Turtles06

So do we!

And thank you for sharing the name of the collage app. I’ve downloaded it and have been playing around with it. Great fun. I share lots of photos on my review threads, and this will add a nice visual option. Keep enjoying your cruise!

The photo in post 408 of the old wooden boat laying on its side on the beach in the left foreground, leading your eye to the long expanse of water behind it is perfectly composed and visually stunning.

And I didn’t say they were, in terms of people’s behavior.

I think a good part of the concern the OP was expressing was that other pax who were clearly ill with something weren’t doing anything to protect others.

For sure, to each her own. I’ve been to Antarctica (expedition cruise), and it’s hardly just “snow and ice,” although the ice is absolutely extraordinary. It has its own incredible presence. But, if it’s not your thing …

Some additional info for folks on cruises calling at Geiranger. There is indeed a floating dock called the sea walk. It accommodates only one ship (which pays for the privilege). The link below is to the official port schedule, which shows the scheduled in-port position of each ship. If you see 4B/SW, that’s the sea walk. It does appear that the NCL Prima in August and September will be at the sea walk. No tendering. https://www.stranda-hamnevesen.no/cruise-calls/

I’ve sailed in forward-facing suites directly under the Bridge on the Gem and Jewel and it was definitely not a “drawback” to have to close our curtains at night to avoid light pollution on the Bridge. First of all, once it gets dark out, you really can’t see anything outside through the glass from inside your cabin, especially if your lights are on. Second, the darkness in the bow was a huge plus — weather permitting, the stargazing from our balcony was amazing.

You’re welcome. How you clear immigration in the MCT has nothing to do with whether a porter can assist you with your luggage. With facial recognition lines, the porter just stands off to the side with your luggage on their cart, then they rejoin you once you’re through. We just did this in February. Have a great trip!

When you are in the baggage claim area in the cruise terminal, grab a porter before you get your bags. Tell them you need help with your bags and getting into a cab. They’ll take your bags as you go thru immigration and then, based on my own experience, they’ll walk you across 12th Avenue and put you into a cab. Give them a good tip.

Most people think nothing about handing a porter or bellman a few bucks or more per bag just to stick the bag on a rolling cart and roll it somewhere. And yet the people who are cleaning their hotel rooms, cleaning their toilets, making their beds, taking out the trash, vacuuming, changing the linens, etc. are often overlooked. Whether we are traveling or not, we recognize that these are difficult and unenviable jobs, and we always tip the housekeepers, and especially well on the final day of a stay, when the entire room has to be turned over.

And for dessert, or a treat anytime — go to the BeaverTails shop. (Queues de Castor in French) Yum!!!

You can buy travel size duct tape, Here’s one available on Amazon. A search will turn up more. We always keep a roll in our carryon. There’s the old adage: If it moves but it shouldn’t, use duct tape. If it doesn’t move but it should, use WD-40. 😊

Have you checked flights into Montreal?

When we were on the Gem this winter, a sign in the Bridge Viewing Room said no photos of the Bridge were permitted. We’ve been on the Gem many times, well after 9/11, and that sign had not been there before.

I’ve done four full transits of the Canal. It’s an amazing experience. I wanted to point out to you that there is an entire forum here on CC devoted to the Canal, at the link below. If you haven’t already discovered it, it’s a great place to get information and ask questions. And plenty of discussions about tours. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/54-panama-canal/ One of the comments earlier in this thread wisely said that your decision whether to stay aboard after the first set of locks or take an excursion should be informed by whether the ship you are on will be going through the original locks or the new locks. What ship is it? If you are going through the new locks, you might want to consider the excursion that takes you in a ferry-sized boat though the original locks on the Pacific side. Perhaps, though, that doesn’t fit with your description of yourselves as “not particularly adventurous.” 😂 As for “The Path Between the Seas,” it should be required reading before going through the Canal. It’s that good. Enjoy your cruise!

On our most recent NCL cruises (this winter), there was no need to check with the server before ordering. Every server began by telling us what we could order. It was unexpected — never had that happen before — and a little off-putting (perhaps colored by my belief that NCL should not begrudge its most loyal guests a salad and soup. And that began before covid, it wasn’t driven by pandemic finances).

The amounts suggested above are good ones. We tend towards the $10pp for the guide. If there’s a driver (as well as the guide) don’t forget a tip for them as well.

I know. I was responding to another poster. As for the OP’s food, it should never have been served. And the hope she is successful in nipping the nightmare in the bud.

Some years ago, at O’Sheehans on the Jewel or the Gem, I forget which, I ordered what the menu called a “corned beef sandwich.” Imagine my surprise when what was served to me was a Reuben, which was not listed on the menu! I had no problem with this, as I love Reubens, and the one I was served was actually pretty good. It sounds like, across the fleet, some of the chefs and servers are unfamiliar with Reubens. That’s no excuse though, if they have it on the menu, they need to make a good one.

This may be the recent thread about B2B benefits that I had recalled. Note the advice in comment 8 about how that poster had dealt with missing benefits on the second leg.

@Yv0nne I’m really sorry to read of your terrible experiences on the second leg of the cruise. It’s as though all of your conversations about the problems during the first leg had never happened. The GM really needs to make all of this right. I’m glad that you have maintained your sense of humor and your ability to enjoy the ports, shore excursions, bakeries, reindeer, sea glass, and all the other things that are not controlled by NCL.

It shouldn’t matter whether there are two reservation numbers or one. These are separate cruises, and anyone booked on both (whether under one booking number or two), should be getting their Latitude benefits and “Free at Sea” perks on both legs of the B2B. There’s a fairly recent thread discussing just this topic right here in the NCL forum.

Exactly. I’m not sure whether the OP posed the question because they have some concerns about eating ashore (a concern that really depends on where in the world you are), or whether they are wondering whether people don’t want to pass up a lunch they’ve paid for.

Totally agree. There’s nothing wrong with identifying the cruise line here.