cathi007

Not for me, itinerary and connivence of port is why I decide on a certain ship/line. It just so happens NCL sails out of NY, so it is the line I usually sail on, although I have sailed CCL, RCI, and Celebrity. The UBP is a great perk though 🙂 

9 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

No reason to buy or bring "bottled" water.  The ship's water, which is in your food, beverages and ice, is perfectly potable and fine.  You do need to chill it, as it won't "run cold" from the tap.  Just drink the provided water.  H2O....it's all the same as far as your body is concerned.

And ypu can bring empty water bottles and fill them to keep them in your fridge and then take them to the beach, easy peasy and free 🙂

I'm sending a prayer that you don't have tp cancel 🙏

Thanks for posting, have a great time. Again if you have any information on Canvas by U and the comedy shows I would love to hear. I am looking forward to doing both on my cruise next week. Keep up the washy washy, as I have been following that on the threads :). Enjoy the sea day

50 minutes ago, sargemrs said:

Well a group of us, 9 adults, 7 children, ranging in ages from 11 to 7 months are going to Alaska.  We're all in Aft H6 cabins.  I wonder about the reception we'll get in the Haven restaurant?  Grandparents of all the children will be along and we'll try to keep the kids occupied and not offensive to the other diners, but I can just imagine the raised eyebrows (and rightly so, we understand!!!) when our entourage walks in!  Oh my!!!  I think we may have to find other venues for meals if it becomes a problem.  

Especially to Alaska, I would imagine it is an older crowd. Oh well, I'm sure you will have a great time and the kids will behave 🙂

3 hours ago, david_sobe said:

Should this not be moved to the Royal boards?   There are plenty of threads to comment about this over there.  Maybe we can open threads about the Epic bathroom curtain on their boards ?  😉

I put it here, because I am sailing with a cancer patient and just wanted ideas of what precautions to take. I am sure there are threads on the Royal boards too 

7 hours ago, ziggyuk said:

 

These wipes claim to work.

https://www.amazon.com/Clorox-Healthcare-Hydrogen-Peroxide-Disinfectant/dp/B00BFFGJ6S

 

Those in UK, this from Boots:

https://www.boots.com/ecohydra-alcohol-free-antibacterial-foam-hand-sanitiser-100ml-10196456

Thanks I just purchased 2 and the lysol that kills Noro 🙂

11 hours ago, pizzalady1 said:

If the cancer patient has been through chemo his/her immune system is pretty shot. You can contact the Access Department and request a deep cleaning of the rooms, especially the rugs, drapes, shower curtain, etc. 

She had chemo and radiation, but not for a year now. 

1 minute ago, steveweese said:

I have been doing that for years. It is my hobby on a cruise!

Lol, BTW I love Utah!! I was there this summer for a month hiking your amazing parks 🙂

5 minutes ago, Weluv2cruise2gether said:

I am an ER nurse, we use Clorox wipes all the time. Actually, the CDC recommends bleach products (Clorox is bleach) for the Norovirus. I always travel with Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, and plenty of hand sanitizer. The best prevention on a cruise is to practice good hand hygiene. So, don't get angry with the happy-happy washy-washy people. Also, do not drink the water in foreign ports, always take a bottle of water from the ship. We were on the Gem in 2016 when the Norovirus broke out. Neither DH or myself contacted virus but we did go through 2 bottles of hand sanitizer, a pack of Clorox wipes and about 1/2 can of Lysol spray. And please, if you are ever on a cruise were there is Norovirus, and you get it, listen tot eh medical team and follow the quarantine! By not doing so, you put many others at risk. There were a few on the Gem that did not initially listen! 

 

Same advice for Influenza! Yes, it's that time of the year!

Thanks I will add Lysol spray and lots of hand sanitizer to my list. We are traveling with a cancer patient, so we can't be too careful 

13 minutes ago, Susandt said:

Clorox wipes won’t kill noro virus

Any idea what will? Thanks I researched and it said a bleach based cleaner....might be bringing that, lol

I just saw on the news that the Oasis of the Seas (Royal) cancelled the remainder of their cruise out of Port Canaveral. They are offering full refunds for all guests, apparently the Norovirus has struck. I am bringing a container of Clorox wipes on my cruise!!

3 minutes ago, dcruiser50 said:

What is the minimum you can bet in the casino

I haven't been on a cruise for 3 years, but last time I was on the Gem and they had 5.00 tables

On 1/9/2019 at 7:18 AM, Mass2Cruise said:

On Symphony in February and stopping in St Thomas.  Believe we've settled on Saphire Beach for the day.  Docks at Crown and we are there 7am to 4pm.  It's two adults and one child.  Would like a lounger when we get there.  Looks like it's about 13 per person (with tip) for taxi there (26 pp r/t) and 9 pp for loungers.  Royal has an excursion to Saphire (STF5) that's 36 per adult and 27 per child.  Same beach.  Both have loungers.  Differences...Royal's excursion is 3.5 totals and lists only 2.5 hours at the beach (looks like they bank 1 hour r/t for their "scenic drive").  Also doesn't list a drink in the description, but the video on the site does.  With the taxi, I could be there 4, 5, 6 hours (pretty much till the little one is done with the sun).  Total for Royal's is 99 while taxi is about 107.  Opinions?

Do it on your own, this way you can leave when you want. That is what we always do. 2.5 hours at the beach is not enough for me....Although I live in the Northeast, lol

2 hours ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Hello,

 

While Disney cruise has excursions to Coral World, they don't have one that includes the sea lion swim.

 

Online, Coral World does not have any times available for that day.  Is it just too early, or will they not have any for our day (June 27)?

 

If we can book it, I know we'll have to take a cab to and from.  How far away is it from the port?  I would need to know what times we could make given our port schedule.

 

I tried emailing them, but I have not gotten a response back.

 

Thanks!

I will be at Coral World in a few weeks, I will try and remember to ask and post back on here. I am taking a journal, so I will be able to write it down 🙂

On 1/8/2019 at 9:31 PM, albertamom said:

 

We sailed the Escape out of New York in November, and yes, there is a separate check-in and waiting area for Platinum and above.  As soon as you get through security, look for it to the right of the check-in hall.  It was marked with a huge sign saying Platinum, Platinum Plus and Ambassador.  Be assertive with people directing you to lines and have your EDOCS ready, which state your lattitude level.  We arrived a little after 10:00 and went right up to a desk.  The waiting area was very nice, and we were invited to board right after the Haven guests. Great perk! 

What if you are not Platinum, but the the group of people you are sailing with are?

5 hours ago, JP4GA said:

I agree.  We were on the Epic a few weeks ago. We are early risers and we went on deck at 7:45 and could not find 2 empty chairs on the sun deck or pool deck.  We ended up way in the back by the rock wall.  It was fine with us since we don't want full sun seating and we don't have to be right by the pool.  What made it crazy was most of the chairs did not have anyone in them until well after 10:00 am and some even later than that. 

See that is where I would go around and move all of the stuff. Don't get me wrong I don't want to sit by the pool anyway, but that just makes me mad. Why should those people be able to save all of those chairs and then not use them for hours. Nope I would remove all the stuff, then find my place on a upper deck where I can watch

6 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

This thread makes me feel very fortunate that I see zero appeal in having a chair close to the pool in the first place....

I am with you 100%, I just want sun and a close proximity to a bar 

11 hours ago, KateQ22003 said:

This! I have always seen an abundance of lounge chairs available on every cruise I have ever been on. Are they right next to the pool? Probably not, but not everyone can be right on top of the pool. There are plenty of chairs on the deck above.

Exactly, personally I wouldn't want to be in the crowded pool area either. That is the nice thing (I hear) about the Escape, there are places all over the ship to find a lounge chair. As long as I have a place to sit in the sun, close, or semi close to a bar I will be happy. The crazies can fight for the chairs by the pool 

10 hours ago, newmexicoNita said:

As long as there is even a baby sitting location I think everything would work out Toddlers can always find something to keep them occupied. My concern would still be and I don't care what ship you are on is making sure they can enjoy times spent in restaurants without getting too bored, as well and mom and dad realizing little ones are not always ready for things like the shows. There is no getting around it, sailing is more confining for a toddler than some vacations. Otherwise, as long as there is baby sitting everything should be fine Our great grand daughter started cruising at 3. She loved it. Would her parents had taken her on a cruise before that? Nope.. They are just happy their youngest has turned 3. Now they can cruise with all 3 girls 

Good points. For us we are the grandparents so we will make sure that everyone has some rest time, we are giving the parents 4 date nights where the children will sleep in our connecting mini suite. As the grandparents we are just looking forward to spending 15 days with our beautiful grand babies. Hopefully mom and dad will have an awesome relaxing well deserved vacation 🌴🌴

8 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

 

in my experience - we didn't bring the car seat with us in ports, but we stored it on the ship - the car seat was scanned upon our initial arrival on the ship. DS was almost 4 when he started cruising, however.

The car seat also has to be scanned at the airport - put it face down on the belt, if it's a convertible. If it doesn't fit, the TSA personnel will wipe-test it for residue.

 

Of course, if your 9 mo is small, she could still fit into the infant bucket, since you mentioned the caddy. Mine outgrew the infant bucket by height at 7 months.... 😞

 

What seat do you have? I highly recommend getting a $40 Cosco Scenera NEXT at your nearest walmart. It's very light, narrow and compact, and can easily fit in the stroller like this or hanging from the back, and can be used on the plane as well:

 

That is adorable 🙂

1 minute ago, chesswiththedevil said:

I seem to recall that I had to pay extra (sales tax maybe?) for drinks using the drink package on a Carnival cruise when leaving NOLA and I was wondering if I have to pay extra while in port (waiting to leave) in Miami? Is this a thing? Also, does the Norwegian UDP allow for floating shots on drinks such as getting a rum floater on a pina colada?

Yes whenever you are in port you have to pay the sales tax at that port. 

On 1/8/2019 at 3:08 PM, ERIN123 said:

We are looking at booking without the current promo because not only do you have to pay $20 gratuity per person per day for the drinks package, but the actual cost of the cruise is higher on that option rather than with no "perks". I figure for the difference we can buy a 2-3 drinks a day and still save several hundred dollars.

 

What is the usual cost for a beer, glass of wine or highball? I have seen various pictures online of menus so I have an idea, but I don't know how up to date the prices are. 

 

Thanks

I was on the Gem two years ago and for 2 pina coladas I paid almost 30.00. If I drink 2 a day its well worth it

6 hours ago, Fishkillbill said:

I booked the cruise on October 22, 2018. We leave on January 26, 2019 and return to NJ on February 3, 2019. We stop at Port Canaveral, Nassau and Cococay. We will be on the Anthem of the Sea. Balcony room, deck 8, mid ship. I didn't think I got any sort of bargain.

The cost is:

Cruise                   $1,503.32

Drinks                     $188.62 (soda)

Gratuities             $232.00

Excursion                $ 98.00 (in Nassau)

Parking                 $ 176.00 (Port Liberty)

                                $2197.94

I was looking at cruises, on Norwegian, out of New York. 

Not interested in perks. We don't drink. Don't need Wifi. Not interested in other dinners besides the buffet and Main Dining Room. No airfare, we live 60 miles north of Manhattan. Is this cost close to Norwegian?

Aren't the cruises out of NY on NCL 14 night cruises? Ours on Jan 20 is a 14 night. You have to compare everything, number of days, cabin category, itinerary, and so on. I have cruised RCC, CCL, Celebrity, and NCL. I find NCL the best deal, as I live in CT, so I don't have to fly. I guess it's basically a crap shoot. Enjoy your cruise though 🙂

8 hours ago, BNBR said:

 

I should have clarified better.  Yes, Escape has a nursery, as do the Royal Caribbean ships for children under 3 and non-potty trained children.  The NCL nursery is an extra charge and it's just a nursery, not camp.  On Carnival, it's fully included, it's available virtually all day/evening, and it's a full camp with 2 - 5 year olds - all sorts of activities and camp stuff accordingly.  They will also change diapers and not just call the parent.  If you have a child that is 2 years old (or even 3+ and not potty trained) - then Carnival is by far the best for day care/camp.

 

All of the major lines have "options" and if a single time block or two is all that's needed, the nursery might be fine.  But I know my 2.5 year old massively enjoyed Camp Carnival and when we sailed Royal a few months later, we had to use the nursery and he hated it because it wasn't camp, it was just baby sitting, basically - with babies trying to sleep.  NCL would be similar.

We will have to check that out next time. Honestly we won't be using the nursery that much, maybe once or twice. This is a family cruise, where we all want to make memories together and celebrate life 🙂