wordsjustfly

21 hours ago, julig22 said:

As reported on another site, it seems the ship has been quarantined because of norovirus, not able to dock as scheduled. They were due to dock on Sunday, now pushed back until Tuesday. NCL is apparently sending passengers who were scheduled to embark on Sunday to hotels.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/cruises/2024/02/25/norwegian-dawn-quarantine-cholera/72737444007/?fbclid=IwAR3PyiQsGunywvbWEOm1av5rMbIx9eKrCWwKI-Amtr9hWM2JVhj42daB4oo_aem_Adli2S-fV_2Yxk8RE4q7DewTYvYDhfHLY46-nuDEtmxX1xL8Oui0hH5fAd0HqZcnn4o#lt2duddj2zwdoj2f1ji
 

Who knows. They are just sick. 

We are thinking about dipping our feet back in the cruising waters after too long of a hiatus.

How’s it been out there?

Covid cases low I hope?

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

There will be a Lavazza machine in cabin, and the Suite Lounge also has a complimentary espresso machine. 3rd choice is Cafe Promenade, but you have to pay.

 

And then there's Starbucks 

John! Thank you so much! 

Hi  experienced cruise friends- 

I have an upcoming cruise on Mariner of the Seas. It'll be our first time on Royal Caribbean and we are going to be staying in an owners suite. 
 

My question of the day is does this kind of a cabin have an espresso maker ( I hope to god). 
 

We are not fans of Starbucks at all (seriously no hate we just don't like Starbucks coffee). And if there are no espresso machines with this kind of a suite  do we have any other alternatives, other than Starbucks? 
 

Thank you so much 🙂 

My guess is you are flying in a day or two before. We did. I took zero sundries with me for that very reason and went to either Target, Longs Drugs or CVS and bought my hair care products. There’s also the ABC stores  as well. They weren’t that terribly expensive than the mainland. And I left what I didn’t use. 

Thank you all for your responses they were super helpful. So exchange money to Canadian before we go. And we can’t purchase anything government owned. Can anyone explain that to me. I’ll go read more as well.

2 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Just remember that on a foreign flag cruise ship, any EPA regulations do not apply.  Generally, the ships will not allow disposal of remains less than 12 miles from shore, and as I've noted, they do not generally (and I worked for NCL, and know they don't) allow scattering, but only placing an urn.  The reason the line will provide the floral arrangement is to ensure that it is completely biodegradable (no plastic ties, etc).

Thank you!  This is exactly the information I need.  So can you tell me what it means to place an urn?  And I am fine with the line providing a floral arrangement and I'm happy to pay for that – I really do want to do it the right way to honor my dad.  He was totally a rule follower and he would kick my rear end if he thought I was breaking rules or the law. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 Before we book our cruise I would call I guess any line that we choose to cruise with and ask them their guidelines and policies. I mainly wanted to inquire what I was up against  and if anybody had any personal experience doing this. 

 Thank you so much!

 Marna 

I'm a little excited as we begin to research and make plans to cruise to Cuba!!

This will be our fifth cruise with Norwegian Cruise line -  we've done Alaska, a few times, Caribbean, and Hawaii. 

We are contemplating on cruising to Cuba over Thanksgiving 2020. 

We got the travel books, and I have research lightly on cruise critic but I'm looking for people who've been there – can you tell me firsthand what it's like, what they loved and what they hated-  perhaps what not to miss and what's not important! 

Thanks! 

Marna 

Fishywood no apology necessary. 😊 First of all I am sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is pretty brutal. 

I've been on four cruises all with NCL. I am by no means an expert on anything 🙂

When I say that I have researched the legalities I mean I've read, called and emailed about the scattering ashes/cremains I've have learned the following:

Spreading Ashes at Sea Is Allowed.

According to the EPA, burial at sea of human remains – cremated or not – is permitted, but there are several scattering ashes laws and regulations that you need to follow:

1    Any type of remains, including ashes, can

      only be placed in the ocean 3 nautical miles

      from land or more.

    2    Ashes can be scattered from a boat or  

           airplane.

2         Only biodegradable urns may be used.

           Anything placed in the water must easily

           decompose in a marine environment.

    4    You can release flowers or wreaths into

           the water, but they must decompose

           easily.

    5    While a permit is not required, you must  

           report the burial to the EPA within 30      

          days.
    6    Pet cremains may not be spread at sea

          without a special permit.

So my question to the forum was truly inquiring if cruise ships allowed that kind of take place. That’s all. 👍

3 minutes ago, Top_of_the_Cube said:

Sorry for your loss.  I think your idea is a touching way to honor your father.

 

I see you have quite a few cruises on NCL.  If, though, you happen to take a Carnival ship to Alaska, I know that you can go to John Heald's Facebook page and leave a request for him on the Visitor's Posts.  He will respond, and Carnival will make all the arrangements for you.

 

I would assume that there are contacts at other lines who offer the same service.  Letting them guide you through the legalities and planning should help you focus more on the life and memories of your dad.

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful reply .   I would be going with my entire family so we haven't selected a cruise line as of yet. I know my vote would be for Norwegian Cruise line but other family members have their favorites so that's our first hurdle is to all decide together which cruise line we're going to travel with 🙂

Again thank you so much – this information has all been so helpful. 

I know I don't need to say this but I kind of feel I must -  I would never ever think about bringing ashes aboard a ship without bringing them in the container in which we receive them from which is from the funeral home.  And I have a death certificate of course.  And I know all about flying with ashes and what TSA's requirements are.  Thankfully we would just be driving to Seattle because we live in the Pacific Northwest. 

 Thank you all for your input, suggestions and advice I appreciate it you are all extraordinarily brilliant in your information.   And again  "Top of the Cube"  Thank you for your kind words it's been tough.  And I think my dad would love this. 

Marna 

Hi friends - My father passed away in 2016 after a lengthy illness. He was cremated. He loved Alaska and our family thought it would be a loving gesture to scatter part of his ashes in Alaska. 

I've researched the legalities about scattering ashes at sea. My question is - 

Is it allowed to scatter ashes off of a cruise ship if the captain is aware? Do cruise lines ever allow families to do this? 

Thanks ahead of time. ❤️

Marna 

My husband and I are taking a cruise hopefully next week (Escape- Western Caribbean) and I was told of this amazing place called Bacalar! It sounds beautiful, but I am a little weary on booking something that is not offered with the cruise line. Has anyone booked outside of the cruise line or are we better booking with Norwegian?

We only book excursions through the cruise line. For the simple reason that if they are late coming back they have to wait for you to get on board. If you do excursions through independent excursion companies they are late getting back to the ship – it's up to you to catch up with the ship.

We always play it safe.

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I have to chuckle because we have a FB resident site and when I hear sirens, I'll go to that site and people are already posting, "I just heard sirens go by my house, anyone know what's happening"? :'):')

HA HA HA awe do too! Our group is concerned citizens...lol and many of those people on that Facebook group have Home scanners where they listen... [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]🤣🤣🤣

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* HIPAA - and I would bet that the Jewel is not subject to those regulations, but probably just respects their passenger's privacy as a core value.... doesn't need to be told to.

The Jewel it self is not subject to those regulations but that's a good question in regards to their medical department / hospital if it's not an American ship – HIPAA is just United States. I know Europe and Canada have their own medical data protection rules.

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We've also done Alaskan cruises in midsummer and May. We prefer May--less crowds, etc. Would love to go in September but need to wait for retirement--teach at a college and I'm always working in September!

 

We had more rain on our July cruise (Disney) than on our May cruises combined!

 

 

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It's super rainy in September, lots of mosquitoes and it's way colder believe it or not and it's really beginning to get dark earlier.

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When planning a cruise in Alaska, is there any month(s) that is better than another or is it "hit or miss?"

Hi :) I've been on for cruises to Alaska and I can't get enough – I could cruise there all the time.

June, July and August are the warmest months (with highs ranging from the 60s to 70s in most of the state), but July and August, especially, can be quite rainy, and it's also mosquito,season. Because the weather rapidly changes in Alaska, it can be super hot, {I remember getting one of the worst sunburns of my life on a cruise in Alaska if you can believe that.}, damp and cold or severely windy -- all in a one-week cruise.

The truth is any month is a good month to visit Alaska, but locals who love there say the very end of May and beginning of June offers some of the most beautiful weather. (Plus it's not at the height of crowding because most kids are still in school) and the glaciers are just gorgeous that time of the year. OH! May and June is fresh halibut and kind salmon season in Alaska and that some of the best fish I've ever had.

Best of luck!

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This line gets my vote as great :)

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You're going to love the haven because it's like a ship within a ship. It was super nice when we were out in the other decks of the ship and we could come back to the Haven and just be with in our own little bubble.

The haven for us never seem crowded at all. They have a really nice sort of soaking pool and we never had problems with chairs.

In regards to tipping and gratuities. We always always always are generous with tipping. Upon meeting our steward and our butler I always had them $50 apiece and thank them Ahead of time for taking care of us. This piece of advice was given to me by someone who cruised all the time. And I'm always very upfront when I tell them we are big-time ice connoisseurs :) we love our beverages cold with ice. We've never had anything but amazing service in the Haven.

And I'm not embarrassed to say that at the end of our cruise we are very generous with our gratuities to our steward, Butler, and concierge. There has only been one cruise that we've been on that we didn't tip our concierge a lot- and that is our latest cruise to Hawaii because frankly he didn't do anything. Our Butler did everything so he got his gratuity and what we probably would've given our concierge.

We left our passports locked in the safe and we took our passport cards with this in a waterproof lanyard around our necks.

Hope this helps.

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In the small community where I live they have a Facebook community page called concerned citizens.... and really it should be just gossip central. Anyhow they have this penchant for posting car accident photos. And I just find it so inappropriate and distasteful because my thinking is if you're a member of this group and then see your family on this page in a car accident before you even know...

To be honest – it's easy to get caught up and I think. You see somebody post something scary and then you want to make sure whoever's involved it's OK, and it's human nature to want to know things. Even if they aren't any of our business.

My guess the original poster meant no harm and was just wondering like the rest of us do sometimes...

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I wonder if NCL ever looked into having specific cruises be 100% non-smoking? If they did:

 

1. Would you book one?

 

2. Would you be willing to pay a premium to book a cruise that was 100% smoke-free?

Absolutely I would book a cruise that was non-smoking. And absolutely not what I pay a premium to book a cruise that was 100% smoke-free. The majority of restaurants and cocktail lounges that I frequent are all non-smoking and why should I have to pay more money not have smoke in my lungs.

I think all casino should be smoke-free as well.

Do you have to go through an ad to get to the video?

This one no.

Hello,

 

We are planning out 1st cruise next year, and saw some very nice recommendations on the Haven 2 bedroom (we are family of 5 so this suits).

 

My question is regarding sea sick for sensitive people. I read that best room to avoid as much as possible is mid-ship and lower decks, I see that the Haven is only at the top decks of 16-17, can anyone explain how this works and maybe share his/her experience?

I know we are planning the mediterranean during September so shouldn't be that stormy, but yer, since my wife is sensitive, I am afraid this could hurt the cruise and maybe better to take 2 rooms in lower decks?

 

Thanks for the help,

Yuval

Hey Yuval - I am also someone who gets seasick really easy. i've been in the middle of the ship. been in the front of the ship. No matter where you are – if you have a rough seas you're going to feel it.

All of the staff on every crew ship I have been on says over and over and over Green apples. So if you're staying in the Haven you will have a butler and on your first day just request that you have lots of green apples in your room for the whole cruise and eat one every day .

I was also instructed by this very wise community to take Bonine as directed beginning 4 days before you cruise. Bonine doesn't make you sleepy like Dramamine. Good luck. But seriously eat green apples.

My husband and I are booked for this weekend's Bahamas cruise on the Sky. We live in South Florida and category 4 Irma is a major problem for us. I am hoping NCL cancels the cruise. But if they do not, there is no way we can leave our children behind in this storm. We DO have trip insurance through Expedia but it doesn't cover for any and all cancellations, and I'm not sure it will cover for this.

 

Does anyone have any advice on addressing the issue with NCL? Have you experienced anything like this? I am wondering if they will issue a voucher or something to apply the cost of this cruise to a future one?

Hi there - How stressful. I'm super sorry. I would wait it out and see what the cruise line has to say – giving you the best options that have a least impact to you. And just ignore those that are snarky – I get it. Your mom and you're worried about your kids and you want to make sure that this post gets the most coverage. Hang in there.

Yep. I believe they began doing this in 2015 on select items. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6633

First of all, if you get sick it is best to not let them know. If you vomit, act like you're drunk. If you're coughing, act like you're choking. Never, ever let them know you are sick!!! Secondly, never eat buffet food. I only eat in the specialty restaurants for this reason! As for the rude kids, I usually wait until no one is looking and whisper something scary and threatening in their ear.. It has worked all but one time. Don't give up cruising!

Hahahahahahahahaha oh my goodness I think you'd be a hoot to cruise with and I mean it!!!!! 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍