HowardK

I found solo meetups much better on ships with the studios then for example the Jewel.

I met great people on every cruise

Excellent topic- I haven't cruised for a while but was using my Ipod Touch with my email and facebook signed in already by the time I joined. I did not do any financial transactions or sites.

Slightly off topic- I travel with an Ipad with a cellular plan as to not  use public/hotel wifis.

I am thinking for my 2025 cruise I will get a international plan for the days I am at ports to check balances etc. 

I had considered Bermuda in November, but it seems if I am correct it gets cooler then-not cold of course . For next year I opted instead for a 12 night cruise that leaves the Sunday after thanksgiving for the Caribbean. I would imagine the ship would be a little more quieter (Breakaway) compared to summer, winter breaks etc..

On 8/10/2024 at 8:09 PM, Engineroom Snipe said:

Quick follow up to most of the comments and yes, Septa does have many issues.

 

In 2026, summer, parking is going to be at a premium everywhere in Philly. The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and FIFA will occur. Lots of associated events around these events.

 

A tourists bump is going to be filling up hotels and parking.

 

Make your reservations early.

I remember taking Patco and attending the Bicentennail Celebration in '76. I might do it again since it will be 50 years later. 

On 8/10/2024 at 7:40 PM, Retired-N-Happy said:

The train as well as parking at 30th St would be more expensive than from the Hamilton station in NJ.  

A third option would be to take the river line to Trenton, walk across the street to the NJ station and take that north.  Did it years ago with no problem and you can park for free at Pennsauken RT 73 location of the river line.

For me that would be extremely convoluted- a lot of times to move luggage and walk

5 hours ago, Trela1234 said:

In December 2025, we are going on a 12 day cruise out of NY to the Caribbean. The first 3 days and last 3 days are sea days. How soon after sailing from NY in the winter until you get to warm weather? I’m trying to figure out if we should purchase the Vibe, but I don’t want to if it’s going to be too cold on sea days. We usually sail in May of each year and always get the Vibe, but we haven’t sailed in the winter from NY before. Thank you! 

Are you going on one of the Breakaway cruises? I am going on the one right after Thanksgiving - i have never been on one more than 7 and am interested in the ports that in the past I had to fly to.

1 hour ago, luckyinpa said:

 

1st ever experience with the subway was this year. stayed at loews and took septa to temple graduation. holy cow. the pee smell., the leftover fast food containers.. the trash....amazingly bad and no way id' ride that every day. id move first.

 

 

the week before this i was on a cruise and came back to brooklyn and took the subway to Juniors restaurant (MUST do with any NYC cruise, there or times square) and the botanical gardens. was like a palace compared to philly.  never smelled anything bad nor saw trash in any ny subways.  but i did learn to bring oranges as a woman was going around asking if i had any oranges

before the pandemc I used to ride Septa and Patco frequently, even after concerts and games that ended 11PM. No more. There was also a lot of violence on septa in the last few years.

I had gone to juniors a few times the prior year - great strawberry milkshakes, steakburgers and steak fries!.

I feel much safer on NYC public transit even later at night. I don't find getting to NYC from South Jersey difficult for a cruise- again before the pandemic I would get the Greyhound Bus from Mt. Laurel, although now that the station has closed I will go from Hamilton or 30th street on the train for my November 2025 cruise

On 8/8/2024 at 1:50 PM, Engineroom Snipe said:

Somehow, between now and the cruises in two years, I think Philadelphia Septa will create a special to get potential cruisers to this port via a public transportation option.

 

I have written Septa about providing special buses from the Airport and the Stadium to the port terminal.

 

If Philadelphia wants these cruise passengers to continue in the future on a regular basis, they have got to get the connections right and provide secure parking, possibly near the stadiums for such cruises.

 

I for one would like to see this new port destination work properly.

I agree with you, but Septa has been an increasing disaster. I haven't ridden the Broad Street Line for 2 years and drive to the Stadiums instead . I took Patco for the first time in 2 years last weekend to a concert at the riverfront.

I don't see Septa really having the capacity to do anything of this sort. 

You are exactly right about the parking situation, and also, what about people flying in from elsewhere and staying in the city? 

Its like put the dumpy NCL Jewel in the dumpy Philadelphia port. The city is really unsafe (and I was born there and would go in often for concerts and games) and the Jewel was the worst ship I ever went on. 

If the Breakway were going from Philly then I would be a little more excited. 

It has been a while but in 2018 I paid to upgrade a week before from a Studio to a Balcony gurantee and got a AFT balcony which was nice for the extra space. I gather whomever had it had upgraded themselves elseswhere 

I've been on 6 NCL's solo but not for 6 years. 

End of 2025 I am either going on the Epic from San Juan 12/21 or the 12 night Breakaway 11/30 from NYC.  Haven't decided which one. I would have to fly to San Juan but the NYC would be more local for me and vs. spending nights in San Juan beforehand, I could just be on the Breakaway instead. However- I loved the Epic 

Hello, my favorite cruise I took was on the Epic in 2011 from Miami- my subsequent 5 were from NYC which I loved as well but to me the Epic was special.

I currently have a hold on the Epic end of 2025 from San Juan- as I like the fact it hits 6 ports and spends more time  at each one vs other ships.

Has anyone had a good experience on the ship lately? I did see it is going for dry dock. 

Hello, I will be going on the Epic next December 2025 from San Juan and am looking to stay at a Marriott brand beforehand (due to points).

Can anyone make a recommendation- so far I have been looking at the LaConcha resort which seems close to places like cvs/walgreens so I can buy things beforehand as well as the Stellaris resort.  Probably looking for something on the quieter side. thanks in advance

I found Cananda New england to be very subdued. I went on 6 NCL cruises, 4 of them I didn't have a drink, the 2 that I had the free drink package - I ended up getting colds on- I was never drunk but was spacing drinks out to get the most of the free perk and I regret it.

I have a 7 day NCL Epic scheduled for 2025 that has 6 port days- that will keep me out of trouble as far as I am concerned. 

People seem more rude lately- I was just at a hotel that had 20 minute delays to get an elevator due to one breaking.

We had 8 people (max) on the elevator, 4 more people wanted to come on and I said "you can't come on as it would exceed the weight limit"

The person proceeded to curse me out in front of his 2 young children.

Has there been any mention on why the Epic was cancelled? I am curious as I am going on it the following month from San Juan

13 hours ago, LisaLisa87 said:

We live in St. Augustine and are very excited about this! I was hoping there would be some 7 night sailings. We’re not really interested in cruises to the Bahamas at this point, and 11 to 12 nights is tough for us since we’re both still working full-time. On the local news, they mentioned that the Gem will have to work around Carnival’s schedule. I’m looking forward to seeing the itineraries!

I lived in Jacksonville for a year in the late 90's., and wished I had visited St Augustine.

This is great news for those in that area! 

I like it when the reviews are broken into paragraphs, and not like 80 sentences of mindless rambling.

When I was able to , I would upgrade the week before to a balcony. To me, I wanted space to unpack and have my bags. 

Although the ship is different from 2011, my Epic cruise then was the best of the 6 solo trips I took.

Regardless if you stay in a studio or not- with 128 studios there are more solos, I found the entertainment better. I can't speak for the itinerary but loved the Epic

I have done the following - please note I am using hard shell suitcases, besides printing the tags and then putting them in one of those tag holders I also get Avery full size adhesive sheets, print them and stick them to my suitcase.

They are pain to take off though in fact I still have one of them on from 2018

Thank you for your excellent review so far! I am scheduled to sail from NYC a year from today and was wondering (of course it can change year to year) how the weather was, and about how long it took to get warm enough weather to spend time outside. I loved the Breakaway and was on it 2013 and 2014

The cruise I booked with a balcony- had no solo balconies available. I didn't mind paying the supplement because I am stunning and have  plenty of time and might find a wife by then. 

Hello, normally I cruise Solo on NCL  from NYC and currently have the Prima booked for next year. However, I like how the Venezia looks? Has anyone sailed solo on this ship and how is the entertainment- specifically the music? I enjoyed Howl at the Moon and the District on my prior NCL cruises for example. Thanks in advance.

On 9/6/2023 at 11:32 PM, ColdCruise said:

11 day Trans-Atlantic Lisbon-Miami Nov 16, 2023 ==> $349 pp

unlike @coolrider71, upgrading to a Spa Balcony was considerably more (1K +)

 

Avoiding 🔥- I know OP was asking about 7-day cruises but posted it for comparison and voila! It’s the same for the 11-day as the 7-day 

thanks for posting this- I am scheduled on the Prima for 11 nights next year and was going to get one