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shoreguy
Charter Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 01:11 am | 1st Post |
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Saturday Oct 6th.
Not sure how I ended up on this cruise. When the Gem itineraries first came out I booked my usual February from NYC cruise. It turned out to be a bargain as prices doubled over time and I even had an OBC. This cruise was not even on the radar. The first Gem cruises from NY were posted for November. I was waiting for the transatlantic in October to NYC.
Things changed an NCL decided to show the Gem off in Europe for a couple of months and delay her arrival in NYC. This cruise and a crossing to Boston were added along with several other Med. Cruises. I had no plans to take any of them. Then the maiden voyage fever with the NCL all-stars started to infect me. The prices dropped and Calmac keep asking why not. June 15th booked an aft facing BA. Booked air non stop both ways with FF miles. June 26th the price dropped again and I got that. July 2nd the price for an AF dropped to $100pp less then a BA. Moved to an aft AF. Sept 5th and AB Penthouse prices drop $2000 pp. So now I find myself with a Penthouse, my original OBC, and leaving tomorrow for 11 days of pure joy.
Lets not forget in the middle of this NCL created an offer I could not refuse with a Solo fare on the Dec 3rd of $549 for an aft BA. But that is another story for my next blog. The net booked on 3 Gem cruises 2 of which I had not plans to take.
In the middle of all this I joined Banned Camp adding some complexity since I was setting up the Meet and Greet and had private tours booked with others on the darkside. It has all worked out. Those that found their way to CTT will enjoy dinner Monday night in Cagney’s. Reservation for 14 already made as well as dinner for 16 at Teppanaiki on the 14th. It could have been dinner for 34 but a little difficult for me to include those on the “other” rollcall.
So here I sit starting this blog with my bed covered with clothes and nothing packed. I just need to divide by 2 and load the suitcase. Dog is off to doggie prison, cat has four bowls of food and water, 3 litter boxes, and my oldest son is confirmed on his flights to join me in Dover.
So it is off to pack, print boarding passes, and finish the bottle of wine I opened.
Stay tuned not sure where this will go but this is a start.
Last edited on Sun Oct 7th, 2007 01:54 am by shoreguy
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hstrybuf
Founders
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 01:13 am | 2nd Post |
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I've had a request to make this a sticky.  Looking forward to another interesting blog!
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Deb
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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Diana68
Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Aug 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 01:49 am | 3rd Post |
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YAY!!!
Thank you for posting a blog of this trip. We can't wait!
____________________
NCL Dream 4/13/08
NCL Jewel 2/15/08
NCL Majesty 12/29/07
NCL Pearl 4/8/07
RCI Grandeur 2/17/07
NCL Dream 12/30/06
NCL Dawn 2/23/06
NCL Wind 8/3/05
Celebrity Zenith 3/27/05
NCL Dream 2/13/05
RCI Vision 8/20/04
RCI Vision 8/13/04
Regency
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Welove2cruise2
MVP Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Feb 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:01 am | 4th Post |
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Ah, now we have the REAL Shoreguy!! Really looking forward to your blog, and hoping the price goes down on the 12/15 CTN so I can BE THERE!!
Blog on!!!
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Carey and Kerry
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:05 am | 5th Post |
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| Cannot wait to hear more!
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Carey
All she needs is a tin cup!!
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nhrich
MVP Cruiser
| Joined: | Thu Jun 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Clayton, NC |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:08 am | 6th Post |
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| Have a great cruise. We're looking forward to reading more!
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Rich, ACC
Carefree Vacations
Clayton, NC
http://www.carefree-vacations.net
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AviatingPrivateer
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:25 am | 7th Post |
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Have a great trip Jim!
We're looking forward to sailing with you soon. Kiss the Klausi for me.
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shoreguy
Charter Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:37 am | 8th Post |
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AviatingPrivateer wrote: Have a great trip Jim!
We're looking forward to sailing with you soon. Kiss the Klausi for me.
Dec should be a blast - not sure I want to kiss Klausi but I will give him a hug for you.
Ok one bag is full, camera tested and ready, boarding pass printed, ipod loaded with two new books, ghetto tags printed and folded, kitchen floor mopped, cat looking to attack me  , wine almost gone, limo not until 2 pm, I have time.
Last edited on Sun Oct 7th, 2007 03:44 am by shoreguy
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MAD HATTERS EPIC TA - http://www.epicmadhatters.com/
NCL Cruies pics http://community.webshots.com/user/jimalaska
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leet44
Habitual Cruiser 2500+
| Joined: | Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 04:02 am | 9th Post |
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Thank you so much for doing this .I enjoy your blogs so much .It will get me ready for our cruise in two weeks Have a wonderful time:smiley:
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Lee
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hstrybuf
Founders
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 04:12 am | 10th Post |
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shoreguy wrote: AviatingPrivateer wrote: Have a great trip Jim!
We're looking forward to sailing with you soon. Kiss the Klausi for me.
Dec should be a blast - not sure I want to kiss Klausi but I will give him a hug for you.
Ok one bag is full, camera tested and ready, boarding pass printed, ipod loaded with two new books, ghetto tags printed and folded, kitchen floor mopped, cat looking to attack me , wine almost gone, limo not until 2 pm, I have time.
LOL! Ghetto tags!! Those paper things are something else. I had ours laminated and a hole punched in each end. I'll use zip ties to attach them
Somehow, those pets always catch on when we're getting ready to go. Ours attacked me last night for no reason and left two rather painful punctures in one leg.
Limo at 2! Sounds like the only way to go. Bon Voyage!
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Deb
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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Adrift
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 04:21 am | 11th Post |
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Have a great time SG!!!
Looking forward to both the blog and the pictures that I am sure will follow!
____________________
Up Next:
Mexican Riviera :: Star :: Mar2010
Eastern Caribbean :: Epic :: Sep2010
Past:
NCL Jewel :: Sep09
NCL Gem :: Mar08
NCL Pearl :: Jan07
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Catnip
Charter Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 04:29 am | 12th Post |
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shoreguy wrote: ipod loaded with two new books,
I just loaded 2 books on my iPod for my cruise next week, too! What books are you listening to?
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36 previous cruises..
Next up: HAL Panama Canal 4-10/ Celebrity's Eclipse Canary Islands 5-10 /Mariner of the Seas 11-2010/ Queen Victoria TA 1-2011
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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Mr_Pete
Snarky
| Joined: | Thu Jun 22nd, 2006 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 1000 |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 11:59 am | 13th Post |
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Bon voyage!
I'll be sure to tune in!
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Next up:
BOSTON
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cruiser82
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 01:12 pm | 14th Post |
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| Have a fun and safe cruise, I'm looking forward to reading all about it!
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Cosmopolitan
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 02:25 pm | 15th Post |
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Wishing you calm seas and beautiful sunsets.
Anxiously await your posts
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shoreguy
Charter Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 06:40 pm | 16th Post |
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Ok my bags are packed and I am on my why to the jet plane. Next time I post will be from Dover unless I find a hotspot along the way. This should be a very different blog. All the ports are new to me with long days in many of them. Here is the itinerary
08-Oct BUS TO PORT
08-Oct 04:00PM SHIP DEPARTS DOVER, GREAT BRITAI
09-Oct At Sea
10-Oct 08:00AM 10-Oct 05:00PM VIGO, SPAIN
11-Oct 08:00AM 11-Oct 05:00PM LISBON, PORTUGAL
12-Oct 11:00AM 12-Oct 04:00PM GIBRALTAR, GIBRALTAR
13-Oct At Sea
14-Oct At Sea
15-Oct 08:00AM 15-Oct 08:00PM NAPLES/POMPEII, ITALY
16-Oct 08:00AM 16-Oct 08:00PM CIVITAVECCHIA (ROME), ITALY
17-Oct 07:00AM 17-Oct 08:00PM LIVORNO, ITALY
18-Oct 08:00AM 18-Oct 02:30PM NICE, FRANCE
19-Oct 05:00AM SHIP ARRIVES AT BARCELONA, SPAIN
19-Oct BUS TO AIRPORT
Later
Jim
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NCL Cruies pics http://community.webshots.com/user/jimalaska
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maryfrei
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 08:50 pm | 17th Post |
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Many thanks, can't wait for more !
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Mary
NCL Epic July 17, 2010, Cabin 12314
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SailAways
Frequent Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Jan 21st, 2007 |
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Posted: Sun Oct 7th, 2007 09:25 pm | 18th Post |
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Thank You, thank you, thank you.
For all of us who cruise vicariously through your blogs, this is absolutely a wonderful treat.
So glad that you will be giving us a view of new ports. You always share your experiences so beautifully.
Looking forward to the next installment.
You and Patrick have a wonderful time.
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EileenN
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 01:50 am | 19th Post |
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| Thank you very much for taking the time to take us along. We have to wait until January 26th for our turn...but will look forward, with enthusiam, to your blog. Bon Voyage!!!
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AD Peterson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Jul 22nd, 2007 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 02:07 am | 20th Post |
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Have a great & safe trip SG.
Look forward to reading your post. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
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Future Cruises:
NCL Pearl May 2008
RCCL Liberty of Seas Oct 08
NCL Pearl April 2009
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Cosmopolitan
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 06:10 am | 21st Post |
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I assume you are ahead of the game...you remembered to put your coffee pot on the machine before you hit "brew"
Your ports are great...can't wait to hear about them.
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Sellie
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 02:05 pm | 22nd Post |
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Hi Jim,
can't wait to read your blog. We're so jeaulous!!!
Have a nice trip and see you in Dec.
Petra
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shoreguy
Charter Member
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 03:30 pm | 23rd Post |
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Sunday Oct 7th
Or should I say Monday the 8th in any case a very long day – My watch says 9:30 am and I having an espresso in the room after a steak for lunch at Cagney’s and thinking about cracking open the bar setup. Not sure where to start or if I have the energy to share the stories from the last 18 hours. I have good, better, bad, and nightmares to share and have not been to muster drill yet.
The bad and the nightmares are people related. So you all want Gem stuff first and then I will share the continuing story of the TA from hell that has been haunting us since the waiting area at the airport in NJ. Those of you who were on the Pearl TA will know who I am talking about.
Flight was fine and we had the middle seat open between us., Half dozen NCL folks to meet us, Coach to the pier fine, Check in aside from the issues with my favorite TA was perfect. We were the first two passengers onboard aside from those that were doing the b2b.
I have already run into many of the folks form the CTT roll call.
As many have reported the Gem is beautiful. The pictures do not do her justice. When you look at the deck plans the ship is a twin of the Pearl. They have made some minor changes that have a large impact. I am about 100 pictures into the trip and trying to capture things others gave not yet posted. I clearly have not explored the whole ship so I will in this post just talk about Spinnakers. As my son said this is now a place you want to go to even when nothing is going on. They have added dart boards, foosball ($.50), and a pool table ($1). Plenty of TVs for sports and electronic roulette if you want to donate a little more cash.
And yes Ms. C they even have a change machine.
A couple of other things before I grab a shower. They now have pay per view movies in the rooms $11.95 – 50 plus to choose from. I liked the old espresso machine better. Instead of fresh ground beans the new ones use little plastic cups of pre-ground coffee. Easy and less mess but just not the same.
Christopher is the butler – he was shocked to see me in the same cabin as I had on the Pearl TA. Just a wonderful person and very good butler.
Klaus is Klaus – He saw us at Cagneys and was wonderful in welcoming us home.
I am too stupid at this point to post anymore.
Later
Jim
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MAD HATTERS EPIC TA - http://www.epicmadhatters.com/
NCL Cruies pics http://community.webshots.com/user/jimalaska
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 03:40 pm | 24th Post |
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| Good to hear from you. Rest up, you have some exciting ports to visit.
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Next up:
Norwegian Star to Mexican Riviera, 3/10
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dwrist
MVP Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Oct 8th, 2007 03:56 pm | 25th Post |
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| Get your rest and thanks for posting that you arrived safely. Enjoy the Gem. Dave says "pool" hhhmmm. I think I know where we will spend the Transatlantic.
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~~Sharon~~
Epic~June 2010~TA
Epic~May 2011~TA
Epic~Oct 2011~TA
http://www.epicmadhatters.com/
"It's amazing Molly, all this love inside, you take it with you!"
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