doverboy

We were on the inaugural sailing of the POA back in 2005.  Absolutely had a blast.  took our 3 children (TA said they would only cost 299 each)(failed to remember we had to get them there).  We arranged rental cars in each port. Was picked up and driven to airport hub and off we went. Saw more of the islands than any tour bus excursion could do. One highlight was sailing around the Southern end of Hawaii and the ship turned off the lights so we could see the lava flows. The scenery on the west side of Kauai is out of this world and you can see where Jurrasic Park did some of the movie shots.

If you decide to travel alone be careful of sampling too much Kona coffee.  It is available for tastings in just about every business in Kona.  Our son was 12 and was bouncing off the ceiling of the car from too much caffeine. Get a Puka Dog on Maui

If you are on the NCL bus the ship waits for you if there were to be a delay of any kind.  Not so for any other mode of transportation

So much of the CBP depends on the day and the person you are dealing with.  We were stopped in Houston because we exceeded the allowable purchase of rum. It took almost an hour for the agent and his assistant to figure out that I owed less than $20.00.  We missed our connector flight, it took an additional 15 minutes to find someone to make change (yeah, I paid with a $20 dollar bill). I kept saying. "keep the difference" but they would not hear of that.

anything charged to your room is noted on in-ship inventory. Pay with your charge card in the shop, don't pin it on the cabin and pay later.

We rented a vehicle at all stops on a 2016 7 day POA sailing.  The rental companies met us at each dock, took us to the airport rental desk and we were on our way.  All rental companies then returned us to the ship in time. The best use was the excursion to Mt Haleakala.  We left the ship at least 1 1/2 hours after the bus departed for the sunrise excursion, so we got an additional hour sleep. Drove up the winding road and arrived well before daybreak. We were then able to take our time on the return trip down the mountain and get away from all of the bikes making the trek

While sailing out of Nassau we witnessed a Mother and child left behind by their ship. My son was relaying the story to his school class one day and the teacher says, "The whole ship sailed away?" to which he answered, "No, just the front half".

We were berthed stern first, Disney ship next to us was berthed bow first.  There is NOTHING to see at Nassau portage regardless of the ship side.  Atlantis is East, port building, hair weavers, straw market hats are West.

Scenic has bikes along the Danube for a 30KM trip along the river between 2 portages.  It was fun but there was 0 time along the way to see the towns we were pedaling through. Make sure to take coinage for rest rooms along the way or, ladies stand guard at the men's room door and use the men's room free of charge.  Scenic did tell other passengers that they would NOT take the bikes out of storage for any other days

depend on whether it pulls in or backs in

We were on Star Princess C749 on Alaska cruise.  Was never aware of soot. What we liked most was being able to get away from the crowded areas on ship and see the same sites on our balcony, enjoying a few drinks. There are people on cruises who are not aware of personal space and during the Alaska cruise there were folks who would wedge between your chair and the window you were looking out of. the weather can and does change often so you could be inside while passing through Glacier Bay.  The balcony on the aft cabins will provide some protection

8 oz bottles will not fly through airport security as a carry on item and you might have trouble with customs.  We always travel with the individual no-refrigeration needed cups and have never had an issue at airport security or customs. Also take truvia packets since I am type II diabetic and no one has them in restaurants, cruise ships, or hotels

On 8/29/2019 at 2:41 AM, ronrythm said:

The fact that there is no casino is not due to the age of the ship, but due to the fact it’s illegal. Because it only sails in Hawaii, they have to follow Hawaiian state law on gambling.

enjoy

Ron

They have to follow US law and they don't leave US water.

Why bother to pack shampoo or conditioner? There are stores at all of the ports, buy it and leave what's left behind. We found that renting a vehicle was better than the excursions.  The rental company will pick you up at the port, take you to the lot, and return you to the ship at the end of the day.  We rented on Maui, Kauai, Big Island. We stopped at a coffee plantation and the owners told us to go a few miles further down the road to their friend and we received a private tour of a plantation without the hundreds of cruise passengers.  We visited Mauna Loa macadamia factory (no cruise people) went to Waimea Canyon (no cruise bus), were able to spend more time at Volcano National Park. Left the ship for sunrise at Mt Heleakala at least an hour after the buses left and made it up to the top in time to see the sunrise.  Just remember to check the "all aboard" schedule and you will enjoy your vacation. Make sure to get some shaved ice and when you are in Maui, get a Puka Dog

There is not much to purchase onboard.  The "gift shop" is essentially a small trophy case with a few trinkets. You can get Forints at an ATM in Budapest and Euro at any ATM in any other country, or just use your credit/debit card and allow for conversion.  there are many digits in a Forint price tag so look twice and you won't get a big surprise such as the one our travel partner got in a scarf shop in Budapest

We cleared customs in US before our initial flight to Munich and I do not remember getting into another customs queue until we went to United Kingdom after our cruise ended. had a short flight from Munich to Budapest and no customs there either.

On a June 2016 cruise to Alaska we saw: Killer Whale following behind the ship as we sailed into Juneau, Plenty of humpbacks and Orcas on a whale watching excursion, Grizzlies in Denali along with mountain sheep and some caribou, wife saw a moose doe and fawn as my ambulance was driving to Wasilla, Eagles are like pidgeons in Alaska. Don't ask about the ambulance

We watched as our flight taxied out of Munich and saw bags from passengers that would be with us on Scenic when we arrived in Budapest. Magically the bags arrived at the ship before we set sail. The river cruises are really not traveling that far and a bag can catch up from one portage to another by bus.

A shot or dram of Johnnie Walker Blue will run between 35-45 each.  Have a glass of single malt if you want a nice glass of scotch. JWB is a blend

Are you staying at one of the recommended hotels from your cruise line? If so there should be a meeting room where they collect the passengers staying there, collect their luggage, and shuttle you to the ship. If you booked independently you will have to check with the ship

Get some kind of communication device OR ask him to check in with you when teen activities are done

Your post is in All things scenic. So the river was low, you did not find out about the changes until you were already on the way to your vacation, and it is Scenic's fault. 

Our Scenic cruise could not have been more professional.  the tour guides, drivers, servers, butlers, were among the best people I have experienced.  Water levels on Danube have been addressed for the last 2 years and it is sometimes a crap shoot. Damage to locks is so far beyond the control of Scenic that I wonder why people find this as a reason to complain. Water level is beyond their control and they do the best to make your vacation work. 

On 7/11/2019 at 9:48 AM, PortFees45 said:

Wasn't the Breakaway doing a bunch of Mexican ports at the time? If so that k9 unit is probably there to go after cocaine smuggling. 

I donated a labrador to a drug detection company and he sailed with RC for years doing his job. Met people at the gangway with his tail wagging but if he sat down you would be questioned.

You live in Severn park Md. You could have made an appointment at the Passport office, used up a day of your time, and had the passport issued while there.

Also, do the Crab Shack instead of MDR and Formal night if you like seafood

Have dinner at the Black Bear while at the Wilderness Lodge, take the long tour at Denali Park, you will be the closest you can get but still many miles away. You will have a much better chance of seeing wildlife while on the bus.

Was never an issue

When I travel outside of the country or somewhere far from home that I don't know the surroundings I will contact my TA and book through him.  If it costs more than booking by myself I pay it, if he can get a reduced rate I pay whatever the invoice is.  My TA works for a living, as do I, and he makes his money from his fantastic job and the work he puts in. Don't really care who pays him but he has been there for me through some difficult circumstances, send gift cards for my kids graduations, helped me put together a cruise for a raffle I paid for.

I sometimes tire of the "I am the greatest" claims from posters. I can't imagine needing help in a foreign country because I booked all of my own details.  I share my bookings with my TA so he has recommendations for others making similar trips such as the Hotel we booked in Maranello, Italy or the rent a car company we used throughout Europe