Markanddonna

I just finished a 19 night Panama Canal cruise with NCL and it was wonderful. I see that NCL had four spring crossings in 2015 with only one on the Pearl in 2016. I am wondering if this has to do with the uncertainty of the opening of the new locks. We are also thinking that the cruise will cost more in fees because they will likely force larger ships like cruise ships to take the new locks. Also, someone mentioned that with oil prices down, some commercial ships are considering the trip around South America rather than the very expensive PC crossing.

I imagine that cruisers who want to do the PC full transit will have fewer choices in the near future, or at least in 2016.

I have gone on NCL for most of my cruises with two very long ones (14 and 19 days) this past year. The newly implanted increases did not affect or bother me as I think a small increase in the gratuity is just fine. We also rarely drink and only used room service the one day they offered a special Panama Canal breakfast. The room service charge had not started in April on our ship.

That said, I would look elsewhere if this "no food allowed back to room" is implemented. When you are onboard for almost 2-3 weeks, you start to get a bit more particular. I liked going to O'Sheehans for breakfast but they had NO fruit at all on the menu so I brought back a small bowl very early to eat before we went. I also go to the buffet in the early morning to fill our travel mugs with coffee and tea because I only drink almond milk and bringing my supply to the buffet is more cumbersome and we like to have our coffee/tea way before breakfast. Will that be stopped?

I think about the folks on the longer trips who have some physical issues and one of the spouses brings back food to the cabin for them. I think about the folks who get sick with a cold/sea sick and their spouse knows exactly what they might like rather than choosing from a few room service items. $8.00 each time puts an unnecessary dent in their travel budget. So many GOOD and LEGITIMATE reasons to take food back to the cabin. I never saw a hallway or deck spill outside of the buffet area so the idea of passengers making a mess is rather bogus.

I can see the outside buffet areas (pool deck and Great Outdoors) becoming an escape zone for those who want to take food back. Going up and down decks to avoid the no food patrol or staff will likely cause spills.

It cost us $12 pp. to go from the cruise terminal to SeaTac using Seattle express. We have used them several times are were very pleased. Shuttle express is somewhat higher.

I am just off a 19 day cruise and saw only one spill the entire time and it was right at the buffet beverage line. I am looking elsewhere for my next cruise because of all the recent changes although I had a lovely time on NCL. I can accept the small increase in gratuities but all the other changes have come with poor communication and ridiculous reasons (spills all over the ship...)

Felt very safe in Cabo San Lucas.

Very obvious soliciting of young girls by an older woman on beach in Hualtaco, otherwise felt like there were no problems.

Acapulco: why did the ship stop there? There was a very large military/police presence the day the ship docked to "protect the passengers". Many were warned by locals when they walked into unsafe areas. We were not impressed. The people who went to see the Cliff Divers on ship tours were happy with that part but a few tours were shorted on time (3 instead of 5 hours) or had a luncheon after the cliff divers that was really poor. I didn't feel safe and the hustlers were very aggressive.

Our ride on an AC tour van was very nice but there is SO much traffic. I would have been very uncomfortable on a regular hop on/hop off experience. Very hot there!

We were on a tour in late April with her company. Dora was not our actual guide but was there to supervise and see that all passengers were pleased. I personally would not recommend this tour for anyone who had problems walking. There was one person on our tour who struggled walking with a cane and I worried about her in the heat trying to keep up with us. It was a very nice tour and the van was in very good condition with good AC.

Why not consider a taxi? We hired one to take us to Fort Clatsop and didn't have the issue of worrying about not docking, which is a possibility considering the wave/weather issues there. The taxis need to be called in many cases. The shuttle is $8 for the day and takes you to the major places inside the town. It is not free.

We went there just last week with Nico from "I Love Victoria" tours. We were a group of 12 and it cost $14 pp for transportation and then the cost of admission. I highly suggest doing this rather than the bus. Butchart Gardens were great.

Here's what I have gathered about people who don't like cruising:

- they have never actually gone on a cruise but make assumptions that are based on past experiences like "I went on a small fishing boat and got sea sick"...

- they are ex-husbands or wives

- they are people who don't like to socialize

- they are people who are generally negative in most aspects of life and make up excuses for not liking cruising (too many photographers, cabins are too small, etc.

- they are people who have a favorite vacation style and aren't at all adventurous or accommodating to their spouse (only go fishing, only go to this one resort, etc.)

We just finished a 19 night cruise with friends who NEVER cruised and they loved the experience.

Your kids will love Royal Caribbean. An Alaskan cruise is really port intensive and ALL about Alaska. Try to find a sailing that does Glacier Bay- the coolest day in Alaska! Save Disney for the Caribbean.

I disembarked on May 7 before all those crazy rules started. Teppanyaki was open for lunch on some sea days as was the Sushi Bar.

I just got off a 19 day cruise and rarely saw a cup or plate even in the hallway. I did see a dirty coffee cup left by the elevators though. I never saw a spill or mess outside of the buffet area. This new policy is all about getting folks to pay that room service fee. There are so many legitimate reasons to take a single food item back to your room. I loved our cruise which did NOT experience either the room service fee or new "no food in your room rules". I will be much more inclined to look at another cruise line for our next cruise. The crew was wonderful and they are also the victims here, so please don't withhold your gratuity.

We bring these foods back:

Coffee and tea in our own travel mugs

A bowl of fruit if we choose to eat at O'Sheehans for breakfast as they offer no fruit on their menu.

I would bring back a full meal if one of us was under the weather or had an injury that made walking painful.

Silly new rules...

I am now a bit upset at all my own friends that they haven't made an offer like this...

Go and present this offer to her. I sure hope you both go and have a fabulous time!

I'm not a huge fan, but thought she did a wonderful job. Considering Patti Labelle is only two years older, the execution and complexity of their routines are night and day. I would have been discouraged if I was Susanne listening to the judges gush over the minimal dancing of Patti and judging Susanne to much more difficult standards. Susanne was never a professional dancer unless I'm uninformed.

I agree with the poster about Susanne's ugly costuming. That person should get fired!

I was on the NCL Star last May and lack of available space was one of our big issues. The Star lost its wonderful Spinnaker observation lounge so they could put in suites and so the passengers are squeezed in more inside areas to sit and read, etc. The weather would make a huge difference. Our sailing was a TA so being on deck wasn't comfortable much of the time unless you love wind and chill. If you are a sun lover and will be in warm weather ports, your experience likely will be better. The Star is one of my least favorite ships and it also doesn't have that aft outside dining area. Even one of the officers stated that the loss of the observation lounge was a huge mistake on NCL's part.

I'm on the planner side because it helps me to stay on budget and get info for the best vacation experiences. Some vacations inherently require good planning. If you are going to Europe and exploring ports and want an customized experience, you need to start way ahead. for example, in Copenhagen, we did our homework and found a charming former fishermen's hostel (all the necessary amenities) right on the Nyhavn Canal for less than half the price of anything around it and it gets booked up 9 months in advance. Going to the Caribbean? Last minute is okay.

We did that trip last April-May and the weather was surprisingly nice and somewhat sunny. I recall that the weather in the Azores was rainy but not downpours. The weather in Dover and Copenhagen was SUNNY and near 70. Fabulous! I regretted not having a balcony on that cruise.

On our last cruise, a small group of people who had instruments found closed/secluded places to play. We heard the music and went and enjoyed their music: guitar, ukulele and a banjo.

Don't know if you would feel comfortable doing this or not. My son and his wife went on a cruise (have been on many) with the 11 year old and 10 year old. A couple of nights, they went to the specialty restaurants and just put their two kids into the dining room. They are really very mature, well behaved children who can easily order their own meals and my son had glowing reports on the children from waiters and other diners when they picked them up. Something to think about. Of course, it wouldn't work with all children!

I think that is a wonderful idea if your children have those skills. I bet all the positive comments reinforced their good behavior and confidence!

Hi,

What sort of dancing music is most often heard on the Jewel out of Houston? I assume Texas two step, rock, salsa, merengue? What should I be working on before that cruise?

Donna

We would recommend Seattle Express from the airport although our experience with shuttle express was okay. You just had to wait longer and it was more expensive. Problem with Pier 99 is that it is the pier farthest away from downtown so you can't easily walk there. I would just get to the port and wait around until you can board and then go enjoy the ship.

I think many children would enjoy the music and shows. Just one caution, although I'm sure you are a very careful about being considerate. We have noticed more than once children just spinning in the middle of the dance floor making it impossible/dangerous for real dancing. That is the only time I saw inappropriate activity. The band chose to take a quick break after the four year old wouldn't get off the dance floor.