IamAlyce

I stayed last month at the Hyatt Place in Dania, it shares a shuttle with the Hyatt House. The location to Dania place was great, walkable to restaurants and stores (I ate at the Italian restaurant in the parking lot). Hyatt House is having construction done, not sure how that affects the hotel, Hyatt Place was fine, the breakfast was a grab and go and is included. The rooms were a little tired but fine for a nights stay. The bar/restaurant in HP is closed but you can walk across to HH. I found the restaurants close by to be a great option, and if you have forgotten anything lots of options to shop.

1 minute ago, MorganClark said:

 

Edge was in Nassau yesterday and I managed to snag a couple of pics of her;

 

 

I can’t wait to be on her!

4 hours ago, MorganClark said:

@Ramona_Flowers, @choose2cruz

 

You guys are speaking my language! I'm also a brand new solo cruiser. I'm currently in Nassau and will be boarding the Adventure of the Seas at 12 noon today! I originally booked a regular balcony stateroom but I put in a "Royal Up" bid and RCI accepted my bid and upgraded me to a spacious balcony stateroom (for only $60, no less). Btw, I didn't know Adventure of the Seas even had solo (studio) cabins. I didn't think they had studio cabins on these somewhat older ships.

 

And, wrt Celebrity Edge, I'm booked in a Single Infinite Veranda (SIV) on her Oct 2-9, 2021. I'll let you know how the SIV experience on Celebrity was. Ironically, the Edge was here in Nassau yesterday and I got to watch her depart (outbound) from Junkanoo Beach;

 

 

I am boarding the Edge today in a solo Infinite Balcony. I’ll take some pics and post here how it all goes! First time on celebrity.

elaine

On 5/13/2021 at 6:07 PM, IamAlyce said:

We flew on an airplane first time in over a year last weekend, was packed!

Just now, Stempy said:

Just received email from Viking.

shore excursions available tomorrow morning at 9AM. 
Only  Viking tours allowed on island...no independent travel 

Me too!

10 minutes ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

Oh, keep in mind that travel is roaring back, so reserve your test appointment a couple of weeks in advance.

We flew on an airplane first time in over a year last weekend, was packed!

8 minutes ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

Oh, keep in mind that travel is roaring back, so reserve your test appointment a couple of weeks in advance.

Thank you, I’ve searched where we are and all of them say results 48 hours or more.....

On 5/12/2021 at 12:02 PM, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

To try to avoid this nonsense, we are going to pay the $300 for the same-day full PCR test (results in <12 hours).  Good luck to anyone that tries anything else.

 

And we will likely get tested at two places that use different labs.  Just to be sure of getting results in time.  So pre-travel test will cost us upwards of $1,200.  Just the cost of business...

Where do you get this type of same day PCR test?

On 5/1/2021 at 6:05 PM, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

My procedure depends on the requirement being 3 days, not 72 hours.  We are arriving Bermuda on a Saturday.  Here is my plan:

 

Day 0 (Wed) - Take same-day full-on PCR test at 9am.  Results promised by 8pm.  After getting results, upload test results, fill out on-line form, and submit Travel Authorization request.  And hope the credit card company does not stop the transaction at some point because they suspect fraud...  This will get the request to Bermuda before their 9am-8pm Bermuda-time vetting window on Day 1 (Thurs).

 

Day 1 (Thurs) - Bite fingernails and drink to excess until we receive the Travel Authorization.  Bermuda promises <24 hours turn-around.   So expect to receive the authorization any time up to 8pm PDT.  Could be very drunk by then...

 

Day 2 (Fri) - Catch flight to Miami from California.  Stay overnight at a hotel near the airport.  Eat only packaged food to avoid restaurants...  Fret about covid on the pillows, and bedbugs....

 

Day 3 (Sat) - Catch morning flight to Bermuda.  Since in first class, flog the free booze to calm nerves about the test at BDA...

 

 

Jeez-Louise, with all the other tests Viking will administer that we have to pass, will we ever be sober???

 

I like your thinking....

On 11/21/2019 at 5:01 PM, mom says said:

Explain to me how Border Control can zero the ship if pax haven't left the ship. Even B2Bs have to get off, if only for a few minutes. And when they reboard, they do it as pax for the next cruise

Funny story about NCL laundry; this happened about four years ago, we put in our bag for wash and the next day had an officer cone to the cabin with someone from laundry to explain they forgot to put the tags on everyone’s laundry and were unsure of who’s was who’s. We had to go through baskets of laundry and figure out what was ours. As did others that had laundry done that day. We still laugh about digging through a basket of undies.

25 minutes ago, Rassilon said:

We are, yes!

Awesome, so are we, just joined the Roll call!

elaine

On 6/4/2019 at 1:22 PM, Rassilon said:

We are on the Joy in a few months for a panama trip and are staying in a Concierge Family room.  I was under the impression that we could start making reservations 130 days out b/c it was considered a suite room.  Is this accurate?  I looked on the website but it still says everything is too early to book.  First time doing a suite type room with NCL so not sure if I'm just missing something.  

 

Also, for those that have already been on Joy.  Does anyone happen to have any pics of the arcade area?  I've seen quite a few of the VR Pavilion but not much (any) of the regular arcade.  Got two kids traveling with us so folks are excited about the prospect of playing arcade games at sea 🙂

 

Are you on the October 2019 Los Angeles to Miami crossing?

On 5/23/2019 at 4:23 AM, kiwi_family6 said:

Hi - we have booked this cruise for Sept 2020 and I am a newly diagnosed coeliac (we spell it differently in NZ) - how do you deal with the meals on the first night?  Should I contact them beforehand?  Thanks for your help 

Hi, they will have some meals that are marked on the menu as Gluten Free and you can choose from one of them that first night. You can also speak with a chef if you want to order something different but usually they have a variety of choices. I try and just pick something easy like a salad and a plain meat or fish that first evening and from then on you can preorder your meals.

On 5/12/2019 at 12:09 PM, mjkacmom said:

We’ve ordered gluten free pizza from room service.

That’s great! Thank you for the info!

On 5/12/2019 at 11:27 AM, BirdTravels said:

You can also leave your room and find something to eat. You are in port every day and two overnights. Not much reason to be in your room. 

Well thank you for that advice, im sure we all have different cruise styles, mine includes enjoying room service and relaxing on my balcony during my cruise.

On 5/8/2019 at 2:01 PM, FLcruisergrl said:

Speak with the restaurant manager upon boarding. You plan meals in advance and you may be able to arrange a room service meal in advance, such as GF pancakes. My daughter has celiac and we will be cruising in June for the first time since her diagnosis.

Yes, I've had good luck in the MDRs as long as I've ordered ahead of time. It's the Room Service menu and buffet (if you have cross contamination issues) that are harder.  Usually I just request some fresh fruit and a boiled egg from the back and that's what I have from the buffet at breakfast time.  Good luck to your daughter, the first year after diagnosis was the hardest while traveling.  I always carry packaged snacks in case there's nothing available.

On 4/19/2019 at 12:14 AM, BirdTravels said:

First, you are obligated to notify the cruise line 45 days in advance if you have a special dietary need by contacting their accessible sailing desk 866-584-9756. For Celiac, the ship's waiters can point you to acceptable food products (may be harder on the very limited room service breakfast menu) https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

 

Examples of reminders to waiters on the Bliss

I have already notified NCL about my food allergy, was hoping that they had expanded their Room Service menu to include some Gluten Free items, but doesn't seem like that has happened.  Oh well, I know I can always get some fresh fruit in the room if needed.

Does anyone have any experience with the Room Service menu and food allergies? I have Celiac and am wondering if there's anything I will be able to order. Especially for breakfast, we are not in the Haven or Concierge.  We will be on the Pride of America.

3 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Hi all!

 

I’ve just booked Pride of America for July 2021 for the first part of my birthday trip (I will go to Disney’s Aulani for a few days after) to celebrate my 50th birthday! I’m in an ocean view cabin with the beverage package and the shore excursion credit as my perks.

 

I’ve cruised Royal (3 of the Radiance class ships), HAL (once to Alaska), fathom (to Cuba and then Cuba/DR when it existed), and mostly Disney (all their ships), so I’m not new to cruising, but I’m new to Norwegian. I’m also gluten-free due to a wheat allergy.

 

What tips do you have for a new NCL cruiser?

 

Thanks!

I have sailed both DCL and NCL while having celiac and both are very similar. You will preorder the night before at dinner (if you do the MDR) just like you do on DCL and it will be attached to your record so when you go to dinner the next night, you will get what you ordered. For the buffet it is harder, you can ask to speak with a chef or a head person and they will advise you what’s safe. For the specialty restaurants you tell them you have the allergy and they work with you to get you a meal. Even teppanyaki is safe.

its pretty easy and painless.

Booked ncl Jewel Vancouver to Tokyo, 19 days. Anyone else??

Thank You All -- We changed our cruise today from the Star Panama Canal Westbound to Jewel Transpacific Vancouver to Tokyo...

 

Now have to start working on travel arrangements & where to spend our extra time in Japan - Can't wait :)

I am looking st this same cruise. Have you found a Meet up thread for this date?

Hi all, we have an 8 hour layover in the Oslo airport and wondered if anyone can tell us if 1) is the city close enough to taxi to, 2) would there be something to do/see, 3) anything to keep us busy in the airport for that long (2 adult), 4) there are two walking distance hotels, does anyone know if they rent day rooms?

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

We just toured the hotel on our own one visit but we didn't get a chance to see the famous wine cellar. Nice little hotel, we plan to stay there in the future.

The wine cellar was most impressive!! When we did the wine pairing with lunch we sipped some very nice wines.

Elaine

Last August with my 19 dd. it was a lot of fun and informative and you get a lot of chocolate!, was it worth it, it was for us as we were looking for something different and this fit the bill. We took our chocolate back to the ship and shared with our table mates. I wouldn't do it again as once was enough. Also have done their adult wine tasting lunch with DH and that was fantastic!

Elaine