suncityjim

If BOGO is gone from Happy Hour, who is happy during Happy Hour?

Princess Cruise Lines because they figure they'll make more money?

The bartenders who will probably see a decrease in tips?

Certainly not the customers who bear the expenses.

DUMB DECISION, PRINCESS!!!!!

decal:

I am also a solo cruiser and was on a Med cruise on NCL several years ago that stopped in Barcelona for all of 6 hours.

I crammed as much as possible into that 6 hours and am planning to go back for more.

Assuming that you are flying into Barcelona, you can take the Aerobus from the airport into the city to Placa Catalunya which is like a big town square.

It is at the top of Las Ramblas which is a mile long pedestrian walkway filled with shops, kiosks and live human statues.

At the bottom of Las Ramblas is the dock area where you will likely board your ship.

At Placa Catalunya you can get tourist buses which take you on narrated tours of the city. I seem to remember that there are 3 different routes which cover most of the city.

I was able to take 2 of those but had to get back to the ship before I got stranded.

I am booked on a HAL cruise in March that ends up in Barcelona and am staying 3 days to sight see again but more pleasurably.

Have booked a room at the Hotel Continental Barcelona which is on Las Ramblas about 1/2 block from Placa Catalunya.

One of the interesting amenities of the hotel is that they have a 24 hour buffet for guests with snacks, wine and beer.

And if a real fix is needed there is a Hard Rock Cafe right around the corner in Placa Catalunya.

I'll be taking the Aerobus from Placa to Barcelona Airport upon leaving and flying to Madrid and on to Dallas and Phoenix.

Get on Google Earth and explore Barcelona to get an idea of where those places I mentioned are located and that may be a help to you on your trip.

Enjoy every minute of your time there and your cruise in the Med.

Jim

If you're ordering buckets, you may be trying to squeeze your budget, so be aware that a bucket delivered while you're still in port on departure day may incur local sales tax, depending on the port. I think Fort Lauderdale is one port where local taxes are applied.

Thanks for your input.

But, I have to say that if I'm so concerned about my budget that I'm worried about sales tax, I probably shouldn't be taking a cruise.

And like sapper1, I like to have some cold brews in my cabin at departure.

Thanks to all of you for your replies to my question.

I do believe that there will be a good supply of buckets for my cruise in March.

Thanks especially to sapper1 for the heads-up about pre-ordering a bucket for departure day.

Happy cruising to all.

Jim

I have been on numerous NCL cruises and as a beer drinker I always buy the buckets of beer (buy 5 get 1 free).

This question is for those who have also sailed on HAL.

And I have posted this question on the HAL forum also.

Does HAL have any similar quantity discount scheme for their cruisers?

TIA.

Jim

I'm a long time NCL cruiser and NCL has a special at all of the bars on every cruise offering buy 5 beers in an iced bucket and get the 6th bottle free.

Does HAL offer any such special deal on beer?

TIA.

Jim

I would take an aft balcony on any cruise over one on the side of the ship or in the front.

No breeze on the aft balcony and a bigger balcony and you have a view on both sides instead of just the side a cabin is on.

Just my $0.02.

Jim

For me it's not the price but whether or not I've already been to the ports and if I want to go back to them.

I'd rather go somewhere I haven't been to than go back to a place where I've been.

And I'm running out of places. <G>

I didn't go to work the next day or any day since.

cjcruiser27:

I did the trip around South America on the NCL Sun which is my favorite ship.

The Sun is just the right size for me, not too small and not too big.

Had an aft cabin on deck 9 and was able to see everything on both sides of the ship.

Spent several days in Buenos Aires pre-cruise and the steaks there are to die for.

Do try to go on the Aranui if you can.

It is the trip of a lifetime.

Had one of the suites on the top deck with a balcony from which I could see all of the cargo operations when I wasn't out exploring with the rest of my shipmates.

It was fascinating.

There were only 2 Americans on the cruise I was on but the Aussies and Kiwis are a great bunch of folks to be with for a great time.

The islands visited by the ship are incredible and you almost feel like time has stood still there for eons.

And the people are so glad to see the ship and passengers that it's like a big party at every stop.

PRICELESS!

Jim

Mike:

Understand, as that's what I do also.

I enjoy the Med also but there's more world to see.

Some other areas I've done which you might want to also include Alaska or around the tip of South America.

Did that one once from Buenos Aires to Santiago and it was a good one.

Or, if you're adventurous, a cruise on the Aranui for 14 days out of Tahiti.

That was probably the best, most interesting cruise I've ever taken.

All cruises are fun.

Jim

Mike:

I did the Baltics on the Star 2 years ago and really enjoyed it.

I'm a little older (70s) but met lots of folks, solos and couples, who also enjoyed the cruise.

What are you taking the cruise for?

Meeting people of your age group or seeing places you may never see again?

You can do the former in Houston and never get on a ship and save a lot of money.

I cruise to see places and if I meet interesting people along the way, that's a plus.

But, that's just an old guys opinion. <G>

Enjoy whatever you do.

Jim

I initially agreed with Mr Watson, although I probably wouldn't have digressed into couthness. But then I read through the posts and added up all the food involved. So many dishes a four-top is required, 40 minutes even for a fast eater, trips for more courses. From my own experience with a healthy eating budget of 2,000 calories/day plus what I've seen on ships, the real problem looks to be more fundamental.

So, what you're saying is that for the OP a table for 4 by themselves is appropriate because of all the food they might choose to eat?

Then I guess a family of 4 should get a table for 16 and communicate with each other via handheld machine.

Oh, I forgot, that's probably what they do anyway.

Maybe the OP will need several copies of whatever sign to put on the other tables surrounding the OP's table so that no one sits near him/her.

I do believe that a tipped chair will be understood.

When I was in college 50+ years ago, we used to tip up the chairs at our dining table to reserve a place for friends who hadn't gotten there yet to hold the place for them.

Most people will get it.

Cruisevv:

No reason to search for them, make your own.

If you have WORD or WORKS, you could print them up and make table tents to take along on your cruise.

That way you could have a real selection of them to use a different one for every meal.

Get yourself known as "the solo lady with the good sense of humor" or such.

How about "GONE GRAZING AGAIN" or "AT THE FOOD BAR".

Make it a fun thing. <G>

Enjoy your trip.

Jim

Sure, nothing wrong with that.

Or just, ALREADY IN USE.

Or, GONE BACK FOR MORE.

I was on a Grand Circle river cruise as a solo from Amsterdam to Vienna a few years ago and had a good time and no problem as far as being a solo.

Was welcomed into all of the couples and group activities and excursions.

Dinners were enjoyable and met many folks from lots of different places with lots of interests.

The SS on Grand Circle seems to be the best around for solo cruising.

The only thing I didn't like was the very short amount of time at each stop and not enough time to be among the locals to meet them and enjoy conversation with them.

YMMV.

Jim

You mentioned bucket list and that's just what I'm working on.

Leaving Sunday morning for FLL and then boarding the Norwegian Star in MIA on Monday for a TA and then a Baltic cruise B2B thus crossing 2 items off my list.

Have 5 good paperbacks to take along and an aft-facing balcony on which to read them.

I'm also 20 years retired and still loving every minute of it. Best job I ever had.

Go for it.

A suggestion:

When you are discussing air fares, do not use the words "always" or "never".

Just buy a fare that you are comfortable paying and don't look at the fares again.

That way you will have your ticket and peace of mind.

Fares change due to a myriad of factors which couldn't be listed here.

As I said, just a suggestion.:)

And have a great trip!

First thing I would do is call NCL and ask them the same questions you have posted here.

Do you look at the prices of old cars before you go to the new car showroom to buy a car?

When I did South America several years ago it was on the Sun and I had an aft balcony.

I would do it again in a minute.

It was a great location to see out both sides and enjoy every day.

Go for it.

Jim

I have an aft balcony on an upcoming trip and plan to take a small umbrella with me.

I'm hoping that they still provide underwear and socks in the balcony cabins though.

And toothbrushes.

I suppose if the OP had an NCL t-shirt, they would expect a check from NCL for everytime they wore the shirt.