arjay9

I'm only slightly bitter that I purchased in early January......  🤪 I wasn't planning on selling anytime soon as I picked it up for the on-board credit, so let's hope it will go back up in the next 10-15 years (I have no doubt things will bounce back)    

I'm not booked yet, but I'm on the verge of booking a solo cruise on the Bliss in April. The new policy gives me piece of mind that if things change in the next few weeks I can take the 100% FCC.  I'll be a bit more diligent than usual with touching stuff, hand washing, etc. but I'll still be spending time in the spa.  I plan to bring Lysol wipes, extra meds, etc, but no hazmat suits 😉  I also plan on booking a balcony, but I've been in a balcony on about 50% of my cruises, so that's not unusual for me.  

1 hour ago, g683002 said:

 

Hopefully the photos come thru, WiFi is spotty. 
 

Thank you 😃 The photos came through perfectly 😃

Hope you are having a wonderful vacation 🌴If you happen to see a schedule for the fitness classes would you mind posting it? Thanks 😃

Isn't that also the ship that is down an Azipod (or what ever it's called) 

Depends on what type of vacation I'm planning.  On my Alaskan cruise I didn't really care which ship I was on, it was the ports that I was on vacation for. However if it's a TA I'm planning (or just a relaxing getaway), it's the ship & sea days that I'm focusing on.   Spas also play a big part in my planning when it comes to solo trips, so chances are I'm never going to sail the Joy solo.

I'd still go.  Probably would take a few extra precautions, but nothing elaborate. Have a great Vacay 🌴

The trick is to have 3 shots of tequila before opening that bottle 😉 & yes, you can get a non-alcoholic option.  Sparkling Cider I believe.  

Have a great cruise 😀

Thank you very much 😀

Thanks so much for bringing us along, I hope that you have a wonderful vacation 😀

If you happen to see a schedule for gym classes I'd love it if you could post it.  Thanks ☺️

There is a curtain between the shower/toilet room and the living/bed part of the room. So if someone is on the sofa/bed they can't see you.    

Edited... not sure how I missed in your org. post that you knew about the curtain....  Oops  🤣

Just saw this on twitter, looks like the Tsunami threat is over, thank goodness!]

Following 🙂 Have a great Vacay 🙂 

Interesting...  I've never heard that before, but it sounds like an HR nightmare. 

A cruise can sell out for one of two reasons. The first one would (obviously) be if they were sold out of cabins. But there is also a passenger maximum, which can be reached if alot of people have 3 or 4 ppl in their rooms, and this would leave some cabins empty, allowing for some upgrades to still be available.   Good luck, hope you get your upgrade  🙂 

56 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Nope. They are always pushing hard to sell Thermal Suite passes on Embarkation day. 

Thank You 🙂 

I'm wondering if anyone knows if they typically hold some spa passes back to be purchased on embarkment day, or if NCL will sell all of the availability on-line before hand?  Has anyone ever seen them sold out on line, but a few available on the ship?

Thanks in advance 🙂 

When I did a B2B and switched cabins, I packed up the night before, but kept my luggage in my stateroom. The next morning I gave it directly to my room steward and he had it taken directly to my new cabin for me.  Don't risk putting your bags out at night. Keep them with you overnight for sure! 

I had also received my new key card from the service desk the night before and was given a sticker that said "I'm still on vacation".  I left the ship with everyone else and went into Barcelona for the day.  Upon return to the terminal I put on my sticker and was able to go around everyone who was "checking in", but clearly I still went through security.  

As mentioned above, you do still need to get off for a little bit if you aren't planning on exploring the port, but I think they try to keep that as short as possible for you 🙂   

Speak with the Cruise Next desk when you first get on the ship and they should be able to get the points applied so that they are recognized for the second half  🙂 

I've done both and as everyone has said Barcelona is best.  Close to the airport and the Cruise terminal is literally at the end of La Rambla (very popular tourist street).  On my last TA I flew into Barcelona the day before and stayed on La Rambla (maybe 15 min taxi ride to hotel from airport). The next morning I walked 15 minutes down La Rambla & got onto a bus at the entrance of the Port that took me directly to the ship. Very Easy 🙂     Plus my favourite falafel place has a location in Barcelona - Visit Maoz Falafel if you get the chance 🙂 tiny hole in the wall, but delish! 

Looks like there is a great deal on the Jan 22nd Breakaway sailing for Solos.  10 nights out of Orlando in a GTY Inside - $1296 cnd with taxes for one person vs $2592 cnd with taxes for two people in the same cabin?!? (not sure what the US price is, but given the exchange I assume about 20-25% lower)   I can't make it work for me, but it's a great deal for anyone who could.  

Only one Studio Lounge, but in the lounge there is a direct staircase both up & down into the Studio Hallways (when relevant) each ship is a bit different, but there are usually various ways to enter when there is a long studio hallway. I'm mostly familiar with the Epic, which only has studios on two floor, but has multiple entrances at different ends of the ship to the long hallway with the studio cabins.

Just a guess, but I'm wondering if the fact that it is a holiday week, with possible lower staff at the Piers which may make things go slower, so they are staggering to avoid congestion?

I enjoy the behind the scenes tour, totally worth an hour our two out of a sea day. It's shocking just how impressed you can be with industrial laundry equipment - lol 🙂  Be sure to visit the Cruise Next desk to sign up on the first day or you may miss out.  They only run a few & keep the numbers low as you will be going through crew working areas and can't be in too large of a group. 

Sleep, read, relax, enjoy a spa pass, & did I mention sleep (gotta love those 25 hours days on the TA to North America) 🙂  

The first TA I did was after a month of running around Europe, so it was build into that trip as forced down time to recover 🙂 There did seem to be lots to do on the ship as other has mentioned, (painting classes, bridge & bid euchre classes, movies, wine tasting, etc.)  Plus the ship was less crowed with few children.  I'm sure you will have a wonderful time 🙂  

#1 Breakaway - Love the Boardwalk & Spa 

#2 Epic  - unpopular opinion, but I love the Epic, feels like a second home, but I also mostly travel solo & like to hang out in the spa, so the weird staterooms/bathrooms don't bother me at all. If it had a Boardwalk it would be my #1.

#3 & #4  Jade / Jewel  - They are basically the same ship & it's been soo long since I've been on the Jade I can't really pick between the two

#5 Dawn 

Looking forward to maybe getting on the NCL Bliss this coming Spring, and my bet is that she will win first spot once I've had the opportunity.