Langham1865

Following... I will be on Breakaway in November, though for a different itinerary.  Any chance you can get a list of the officers that they usually post a pictures of.  I realize some may change... 

Most importantly, I hope you enjoy your cruise and I look forward to hearing about your experiences!

On 8/20/2024 at 9:24 PM, Travelling2Some said:

We will be on the November 10-17 Breakaway to Bermuda.  I like Bermuda because it has a nice vibe that is very different from the Caribbean.  I don't care for "beach weather" myself.  Much prefer pleasant, cooler walking weather.  That cruise has 3 overnights in Bermuda and we had 1K in FCC.  Haven't been to Bermuda in probably 20 plus years so I'm looking forward to it.

I just booked the same sailing!

@thetravelingman remember is says new class not Norwegian Prima class, they could be very different in design and more than just slipping in another section

the 40's and 50's may be for New York City, where most Bermuda cruises leave from, at least that time of year

Can I Dm you my address?  Also my trip on the Dawn was out of Boston!

I happen to be looking for a dawn pin

5 hours ago, hallux said:

Quite valid considerations.  I'm not sure but I may find out soon enough as I found a trip quite interesting to me and I can book an OV cabin to then upgrade to a balcony.

 

I spend no more than I would normally, I just put as much of what I do spend on THAT card.  It's my default for tap-to-pay on my phone.

I am doing the same thing... going to look into booking the OV and upgrade to the Balcony... but not spending more than usual, just use this card in the lead up on things I buy anyway.  

I do wonder about the turnaround on getting points credited.  Like if I book the cruise with the card, how long will it take for those points to be credited so I can use them for the upgrade...

I have the NCL card... although I agree it is not the best return compared to other cards, I use the points for upgrades.  everyone is right not to use it for OBC, as cruise spending is one of the few areas you get a good return.

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

I think last year may have been an anomaly. For quite some time, NCL was offering a 50% off coupon to folks. It wasn't their normal 50% off, but a real 50% the price of a cruise. It seemed like there were just a glut of ships up there. I'm thinking for 2024, NCL has a better handle on the number of ships necessary for Alaska and/or demand is higher. 

I am going to agree with anomaly.  I work in a luxury hotel in a major city and domestic travel for summer vacations last summer was low.   Last Summer was the first summer after the pandemic where international travel wasn't restricted by COVID testing.  Domestic travel across the board last summer was artificially low.

27 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks.  Would be interested in a boat tour.  I don't think CC cares if you post about an excursion.

 

 

Well in that case Moby Dick Charters.  https://www.mobydickchartersbermuda.com/ in full disclosure I have know the owner since I was a kid.  Captain Pete it a great guy.  When he isn't hired for charters he does a lot of fishing and I think sell to some of the restaurants on the island. 

On 5/29/2024 at 3:16 PM, graphicguy said:

I have "loose" plans.  I know I'll spend some time at Half Moon.  I know I'll hit the Street Fair on Wednesday night.  I am trying to book a private tour of the area, but haven't got that locked down yet.

 

It's been a while (a decade), but yes, I have been to Bermuda before.  And, agree...given any Bahamas or Caribbean destination, I'd take Bermuda over all of them. 

If you haven't locked down your private tour, have you considered a boat tour?   If you are considering that, there is a charter boat business with a reference to a White Whale (not sure I can directly recommend here) that is great.  Does everything from charter fishing, snorkeling, & island tours by sea.

I see you've been to Bermuda at least once... It is one of my favorite places to cruise too.  Maybe I missed it earlier, do you have any plans while you are there?

11 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Then one day, all the San Miguel was also gone (reliable info was that it was pulled from the bars to save the remaining inventory for the crew bar).   

 

Hank

Having been to the Philippines and being married to a Filipina, this does not surprise me! 

6 minutes ago, Nickelpenny said:

He said “Nein”!  🤪

 

yes it was the HAL beer with our wonderful bartender Adolpho!!!

someone got me a couple cans of that beer.... I am blanking on the style this moment, but I remember it being tasty!!!!

Tell the Captain I'll but him a beer!

5 minutes ago, Nickelpenny said:

I’m not sure. I am at the “Ask the Captain” so I will take a look when I go back to the SeaView bar

will you ask the Captain if he will give me a free cruise?

1 minute ago, Nickelpenny said:

Probably right to left 👍🤪

is that the Holland America beer mostly clipped out of the picture on the left?

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

I know they don't have any craft beers, but do any of the bars have any locally sourced beers, as of that lot, Guinness is the only one I will drink.

when I went to Alaska, the did have Alaskan Brewing Company beer on board on the Eurodam... Can't say if the do this on other Itineraries

5 hours ago, Nickelpenny said:

Here’s the setup on the Zaandam this morning at the SeaView Bar. 

that was your personal order if I am not mistaken?   lol

speaking of regional chains Buc-ee's has a rest stop that has the largest convenience store in the world in Sevierville TN... may be too far out of the way, but I figured I would float it on the radar https://buc-ees.com/about/world-record-holder/ 

On 2/18/2024 at 12:05 PM, boffoboffo said:

 

Day 1:Sail away at 5pm. Moderno for dinner at 7:30.

 

 

 

you may want to check sunset time and sit outside as the ship sails down the Mississippi for quite some time and it will be nice viewing

i though I has

4 minutes ago, hallux said:

The Joy lost 1/3 of the OL.  With as popular as it is it seems quite controversial to remove part of it.

I though I remembered reading they lost a big chunk.  Wasn't this one of the biggest in the fleet?  Having never been on either ship I can't compare how they are different.  Other than saying its smaller, it could be hard to just the differences between they old and new OL on Joy, as they may have reconfigured it as well to some extent.

Also, I know someone will correct me, didn't Joy just come out of drydock?  I do not know how that impacts the observation lounge in relation to the Encore.  If the observation lounge is a factor, I am sure someone here will pipe in with the differences between their lounges.

I wish the OP would let us know what makes a ship for them, so we can better recommend which chip may fit their cruising style.  I know many people enjoy the observation lounges.  For me though, when we are talking about enjoying what a ship has to offer, I like the Escape best.  It has the district brewhouse, which Breakaway doesn't have.  I also enjoy the dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon in the evenings, which Joy and Encore do not have.  And I can always relax on the Waterfront, weather permitting.  That said, the ship has never ruined a cruise... but it can enhance them.

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 

 

Another time, was sitting in Royal's Anthem of the Seas Diamond Lounge having a bagel when a gentleman sits on the couch next to me with his wife.  We strike up a conversation and find we have a love of muscle cars in common.  His wife spots someone she knows on the other side of the lounge and goes over to chat.  I have a Cobra Convertible that I restored and had some pictures of it on my phone that I showed him.  He started showing me pictures of a restomod Ford F100 he had.  While paging through the pictures, one pops up of his wife....NAKED.  He chuckles and said he meant to delete it.  He keeps scrolling and more and more of his wife's naked pics crop up.  He kept looking to get my response, as it was now clear he was doing it on purpose.  I was way uncomfortable, particularly given she was only about 25 feet away chatting with someone else.  I excused myself.  Never saw him in the Diamond Lounge again.

 

 

@graphicguyeither I've read you mention this before or someone else had the same experience... AWESOME!!!!  cracked me up...

I think amongst the "big three" lines, prices are up across the board at a higher rate than pre-pandemic with fewer true sales (not the fake 50% off 2nd passenger at an inflated rate).  Many costs, as mentioned before (like fuel and grocery type supplies), are increasing in price at a higher rate than the before days, and there is a mountain of debt to be paid off that was taken on during the pandemic.  I am interested to see if the rate of price increases slows once the debt taken on is paid off, though I am not holding my breath.  Also demand, and therefore price, is always highest for new build/newest ships.