Jan115

Yes! So happy you’re coming - wouldn’t be the same without you!🙂

Hey kids,
My brother Norm and his wife Dana may be joining us on our Crazies cruise in 2024!  That makes 5 cabins I’ve got booked - Yay!
I’ve been really busy with everyone back to planning cruises. Once the dust settles, I hope to get our deposits in this weekend. 
We had another storm yesterday that was forecasted to give us a foot of snow. Once again, it was all rain. I’m not complaining, of course. Last year we had a few feet, and this year a few inches.
Meanwhile, the tulips are coming up!
 

Hey kids,
My brother Norm and his wife Dana may be joining us on our Crazies cruise in 2024!  That makes 5 cabins I’ve got booked - Yay!
I’ve been really busy with everyone back to planning cruises. Once the dust settles, I hope to get our deposits in this weekend. 
We had another storm yesterday that was forecasted to give us a foot of snow. Once again, it was all rain. I’m not complaining, of course. Last year we had a few feet, and this year a few inches.
Meanwhile, the tulips are coming up!
 

Yes, David is all in! And YES, Miranda, we just LOVE a party, and your birthday will be the perfect celebration! Please ask KC, Peggy, Larry, Martina and anyone else if they want to come along. I will run it by Ray and Yuki and will get pricing and information together to share. This is SO exciting!!

Welcome to CruiseCrazies, Karina, and welcome back to cruising. My husband and I were overjoyed to embark on our first cruise since August 2019, pre-pandemic, from Boston to Bermuda. Like you, we missed being at sea so much. We have another cruise coming up in November to the Mexican Riviera out of San Francisco, and another next May from New York to Iceland. Plus, we’re looking at the possibility of Alaska in August. 
Keep those cruises coming, I always say!

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, christened its newest ship Norwegian Prima, on Aug. 27, 2022, which made history as the first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavík, Iceland.
The first of six ships in the groundbreaking Prima Class, Norwegian Prima, debuted to more than 2,500 guests who enjoyed an immersive experience in the beautiful Icelandic capital and a christening celebration like no other.
"With her stunning design and unique offerings, Norwegian Prima is in a league of her own," said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "As the industry's most spacious new cruise ship featuring 'only-available-on-Prima-experiences,' she is continuing NCL's legacy of industry firsts. We wanted to launch Norwegian Prima in a location just as special and unique as she is, and Reykjavik's striking landscape is the perfect setting for such a milestone occasion. We thank the Reykjavik community for welcoming us with open arms."
At 965 feet (294 meters long) and more than 143,535 tons with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Prima offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any contemporary or premium cruise ship. She also boasts the largest variety of suite categories available at sea as well as a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL's ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. Her variety of recreational activities including the fastest slides at sea - The Rush and The Drop - and the Prima Speedway, the first three-level racetrack at sea, provide guests with adrenaline-pumping moments. Spaces like Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; The Concourse, which boasts a multi-million dollar outdoor sculpture garden; and expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach, offer guests a chance to slow down and relax. To learn more about all Norwegian Prima offers, please click here.
"We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this special event for several years, so we are delighted to embark on NCL's next chapter with Norwegian Prima," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "It's been a joy to see our vision come to life with this landmark christening ceremony, which sets the tone for the unparalleled holidays guests will enjoy for years to come. We are so thankful to our team members and partners worldwide who have made Norwegian Prima a stunning reality."
Guests at the christening ceremony were treated to a show-stopping performance by popular Icelandic group and 2021 "Eurovision Song Contest" fan favorites, Daði og Gagnamagnið (pronounced "Dah-they Oh Gack-no-Mak-ne"), before Norwegian Prima's very own godmother, Katy Perry took to the main stage to officially name and christen the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship's hull. The three-level Prima Theater & Club stage was then transformed into a whimsical backdrop where guests enjoyed a powerhouse performance of some of Perry's chart-topping hits including "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Roar," and "Firework."
"It was so much fun to sprinkle some fairy godmother dust on Norwegian Prima and send her on her way to sail the high seas," said Katy Perry. "I always appreciate a family vacation and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I was happy to wish all the vacationing guests a happy bon voyage!"
Prior to the Christening ceremony, guests were surprised with an authentic Icelandic experience at the HARPA cultural center. Attendees were treated to a captivating LED light show by Artist Olafur Eliasson as well as performances by Icelandic singer-songwriter Bríet who joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in an awe-inspiring show.
Norwegian Prima will depart on inaugural voyages to Northern Europe from the Netherlands, Denmark and England beginning Sept. 3, 2022, before making her way to the U.S. She will then sail voyages to the Caribbean from New York City, Galveston, Texas, and Miami in October and November before settling into her homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla., and Galveston, Texas for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season. 
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SOURCE: Travel Industry Wire (Press Release, Aug. 30, 2022) Photo Credit: Cruise Hive
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com

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Greetings from the Norwegian Pearl in Bermuda!! Here’s a pic of Andi, me and our other halves on a Gosling sunset rum cruise where there was much laughter and the spirits were flowing. Bermuda is beautiful as always and we’re happy to support it’s comeback. Pre-testing and the Bermuda authorization process turned out to be an easy process and embarkation in Boston was a breeze. Maybe you heard, but we had an incident after sailaway at 1:30 am when a fishing boat hit the ship. The ship sustained minimal damage and all guests were fine, though we did list, nearly rolling me out of bed. The fishing boat had some significant damage with an injury. Strange thing is - the Captain (apart from the Code Delta announcement to the crew) has never mentioned the incident to us to this day. We knew something was up, all speculation, until we found out from off-ship news reports.
It’s astonishing how few face masks we’re seeing on board. We all continue to wear them in elevators and crowded areas in an attempt to ward off any positive post cruise testing.
Hope all is well and we’ll report more later.

The trick is to be prepared. I am also a blogger, and to help other first-time cruisers, I wrote one called, First-Time Cruiser Tips:  https://tuesdaytraveltips.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/what-to-expect-on-your-first-cruise/
I hope it helps!🙂

HAL has been doing Alaska longer than any other cruise line, and they do it SO well!😎

Congrats on embarking on your first cruise, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! The best advice I can give to a solo cruiser is to join in the fun wherever people are gathered. Trivia, game shows and the bar are some great places to meet people. There is almost always an event for singles, too, so look for one in the daily newsletter. For dining in the evening, ask to be seated at a large table. This allows more opportunity conversation and it’s more likely you’ll have something in common with someone. If you’ve chosen a fixed dining time, you may even be seated with other solo cruisers. The ship’s excursions are a fun and safe way to join others ashore if you don’t want to go it alone. If you’ve had enough socializing, try a specialty restaurant, the buffet or one of the other options on the ship. There are always quiet areas on the ship, as well, for quiet reflection.
All the solo cruisers I know have met other solo cruisers and frequently meet up on other cruisers. Maybe this could be you!🙂

Was on the Epic five years ago. In fact, going with a friend I met on that cruise.  I love the NCL line for sure. Looking for a Panama Canal cruise next. May we all have fun. 

Hi Crazies! 
It’s been a while, so I thought I’d check in!
Today is David’s birthday and yesterday was our 44th anniversary. We went out to dinner last night but otherwise celebrated quietly as the rest of the family was busy with their own things.
Andi, I and our hubbies had an awesome getaway in Fort Myers. I highly recommend the Pink Shell resort. The oceanfront villa, the beach, the pools, the delicious food (nachos to die for!), the service and the whole experience was so relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks to Andi and Ed’s car rental, we had a delicious meal at “Nervous Nellie’s”, a waterfront dining spot and had a beautiful drive to the Sanibel Island lighthouse, with a stop at the coolest bookstore I’ve ever seen.
We all got along so well, that we booked a cruise on the new Norwegian Prima, a ship we’ve had our eye on for some time. We would love to have more friends join us. It’s an 11-day transatlantic, New York to Iceland by way of Canada, May 14-May 25, 2023. It’s a long way off, but the anticipation is half the fun, right?
Miranda - I will take your 60-70 degree weather over hot and humid any day. I don’t even mind some rain. That’s what I like about fall coming. Enjoy your cruise on the Jade and tell KC we all say HI and that we hope to meet again on board another cruise in the future! 
Ray - I still need to book my flights for the Adriatic. The fares and schedules from Boston are ridiculous, so much so that we are considering driving to New York for the lower price non-stop offerings. I should book soon, though, because the prices are creeping up.
Shari - The summer is going by so fast, and fall will be here before you know it, and with it, some cooler days and nights for you. Hang in there!
Time to wrangle up some birthday dinner for David and present him with the gifts from the kids.
Have a great week!
 

He's a she (one photo holding a drink with an umbrella - a dead giveaway!)
 

I already bring too many gadgets - phone, notebook, camera, chargers, batteries, etc. Call me old school, but I’m not stuffing my bag further with a Keurig, a mini speaker or a fancy electronic bag to pack it all in. 🤣

… our mascot - Crazie Bear? 
 
I had him last on the Ocean Princess in 2012 showing him around the British Isles. At the end of the trip, I shipped him back to his keeper, the late great Mary Lou, and the poor critter has hasn’t been seen since. I miss that little guy.
 

He has a twin? I had no idea!😎

I already bring too many gadgets - phone, notebook, camera, chargers, batteries, etc. Call me old school, but I’m not stuffing my bag further with a Keurig, a mini speaker or a fancy electronic bag to pack it all in. 🤣

Happy Fourth of July to my American friends! Celebrate joyfully and safely! 🇺🇸

That’s great news - what a relief! 🙂

I hope Newbiecruiser finds here way over here.

Now that the future is looking brighter for cruising, people will likely start venturing on board ships again. I am thinking optimistically and have five cruises in the pipeline scheduled through 2022, making up for lost time. I have added them to our Roll Call Forum.
Feel free to add your cruises, as well. Someone here in the community could be on the same sailing, and you can discuss your plans and anticipate the excitement together!
Cruise Roll Call Forum

I know, right? It was like a reunion of old friends and made me feel optimistic and hopeful for the future of cruising.😀

I know, right? It was like a reunion of old friends and made me feel optimistic and hopeful for the future of cruising.😀

Great idea Jan, thanks for doing this!

Thanks for your help, Jason!