Lobbylin

14 minutes ago, Second Hand Lion said:

❤️

Jim did music quizzes every afternoon, and a group of us would always fall short on the correct answers… then a very ‘smart’ man embarked mid cruise and joined our team for one day… this man was incredible in his music knowledge, and we won the quiz that day! Jim couldn’t believe we had won…

Then a week later, at the end of the quiz one day, Jim said to us the he had done the exact same quiz and how come our team had lost??!!😁

Jim bellowed across the room at us:”I knew you had a ringer in your team last week”🤣🤣🤣 

Such fond memories…. 

8 minutes ago, Second Hand Lion said:

Thank you. Incredibly sad…

We sailed with him for 37 days on a repositioning cruise on the NCL Pearl 10 years ago, and got to know him very well.
Sincerest condolences to you and his family. 

Every time I hear the song Piano Man, he is the person that I picture in my mind… RIP Jim Badger 💔

This is the Jim Badger I’m referring to

29 minutes ago, Second Hand Lion said:

My friend

Jimmy Badger passed away on April 12th, 2024 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a traffic related accident (automobile / bike) in Naples, Florida. He was my longtime friend and classmate from high school. I'm sorry to be the bearer of this sad news. 

Second hand lion - do you have a picture of Jim Badger? I searched the obituary for the date and info you are giving and I’m wondering if we are talking about the same Jim Badger? 
 

The man I know would have been in his 70’s by now…

17 minutes ago, Second Hand Lion said:

My friend

Jimmy Badger passed away on April 12th, 2024 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a traffic related accident (automobile / bike) in Naples, Florida. He was my longtime friend and classmate from high school. I'm sorry to be the bearer of this sad news. 

Oh! So sad to read this😢. He really was a fabulous piano player and entertainer. We will remember him with huge fondness…
Thank you for updating me. 

40 minutes ago, mapleleaves said:

It was only a 2hr drive from Trieste to VCE.

 

The 7am transfer was for flights between noon and 1pm. 

There was an 8am transfer for flights between 1 and 3pm

A 9am transfer for flights after 3pm.  

 

If you're a anxious traveler and would prefer the earlier shuttle, just find a flight that departs between noon and 1 and write that on your transfer request. ( NCL doesn't have the time/staff to check.) 

I don't recall the transfer cost, but I'm thinking $65.  That was a year and a half ago.

Thanks Mapleleaves!!

1 hour ago, mapleleaves said:

I took the train TO Trieste, a comfortable 2 hr ride.  But I used FlixBus for the return trip since it went directly to VCE. Also 2 hrs.  Both trips cost about 20E.

Be aware that the Trieste train and bus stations are about a 15 minute walk from the cruise pier.  It's a flat easy walk on a nice day. (we arrived to a downpour and had to wait an hour for a taxi to the ship!)

What time is your flight out of VCE?  NCL offered a transfer to VCE at 7am for pax with flights that left at 1pm.  That was the earliest.

My flight from VCE was to Madrid at 6:20am and I had been to Venice several times so I chose a hotel by the airport, Hotel Antony.  The hotel shuttle picked me up at the airport, but my flight was too early the next day so I had to get a cab.  The Desk asked if I wanted to share the ride and cost with another guest, and arranged that. Nice touch. Less than a 10 minute drive. The hotel restaurant was very good. The room was booked way in advance and was so reasonable that I chose a room on the top floor with a view across the water to Venice.  

Have a great cruise.

7am would work - that allows a good 3.5hrs for the transfer, and 3hrs for checkin and fly👍

1 hour ago, mapleleaves said:

 

Are you saying a 13:15 hr flight ? or the flight departs at 13:15 ?

Flight departs 13.15hrs

1 minute ago, Maanio said:

I stayed in Hotel Delfino Venezia Mestre. They have a bus station in front of them going either to Venice centre or to the airport.

If you stay there, for sure you will make the 13.15 flight.

You’ve been so helpful- thank you for taking the time to reply!

23 minutes ago, Maanio said:

Last summer I took a train to Venice from Trieste after a cruise, but got off at the station before going to the island. I had a hotel there in the calmness. Stayed 1 night there, enjoyed Venice (got there by cheap bus). Next early morning I got a cheap bus from there to the airport. 

This option is economical and less stressful.

Can I ask which hotel? I will need to overnight near the airport as my flight home has connection via London… if I can’t get the 08.00hr or 13.15hr flight, then I’ll need to book an overnight hotel at LHR, which I really don’t want to do 😉👍

1 hour ago, Maanio said:

There are flixbuses for 20 dollar from Trieste to VCE airport. They take 2 hours. Train takes over 3 hours and often delayed and you need to take a bus to the airport from Venice.

Make sure you don't get any morning flights it you plan to stay in Trieste.

Thanks!!! Much appreciated 

3 minutes ago, Maanio said:

My advice: don't do it. 

Stay a day or two in Venice.

It will take some considerable time to get from Trieste to Venice.

I did think that… I’ve been to Venice many times and don’t particularly like it - lovely place, but way too rip off and touristy! 
I could stay in Trieste I guess… supposed to be nice and get train to Airport 

I am looking at a 13.15hr flight from Venice Marco Polo on disembarkation day in Trieste.  But I can’t establish how early NCL offer transfers on disembarkation day… 

Can anyone advise? 

Thank you for the answers👍

We were with Cruise Director Pedro Serra on several NCL ships. Does anyone know if he’s on board now?

On 2/1/2024 at 11:35 PM, Hrhbob said:

We sailed on the Pearl and the Bliss some time ago and was entertained by Jim Badger, one of the best and funniest piano men we’ve ever seen! If anyone remembers him, has he permanently stopped performing on NCL ships or is there a chance he may be back one day? He is marvelous!

I’m wondering where he is too…

we met him on the NCL Pearl 10yrs ago. Fabulous entertainer!

Thanks to you both for replying- I can’t decide on the ease of using the ship’s transfer to get to the airport hassle free, or whether to spend two nights in Trieste, then make our own way on the Flipbus to the airport… not interested in seeing Venice as we’ve been there 3 times before (nice, but overrated and overpriced in my opinion)

thanks!!

On 4/11/2023 at 8:58 PM, Pptarmigan said:

Curious if anyone has done the Trieste & Muggia excursion on arrival day that includes the transfer to the airport.  We currently have an early morning flight and the NCL transfer booked, but thinking about changing to a later flight to give us more time.  Wondering if this excursion is worth it as something to do before heading to the airport.  Thanks!

I’m booked on an NCL cruise arriving j to Trieste next year. Would you be able to tell me what NCL charge for the disembarkation day transfer to VCE Venice Marco Polo airport?

Yes there are USB ports in the bedside lights. Check out this useful video 

The link won’t post, but if you Google ‘Norwegian Pearl Balcony Room Tour, Tips & Hacks’ on YouTube videos, there is an excellent video of balcony rooms (9100) on NCL Pearl 

@Eglesbrech - yes, I did logion but there was nothing showing at this stage - no tours, speciality dining. Hopefully there will be something uploaded soon.

thanks… I will definitely pre-book tur speciality dining.

Thank you Eglesbrech👍

Hello, we have cruised a few times, but this will be our first Fred Olsen cruise. We’re booked on Borealis in an Oceanview 1863 on Marina deck. 
- is that location noisy with the ships engines?

- what can we expect on 14nt Xmas & New Year to the Canaries, how many formal nights? 
- will people be a bit more dressier as it’s Xmas etc? 
- any top tips for Xmas, fireworks at midnight in Funchal in New Years Eve?

- we have a drinks package, are the house wines decent enough, or should I bring my indigestion tablets😉😂?

- can we expect a lot of kids on board? We learnt a lesson on a previous cruise not to be adjacent to 3-4 berth cabins as we were surrounded by kids who ran amok whilst their parents were elsewhere in the ship!

- we love good food and seafood - will we get the odd lobster night in the main dining room?

- do we need to pre-book speciality dining, are they very busy? 
- what is the average arrival time back into Liverpool? Our flight is 14.20hrs on disembarkation day. Will it be easy to get a taxi to the airport or can/should I book in advance, any recommendations?
 

thanks for any help/advice 

Linda

20 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

Yes, Onda is included, as are all of the restaurants. No exclusions. 

Fabulous! Thank you

Is Onda included in the speciality dining package on NCL Encore?

Are any speciality restaurant on NCL Encore excluded from a dining package?

thanks 

In Shimizu (at least 7 yrs ago!), I recall there was a little shopping area by the port. We did the ships tour to see Mt Fuji, which was very pleasant- we ended up on a beach with Mt Fuji in clear shot in the background. Perfect on a clear day. But the irony was that when we got back to the ship and sat up on aft buffet open deck, we could also still see Mt Fuji in the distance lol! (Albeit further away) so if there is something else that appeals… I’m just saying 😉