when we saw it ... "what a joke" - are we supposed to split the cookies & share it, imagine if there're 4 or 5 adults in the 2 bedroom "suite". Shortcomings in what I considered "not paying attention to details" for what was once promoted as upscale onboard lodging ... i.e. an extra clean glass and extra coffee cup - as they know 3 guests are staying in the "suite" for the week, don't need 4 or 5 and 2 isn't enough, duh ! Not even a welcome abroad bottle of "complimentary" water carton waiting or included. The only nice thing that I can think of is the deluxe coffee machine & complimentary daily refilling of coffee filters & condiments ... instead of the single cup coffee/hot water maker using the flat pod. But, you will need to refill that with tap water unless you choose to get those water "cartons" to pour into the machine ... instruction placard included on DIY how-to. If the price is right and extra space is important, go for it - otherwise ... We cruised again last month on the Joy, just 2 of us and we decided to stick with our "BA" balcony on Deck 15, plentiful spacious and with easy access to the forward Observation Lounge.

Worth it or not to upgrade the WiFi is a popular discussion topic here on NCL and with other cruise lines, subjective & highly personal, to each her/his own. Case in point, one of the nieces were onboard one of the Royal ships in Alaska last month & would not spent $25 for a single day unlimited WiFi pass ... "too expensive" out of pocket. We hold-off upgrading one of our 150 "free" minutes until 00:01 on Day Two, for the remaining 6 days, offset by non-refundable OBC - cost was "$80" and not a big deal for 6 days worth of unlimited basic WiFi access; plus, we retained use of the other 150 "free minutes" on additional devices & use it up when both of us "needed it" and didn't wish to bump the other person offline. It is more than sufficient and adequate to do SMS or text messaging and browse online. Is it fast, no ... not at all, not even close as it's satellite at sea with 600ms latency & signal bouncing thousand of miles for relayed switching to land-based i.p. addresses. Costs is relative to how important it is to each person ... afterall, the typical shorex prices for 2 - even with the "freebies" tossed in, much more than the "enjoyment" from having nearly "always on" WiFi access while at sea for the duration. Some folks spent more $$ for the beverage/plus packages, others "gifted" money for spa access, and yet others blasted away at the game room or raceway ... whatever make you feel happy, or just consider it as "tipping" extra for special services, like handling out green bucks to the butler and concierge team.

Didn't they run a Q&A session on how to run a cruise ship during the week, as that would be a good time to ask the bridge and/or engineering department team on what the smell is all about ... since we can't sense, smell or really help with an answer. Guest services might not know but someone on duty wearing one of those white overall ... usually have a pretty good idea, especially since the entire fleet had their HVAC systems and filtration upgraded as part of the enhanced airborne response due to Covid-19.

Lately, with ships sailing nowhere close to capacity, even if your rock bottom bid did not end up "processing" - you could still win at pier check-in with a last minute surprise. Furthermore, you can go to onboard Guest Services on ask on the spot about paying for and negotiating an upgrade - signage no longer seen lately on many (most ?) sailing that no "upgrade" available onboard. As usual, YMMV. Advantage of the onboard approach, if you don't like the price, location & the deal, you can say no and decline it, unlike the mostly "blind" bidding where ... none of us have a clear, easy and can only guess what the outsourced vending company doing the bid acceptance has it formulated.

Muchas gracias, dexddd - thanks but ... and, that's for my convenience, of course. Are those lobster roll prices or ?? Can you have it delivered directly, haha. Seriously, enjoying your stop at Halifax today, exploring on your own ... Uber & taxi were inexpensive, "cheap" especially when we're using US dollars - $10 CAD from the cruise terminal to the Citadel. BTW, heads to be prepared for a choppy ride inbound toward NY tomorrow, sea states and waves not looking pretty on the forecasted maps for your routing. Wished we could call for better weather instead of wind & rain, but thankful that Ian could've spin around again as a Nor-Easter

According to MarineTraffic site, GA is "parked" at her anchorage just outside Port Canaveral ... surely they can run tenders to go ashore if necessary as otherwise, self-sustaining for the next few days with crews & officers only aren't cause for alarm.

Be sure to inform casino-at-sea when you ask and confirm the booking of your 31 years old daughter's special needs status and other/related requirements, etc. etc. so they can note it on the reservation. Depending on the specific NCL ship(s) you have in mind to book and cruise on - subject to confirmed availabilities at the time of booking confirmation, make it as far in advance as possible as the small & limited # of "over-sized" cabins are quickly taken by other guests with needs - you will all probably appreciate and welcome the extra space. Once confirmed, you should contact special needs at NCL directly, and learn & find out all you can, what is doable and make the requests, and have it noted/added to the booking. I'm sure you are mindful of it, please pay attention to ports with tendering requirements as there are limitations and exclusions, and sometimes - one might instead enjoy the day onboard.

Joy currently in-bound, was barely moving at just 1 knots, appropriately 50 miles south of Nantucket, MA about 7+ hours ago on Marinetraffic. Currently out of AIS tracking range but from very limited data available, should be on on westerly heading off Montauk, NY for NY - with early 4 a.m. local time ETA at Pier 88 ... thus, should be picking up the pilot boat at 2 to 3 a.m. offshore on the approach to Lower Bay. Following info was indirectly relayed via another CC friend of ours (thanks, M & A) as they are in touch with the ship - "left ... Friday and took two sea days towards Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Port call canceled and proceeded to Cornerbrook, Newfoundland (very small town and really not much there ). Then Sydney, Nova Scotia was canceled and two days to get to Halifax, that was last Wednesday. Then ... at St. John, New Brunswick. (No) thanks to Fiona, their itineraries were all mixed up. " Surprised that nobody on that sailing, supposingly with big #'s for the Roll Call and Meet & Greet/Mingle ... no one posting periodic update and status report(s), etc. Perhaps, ran into poor high orbit satellite coverage and signal issues in the north Atlantic ... Hopefully, we'll get to read more about their journey tomorrow and/or later this week ...

Back on topic with some post-cruise reflections, trying to minimize off-topic distractions in replies. We had an extended family dinner with one of the nieces that came back from her Alaska cruise on RCI and suffice to say, one of the out-of-town guests surely appreciated that we are in the clear as she is in remission currently & just completed chemo ... It also reminded me that we didn't see any QR codes for dining onboard the Joy last month, nothing to scan and back to printed, reusable paper menu. This AYCE place in Queens now ask folks to scan & read their online menu, except I nicely informed the server that their webpage link was loading badly & ultra slow ... oops 😬 Not all "customers" are geeks that walk around with a large smartphone or iphone that zoom easily to read the menu. Back to our BA balcony with the bedside USB ports that can charge devices as one dare & wish to (the ports were somewhat loose already & likely will fail sooner than the ship's next scheduled dry dock) There've two 110 volts power outlet and one 220 volts outlet at the desk/counter - and with a simple 2 prong outlet adapter plug, gave us 3 sets of power outlets to use and recharge our tech toys at sea. Having a 10 ft USB extension surely made life easier, as we also used it daily while hanging out in the Fwd Observation Lounge ... many others began to discover the hideaway by the end of the cruise week 😆 Still, the hi-output (10,000 mah) rechargeable power "brick" by Anker was indispensable once we leave the ship to go ashore.

This year, NCL tweaked their outsourced bidding system to take upgrade, not just at the 2 days or 48 hours cutoff to reject low bids, and will do a on-the-spot upgrade at pier check-in, re-issued key cards. Actually, some folks and that includes one of our nieces that went to Guest Services & negotiated an upgrade, picked & asked for deck 15 and only agreed to pay after being shown the balcony first. No, IMHO, downclass passengers did quite well lately in "let's make a deal". YMMV As a matter of fact, on the mobile Norwegian app, there is an option to upgrade the stateroom - not yet functional on our recent cruise 2 weeks ago 🤫

We are en route to MCT Pier 88, got a free upgrades to a minivan ride using Carmel, trip time 48 minutes ... driver was early & we are ready, can't wait 😁 Thanks to the live report onboard from the last 10 days Joy sailing, we are better prepared. Free testing done by CVS, still required by NCL. ArriveCAN was easy & done, despite unclear info at times, watch safety video twice already 🙊 More later ... expecting a good turnout tomorrow for the CC Meet & Mingle, moved to Q Texas Smokehouse as it's much bigger vs. District BH. Let's see what's new, different & changed - or same old, etc. Going to be on Deck 15 AFT port side, near the elevators -