Smitheroo

10 hours ago, urlaub said:

In Germany the newspaper also say it is Cholera. Much more terrible than Norovirus.

Oh I'm sure anyone with norovirus wouldnt care about the difference

On 2/25/2024 at 5:08 AM, Asawi said:

Wondering the same! As someone who will embark Dawn in less than 2 weeks I'm not amused. But to each their own I guess... 

In 2013 I was booked for a TA on the Queen Mary 2, my first voyage since 1966. Always scared to death of norovirus.  It turned out the cruise before mine (mine was 1/3/13) was the Christmas cruise and it was ruined by norovirus. Apparently even the staff succumbed in large numbers. It was on the evening news as I was making last minute preparations for my trip. You can imagine I was not happy.  They handled it well. The CDC came on board in NYC and outlined what they had to do to disinfect the ship. Instead of leaving NYC late afternoon we were delayed until 9 pm. The crew was hypervigilant about wiping down surfaces. The captain gave an announcement every morning updating the protocol/   It worked out fine.  I am sure that NCL will handle it well also. This is really a BIG problem for a cruise line, they have to.  

On 2/23/2024 at 5:33 PM, RocketMan275 said:

There will be many who don't bother.  Have you ever noticed how messy some rooms are while you're walking down the hallways?

II try not to

5 hours ago, kitkat343 said:

I really don't want my kids going into the toddler pool because so many parents ignore the rules either.  On my last NCL cruise, there were lots of kids too young to be in the splash pad, including actual babies, one of whom fell over and started choking on the water he inhaled.  What makes it hard is that if you have a potty trained child who wants to go in the splash pad, you either have to tell your kid no and deal with your child melting down or allow them to be exposed to a health hazard or ask some worker making very little money to have a potentially uncomfortable confrontation with parents who are unlikely to react well to being asked to get their kids out of the splash zone.  As a parent who skipped vacations until my kids were potty trained and old enough to go in the kids club, it really sucks.   

I agree with you

8 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Or, they could just create a spot to return the dirty dishes.

that would be ideal. Some people still wouldnt bother but some will

8 hours ago, yakcruiser said:

Also some adults.

true lol.    To be honest, the sight of those hot tubs with 6 people in them gives me the willies.  I guess a public pool could be the same for the squeamish

7 hours ago, gizfish said:

The OP has been trying to enquire by email. Last time I called NCL they were still answering the phone and still had supervisors.  Hence my saying "speak" with a supervisor.

ok, worth a try

10 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

So, you're saying he should just leave the dirty plates on the floor, or on a table, or on a chair?  

No, not a chair or the floor.  On a table which must be what NCL wants if they dont provide appropriate places to put dirty dishes.   You said he should take them back to where he got them from which was a pile of clean dishes and the counter in front of the food. How could that be acceptable?

It would be easy to wonder if a parent is telling the truth that yes, their two-ish child is toilet trained so can use the pool.  Put him into the wade pool and say yes, he is toilet trained if questioned.  You dont think some wont do this?  Obviously cant with a baby.  And even older children pee in the pool so it would be very likely a toilet trained toddler would. Even more so because you can stress the important of not doing so with an older child.  I wouldnt want to be in the toddler pool

On 2/20/2024 at 12:34 AM, gizfish said:

OP, speak with a supervisor at NCL and have them locate and listen to the tape of the call where their agent told you the certs were refundable.  

He cant get them to respond to inquiries how is he going to get a supervisor to speak with?

On 2/20/2024 at 5:41 PM, RocketMan275 said:

Take it back to where you got it.

I'm sure he got it from a pile of clean plates. Surely you dont think he should bring it back there, or the counters in front of the food

20 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

thanks for the explanation.  I remember the Circle Line tours from my youth but the Intrepid wasnt there nor the parks. Its all very nice.   I see to recall running across the street dodging traffic and under overhead rails or maybe just overhead roadway back in the 1960's to get to the ships. Was there a major cleanup of that area since then?  Im assuming that the "docks" were in the same area as the current pier is now.  I cant remember how I got from the Port Authority down to the docks, must have walked.   Fun times!   I could answer this question if I researched old newspapers as the shipping schedules gave the locations. 

Too late to edit.....  Just googled "NYC docks in 1960's" and they were where they are now.  They must have cleaned up the road in front of them.   There were also some docks down by Greenwich Village. I remember visiting HAL liners there.  My friend and I were 19, got picked up by some foreign guys (turned out to be crew from the SS Rotterdam in Washington square. Had a few drinks, walked a long way down to the ship and they showed us all around the deserted ship.  Good grief, that could have turned bad but they were very nice young men.

22 hours ago, UKstages said:

officially known as the "pier 86 pedestrian bridge," it was designed in the 90s to provide easy access to both the intrepid and the circle line cruise pier. it wasn't completed and opened until the early 2000s.

 

prior to the introduction of the footbridge, there was just a painted crosswalk and it was kind of a deathtrap, although i'm not sure anyone was actually hit.  also, tour busses and cars used to be able to pull up near the intrepid, but once hudson river park and its bike paths were built, that was no longer possible. that's why the footbridge was developed at a cost of something like ten million dollars, if memory serves, mostly due to construction surprises along the way.

thanks for the explanation.  I remember the Circle Line tours from my youth but the Intrepid wasnt there nor the parks. Its all very nice.   I see to recall running across the street dodging traffic and under overhead rails or maybe just overhead roadway back in the 1960's to get to the ships. Was there a major cleanup of that area since then?  Im assuming that the "docks" were in the same area as the current pier is now.  I cant remember how I got from the Port Authority down to the docks, must have walked.   Fun times!   I could answer this question if I researched old newspapers as the shipping schedules gave the locations. 

8 hours ago, hallux said:

No I didn't.

Maybe they didn't anticipate the popularity of solo cruising when those ships were designed?  When they started out I believe they DID host the nightly meet there, but it outgrew the space.  The Bliss, Escape and Encore can easily accommodate 50+ in the lounge (but some will need to stand), with 86 Studio cabins on each ship.  My last cruise had 70-120 on the first 2 nights, the meeting got moved to American Diner for more space.  My cruise on the Escape last year had 30+ on the largest night, it was in the Studio Lounge every night.

 

Did you check at the RIGHT times?  Were you there between 5 and 7?

ok, seems reasonable. Doesnt matter to me really as I wouldnt use the meet up functions.   

19 minutes ago, hallux said:

If there was a bartender they would only be there during the solo meet.  There's no 'announcement', it's an activity listed among the rest of the activities, usually 5 or 5:30 PM...

but you said there was no "solo meet" in the studio lounge. It was usually held elsewhere on the ship (I'm guessing to accommodate other solo cruisers not in the studio accommodations). the studio lounge has a bar in it. Why have a bar if no one ever has a chance to use it. Its possible I missed the opportunity but it wasnt very frequent because I checked enough times to catch it at some point.

On 2/10/2024 at 5:48 PM, travelloverontario said:

Hi 🙂

 

I am not sure how to start this, but will just dive in. Please forgive my lack of proper writing!!

 

Long read.. sorry

 

Female, almost 60, married, non-drinker

 

I have taken 8 cruises, 4 of them with my husband and all 4 children, 3 with just my husband and I, and my most recent one last March with just my adult daughter. I LOVE CRUISES!!!!!

 

Less than two years ago I lost my 31 year old son to cancer. From diagnosis to when he passed was a quick hell journey of only 3 and a half months. My daughter (a Registered Nurse) and I were his caregivers. Needless to say I am still pretty broken and griefstricken.

 

Currently my husband is undergoing treatment for brain cancer. It is slow growing and has a very good prognosis and he is handling treatment very well...he still works full time. However, due to his treatments he cannot get proper travel insurance, and I know the insurance company will try to blame most accidents, etc on his 'brain tumor'. So we just do not feel safe going un- or - under  insured.

 

Main reason for this is..last cruise he and I took (January 2020) he took his first ever seizure on a beach in Antigua... drowned.. no pulse..no breath . He needed to be revived with CPR etc. We spent a week at the hospital in Antigua until it was safe to fly home. Dealing with that and the insurance company un-nerved me... and I do not want to find myself in a position where I am not sure if we would be financially covered (on top of the already emotional craziness).

 

My kids all have their own lives and jobs, I have lost several friendships after the death of my son (apparently a common issue), and I find myself alone more and more.

 

BUT... I WANT TO CRUISE!!!

 

I spend time on the Celebrity forums and have been reading so many trip reports from solo travellers...especially women. I never thought I would EVER go on a cruise by myself, but now a seed has been planted!

 

I can travel alone in the sense of I would not be nervous (I am careful and use good judgement), and am confident in that way. I have no issue going to a show alone or to a restaurant alone or flying by myself, etc. In fact I quite enjoy it. I am quite independant.However here are my worries. They may not make sense to you, but perhaps they will.

 

** My main worry is being sad and lonely and getting depressed and then feeling like an ocean jump is calling. DO NOT BE ALARMED!!! I am NOT suicidal, but I am stressed and grieving. I read of people jumping, I read of people 'being called to the water'.. and that scares me.

I am not really explaining this very well, but I worry I will get on the ship and be having a good time and then suddenly feel very alone and taking an emotional dive with no one around to talk to.

 

So...for those who travel solo... have you had any experience with that? Has anyone been worried about things like that? Has it happened? What did you do about it?

 

*** Do you find it hard to make cruise friends? Is it hard to dine alone every meal? Do they have solo events (not singles hook ups.. but just solo)?

 

**If I did excursions, I would likely go through the ship.. although I never usually do that..I usually do my own thing. But I think I would feel safer doing that solo.

 

Anyway...I am sure many, many more ideas and questions will come to mind if I keep considering this.

 

But for now... I just would like some feedback and thoughts on if I should play around with the idea of actually doing a solo cruise .

 

My husband would be supportive, and he would be fine at home...I would not be leaving him stranded in any way!!

 

After the loss of my son recently, currently losing a close friend to cancer, and my husband going through all his cancer treatments... time away for myself may be a Godsend. However I worry it would be great for 2 or 3 days and then I would sink into a pit of lonliness and despair. ...dramatic much?!?!?!?  Lol

 

Thanks for any thoughts and/or encouragement.  🙂

I am so sorry for all the losses you have endured and the stress of your husband's illness.  Reading through your post, I can understand a lot of it, being a solo traveler myself.  But the part that scared me is your worry that you might feel a "calling to the water" if you ever got glum.  That might not technically be "suicidal" but its scary.  or maybe you just have a very creative  mind. As lonely as I've sometimes gotten traveling by myself it has never occurred to me that jumping overboard would be an option.  The thought of how that would affect anyone around me when I did it, or the crew responsible for trying to find me  would bring me back quick. Suicidal people dont think of the consequences to others of their actions.  As a young teenager I was unfortunate enough to be at a table next to a man who slit his wrists at the table (not kidding) next to me.  It took decades for me to get over that.  Maybe you should take some more time. I know if you wait longer your husband might get to a point you wouldnt feel comfortable leaving him. That's a negative about waiting. Do you have someone you could take one cruise with just to unwind? That person wouldnt be signing themselves up for a lifetime of being a travel partner. Even if, as you said, you are not suicidal, you could get to a point where you would be extremely miserable and that's no fun at all and I also think it wouldnt help you with what you need right now. I recommend a friend or relative who would go with you.

15 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

The daily solo meetings are listed on the Freestyle Dailies. Meetings are usually around 5:00 or 5:30, either in the solo lounge if it is a very small group, or more often at a bar, or even at the Bliss/Spinnaker Lounge if it is a very large group. The solo host usually makes arrangements for the group to dine together at one of the MDRs, and sometimes the solo groups will take over 3-4 tables. Other solos might arrange to dine together at a specialty restaurant. Still other solos might just show up at the meetings to socialize and have a drink, but then go off and do their own thing. The more engaging solo hosts will hold trivia or other types of contests for prizes which range from coffee mugs to raffle tickets for a free cruise.

 

Was not aware of any of what you are describing on my recent Getaway cruise in studio accommodations.  I now realize that the announcement of a meet up place would have been made in the ship newsletter but since I wasnt looking for it didnt notice it.  Never saw anything that resembled a group dining in the MDR, especially a large group. Maybe they were the ones at several tables for 6 or 8. I would have no way of knowing they were all together. Still, they have a studio lounge with a bar and never saw a bar tender once. The cookies were self service.  I had no idea how to work the coffee machine that I heard makes great coffee so had to do with out that.  I make a few friends hanging out by myself thanks to friendly people and that adds to the enjoyment of the cruise but isnt absolutely necessary. I know I sound dull.

2 minutes ago, SoloAlaska said:

It’s in the Dailies every day and on the schedule on the app. Considering a lot of solo cruisers aren’t staying near the studio lounge and many ships don’t even have the lounge it makes sense to post it where everyone can view it. The solo meet up on my Gem TA had well over 100 people on the first night and on average over 40 people per night. They had to switch us to larger venues and get us more bartenders when in spinnaker. Having a great solo coordinator makes all the difference. 

Well I think its really pushing it for solos to expect to all dine together in the MDR. or sit together at an evening show. Glad I like to hang out by myself or make friends by myself and meet them for dinner.  But you're right- it is in the newsletter but since I wasnt looking for it I didnt notice the announcement right away.    The Studio lounge is nice for people traveling together to get together but I never saw it nor did I ever see a bartender, yet there was a bar. Fine for me, I just went to a bar in the public areas of the ship

On 8/30/2022 at 8:16 AM, Cruise Kay said:

The number one thing I find hardest about cruising solo is the before and after. I really really don’t like staying in hotel rooms by myself. I mean it’s not that big of a deal, I just really would rather not. I also don’t like getting into taxicabs by myself. Or Uber. So before the cruise I fly out the day before, get in a taxi to go to the hotel, and then spend the night in a hotel by myself. I hate that part. I don’t love taking a taxi from port to the airport on the last day either. 

 

but really that’s the biggest hurdle for me. There are time times on the cruise I feel a bit lonely but for the most part, 99% of the time, I just love being able to do what I want when I want without having to discuss it with anyone else. Want to skip lunch? No problem. Choose a different location for dinner? No problem. Skip a port, sleep late, get up in the middle of the night and watch a movie, see a show multiple times because I enjoy it so much, laying in a pool chair all afternoon, I can do all of those things without inconveniencing anyone else or having to compromise or ask someone else to accommodate me. I really enjoy cruising in all that it offers, and for me the few twinges of feeling lonely here and there are well worth the trade off of several days on a gorgeous ship. 

 

I will add that I generally skip eating in the main dining room and I certainly don’t do specialty dining by myself. I don’t like those things even when I’m with someone, and eating in a long drawn out way by myself is not enjoyable. I love doing the buffet and eating when I want as quickly or as leisurely as I’d like.

 

I know this sounds corny, but I wonder if it would be helpful for you to make a list of things that you might not enjoy as a solo cruiser and a list of things you are pretty sure you would enjoy very much. You might see that one outweighs the other.

I travel a lot on my own since my husband decided he doesnt like traveling any more. "too unpredictable"  ok. I've gotten used to staying alone in hotels/motels (I even camp alone)  I agree about the transportation issues. I never take a taxi.  Instead, I research public transportation and what I need to be able to take advantage of it. (less luggage) I actually enjoy riding in a train with the local people. I will walk if its feasible.  Lonliness from time to time is a small price to pay (for me) to avoid having to accommodate anyone else's needs or desires. ie I have a friend who I occasionally travel with. She doesnt do trains or anything that requires her to carry her luggage. I have even said on occasion "ok, you get to the xxxx  (whereever you are headed) they way you prefer and I'll meet you there.  Its a little harder if you want to get up in the middle of the night to watch a movie. I miss having someone to converse with in the MDR.

On 2/15/2024 at 10:09 PM, SoloAlaska said:

There are some decent solo deals out there. Come over to the solo boards for most of the info you need. Also you don’t mention which cruise line you’re trying to book with.  So far I’ve cruised celebrity and NCL solo and had a ghost scheduled for a RCI cruise but I now have a roommate. 
 

NCL is setting itself apart by being very solo friendly with gatherings every evening. They have solo cabins in almost every category on every ship. 

Except that they dont let anyone know when those solo gatherings will happen. I was just on the Getaway in the Studio accommodations. Very nice.  There were plenty of occupied cabins, I never saw more than one man in the lounge at one time, never saw a bartender although there was a bar. I never saw any announcement or information about a solo gathering anywhere on the ship. It was okay because I wouldnt have gone anyway, I was just trying out the solo accommodations.  So it you are looking for solo gatherings, better ask our room attendant. to be fair, there might have been something in the Dailies. I want looking for that.  I would think there would a notice posted in the Studio lounge

3 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Solo meet ups are rarely in the studio lounge. They are usually in a bar. 

Well, they keep them secret then because I saw no evidence of any. That's ok, wouldnt be interested anyway.   But glad they have that for those that want it.   What amazed me was having a bar and never seeing anyone attending it. And no, it wasnt self service like the cookies

18 minutes ago, hallux said:

then you never saw the solo group show up at the MDR...

It is interesting that you say that because I just was on the Getaway and part of this "solo group" and there was no group seating. There were plenty of occupied cabins in the Studio cabin area yet no one went to dinner together (or at least in a noticeable group). There were no meetings in the studio lounge. In fact I never saw more than one man in the Studio Lounge at any one time.  There was a bar in there and I never saw a bartender. (there were very good cookies available and I went every evening to get a couple) It didnt bother me because I was just trying out the Studio. I have no problems doing anything alone.   I have another Studio on the Bliss coming up so it will be interesting if it is the same, or as I've heard the Studio accommodations/passengers described.  

On 2/10/2024 at 3:48 PM, brad0576 said:

Probably best for us that enjoy NCL - we are all on a ship together and have to accept a little give and take considering the staff is trying to accommodate everyone.

 

if I was NCL I would have forced a party of 14 to either dine very early or late - I would never take a large party during peak dining hours… or I would make them split their group.  

I agree, why is it necessary for them to all eat together  I've been on 3 NCL cruises so far (ok, not a huge number) and have never seen a group like this is the MDR. 

13 hours ago, gatorchinsky said:

We have never been to Alaska so looking to book one of the 9 or 10 night Joy cruises either April 23, 2025 or September 19, 2025. Both of these cruise Glacier Bay which is something we really wanted. None of the other longer cruises in between these dates cruise Glacier Bay. My question is if we book either of these would the White Pass Rail train excursion be running since it’s in late April or mid to late September? Thx!

My Alaska cruise on the Encore was the end of september, beginning of October and yes, we chose the Skagway-White Pass Excursion.

On 2/11/2024 at 9:59 AM, cruiser2015 said:

BTW, have you heard about the new towel animal replacement?

 

Every day, our steward (last month on the Bliss) arranged the bed pillows in a different pattern.

Not quite as entertaining as the animals, but interesting.

You know, I'm betting the room attendants are really glad the towel animals are gone.