SnowshoeCat

Hi BQ,

I used Cocoa Beach Shuttle http://www.cbshuttle.com for my one trip and it was fine. I will use them again in December. Since they have to wait at a remote parking area at the airport, they had me call them when I was about 20 minutes away (either from baggage claim or en route from my hotel). I did have to wait a bit at the pickup point, but it's Florida, not Syracuse, so I enjoyed the sunshine. We did make a hotel stop in Cocoa Beach to change vans and pick up a few more passengers. I don't know if that's normal or not, but it wasn't time consuming. I just wanted to mention that because it seems some people are really averse to "waiting around".

When are you sailing?

I've only been on four cruises, Carnival, Royal, and two on Norwegian. I have four potential cruises planned in the next 12 months, one each on Carnival, Celebrity, Royal, and Norwegian. So I guess I'm not too loyal ;)

Maybe if I became a more consistent and frequent cruiser (this coming year notwithstanding), I may find a specific line is a better fit for me, but for now, I like variety, and just choose whatever fits my needs and schedule.

Oh no, kruisecat and RuthlessBoss, I most definitely was not offended, nor did I mean to come across as overly sensitive. I was just rambling out loud! The problem with the written word is that is does not show all the nuances that exist with the spoken word. So please, no offense taken and none meant.

 

After all this, I have been convinced by my dear spouse to not take the Magic Bullet as we will have to check then our bags. I forgot that the blade can't be carried on. So the Magic Bullet will stay at home, but I will likely take some protein powder with me ... just in case I can sweet-talk the bartender into blending it into one of my "drinks".

 

We depart tomorrow for our cruise to the Caribbean!

Oh good! Take the protein powder - maybe you can create your own concoction and take home a new "recipe" :)

T

 

With regards to "pigging out" while being on vacation ... eating healthy is part of our lifestyle now. I love to eat, so I'm not going to deprive myself of the things I love (who doesn't love french fried potatoes! :)), but I also don't buy into the eat-all-you-can buffet anymore. Stuffing myself full because it's all-inclusive or because someone else cooked it isn't worth the lethargic bloated feeling that comes later. Plus I like to be active and feeling lethargic just gets in the way!

I realize this isn't the point of your thread, but I eat healthy, too, but that doesn't mean I 'pig out" or "stuff myself" at the buffet. I can still eat healthy. There's fruit and yogurt (just not blended together). There are temptations that I can resist, and others I enjoy as a treat. Yes, some people's idea of a vacation may be to gorge themselves, but my idea is that I have lots of options (i.e variety) without having to prepare it all myself, or clean up afterwards ;) That's all.

I think this has become my favorite thread (not including all the "popcorn" ones ;)) I'm sure I won't even need the MDR on my next cruise :D

Glad it worked out! Have a great cruise!

Thank you! (And they really were having some computer problems when I called. It was just a coincidence that it was while I was trying to take advantage of a really good deal)

That's weird its showing me a casino rate of($139) $212.35 and resident rate of ($159)$242.35

Okay - I'm back. The cabin I was in (up/down bunk bed) apparently wasn't available. But... the midship OV was available, so I booked that for about $120 less than the interior. I could have saved a little more if I booked an aft cabin, but why be greedy :D I like midship, anyway, so I'll splurge. So four nights, solo, less than $100/day including fees and gratuities!

You have to pay to get a booking number, so I didnt go that far, but I got to the point where it asked me for payment. Which cruise are you looking at? ?

Ecstasy, Dec12.

Which ship and saildate are you looking at? The deal is capacity controlled so when the cabins are gone they are gone.

 

I just tried it on a few cruises from the list and the 0% SS is still available

Did you get all the way to the page with the booking number? When I chose the cabin, it still had the low price, then the next page showed the higher price. Even the agent on the phone tried to get me to get the booking number for her so she could work her computer magic, but we couldn't get it to stick. Maybe I'll try again later.

I just got off the phone with Carnival. It seems as if it may have been a computer glitch because even though the price shows up, it changes at the "booking" page. So for those of you who got in, enjoy! I still got a good rate on the cruise (booked months ago), but this would have been better!

Glad to hear this. I'm going solo on Carnival. I'm always torn between wanting to meet people and have a little company at dinner, or enjoy a solo meal. Then there's the risk of not enjoying the company ;) This sounds like a good option.

What route will you be traveling from Cape Liberty?

Me? If I follow the AAA Trip-Tik, from PA on I-80 to I-287 to Rt 24 to I-78, exit 14A then the directions you provided upthread. What happens if I stay on I80 to I-280 to the Garden State Pkwy? Is that better? I'm not driving a truck.

Thanks - your info is invaluable!

ETA: I just reworked the Trip-Tik to include the GSP - it's estimated to be 3 minutes longer, that's why it didn't come up as the primary route (it goes by time). So considering the two routes to be the same, any suggestions?

So here's my question: As any NY'er knows, gas is significantly cheaper in NJ than in NY. The roads leading into Cape Liberty seem to be mostly highway, until the industrial port area. So where can I get gas before I head home? Last time I followed one of those blue "gas-food-lodging" signs I ended up about 10 miles out of my way to find the station. I should be fine until I hit western NJ. I just would like to find someplace convenient. It doesn't have to be the cheapest - anyplace in NJ is fine!

We are in Nassau County, I'm thinking Verrazano. Just reading different posts that people suggest going a certain way, the directions from online & GPS aren't as direct?

I haven't done the drive, but this would be my instinct, too. I think Staten Island would be easier than the Bronx or Manhattan. But, as you know, it could be "one of those days" where anything could be tied up ;)

 

So with those ideas in mind, why would a cruise ship ever want to sail off the California coast?

Answer: We don't. The weather off the California coast is miserable far more often than nice, seas are usually rough with passengers puking instead of spending money, pool bars are empty, casino is empty, and California regulations force us to sail so far off the coast that you never see California. California immigration and customs officers treat our passengers like criminals, the union stevedores are the laziest, most corrupt, and most expensive in the world, the outdated cruise terminals are falling down around our ears, and we are forced to employ outrageously expensive tugboats in California ports, wiping out any chance of profit. Just sailing a ship into and out of San Francisco Bay costs us $176,000 in tugboat fees - even though the tugboats never touch my ship.

 

I think you just may have talked me out of the repositioning cruise I was looking at for next year. Are you guaranteeing rough seas? ;)

I thought I read here on the board tht Martinis are $10.

Wow - okay. I probably should have realized that.

I never thought I'd buy a drinks package, but this looks like a fun way to enjoy old favorites, and try something new! Forgive my ignorance, but would martinis be included in the classic package?

 

For me I would never even cut it that close. I am leaving my house at 9:30 AM and we only live 58 miles from Bayonne. But with traffic it could take up to 2 hours to get there.

 

This link was posted on our Roll Call for the cruise.

 

http://www.cruiseliberty.com/passenger_update_b.htm

Right....i am about that far and i leave the day ahead!! :eek::rolleyes::D

 

One flat, one blown out truck tire that you run over....one of 100000 fender benders and you are SOL..even if you're not involved....

You're scaring me. I was going to drive down early on a Sunday for a same day sailing. I know anything can happen, and I'm used to driving in the NY metro area, but normally, just how bad is it?

Unlike a lot of people on this board, I find 7 days on a ship can be long. But the 3 days in Bermuda can give it a different feeling, and I think it will be nice. And the 4-hour drive should be okay - no bridges or tunnels! Thanks again for you input.

Thank you. I knew it was out of context, but when these threads get long and start referencing other threads, it's often hard to find the context. Now I have to decide if I want to take that seven day Bermuda cruise...

Here's another option for your cruise that was recently discussed - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1700694

 

Parking at the pier is $19/day and is inconvenient when you return even if you could get your car from the pier. I wouldn't want to be looking for my car in the dark out on Cape Liberty. You can make much less expensive parking arrangements at an airport hotel and you have to pay for a cab or car service at some point anyway. If you have a lot of luggage, you can always spend an additional $20-25 and take a cab from the airport terminal directly to the hotel instead of the monorail to P4 to get the hotel shuttle.

I think I missed something, somewhere. I'm thinking of driving to Bayonne - it should be 4 hours from my house - and parking at the pier. I'm traveling alone so I like to keep things simple (nobody to share the hassles with ;)). How is the parking inconvenient, as I bolded above? Do you just mean when there are no ships in port? I'm doing a closed loop, not a repositioning. Thanks.

I always pack the ratty underwear. It then lives forever in incinerated heaven.

Me, too, mostly for gym use. I joke that my only contribution to this world has been a trail of old underwear and socks that I've left in trash cans around the globe. I used to bring along old sneakers as well, but realized they could be donated to some organizations.

To avoid the steward retrieving the items, use the trash cans in the corridor (if you can find one).

Thank you. Some good information. Is there any good bicycling nearby, and places to rent bikes? That would be my preferred method of transportation. I love sightseeing by bike.

What about tipping the cabin stewards? The only thank you I get from my cat is a dead mouse (well, sometimes live). That may not be appropriate for this sailing.

At least he's got his formal black suit to wear in the MDR :D

Something is usually mentioned in the Compass for a Sabbath service. Not sure if Friday evening or Sat. We never attended but might go on our upcoming Mariner cruise.

 

Funny story. Friends cruised out of Florida. They had a table of 8, co-incidentally all Jewish and asked the waiter if they could have a challah and candles to bless the Sabbath at dinner on Friday night. Our friend brought her candlesticks to dinner and was amazed when she saw a beautiful large braided challah...... with birthday candles stuck in the middle!! To this day she can't stop laughing everytime she sees a challah.

Oh that is funny. At first I was expecting a story about how diners from other tables started drifting over to share the observance, and my eyes welled up as I imagined the beauty if the scene. Then the mention of birthday candles busted the image like an exploding cartoon thought bubble.

Now I wish my cruise included a Friday night.