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DuckTollerFans

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  1. The entertainment for shows etc ... too early to know. There's been a lot of changes recently and who knows what more will happen.

     

    But the excursions are fairly consistent and can help you know how to budget your time and money.  It also gives you time to research the ports to see if you'd rather venture on your own. 

     

    Be like the rest of us -- start obsessing early! 🙂 

    • Like 3
  2. Kind of related question .... I seem to recall reading that you can access Cruise Critic w/o using up your own internet minutes?  Is that something I dreamed up?

     

    I am considering a semi-live for next month, but also not willing to upgrade my 150 minutes.

  3. We had made reservations late that February for a May Canadian/NE cruise.  At some point before the 13th I read that Canada was not allowing cruise ships in until further notice -- so then we just waited to get the official word from NCL.

     

    We rebooked with all the FCC etc to head to Bermuda in 2021 -- also got cancelled so we rented a lovely Finger Lakes cottage.

     

    Then finally, in March '23 we were able to sail the Gem, then at ~50% capacity. Staff still wore masks, as did some cruisers.  Many of the Caribbean ports were still in flux - when we booked, there were 5 ports listed, by the time we actually sailed I think 3 of them were substituted.  We were just happy to be sailing anywhere by then.

     

    Last fall some friends were on a non-NCL cruise (forgot which) when the husband tested positive.  He was stuck in the cabin the whole time and thankfully they had a balcony. But his wife could go out and do whatever she wanted.   Doesn't make too much sense.

     

     

  4. 11 hours ago, mking8288 said:

     

    @PatJim   Wasn't it the Gem that we cruised together on with the CC M&G and the cabin crawl, a good 5 or 6 years ago.  It's been a while and all is well with both of you ... with best regards & wishes.  One of these days, our path should cross again   /Henry 

    Yes! It was 2018 and our first cruise ever. (Gem/Bahamas) I still fondly remember Pat walking around the terminal looking for the roll call folks and giving us beads!  Talk about a great welcome to cruising.  

    That whole week had a lot of great activities onboard, thanks to @PatJim organization!

     

    • Like 1
  5. Top moments:

    * First cruise ever: stepping on the ship.  Seriously, that moment you're onboard for the first time ever is unforgettable to me.

    * Like @bkrickles1 and his family: Totally swooned over The Choir of Man.  Their musicality and performance and energy make it the best show I've seen on a ship and better than many seen in a theater.  I play the CD and I'm transported back to the ship, grabbing a beer onstage, and being wow-ed. And as an amateur musician I'm always analyzing their harmonies and picking one to follow. 🎵

    * Meeting wonderful people, many of them b/c of the interactions here on CC first before you board.  Even if you don't do much with them, seeing their familiar faces is nice. Checking in with how they're enjoying the cruise, their tips on whatever.  Maybe getting together on a sea day for a drink or a game of Left-Right-Center. (note: add to packing list)

    * There's a local dive I go to often enough that the staff *should* know my name by now. But they don't.  On a cruise, it takes no time for staff to start greeting you by your name, especially in some of the bars. And they engage - asking you how you spent the day, or telling you about their home country.  (like Mauritius -- will I ever meet someone from there again?)

     

    There's that famous Maya Angelou quote: "'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."   And I think cruising is like that.  Happy to be in sailing along the beautiful sea, or exploring in a new-to-me location, or not having any worries other than what to eat or drink, all that .... and knowing I am fortunate and grateful to be able to do vacations like this.

    • Like 2
  6. 29 minutes ago, Red-Sol said:


    All I can say about that is Ugh! When and if they all do the same that will probably be the end of our cruising. (Unless Boston or possibly Baltimore can pickup the slack) I have 0 interest in flying to Florida. Frankly I have even less interest than that to actually be in Florida. 😉

    I'm also in Rochester, Red-Sol.   I have the same interest in any time in FL as you do - 0 -  plus I have no interest in flying.  

    And tho some posters mention cheap flights out of NYC with its 3 airports, it's not so cheap or convenient from other cities.    Some friends left last week -- 6 am out of ROC, then to DC, and then  FLA to board the following day.    We could leave our house at 6am, drive, and still easily make a sailing out of NY. (we always go early though)

    We were supposed to sail out of Boston in May 2020 but we know how that worked out.  We'd consider Boston again if the destination was right.

     

    • Like 3
  7. Oh, Quebec City is delightful!  We visited last September and wish we'd been there longer.  We're thinking of another trip that way this fall to take in more of the charm! This was a road trip via Vermont, eastern part of the province and Montreal.  Maybe even a cruise to or from Quebec out of either NYC or Boston. We're about equal to both.

     

    We saw a Celebrity ship docked while there -- and the obvious cruisers with their lanyards.

     

    Hope you can add a couple extra days to enjoy the city.

    • Like 1
  8. I'm weird in that I like the excitement of waiting in the terminal.  It's a great people watching exercise. 

     

    On my first cruise ever, the woman who organized a lot of activities walked through with Mardi Gras type beads asking if they were part of the CC "gang."  Talk about a great welcome!

     

    I'm one of those people who like to guess where folks are from, what's their story, figuring out if it's their first time, all that.  And wondering who I may make friends with by the end of the week - and who I may want to avoid.  (such as rude behavior to staff)

     

    So when it's time to complete check-in in a few weeks, I'm going for early!

    • Like 1
  9. 2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

    Activities?  Do you mean like Cabin Crawls?  I've done gift exchanges in the past, but it was a mixed bag.  Some participated, some didn't.  That meant not everyone who gave a gift, got a gift in return.  Some like Slot Pulls, but again, it seems to be a mixed bag.  

     

    I think if you have anyone who wants to participate in doing something like a Cabin Crawl, I'd recommend starting early to see who is willing to participate and draw up a route of the cabins and do it immediately after the Meet and Greet, otherwise even the participants tend to drop out.

    Nope -- meant just at the Meet & Greet.  Gift exchange would be as you said -- not all who gave a gift gets one.  At the last one, I don't recall any staff showing up except the event person.  Other trips I've seen a fair number of staff, which I think sets a great welcome and message to the crowd.

     

    Someone else is organizing all the other stuff like slot pulls, cabin crawl. Alleluia. 

    • Like 1
  10. 8 minutes ago, seemoreroyals said:

     

    The paper dailies are handy to have.  If they want to save money they need to get rid of all of the filler that is stuffed inside the dailies. In our case after brief look at the filler, it goes immediately in the trash.  

    I agree.  I like the paper dailies too - in part, because I just like turning off my phone for everything but photos.  Maybe reducing them to one page with only the schedule, weather, port info.  A lot of the material stays the same each day, such as restaurant hours, etc.

     

    But egad, those fillers are a complete waste and ridiculously repetitive!  And if nothing else, it would be good to have a spot to recycle them.

    • Like 3
  11. On 2/2/2024 at 2:24 PM, bkrickles1 said:

    Hendos has loungers and umbrellas right in front of the bar and right next to the Soggy Dollar. It's right by the water and so beautiful! 

    Hey! We'll be doing this excursion too. Good info re: Hendos as a good option to Soggy Dollar. 

     

    I may obsessively look at this video on these gray days.

     

     

    • Like 1
  12. 4 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

    Right

    What I am wondering is that the Daily mentions the largest library "at sea" and using libby-- see right hand column --left page of his Daily pic post #236. We sail Prima on a TA later in spring and just curious about this feature

    Oh wow - I didn't see that. Very cool.   I am **guessing** if you already have the app, it would be like adding a new library to your account and then having access.  I hope they add that to other ships, too.

    • Like 1
  13. 21 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

    @mking8288

    @graphicguy

    Do you know if we already use libby on ipad or cell -- can we access the digital on the NCL prima?

    I see it on the Daily? 

    TYIA

     

    As long as you've downloaded the content ahead to your Libby, your content should be available.  I use mine all the time when I'm camping and it's fine as long as I've downloaded it already.

    (And Libby is just the best!)

    • Thanks 1
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