slidemaster5

FYI - I posted these comments this week for a Princess roll call for September 2024. I currently live in RI. Replace the below weather comment with: October - High will be in the 60s early part of the month dropping to high 50s by month end. Nights 10-15 degrees cooler. In the fall the weather changes often and gets influenced by the wind direction - warmer if the wind blows from the land, cooler if the wind is blowing from the sea. Newport In General Climate/crowds: Labor Day weekend expect 75-80 degrees weather. Don't be surprised if it is humid since we do have hot humid summers here but usually cooler on the water. Expect crowds if the weather is nice since this is the traditional end of tourist season so the streets will be crowded by late morning. (Locals often avoid this weekend since parking gets difficult - obviously not a cruiser issue.) Newport is probably the OG of seaside towns and has a feel similar to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA. Downtown Most of the shops and restaurants are clustered in the downtown area which consist of America's Cup Avenue and Thames Street which run parallel along the Bay. America's Cup is along the Bay and Thames Street is just east of it a block away. My understanding is that tenders drop off at Perrotti Park which is on America's Cup Avenue. Shops and restaurants start at Perrotti Park on America's Cup and go about a half mile or so southward. Thames Street shops and restaurants start about a 1/4-mile further north. Restaurants For the locals (Rhode Islanders) Newport is very popular year-round. The wife and I have two favorites we take people to: Brick Alley Pub on Thames Street which has the pub and tavern feel and The Mooring which is seafood (has meat options). The Mooring has great views if you get an outside table since it overlooks the Bay, and you are in the midst of a wharf / boat slips. Brick Alley is a 5-minute walk (.2 mile) east from Perrotti Park and The Mooring is a 7-minute walk (.3 mile) south down America's Cup. There are plenty good restaurants around. I strongly suggest making reservations no matter where you plan on going. Make them at least a few weeks out. As a point of reference, I tried to walk into Brick Alley on a weekday in the summer and there was a 1 hour wait for lunch. Excursions One word - yikes! The last excursion listed (Newport Scenic Schooner Cruise) is a great example. I took family last June on the same schooner and it is $45 a ticket. They want $129. You can actually book the same time they are showing and save yourself $84 per person and still have the safe return guarantee, LOL. Mansion tickets run $25, $38, $46 for one, two, or three mansions respectively if you want to compare. Now, you would have to uber/taxi to avoid the walk (about 45 minutes) but you get the point. Points of Interest Various boat rides (as discussed above) are generally from Bowens Wharf is about 5-minute walk from Perrotti Park down America's Cup. Mansions - if you do one, I suggest the biggest and most famous - The Breakers. Marble House or Rosecliff are also good options. (I haven't been to Rosecliff and may go this summer. This mansion is the most "filmed" - True Lies/The Great Gatsby(1974)/Heaven's Gate/Amistad.) If you are into cultural or are of the Jewish faith, Touro Synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in the country. (5-10 minute walk from drop off). If you like sports - the International Tennis Hall of Fame is there. (20-minute walk from drop off point) The Cliff Walk which runs a total of 3.5 miles is scenic. The easier (flat sidewalk part) is the first mile or so and wraps around the Breakers. Some points literally require rock hopping so that is not for the casual walker. If you want to walk the flat part have them take you to the end of Narragansett Avenue which dead ends at the ocean. Uber/taxi since it is a 45 minute walk from Perrotti Park.

FYI - I posted these comments this week for a Princess roll call for September 2024. I currently live in RI. Newport In General Climate/crowds: Labor Day weekend expect 75-80 degrees weather. Don't be surprised if it is humid since we do have hot humid summers here but usually cooler on the water. Expect crowds if the weather is nice since this is the traditional end of tourist season so the streets will be crowded by late morning. (Locals often avoid this weekend since parking gets difficult - obviously not a cruiser issue.) Newport is probably the OG of seaside towns and has a feel similar to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA. Downtown Most of the shops and restaurants are clustered in the downtown area which consist of America's Cup Avenue and Thames Street which run parallel along the Bay. America's Cup is along the Bay and Thames Street is just east of it a block away. My understanding is that tenders drop off at Perrotti Park which is on America's Cup Avenue. Shops and restaurants start at Perrotti Park on America's Cup and go about a half mile or so southward. Thames Street shops and restaurants start about a 1/4-mile further north. Restaurants For the locals (Rhode Islanders) Newport is very popular year-round. The wife and I have two favorites we take people to: Brick Alley Pub on Thames Street which has the pub and tavern feel and The Mooring which is seafood (has meat options). The Mooring has great views if you get an outside table since it overlooks the Bay, and you are in the midst of a wharf / boat slips. Brick Alley is a 5-minute walk (.2 mile) east from Perrotti Park and The Mooring is a 7-minute walk (.3 mile) south down America's Cup. There are plenty good restaurants around. I strongly suggest making reservations no matter where you plan on going. Make them at least a few weeks out. As a point of reference, I tried to walk into Brick Alley on a weekday in the summer and there was a 1 hour wait for lunch. Excursions One word - yikes! The last excursion listed (Newport Scenic Schooner Cruise) is a great example. I took family last June on the same schooner and it is $45 a ticket. They want $129. You can actually book the same time they are showing and save yourself $84 per person and still have the safe return guarantee, LOL. Mansion tickets run $25, $38, $46 for one, two, or three mansions respectively if you want to compare. Now, you would have to uber/taxi to avoid the walk (about 45 minutes) but you get the point. Points of Interest Various boat rides (as discussed above) are generally from Bowens Wharf is about 5-minute walk from Perrotti Park down America's Cup. Mansions - if you do one, I suggest the biggest and most famous - The Breakers. Marble House or Rosecliff are also good options. (I haven't been to Rosecliff and may go this summer. This mansion is the most "filmed" - True Lies/The Great Gatsby(1974)/Heaven's Gate/Amistad.) If you are into cultural or are of the Jewish faith, Touro Synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in the country. (5-10 minute walk from drop off). If you like sports - the International Tennis Hall of Fame is there. (20-minute walk from drop off point) The Cliff Walk which runs a total of 3.5 miles is scenic. The easier (flat sidewalk part) is the first mile or so and wraps around the Breakers. Some points literally require rock hopping so that is not for the casual walker. If you want to walk the flat part have them take you to the end of Narragansett Avenue which dead ends at the ocean. Uber/taxi since it is a 45 minute walk from Perrotti Park.

FYI - I posted these comments this week for a Princess roll call for September 2024. I currently live in RI. Newport In General Climate/crowds: Labor Day weekend expect 75-80 degrees weather. Don't be surprised if it is humid since we do have hot humid summers here but usually cooler on the water. Expect crowds if the weather is nice since this is the traditional end of tourist season so the streets will be crowded by late morning. (Locals often avoid this weekend since parking gets difficult - obviously not a cruiser issue.) Newport is probably the OG of seaside towns and has a feel similar to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA. Downtown Most of the shops and restaurants are clustered in the downtown area which consist of America's Cup Avenue and Thames Street which run parallel along the Bay. America's Cup is along the Bay and Thames Street is just east of it a block away. My understanding is that tenders drop off at Perrotti Park which is on America's Cup Avenue. Shops and restaurants start at Perrotti Park on America's Cup and go about a half mile or so southward. Thames Street shops and restaurants start about a 1/4-mile further north. Restaurants For the locals (Rhode Islanders) Newport is very popular year-round. The wife and I have two favorites we take people to: Brick Alley Pub on Thames Street which has the pub and tavern feel and The Mooring which is seafood (has meat options). The Mooring has great views if you get an outside table since it overlooks the Bay, and you are in the midst of a wharf / boat slips. Brick Alley is a 5-minute walk (.2 mile) east from Perrotti Park and The Mooring is a 7-minute walk (.3 mile) south down America's Cup. There are plenty good restaurants around. I strongly suggest making reservations no matter where you plan on going. Make them at least a few weeks out. As a point of reference, I tried to walk into Brick Alley on a weekday in the summer and there was a 1 hour wait for lunch. Excursions One word - yikes! The last excursion listed (Newport Scenic Schooner Cruise) is a great example. I took family last June on the same schooner and it is $45 a ticket. They want $129. You can actually book the same time they are showing and save yourself $84 per person and still have the safe return guarantee, LOL. Mansion tickets run $25, $38, $46 for one, two, or three mansions respectively if you want to compare. Now, you would have to uber/taxi to avoid the walk (about 45 minutes) but you get the point. Points of Interest Various boat rides (as discussed above) are generally from Bowens Wharf is about 5-minute walk from Perrotti Park down America's Cup. Mansions - if you do one, I suggest the biggest and most famous - The Breakers. Marble House or Rosecliff are also good options. (I haven't been to Rosecliff and may go this summer. This mansion is the most "filmed" - True Lies/The Great Gatsby(1974)/Heaven's Gate/Amistad.) If you are into cultural or are of the Jewish faith, Touro Synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in the country. (5-10 minute walk from drop off). If you like sports - the International Tennis Hall of Fame is there. (20-minute walk from drop off point) The Cliff Walk which runs a total of 3.5 miles is scenic. The easier (flat sidewalk part) is the first mile or so and wraps around the Breakers. Some points literally require rock hopping so that is not for the casual walker. If you want to walk the flat part have them take you to the end of Narragansett Avenue which dead ends at the ocean. Uber/taxi since it is a 45 minute walk from Perrotti Park.

I would be curious if this 80-year-old had received an OK from her doctor to travel alone for 3 weeks. My mother who is independent at 84 is restricted from her cardiologist from flying long flights (over 2 hours) because of the blood clot issue due to her age. While this 80-year-old passenger supposedly had 30 hours of flights to return from Africa to the west coast.

It is like that for everything. I have worked in Taxes for 40 years and the media makes ridiculous comments on that subject too. Never mind the politicians on both sides who have no idea what they are talking about.

Great! Perhaps there should be pinned medication thread, lol. I am going on a NCL Bermuda trip next month and I will always carry a few days' worth of meds off the ship. Not looking for a CVS in Hamilton.

What I find most interesting is the fact that so many on this thread are on the Campbells side in some form (compare that to the 96 comments on the yahoo site cited which are almost unanimous for the ship). I have been on a whopping 1 cruise and a member here for a short time and the all-aboard rule is mentioned constantly (as it is on virtually every YouTube channel). It is a rule not a guideline. If you want to take the risk of an independent tour off the coast of Africa, that is your right and I do not wish ill will, but if you suffer the risk of missing the ship I am not sympathetic. I also have to comment on the medication issue. There is less information here but if one is taking medication that is health critical (chance you can die or get critically ill) you must take it with you whenever you leave the ship.

As reference I received my FCC today for a May 2024 cruise. I have learned from this site that around 60 days is probably the point that it starts getting "iffy" not to pull the trigger. I learned to monitor after final payment. The FCC at just over 60 days was twice the price drop at 90 days. Also, when I check prices I phantom book to make sure that there is more than 1 of my room type available. If there is only one room left it may warrant asking for the FCC earlier. You also want to make sure that you received the FCC email from the "pricedrop@ncl.com" sending address.

As reference I just got a FCC today for a cruise in May 2024. No flight with NCL.

As an example I cancelled a June 2024 cruise last month and got my deposit back. I didn't even have to call PCC. The online chat refunded it.

I used the AT&T international plan in Canada last fall and it worked exactly as described by Rick&Jeannie and Turtles06.

Agree on safety since I heard there are large waves in the Atlantic. I live near Boston and its 29 here now and 71 in Nassau. I think one logistical problem for the folks who took the cruise is having the wrong type of clothing in their suitcases.

A Canada/New England trip - do you mean an MSC trip to Bahamas? lol.

Good news lardor. Based on your location I should say "Bear Down". To close the loop on the story I heard that now after the outcry the passengers got a full refund, 100% FCC and a drinks package for their next RCI cruise. Good ole corporate strategy of ready-fire-aim.

Agreed. I was curious from a legal standpoint so that is why I did a cursory review of NCL's T&C. I would expect the cruise line to rely on this argument. The cruise line has a 29-page terms and agreement contract to benefit themselves. The passenger can always file a civil suit for damages which means that the venue in my example could be Bermuda since NCL is a Bermuda entity. NCL probably will not disclose the "unavoidable event" until the discovery phase in the lawsuit. In no way am I defending the action taken that left 11 groups on the dock. As discussed above, they could have adopted the airline overbooked strategy and would have found volunteers. I was recently on a Richmond, VA flight and Delta initially offered $200 compensation to be bumped. It eventually went to $1000 and then they had more than enough volunteers. A business model that treats its customers poorly will eventually destroy its goodwill.