Live from the NCL Star Dec 6-13 2008

[troyphoto]

Yes... I know... I'm a day or so early.

I just wanted to let you folks know I'd be providing your nightly insomnia curing reading material with another of my always long winded and slightly boring LIVE FROM... threads.

We board Saturday afternoon in LA, and I wanted to see if any upcoming Star cruisers had any bits they'd like me to investigate while on board.

What I won't do:

• I'm a meat n taters kind of guy, so no great escargot or other fancy food investigations -- we're on a budget on this trip, so specialty restaurants are not going to happen.
• No excursions... DW and I will probably just get off the ship in a port or two and see the sights within walking distance.
• Invade other folks staterooms. We're down on deck 5 in an ocean view... if you want pics of the owners suite... pay for my upgrade and I'll get some for you!

What I will do:

• Explore public areas, and provide pics of stuff where I can.
• Post reviews of what we actually do, eg: Most shows, and the main restaurants.
• Check in with my other Cruise Critic passengers for their input

I'll hold myself to one or two quick peaks at this thread once the ship is underway, and internet access becomes darn expensive. Until then, I'll check as I have internet available during travel.

Thanks!

Troy

[xray121995]

We are cruising Jan 31, 2009 on the Star, so I'll be interested in anything you can tell me. I asked if I was able to take soda and water on board, they told me NO, on the phone. Is that true, I've seen others do it on other ships. Anything else is appreciated and thanks for the insight.

Wendy

[deepnite10]

they ll allow small amounts of beverages if you don t overdo it..
i put 6 bottle s of Lipton tea in my luggage while the wife took
aboard 6 bottle s of water..

as the luggae go s thru the scanner s..if they think you have
booze, they ll leave a note at your cabin to come up to the
naughty room to retrieve the luggage..

main dining will be fine..the Star has 2 main dining room s to choose
from..but, do try the Blue Lagoon..we found that it was a great alternative to the buffet..

the current iteniary is different now..a 7 day cruise as compared to the
8 day in the past..

in Cabo you can just walk around the pier area..it s a nice walk with alot to see..and food and drink..i would nt buy anything there as the price s are as bad San Diego..

in PV..if you ve never been there befor..do take the city tour..atleast you
can see a major city in Mexico and the price is not all that much..if you ve been there befor..you can do as the wife..hang out at Walmart or Sam s Club....it s right across the street from the pier..

[country_angel]

We will be on the cruise right after you. Only one week to go... we are sooooo excited 5 first time cruisers.

[DMH15]

country angel - get ready to be hooked.

I hope you guys have a blast!

[Wavesprite]

Originally Posted by xray121995

We are cruising Jan 31, 2009 on the Star, so I'll be interested in anything you can tell me. I asked if I was able to take soda and water on board, they told me NO, on the phone. Is that true, I've seen others do it on other ships. Anything else is appreciated and thanks for the insight.

Wendy

We're going on this cruise tomorrow (YIPPEE) and maybe our opinions will be posted.
We have two six packs of bottled (16oz) in our one suitcase and our backpack will have 6 waters in it.....

[k4btzs]

I'm looking forward to reading about your trip. We are first time cruisers who don't get to sail until the end of March on the Star and are very excited. Now I can enjoy being excited and live some of it through your cruise! Thanks

[ROCruiser]

Can't wait for our turn on Dec. 20. We are also thinking of just walking around near the pier. Please let us know what would be interesting and walkable. Thanks!

[troyphoto]

Originally Posted by Wavesprite

We're going on this cruise tomorrow (YIPPEE) and maybe our opinions will be posted.
We have two six packs of bottled (16oz) in our one suitcase and our backpack will have 6 waters in it.....

Well... you've got to give me your opinions if you want them posted by me!

Look for the guy with the Silver mac Laptop, with Red and White PPA stickers on it. I'm usually sitting in a shady spot... probably up near the Biergarten.

[weltek]

Thanks, Troy! I'd love to know how your days in port go. We plan on just walking around, eating, drinking, shopping, etc. in each port with only a few other things on our agenda. And tips on places to go, things to see are always appreicated.

[troyphoto]

Well, after starting the day out with a 2 hour flight delay in Indiana, and getting bumped to a later connection (with better seats), we're finally in San Pedro.

DoubleTree San Pedro is a good little hotel. Our room is clean, staff is friendly, and the shuttle sign up is efficient.

Had dinner with friends who live locally.

I'm tired and heading to bed... being from Indiana, we're about 3 hours ahead of the locals, so we'll be chomping at the bit to get on board!

[Eeyoregon]

Originally Posted by troyphoto

Invade other folks staterooms. We're down on deck 5 in an ocean view... if you want pics of the owners suite... pay for my upgrade and I'll get some for you!

What about knocking on room #8108 and asking just how obstructed the view is ?

Have a wonderful cruise.

Gina

[Eeyoregon]

Originally Posted by k4btzs

I'm looking forward to reading about your trip. We are first time cruisers who don't get to sail until the end of March on the Star and are very excited. Now I can enjoy being excited and live some of it through your cruise! Thanks

Which sailing are you on?

We are March 21 and I came home from work to find that my fuel surcharge had been credited towards my final payment, YIPPPEEEEEEEE!

[Eeyoregon]

Originally Posted by xray121995

We are cruising Jan 31, 2009 on the Star, so I'll be interested in anything you can tell me. I asked if I was able to take soda and water on board, they told me NO, on the phone. Is that true, I've seen others do it on other ships. Anything else is appreciated and thanks for the insight.

Wendy

They tell yo NO because they have to but it's a definite YES. I always fill my soft-sided rolling cooler with diet soda and bottled water and roll it on as a carry-on. Just NO ice allowed in the cooler.

[Johncn]

Troy,

Thanks for the running commentary. I'm a Mac user, too and will be interested in your connection experience. Do they have a bulk minutes plan for wifi you are using, or what's your plan?

We are going to be getting on when you get off. Looking forward to a little pre-sailing intelligence report!

Regards,

Johncn

[troyphoto]

Originally Posted by Johncn

Troy,

Thanks for the running commentary. I'm a Mac user, too and will be interested in your connection experience. Do they have a bulk minutes plan for wifi you are using, or what's your plan?

We are going to be getting on when you get off. Looking forward to a little pre-sailing intelligence report!

Regards,

Johncn

Here's the link to the NCL internet rates on their website.

Never had a problem with the Macs once I learned their system. Ask for help if you need it.

Tips for the internet:

• You can access the help pages without incurring minutes... just be sure to go to them BEFORE you log in with your password
• ALWAYS LOG OUT -- just shutting down doesn't end your session. You HAVE to LOG OUT
• If you're a latitudes member, go see the Internet Cafe Manager and ask for the Latitudes bonus before signing in the first time.
• Your email program (Mac Mail, Outlook, Entorage) probably won't be able to send out (you can receive, but not send with those programs), until you put in their outgoing server info. How to do so is on their help pages.

[Johncn]

Troy,

So if I'm looking at this correctly, the sending mail server (SMTP) has to be set to their ship's server.

However, when I look at the Internet info page it says something about "Personalized Cruise-mail" being $3.95 per email transmission. CERTAINLY that can't be for each email you send from your machine through the ships mail server....right?

I'll get a wifi package of 250 minultes for the $100 (.40 per minute), but if I have to pay additional to send email, I'll leave my laptop on shore!

Anyway, thanks for the updates at .40 per minute on the NCL Forum so that others can benefit.

Regards,

Johncn

[Johncn]

Troy,

So if I'm looking at this correctly, the sending mail server (SMTP) has to be set to their ship's server.

However, when I look at the Internet info page it says something about "Personalized Cruise-mail" being $3.95 per email transmission. CERTAINLY that can't be for each email you send from your machine through the ship's mail server....right? I'll get a wifi package of 250 minultes for the $100 (.40 per minute), but if I have to pay additional to send email, I'll leave my laptop on shore!

Anyway, thanks for the expected updates this week at .40 per minute here on the CC NCL Forum so that others can benefit.

PS: If using Apple Mail, try changing SMTP to Port 26 instead of 25 to see if your regular mail settings will work.

Regards,

Johncn

[troyphoto]

Originally Posted by Johncn

Troy,

So if I'm looking at this correctly, the sending mail server (SMTP) has to be set to their ship's server.

However, when I look at the Internet info page it says something about "Personalized Cruise-mail" being $3.95 per email transmission. CERTAINLY that can't be for each email you send from your machine through the ships mail server....right?

I'll get a wifi package of 250 minultes for the $100 (.40 per minute), but if I have to pay additional to send email, I'll leave my laptop on shore!

Anyway, thanks for the updates at .40 per minute on the NCL Forum so that others can benefit.

Regards,

Johncn

Those are two separate programs... if you're using the WIFI with you laptop, you are just paying FOR TIME.

You may elect, instead, to use the ship's computers in the Internet cafe, and just pay for each email - through the cruise-mail system, instead of paying for time.

I pay for time, and am not charged for each email, because I use my computer.

Also... here's my workflow...

Once I'm set up, have the proxy servers set etc:

1. Start MacMail program
2. Start Web Browser and log into the wifi network
3. Hit Get Mail in MacMail
4. Go to any webpages (like this one) that I want to read... but don't read... just let it load, scroll down to the bottom to see if there is another page - if so, click on the link to the next page, let it load repeat.
5. LOG OFF!

6. Reply to email -- they'll sit in your drafts folder/outbox until you log in again.

7. Use a text editor like MsWord to cut and paste quotes from the forum threads... type your replies

hint: use the brackets [ and ] with the word quote between them at the beginning -- and /quote between brackets at the end of anything you've cut and pasted from someone else's post. That separates their text as a quote...

I then cut and paste all of that text into a new post in the thread the next time I open the wifi connection...

REMEMBER TO LOG OUT!

[Arwenmark]

Hey there we cruise on Dec. 20. I am thinking about driving down this afternoon and watching the ship sail away, is there anywhere you can see to do that without going through security at the pier? I have not been down there yet.