olemissreb

Just because it's hard as heck to find...and I actually got it on sale. 😂

I'm disciplined enough to make monthly payments, but not disciplined enough to keep myself from spending it if it's there.

My Alaska cruise was booked the day the itineraries were released which was probably close to 2 years out. I booked my Viva cruise this past August for March '25. I tend to book my cruises way far out so I can pay it off over time as well as the drink packages, tips, and excursions.

Have had some really great sunsets lately.

On my first cruise, I got a little queasy and so took some dramamine, but it knocked me out. Since I didn't want to sleep thru my cruise, I got the wrist bands and they helped. I've since tried bonine and even though it's "non-drowsy", I still got sleepy so...I read somewhere (probably here on CC) to start taking dramamine or bonine at night a few nights before you sail. It helps me sleep well and it's already in my system by the time I board the ship. I keep taking it the whole time I'm on board, but again only at night. As for the anxiety, talk to your doctor. He/she should be able to help you with either medications or other mental exercises that you can use. I pray you find the answers that will work best for you to work thru your anxieties.

Do you have to book the entire boat or can you book 4 spots and then Phil will fill in the remaining spots with others?

OK this wasn't planned at all, but on my first cruise, we were doing a walking tour of Old San Juan (cruise sponsored excursion) and somewhere along the way, me, my ex and another couple we met were taking pictures or something and the group just left us! Oh well - it was a pretty boring tour anyway and we all made the best of it and got back to the ship on our own. Of course I think that is easier to do in OSJ since it's not a tender port like Grand Cayman (if Grand Cayman is still a tender port - it was the last time I was there 25 years ago or so).

Not sure how much time you'd have as a layover in Seward, but you could look at doing a Kenai Fjords tour with Major Marine. We did it the day before our cruise and saw all kinds of wildlife. We even got so close to a glacier we could hear it calving and the crew pulled in a piece of that glacier and made "glacier margaritas"!. The day of the cruise, we went to the Alaska SeaLife Center and did a behind the scenes tour...we got kisses from a sea lion! I love another posters idea of a side-by-side. If you can arrive in Seward in a Saturday and then leave again on Sunday, you'd have plenty of time to do both of the things I mentioned (and probably many others).

Already upgraded our FAS since BF is a Blantons drinker! Since he's never cruised before, I figure if I can get some Blantons in him (lots of it), maybe he'll fall in love with cruising as much as I have.🤪

Thank you for this review! My group will be in the Viva in March '25...and we can't wait for a week of relaxation, adventures, and laughter. My BF is a bourbon drinker, so we'll probably hang out there...A LOT!

With the Bar Tab, do both people im a cabin have to have it? My sister is almost 20 years sober and while her boyfriend does drink, it "stinks" that she has to buy a drink package even if she'll only be drinking water and Dr. Pepper. I've been thinking about doing a VV cruise with my boyfriend, but was a little concerned about age differences since we are both in our 60s. Thanks to you for putting my concerns to rest. Maybe we'll go in a couple years.

@schmoopie17 I want to sail with you sometime. You have a sense of humor I can relate to AND you're a Packer Backer. Yes my screenname may be all about Ole Miss, but I was born a Green Bay Packer fan. I've said for years..."I bleed Red & Blue om Saturdays and Greenand Gold on Sundays".

I've done both. I would go back to Alaska in a heartbeat. I loved my NE/Canada cruise and would do it again (with a much different itinerary), but there was so much more I wanted to see & do in Alaska. Plus I'm more of a mountain person than a leaf person.

Sept 2019 was my last cruise to New England/Canada. Next one is March 2025. Can't wait!

I had an issue where I know I put in a payment of X00 and NCL only charged my card X99.98. Not sure what that was all about. Guess I'll fimd out when I make another payment. Final payment isn't till Nov. so I have plenty of time.

395...at least I have a vacation in Key West in 77 to break things up a bit.

I love sailing by El Morro. And yes, I do go down at least a day before. Gives me more time to sightsee in Old San Juan. Next year I'll get to share it with my sister, her boyfriend and my boyfriend.

I'm never up in time to see the harbor pilot board the ship, but I do love to stand on my balcony and watch the harbor pilot disembark. I always hold my breath because I'm always so nervous he/she will miss the boat and fall in the water. I can also be found on my balcony as we pull away from our last port of call (usually the last day) with a glass of wine...crying because I know I have to go back to reality. I try to do half day excursions or at least get back to the ship about 2 hours before all aboard time. And lastly, I do like dressing up for dinner...from business attire to full on formal gown. I don't get to dress up enough in real life, so I take full advantage on a cruise.

I'm sailing the Viva next year. I chose that one because it sails from San Juan which is my favorite port to sail from. Plus I haven't been to 4 of the 6 ports before.

My favorite cruise line is Celebrity, but I haven't been too happy with their itineraries lately. I also took a Princess cruise about 34 years ago and felt like the youngest one on board. I may try them again one day. I've also been on Royal and liked them too. So I'll be going on my first NCL cruise in March '25. I'll let you know how it compares.

Nope! I was in Goldstar...I remember having assigned seats as well as a couple mimosas and breakfast. I just thought my now-ex paid for it behind me I guess.

I thought the food and drink were extra...guess my memory isn't what it used to be (must be all those mimosas I've had over the years! 🤣)

That looks correct to me. IIRC, Goldstar has assigned seats in a dome car with a bar at the rear of the car (for purchase) and food for sale below.

Same class though. Thanks for that info. Guess I'll be looking at adding maybe 2 more specialty dinners and then the rest in one of the MDRs.

I'm on the lookout for Viva dailies from the San Juan sailings - that will give me a good idea. I've got some from Mid-December, but looking for newer ones to compare times.