Royal's Latest on Wining Whining

On our most recent cruise, on the Norwegian Epic, we packed a couple of bottles of wine in our luggage. We know the drill. Take booze on board and either it will be confiscated until you get off the ship or, in the case of wine, you'll pay corkage to keep it. We paid the… Continue reading Royal's Latest on Wining Whining

Belize it or not…Costa Maya

News item: Carnival has canceled 10 stops in Belize City because the Belizians have taken on so many ships that the tendering process (necessary) has created congestion. Instead of Belize, passengers on the Carnival Legend or the Glory will be taken to Costa Maya. Okay, and the winner here is… Not Carnival's passengers.  Almost four… Continue reading Belize it or not…Costa Maya

Norwegian's Irish Pub of the Sea

  Among the innovations when the Norwegian Epic arrived in 2010 was an Irish-style pub called O'Sheehan's. If it was a test for inclusion on future ships, O'Sheehan's passed with flying colors. It will be replicated when the Breakaway arrives in May, and it will surprise us if it's not on the Getaway when that… Continue reading Norwegian's Irish Pub of the Sea

Scaling the heights of St. Thomas

  A taxi driver in Miami asked where we were going on the Norwegian Epic. "St. Martin, St. Thomas and Nassau." "When you get to St. Thomas," he said, "go to the top of the mountain. You can see everything from there and they say they have the best banana daiquiris. Who knows if they're… Continue reading Scaling the heights of St. Thomas

Now the Epic…Breakaway Coming

On the decks of the Epic, Norwegian's flagship until May, there's a little of the Breakaway, the flagship-in-waiting. Actually, there's a lot of the Breakaway on the Epic. Most of it is promotional, as Norwegian justifiably heralds the coming of its new brand. Some of it is practical, with Epic features that are moving or… Continue reading Now the Epic…Breakaway Coming