robinpow
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Posts posted by robinpow
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Swim suits and dress clothing has been pretty well answered. However no one is talking about shoes! Lower heal or dress flats for your dresser times, good walking shoes and of course sandals/flip-flops for pool/beach. High heals may look great, but can be tricky if the sea isn’t calm.
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There was a lot of talk on the Getaway last week about the Jade going into dry dock next year.
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On the same ship, same time, and agree it wasn’t up to par! Room steward, barely did what was required. Late night snack all but impossible, unless you want to pay $7.95 fee for room service. The slots were tight, even for a ship! Heck if you could even get a drink in the casino, you felt like a winner.
The Garden cafe, had lines, because of the style of lay out. However wasn’t that bad.
There was a noticeable increase of young drunk activity. I have a funny feeling ship security had their hands full. Again, annoying but not horrible.
For smokers it was hell on water! Between the ship layout and heavy restrictions sets up an issue for smokers and non-smoker to butt heads! Only four places to smoke on the whole ship, and only one if it’s raining (not counting the tiny corner of the casino). Not near enough space, not convenient, and pretty much sucked. The old way of having port side for smokers was much better. Heck we weren’t even allowed to smoke in the cigar bar!
New smoking restrictions, fee heavy, long slow lines even for platinum to embark, lack of quality with room stewards, my days may also be numbered too.
As for the ports, not every port fits everyone’s taste! Didn’t bother to even leave the ship at the private island! Cozamel has changed a lot over the decades, not all for the good.
Roatan was my favorite. Yes Roatan can be a little funky, but at least it still has culture and not just a beach/mega mall shopping port. My first time there, was ages ago when it first opened. No tourist shops, no tours to speak of, no vans or buses, no restaurants... Just a few stands where the stores are now and a lot of very polite locals. The a few years later went back, and it was starting to look like Cozumel did in the old days. This trip more development. Figure in another 5 years, it won’t have any of the original charm, and will become just another generic port of call.
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6 hours ago, crewsweeper said:
Agree that having to pass through the Dufry shop in any port is a hassle. But it has never ever taken me 15 minutes to walk through the one at Puerta Maya, and that includes stopping once to buy some mescal, and pay for it.
Maybe your timing was wrong and you got behind a tour group, but even then NY Subway rules apply and you just push on through.
The one I had to deal with last week, was a round two story mall of shops! You enter, and have to walk almost 360 degrees left, to get to the escalator to go down. The walk almost 360 degrees right to exit the building! Shops on the right, stalls on the left all trying to pull you in, and other passengers in the middle also trying to escape. Then reverse the whole process to get back to the ship.
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I did the drink package last week. If you have more than two drinks a day, it’s the best deal! The WiFi is slow, but if you need to stay connected and don’t stream, it can be a money saver. The $50 off excursion, one per port is probably the worst deal.
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Same cruise, but a different perspective.
Each person will have different expectations and experiences. For me, I wouldn’t get on this ship again, even for free! Which mine was.
A lot of little things, on their own wouldn’t have been an issue, but simply too many things accumulated.
Embarkation took over 90 minutes, and that was in the Platinum line. I hadn’t had an experience like that in decades!
For ages was greeted when we got on the ship and offered either orange juice or sparkling wine. This time were herded like cattle.
Since I was traveling solo, I didn’t upgrade and took a regular inside cabin on the 9th deck Fwd. Glad I was solo! Would have been snug for two people, don’t know how they would have squeezed four! The storage drawers that are normally under the desk, are now a mini bar. Shelving was in closet, and with the safe also located there, very limited! Two other tiny cubbies to put small items to right of desk and in wall. Bathroom shelves, you have 2. If the luggage doesn’t fit under the two twin beds, you are S.O.L. for walking space. If you are solo or couple and have the twins pushed together, there isn’t enough room to stand up on either sides the bed, without ducking the upper bunks!
Cabin steward was fair. He cleaned the room, would say hello if passed in hall, and made three towel animals. However had to track him down after a couple of days to get a laundry bag! Then again, to get a breakfast room service door cards.
The casino, went the 1st and 3rd night, and just wrote it off! The first night after over an hour of playing was able to get one drink. The second time, after two hours of playing without a drink, cashed out and left.
Late night meals near impossible, and if you got a table was loud. One restaurant for a ship with 4,000 passengers. Other ships had been able to make a to go orders, not on this ship! Only other choice was Room service, having a 7.95 service charge, no thank you.
Bar service on 15 was good. Bar service deck 8 mid ship, port side (Sunset bar), I didn’t have any issues, other than over crowded most of the time.
My biggest complaint is where many people will have a different opinion. The ship is not smoke friendly! Only 4 small places to smoke!
Mid ship deck 8, port side outside bar has limited seating.
Mid ship deck 15 has a ‘Hot Box’. A plexiglass glass box with 30 chairs and 4 tiny cocktail tables. No fans, for air circulation. Acoustics were horrible, you couldn’t talk in a normal tone and be heard. Then if that wasn’t bad enough if there was anything like music going on, no way to have a normal conversation without having to yell. Hot and loud. Also the only place other than casino to smoke if it rained. It rained for over half of our cruise.
Deck 16 aft, outside at least had tables and chairs! Great as long as it wasn’t raining.
The casino has one corner, with very limited choice of machines you can smoke at. Staff was also rude to several smokers. While looking for a machine to play on, were told they couldn’t smoke, unless the were actively playing. I wasn’t one of them, but spoke to several people that complained of this.
Bottom line not enough space to accommodate all the smokers on the ship. This can cause friction between smokers and non smokers.
Also who ever thought it was a good idea to put the kid pool port side near the Garden restaurant on 15, should be tarred and feathered. Not only has that always been the smoking area on ships, having to walk through a bunch of wet kids, every you go for lunch or even a cup of coffee isn’t pleasant. Older ships have always had a separate area for the little one’s pool.
Food at the Garden (15 aft), was o.k. Not great, not bad, what I would call Purina People Chow. It filled a void.
Duty Free liquor and cigarettes has far less to choose from, than in the past.
Little incidental items were greatly reduced also.
Fine jewelry shopping was enlarged.
If you use reading glasses, bring a spare pair, because the shop no longer carries any!
Some people will love this over grown hunk of metal, I’m not one of them.
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Like most, always was a TV of sorts. Don’t remember a cabin safe before 2000. More important I miss the late night dinning! Parties on the deck, the Chocolate Buffet... food that was so pretty you waited in line just to photograph it!
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Hate this newer terminal! Like walking through a whole freaking mall of venders! The trike guys were great, but didn’t bypass the crap. For decades I’ve enjoyed Cozumel, after last week, no more. The town might look nicer, but has lost it’s personality.
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Random times. Your best bet is to join one of the Facebook groups. There are several with tons of active members and you can find out almost immediately.
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On 10/25/2018 at 10:40 AM, What'sUpCooley said:
4 Cruises currently available on NCL at 11:40AM. All 7 days.
2 from Miami
1 From NYC
1 from SJU
600,000 each
GLTA!!!!
Yup scored one of the MIA! Best deal I’ve ever got for a cruise.
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When hubby was living he took one with me. He just didn’t like to travel, from too many years on the road for work. I did travel with family, and still occasionally do, however at our ages a bit harder to plan and pull off. Have traveled with a few friends, and that can be fun.
However I enjoy solo the most! It’s a bit gready, but it’s total freedom! I do what I want, when I want with no worrying about anyone else. I to get up at 3 am and watch a movie, no problem. Don’t feel like eating dinner, who cares. Long shower, no worries someone else needs the bathroom. Extra drawer space in the cabin. No worry about how many power outlets to charge batteries..... Yes the list is long. 😁
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The thread lasted longer than the ship. LOL
I also did the Dream and she was a true nightmare and the Crown wasn't much better.
Of course I had a great time on both, but I too always pack my sense of humor.
The best part, was it set the standard so high for bad, that I'm immune to problems.
I just wish the would offer South America routes again.
Getaway, Dec 9-16, A middle aged, middle class opinion
in Norwegian Cruise Line
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Very restricted!
Back left corner of casino, and only if active on a machine.
8 port side mid ship, outside bar, has several stools and a couple of tables. Limited protection from rain. However if you get there before 8am, you might luck out and get coffee!
16 aft starboard side bar. Has tables and chairs, no protection from weather.
Dec 15 mid ship, the big hot plexiglass box. 30 chairs, 4 tiny cocktail tables and horrible acoustics!
Thats it! Can’t even smoke in the cigar bar anymore.
Simply not enough accommodations for the amount of smokers.
Hope me this helps.