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Mike45LC

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Everything posted by Mike45LC

  1. But I hope 4,000 prisoners escaping prison is also "incredibly hard." But I am not worried about it. We are low-risk targets.
  2. I stopped cruising out of Ft Lauderdale and Miami because the ship was full of my grandparents and their neighbors (all retired New Yawkas). They did NOT want to fly to San Jaun, so San Juan became my embarkation port of choice.
  3. Roll Call is dead! Wife and I are leaving for a pre-cruise visit to New York tomorrow. I'm wishing everyone safe travels to the ship!
  4. The shuttle to town (it is short walk if you want to skip the shuttle) was $4 pp (US) last May. I think it was a round trip fare. When we took the shuttle in Dec 2022, they dropped us off at a bus station that had multiple tours being offered. But May 2023, they dropped us off on a street a couple of blocks from the bus station. I do not know why the change in locations. The shuttle was right in front of the cruise passenger terminal.
  5. I don't drink, so I've used Casino Drinks On Us for virgin Mojitos, Strawberry Margaritas and Pina Coladas. And lots of soda. No problems. I don't know if the virgin/soda/water is allowed for Drinks on Us under the Texas and New York rules for the first day but I am not going to worry about it. I can afford a day's worth of soda/water if these non-alcohol drinks are not covered on Day 1!
  6. August 2023 Panorama, Mexican Riviera out of Long Beach: Disembarkation Breakfast this morning was the normal Vista restaurant breakfast. The six of us in our group ate a MDR breakfast together for the first time. After breakfast, we return to our cabins to get our carry-on bags, check the safe and toiletries, etc. We are out of our cabin by 8:30 AM. The elevators to get down to the fifth floor are insane, filled with everyone with luggage which greatly reduces the capacity of the elevators. When we get to deck five, the elevator lobby area is completely jammed with people who’ve gotten off the elevator but who have no place to go. We are all waiting for our disembarkation groups to get called. The idiots of Carnival have the theater locked up, which would take hundreds of passengers off the floor. I don’t know if there are special waiting areas for people with status. By 9:00 a.m., we go out to the promenade, where there are only two other people waiting. Lots of chaise lounges are available. At least the weather is nice for sitting outside on a chaise lounge waiting to be called. 10:00, fourth call of group numbers. They are still calling for Express Disembarkation passengers. Now, they are calling for Assisted Luggage Groups 4-10. We are Group 18. I stopped checking the time. When we (Group 18) are finally called, there are long lines to get off the ship and to get through the line. Customs was simple, we did not even need to show our passports. The porter helping us also helped us on our last cruise and remembered us. I dumped our bags on ground floor of parking structure, and went to get the car. My wife stayed with the luggage. There were very long lines of traffic to get out of the cruise center. I am sorry I don't have the times.
  7. It was Princess, not Carnival, and several years ago (pre-COVID). My wife had the flu and was confined to our cabin. I tried to order food for her from the MDR menu to take back to our cabin and I was told that it was not permitted. She was limited to what I brought her from the buffet, the International Cafe and the room service menu. Covid quarantines might have changed the rules -- I've seen lots of small tables outside of Covid rooms for delivery and pick up of meals.
  8. If you are in queue for the tender back to the ship at the cutoff time, they will not sail off and wave goodbye to you. But be on the pier and in line for the tender by the cutoff time!
  9. Perfect! Thanks for the info. I don't want to be subjected to complaints from my Darling Wife about internet speed; she needs to stay connected for business.
  10. "Social" is the lowest of the three levels of WiFi access. Social Wi-Fi Plan Access the most popular social websites and applications including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, SnapChat and the most popular airline sites. Does not include access to most websites and email. Does not support Skype or access to video and music streaming (such as Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Pandora). Cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling and Facetime services are also not supported. I have asked my Vacation Planner about upgrading from the Social Plan to the highest level, "Premium", and was told that I need to check with the Casino Host once on board. I know the "Social" level will not be good enough for my wife.
  11. I prefer a windbreaker or a hoodie for a March sailing out of L.A. That offers long sleeves, but also protection from light rains. For the first full day and for the last full day. Normally, the second day is warmer and pleasant.
  12. Thanks, Stacy. I can see a rowdy crowd on Carnival getting all excited about yelling out the f-bomb. Immature drunken idiots! Not my music; I much prefer Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit. Or Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant -- "Walk right in, it's around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad track..."
  13. Sys, I have not taken the Hop On Hop Off in PV, but I've taken Hop On Hop Off in many cities. These tour buses usually have a tour guide narrative (canned, not live) that can be useful and informative. But based on the map Ine posted, I don't plan on taking the HOHP in PV.
  14. Exactly my thought! Is this a reference to White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane? "Go ask Alice" is one line. Maybe a reference to an Alice Cooper song? As Buckeye said, "Alice? Who dat?"
  15. 2fun, I have never seen a lack of the golf carts. You get out of one cart at any of the main drop-off areas, and another cart driver will be soliciting you before you take three steps. This can actually be annoying.
  16. When I booked my cruise, I knew that I wanted to upgrade the flight. My Vacation Cruise Planner (or whatever she is called) did NOT book the flights for me, telling me to book directly with the airline. I hope it works out for the OP!
  17. Ine, I am so sorry to hear of Ms. Reisman's passing. I used to read the Mirror on-line every week and I missed it when they stopped publication. May Ms. Reisman rest in peace! I was not a huge fan of the CyC restaurant, but I would patronize them to support the webcam. It was relaxing to turn it on for 5 or ten minutes at my desk. I still have it bookmarked, in the hope that it will come back! Hak's post above made me try it once again!
  18. I do not know about NCL, but Princess and Carnival both use their own life boats and Cabo Tender boats. The operation is well-practiced, but it can take long. My last cruise port-call at Cabo, my group of five joined the line for the tender at 7:17 AM (an hour after we anchored and the ship was cleared). The tender was docking at the pier at 7:32, and we were ashore about five minutes later. On a prior cruise, we waited over 40 minutes in line to get on the tender. Then, it took 20 minutes to load the tender, and about 15 minutes to travel to shore. So it took roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes for me to go from ship to shore. And I've heard of much worse waits. We've done the Mex Riv ports enough times that we are not usually in any rush. We eat a nice leisurely breakfast and by then, the queues are usually manageable. Enjoy your cruise!
  19. Hank, is the C y C webcam operational? I think the feed went down many months ago and has not returned. My PV Mirror link also no longer works (but it finally does re-direct to a new publication).
  20. I've seen the kayakers in the water, but I do not know if they booked in advance or just as walk-ups. I also don't know if these are "organized" or if they just rent out the kayaks to anyone for an unsupervised ride. My GUESS is that the hawkers on the pier will be happy to direct you to the person who has kayaks for rent. I have never seen any conflicts between the kayaks and other boats. I'd worry more about the sea lions!
  21. I was hoping that I was special! If they ask everyone, you just rained on my parade!!!
  22. The porters always ask me if I am sure the passport, boarding docs, etc, are not packed when I turn my bags over to them. I don't know if they ask everyone or if they think I look like the kind of dork who would pack those essential docs in my checked baggage!
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