fsupharm77

On 12/20/2023 at 11:22 AM, buckeyefrank said:

I think a vastly underrated benefit of drink package is the fact that you don't have to keep track of the amount spent during the cruise.  I usually select it, if I think it's going to be relatively close break-even wise.  We may not come out ahead on a dollar basis, but I don't have to think about the amount I've spent and can more easily relax on vacation.  Additionally it gives you the freedom to try different drinks that you wouldn't if you didn't have the plan.  If you don't like it, don't drink it.

We contemplated not getting it on our cruise on Wonder in February at $72.99 pppd.  Right about $1,200 for the 2 of us.  We were on Virgin in May and had $900 bar tab to start our cruise($300pp from Virgin, plus another $100 from them on pre purchase of $200)  We went over it by $20.  Virgin doesn’t add taxes or gratuities so the same drinks on Rcl would be at least $1,085(plus the average was $12 so it would have been more)  

For us the biggest thing is the drinks we wouldn’t do if we were paying for them separately.  With drink package we have 2-3 mimosas with breakfast and in the morning in a hot tub or by the pool.  On the Virgin cruise we didn’t do that.  We also try different things.  
 

We booked our upcoming cruise this way and called up and they were able to put the 16 and 17 year old together in the adjacent room to us.  No stopping at guest services

31 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

This new fixation with deciphering item codes from the invoice is uhhh...time consuming....to say the least   for those of us on the receiving end 🤔. I really wish they would just hide them. The actual rate code is all that really matters. 

The CALL code that shows the drink package on my xpress boarding pass was helpful, otherwise we would have been fighting it on the ship.  Somewhere in their system there was an error.  Glad to see it now instead of wasting vacation time at customer service.

Glad I saw this.  Looked at my Xpress Pass and it had CALL on it and we had booked the Elevate package.  So it indeed did need a CALL🤣

Just a quick comment about just in case rx for Paxlovid.  I highly doubt any Dr is going to write it nor Pharmacy going to dispense since the EUA protocol to dispense requires Symptom onset within 5 days, and positive Covid test and requires dose adjustment made based on kidney function.  Not sure if all states are the same but in Michigan it is also reported through the health department, so there could be sanctions taken against prescriber and pharmacy if dispensed without meeting this criteria.

3 hours ago, gigem_aggies said:

I actually went ahead and scheduled a test for TODAY so I could see what the results look like and show them to NCL to see if they will accept it.  (Side note:  I also scheduled the appointment today because I had Covid in early January and have heard you can still test positive on both this Rapid ID Now test and a regular PCR test for months, even after you are recovered, so I wanted to see if that happened.  I have tested negative on an antigen test multiple times since recovering.)

My NAAT was still showing positive 5 weeks after my first test and 2 days before my cruise.  Antigen test was negative at pier.  I would probably do a proctored antigen if I were cruising in the next couple of weeks.

No personal experience with NCL and the NAAT tests, but it was good enough for Celebrity, Princess, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.  All of which when testing list negative PCR or antigen tests.  The NAAT tests are essentially equivalent to a PCR.

fsupharm77, can you tell me about how long the Haleakela tour took? And where you started from? We're trying to figure out if we have time for it our second day on Maui, where we will need to be back in Kahului by about 4 pm to turn in our car and get to the ship by 5 pm.

We did it on the first day and spent about 5 hours total on it. As Sanger said it starts in Kahuli. Not sure who you are renting through but Avis took forever to come with a shuttle, me and my friend walked from airport after waiting 20 minutes and never saw the shuttle pass by on the way.

We used Shaka for 4 different tours, all of which were excellent.

We did the Oahu circle tour and it was very informative. Unfortunately we weren't able to complete it because of spending 3 hours zip lining but I love the history and local stories that the narrator gives you. We also used the Haleakela tour, Waimea canyon tour, and the volcano national Park tour. The volcano one was our favorite because of the unmarked stop at the park. If you get a chance definitely do this one and stop at Devils throat!!

Overall they were well worth the cost, especially if you like to drive and tour at your own pace.

We are doing the Circle Oahu later this week. Will report back on it!

Never mind. I think we’ll pass on doing kayaking. I read the small print, and strong swimming skill is recommended.

Maybe we’ll do some hikes instead. :D

We did it back in 2010. We didn’t need to swim. I assume it’s listed in case you tip the kayak because you are on a river, plus there is a river crossing (with a rope tied across to assist) during the hike and the current was kind of rough when we were there.

We arrive back in the port of Oahu early and would like to rent a car but then return it to HNL before our late night flight. What company will pick us up at the port, take us to the car rental and let us return the rental to the airport? We will be ending our cruise on POA.

Not current but in 2010 we used Thrifty and they picked us up at the port. We didn’t drop off at HNL but they shuttled us to the airport.

I ran it a few times on our cruise last year. It is 275 meters which puts a mile a little under 6 laps. It is fairly decent sized but goes through some public areas(bar with tables in the aft). If you are just walking it is no big deal but I had to be out there pretty early to run without much traffic.

That's all ours says too and we were told our son will get the soda package. I don't know how they could give you the adult beverage package and not the kids soda. I thought it was all one in the same. You could call NCL and see what they say. Good luck.

Ours shows that too. I have the added luxury though of my wife being my TA and logged into the TA site and it shows the kids soda next to their names. Just contact your TA or PCC and they should be able to email your confirmation to you and it will be on there.

I agree ! We r bringing ours!

 

 

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We left them for 11 days when we did Hawaii but don't want to do it now because they are interestedmore in traveling now. Timing is bad to take them, near the end of making period and they are both in accelerated programs. If we go it will probably be without them. I see us doing another one on pride for spring break depending on what week they have off.

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Derek u guys gonna go??? :)

 

 

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Not sure yet. I have a surprise for the wife and kiddos planned for later in the year. If we do it I need to have my parents stay at house for about 10 days. I would want to go a couple days early to explore San Juan and 10 days is a long time to leave the kids.

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Thanks for the review, can't wait to see the ports.

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Thank you for the review, subscribing ;)

Surprised it took you this long. :-)

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That's because the Pride still has the old menus. When the new menus were unveiled in dec? and now on 4 ships, the Creme brûlée and grand marnier was not included. Now it will be added back, just don't know when or what night.

 

I'm also glad that corp. is listening. My family has already said if we didn't like the menu this coming cruise, it would be our last Carnival one.

Gotcha. Hadn't been on carnival in almost 10 years so didn't know that it was only removed from new menu. They are my two favorite desserts on carnival.

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Just back from the pride and we had no problem letting our 11 year old daughter check in and out. We actually looked at activities and asked for her to move up to circle c which was granted. We left a message board in room and let her know where we were and if her plans changed to let us know where she was. It was a real taste of independence for her.

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Creme brulee and grand Marnier souffle were both available on the pride last week in the mdr. Had creme brulee on Sunday and the souffle on Saturday.

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I have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and have used the showers and not the spas. With Carnival Pride, I was impressed with the showers in the gym. You get overhead spray, and two sprays each on the left and right of your body. It SURE beats the shower in the stateroom. Just go to the spa and ask for a locker key. Once with the key, you have access to the gym locker room. They don't care if you work out or not, because on the Pride, there was a hot tub if you didn't want to work out. Either way, who are they to stop you from taking a shower in the gym. P.S., Don't bring stateroom towels, the gym locker room is stocked with towels to dry off with in the towel bin. :D

Just off the Pride yesterday. I didn't even use the shower in the room, used the Spa one everyday, even on days that I didn't work out.