Treasure Hunter

I always wanted to try Crystal. So we shall see. Supposedly both ships have been totally renovated and the itinerary is just what we wanted.

Yes,we don’t care for the Luminae menu. And it’s a real problem on Edge class ships as you can’t order from the MDR menu. No more Celebrity. We are booked on NCL Encore Haven, a Princess suite ( will eat in a few specialty restaurants ). Trying Crystal for the first time and the new Oceania Allura. Unless you are in a Royal suite ( prices are outrageous) and can eat around the ship, I don’t recommend Celebrity anymore.

Yes my daughter is going to be on the sofa in the living room. It worked out great last February on the Breakaway. Thanks for the kind words.

We are in a two bedroom Haven suite on the Encore (18th) and just got an upgrade offer to an owners suite. Not good for us as the second bedroom ( the one for our grandkids) doesn’t have a bunk that pulls down and they would kill each other sleeping in one bed. So I have to reluctantly pass on bidding.

You need to book for six! On board they can refund the single.

LGA is now beautifully renovated. It is much easier ( smaller) to navigate than either JFK or Newark. The ride by taxi is set and 25 minutes to midtown. Definitely do a show. John’s of 13th street is a wonderful old school Italian ( cash only) since 1890. Then go around the corner for the best coffee and pastries in the world Veniero’s.

It is a great cruise! We just took it. You will eat the most delicious lobster rolls ( not sure of your ports but can give you restaurants in Newport and Portland) until they come out of your ears. Fly into LGA or Newark. There is a good inexpensive hotel in New Jersey that includes a shuttle to the port before and after the cruise. My kids stayed there when they drove up from DC to meet us at the pier. The only problem with that is you won't have a car to get to the hotel and it makes touring NY very hard as you will be on the other side of the George Washington Bridge if you were planning to come in a few days early.

Yes that’s the only problem. Once in the Haven…..

It is not typical to have so many Haven suites available unless it is really an off season period. They will sell them through the upgrade program. I have never been on an NCL ship where the Haven isn't fully sold out even if the rest of the ship is 3/4 or 4/5 full.

Go to the casino when it opens after sailaway. The fee is usually $25 or $30. They will take your name, give you a little card to hand in and tell you the first day at sea and time that the tournament will be held. Come a little early. There will be multiple rounds. In the old days everyone that made it into the final round got a tee shirt or cap. No more, now there is one winner that takes the pot. It’s still fun.

Haven cabins sell out first. There is a reason. In this case it is "You get what you pay for". The prices on Celebrity are now thru the roof and people are still booking. Cruisers have just gone crazy. We are going to be on the Encore in February from Miami with our daughter and grandkids in a Haven two bedroom family suite. Last winter we sailed on the Getaway from NY with 1800 kids ( NY winter break). It was a wonderful cruise. We enjoy the Haven so much more than RCCL suites. The Haven restaurant tops by far Coastal Kitchen. There is a finite amount of cruises in our life and we want each one to be the best it can be. The entertainment and a big casino are important to me as are the toys for the kids. In the Haven you have everything.

Absolutely upgrade. We have been on Regent, Oceania, Celebrity ( in a Royal suite no less! ) and nothing compares to the Haven. Getting on, getting off, restaurant. Custom order a delicious chicken BLT by the pool, go down before a show escorted in the crew elevator so you can pick your theater seats, a real butler, have your NY Times crossword printed out by the concierge, etc. nothing compares. Do it. Life is short.

Glad it worked for you.

It is worth every penny not to make reservations each night but to come in when you are ready and feel like it. You are seated promptly and service is superb.

I think we are going with a British Air first class mid afternoon and hope for the best. The Delta non-stop is not until after five o'clock. We often come days early to a destination before a cruise but my husband always wants to go right home after. And after 55 years together, I don't fight him on this.

👍

I book through the casino. I went on the website after final payment to change the bed from separate to queen and the next day was told ( after final payment that I owed $6000. Nearly had a heart attack as I had booked three concierge cabins for family to Greece and we had paid flights. I called and was on hold for 44 minutes but all was resolved. You cannot change anything online after you pay as all discounts are dropped. I can’t believe Celebrity is still in business

We went to the splash academy on boarding day before we went to our room or lunch or muster to sign them up. Every time they wanted to attend we got on line a half hour before opening and always got them in. Chatted on the line with other parents. Some times it moved very fast. It was worth it every time. Only missed one nighttime session when we were turned away.

We will have a day flight going home😁

Thank you. Yes, we did that recently in Minneapolis ( after an awful Viking Mississippi) when the whole eastern seaboard was shut down for rain/flooding. We stayed at the Intercontinental at the airport with no luggage ( it was on the cancelled plane). But knowing my husband, he will want to go home. So we will probably book British Air for a late afternoon departure. I hear their first class is terrific. This is our first Crystal cruise . The closest we can compare are two Regent cruises many years ago. And we certainly are looking forward to it.

You are correct. I don’t mind waiting in the airport. We will book a flight around 3:00 or 4:00. We once took a Princess cruise ( and their bus from London). The trucks were backed up for many miles. Because it was a cruise transfer they held the ship and pulled up the gangway behind us.

The return will be on a Wednesday by Crystal bus. I was looking at a 1:50 flight ( British Air) but maybe the next one will be better. Thanks!

I only see Royal Caribbean putting on the true Broadway shows because of their enormous ships. They do it great too but unless I’m traveling in a large family group with tons of kids, I now find RCCL not my cup of tea. Even in a suite. Costal Kitchen is mediocre. I too loved NCL’s real shows . The only one left that’s really great is Choir of Men.

We are booked on the September 18, 2024 round trip Dover on the Symphony. I need to book flights. What timing is good for the return flight considering the journey from the port to Heathrow and traffic. Thank so much for the help

We were in the Falklands thirty years ago on a Princess cruise. Lots of small cottages with colorful front gardens. 30,000 people and 300,000 sheep. Our crossing was smooth as glass but the previous one was a disaster. Everyone left for the excursion and couldn’t get back to the ship. They had to sleep in peoples houses on the floor until the next day. Be sure to bring your meds with you. The comedian “ they had a war, and the loser got the islands”.