clarkg

Thanks for your wonderful review. I loved the pictures.

Love hearing that NCL MDR food has improved. It was some of the best at sea when I started cruising, it had a long downhill slide after that.

Happy cruising.

Thanks for the honest review.

Thank you for your review. It's nice to take the time to write one.

Love cove balconies for the privacy.

Thanks for the review.

Sorry, double post

I'm concerned about needing to bring a suit for formal night. We're sailing on the Brilliance of the Sea. My wife said "no shorts" at dinner either. True? Also, can I bring an iron to use in a "common

Sailed Brilliance earlier this year. Just wore a tie to dinner. No one kicked me out of the dining room. It was a TA 14 day cruise, so I got away with it three or four times.

We have done both ship board excursions and independent ones. You'll find the ship board ones are going to have more people and you'll be herded around. The independent ones are smaller, more personal.

One drawback to the independent is that if you miss the ship, they don't wait. On the shipboard ones, they do wait.

I would suggest you find a cruise tips web page, there are a lot right here on cruise critic, or buy a book. Either would help you out.

When going on a European cruise where do you get your euros? Wondering if better to at my bank, airport, or try to withdrawal from an ATM? Just wondering what the best solution is. Was never a problem on Caribbean cruises as they all take dollars.

 

 

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We've used all of the above. We like to hit the ground running, so we have always bought some Euros from our bank, before we head over. 'Pocket Change,' At least. Bank exchange rates aren't good. When you land, hit an ATM. We've done the airport while on layover, but you might get a better rate elsewhere.

Have done both one way and round trip. They each have their pluses and minuses. Both are amazing and you'll love it.

Pluses for one way.

1. Hubbard Glacier. Amazingly massive. Not many R/T do that.

2. Anchorage. Great town, be sure to check out the history museum.

3. Sitka, The theater they have there is fun, so is the Russian history of the area.

Minuses for one way.

1. Airfare out of Anchorage is pricey.

2. Not a lot of ship dock in Anchorage, they dock in Seward and bus you over.

Pack for ten days, then use the laundry service. Why be uncomfortable or pay excessive airline luggage fees?

I've had friends pack for a few days, then go shopping in port too.

I love the idea, but instead of putting in a window, because metal flexes and glass doesn't, put in a camera at the bow. Some airlines are doing this so passengers can watch the plane take off and land.

Had a funny experience several years ago. Major snowstorm during a Feb Caribbean cruise. A lot of people caught the ship at the first port of call.

They had a make up muster drill and this guy was headed up on deck carrying his life jacket. One lady stopped him and asked if there was a problem.

"You didn't hear the announcement?"

I got a good laugh out of that one.

I'm with the ziplock bag crowd. It makes it easier to get through TSA. Since you can't take large amounts of liquids in you carryon anyway. I did look at that llbean one though. You could put that in your suitcase through the airport, then stick it in the carryon when you get to the ship I guess.

The only balconies left, if any, are going to be under the basketball court or over the theater. Both bad locations. Most cruise lines offer upgrades to regular cruises and put them in the balconies because most of the last minute bookings are going to be insides. If you want a balcony, book one and choose the one you want.

There are a couple of cruises that come close, but leave out St. Thomas and go to Antigua instead. 10 day out of Ft Laderdale on the Serenade of the Seas. You didn't really want to go on the exact same cruise anyway, did you?

Thanks for taking the time to write your detailed review.

Yikes! What an awful thing to happen.

Great Review. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for taking the time to write a review.

Enjoying the review.

I can't find anything in the news about it.

Celebrity Infinity was headed to Nassau. It was so close it could be seen on the port cam. Then suddenly it U-turned and started heading the other way.

The Allure of the Seas did the exact same thing.