mking8288

Jade still at GSC, tender ops ...

Once had a Buick Skylark, small V8 engine ... a number of years later, Buick Century V6 powered ... and somewhere then, Pontiac Grand Am, V8 & custom dual exhaust. The old days ... easy DIY oil & filter changes, spark plugs & routine maintenance, perhaps also b/c it was simple. Nowadays, paid our trusty mechanic to deal with it. One of the neighbors down the block has their Caddy from the 70's & still looking pretty as it's been garaged. Mindset among some cruisers ... a 15 to 20+ years old cruise ships is too old to sail, times-r-changing, LOL.

Wow, gooooood afternoon to you in Southampton onboard the Regal. Smart choice to do laundry. You managed to disembark from the Island to the Regal in 91 minutes flat, impressive move with this B2B transfer, job well done by Princess. That's "Stayin Alive" 😎

Hi, Barb with thanks for the heads up ... sounds like all is well with you, have you heard from AJ & RJ lately as we've been busy ourselves. Been taking the online pulses & vibs from the Cunard forum and appeared there's a divine among hardcore Cunard folks about changing with the times and dressing down. There's always the buffet and pub food option, room service is complimentary & the menu choices looked pretty good ... with long port days, we might just "fill" up from afternoon tea if the formal night gets too annoying. Savings from the bundled prices for the balconies vs. NCL simply made it very attractive, couldn't care less what others think and their looks - we'll see and find out soon. And, they are going to have 6 vacant seats if Shakespeare is on. Read something about great lectures but in-appropriate topic/subject on an Alaska itinerary - something about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, surely Cunard ships do not sail anywhere near Central Asia and/or China. Will be a very interesting report, to say the least. Best regards.

Yes, madam 😁 SY ... but look what I got recently - dark color blend in easier, except formal & theme nights. Trying to pack as light as possible, like that TA with overnight stop in Iceland. At least they aren't going to be using the scale as long as it fit the sizer, gate-checking carry-on remains a distinct possibility with the darn B737 birds (thank "god" for having priority boarding with the Chase bank card, haha)

Another good summary review of Princess experience cruising and great photography, thank you for setting aside time to write and post, sincerely appreciated. Concur with the sentiments of others including @njkate above, NCL has been sliding lately (a little, some and/or a lot is a matter of personal opinion, I shall mine/ours for now ... since others will challenge, debate & question) and not a matter of thinking anymore, as our thinking part started in 2023 began we took several more NCL cruises, including 3 TA and concluded that we are overdue to expand our horizions, and taking our extended families and friends along to see the broader universe. Our next 3 upcoming cruises aren't going to be with NCL, not that we've abandoned entirely ... we have 2 sailings booked for 2025, something we never used to do but seeing the trend ahead, and with available FCC that "never" expire - what's there to lose. Game time is when we approach cancellation & payment in full deadlines, grateful to use our digital calendars to remind us. Thanks again, PATRLR for this report.

@www3traveler Wow, oops but thanks ... now, what are we going to do for our 16 hours in Skayway (OMG - okay, 14 hours b/c we don't plan to join the Pier Runner's Club & get stranded there. Worst come to worst, we'll just "wing" it as usual - as long as mother nature doesn't rain down hard on us. There's a QE trip report this week, and, trying to caution the twin nieces that skies aren't blue daily but often grey, and to pack wet weather & waterproof shoes, not Crocs or sandals. Worst come to worst, will enjoy afternoon tea since dinner has been changed to late seating.

@JIMESOPUS Jim ... that's a nice B2B, Gem being one of our favorite ships, easy to get around ... doesn't matter whether it's still Summer or not here in the NY Tri-state area or not, by the time you get up to Halifax, Sydney & PEI, likely feel like the Fall that way. Going to drive across Mass pike to park at Black Falcon T for 2 weeks ? Is Bar Harbor still a planned tender stop ? Have a great one !! Will also be heading that way out of Cape Liberty toward the end of September ourselves with a 2 weeks break in between our Alaska cruise. That should be virtually "entertaining" for other CC folks hanging out here.

Perhaps, by chance, maybe, could it be, possibly ... room services possibly got your breakfast order mixed up with another guest's and messed up the delivery ?? NCL's room service delivery typically has the order slip and signed for, don't have a clue what & how Princess handle it. Anyway, loving those descriptive photos and the photography ... of course, give a bit of credit to the iPhone itself, enabling the vivid presentation. Cheers 😎

Most well-build luggage will survive multiple trips over the years, especially carry-on that doesn't end up being gate checked ... and not from being dropped from the jet-bridge ramp "straight" down to the tarmac. Flight crews simply just don't check their TravelPro "pro" bags even while deadheading - among the first to board & take the prime space on flights and off-duty ones are always well taken care of by others on the job. Rest of us gotta do what we need to - retired my Kirkland Signature 23" expandable carry-on (from Costco - 15 years ago) that was once my "go to" on domestic flights, especially JetBlue as it's within the allowance, darn thing is 12 lbs empty ... don't even think about using that to flying international where carry-on are increasingly limited to 10 kg/22 lbs. That beast had been to Asia a # of times and taken a good # of closed-loop cruises, curbside-to-ship-to-home again, even for 12 to 15 days (NCL's "free" laundry helps, of course) Nowadays, gotta double-check with the portable luggage scale & tape measure or else get challenged by the gate "police" with the sizer eager to collect fines. Anyone doing Bermuda and/or Canada/NE soon on NCL or otherwise, appeared that cabins are available for last minute booking, prices ... #cough #cough and not seeing deals for solo cruisers. @Sugar Magnolia are you still going to kickoff the Fall series eastbound on the Sky 😉

@www3traveler With much thanks, Mandy for the heads up ... Going to quite an adventure, huh. Reykjavik volcanic disruption threats for our Prima TA and wildfire in the Pacific NW and Canada ... global climate changes are real, here we are taking a short pause as temperature out East are going be up again starting this weekend. Stockpile of KN95 and KF94 respirator masks are good, along with regular 3-ply facial mask ... flying in early, AirBnB (condo apartment for 6) in Richmond, BC for several days and then head to Canada Place to embark on the QE 8/30. Will get an extra "script" of inhaler & nasal spray, just in case. Haven't started early packing yet ... really should, Cunard doesn't have an App - things done on mobile browser only, going to be an interesting adventure as newbie - not going to be Live, probably very limited "Semi" not here - that we'll start early before leaving. Seemed like a good # of NCL "addicts" are checking out the competition like we do, maybe YVRTeacher will be back to help with a bit of cheerleading & insider's tips, haha, loving her Princess reporting.

Go "all in" with just being a good neighbor in case they feel a need. 100% on what Sy said. Could be as simple as giving them a ride to the appointment, picking up basic necessities & groceries along the way for them ... a homemade basket of fruits & cookies as a special treat, etc. etc. - be creative and surprise them. Something as simple as giving them a big & friendly hug ...

Excellent "buy" and BTW, nice & shinny big wheels next to your pre-owned spinners 😉 😁 😂 Our oldest SIL is 78, her cancer was diagnosed nearly 30 years ago and she is one more living proof today (sailing with us again this Fall) ... reassure your neighbor all shall be fine upon early diagnosis & skilled interventions with advances in medicine ... thoughts & prayers for them. Have you checked your spam email folders lately ... within the past 72 hours and noticed anything, eBag Store is closed and now getting flooded with Samsonite marketing, free Standard Shipping with Orders of $250+ 🙄 😬 😳 Pulled out one of the 10 years old eBags 22" carry-on rollerboard, lifetime warranty and sturdy as ever, wear-n-tear but nothing broken or worn ... nope, not planning to buy any luggage ahead but been watching Away and Level8 as possible replacement for DW. Just about 1 month+ before stepping onto the once "Friendly Skies" and head west, YVR bound for 10 nights Alaska ... gotta decide to tactically use eBags' MotherLode convertible backpack/expandable carry-on (19" or 22") or the rollerboard, first world problem. UA's personal bag allowance is more "restrictive" size-wise but with priority boarding, hopefully, we'll at least fit all 6 carry-on overhead ... never a fan of the B737's going back to the 1980's. Meanwhile, waiting to see when T-Mo is going to roll out cellular to satellite (via Starlink) especially while roaming, sold & traded up the 2 years old Samsung S22+ to the newest S24, 7 years of updates & support ...

Dan, that pre-owned TP luggage is a steal from your neighbor at the asking price ... how's that different from, possibly sometimes buying from Amazon or other items from online stores, coming from a warehouse or shipping distribution point. Give it a good visual inspection outside in bright sunlight, wipe it clean and then check closely for any signs; then put it in a clear plastic bag, double bag it & quarantine it overnight. If in doubt, there are specific products (online from Amazon & probably at Home Depot) designed to get rid of those bugs - spray it and keep that in the garage or backyard, etc. and check it for any signs - before brining the bag inside. As for the original box for the luggage, I would promptly dispose of that properly & not keep it around.

Could you kindly tell us when you booked this balcony cabin ... in question, since you mentioned you "recently booked" this ?? You stated that you are sailing on the Epic shortly ... correct. And, that by the time (when ?? as in number of hours and/or days, approximately) you discovered, realized and otherwise learned that it is now what you had in mind) that ALL the balcony cabins were sold out ?? When you were initially looking at balcony cabins, were other cabins available and offered ?? at different prices and decks, etc. ?? Typically, full & final payment are 120 days from sailing or embarkation date ... and if you "recently booked" - were you aware of the cancellation & payment deadlines/penalty to cancel or change ? Assuming that you booked this thru a TA based in the USA, you can cancel within 24 hours of payment, if I am not mistaken - regardless. Trying to see if we can sort out the timeline ...