Soxfan4ever

Solution solved!! Instead of 1h 5m connection in CDG, Air France just changed the connection to depart to Barcelona to 3 hours! Just like New England weather….”wait a few minutes, and it will change!”, we’re all set….for now! Sorry for raising the red flag prematurely. 

Spot on….thanks! Arriving in Barcelona 2 days before embarkation should allow me options (other flights, trains, etc.) to travel the 700 miles, or so. Also, my trip insurance will help absorb extra costs (fingers crossed). We’re going to give it a shot at getting to the connection in Terminal 2F, but I’ll be contemplating ‘Plan B’, if we miss the connection. Regardless, it will be nice to start cruising again. Safe travels to all!

Thanks to all for their comments. We booked this through NCL, and I felt that we were ‘fortunate’ in the sense that there are countless stories of huge delays between flights. Our return is non-stop, so things could be worse. Having never flown into CDG, it appears that we could make the transfer in time, so fingers crossed. We’re arriving two days before embarkation, so things should work out. I believe that I’ll try to charm Air France staff for some support. Again, I appreciate people giving me their thoughts.

We were fortunate in using NCL’s air promotion, in that we have a short connection for flight from Boston to Barcelona. We arrive in Terminal 2E in the morning, and depart from 2F, with a time of 1hr 5m between flights. There are several resources on the web, and YouTube, but it’s almost ‘deer in the headlights’ mode when I try to digest the instructions. Has anybody a knowledge about getting from 2E to 2F at CDG in about an hour? Also, we’re in our mid 70’s, and I’ve never used airline assistance to get to another terminal/gate. Is this something that Air France may be able to help? Thanks for any assistance that you can provide.

We did hear from our TA, and the 20% reduction makes this itinerary a bargain, comparing to rebooking. We’re on the 9/30 itinerary out of Copenhagen. To rebook this as a new itinerary now, costs significantly more. Granted, the tragedy in Ukraine can cause me to cancel before June. I pray every night for peace in Ukraine.

Granted, SPB is a beautiful city, but I don’t want to contribute any money to that coward dictator. If we do have sea days, we’ll take advantage of our Spa Balcony cabin, and spend more time in the Thermal Spa…..a wonderful amenity that we use on every available cruise. 

Ugh! I’m not sure when ‘normal’ will ever return. We were on a September 4, 2021 cruise out of Copenhagen. Best wishes to all that we are able to cruise again.

Thanks to all for your quick response!

We only used NCL’s laundry service once before (on a 14 day cruise to Europe) as Gold status (50% off). Now we are Platinum, and will be taking a longer cruise again. I’ve read posts where people cram as much as they can into a bag. 
 

Because we got 50% off, I know that we listed all of the articles being washed onto the Laundry checklist. Now that the bag is free, do we still need to list the articles? Thanks for your input.

32 minutes ago, yearsofcruising said:

Perrhaps there is a more current thread but can u do the zip lining without the rope course.thxs

The zip line is in the middle of the ropes course, so I believe that you need to do at least part of the course.

Okay, so I went on ropes course for first time two years ago....at the age of 70. Parts of the ropes course were rough for me (walking on single rope was toughest), but I believe that you can take optional routes. There’s no set route, so you can take the easier section. It was a bit exhausting to me, but I made it. Also, on the next cruise on the Bliss, I did the zip line on Harvest Caye (check it out!). As long as you are in fair shape, you can do it! Enjoy!

We stayed in cabin 15250 last year, a spa balcony, and the noise on deck 16 was fine. It’s a great ship, our favorite! Enjoy.

Thanks for the quick response!

We are scheduled to embark on Spirit’s 14 day itinerary out of Southampton. While we’ve cruised a bit out of the U.S., I’m unsure on what is the predominant currency used onboard, say for gambling or tips, whether it’s US dollar, or GBP. Also, we will be spending some time in London, so I’m prepared for UK converter chargers. Will they be needed on the Spirit? Thanks, in advance for any answers.

For our 50th, we are taking our family of 11 to Bermuda in August of 2020, and would be interested in any ideas that you have for a celebration on the island. We’re not really interested in a dinner, but more like a celebration on one of the beaches, or any other scenic spot. We arrive on Sunday, and that’s our actual anniversary day. We’ve been to St. George’s before, and love that part of the island. Any thoughts on a wonderful locale for a visit would be greatly appreciated.

I’ll take a stab at some of your questions.

1. Breakaway buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the options are plentiful. If you’re interested in a more relaxed breakfast, we always eat at Taste or Savor.

2. Free restaurants all have a similar menu, but there are daily specials each night. There are always traditional meals offered each night.

3. The buffet does have a lighter menu available, but you can eat at O’Sheehans 24/7.

4. We eat at Cagney’s And Le Bistro for our specialty dining, and switch between the Brazilian dining and La Cucina for the other meal. We’re sailing on the Bliss in February, and I’m disappointed that Le Bistro has taken cream of mushroom soup off the menu.

5. There are demonstrations and shows during the day in the Atrium. Last cruise, there was a lesson on writing In Chinese!

6. I’m not sure if the shows on your cruise, but we loved Million Dollar Quartet. Also, we’re seeing Jersey Boys on the Bliss...a great show.

7. Some tips: Don’t get frustrated with the crowds on embarkation day; it gets better after that. In planning Specialty dining, be aware that you get locked out of some show reservations, as the require a 2 hour window for eating. Try managing reservations for both shows and dining before leaving. You can still do on board, but you need to manage the specialty reservations, along with shows.

Enjoy your cruise!

We’ve become spoiled about getting a Spa Balcony over our past few cruises. It is so relaxing, especially on Sea Days. Has anyone taken an Upgrade bid, say to a Mini-Suite, and been able to retain the Spa access? I don’t recall seeing any reference to Spa cabins in prior upgrade notices. Thanks for your help!

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Another interesting tidbit is that you can’t get a free glass of water with your meal at the Landshark Bar and Grille. They make you buy a bottled water. I thought that the whole food/bar scene was underwhelming.

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My understanding about getting into Belize is that there are transfers, but only for the NCL excursions, not independent travel.

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Just an update on my original post. We had been to Costa Maya on a previous cruise, and was well aware of the presence of seaweed/sea grass on the beaches. Previously, we had also gone to the beach on the malecon. To me, the beach was rocky in a number of places, and water shoes helped. I was mostly posting about the fact that some of the cruise operators on shore were quietly telling cruisers that it was OK to cancel because of the beach conditions. I didn’t learn this until a few days later. In terms of ports, Costa Maya isn’t at the top of my list, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can certainly appreciate people that enjoy this stop.

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We were on the Getaway this month, and arrived in Costa Maya for a beach excursion on March 1st. We got to the beach, and....you guessed it...seaweed was everywhere. I know that it’s ‘caveat emptor’ when taking any excursion. What bothered me the most is that some of the tour operators (not ours!) were telling people about the poor beach conditions, and were letting them cancel and get their money back. NCL should have taken the initiative on this. Aside from the seaweed, the beach in most cases is extremely rocky. Oh, well, never again!

Re: Senor Frogs:

I originally thought that you were interested in a cool place near the ships, not necessarily with low prices. I don't believe that there's much around the docks that would fit your criteria.

We went for one drink this February, and didn't think that the cost was onerous. Compared to costs on ship (without the drinks package) I didn't think that it was way out of hand.

Good luck in finding something that you enjoy downtown. Honestly, Nassau is one of my least favorite ports, but you may find something that you enjoy.

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Senór Frogs is a short walk next to Straw Market. It's kind of honky tonk, but it draws a large crowd from the ships. Lots of music and line dancing.

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Thanks for your input. We're taking the NCL Escape on 2/27/16. Since we have an extra day at the end of the cruise before taking Auto Train home, I thought that I could kill two birds with one stone.

Budget isn't a real issue, other than it bothers me to pay 'bust out retail' for port parking. I don't mind paying for a room up front, but the off site cruise parking options appear a little nerve wracking to me. In the meantime, I will call a few of the hotels to see if I can do. Thanks, again!

We have a tight schedule for our cruise in February, and are driving directly from Orlando on the embarkation day. I'd like to take advantage of a park and cruise option, but staying for a night after the cruise, not before. Has anybody ever done this? Thanks for your help!

Dates: Fri & Sat 1/30 -2/1/09

# of nights: 2 (pre cruise) for two adults

Hotel: Marriott San Juan Resort And Stellaris Casino

Rating: Resort

Area: San Juan

Site: Priceline

Winning bid: $165.00/night= $330.00

Taxes & Fees: $65.77 (total)

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Total Cost $395.77 (2 nights)

I am such a rookie at this, but I am pleased to lock this rate in. Now I can start relaxing and getting ready for this cruise. I have a rental car, so we plan to explore the island, along with Old San Juan.