Getting Ready to Book a 10th Cruise. What do you think?

It sounds like there’s no bad choice - all are worthwhile. My first question, are any of these discounted, do you get a better price than normal?

Next question - have you been to Korea or Japan before? We went to Vietnam and Cambodia (not cruises) last fall, and it was my first visit to Asia. It was more exotic than western Europe for me, so that added an element of uniqueness, so would that add to the appeal of (3)? On the other hand, it was hot and muggy, and I’m not a fan of places that are too hot, so I may not be going back a second time. I realize that Korea and Japan aren’t Vietnam or Cambodia, so that last part may not be any concern.

As for (2), that sounds having like the most variety of any of your considerations, so is a mix of places and experiences a priority?

But with Bruges, it sounds like you have some unfinished business to resolve, and maybe (1) is the cruise that you HAVE to take, so you can get past that. Have you been losing sleep because of the Bruges thing, and this will bring you peace? Plus you would get to have second visits in those other ports, what you said you’ve wished you could do. :-)

You dont say when this cruise would take place, and thats my only real concern. I know you live in Texas, but both Japan and the Greek Islands can be VERY hot in the summer. And add high humidity in Japan. It's one thing to live in the US South with frigid air conditioning, and only going outside for brief periods. It's quite another to be outside on excrursions for hours at a time. Just something to consider.

I agree with CJean. It would depend on the time of year. They all sound wonderful, but, if it is close to summer months I would head up north and take the Northern European cruise.
Lets us know what you decide.

I agree they all sound good.

If I'm remembering right, you tend to travel in the fall, so maybe heat and humidity will be minimal.

How badly do you want to see Asia? I would probably prioritize a new experience since you're already fairly experienced with seeing Europe. Is this the South Korea/Japan cruise? It looks good. https://www.ncl.com/cruises/14-day-asia-from-seoul-to-tokyo-jeju-nagoya-sapporo-and-hakodate-SPIRIT14INCJJUNGSMATKZWNIISAPHKDNGOKOBSMZTOK?numberOfGuests=4294949461&sortBy=featured&autoPopulate=f&from=resultpage&itineraryCode=SPIRIT14INCJJUNGSMATKZWNIISAPHKDNGOKOBSMZTOK

Well, since my next cruise is a Greek island cruise, I suggest that. A cruise is a good way to visit islands. Nothern Europe - lots of that is easy to do by train, short flights. Korea/Japan. - It’s mainly Japan which I did with a regular tour. That gets you to interact more with the country than always retreating to the ship every night.

If it were me, I’d go with option 3! But then, I’ve been interested in that exact ship/itinerary ever since seeing Emma Cruises reviews (which I see from a prior post that you’ve watched as well).

As a general note (which you may already know), one can get really great deals booking a month or so out from sailing. Not sure how comfortable that would be for you though.

Hello CJean and Barbara,

Usually I sail September or October preferring October.

The Paris / Northern European cruise would begin the very end of August going into early September. I believe there may also be an October option but I am not certain the dates are going to work/.

I have already checked with average temperatures which are not always reliable these days and temps should be comfortable, should be ...

Venice / Greek Islands would be September and again temps are supposed to be comfortable. This cruise begins the third week of September going into early October

Seoul / Asia also begins the third week of September and goes into early October. And again temps are supposed to be comfortable.

When I say the cruise begins, I mean the land portion begins.

I never ever travel in the summer. Even though the Venice / Northern European cruise begins at the very end of August, I think parents will already be home getting the kids into school.

I need to be home in my own apartment by October 30th so some of the October trips would not work.

And in all the trips that I am looking at , it will be such a blessing to get out of the brutal Texas heat for a couple of weeks.

Like I have said, I have been researching weather as well. And it gives you averages which are all comfortable but we all know that no one can predict the weather these days. It might say average high is 82. Sounds good until you are there tromping around in 95 degree weather.

Hello Mary from Southeastern USA

If I am not mistaken, I think you posted about visiting Japan and if so, you are the one who piqued my original interest in visiting Japan.

The link that you posted is similar to the one that I am interested in but slightly different. I tried to copy. a link to post on my response to you but was not successful.

Because I am late in planning, none of the cruises from Japan to Korea worked out. I am too late so I will have to settle from Korea to Japan. I missed some cruises that I preferred.

The one that I am currently interested in is 14 days total including the land portion. It begins in Seoul on September 21st and it is listed at the very end of all the cruises. It is labeled Seoul (Incheon) Cruisetour.

For a lot of reasons, I am unable to stay away much more than 17 days total including transport.

I always sail in the fall. especially the month of October but this time, October is not working out. September is fine. One of these days, I want to travel in April or May.

Hands down I'd choose the Seoul/Yokohama cruise, but that's just a personal choice. I don't regret much in my past world travel life (which is likely done now) but I do wish I had gone to South Korea and Japan whaen I had the chance. My daughter lived and taught in South Korea for several years. Why I never went to see her when she was there I'll never know - I was too busy traveling to Europe. :) While she was there she traveled all over the far East and especially loved Japan and Thailand.

So few people actually get the opportunity to visit a part of the world with a culture so different from ours. I guess my feeling is that Europe will always be easier to get to than the countries of the far East.

However, only you can decide which one of the three really 'speaks' to you. Go with your gut!

Hi Min

Emma's Cruises was suggested on forum and I have watched more than one. I can not remember. Are you the one who suggested Emma?

Mybe one can sometimes get a great deal booking a cruise a month out but not necessarily excursions or more importantly air.

Usually, I have booked my cruise. a year in advance and by this stage of the game, I have all my excursions booked. My hotel would havebeen booked several months ago and so would air.

I never wait this long to book but I could not renew my passport on line until the end of Match so here I am.

I have lost some cruises that I was most interested in because of my having to wait.

Members on forum suggested that maybe I should book and then. worry about cancelling if my passport did not come though in time. So did my cruise consultant but I do not like cancelling and or changing so I have lost out on some possibilities but maybe by the time that I m ready to book in a couple of weeks, they will reappear. Maybe Norwegian is holding some back or maybe some guests will have to cancel for one reason or another.

Hello stephen in Colorado

For me given my age, health and mobility issues and other factors, a cruise is still the best way to go.

When are you cruising the Greek Islands? Maybe you can write a travel report which I would love to read.

Hello Cyn,

I live in Texas but can not stand heat and mugginess. I have been in the wrong place a very long time.

From what I can tell, I will be traveling in Korea and Japan during a comfortable time of year but given climate change, who really knows anymore?

Another member on forum recently did a travel report of traveling in Southeast Asia and from reading her report, I realized that I will not be able to travel in Southeast Asia. The area is too hot for me.

I would love to experience a more exotic part of the world but I am very affected by weather and extreme crowding. Still Korea and Japan will suffice.

Regarding Bruges, I like how you put it. I have unfinished business with Bruges. How I put it is "it was not good and I want to make it good"

But back to losing sleep over Bruges. I am a very long term chronic insomniac. I have not had one normal sleep since 1974. I sleep so abnormally that my world revolves around whether or not I slept the night before.

Interestingly enough, I often sleep very well on vacation and I sleep like. a baby on a. cruise ship. I think it is the rocking.

Hello Nancy in Oregon,

Like yourself, I have given up some travel opportunities which I also regret.

For many years, I was not able to travel at all and now I m trying to make up for what I can not.

So what is keeping you from visiting the Japan and Korea now? Maybe your daughter or someone else would like to join you. and more and more older or old people travel alone.

So what is keeping you from visiting the Japan and Korea now?

Age, health, lack of $$ - mostly lack of $$. Most of my travel was as a solo in my mid-late 60's so that's not a problem but at 80 with health issues I'm not so comfortable traveling alone, even on cruises. Daughters busy living their own lives. My daughter that lived in So Korea also lived and taught in Ukraine for several years (until Putin's first invasion) and now she's back and settled in the US with her spouse who is Ukrainian. She's a few months away from her US citizenship and not taking any risks, so they are not traveling out of the US right now. Other daughter is stuck on traveling to Europe and not interested in cruises at all. Maybe someday things will resolve themselves enough so maybe all of us could travel one more time together - in that case I would choose Japan as my first choice.

Emma's Cruises was suggested on forum and I have watched more than one. I can not remember. Are you the one who suggested Emma?

Not I, that was the ever helpful isn31c on this thread.

but maybe by the time that I m ready to book in a couple of weeks, they will reappear.

This has been my experience with NCL, that cruises disappear, then reappear from time to time as space comes available, so don’t give up hope on your favorites! That’s happened to me more than once.

I've been on several European cruises and would love to go on one to Japan. I've been to Tokyo and Kamakura for a short trip over twenty years ago. It was so very different from Europe and I think it would be a great option. But, you can't really go wrong with any of them.

Have you priced out the per day cost for each cruise? If you are having a difficult time choosing which one to go on, perhaps that calculation might help make your choice easier.

Good luck!

Those regional buzz texts are too unclear to me for a recommendation. What does "Northern European cruise" mean? Which ports included?

Just a heads up that for most tourist destinations in Japan, whether on the land portion or an excursion, you will often park at a parking lot up to 10 minutes walk away from the destination. Not really any cobblestone issues like in Europe, but still a fair amount of walking.

Thank you Carol now retired

For right now, my knee is good. I have some stiffness and occasionally a little pain but nothing like it has been in the past. I am walking a lot. I don't know what has happened but I am not complaining.

I did have an injection last September before my last cruise which did work. Maybe it is still working.

Who knows what might happen by the next cruise? I could begin it with very little pain and a day alter be suffering with very bad pain.

I would have no trouble walking 10. minutes right now but that is for right now. . .

Thanaks for the information.

Hello MarkK

Here are the ports that I would visit if I took the Paris / Northern Europe cruise.

Paris (Le Havre)France
Amsterdam (Ijmuiden)Netherlands
Brussels / Bruges (Zeebrugge)Belgium
London (Tilbury)England
La RochelleFrance
Bordeaux (Le Verdon)France
BilbaoSpain
La CoruñaSpain
OportoPortugal
Lisbon

This vacation package was listed under Northern Europe when I did my search on Norwegian Cruise Lines.

There are others under the same category which are more northern such as Iceland, Sweden, etc etc, and then for Europe there is also a Europe Mediterranean grouping and Europe Greek Isles grouping.

I see that you are in Schwerin. A few years back, I took a Baltic cruise from Copenhagen which ported in Warnemünde. I took an excursion to Schwerin. There was a very long excursion offered to Berlin which was popular but I felt that it would be too tiring for me, too much travel.

Hi Sherry

I don't think about per day cost. I never do. I just consider the big picture. All three packages are acceptable to me.

My memory is that the one beginning in Paris is the cheapest but it includes only two nights in Paris. Really wish there was a third.

Both Venice and Seoul are three nights.

All three cruises are about the same length.

I have been doing some research on the air and that was a project when doing it for all three cruises. Seoul was the most expensive as expected but it is not the money so much as the connections and time spent getting to my destination and back home after the cruise. I am going to have to do a lot more research on the air. Maybe it will be better the next time but it was not enjoyable.

Nancy,

Hope Springs Eternal. I was on one cruise where a woman celebrated her 100th birthday. It was. a large group of family taking her on the cruise for her 100th.

I, too, am old. Do not use elderly even if the government tries to put me in that category. I have health issues and am on a fairly tight budget but I was not able to travel very much until I was in my 60's so I m trying to get as much in until I can't anymore.

We have done 21 ocean cruises but now prefer group tours. We don't like to repeat prior cruises and, we would have to do that to book another.
Always compare similar cruises with at least two other cruise lines.

Our favorite cruise line was Celebrity, but we also did cruises on Royal Caribbean and NCL.

You have to be careful with some cruise lines. We don't drink alcohol a lot and some cruise lines jack up their prices to include all you can drink packages. That is why we stopped doing NCL a few years ago.

Here are the ports that I would visit if I took the Paris / Northern Europe cruise.

To be honest my idea of Northern Europe was different to the list of the cruise provider. The destinations are partly interesting but I recommend to put more time into them, e. g. Bilbao. From the coastline it is also not the most scenic one although some nice single spots are there. The names of the ports are partly optimistic to formulate it friendly.

Speaking of Northern Europe cruise: Mark Zuckerburg's superyacht Launchpad is currently in Norway.

Tip: Hurtigruten is also offering cruises from Germany's Hamburg with one ship (MS Otto Sverdrup). These routes are more the "Northern Europe cruise" I would recommend.

Tip 2: Have a look at Baltic and Nordic cruises from Aida and Mein Schiff cruise lines.

My two cents:

Here are the ports that I would visit if I took the Paris / Northern Europe cruise.

Keep in mind, the ports in parentheses are often nowhere near the "port" listed, so a nice chunk of any time in the real port is spent getting to/from the highlighted city. Paris, Amsterdam or the other three is a lot of those "here, not there" sort. You'll be getting the "CruiseTour" option, so maybe you have more insight into all the various logistics and excursions included or that are options. For us, we found the "the port listed is the city port you are going to" is best for Europe. We've done Greece/Turkey, Spain/Portugal, and Rotterdam/Norwegian Fjords cruises, and I think only Athens (Piraeus) was "distant" from the highlighted port. I really like the disembark and short walk/bus/cab to the city versus the disembark and start a new hour+ journey. Athens was a long day in port, so it was relatively low stress, but not all time in port is long enough.

Seoul (Incheon) to Yokahama Japan

We recently canceled a cruise in Asia (for non-cruise reasons), and decided we're gonna tackle Japan differently (as well as other places there) and do our more traditional travel there. But the cruise option was super tempting which is why we initially bought it.

My main advice would be to consider THE FLIGHTS ARE BRUTAL! As we're all aging, sitting in a plane for hours on end is getting less and less tolerable. My advice is "sooner (age wise) rather than later" is good for Asia & long distance flights, and upgraded seats are nearly essential - ie normally economy, go economy plus. Normally economy plus, aim for business. Don't pick budget airlines, so look for the best planes for the flight and/or one with a nice layover that you can take advantage of to break up the LONG flight(s).

Emma Cruises

She's great. And YouTube will then roll you into all sorts of related cruise videos and content creators. There are a wide variety of good and bad videos, but spend some time playing in there and find the ones that you get the best info and inspiration from. Also, go to the Cruise Critic forums - specifically the NCL subforum and search out info on that itinerary, port info, general tips and tricks for NCL, and to pick folks brains there who have done the assorted cruises you are looking at.

ENJOY!

Amsterdam (Ijmuiden)Netherlands
You can't get to Amsterdam from Ijmuiden by yourself with ease- so that is either ship's excursion or shuttle bus. Some lines use Ijmuiden to avoid paying the transit fee for the Nord See Kanal and to avoid paying the Amsterdam Visitor Fee. Shane they are too cheap to use the PTA in Central Amsterdam
London (Tilbury)England
Interesting that NCL are using Tilbury now- a nice very historic terminal but Tilbury is a good hour into London by excursion bus, or a quick service bus ride to Tilbury Town Station for a regular and faster train service. That runs to Fenchurch Street- next door to the tower of London. It's a cheap port for them to use to avoid paying pilotage fees into the Pool of London.
Bilbao- They use Getxo for Bilbao. So either the excursion, or a twenty minute walk to the metro station.

isn31c

I always take NCL excursions because I get $50 off ech excursion and then anther percentage off because I have traveled with them so many times.

I am platinum.

I have not been to Amsterdam so I will be glad for whatever time I have there.

Have spent a few days in :London and do not mind a shore excursion to London. In fact, I would welcome it.

Have been to Bilbao on another cruse. Went to the Guggenheim and then to a beautiful park at the top of a hill. Will probably look into a different excursion for Bilbao.

Shore excursions with NCL are not always the best priced or even the most attractive but I stick with the cruise line, for better or for worse.

Hello Tom R

I am a severe insomniac and usually can only sleep a few hours each night before I cruise due to the excitement. I also go to the airport the night before i fly and sleep in a chair. I am very afraid of missing my flight so I usually end up sleeping most of the flight from the moment we begin pulling out until arrival.

When I find my seat, I have to tell the cabin crew to wake me for meals so that I won't miss out.

I am aware that often the city is quite. a distant from the port. In the beginning, it is. a learning experience and sometimes.even a shock.

If I do the Paris Cruisetour, NCL will pick me up at the airport and take me to a nice hotel for two nights including a day and. half of sightseeing. On the third day NCL will then taken me to Le Havre for the cruise.

I have done a similar cruise to this one but some of the ports will be new and other ports I do not mind revisiting.

That is if I take the Paris Cruisetour.

For whatever reasons, I prefer R S to Cruise Critic even for cruises. I am registered with Cruise Critic and after booking. a cruise, I join Roll Call and do attend a M & G if one is organized. I find Cruise Critic too crowded, "busy", and large. I do not like the format for posting.

More updates: I fly with Delta or American because I have a partnered credit card with them and I belong to their reward programs. One or both always goes from Austin to wherever. Sometimes they do put me on one of their partners like B A.

Hi MarkK

I have done a similar cruise to the Paris (Le Havre) cruise. Some ports would be new but I do not mind revisiting the ones that I have been to.

I did go to Bilbao. I wen to the Guggenheim and was heartbroken to find the pup was not on display because it was having its feathers changed for the new season. Then. we went to a truly beautiful park traveling high up in the excursion bus.

I would probably look into another excursion for Bilbao this time around.

I have never been to Paris, Amsterdam. or La Rochelle. We missed La Coruna because of. a storm. Do you remember Babette?

In Oporto, I took an excursion to Braga. This time I would stay in Oporto. I would like to revisit Bruges as well as Le Verdon.

I have spent almost a week in London and do not mind one bit going back for a shore excursion.

All of the above is assuming that I do the Paris Cruisetour.

Thanks for your feedback.

My main advice would be to consider THE FLIGHTS ARE BRUTAL!

Echoing Tom's spot on advice that in your consideration of choices, this is a huge factor. Flights to SE Asia are brutal, even from the west coast where I live. From Austin it's at least a 17-20 hour travel day. You cross the date line so you skip an entire day going - the jet lag for me was significant. There will be choices flying through Canada, if you return that way make sure to have a generous layover to allow for their transfer process (it's more than what you're used to in the USA).

Also, double check typhoon season, I believe it runs to the end of September, but of course there is no way to predict what this year's season will be like.

Hi, Phil from Austin :)

I'm follow your decision with interest! And I can't help but think that your decision is likely between the Paris and Japan options, only because you've previously expressed a lot of interest in them both, but I don't remember hearing from you that same level of interest in the Greek Isles.

The Paris option would both give you a chance to see if you would in fact want to do a week-long Paris trip (no cruise) like you've considered before, and of course it's a chance to revisit Bruges and get it right.

But I know Japan has been calling to you, too. Though, I am struck that you wrote:

Because I am late in planning, none of the cruises from Japan to Korea worked out. I am too late so I will have to settle from Korea to Japan. I missed some cruises that I preferred.

And so I have to wonder if, for all the money and especially the time/hassle of getting all the way to Asia, if settling for this specific Japan cruise, rather than the one(s) you really wanted, is worth it.

Or, a different way of looking at this -- and this is impacted by own personal perspective, being in a place where travel is on hold for me at this time -- is considering the limited time and options that we all ultimately have, and asking yourself which of these three trips you'd regret missing out on the most. Sometimes we can identify what we most want by thinking about what we'd most miss.

Interestingly enough, I often sleep very well on vacation and I sleep like. a baby on a. cruise ship. I think it is the rocking.

Have you tried sleeping on a waterbed?

Bostonphil, do you ever get lonely cruising alone? I am considering possibly doing this. I hope that you have an excellent trip!

Phil, if you plan to arrive in Paris a few days early before your cruise, keep in mind that hotel prices are generally higher in September due to conferences and Paris Fashion Week.

Hello CL

I would be flying either Delta or American . Whichever one, I am able to get from Point A to Point B with only one stop and there are plenty of options.

I have decided to arrive at Incheon airport on the 20th even though Norwegian is not going to meet me until the 21st.

Incheon Airport is supposed to be extremely nice. There are many places to spend the night. And that way, I will be hopefully rested and refreshed when the Norwegian rep meets and greets me.

It will cost me. a little more money.

A member of our community, Carol, is on.a Japanese adventure. She flew into Incheon Airport, stayed the night and then went on to a Japanese airport. She posted about it.

All of this is assuming that I. choose the Seoul Cruisetour. And this one is very high on my list.

Hello Mary from Massachusetts

I would be buying a package deal from Norwegian which would include my hotel. I think I would be traveling to Paris the third week in August. The total price is acceptable.

Hello marsh

Although I am friendly, I love solitude and am very comfortable being alone.

Norwegian is very friendly for solo guests. Sometimes they have lounges for the solo gets and planned activities. There are a lot of solos in all age groups.

I have never sought out any activities for the solo guest because I am too busy with shore excursions and just doing things on the ship. I am comfortable eating alone.

I meet all kinds of people Of course there are some jerks just like anywhere but I have met so many nice and wonderful people.

If you are thinking of cruising solo, try a short cruise on one of Norwegians large ships where they offer studio cabins just to see if it works for you.

If you have not yet seen Venice and/or Greece, I would highly recommend that tour. It’s a perfect time of year in a spectacular part of the world. And a cruise is a good way to see it.

You might try what I do when facing a decision like this: before going to bed, I’ll make the decision — but not act on it. Say to yourself, this is it — I’m going to Venice (or whatever). No more thinking.

Then in the morning, see how you feel. If you feel calm & good about it, then that’s the answer. If you awake troubled, or having second thoughts, then it’s not.

Good luck, and I know you’ll enjoy whatever you choose.

Hello Hnnah

What a nice post.

Yes, I think that I am leaning toward the Paris Cruisetour or the Seoul. Cruisetour.

And yes, it would be my first time exploring Paris and two nights is most definitely not going to be enough but it would give me. a Taste of Paris should I want to come back for a week just in Paris.

Many cruisers use cruises to get ideas about places that they might like to return to and explore somewhere longer.

When I first began to explore Japan, i believe there were cruises available that began and ended in Tokyo but I never really delved into them because there was still so much to do. I do not know what dates. Now that I am doing more in depth research, I am seeing that some dates will not work from those cruises that are still available from Tokyo and end in Seoul.

I was wanting to spend a few days in Tokyo pre cruise but I have accepted that i might be spending. a few days in Seoul pre-cruise. After doing some research, that is more than ok. It is good,

So it is not exactly what I wanted but it has worked out fine. And the one that is still available will end in Yokohama but we will overnight in Yokohama so I will have a day to explore Tokyo.

At the end of my cruises, i just let Norwegian take me to the airport. I am too tired for. a post cruise.

You said something that i really like but I am not looking at your post so i can not quote. You said something about which cruise would I regret not taking if and when I can no longer take a cruise. And I think that it would be the one beginning in Paris or the one beginning in Seoul. What you said has been a help in the decision making.

Mary from southeastern USA

I live in affordable housing owned and managed by the City of Austin. I do not believe that I am allowed a waterbed but I sleep on an adult bean bag chair. And I sleep in the living area with the TV quietly on. I do not watch the TV but it has to be on.

When I book.a hotel, I have to be certain that the room has a TV.

Thnk you Charlene from Colorado

I appreciate your feedback. Right now, I think that I am leaning towards the Paris or Seoul Cruisetour but Venice is still in the running.

I love all three and feel that whichever one I choose, it will be all ok ... I feel like I can not go wrong.

I think that I am going to begin meditating on my three choices when I try to go to sleep and see how I feel in the morning.

I prefer R S to Cruise Critic even for cruises. I am registered with
Cruise Critic and after booking. a cruise, I join Roll Call and do
attend a M & G if one is organized. I find Cruise Critic too crowded,
"busy", and large. I do not like the format for posting.

I feel that way too. I haven't done a cruise since 2017 so maybe Cruise Critic has changed but I always found it burdensome. Plus, since the highlight for us are the ports and not the ship, I find this Forum much more useful. I do wish the forum would add a cruise tab.

Hi Allen

Well you have not done. a cruise in. a very long time.

Cruise Critic serves. a purpose for me after I have booked a cruise but I do not have a lot of reason to use it otherwise.

Facebook has some good pages for cruisers. There are pages for the individual ships and then there are links to the cruise that you are going on.

R S is a very good site. There are many members who like and go on cruises . I have gotten a lot of help from this site.

I would like a tab for Cruises and I would love it if R S offered a cruise.

Bostonphil, thanks for letting me know how solo cruising works for you! I also enjoy people, but I am fine being alone.

UPDATE

Have spent a lot of time viewing YouTube videos.

I am leaning towards Seoul sailing to Yokohama. but have decided to arrive at Incheon Airport a full day ahead of when I am supposed to. be met by someone affiliated with NCL. I would spend the night at. hotel or pod in the airport being more refreshed and relaxed when met the next day for a very active land tour and cruise.

Second I love some time in Paris even if it will not be enough. I am familiar with the ports that I will be sailing so I do not need to spend a lot of time watching YouTube videos. This adventure feels familiar and comforting because I have been there before. it should be interesting to go back for a second visit. I have never done that before.

I watched videos on the Greek islands that I might be visiting. Have not yet watched videos on Venice or other ports. The few videos that I watched were truly beautiful but I was made aware that some of the islands such as Santorini might require a lot of walking and stairs. Even in September / October, heat might be problem and tender ports are always less desirable.

Still I want to watch more videos on the cruise from Venice to Athens.

With all your research, you’ll have helped get prepared for whichever cruise you choose. I still wonder:

1. As we all get older, is there any reason to pick one because it’ll be harder to do if you wait longer to take it?

2. Any chance that Norwegian would raise the price back up on the Northern Europe cruise soon, so that $2,000 reduction they made would be, in effect, a temporary “sale” that won’t last forever?

3. How, and WHEN are you going to remedy fixing the Bruges thing?

Have a great trip, whichever you choose!

Hello Cyn

Today I spent hours watching youtube videos on the different ports that I would be visiting if I took the Venice to Athens Cruisetour. Had no idea that the ports would be so beautiful but I have decided that I would probably prefer one of the other two cruises this time around. .

The Paris Cruisetour is two nights in Paris and then a 9 day cruise. For one person, NCL wanted over $6,000 which was way way overpriced. They have come down to a little over $4,000 which is still overpriced but acceptable to me.

If this cruisetour sold out, my feeling would be "C'est La Vie" and I would go with another cruise possibly spending a week in just Paris another time.

Because of obligations and commitments, budget and energy, i can only do one cruise a year usually in. the fall but I might be able to add one week in the spring visiting just one city somewhere. and not connected with any cruise..

I do not ever travel in the summer or major holidays.

I do not know how long you have been on this forum. Or maybe you were not aware of me and my experience visiting Bruges. I blew it.

My London to Lisbon cruise was the second time that I had cruised Europe. The first was pre-covid. I was very inexperienced in traveling abroad and cruising Europe

This forum gave me a lot of information and help. .They were very patient with me.

But I did not know how to use the information that i was given in some situations.

At the time, I did not know that i needed to take notes and how to take notes. I have since learned.

I chose "Bruges on. Your Own" as my shore excursion and that was. a big mistake. I have come to realize that I need a guided excursion. All that I received was transportation from the port to Bruges and then I was on my own. I need a group excursion

Embarrassingly enough, I expected Bruges to be a perfect square and everything was going to be within the square. I thought that all I needed to do was walk over the red bridge, follow the crowd and I would
come to the perfect square. Not so fast. I did not realize that Bruges was a village not just a big square like a theme park.

I have an arthritic knee. I had an injection before my cruise but it did not work and I was in horrible pain. I was thoroughly unprepared for the injection not working and the pain that I was experiencing.

I gave up too soon. I was folllowing the crowds and stopped to sit down and really could not continue. I never got to the main square and do not know how much further it might have been, possibly not too much further but I did not ask. .

It was not a total waste of time. I explored the very old convent and grounds, I did go in to a beautiful lace and ornament shop. I had some chocolate. I saw some of Bruges but I have no idea how far I got. I never took a canal tour. I never got to the main square with the museums and art.

It was only after I got home and writing my trip report that I realized how badly I had botched Bruges. I realized this from the feedback that I got from the community.

I have wanted to redo Bruges.

And if I took the Paris Cruisetour, it would give me an opportunity to do Bruges again and make it right.

I would take a group excursion led by a tour guide. That would be a big difference.

My last injection worked and I am stiff but with very little pain. However I am aware that that can change. I might need another injection before the next cruise or have Voltaren with me.

My advice after price drop of 2,000 dollars...do it. My first choice is # 1

The northern Europe part includes La Rochelle , (super historical) in modern French history, plus it quite possible for you to reach Schwerin

My 2nd choice here is #3 ....see Korea , Japan and Vietnam.

On financing the trips, I ignore the per day cost too, focusing on the average daily or the entire cost.

The Paris Cruisetour is two nights in Paris and then a 9 day cruise. For one person, NCL wanted over $6,000 which was way way overpriced. They have come down to a little over $4,000 which is still overpriced but acceptable to me.

That shows NCL predatory pricing off. To the UK market the cruise only price (not including two nights in Paris and a bus transfer to port) is £2,195.50 (so about $£2,600) and that price includes a £250 airfare credit and More at Sea. So they are basically charging you $1,400 to $1,600 for two hotel nights and two bus transfers, and for living in the US. Massively over priced.

Hello Fred

Regarding Cruise #1, I have taken a similar cruise previously but did not visit La Rochelle. I have not visited Amsterdam. We missed La Coruna because of a huge storm. I want to revisit Bruges. I took an excursion to Braga from Oporto but this time would just stay in Oporto.

You mentioned Schwerin. Is that the Schwerin in Germany because I visited Schwerin on my Baltic Cruise and did go to the castle / palace.

Hello isn31c

I agree that the Cruisetour price for Paris is overpriced. I am being penalized for traveling alone. And maybe also for being American.

Until Norwegian built the Epic, one person sailing alone had to pay for two people.

I do get more than two nights in a. hotel and transportation. There is a very long full day tour of Paris including Versailles and then a morning tour before going to the cruise port.

Still it is overpriced. That is the cost of being. solo. The entire world is based on couples.

Hi bostonphil. I was wondering if you have ever thought about any Aussie or New Zealand cruises. I had thought the flights might be too long for you but I think Texas to Auckland is probably shorter than to S Korea.
People I know have booked one I think with Norwegian. From Auckland down NZ East Coast then up the West Coast to Fiordland across to Tasmania then up to Sydney. They did mention some sort of visit to the 3 fiords Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. I have done day cruises on Milford and Doubtful and an excursion on the very isolated Dusky is on my wish list.
Long cruises are not something I am interested in but when they spoke about this cruise I thought of your post.
Cheers.

Hello Eatsrootsandleaves

Yes, I have thought about Australia and New Zealand. I have done research on these cruises as well as watched youtube videos.

One of my favorite youtube content creators are JJ Cruises.

It would be a long flight but that would not be the problem.

The problem for me is that a cruise to Australia / New Zealand gets more complicated. I would be entering one country by plane but leaving by cruise ship and entering the other country by cruise ship and leaving by plane.

My passport alone will not suffice. I will have to make out additional digital forms. There will be some more learning to do.

I think that I would need a full year to plan a New Zealand / Australia cruise. But oh, I have heard such beautiful things about both countries.

aAs you might notice, I have been looking into it.

Hi,

Great. ..... for having seen Schwerin where the famous chateau is situated. Itis in the twn of Schwerin located the state of Mecklenburg. a lovely place.

You would need the New Zealand and Australian ETA's (using the term collectively) whether you arrived in either country by ship or air..
There is no difference. I've arrived and departed Australia by air, and last time arrived by cruise ship and departed by air (on the same day, 12 hours apart).
In fact the process was slicker arriving at Sydney by ship than it was at Melbourne by air.
That of course may have been due to many factors.
No-one batted an eyelid at Sydney airport at my departing the same day. I had worried as to whether I would be flagged for doing that.

And arriving in New Zealand by cruise ship was simplicity itself, due to API.

Hi Fred

Thanks for clarifying that it is a chateau and not. a palace or castle.

It was truly magnificent and i have some great pictures.

But now I wish that I knew more about where I was and what I was seeing. I was on a shore excursion and there are often limitations when you do a shore excursions.

Never heard about Schwerin until my cruise and shore excursion.

Thank you isn31c

Thanks for the info.

I hope that one day I might be able to do a cruise to Australia / New Zealand.

Watched a lot of youtube videos and besides the natural beauty of these countries, I would love to see the wildlife up close and personal or at least closer than my tv and youtube videos.

Do not want to get to close to Tazmanian Devils or Kangaroos in the Wild.

Isn't it wonderful that the world is now small enough so that we can get to places we once never even heard about.

Of course being British, you have long been familiar with Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.

And did you still need ETA's being British? What is API?

.

In 2018 we did a Transpacific cruise with Royal Caribbean from Sydney to Seattle for 23 days. We stopped in New Caledonia, another port I can't remember, 2 ports in Fiji and 3 days in Hawaii (two days in Oahu and one in Maui). It was great. Much better than flying back to the USA.

API is advance passenger information.

I've never been to Tasmania. The time in life when I might have done so has gone.

I was one of the very first to have to do a NZ ETA when they first came in. We were hassled to death on the ship about that (because it costs money) whereas the Australian one is free so the cruise line had nothing to gain by hassling about that. I had to give the cruIse line 4x- weeks before boarding, at embarkation, between Rotterdam and the Caribbean and again on our trans Pacific passage.

Hi,

A word of explanation might be in order here. It is a splendid site, Schloss Schwerin.

I use the relative rendering of " Schloss " to "chateau " because the place is certainly a castle and is not palace either. Mecklenburg as a province gets primarily local visitors.

Hi there, sounds like a wonderful process and what great options. I wonder about researching exactly where you dock versus the options for day trips? I'm sure Cruise Critic can help.

But now I wish that I knew more about where I was and what I was
seeing. I was on a shore excursion and there are often limitations
when you do a shore excursions.

Very good point, I like to research each place before leaving home, even down to specific sites, eras, churches, etc. It just makes for a much more enjoyable visit.

There is a very long full day tour of Paris including Versailles and
then a morning tour before going to the cruise port.

Woah, tour Paris AND Versailles in a day? I'm pretty fit but wouldn't dream of taking that option. Hope you have a wonderful time!

I'd second a NZ & Australia cruise, but not necessarily rank it higher than the original three.

From a CRUISE perspective, I think the NZ/Aus and the Greece ones make the most sense. By their nature, those two itineraries will be most "cruise" friendly as all of the NZ/Aus ports will be on the coast and the actual "destination", and the same with the Venice/Med/Greece cruise (with the exception of Athens). IOW - you wake up each morning in the destination you will be exploring with little or no "extra" effort to see the area.

For the Paris/Northern European cruise, I personally would opt for a land-based tour - like RS or Gate 1 or other big names. I've seen plenty of those land tours for a French focused tour or one including dips into Belgium, Netherlands, and/or other nearby countries . I think it is even relatively "easy" to pair several days in Paris with your own train ride to somewhere like Bruges. I think I'd be most happy with just spending a chunk of time in Paris and doing the various small side trips (like Versailles), as I feel like Paris is one of those gems that has not days of things to do, but weeks (or even more).

The Seoul/Japan cruise still seems a little bit of an outlier for me. I think Japan is packed with gems - in the cities and the countryside - and tacking Seoul on just seems a little unnecessary unless NCL is trying to fulfill a maritime rule. After we did our Asian cruise planning, while we had to cancel for a different reason, I think we learned it too was probably best tackled in a different format than by ocean cruise. As we plan a future (a few years out) visit to Japan, we are increasingly seeing how our movement around the country will be via high speed rail rather than port-to-port. Not necessarily something every can do or wants to do, but for us, it has swung away from using a cruise as a tasting menu for Japan (and other parts of Asia). It does mean we would likely end up with just two or three cities to focus on vs maybe 5 or 6 on a cruise, but I think something like Tokyo, Kyoto, & Osaka would be my first stab at it.

So...if you want a cruise option, I think the Venice-Greece one is probably tops on my list for simplicity and ease of travel and depth of history and architecture and food. If you don't mind the flights, then the NZ-Aus cruise is a scenic wonder and hard to not enjoy. Our process for our NZ-Aus cruise was so easy it is forgettable. A few online forms and then a wonderful time. We got a couple days early in Sydney to adjust and to explore, and in hindsight, I'd probably add more at the front and the back since I found the flights too long to do regularly.

geovagriffith

There is a 17 day transpacific cruise leaving from Vancouver going to ports in Alaska which I've been to but do not mind visiting again. Then it goes to ports in Hawaii which i have visited before but do not mind visiting again. Then it visits two ports in Japan which I am not familiar with ending in Tokyo.

And it is a really good price but i do not have that much time to give.

Sandancisco

I do not always have the time to research most of the places that I am going to be seeing on a cruise vacation before traveling.

I hope to get that information on the ship and or during the excursion but it does not always work that way. Some of the cruise lines do offer education before the ports. Norwegian does sometimes offer a little on their big screen but not a lot.

But somehow after my cruise, I find the time to research the places that i have been to. Maybe research is not correct. I learn more about the places that I have seen. I understand more,

Looks like I might be sticking with Asia for the next one. I have found one that feels good if it is still available when I get my passport.

I am thinking and have been thinking of just going to Paris for a full week, no cruise.

Tom R

I think that when you do a Japan cruise, the cruise lines are required to visit another country such as Korea or Taiwan.

Just like if you take a cruise to Alaska , I think the cruise lines are required to visit Victoria which is an incredible place but sometimes they only stop for two hours,

I do not understand why and as you say, maybe it has something to do with Maritime laws.

Cruises are the best way for me to go given my age, budget and health issues.

But in saying that, I could manage a week in one location all by itself. And I am going to try to do Paris for a full week with no cruise.

Waiting on the passport.

isn31c

It sounds like a lot of work for a vacation.

I would have found another place to go early on.

How did they hassle you on the ship about your NZ ETA?

Fred

Whatever it is called and whatever it is, it is magnificent.

My memory is that we did not have enough time or maybe we were on our own.

Or maybe I did not understand the history.

But while I loved the beauty, I did not fully comprehend what I was seeing.

Looks like I might be sticking with Asia for the next one. I have found one that feels good if it is still available when I get my passport.I am thinking and have been thinking of just going to Paris for a full week, no cruise.

Both great ideas! I was going to suggest arriving into Paris earlier, but just staying in a convenient location and enjoying the atmosphere is a wonderful way to see Paris.

Looks like I might be sticking with Asia for the next one. I have found one that feels good if it is still available when I get my passport.

This is an exciting update!

'Tis passing strange... Why any company should situate Paris/London in Northern Europe, when most of Denmark is in Central Europe, albeit in the northern part, by any stretch of the European imagination is beyond me... Alas they seem to have placed Portugal to the north too, even though Southern Europe ends there. Who knows what they are thinking.

Yes Mary from Southeastern USA

But have a few concerns about current state of receiving renewed passports. There are many on forum who have gotten their passport after applying in record time.

It has been about 9 days since I have applied online and my case is moving slowly. It is still. being processed and there have been no updates in several days. .

I am wondering if passport renewals are slowing down because of the firings, layoffs and early retirement, etc.

Has my passport renewal gotten caught up in the turmoil?

Cherryplanter

Oh the Norwegian Cruiseline brain. I just go with the flow.

BostonPhil, the digital visas for Australia and New Zealand were easy to get, but it does take a little bit of effort to get your phone to take the exact photo they want. Don't wait until the last minute and it won't be stressful.

9 days is too soon to start worrying. I think it'll be fine.

Oh, Phil from Austin, that's a great update that you're leaning Japan for the cruise and later a non-cruise week-long Paris trip!

As for the passport: I renewed mine last year, before all the upheaval, and I received it back before the online system had even updated that it was processed. So fret not, yet; it could arrive any day now and without warning!

Has my passport renewal gotten caught up in the turmoil?

Unless you paid for expedited service, the current processing times from US State Department are the same for online renewals as they are for by mail:

Routine: 4-6 weeks

Expedited: 2-3 weeks

Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html

Thanks to everyone for making me feel more relaxed about my passport.

I am anxious to get it because I want to book my next cruise and I will not do it until I get my renewed passport in hand,.