Crusing for Christmas, where do I even begin?

[WhatshouldIsay]

Let me begin by sayng, I can be quite sarcastic in my writing, so take it with a grain of salt please.

 

Our very first cruise was with Holland during Hurricane Michele.  Yes, we booked during hurricane season, but our TA assured us we would be fine and what did I know?   I ended up in the cabin (low deck, mid ship) for most of the cruise, I was miserable. I was sick, I couldn't eat and I thought for sure we were going to die.  Fast forward 21 years, my hubby convinces me to try again.  Hey, its a Christmas cruise, our adult children have their own plans this year so why not.  A week later, I booked the Escape leaving 12/24/22.  Again, I used a TA and although it is located in a small rural WI town, she assured me she had booked many NCL cruises.  We are in mid ship again, this time in a Club Balcony.  Hoping to put my fears to rest, I joined every CC forum that pertained to the cruise and on to the Face page to join every single group associated with the Escape and NCL.  I wanted to learn about touring on our own, as we were not truly excited about any of the excursions.  Looked for information regarding which port in Puerto Plata we were actually going to.  Best restaurants to go to, etc.  Did I find my answers to many of my questions, not really.  What I found made me shutter, sarcastically and not so much.  Instead of reasonable information, that I have indeed gone out and searched on my own, I see threads of folk arguing for the sake of well, I say arguing and the social shaming was shocking.  This is what I've learned.

 

 Since we have grey hair, it seems we are boomers, retired, have grandchildren and have cruised many a cruise.  We are far from that, but I guess for the sake of assuming, we will be in that grey haired boomer couple category.   Please do not hunt us down, we are only there for the entertainment.  We are also out of touch with technology and will have a difficult time with the NCL app and will need to find a millennial or younger to figure it out.

 

For pool enjoyment, I will have to get up at 3:30 a.m., and go put my valuables on two chairs in order to have any lounge chairs if I am to enjoy the pool. Then I guess I can go back to bed, wake up enjoy a breakfast and my pool lounger will be there when I return.  I am allowed to leave my treasured valuables on said lounger for the entire day and NCL will say they will remove it, but they really don't, so rules are not meant to be followed.  I will go to bed at 6 p.m. in order to have the sacred lounger for yet another day.

 

Oh Good God, I smoke.  A dark cloud will follow me around the entire ship.  I actually had the audacity to ask about smokers on this cruise and my post was removed. I understand that it was most likely removed because the mods didn't want chaos within that particular group or a mod is against smokers.   For the sake of the drinkers, bar hoppers, partiers and cigar smokers - its okay, no one is going to bother you.  So if you happen to be on this cruise, for fun sake, let us have a meet and mingle for smokers who are early risers and like coffee only.  YIKES!

 

The dress code.  NCL has made it quite clear over the years that dress code is casual, with the exception of hats and in several of their fine dining restaurants.  But, oh my goodness, if I could only see into the posters eyes, the rage they must feel when typing out their opinions of others.  I wish I had known I was going to be judged by so many people. I cannot say how many times my mouth hit the keyboard at some of the things I read. I don't know what to wear now, my string biking to Cagney's or the lovely formal dress that I have hanging in my closet for that last 25 years.  I am terrified what people will think of me.  Will they take pictures of me and post them to their live feeds?  It is so stressful. Sigh.

 

The packing lists.  Help me. oh help me.  If I pack the top 50 cruise essentials, where will my clothes go?  Should I go out and buy another suitcase from the dark hole of Amazon?  Last time I went, it was a simple carry on, now you want me to bring a shoe holder for my door, a lovely makeup mat to lay across the sink, and some heavy bulky other things?  Please, if you bring all 50 of the items, I'd like to see a picture of your cabin so I can see where to place all of these things that are a "must have" for cruisers.  Yes, I can see the value of a few of these items, but 50?

 

My take away from the face pages and some forums, is grim.  I believe that everyone should have the cruise they deserve.  Cruisers opinions are wide and varied, I get that.  But what about that person, who maybe shy, who just wants an answer to a simple question be barraged with so much hate and judgement.  I have thick skin and can take it, even laugh at some of it, but what about that one person who just asked a simple question?  I realize that many questions can be researched first on this forum and the face pages, but often that information was posted years ago or is the post is 800 pages long and who wants to wade through all of that?  So let them post their question, even if it has been asked and answered many times over.  The pages and forums were not designed for only one certain group of cruisers, I believed they were designed for many to find answers and maybe find another group member they click with who will also be on that particular cruise.  I would ask that next time someone asks a question, answer gently with your own experiences, not what you perceive others should or should not do. 

 

I wish everyone on this particular Christmas cruise a happy, healthy, enjoyable vacation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tony s]

Hi I am Gen X and do not use the app as I am on vacation. I only use my phone for pictures and on the limited Wi-Fi to see how crappy my NY sports teams are doing. Do what makes you and your spouse comfortable. Enjoy yourself and have a cold beer for me as I will be on the Star having a Malbec I bought on no corkage fee for all!

[stefmaia]

I resemble your remarks! except I gave up smoking after a bad health scare in 2007.

Have a lovely cruise, wear what you want, you will find enough smoking sections on the Escape (my favorite ship).

Who cares what anyone thinks, you will probably never see them again in your life.

The crew on board are most helpful and can help you with most anything. There is also a printed daily that you can pick up in the morning from Customer Service when you nip out for your first fuel up and respiratory session of the day.

There are many on here who will be pleasant and help. There are many Know-it-alls, and unfortunately a sizeable amount of trolls. Pick what you need and roll your eyes at the rest.

Have a Very Merry Christmas!!🎅🤶🎄

[cruiseny4life]

Well, this Millennial cruiser absolutely loves you! I bet we'd have a great time...and heck, I'd even help you with your phone. BTW (on a somewhat serious note) you don't really need the NCL app for anything on the ship. 

 

I'm not sure where I fall into @stefmaia's description. Troll, know-it-all, something else...pretty sure I'm all of them, wrapped into one. Ever hear Meredith Brooks' song that rhymes with "witch?" Yep...

 

Anyway @WhatshouldIsay, ask your questions. I promise some of us will be nice. Some of us...won't. 

[Calker]

Love your writing style.  It is so true. 

[mearsfansinboise]

LOL - this gave me a chuckle.

Gen X here - not too far behind you ... not too much grey yet though.

Boards are mixed but mostly kind and helpful.  Seems like they have simmered down in the last 5 years or so.  Less people annoyed with people for things they can search for and more people who will just answer the question with a smile.

We sailed last month - barely used the app: once or twice to look up a menu ... another time when we were out and about and needed a time for something.  With the exception of menus, everything you need is in the dailies, and we are old school and treat the dailies like we would a morning newspaper.

Enjoy your cruise - I'm jealous .... we sailed once at Christmas and would love to do it again!

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

[TominNC]

At least you got replies.  I'm still waiting to hear what might be different on the ship the week before Christmas.

 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

I came into this thread expecting a real question.  What does any of that have to do with Christmas?  It sure doesn't sound like the most wonderful time of the year. 🎄

Edited November 6, 2022 by ChiefMateJRK