July 20, 2012 -The MAGICAL BIG APPLE

[cogero]

Hi Everyone

I just booked this cruise while I was on the Dream this weekend. We loved cruising so much we wanted to book another so we took advantage of booking on board.

It is me, my DH and 2 kids. We live in NY so cruising out of NYC is a great bonus.

 

[doberlady]

We just booked a spur of the moment Thanksgiving cruise on NCL out of NY. I hope I do not keep comparing it to the Disney cruise. Is MUCH cheaper! Their private island in the Bahamas is like nothing but a beach. I was told not even an umbrella and hardly any chairs.

 

[Mjasp]

We just booked a spur of the moment Thanksgiving cruise on NCL out of NY. I hope I do not keep comparing it to the Disney cruise. Is MUCH cheaper! Their private island in the Bahamas is like nothing but a beach. I was told not even an umbrella and hardly any chairs.

I just read in Cruise travel magazine that they did a complete makeover of their island

 

[doberlady]

Not even close to being done. I hear it's a huge construction zone

 

[Mjasp]

Not even close to being done. I hear it's a huge construction zone

I'm sorry it wasn't from my Cruise travel magazine it was frim my Interval World magazine...This is what it says.

NCL recently completed a $20 million renovation of its private island Great Stirrup Cay, and the results are impressive, to say the least. Right away, you'll notice a new marina and dining and bar facilities, as well as more beachfront. Wave runners and kayaks can be rented, and passengers can take an eco cruise. Beachfront cabanas, a straw market, and a children's play area round out the improvements.

Sounds nice doesn't it? Check cruise critic to see if anyone was there this week since that is when I rcvd this magazine.

What category did you book?

 

[doberlady]

We have 2 midship connecting balcony's

 

[Mjasp]

NICE!!! I just booked February break 2013 on the Gem, check out the itinerary. 9 nights and it goes to the caribbean instead of Bahamas/Florida.
I booked an oceanview, but will probably upgrade to a suite with Concierge and Butler, you should check the prices for the suites, just stay away from the mini suites as they offer no additional perks.
We were looking at the Thanksgiving cruise also, but we are pulling my daughter out for 3 days in February, so I couldn't pull her out again. That is such a great price for that cruise.

 

[doberlady]

We can only take the kids out of school Thanksgiving week for now on as they will only miss 2 days. We used to go away Halloween and they would miss a week but now with HS and middle school it's impossible.

Does the Gem leave from NY for your cruise? I hate this itineratry and can't believe now I will do it twice LOL.

We have 2 connecting balcony on the Jewel for $4400 for the 5 of us. This Disney cruise for 2 connecting OV is 9K for the 5 of us. But you get what you pay for. NCL's island looks like a dried up nothing with people all on top of each other. They have a big water slide on the beach that you have to pay to use. Airfare is just too crazy that week to fly anywhere.

I will be perfectly happy finding a chair by the pool with a cool drink in hand! Also hoping I do not get seasick. We had terrible weather on our last Disney cruise with huge waves and the minute the ship left we went to AP for dinner and I started to sway so I could not eat dinner but was able to sit there. The next morning was bad all around except for my husband.

Ordering new Seabands and will being Bonine this time. I am going to take it one day soon and see how it makes me feel.

 

[slg]

How is everyone's plans going? This is a very quiet thread. Must not be many people on the ship.

 

[Robmom]

How is everyone's plans going? This is a very quiet thread. Must not be many people on the ship.

I was thinking that myself. It would be nice if it isn't crowded. But that probably won't happen!

 

[Robmom]

Double post

 

[cogero]

I am amazed at how quiet this thread is LOL.

 

[doberlady]

Hey all. Freezing my buns off here in NY

Just read about the Costa cruise in Italy. I wanted to just cry. So sad and so very scary!!!

 

[Carol36]

This is a very quiet thread...getting excited here!

slg...how is your mom?

 

[slg]

Thank you for asking. My mom is doing as well as we could hope. She had 4 rounds of chemo and then the debulking surgery, then two more rounds. She seems to be doing well. The oncologist said they got as much of the cancer out as they could find, and that the chemo had shrunk some of the tumours and eliminated most of them Her final chemo was Nov. 24 and she will have a blood test in February with a complete check up. We're all praying for a complete remission. She did so well on chemo! Never threw up, kept all her energy. Tough old lady she is!

She actually had fallopian tube cancer, not ovarian, although they say its pretty much the same thing. She has had the genetic testing, but we are in Canada and it takes 6-12 months to get the results. Once the results come in I will speak with a geneticist and decide what to do.

Hopefully all will be well. I've got 2 disney cruises booked and hoping to book the med for next summer.

As for this cruise, we've booked our hotel, we've booked our flights Now I need to figure out transfers from la guardia to the hotel and from the hotel to the port. Since we are a family of 5, we probably need two cabs, so I need advice on the best thing to do!


Can anyone here help? Where is everyone in their planning?

If the cruise is quiet, maybe I'll get a free upgrade. Hope so as we're in side by side 11B this time.

 

[doberlady]

SLG- sorry to hear about your mom, hope she is on the road to recovery soon!

 

[slg]

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Anyone from NY, is it easy to get taxis that accomodate 5 people? Our hotel, Radio City Apartments, said it would be best and cheapest just to take a taxi and that there are plenty of van taxis. I've never been, so I just wanted someone elses advice on that. Or should we book a transfer?

 

[doberlady]

ughhhhh.

Anyone else book a Med 2013???

I booked 2 and have to make a decision in 2 days of which to keep.

I have lost my mind. Sooooo much money!

 

[slg]

We've booked. On the July 13 greek isles.

What are the two you are struggling with and why? We finally chose the Greek because the Venice one felt like an italian cruise, while the Greek one goes to many different countries and we felt we were exposing our kids to different cultures. Plus it had an extra sea day and from our Baltic cruise experience, I thought we could use 4 days at sea.

Still need some advice from our NY cruise. Any NYorkers on this cruise?

 

[doberlady]

Can't afford to do this summer expensive NY cruise and the following summer in the Med with the whole family. Airfare for 5 to Europe is EXPENSIVE.

Hubby and I decided to do the Med alone to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and my 50th Birthday.

I am so torn between the 7 night and the 12 night.

I really really really want to do the 12 night

My dd will be off to college in 2014 and we won't be able to take a trip like this for a long time once she is in college. Hubby and I have only been away for 2 nights alone since our Honeymoon as we take the kids everywhere (we have 4).

We went on a Norwegian cruise for Thanksgiving and it was horrible. I will only sail Disney.

I will be leaving the kids home with MIL coming here to my house. My daughter will be 17, another daughter 8 and my son 15 at time of cruise.

I suddenly panicked at the thought of being away for 2 weeks where I am unreachable.

What are your thoughts on that?? We could do the 7 night Med (which would save $2400).

11B for 7 nights $3034
11B for 12 nights $5451