MITSUGIRLYS extensive extra Sky review

[OceanDreaming2]

I have always enjoyed reading your reviews. Now, since we are booking the Sky for a 4-day cruise -- which wasn't really planned it just sorta worked out -- I'm ready to opt for an inside stateroom. I believe it's all we need and it's just 4 days. Your photos helped me make that decision. :)

 

Thanks again for your insight and observations.

[pizzalady1]

Have these penny machines always been available? I just noticed one on our last cruise...

I may just be oblivious, kind of like the fact that I have yet to see the coffee machines in the buffet that are made with fresh beans...

 

Those "special" coffee makers are just before you go out to The Great Outdoors. So far for us, it has been the starboard side, so we never looked at the port side. Mucho much better coffee!

[AKR2011]

Have these penny machines always been available? I just noticed one on our last cruise...

 

They've been on all three of mine, but not always easily found:

 

- In a hallway perhaps deck 7ish on Jewel in 2011

- Similar location on Gem in 2013

- In the Sports Bar on Sun in 2014

[Loucat]

We have been on Sky twice. Balcony staterooms and not so many on the sailings which made a difference.

Based on this review I would not sail on the ship but everyone has different experiences.

We did other port excursions and that also helped along with having good weather.

[ncklhaus]

They've been on all three of mine, but not always easily found:

 

- In a hallway perhaps deck 7ish on Jewel in 2011

- Similar location on Gem in 2013

- In the Sports Bar on Sun in 2014

 

On the Breakaway, the machine is in O'Sheehan's, between the bar and the bowling lanes. We only found it when we were getting off the ship on the last day.

[mitsugirly]

Enjoyed your very comprehensive review and wonderful photo's.

 

Thank you very much. :)

 

That's a gorgeous collage. My husband's hobby is photography, too.

 

Yep, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Gem are all Gem Class ships and very similar. They came out in this order each year staring in 2005: Jewel, Jade, Pearl, Gem. One of them has the first bowling alley at sea - I think it was the Pearl Yep, the Pearl has a bowling alley. (That is one that I have been on) as the Jade doesn't have a bowling alley. The Jade was originally named the Pride of Hawaii, but was repurposed to Europe in her maiden year due to huge losses for NCL America and that same year was renamed the Jade. The Hawaiian cultural center was repurposed as the casino. However they didn't redecorate the MDR which has a huge statue of King Kamehameha and gorgeous murals of Hawaii in it! LOL! All the same, the MDR is a gorgeous room. So that makes 2 of the ships that have been a dedicated ship to Hawaii and are not any longer. That sounds like a ship I would want to try out if it still has the decor to it. I love that. The Jade's Suite colors are fuchsia, purple and green. It seems like all the Gem class ships have specific suite colors. I think that the rest of the staterooms are similar in colors across the Gem Class ships. I like the bathrooms in the regular staterooms which are divided into 3 sections with sliding glass doors. The storage is also really good. The suites have beautiful art glass sliding doors. These are the ships that caused us to get hooked on NCL. But, like you, we like other cruise lines as well and we try not to do the same ship twice, I'm glad I'm not the only one. LOL I see people on here doing a ship over and over and over and I have no desire to do any over (except the Epic because my little one didn't get to do the Epic) although the Jade is so wonderful, we've been on Jade twice - in a Villa and an Owner's suite - both at very reasonable prices - in Europe.

 

We love Chihuly, too. There was a big display of it at the Dallas Arboretum last spring that we were going to photograph and then...disaster. Here in Dallas in the spring, we often get hail - not just little hail either, big golf ball and baseball sized hail! Hail so big it takes out windshields, skylights, destroys tile roofs, goes through shake shingle roofs and destroys cars, the hail damages trees and has even hit people on the head and killed them. Guess what? We had a hail storm! Anyone who lives around here knows this is a likelihood and sure enough, there was hail and one of the sculptures had some parts destroyed. Anyway, that storm came on the day we had scheduled to photograph the exhibit, so, not wanting to risk our photography equipment (or our lives or our vehicle) we didn't wind up going. Oh my gosh. I wouldn't have went and risk it either. Photography equipment is NOT CHEAP! Yikes.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/18791176/glass-artwork-damaged-during-dallas-hailstorm

 

Interesting about the angel hidden in the sculptures, though! I'll have to look for hidden objects next time I see a Chihuly sculpture.

 

Anyway, thank you for the great review! I want to suggest you consider doing a Panama Canal cruise next time - many of these are 10 to 13 days. Routes from Puerto Rico include some fantastic islands like Grenada, Curacao, and St. Lucia. Routes from Miami include Cartegena, Colon and Puerto Limon. This is the cruise we took first - Panama Canal on the Sun Princess. You have to go on a smaller ship because not all ships can fit through the canal. The day going through the Panama Canal is AMAZING and loaded with incredible and often unexpected photo opportunities! Just wondering if you could elaborate on the photo opportunities. I have never considered a Panama Canal cruise because...well, we are beach and Caribbean people (if you can't tell by now lol) and I have no idea what there is to do or see on one of these cruises. Although, I have always said I would never do an Alaskan cruise either because I absolutely HATE the winter or anything cold and after rethinking it years later, I now want to try one out just for the "different" animals you will see on the excursions. If you can, get a balcony, so you can get some shade on that day. Otherwise, use lots of sunscreen and bring a hat because you will be out on deck all day long taking the most amazing photos. It is very hot and muggy going through the canal, but oh...so worth it! You might bring a neck cooling wrap - that is helpful when the humidity is so high you feel like you are going to melt. Really? It's that hot there? I never knew that. Heck, to be honest, I don't even know where the "panama" is. LOL

 

The other cruise you and your family might want to try would be a Med cruise. I didn't know how wonderful these were until the first time we went and we've done 3 so far and are wanting to go again soon - so we're hooked!

 

Do tell...what's so wonderful about the Med cruise?

 

You may be the one to convince me to try something out of my "comfort" zone. :D

[mitsugirly]

His work and use that term loosely because he has not blown glass since 1979? is really cool. He and his artist have inspired me in some of the glass I blow. If your ever in Vegas be sure to check out his work in the Bellagio.

 

 

http://govegas.about.com/od/bellagio/ig/Chihuly-Sculpture-at-Bellagio/

 

Really? He has not done anything since 1979? Wow. So there must be a lot of pieces out there in order to have them at so many places? Or are they having other glass blowers do the work and it's just called the Chihuly "way" of doing it?

 

Thanks for the link. That's beautiful. It's something like what we have here, but I'm sure that is a lot more extensive than our little tunnel with it at the top. Thanks for sharing. :)

 

Have these penny machines always been available? I just noticed one on our last cruise...

I may just be oblivious, kind of like the fact that I have yet to see the coffee machines in the buffet that are made with fresh beans...

 

No, they have not always been on the ships to my knowledge. I have just started noticing them, I believe, last year maybe?

[mitsugirly]

I have always enjoyed reading your reviews. Now, since we are booking the Sky for a 4-day cruise -- which wasn't really planned it just sorta worked out -- I'm ready to opt for an inside stateroom. I believe it's all we need and it's just 4 days. Your photos helped me make that decision. :)

 

Thanks again for your insight and observations.

 

Well glad I could help. :D Just be prepared for not a lot of space for your clothes...or at least not enough space for the 3 of us.

 

Those "special" coffee makers are just before you go out to The Great Outdoors. So far for us, it has been the starboard side, so we never looked at the port side. Mucho much better coffee!

 

I had no idea they had these. (I'm not a coffee drinker, but the hubby is). Is this already made or do you have to make it yourself? How can you tell you have the right coffee makers? Will it say made with real beans?

[mitsugirly]

We have been on Sky twice. Balcony staterooms and not so many on the sailings which made a difference.

Based on this review I would not sail on the ship but everyone has different experiences.

We did other port excursions and that also helped along with having good weather.

 

Yes, the excursions and weather does have a big effect on things. :o

[pizzalady1]

I had no idea they had these. (I'm not a coffee drinker, but the hubby is). Is this already made or do you have to make it yourself? How can you tell you have the right coffee makers? Will it say made with real beans?

 

It is right before you go out to the Great Outdoors. The coffee maker is big and has a big "top hat" of loose beans. I don't remember if there were instructions since only my husband drinks coffee. If I remember correctly, just push a button and beans fall into machine and grind, then the coffee comes out. My husband says that it is really much better coffee.

 

I don't believe that we missed the penny machine on our cruises--hubby loves them and always gets one or two wherever we see them. We will have to be on the lookout on our next cruise on the Dawn. We will make it a treasure hunt. Probably better on our budget than the key hole machine!

[mitsugirly]

It is right before you go out to the Great Outdoors. The coffee maker is big and has a big "top hat" of loose beans. I don't remember if there were instructions since only my husband drinks coffee. If I remember correctly, just push a button and beans fall into machine and grind, then the coffee comes out. My husband says that it is really much better coffee.

 

I don't believe that we missed the penny machine on our cruises--hubby loves them and always gets one or two wherever we see them. We will have to be on the lookout on our next cruise on the Dawn. We will make it a treasure hunt. Probably better on our budget than the key hole machine!

 

 

I just informed the hubby of the coffee machine...he said an obscene word and threw his hands up in the air. :p He wants to know out of all the cruises we've been on, why hasn't someone told him about this before. :D He'll be on his own treasure hunt the next time. LOL

[SuiteTraveler]

Just wondering if you could elaborate on the photo opportunities. I have never considered a Panama Canal cruise because...well, we are beach and Caribbean people (if you can't tell by now lol) and I have no idea what there is to do or see on one of these cruises. Although, I have always said I would never do an Alaskan cruise either because I absolutely HATE the winter or anything cold and after rethinking it years later, I now want to try one out just for the "different" animals you will see on the excursions

 

Well, first off, if you do full transit like we did, you see some really amazing things. Our cruise started went to St. Thomas, St. Maarten (French side - where we did the BEST snorkeling ever!) St. Lucia ( even been to their drive in volcano or seen the Pitons?) then to Grenada - which was fabulous - ever seen and smelled chocolate growing on trees? Grenada also has many gorgeous waterfalls and this is the "Spice Island" so you can buy all kinds of spices there. Then Curacao - which has this pontoon bridge (great for photography) and very charming Dutch style buildings. Our last port before the canal was Venezuala - which unfortunately they can't do anymore - but it was great for photography as we were up in the mountains...but then there is the Panama canal. Awwww...the canal. You only do the canal for one day, so you can consider it sort of a day at sea, only, you are not at sea, you are in the canal! You can relax BUT there is so much to see you don't want to relax you want to look at the canal and you wonder if something might happen like this:

 

The Panama Canal is in...of course. Panama. The purpose of the canal was to enable freight to travel by ship from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Caribbean to the Pacific ocean and vice versa without having to sail all the way around the tip of South America. So what is there to photograph? Early the morning as you prepare to transit the canal, you are greeted with an awe inspiring sight as there will be many, many ships with your ship in the lake all waiting their turn to transit the canal. The canal has 2 lanes, one going east and the other going west and 3 sets of locks. Only one ship may enter a lock at a time. This will tell you more about the Panama Canal than I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_locks

It is a tropical environment and typically, going East to West your cruise terminates on the East coast of Mexico - in our case that was Alcapulco. So it is ALL warm weather/tropical. Take a look at this to get an idea of what a lock is like:

 

It is amazing to be onboard a ship as it enters a lock (how on earth do they manage to not scrape it?) and even more amazing to be elevated as the lock is flooded or lowered as the lock is partially drained before you move to the next lock. Besides the locks, often there are interesting ships ahead or behind you. We were lucky enough to transit behind a US nuclear submarine - something few people ever get to see! But there were many, many other interesting ships. There is also pretty scenery on the shore, as well as interesting industrial scenes, but the locks are the true stars of the day. Typically, the cruise ships bring aboard a historian who explains what you are seeing over the loudspeaker and it's really interesting. Nowadays, they are finishing the Panama Canal Expansion Project - check this out: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Panama_Canal_expansion_project?lang=en

So that's even more interesting stuff to photograph.

 

This link is for a different type of Panama Canal cruise starting in Cabo. It is well worth watching to see what is available on land as well as just transiting the canal:

 

Some partial Canal transits offer shore excursions from Colon, Panama and even a trip on the scenic Panama Railway which runs parallel to the canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic. This explains the many options:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?id=1355

 

So, you get all the beach/island/snorkeling type activities you could want on a Panama Canal cruise and THEN you get the Panama Canal, too! It's the cherry on top of your ice cream sundae!

 

I'll be back tomorrow to try to explain why Med cruises are so amazing...

[mitsugirly]

So my final thoughts on the Sky.

 

I actually liked the way the Sky looked and the decor and design. I probably liked it a little more than the Sun. I especially liked the area at the elevators encased in glass looking out at the pool deck. I also liked the remains of the Hawaii "stuff" around the ship and a few other differences around the ship.

 

The food was about the same as the Sun. With the buffet being so small, I just don't think that there's much room for a variety of items. I normally like the buffet a lot on the other ships, but this time, the Sky and the Sun just didn't cut it for me.

 

The service at the MDR on the Sky (and the Sun) was excellent. The last several cruises we have waited and waited forever in the MDR to get service, our food and drinks. This was a pleasant experience on both ships.

 

The rooms...I did not like the layout of this room with the couch at the end of the bed being the 3rd/4th person bed. Had we pulled it all the way out, there would have been no room to walk around it. The bathroom door was hard to shut (if it would shut at all) in our room and the closet door dragged the floor.

 

There is definitely NOT enough storage/closet space (at least for 3 people) on the Sky. The Sun was great for this...but the Sky lacks space. Thank goodness it was only for 4 days.

 

The showers...YIKES! We all now know about the SUPER SMALL round shower with the sticking shower curtain=the worse. Thank goodness I learned the trick about leaving the edges open (or the door) to keep this from happening. Also, the water pressure didn't pound on you on the Sky like it did the Sun.

 

I found the room steward service on the Sky to be one of the worse. Removing bath towels and beach towels when there were 3 people in the room??? I'm not sure what they were thinking, even after asking me how many people were in there. Them never giving us clean glasses and putting a clean lid on top of a dirty glass=unacceptable. Then we went down to only 1 glass on the 2nd day. Several times our trash was not emptied. Our ice bucket was not filled every day either. Oh, one thing I meant to take a picture of was the huge gap under our room door. At night, you could see all the light coming in (no need for a night light with this) and also hear people in the hallway.

 

The beds were probably the hardest beds I have ever slept on. I don't have the best circulation to begin with and after laying in these beds, I would wake up during the night with a body part asleep. I woke up once with a stiff neck. It was just the worse sleep I have had on a ship.

 

The safe was easy to work and much better than the Sun.

 

We found the Sky to be in much needed repair compared to the other NCL ships we've been on. We found broken toilet seats falling off in public areas, broken tiles and the ship just didn't seem as "up to par" and clean like the rest of the fleet. I know she's old, but so is the Sun and the Spirit and it didn't feel that way to me on those.

 

I did over hear a lady complaining to a worker in the casino about a sewage smell in the public restroom. I did not go investigate.

 

Where is the washy washy people? Have they done away with them? I have not seen them on the last several cruises really. They are a hit or miss and they don't say anything to you when they are there.

 

The Internet worked great and was just as fast as the Sun was. Excellent deal in my book.

 

This ship was PACKED IMO. There were lines for everything and people everywhere. No place to sit to eat at the buffet and a lot of times at the Great Outdoors.

 

The casino sucked...well, that's only because I didn't win big on this ship. :D Actually, I really didn't find any games that I really liked (and that's unusual for me).

 

I seriously hate that neither the Sun or the Sky has a 24/7 restaurant. I was completely missing the Blue Lagoon/O'Sheehans. :(

 

The kids club on this ship looked amazing. A lot better than the decor on the Sun. Bright and fun filled. However, the staff was not as friendly. I did like that they provided you with a "beeper" that you wore around your neck and you could also receive calls and talk using it. Awesome! Too bad the Sun hasn't adopted this procedure. I guess they just like to receive calls all day long while you walk from area to area on the ship.

 

One thing I would suggest for people without kids (and even for those with), don't book a room in the hall by the kids club. Not because the kids club is loud, but because when they have any activities outside the club, both going from and to the club they are chanting really loud. I provided videos of the times we ran into them on the ship. Those same chants they were doing in the videos are the same chants they did in the hallways...super loud.

 

I didn't like that the picture package was different than the other ships. On the other ships you can pick 10 pictures of ANY size for a set price. This ship, it was 5 pictures...but they had to be the SAME size.

 

Loved that they had the pasta/pizza bar for extra choices for lunch and also for breakfast. This is an added plus!!

 

The White Hot Party...just wasn't the same that we have experienced on the other ships. Since everyone seems to think that a 4 day cruise is a "party ship"...where was the party??? Because the White Hot party just was not hopping at all.

 

 

**Have you ever noticed how often they place Michael Jackson songs on the NCL ships?? Just wondering. We have noticed this with every cruise and laugh at it. I love Michael Jackson, but always have to laugh at the amount of times you'll hear songs over and over.***:p

 

 

So to close...I'm not a complainer. I see the best in things when I can. Was this a horrible ship? Absolutely not. When we got on her, I immediately liked her. Was it up to par with the rest of the fleet? No, but it didn't really sway me one way or the other about not liking her. If I had read this review and never sailed her would I? Yep, I still would. Like I have said before, I form my own opinions and like to see the best in every ship. She may have not been up to par and needed some repairs, but she was still a nice ship and we enjoyed her.

 

Was she a party ship? Psshhh, not when we were on her. It was crowded yes, but I wouldn't consider it a party ship. I didn't see anyone falling over drunk, acting inappropriate or out of line. It was just like being on any 7 day cruise.

 

Would I go on her again? Nope, probably not. I don't really like to repeat ships and now I have "been there, done that" and have no desire to do it again.

 

 

Now one last thing I do have to say. This was probably our least favorite ship and cruise ever. I have read multiple people that come on here with complaints about the worse cruise ever and missing ports and bad weather and everyone always says "suck it up, it's a cruise". I can honestly say that we have always had good weather during our cruise (maybe not sailaway or returning) and have always made it to our ports (with the exception of a private island back in the 90's), so I could honestly not relate to them. Well now I can. I have to say that I can now sympathize with those that have bad weather or miss a port. It truly sucks! Although it's still better to be cruising than at home working and such, it really does affect your entire cruise. Not in a really bad way, but to some extent. We had colder weather at Nassau, we had to skip Great Stirrup Cay (that I was so looking forward to) and it was cold and rainy. Yes, this DOES have some affect on the entire cruise and make it kinda a boo-hiss type of thing. It's just something you can't control, but it happens...and now it has happened to us. I guess this just gives me another excuse to head back on a cruise that goes to GSC. How's that for a quick recovery? :D

 

Ok, I still have a few of the NCL fleet to sail...I guess I'm off to some more planning. The Dawn is up next...5 more months and counting. :D

 

Thanks to everyone that stuck with me during both of these reviews. I really appreciate it and hope to sail with you guys some time in the future.

[perfect match]

Ugh! I knew I should have come looking for your review(s) sooner! I guess I'm back to playing catch-up again! Actually, since I see that this is part 2, I'm going to head on over to part 1 and start there. I want to follow your review in order. I saw how many posts part 1 has already, so I'm afraid that catching up is gonna take a while. :eek:

 

I do want to say congrats on passing your nursing boards! I knew you could do it! :D

[mitsugirly]

 

Well, first off, if you do full transit like we did, you see some really amazing things. Our cruise started went to St. Thomas, St. Maarten (French side - where we did the BEST snorkeling ever!) St. Lucia ( even been to their drive in volcano or seen the Pitons?) then to Grenada - which was fabulous - ever seen and smelled chocolate growing on trees? Grenada also has many gorgeous waterfalls and this is the "Spice Island" so you can buy all kinds of spices there. Then Curacao - which has this pontoon bridge (great for photography) and very charming Dutch style buildings. Our last port before the canal was Venezuala - which unfortunately they can't do anymore - but it was great for photography as we were up in the mountains...but then there is the Panama canal. Awwww...the canal. You only do the canal for one day, so you can consider it sort of a day at sea, only, you are not at sea, you are in the canal! You can relax BUT there is so much to see you don't want to relax you want to look at the canal and you wonder if something might happen like this:

 

The Panama Canal is in...of course. Panama. The purpose of the canal was to enable freight to travel by ship from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Caribbean to the Pacific ocean and vice versa without having to sail all the way around the tip of South America. So what is there to photograph? Early the morning as you prepare to transit the canal, you are greeted with an awe inspiring sight as there will be many, many ships with your ship in the lake all waiting their turn to transit the canal. The canal has 2 lanes, one going east and the other going west and 3 sets of locks. Only one ship may enter a lock at a time. This will tell you more about the Panama Canal than I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_locks

It is a tropical environment and typically, going East to West your cruise terminates on the East coast of Mexico - in our case that was Alcapulco. So it is ALL warm weather/tropical. Take a look at this to get an idea of what a lock is like:

 

It is amazing to be onboard a ship as it enters a lock (how on earth do they manage to not scrape it?) and even more amazing to be elevated as the lock is flooded or lowered as the lock is partially drained before you move to the next lock. Besides the locks, often there are interesting ships ahead or behind you. We were lucky enough to transit behind a US nuclear submarine - something few people ever get to see! But there were many, many other interesting ships. There is also pretty scenery on the shore, as well as interesting industrial scenes, but the locks are the true stars of the day. Typically, the cruise ships bring aboard a historian who explains what you are seeing over the loudspeaker and it's really interesting. Nowadays, they are finishing the Panama Canal Expansion Project - check this out: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Panama_Canal_expansion_project?lang=en

So that's even more interesting stuff to photograph.

 

This link is for a different type of Panama Canal cruise starting in Cabo. It is well worth watching to see what is available on land as well as just transiting the canal:

 

Some partial Canal transits offer shore excursions from Colon, Panama and even a trip on the scenic Panama Railway which runs parallel to the canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic. This explains the many options:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?id=1355

 

So, you get all the beach/island/snorkeling type activities you could want on a Panama Canal cruise and THEN you get the Panama Canal, too! It's the cherry on top of your ice cream sundae!

 

I'll be back tomorrow to try to explain why Med cruises are so amazing...

 

Thanks so much for your extensive explanation. You don't know how much I appreciate that.

 

So it sounds like you pretty much do like a southern Caribbean cruise and then it extends on to the canal. I could go for that. But I don't think I would want to do the full canal and 14 days. After doing this Sun and Sky cruise, I found that being gone for 14 days was just too much for us. I guess I could try out the 1/2 canal.

 

I did go look at some pricing and :eek: yikes, it's pretty darn expensive. I may have to wait for awhile to do one of these cruises. I liked doing the "cheaper" cruises so that I can cruise more during the year. But we'll see. I will still keep them in mind. :)

[mitsugirly]

Ugh! I knew I should have come looking for your review(s) sooner! I guess I'm back to playing catch-up again! Actually, since I see that this is part 2, I'm going to head on over to part 1 and start there. I want to follow your review in order. I saw how many posts part 1 has already, so I'm afraid that catching up is gonna take a while. :eek:

 

I do want to say congrats on passing your nursing boards! I knew you could do it! :D

 

 

Thanks so much for the congrats on passing the boards. I can say that I still have hair left after it...:eek: :D

 

The good thing about these 2 reviews (as suggested in another thread awhile back about reviews) is that I followed someones lead and did my review part in a bigger, different font and color, which makes it easier to pick out the review itself. That way you can just skip over all the comments and questions. :) I hope you enjoy both of them.

[SuiteTraveler]

Thanks so much for your extensive explanation. You don't know how much I appreciate that.

 

So it sounds like you pretty much do like a southern Caribbean cruise and then it extends on to the canal. I could go for that. But I don't think I would want to do the full canal and 14 days. After doing this Sun and Sky cruise, I found that being gone for 14 days was just too much for us. I guess I could try out the 1/2 canal.

 

I did go look at some pricing and :eek: yikes, it's pretty darn expensive. I may have to wait for awhile to do one of these cruises. I liked doing the "cheaper" cruises so that I can cruise more during the year. But we'll see. I will still keep them in mind. :)

 

For a cheap Panama Canal on NCL, book close to the time you want to sail. I see a 13 day February cruise from $749. So, these cheaper prices CAN be found and less than 14 days. The shortest are 11 days. Now on to the Med!

[mitsugirly]

For a cheap Panama Canal on NCL, book close to the time you want to sail. I see a 13 day February cruise from $749. So, these cheaper prices CAN be found and less than 14 days. The shortest are 11 days. Now on to the Med!

 

 

The problem with that is we can't really book any last minute deals or too close to when we want to go because of having to give my work a well advanced notice prior to vacation. I know at the hospital you have to put in your vacation time for the entire year and then "hope" that you get those dates and someone that has seniority over you does not want the same time. Although I'm not currently at the hospital (but one never knows), I still have to give a notice at my current "lenient" job. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next few months and where I might end up working for good. :)

[Cruisin' Hawaii 2013]

I thoroughy enjoyed reading your review of the Sky. Thank you for taking the time! Loved the pictures and the commentary. I'm so looking forward to sailing on her in February!

[SuiteTraveler]

The problem with that is we can't really book any last minute deals or too close to when we want to go because of having to give my work a well advanced notice prior to vacation. I know at the hospital you have to put in your vacation time for the entire year and then "hope" that you get those dates and someone that has seniority over you does not want the same time. Although I'm not currently at the hospital (but one never knows), I still have to give a notice at my current "lenient" job. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next few months and where I might end up working for good. :)

 

So what you do is ask for vacation over the time when there is a Panama Canal Cruise but don't book until you are sure you will get your vacation time. You might think about working in a doctor's office if you want a more controlled and routine schedule. I know it's not as much fun in terms of the work (my mom was an RN) and it probably won't pay as well, but it would be one way to make sure someone with seniority doesn't bump your vacation.

Edited December 28, 2014 by SuiteTraveler

[mitsugirly]

I thoroughy enjoyed reading your review of the Sky. Thank you for taking the time! Loved the pictures and the commentary. I'm so looking forward to sailing on her in February!

 

Thanks so much for your comment. I appreciate you being here. Have a wonderful cruise in February. :)

 

So what you do is ask for vacation over the time when there is a Panama Canal Cruise but don't book until you are sure you will get your vacation time. You might think about working in a doctor's office if you want a more controlled and routine schedule. I know it's not as much fun in terms of the work (my mom was an RN) and it probably won't pay as well' date=' but it would be one way to make sure someone with seniority doesn't bump your vacation.[/quote']

 

The only problem is you really can't find many jobs working for the doctors office. They are all ran by the hospitals, or a division of them, and you have to go through the hospital in order to apply...which stinks because they are hardly ever available.

[Medtech2]

The problem with that is we can't really book any last minute deals or too close to when we want to go because of having to give my work a well advanced notice prior to vacation. I know at the hospital you have to put in your vacation time for the entire year and then "hope" that you get those dates and someone that has seniority over you does not want the same time. Although I'm not currently at the hospital (but one never knows), I still have to give a notice at my current "lenient" job. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next few months and where I might end up working for good. :)

OMG we just got notice where I work that we will be going to this "new and improved, fairer" way of putting in for vacation...Yikes!

I am going to book a cruise today, before January 1st...

I am thinking the Star, since it will be going out of Port Canaveral and stops at GSC.

[spacewoman]

I'm with you on the eggs Kim.

 

We were on the Gem in October. First time in all 8 cruises with NCL that I have ever complained about food. Wrote a letter to corporate about it (in addition to raving about our favorite crew members), but got a generic thank you back.

 

Jeph had advised my Mom to only ask for "fresh" egg anythings to ensure they were gluten free. I asked the same way since I do not enjoy eggs from a carton. The chefs this trip do not have a clue on how to make an omelet This was in the MDR. They would take two eggs, fry them hard then fold them over the ingredients we asked for. I gave up on that and asked for two fresh eggs scrambled. They came out runny and not scrambled much. I can eat a runny egg but runny whites in the egg is salmonella asking to happen. YET the eggs Benedict were delicious. Go figure. One of the hardest dishes to pull off and I thiught they were great. All our other meals were fine. I missed some items no longer offered, but I did not starve:)

 

Kathy

Edited December 30, 2014 by spacewoman

[mitsugirly]

OMG we just got notice where I work that we will be going to this "new and improved, fairer" way of putting in for vacation...Yikes!

I am going to book a cruise today, before January 1st...

I am thinking the Star, since it will be going out of Port Canaveral and stops at GSC.

 

What? The Star will be going out of Port Canaveral and going to GSC? When does this happen? Any other ships there? I will have to check out the new schedules. I really want to go to GSC.

 

I'm with you on the eggs Kim.

 

We were on the Gem in October. First time in all 8 cruises with NCL that I have ever complained about food. Wrote a letter to corporate about it (in addition to raving about our favorite crew members), but got a generic thank you back.

 

Jeph had advised my Mom to only ask for "fresh" egg anythings to ensure they were gluten free. I asked the same way since I do not enjoy eggs from a carton. The chefs this trip do not have a clue on how to make an omelet This was in the MDR. They would take two eggs, fry them hard then fold them over the ingredients we asked for. I gave up on that and asked for two fresh eggs scrambled. They came out runny and not scrambled much. I can eat a runny egg but runny whites in the egg is salmonella asking to happen. YET the eggs Benedict were delicious. Go figure. One of the hardest dishes to pull off and I thiught they were great. All our other meals were fine. I missed some items no longer offered, but I did not starve:)

 

Kathy

 

Honestly I have never had any problems with the eggs that I can remember. This cruise was just a little "off" with the food. I have always noticed that on the last day there are a lot more people at the buffet than on the port/sea days and the always seem to have runny eggs on that last day. I'm wondering if they are just in too much of a hurry to get them out to everyone on that last day that they aren't taking the time to cook them. I can't stand ANY type of food that is uncooked. I can't to over easy, or rare or medium rare anything...COOK THAT STUFF ALL THE WAY. I want it good and dead!!! :)

 

But like you said...I will never go hungry on a cruise...and if I try to say I did, then my scales will tell you a different story when I return from each cruise. :D

[SuiteTraveler]

The only problem is you really can't find many jobs working for the doctors office. They are all ran by the hospitals, or a division of them, and you have to go through the hospital in order to apply...which stinks because they are hardly ever available.

 

Really? It's not like that here at all. Many, many doctors have private offices where you would only work for them directly - one of my friends does this. She does 3 days on (12 hour/day)+ 4 hours, 3.5 days off. FABULOUS! It's almost like not working at all! But I'm sure there are many nursing jobs that work like that. So...if the doctor's office jobs go through the hospitals, figure out what doctors you might want to work with and join their churches or whatever you need to do to network with them. Over time get to know them and mention that you are an RN and would someday love to work in a doctors office. I have gotten many jobs this way - just by getting to know people and letting them know what I do and then being there when they needed someone with my expertise. Most people like to hire people they have something in common with and whom they already know, like and trust. It takes some patience to build these relationships, but if you start now, you will find that it pays off throughout your career.

 

Here's another thought: the way my aunt (also an RN) got around this vacation issue was she was a school nurse. This way, she had all school breaks off and also all summer, too. (My uncle was a school teacher and later a principal so this worked out great for them.) Anyway just food for thought. It might not be useful information right now, but someday, maybe it will help you or someone you know.