tweakes

I just received a second email that seemingly looks exactly the same as the first one that says boarding begins at 1300. Who knows. As long as I can get on the boat and get a drink, I'll be okay!

If you want to see Grand Cayman, but not give them any money, there's a pretty decent snorkeling spot within walking distance where you can rent snorkel gear for $5 or you can bring your own and do it for free. Grand Cayman is pretty boring in my opinion, but you can snorkel with some five foot long sturgeon there with the ship in the background ... still remains the best (basically) free tour I've done in the Caribbean.

I, too, received that email late this afternoon (4pm or so).

I've received a similar email before while sailing Carnival out of there, and I didn't notice anything different when arriving at the pier.

It did have me a bit worried when I saw the "Emergency Notification" in the subject line, and then my email wouldn't load!!

Thanks for your suggestions... I'll take them into consideration, and maybe we'll decide based on how well (err...bad) we do in the casino before we get there. :)

We are taking a five night cruise LA to Vancouver with a stop in Victoria. We have never been to Victoria and was wondering if there was a semi-decent chance of seeing any orcas from the ship itself? We booked a last minute deal which got us a balcony for $200 pp so paying $100-$125 pp on a three hour whale watching tour seems excessive since there are so many other things to do in Victoria.

Would we have any chance of seeing the whales (obviously from a further distance) on the route from our balcony or should we just bite the bullet and do the tour? Thanks for your advice!

I hit the $7,500 Platinum Quick Hit progressive ($1.50 bet on penny slots) on Carnival a few years ago. I asked how often someone won, he said it averages about every cruise someone wins a decent slots jackpot.

I was a bit tipsy (okay, I was drunk) and was just hitting the button and not looking at the screen. Then I was confused and thought I won $750 before I realized there was another 0. I sobered up very quickly after that. But then I suddenly didn't worry about my bar tab anymore... :)

There are a fair amount of flights to SEA with Alaska Airlines (that's who I worked for actually). Anyway, the zoo is really nice I think and you could spend a fair amount of time there. Also, in January you can usually get some killer deals on car rentals because it is offseason. Also, not sure if you can fly out on Tuesday instead of Monday the 20th, but flights are often cheaper on Tuesdays... Still think its too early to book flights. The early flight for you may work but I wouldn't take the chance... It often takes a while for security/customs but that's often due to the fact that there are many non-US citizens on round trip cruises from SD (being so close to Mexico) but that may be different for a Panama Canal trip. Spend a few days here! :-P.

Also, unless things have changed, you can check luggage in four hours before your flight. However, I know some lines offered the luggage program where they send your luggage directly to the airport as checked baggage through to your final destination... If you have that option (check with the cruise line) then there is no time restriction so that could be an easy way to "store" your luggage.

Our upcoming cruise is our honeymoon. I sure hope there are some worthwhile memories focused on our balcony room!

 

:D:D:D

Hopefully just for you two and not the bridge or nearby balconies (unless they're into that??)! :-P

CONGRATULATIONS!

I live in San Diego, and I can't think of anywhere off the top of my head, but I have previously worked at the airport and there are *no* storage lockers there so just providing that little bit of information. Are you not flying in the day before? Keep in mind that San Diego is a fairly small airport considering the size of the city - there really are not many flights available. If your flight gets cancelled for whatever reason, it isn't very easy to get re-booked to get into town soon enough (Southwest is the only airline with a fair amount of flights coming in - other airlines basically only have flights from hub cities - though there are a fair amount of flights from SF/LA). Also, after working at the airport for an airline, I experienced many upset passengers for missing their cruise ... go the day before! Then you spend a little on a hotel, don't have to worry about missing your cruise, and your luggage storage problem is solved.

Good luck -

And here I just booked an inside cabin! We have decided to skimp on the room this time for our British Isles cruise, very port intensive, and splurge on spending a precruise stay in London and Paris. Go figure!

I almost always book interior. Every time I've had a balcony or oceanview I feel like I need to spend time in the room to get my money's worth. That is a terrible feeling on a cruise ship!!! I'd rather get out and spend that extra $500+ on the casino, drinks, bingo, specialty restaurants (on longer cruises), ports, ANYTHING else other than a tiny room which isn't at all included in the memorable parts of my cruise. Plus, the interior cabins are perfect for early afternoon naps so you can be ready to go all night!! :)

I think the most common tip is $20 for your waiter (for 2) so it seems you're within expectations. But it all depends on your service. I've tipped the maitre d (who was amazing) and not our waiter (because he wasn't very good) and vice versa.

As others have mentioned, you can be assured that no matter what you tip... there's someone out there who has tipped worse than you. On every cruise.

I have a friend who used to work for the cruise line and he told me that the daily tip pot amounts so very little so every small tip goes a long ways. I've also had friends who have tipped the servers/meat carvers at the buffets a buck or two... it seemed to make their day since most people seem to forget about them!

The tenders in Belize do take about 40 minutes though so don't wait too late... we stood in a looooooong line at the end of the day to get back.

There are a few shops around the port, but nothing special ... still there's something there to walk around and spend money on some junk. If you aren't doing an excursion, however, I would not want to sit on a tender for an hour and a half just to see the port. You'd probably have more fun on the boat.

There are some nice tours in Belize, but it's HOT (well it was in October). And very poor.

Beer isn't very reasonably priced I don't think ($5-6). Spirits are priced as much resorts/hotels ($5-6) and wine is maybe slightly more expensive (cheapest glass around $6). Martinis I think are often the best deal for what you get.

Many lines and cabins have fridges, but not all. You can always request one if you do not have one in your room for medical purposes and they can provide.

Another way to "sneak" it on is buy when on port... when you get back on the ship don't try to hide it, they tell you to get in line to check your booze, and if you're coming back at the end of the day the line is long, hundreds of people are milling about and no one will notice you slip into the elevator instead of waiting in line... I've only done this with alcohol gifts for others unfortunately... and I got out of line just because I didn't want to wait there for 15 minutes.

I won $7,500 playing penny Quick Hits on the Carnival Splendor... was my first jackpot was long overdue. It was late, and I was a bit ti...okay, no, I was drunk. It was a very sobering experience. :) I wasn't even looking at the screen when it happened - was talking to the person next to me. Fun, fun!

You must show up in person the date listed on your "invitation." They provide you a certificate number that you will tell the agent when you call in to reserve. Not sure if they extend the offers or anything... maybe if you give your host a call they could give you a little more details and arrange something for you. There are Casinos at Sea representatives at the event so I think that's why it's usually just the one or two day thing. (My experience is from Harrah's Rincon-San Diego, by the way, so it could be difference in AC).

They do give a certain list of cruises that you can select from. Different people get different cruise options. Most are just offered interior cabins, but some have been offered higher categories. You do have the option of upgrading, and it depends on the cruise as to the price, but it's very reasonable ... but I like the idea of a free cruise better. :)

You pay all taxes and port fees... for a Caribbean cruise it ends up being around $250-$300 per person I believe (interior room).

You will receive two free drink cards in your stateroom. You do not have to have the "free" cruise offer to get this free drink card either - if you utilize the TR tier discount and you are Platinum level or higher then you also receive the free drink card. (I believe there has been some rumor that this is going away soon?? Gold members do not receive the free drink card.)

We usually go to those, although frequently we're the only women there. But we get along really well with the guys most of the time. Should be a great cruise! I met someone who was on the one last year who said there were at least 150 LGBT folks onboard - woo hoo! :-)

 

Cate!

I've noticed that there are rarely women around for FOD... well that means you'll perhaps stand out so that I can introduce myself. There's a decent group over on the Roll Call, too... seems pretty active. It's gonna be a long 45 days... I'm ready to go NOW!

@tweakes - see you on the Epic! I'm celebrating my 50th with my partner of almost eight years then. :-)

 

tscateh!

 

Sent from my Motorola Photon

Sounds good!! We are planning to do the FOD events because the bf has never gone before and likes to meet new people.

Transatlantic: Miami to Barcelona in April for my 30th birthday on NCL Epic. Pretty new relationship here so wish us luck in a cramped interior cabin for 11 days :-P TAs are great opportunities to meet people outside your normal "comfort zone" though... I love that!

It specifically mentions that you get a free bottle of wine in a specialty restaurant on the first night on their web page for the NCL Latitutdes Magazine (.com). I asked my NCL agent about it, and he said that that he didn't have a specific coupon when he said last month, but he printed that out and showed it to the waitress and she gave them the free bottle.

San Diego is a great port, too, even though they are moving most ships up to LA :( The port is 5 minutes from the airport, right in the middle of downtown, and offers great skyline views ... plus you get a great view of Coronado, and to be in the bay with aircraft carriers is always fun!!

It was great to take a weekend cruise, get back on Monday morning and roll off the boat and straight to work ... though I was a bit hungover!

Oh I hate laughing at that ....

okay no i don't. thanks for sharing :)

When we were touring Pompeii (which is an amazing place btw), the whorehouse was a favorite spot with erotic pictures on the walls ... everyone was just looking in the rooms ... anddddddddddddd I just had to go lie down for a picture.

Okay, well the picture isn't showing on my computer ... here's a link: http://www.toddeakes.com/photos/Cruise2007/Naples/pages/IMG_0513.html