1025cruise

Well, I'm betting their cruise card is flagged, so if they try to buy anything it will alert immediately. If they still won't follow, there will be someone posted outside the door.

Just a reminder, per your contract, ports are not guaranteed.

To be honest, the concierge lunch in the MDR isn't anything to write home about. Also, I've cruised on Royal, Princess, Carnival, NCL, and Disney. Royal and Carnival definitely do not have an MDR option for lunch on embarkation day. I believe Princess still does. Not sure about NCL, but there is a sit down venue always available. I also don't recall about DCL. Generally, I tend to board later after lunch in the MDR (if offered) would have already been shut down, so it's not something I've really looked for.

Surprisingly, the majority of people will eat on the ship in Bermuda. In the evening, transportation out of the dockyard is minimal, leaving just a handful of restaurants, that are a bit costly.

The MDR is only open for lunch if you are in a concierge cabin, a B2Ber, or a Zenith.

At this point, probably not determined.

FedEx/UPS/DHL?

For DIY port excursions, you should research in the ports of call section here on Cruise Critic.

Assuming you mean NY, NCL sails out of Manhattan.

As soon as it fills up.

Just to note, while the Beyond is all "Anytime", if you are in Aqua, your assigned dining room is Blu. You will need to discuss with the host/hostess there that you wish to eat in the MDR.

They probably haven't loaded this year's cruises into the system to prepay yet.

Just book it?

I've never done a TA, plus I'm a US citizen, but as I recall, it was a pretty quick process. With that said, your trip being a TA, plus not being a US citizen, may add a couple of hurdles to the process.

The fact that you are from the UK doesn't make any difference about CBP. Everyone needs to go through CBP. Assuming Cape Liberty is your first US port, you will go through as you leave the ship. Assuming you have a later flight, shouldn't be an issue.

Nothing stopping you from wearing shorts. Whether or not you'd want to, that's a different story.

I accept that you need to tip the tour guide. What gets me is when they say the driver and the guide are separate. I'm sorry, they can split the tips.

I'm not aware of any public transportation near the Hampton Inn.

I can't imagine taking an Alaska cruise and not getting off the ship....

Seasickness is always a possibility.

And that's why Cruise Critic has the ports of calls boards. That's where you research what to do at the ports.

Nexus cards are good for land crossings only.

Since your question isn't related to Royal Caribbean, you should post on the ports of call boards. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/99-st-croix/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/329-st-kitts-amp-nevis/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/82-st-thomasst-john/

In all honesty, I would ask on board before you go shopping to see what will happen.

I'd go with the southern itinerary.