graphicguy

I totally get that. I am taking the Super Shuttle which is picking me up at 9:30. Be at the terminal by 10:30. Hope the mad rush to board is over, and my group is called to board exactly when I arrive.

I had put in a bid for an upgrade…..as low as I could bid. Haven’t even thought about it until I got this email since it looked like the Haven had sold out a while ago. Maybe a form letter. But, I will check with Customer Service when I board. Maybe “no shows”…maybe upgrades going from one Haven Suite to another.. Maybe someone became ill and couldn’t go. They may think I’m charming. Who knows?

Generally speaking, 10:30 a.m. is about the earliest you can board. However, boarding goes by who needs to board because of disabilities, Haven guests, Latitude status and then general boarding! I’d say boarding takes between 10:30-3:00.

Hmmmmmm……just got this…. This email is to confirm that we have received your offer(s) to be upgraded on your upcoming cruise. While your offer has not been selected yet, you may still be selected for an upgrade by our onboard team. Upgrades may be awarded at any time up until 0 hours prior to the sailing departure. Should your offer be selected for an onboard upgrade, your credit card will be automatically charged, and your stateroom will be reassigned. Please check your email up to 0 hours prior to the sailing departure to see if we were able to upgrade you. If you no longer wish to be considered for an onboard upgrade, you may cancel your offer(s) through the link provided below up until 5 hoursprior to the sailing departure, provided that your Offer has not already been accepted by Norwegian Cruise Line, and provided that your credit card has not been charged.

This is the third email I received to view the safety video. I think they want me to see it...a lot!!!!! Oct 28, 2022 Dear Valued Guests and Travel Partners, We are delighted you will join us onboard Norwegian Breakaway very soon. As we return to sail, we are doing everything we can to make your experience truly spectacular. To that end, we are requiring all guests to re-watch the pre-boarding safety video, which you first viewed during online check-in, before you set sail. This will ensure a smooth embarkation process at the pier. The video can be found here. We appreciate your cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you aboard! Katty Byrd, Senior Vice President, Guest Services

Lots of solos on this cruise. There's no formal "Meet and Greet" this cruise. But, I usually go to sailaway at Syd Norman's outdoor bar area. My name is "Dan". Grey haired fellow, probably wearing a "hoodie". If I can help, be happy to. Have sailed solo several time. Nothing really jumps out about sailing solo vs with a Spouse or SO. If you have something specific you would like to ask, fire away!

Big congrats to you both. Hope the wedding, the celebration and your life together is wonderful. Just to be on the safe side, ask the DJ what they plan to do, and give specific instructions as to what you want. I’m sure they’ll be accommodating.

Love Los Lobos. Haven’t had the opportunity to dine there in a while, though. Thanks for the pics!

Highlighter….for Dailies, excursion maps, etc!

Weather is still looking good…..mid-60ºs for SAILAWAY. Even Halifax is looking good….50ºs.

Well….I have been resisting posting this, but it’s time…..

I wouldn’t mind seeing that game, too.

You are a party of one. No one wants to emulate anything I do….EVER! 😉 Side topic…hoping since we’re in Rhode Island (on the way to Maine) on Monday, I’ll be able to pick up my beloved Bengals game either on one of the bar TVs, or perhaps on my iPad connected to WiFi.

This was right after the COVID restart…. -7 day Alaska on the Encore Haven Spa Suite…..~$1,600 pp or ~$3,200 all in with FAS.

I use Super Shuttle whenever and wherever available to get me from the airport to the port and back again. They're reasonable, punctual, and amenable to changes up until 24 hours before you're supposed to meet them for a ride. As such, just remembered the New York Marathon was happening when the cruise returns on Nov 6. I had originally booked Super Shuttle to pick me up at the Cruise Terminal at 11:00 a.m. for a 230 p.m. flight. Might have worked. But, just changed that to a 9:30 a.m. pick up, instead. I'm sure they know routes around the marathon, but...well....it's New York City, so rather give myself plenty of wiggle room. That just means I'll be self disembarking with my luggage in tow somewhere around 8:30 a.m.

On your AMEX Log In Web site, you can view your transactions (at least on mine you can). There's a button you can click on to dispute specific charges. They ask a few questions like the kind of product/service you're disputing, expected delivery date (I just used the date I was supposed to log in to On Point's testing site), and if you did or could communicate with the merchant (On Point has been incommunicado). I even provided the WEB site for On Point, which doesn't work. Not sure why the credit happened so quick, without much apparent research, but the charges were reversed within minutes. I think you can also call AMEX at the Customer Service number on the back of the card (which I've also done in the past).

Well...that settles that! 🙂

LIttle late to this post, but this is a really good point. There are NO protocols for tipping the Butler or Concierges. If you use the 15%-20% rule of thumb that we use in the North American Restaurants, that would be an expensive proposition. If the fare was $5K in the Haven, that means you would tip $1,000 to the Concierge and Butler….EACH! That doesn’t include what you would tip the waitstaff and bar staff. Quite unreasonable. Tip what their services are worth to you. $10, $50, $100, $1,000…doesn’t matter. If you feel you receive the service that warrants your tip, all should be good!

Well....just filed a claim against On Point testing about 10 minutes ago. That didn't take long.... We're writing to let you know that, after reviewing your inquiry, we credited your account for $13.99. You can expect to see the credit(s) on an upcoming statement. Any interest charges and any American Express fees associated with the charge(s) have also been adjusted. Thank you for the opportunity to assist you in this matter. Sincerely, American Express Customer Care

Yes M'am!

Oh...I can be a fright...no doubt! LOL! Thought about a costume. But, trying to do all carry on. The less "baggage" the better. Who knows, I might be able to "Scare Up" something I find after I board. BTW...I'm bringing "bribes" to the Flight Crew and NCL Customer Service folks for upgrades......

I even asked my TA, who booked the cruise for me, what it was. She had no idea. I'll just keep quiet about it....LOL!

Time for Cruise laundry. Spying the weather, temps look pleasant, still. Some, clouds and maybe a shower. But, mostly it’s going to be quite pleasant. That’s the good news. So, I’ll have to straddle two different climates…rain and sun. Here’s the laundry list (literally)… -2 pr shorts -2 short sleeve shirts -2 hoodies -2 pr long pants -6 boxers -hiking boots -3 pr socks Will wear to embarkation in NYC…(Sunday will be sunny and 60º) -Tennis shoes -hoodie -shorts -pr of shorty socks -belt Toiletries -meds (danged Dr prescribed a bunch a couple of weeks ago…he says it’s “imperative” I take them DAILY….harrummmph!) -razor-this is optional. Right now, I’m “bearded”. What started out as something that made me look….ummmmm…like a “sage” (laugh now and get it over with), has tuned into something that makes me look homeless….regardless of how I trim it. May or may not sport the beard upon embarkation, thus needing a razor. -toothbrush/toothpaste -mouthwash -brush -hydration packets along with aspirin….just in case I tilt some (ok, a lot) of beverages -I’ve yet to have decent coffee on an NCL ship, regardless of where I went to get it (Celebrity coffee? Really good, by comparison). As such, I bring Starbucks instant packets. Not as good as Starbucks fresh brew, but way better than what’s on board Tech -USB-C, USB-A, lightning cables, plug(s) and Apple Watch charger -iPad -iPhone -Noise cancelling ear buds So, this should all fit in my overhead roll aboard and back pack. Just remembered, I have two “free bags” of laundry as a perk. One, via being in a Club Balcony Cabin, the other for being Sapphire Latitudes. That will probably mitigate packing some of the above. Bouncing in my seat a little in anticipation!!!!!!!!

Some TAs do have a fee if you cancel a cruise you have booked through them. Mine does not. She’s been outstanding since I’ve worked with her over the years. But, that has nothing to do with the AMEX perks (of which there are many).

Just had a $45 credit on my AMEX for a cruise I have booked but not taken. No explanation and I don’t know why. Not complaining, either.