graphicguy

Kim….great to see you cruising, again. Can’t wait to follow along. Funny, I was just reading an article today about the best Japanese cars of all time. Thought of you because they listed these….

I usually kick my own derriere to drag myself out of bed, shower and get a start on my day by going to one of the sit down MDRs or Buffet for breakfast. On occasion, when I stayed up way too late the night before, I get room service. This was about 6 months ago on a Mediterranean Epic cruise, but the breakfast room service required "hang tags". I was similar to you, pastries, juice and a bagel. IT showed up within the time frame they said it would be delivered. I want to think it was a 15 minute window. Breakfast in the buffet? The earlier you get there, the better. Find out when the Garden Buffet opens and plan on being there then. That's your best shot at getting in and out quickly. Have fun!

DOn't want to spoil anything, but just looked. The entire ship is sold out except for one inside cabin. Haven cabins usually sell out first on ANY NCL cruise. You can't book a Haven cabin right now regardless of how much you bid for an upgrade. But, Bermuda is beautiful and the Joy is one of NCL's nicest ships, regardless of your cabin. I'd be hard pressed to thin k of a significantly better first cruise than one to Bermuda on the NCL Joy.

Henry...just as an FYI, I just booked NCL transport from LGA to Pier 88 for my June Bermuda cruise. $75 both ways. Even with 2 people, it would be $150 both ways. I think that's a pretty good deal. For just me traveling, it's a great deal.

I'm not one for government regulation, but if there ever was an industry that deserved to have government oversight (again), it's the airline industry. Their performance by most metrics is miserable. And, the "heck" with their customers. They couldn't care less about them.

Well.....contrary to others' experiences, I've found that Royal and Celebrity do the same, as does the alleged "luxury lines". As @BirdTravels points out, just don't log in while doing your research. That way you'll be "incognito". You won't get any follow up calls. Problem solved. 😉

OP...TL;DR But, I'll assume you're looking for Vegetarian dishes on NCL. They do have those choices, but I'd also contact the Maitre'D of your restaurant on board and let him/her know you are looking for Vegetarian options. They have them.

Yeah...been to Bermuda 3 times (soon to be 4X). I have never seen drug sniffing dogs (or sniffing for anything) on any of the cruise ships I've sailed (~20). If someone reports it, the cruise lines' security will investigate. As far as dogs going up and down the hallways, not something I've seen. And, unless the cabin steward sees the edibles, and is certain they are cannabis edibles, I doubt a drug sniffing "anything" can identify it. Does that make it "OK" bring illegal substances on the ship? Absolutely not! You agree to the Ts and Cs on your ticket. If you disagree with them, white to the crime line and log your complaint. But, if you're rolling them and smoking them, after all the warnings, excuses should fall on deaf ears. Pay your fine, or worse, as a lot of foreign countries have stricter drug laws, you do jail time. If that's not enough of a deterrent, the U.S. Consulate is NOT going to bail you out (even if you're offered bail by the courts). Pretty big risk just for a "high" or not looking for other means to deal with whatever ailment you use it for.

Well…if the dog thought it noticed drugs and found none, doesn’t that kind of defeat their purpose? Interesting encounter, however!

I must be too insulated living in Ohio. The smell and prevalence of weed smoking isn’t what I read as described here. I would think it would be easy to find the offenders on a cruise ship. From what I can tell, the smell stays on the person long after the person has finished smoking it! My big fear would be being arrested in a foreign country where the drug laws consider cannabis the same as any other illegal drug and the penalties much harsher than just monetary fines. Why risk that for a “high”? I’ll assume when I hear people talk about cannabis gummies, they are exactly that….gummies! No smell, I’ll also assume!

I have no dog in the hunt regarding the whole cannabis thing. Personally, I don't care what you smoke, nor the reasons you smoke it, as long as you don't smoke it around me. You're medical condition that prompts you to have it with you, is not the point. I don't know how much clearer the non-U.S. ports, the cruise lines, the Caribbean Countries, etc have to make it. They don't allow cannabis usage...regardless of its legality anywhere else . While I wish the Federal Gov't would get off their posteriors and legalize it like some States have, it's still a (unenforced) law that you can't possess and/or use it. It's not like you can't smell it. I'm more of the mind this guy was smoking it on his balcony, someone smelled it and reported it. I can't seen a Bermudian drug sniffing dog pinpointing a single cabin (out of thousands) it was able to identify. What is even more of a head scratcher to people smoking cannabis on board or in a port, edibles are readily obtainable. If you insist, why bring the most easily recognizable scent of burning weed when you can have the edible variety that doesn't cause a smell?

I'm "jelly" of you both. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Brava!!!!!!!! Grazie, Molto Bene!

One thing I learned a while ago.....it's called gambling for a reason. The house always wins. If I can whittle down the house's odds, that's the game I'll play. I'm not a slot guy. So, I stick to cards....Black Jack, 3 Card Poker, Hold'em....sometimes Caribbean Stud (where available). If I come home not losing any, that's a win for me. If I'm on the "plus" side with winnings, I feel like I deserve cake for breakfast.

I think we've had this conversation before. I play cash games. I don't like rebuys....particularly NCL's. Anyone can rebuy to the point where they can "buy" the tournament. That said, I won two tournaments on Celebrity (no rebuys). As mentioned, I play in cash games on NCL. I think we've all played enough to know who is or isn't an easy "mark" at the table. They fall into 3 categories... 1. The ones who sit down with their "lucky charm", the sunglasses and the "attitude". Those guys are usually the ones who leave first. 2. The ones who sit down with a mound of chips they bring with them. They're the 2nd ones who bow out on any given night. 3. Then, you have us grizzled grinders who pick our spots to bluff and to shove and put out the posers early to get to play with the others just like us, who are there for the duration.

I get it. I've been with mine for over a decade. She took some time off for a bit a year or so ago. But, she's back in the saddle. She's part of a much larger on line Travel Agency. Some of those are really little more than book and forget shops. I like mine. If my TA is out of the office or on vacation, sick, etc.....they have back ups who will assist me. So, I'm really dealing with a bunch of agents who back each other. I stick with them/her. I used to shop them. I don't even do that any more. I know the PCCs NCL has are a transient group. But, that's the nature of their biz...sell and get promoted or get fired. So, I've never been able to latch on to one for any length of time. From time to time, I'll get an email stating I have someone (insert random name here) who is standing by to help with my next cruise. But, they come and go pretty quickly.

https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/detail/cruises-privileges/platinum

That would be a tough (if not impossible) "get" from a TA. That is, asking for more than the kickback they're already giving you on your booking. Not a TA, so I don't know how it works. But, it's sort of like asking anyone on commission if they're willing to give up part of their compensation because I want them to give it to me. I just literally cringed a bit while typing that. So, are you saying you have an issue with your wife for booking a massage? You want the TA to give you some money back because your wife likes expensive massages? FAS+ isn't something I'd buy as there's nothing in the way of the expanded drinks that interest me. So, that's not an expense I'll incur. But, if you're looking for other ways to add value to your cruise, keep an eye out on offers on your credit cards. I use my AMEX to pay for my cruises. OP, I know you mentioned you are either booked, or looking to book, a Haven cabin. AMEX Platinum offers $300 OBC plus diner at LeBistro plus a bottle of wine. I think Visa Sapphire offers something similar. Over time, my TA has probably made decent commissions on my bookings as I usually book Haven, Retreat or Yacht Club cabins. I never ask for anything other than what she offers (which is between an 8%-10% discount or OBC). She's hands on for my reservation, too...keeping an eye out for price drops, special rates on cruises she believes I might be interested in, etc. So, she's not a "book'em and forget'em". But, she works at a high volume internet cruise booking agency. She books a lot of cruises to make her living. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think @cruiseny4life is a TA. He can probably offer some insight regarding a guest asking for his commission. EDIT....just saw @cruiseny4life posted while I was still typing. Thanks!

I've seen bartenders add cash tips to a tip bucket behind the bar. And, I've seen them divide it up as they were closing for the night with the bar backs. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I've witnessed this given I was in a bar at closing time. NOT REALLY!!!!!

A dirty sock holder?

This is GREAT! Love me some Prima. Looking forward to this. Thanks!

And my favorite....

Aside from Pit Bull There was the Queen (Freddie Mercury) "I Want To Break Free" song they used....

A themed Hallmark Channel Christmas cruise? I love me some Christmas. But, the schmaltzy Hallmark Channel sponsor? I'd drink.....HEAVILY on that cruise! 😉 Loving very bit of your review, by the way!