M0rrie

Hello,  I have received my SD since we last cruised a year ago and just booked back to back 7 day cruises on the NCL Sky for September 2022.... it’s a ways away but I am so excited as it’ll be my 60th birthday on the cruise and the Sky was the first ship we ever cruised on so feels very right to be the first ship to take Rory my SD on (although if I have my way we will cruise soon as COVID clears up LOL)

I was wondering if anyone has advice or tips cruising with a small SD?  
Rory is a Biewer Terrier and is only 3.2 lbs, he is either held or carried in a sling while he is working as his  tasks require him being close to my wrists and/or heart.  Because he is so tiny most people think he is a ‘fake’ SD so it does prompt a fair bit of conversation (not always friendly unfortunately) but he is highly trained and well behaved on and off leash. 
 

Thanks .. and Happy New Year to everyone 🎉🎊

If you know it keeps happening, why not just carry our AARP card?

Because they get free meals each time! [emoji6]

I honestly don't understand the complaining... NCL is not a bank.. If the exchange rate sucks, well... Too bad so sad - you can't expect to use OBC brought via the cruiseline as a way to fund the rest of your trip cheaply... Seriously, how much cash do you think they keep on board anyway? Not to mention, that what folks are trying to do could be perceived as the equivalent of money laundering and technically violates international laws about knowingly moving money across borders. C'mon people... You will complain even more if the money NCL loses through this blatant leveraging of the exchange rate loophole causes your cruise prices to rise.

I am Canadian and use my CARP membership - the benefits are added to the current latitudes or other promotions... For instance, I just booked a trip on the Gem for next December using one of my $250 cruise rewards for deposit and received 5% discount on the cruise price and $100 OBC for CARP, the latitudes promotion of extra points for booking beyond 9 months, the current promotion of 2 packages ( we chose UDP and free wifi) and $100 OBC from my NCL PCC and all the other platinum benefits apply as well. We cruise twice a year so It is well worth the yearly CARP fee!

Heartily suggest the Thermal suite pass....DH and I had this for our cruise on the breakaway last December and it was fabulous especially on the cold days leaving and returning to NYC. (The heated lounges in front of the window are an amazing way to spend sail away!)

BUT...a pier will not generate an extra $50 pp :eek: Like a ship will. :D

What do you mean "generate $50 pp" There is no charge to visit GSC...

The reason there can't be a pier is because the surrounding water is too shallow so the ship must anchor further out in deeper water and use tenders...

We use Wilkie talkies often on ship.. Hubby can get hold of me to arrange to meet up when I am sunbathing without leaving whatever else he is doing... They also work well off ship (limited range) at GSC

We drive down from Canada and use the Newark Airport Best Western "Park,Stay&Fly" ... We stay the night before which cost $130 U.S for one night and the car is parked in a locked compound for up to 10 nights after we leave.. There is a free shuttle to Penn Station... The Newark Penn Station that is...we didn't know that there were TWO Penn Stations! ...and we get the train from there which is only 2 stops to NYC Penn Station (roughly 10-15 minute ride and only $5 each) and then get a cab from the station to the pier (5-10 mins tops and $15 including tip). 45 mins after checking out of the hotel we are checking our luggage at the pier.

We have done this trip multiple times in summer and mid winter sailing on the Jewel, the Gem and the Breakaway... We are all set to do it again in April on the Gem and heartily recommend it as a cheap transport/parking option if you are driving

There are currently 22 excursions listed on the NCL site for the Gem visits to Port Canaveral in June 2016.... Easy to find on the website

A lot depends on the security measures/criteria that are in place for your works Remote Desktop /VPN... I work for an FI and our VPN connection is extremely secure, if even minimal packet loss is experienced the connection is dropped on my employers side and I have to try and log in all over again... Needless to say I have never been able to work from the ship successfully which is why it is my absolute favourite type of vacation - guaranteed to force a workaholic to take some much needed downtime :0)

My hubby & I have visited Atlantis multiple times - and it's a little expensive but SO worth the money... The pools are gorgeous, the water slides are absolutely amazing... I am sure that my screams as I went down the slide through the shark pool were heard all the way back in Canada) We spend literally hours riding the "Rapids" & the "Lazy River".. When you add the the gorgeous private beach and the dozens and dozens of aquariums, shark pools (the rope bridge over the hammer head shark lagoon is so cool) sting ray rivers etc then it is really money well spent. We have also done the dolphin experience at Atlantis that includes free access to the Waterpark, pools and beaches which was again, amazing ( although the dolphin picture package was expensive) ... All in all I can't say enough good things about Atlantis.. Note: we always book through NCL so we don't have to worry about the stress of being one of those unfortunate folks running down the quay as the ship sails away!!!

In 13 cruises with GSC on the itinerary we have never missed it once - we usually sail in January ( for our anniversary) and September ( for my birthday) ... We have had some near misses in hurricane season and once had to leave the island early as the weather turned and the wind picked up...but always made it onto the island

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The Sky was the first cruise we ever took in Jan 2010. We Figured it was a short enough cruise that if we really hated cruising we would be home soon enough... Boy were we surprised! We loved cruising and we loved the SKY.... It is small enough to be cozy and not overwhelming but large enough to have lots going on. The itinerary is great, no sea days so you are always in port doing something ( LOTS of room at the pool when in port) the crew are super friendly and go out of their way to help and ensure you enjoy your trip. Plus every trip it visits my favourite place on earth: Great Stirrup Cay! We loved it so much that we have cruised at least twice a year since then (all NCL) and have been back on the sky for a back to back cruise and a back to back to back cruise.... ( back to backs make more sense dollar wise for us because we fly down from Ottawa Canada) So far we have sailed the Sky, Jewel, Gem and Breakaway..... Sailing The Breakaway again at Christmas and the Sky for a back to back in the Spring.... I say give the Sky a try... If you don't like it then you try something else next time :0)

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We are going on our second B2B2B on the Sky in Feb - a 4day, then 3 day then 4 day keeping the same cabin throughout ... We can't see our reservation online either and had the same experience when we did the same B2B2B last year. We didn't really find it a problem though, our PCC emailed the itinerary and receipts, we paid over the phone and he sent us a link for completing online registration and downloading the edocs. Our PCC said it was a 'system thing' where the booking system can't reconcile one registration code with 3 separate cruises. Like I said didn't really cause an issue for us last time and hasn't this time so far ( although I have everything printed off in triplicate just in case LOL)

Hope you have a great cruise... B2B are the BEST... Nothing like being on the ship when everyone else has gone home and first one in the hot tub when everyone else is boarding :0)

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Room service cheesecake is the best!!! We eat at the buffet and then order room service dessert (free) and eat it in our balcony before bed.... Stress free yumminess. :0)

Hi - we are cruising out of NYC for the first time in September and are driving down from Canada. I have been looking at options for parking and found Stay123.com - a website where you can book a hotel that provides cruise parking for free with a minimum 1 night stay.

My cruise is on the Jewel from 10th to the 17th.. so the cost to us will be $125 (plus taxes) for the hotel and then $60 each way for the ride to and from the cruise terminal.

This sounds like a good deal.. but I am worried that it might either be a scam or there is some kind of a downside that I am missing. :confused:

Has anyone heard of or used this service for "park & cruise"in NYC before?