themaxydog

It looks like Star has a booking for 05:00GMT in the 19th through the canal. That, if my maths is correct would be roughly 9pm on the west coast of America on the 18th or 14:00 on the 19th here on the east coast in Australia.

Her present course and speed will get her there on time.

Those canal transit date I have in the previous post are wrong it is more likely to be the 18th or 19th.

Just as an update Star just changed it's AIS tracker to read it's destination as Freeport confirming where the fix will occur.

I am on the cruise to Copenhagen on the 27th so I have been searching for any and all information I can find to make an informed decision before leaving Australia. I, like many of you, are disappointed with NCL's lack of information to those of us especially that have to travel half way around the world to meet their ships. I am ex Royal Australian Navy so I do have some experience with ships and the problems that develop.

As others have said, Star had virtually a complete azipod overhaul and upgrade during the recent dry-docking and NCL came straight out naming ABB and it's units as the problem, so we have to assume that the problem is related to work done by them.

The ship is also still able to transit at speeds greater that 16 knots which I believe would be the top speed if one azipod was totally unserviceable. Others have also stated that the wake appears to be almost normal.

If the ship was safe enough to continue the Mexican Riviera cruises and not the Panama Canal cruise then it can be assumed that the issue may be one of manoeuvring rather than propulsion with just one of the azipod units.

I have done a Panama Canal transit and ships are required to manoeuvre themselves, forward through the locks and through the various lakes. I personally believe that one of the Azipod units has a rotation problem therefore limiting but not stopping the ship from manoeuvring/steering in tight situations, such as the canal. Most likely NCL chose not to risk passengers being on board a ship where there is even a slightest risk of a problem occurring.

NCL has released the dates of 21st to 26th that the ship will be in dry dock and this will most likely occur in the Bahamas, a dry dock that is very familiar with cruise ships and their propulsion units. As others have said it is then only a quick 12 hour steam to Miami to then start the Transatlantic cruise on the 27th.

Some time today I expect that the ship will leave Los Angeles and transit south to the canal. She is still on the books for a transit on the 22nd but I would think this has been cancelled and she will transit sometime between the 16th and 18th depending on a slot available. Barring any incident while transiting and a problem in the Bahamas I would think she will make her April 27th sailing date and NCL seem just as confident.

Again, this is my own opinion, but it all appears to make sense on available information.

I need some help please from those who regularly cruise Explorer out of Bayonne please.

I need to hire a car on arrival after the cruise so we can drive out to Long Island and stay there for a few days with family. Can anyone give us some advice on the easiest way to achieve this, there doesn't appear to be providers near by.

John

Can someone please tell me what time the Shows are in the evenings. Need to know for booking MTD.

Many thanks

343 or roughly 29,750,000 seconds;)

I am sorry but after reading the two threads I would feel intimidated if a tour operator mentioned tips and as for putting a sign up well thats incredible.

I think I would get of the bus and forgo the tour I would be that offended by the signs and the reference to tips.

But again thats my opinion and as far as I am aware we are all still entitled to that.

Depends if the "tour" gave us more than expected, or if it was what we paid for! We've had some excursions that simply take you there, and bring you back....not "tippable" IMO! We've had some excursions that really went out of their way to give us a great time...and we did tip those guides!

Base your decision on your experience. You don't HAVE to tip...you won't be considered rude or cheap....and if they think that, that's THEIR problem---you won't see them ever again! Tip if it's worth it.

I cant agree more "cb at sea". Coming from a country where tipping is not the norm we often get looks from service providers overseas for not tipping. It is not because we are cheap its because it is something we dont often do, therefore dont remember to do.

I was interested to read "chriskwarren" where he said the wages were $8.25 an hour. Since our dollars are roughly the same it may interest you to know when I sold my hotel 4 years ago I was paying waitresses in the dining room then $17.00 an hour, and they would complain if they didn't get a tip.:cool: Most now recieve $20.00 per hour and the service we get sure doesnt reflect this wage.

My tipping policy is based on the wages that staff recieve in the country I visit and the service I recieve. I was on a shore excursion through NCL in Hawaii and we had had a great day. I would even say that is was the best shore excursion I have had to date. We decided to give a tip to the driver and asked for advice from an American couple that we had got to know. I had the money in my hand and was willing to hand it over but when I came to the front door of the bus I noticed that the driver had his hat out to recieve the tips. Now I am not sure if this is the normal thing to happen but I found it offensive, IMO. Consequently I put the money in my left hand, shook his hand, and walked away.

I think a tip is a personal private thing and those who try to increase their tip by publicly advertising how much individuals give or the fact that they are expecting a tip should get nothing.

Tipping is for people who go beyond what their employer asks of them. It is a reward for enjoying what you do and being able to convey your passion to the customer to highten their experience. It seems that has been lost over the years and its now considered the norm. :(

Cheers