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Suites & Staterooms

Please select your stateroom or suite type and room category from the available options.

• Daily housekeeping
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Elemis Aromapure soap, lotion, shampoo
• Luxurious bathrobes
• Generous storage
• Fresh fruit upon request
• Ice service
• TV with On Demand movies, programming

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads and a host of amenities are featured in these comfortable staterooms.

• Hair dryers, makeup mirrors

These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view.

Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and bath tub with premium massage showerheads.

Signature Suite

• Whirlpool bath

These large, comfortable suites feature a spacious sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and one murphy bed for one person. The bathroom includes a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, and an additional shower stall.

Neptune Suite

• Premium bathrobes, slippers
• Fresh flowers
• One-Touch concierge service
• Whirlpool bath (suite dependent)
• In-suite coffee, espresso
• Complimentary laundry
• Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres served in suite
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Priority boarding for tender ports, priority dining/seating requests, special disembarkation service
• High tea in suite on request
• Exclusive tote bag

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, plus additional shower stall. Amenities include use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge, a private concierge and an array of complimentary services.

Your Ship: Eurodam

Our first Signature Class ship, Eurodam epitomizes grace and excellence. Test your music trivia skills at Billboard Onboard or catch a performance at the stunning World Stage. During the day, head to top-level decks to play pickleball at sea amid an ever-changing ocean backdrop or rejuvenate with therapeutic spa treatments at the Spa & Salon.

• 2,104 Guests
• 936 ft. Length
• 105.8 ft. Width

Dining & Onboard Activities

Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities

Pinnacle Grill

The ultimate steakhouse at sea, with an exceptional menu of Prime steaks, seafood and wine.

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes from James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council® member, David Burke. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor.

*Meals at Pinnacle Grill are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Canaletto is a relaxed setting with authentic Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed when shared.

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more. Including pasta made fresh daily. Buon Appetito!

Meals at Canaletto are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Explore traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with cuisine praised by Condé Nast Traveler as rivaling the top restaurants on land.

Praised by  Condé Nast Traveler  for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. 

Meals at Tamarind are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Lido Market

A casual, modern marketplace, Lido Market offers the widest range of food options on board for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack.

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads; Homestead, serving up comfort classics; Distant Lands, featuring global cuisine; Sweet Spot, for ice cream creations and desserts; Roasting Pan, hand-carved meats, fish and other hearty entrees; Perk, freshly brewed beverages and chilled juices; Quench, premium coffee, beer, wine, and soda available for purchase; Rise, savory quiches, croissants and sandwiches, and more.

This casual poolside grill serves up the best burgers at sea, Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dogs, golden French fries and more.

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

New York Pizza

Our poolside pizzeria has fresh Italian salads and authentic thin-crust personal pizzas with savory toppings.

At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night. This venue is New York Deli & Pizza on  Koningsdam ,  Rotterdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , offering made-to-order deli sandwiches in addition to pizza.

24-Hour Room Service

Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish.

Sleep in and have breakfast delivered. Enjoy an early dinner on your verandah before an evening excursion. Order a salad, sandwich or entrée any time. Room Service is only a phone call away. All selections are included in your cruise fare unless otherwise noted on the in-room menu.

Dine on delectable sushi and sip Asian-inspired spirits at Nami Sushi, a sushi bar within Tamarind offering stunning ocean views.

Nami Sushi offers a tempting array of the sushi rolls he’s created. Choose from such delectable selections as Tempura Lobster Roll with soft shell crab tempura; Dragon Roll with tempura shrimp, unagi sauce and avocado; Tsutsumi Roll with snapper, green olive, caper and avocado; Futomoki Roll with crab, yamagobo, avocado and cucumber; Volcano Roll with sesame-marinated salmon and Thai chilis; Nigiri sushi with tuna, salmon and ebi shrimp; and more. The word “nami,” Japanese in origin, means “wave” and is an homage to the ocean views you’ll enjoy as you dine on the freshest, tastiest and most inventive sushi at sea.

Morimoto By Sea (Pop-Up)

Masaharu Morimoto, our Fresh Fish Ambassador brings his innovative style to Morimoto by Sea, a specialty restaurant on board Nieuw Amsterdam and a pop-up dining experience on the rest of the fleet.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto, our Global Fresh Fish Ambassador brings his innovative style to Morimoto by Sea, a pop-up dining experience that will take over Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill at least once per cruise. The pop-up’s menu features artfully presented dishes, exclusive alcoholic beverages, and tantalizing desserts. Nieuw Amsterdam offers our full Morimoto by Sea restaurant.

The Dining Room

Our flagship dining experience is a welcoming and sophisticated setting for an exquisite breakfast, lunch or superb multicourse dinner.

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes. 

Crow's Nest

BARS AND LOUNGES

Enjoy cocktails and sunsets in this lounge, featuring panoramic views.

Holland America Line offers you a wide selection of lounges onboard. The panoramic view takes center stage in The Crow's Nest at the top of the ship, where you can relax just about any time of day and enjoy your favorite drink.

Explorer's Lounge

Elegant and refined, stop by for a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail.

The Explorer’s Lounge is an elegant and refined space to enjoy a glass of wine, a cocktail, or your favorite liqueur.

Enjoy cocktails and ocean views while listening to live music.

Holland America Line offers you a wide selection of lounges. This popular bar is at the top of the atrium and is the perfect locale for cocktails and dancing.

Tamarind Bar

Partake in exotic cocktails and sakétinis amid wraparound ocean views.

Which is more delightful: the apple-pear saketini in your chilled glass or views of the sun going down in a crimson blaze? Enjoy both in this stylish hideaway – your destination for panoramic views and exotic cocktails, and just one of the wide selection of lounges and gathering places on board.

Sea View Bar

Enjoy your favorite poolside drink while soaking up the sun and taking in panoramic views from the comfort of our deck lounge chairs. 

Pinnacle Bar

An elegant space to enjoy a well-crafted cocktails and fine wines anytime, particularly before dining at Pinnacle Grill.

Billboard Onboard

ENTERTAINMENT

Sing along, test your music trivia knowledge, or sit back and enjoy as chart-topping hits fill the room each night.

2 pianos - 60 Years of Chart Toppers - 100s Of Songs.  Sing along, test your music trivia skills or just sit back and enjoy as the hits fill the room each night.

World Stage

World Stage features innovative cruise ship shows and a two-story LED screen that creates a vivid wraparound display.

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evenings, Step One Dance Company, vocal sensation Cantaré, BBC Earth in Concert and more take the stage.  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam  bring the World Stage experience to the next level by surrounding you in spectacular sight and sound with a two-story, panoramic LED screen.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Our 7-piece band brings you the best in rock, pop, country and more.

Dance to your favorite songs with one of the best bands at sea. From rock and pop to country and beyond, we provide the perfect playlist live, each and every cruise.

Onboard Shopping

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping onboard.

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping in such signature shops as The Vault, Diamonds and Gemstones by Merabella, which offers the best diamonds at sea, brought to you by Effy.

Fitness Center

Take a class in our professionally staffed Fitness Center.

Stop by the professionally staffed Fitness Center equipped with the latest cardio and weight machines. Try one of our classes on indoor cycling, Pilates and more or work out at your own pace. You can also head out for fresh air and exercise on deck, where you'll find basketball and volleyball courts, and two refreshing pools (available on select ships). Some classes may have a nominal fee.

Holland America Line Navigator

Personalize your cruise experience with our free mobile-friendly tool.

Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. 

Casino Action

The Casino offers games for all levels.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Unleash your competitive spirit in our new family game room.

Unleash your competitive spirit at High Score!, our new family game room. By day, it’s a secret hideaway for kids and teens, where they can engage in a fast-paced flurry of four-person air hockey or contend for bragging rights in the video arcade. At night, the entire family is welcome to bond over board games, skee-ball, a tilting labyrinth and family activities.

Pickleball at Sea

Enjoy complimentary lessons, tournaments, and courts with amazing top-deck views.

Play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with Holland America Line, the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association. All our cruise ships feature pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views. The equipment and courts are available for a match anytime, so long as the weather allows. Frequent pickler? Join a pickleball tournament at sea and put your dink shot to the test. Hesitant amateur? Learn the basics at complimentary beginner’s lessons, starting in spring 2023. Commemorative starter kits will soon be available in our retail shops — purchase as gifts for avid players or as souvenirs, so that you can always look back on your pickleball cruise memories.

Kids ages 3 to 17 can enjoy an array of activities. Registration required for children under 13.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.

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• Cruise Tips / Cruising

What It’s Like Sailing Platinum For The First Time On NCL

by Prof. Cruise · Published December 7, 2021 · Updated December 7, 2021

I piss off a lot of cruise line loyalists because one week I’m on a Carnival cruise and I’m like: Ohmygosh this is the best cruise I’ve ever been on – the ship, the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports!  But then a few weeks later I’m on an NCL cruise and I’m like: Ohmygosh this is the best cruise I’ve ever been on – the ship, the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports!  And then the next week I’m on a Royal Caribbean cruise and I’m like: Ohmygosh this is the best cruise I’ve ever been on – the ship, the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports! (That’s literally exactly how this past summer went.)

My favorite cruise line is always the one I’m on.  And if I’m not on one, it’s the one I’m booked on next.  So right now, it’s Holland America!  And after that, it will be back to Carnival.  Then NCL again.

So why is someone so clearly fickle writing a blog post about loyalty?  For the ad revenue (I may be fickle, but at least I’m honest)! 

But seriously, while I’m not loyal to any particular cruise line, I do have a strong favorite when it comes to cruise line loyalty programs.  And the winner is…

Carnival!  No, Princess!  No, Celebrity!  No, Royal!  No, HAL!

Just kidding, it’s NCL.  No really, it’s Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards program (if you want to make your case for another line’s program, I welcome you to do so in the comments).  And I finally got to take advantage of my newly acquired (a month before Covid hit) Platinum status this summer!

So, while I’d never advocate choosing or exclusively sailing on a cruise line because of their loyalty program (none of the perks justify it, in my opinion), I thought I’d share what it’s like to sail Platinum on NCL for those new to or considering the line or who may have just turned Platinum.

First a brief overview of the program…

An Overview of NCL’s Latitudes Rewards Program

First, here’s how to earn rewards points and how many points one needs for each tier level:

Ways to earn rewards points:

-Earn 1 point for every cruise night.

-Earn 1 additional point per night for booking in a Concierge, Suite* or The Haven.

-Earn 1 additional point per night when booking a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.

*Full fare suites booked when reservation was originally made. Does not include Mini-Suites/Club Balcony Suites.

And here are the benefits you’ll receive at each tier level.

Note:  Onboard Discounts (including the pre-booking of shore excursions) are available on all sailings. All other benefits are available on sailings 5 days or longer.

What I Love About NCL’s Latitudes Rewards Program

Before I give you a play-by-play of what it was actually like to sail as a newly minted Platinum cruiser on NCL, let me provide a brief summary of why I love NCL’s rewards program so much and why I think it’s the best in the industry.

What NCL’s Latitudes Rewards Program Doesn’t Provide That Others Cruise Lines Do

Not only is what I’m about to say confusing (why is she including something that NCL DOESN’T provide under what she loves about NCL’s rewards program?!?), but also controversial. Dun, dun, dun: I find some of the trinkets other cruise lines (*cough* Carnival) distribute as part of their loyalty programs both useless and wasteful. AND, to further tarnish my reputation among Carnival loyalists (please forgive me, I actually love Carnival), I always either leave them in my cabin or toss them in a Goodwill bag along with all my pre-cruise pants that no longer fit when I get home.

I basically consider John Heald (Carnival’s brand ambassador and, sometimes, punching bag) a living prophet and follow a lot of cruise boards, so I know how passionate some people are about cruise pins and loyalty gifts (there was almost a revolt when Carnival, post-Covid, temporarily stopped giving out ship-specific loyalty pins and had to get rid of a backlog of luggage tags before an updated platinum gift could be provided). But I hate that stuff.

Wait what? Why? Because I cruise a lot and I move a lot (who agrees that my lackluster YouTube channel would finally take off if I turned that into a rap?). If I brought home a pin or luggage tag every time I cruised, the junk drawer in my kitchen would quickly spread to neighboring drawers, displacing the utensils, measuring cups, and spices and lead to tiny tent encampments around my apartment because, where else are they going to live? And then, the next time I move (which is frequently – I’ve lived in 4 different states and have moved 3 times just since landing in Seattle a few years ago) not only would I declare, “I’M NEVER MOVING AGAIN” eliciting eye rolls from my husband who knows we’ll be moving again in 1-2 years like we always do, but will prompt me to post something crazy to John Heald’s Facebook page which he will repost with a witty, if slightly sarcastic response.

But seriously, cruise line loyalty tchotchkes seem wasteful to me and do nothing to improve my cruising experience. And THAT is where NCL’s Loyalty Program really shines.

NCL’s Loyalty Perks Lead to a Better Onboard Cruising Experience

What are some things that would improve your cruising experience? Boarding earlier? Less time spent waiting in lines? Free meals at specialty restaurants? Free booze? Chocolate covered strawberries? Free internet? Free laundry? A free behind the scenes ship tour? Discounts for excursions and onboard experiences and purchases?

Yes! Right?!? Well that’s exactly what you’ll get (and more) if you achieve Platinum status on NCL! And the perks only get better from there!

Are you thinking, “well that all sounds too good to be true?” I admit to being a bit skeptical too. So here’s how my first cruise after reaching Platinum status on NCL actually went.

What it’s Really Like Sailing Platinum on NCL

Disclaimer: The cruise I discuss in this post (aboard the Norwegian Encore from Seattle to Alaska) took place in October of 2021, just as the cruise industry was restarting sailings post-Covid. Some procedures and the availability of certain Platinum benefits may have changed since that time.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Check-in and Embarkation

Mom (I was taking my mom on a birthday cruise) and I arrived at the pier at our usual time: 3 days prior to sailing (that’s an exaggeration, but only a slight one) and I was sooooo ready to be treated like a VIP on my first ever cruise as a Platinum Latitudes member. I’d waited over a year for this! So I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a “priority” check-in line for Platinum members. I’m not sure if this is always true, or just happened to be true at Pier 66 in Seattle for this sailing (experienced Platinum cruisers, please share your experience in the comments). However, we were among the first passengers to arrive so there wasn’t a wait to check in.

I got excited when I saw “PLATINUM” printed on my ship card, but we were given a regular boarding group number which had me a little concerned that there wouldn’t be priority boarding for Platinum members. After all, I was hungry after fasting all morning so I could justify 8 days of cruise binging and ready to beeline it to the restaurant for my first lunch and then to the buffet for my second lunch.

We sat in the main waiting area, intermixed with those of “lower status” (I kind of hoped there’d be a special VIP waiting area for us, but there wasn’t…again chime in if this isn’t typical).

I was starting to have flashbacks from Skyview High School where I always dreamed of being one of the popular girls, but never achieved large enough bangs (this was the late 90’s after all) when it was announced that boarding would begin shortly for…PLATINUM (and higher) guests! I accidentally yelled, “that’s me suckers” at top volume causing mom to walk off and pretend she didn’t know me (until it was time to board when all of a sudden we were best friends again so she could smooch off of my Platinum status like she did for the ENTIRE cruise…*eye roll*).

We were on the ship so fast I forgot to do my boarding ritual (I usually perform my signature dance move, the Roger Rabbit, up the gangway). The VIP life had officially begun and I was THERE FOR IT! If only those girls from high school, at least the ones not already dead from hairspray poisoning, could see me now!

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Cabin Perks

I arrived for the first time to my cabin and immediately started doing something akin to a snow angel on the bed. What can I say, I have a lot of weird cruising rituals. But then I headed for the desk area, lured there by…chocolate. And…booze.

I immediately devoured 3.1 of the 4 strawberries before I experienced a brief pang of guilt for not sharing any with the birthday girl. So I asked, “mom, do you mind if I eat this last strawberry?” to which she replied, “you already licked it!” to which I replied, “I mean, if you insist.”

Then I tossed the bottle of bubbly into my suitcase where it would journey home to my apartment to live for 1-2 years stashed in the back of a too-high kitchen cabinet until it’s time for us to move again at which point we’ll put it on a table in our lobby with a post-it note that reads, “free.” I’m hoping at that point it’s retrieved by someone with standards so low as to partake of shady lobby table wine or someone suffering a prolonged loss of taste so it can be properly appreciated. That’s to say that the free sparkling wine they give out on NCL is pretty bad. But hey, it’s free! Ten parts OJ to one part sparkling wine and it’s totally drinkable! Or use it to clean your coin collection! A Christmas gift for that neighbor with the loud dog? So many possibilities!

Seriously though, I was really excited to see the chocolate-covered strawberries and sparkling wine. And what’s this? An invitation?

Finally, at long last, someone was asking me to a school dance! Wait, that wasn’t it. But I still felt pretty special.

Instead of a cheesy dance invitation, “I’m redder than a strawberry with excitement at the thought of you going to Homecoming with me! Soothe my bubble guts and say yes!,” a three-fold informational document was waiting for me near the strawberries and sparkling wine on the desk

The first page contained a welcome greeting and instructions for how to find out about the exclusive cocktail party and sign up for the “Behind the Scenes Tour” (visit the CruiseNext desk by 9pm on either embarkation day or the following day). The second page was a list outlining all the Platinum benefits and discounts, and the third page contained my certificates for the free dinners and laundry service.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Mystery Concierge Service

While I never figured out how to access the mystery “concierge service to assist you with specialty restaurant, entertainment, and shore excursion reservations” (I just did all of that the old fashioned way), I did stop by to speak with someone at the CruiseNext desk: “fresh new VIP here, tell me what’s what.” They provided the time and venue for the exclusive cocktail party and informed me that no Behind the Scenes tours were being offered due to Covid protocols (so I’ll have to wait until next time for that one). I also asked a question I had (that I was hoping to speak to the concierge service about) that many others may have as well:

Q: I made specialty restaurant reservations online, but the only times available are too late for me. Can I change them to something earlier?

A: Yes, let me walk you over to the restaurant reservations table where they can assist you with that.

And sure enough, I was able to move my reservations for my two free specialty restaurant meals to earlier times, allowing me to meet my 9pm curfew.

Typically Platinum guests get to choose between Cagney’s and Le Bistro and between Moderno and La Cucina for their two free specialty dining meals. However, on the Encore Moderno and La Cucina are not available, so guests can choose between Los Lobos and Q instead (it won’t say that on your certificate, but it won’t be a problem to use it at either of those two restaurants). I chose Los Lobos.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Dinner for Two at Los Lobos

When I checked in at the desk at Los Lobos for our reservation, I was asked if I would be using a certificate to pay for my meal. “Yes!” I handed over my certificate which was stapled to my ticket and given to my wait staff. Once seated, my main waitress went over the rules for the free dinner with mom and I. It would cover one appetizer or soup, one entree, one side, and one dessert for each of us. You can read my full review of our meal and preview the Los Lobos menu here .

Our bill came to $63. “But for for you, Prof. Cruise? FREE!” I was provided with a receipt showing a $0 balance. I could get used to this Platinum life!

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Dinner for Two at Cagney’s with a Free Bottle of Wine

I saved our Cagney’s steakhouse meal for mom’s birthday. Doesn’t she look thrilled:

I think she was a bit concerned that I would finish off the entire free bottle of wine (mom doesn’t drink) and she’d have to drag me back to our cabin with her bad hip. That was a real possibility too – the provided wine glass was so large I could have poured the entire bottle into it and counted it as “one glass of wine with dinner” to make myself sound healthy at the doctor’s office. This brings me to another question I had:

Q: What if I don’t finish my free bottle of wine at Cagney’s? Can I take it back to my stateroom or finish it another time?

A: Yes. And yes. I was told that I could either take it to drink later or they could tag it and store it for me. Then I could request it at any restaurant until the end of my cruise.

I elected to have it tagged and drank from it for the next few nights in the main dining room (I just told them I had a stored bottle of wine and showed them the tag).

If you’d like to preview the complimentary wine list available for platinum diners at either Cagney’s or Le Bistro, you can do so here (just scroll down until you see it or search for “Cagney’s”).

Like at Los Lobos, we handed our coupon over at the check-in desk and our wait staff informed us that we could order one appetizer, one entree priced at $35 or under (we would have to pay the difference if over that), one side, and one dessert each. Go here if you want to read more about our experience (including what it was like to eat as a vegetarian at Cagney’s) and preview the menu.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Exclusive Cocktail Party

Two things are true about me. First, I’m really awkward at cocktail parties. I’m pretty good at making small-talk with dogs and babies: “lick anything interesting off the floor lately?” But if there aren’t any of those at the party, you’ll most likely find me hiding in a bathroom stall double fisting sugary drinks. Which brings me to the second truth about me: I love free s**t. I also fantasize about marrying a cruise ship captain, so you know I wasn’t missing an exclusive party with officers and free cocktails.

I arrived at the secret party location a few minutes late, but in enough time to see the Captain’s wedding ring as he was introduced (always pack binoculars for spotting wildlife and preventing an embarrassing encounter with the Captain). So I double fisted my sugary cocktails and headed for the nearest public restroom. Here are a few questions I had prior to the cocktail party:

Q: Are drinks unlimited at the Latitudes Exclusive Cocktail Party?

Q: Can I order whatever I want at the Latitudes Exclusive Cocktail Party?

A: You can try. There were trays of pre-made drinks (wine, a few different cocktails, and beer) being offered, but you could also request something. However, the first drink I requested couldn’t be made with the limited bar service so I gave up and grabbed one of each of the cocktails.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Free 30 Minutes of Internet

This one was a bit of a disappointment, but I’m hoping my experience can help others (and I’ll know better for next time). I purchased a social media internet plan so I could post no fewer than 3,000 daily grainy food pics for my 3 Instagram followers to quickly scroll by in favor of dramatic drone footage of the latest mega-ship set to music. I was also looking forward to supplementing this with my free 30 minutes of internet which I planned to use to check e-mail a few times and post one or two quick updates to my subpar blog. However, as soon as I started using my purchased social media plan, my free 30 minutes disappeared from my account.

I stopped by the Internet Cafe to speak to the Internet Manager and was informed that I was only allowed to have one internet plan and as soon as I logged onto my social media plan, I voided the other (free) plan. I had two questions:

2: Why wasn’t I informed of that?

I didn’t get an answer to either question and filed it under “annoying little things that cruise lines do that make no sense and lead to unnecessary hassle for both guests and crew.” I will note that the two people in front of me in line had the exact same question/problem. Thankfully, the Internet Manager suggested that he could restore my free 30 minutes by assigning them to my mom’s account. She probably used up the entire 30 minutes typing the following e-mail update to my brother: Hi, we are hav

(That last part is fiction, but I included it to tease my mom who claims to be technologically illiterate and a slow typist. I don’t think that’s true, but she did accidentally call her daughter-in-law a ho over text once).

In any case, if you want to purchase an internet plan AND use any free minutes you’re entitled to, buy the plan under your cabin-mate’s account. If you’re sailing solo, stop by to speak with the Internet Manager to see if there’s anything else they can do.

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Free Bag of Laundry

No need for one of these:

On the provided laundry bag, simply write your name, stateroom number, “Platinum FREE BAG,” and “CAUTION, TOXIC MATERIAL INSIDE” (if you sweat as much as I do in the gym). Then leave it for your room steward by noon on the day you’d like service.

I mean it was already pretty great to have professional chefs cook me 6 meals a day for 8 days, but now I have someone to do my laundry too?

That brings me to:

Sailing Platinum for the First Time on NCL: Priority Disembarkation

I don’t understand why you would want to get off a cruise ship sooner…

…but I suppose there could be a good reason (deadline to turn in a lottery ticket that would allow you to live on a cruise ship? That’s all I got). Suffice it to say, I did not win the lottery or I would not be updating this blog to fund my cruising habit and, as such, I did not take advantage of priority disembarkation. Perhaps others can speak to their experience with this in the comments.

And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points): Check out my Encore Ship Review and my Review of a Balcony Cabin on the Norwegian Encore . And don’t forget to follow Prof. Cruise on social media:

Today’s Cruising Pro Tip!*

Never purchase cruise insurance through a cruise line. You’ll pay much more and get less coverage. Go through a site like this one to select exactly the coverage you want and compare prices to get the best possible deal. Savings can be significant and that means…more money to spend onboard and in port!

*I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you purchase items or services through links on my site. Thank you for your support!

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Because we are not loyal to one cruise line, we are only still bottom dwellers for every line we’ve sailed – although I think we will leave the red level for whatever comes next on Carnival this December. Yay (that we are taking our second cruise in 2021, not that we are moving up a level). We aren’t loyal to any line because we love to cruise and always want the best price for wherever it is we want to sail. We started cruising with Disney (back when they only had two ships) but the cost of those cruises meant that once the kids were older we switched to NCL and Carnival. I personally prefer NCL, but we can cruise more frequently and with two cabins when we choose Carnival. I do have a drawer of pins and even the key cards from our cruises, but since we don’t cruise anywhere near the number of times you do those trinkets aren’t taking up too much space. I think it is just the acknowledgment that people enjoy? Right now we get water from Carnival and I’m pretty pleased with that!! I did have an issue with NCL and my free internet minutes on a cruise back in 2019 but when I went to the internet manager she actually added the free minutes back to my account (I’m not sharing those with ANYONE). Ha! My last plug for Carnival, and again – not my favorite line and I’m loyal to none – is that from what I can tell their platinum and diamond levels get really, really good rates for cruises. Apparently those folks get lots of emails with special rates. If NCL and the others do that, it seems like that alone might be a reason to be loyal?? Because I love to cruise but I love a good cruise deal even more!! Love your blog SO MUCH!!

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and thoughts. You make some excellent points. And I really, really agree with you when it comes to loving a good deal! Like you, I primarily book based on price so I can cruise more! Thank you also for your kind words about my blog – that made my day. Have a wonderful upcoming cruise!!!

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Athens Day Cruises is a consortium between Hydraiki Naval Company and Evermore Cruises, the two largest shipping companies in Athens offering the one-day cruise to the Saronic Islands, Hydra, Poros and Aegina. The cooperation of these two pioneering companies provides guests with an incomparable cruising experience created by the inventors of this one of a kind, one day cruise, a service unique in all of Europe. Born from the long-term success of each of these companies, Athens Day Cruisespromises an exceptional cruise experience offering new and high quality services to optimize the popular one day, three-island cruise from Athens.

Passengers will benefit from the combined expertise of two industry leaders in designing and staging a short distance cruise to nearby islands in a fun, pleasurable environment comparable to the expectations of longer cruise travel. Innovative services and amenities include live entertainment, leisure activities, guided tours, and fine dining services. In addition to the hospitable environment on board, optional island tours provide an inspiring experience for our passengers through our knowledgeable, multilingual guides. Athens Day Cruises also provides solutions for corporate meetings, sales and marketing meetings, professional incentive rewards, sailing conferences, and events, as well as wedding receptions, christening, birthday parties, bachelor parties, and glamorous parties. The cruise is available on a daily basis, 365 days a year (sailing from “Marina Kallitheas” in Kallithea, along the coast in the southern suburbs of Athens).

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Why in the World I Took a 1-Day Cruise: What to Know Before You Book

Sorting cruises by price is a dangerous thing.  After all, some cruises are priced low for a reason.

After getting an itch to take a cruise for as cheap as possible, I found myself looking at a screen of cruise sailings that were cheaper than hotel rooms. 

Yes, I booked a 1-day cruise.  Although, to be fair, I spent slightly less than 24 hours on the ship.

But since cruise durations don’t work in fractions, we’ll just stick with the 1-day sailing.

For this cruise I took a flight to Seattle , just so I could enjoy this single-day sailing to Vancouver.  By 1pm the ship was pushing away from the dock, and by 10am the next morning I was parting ways with the vessel.

“But isn’t it pointless to be on a cruise ship for just a day?”, you might be asking.

Or maybe you’re saying, “Isn’t a one-day cruise kind of like speed dating — awkward, rushed, and over before you know what happened?”.

Ok, valid points.  But before I explain the 5 reasons I booked this cruise, let me tell you a little about the cruise itself.

Types of 1-day sailings

You can find several single day sailings online.   There are currently 22 1-day cruises available for booking on icruise.com.

Australia offers some of these short cruises, which are often cruises to nowhere out of Cairns. 

Also, you can find several Mediterranean sailings with MSC Cruises that are basically just a portion of a longer cruise but with advertised prices of around $59 (without taxes, fees, and everything else of course).

Some of these 1-day cruises sail from Genoa, Italy to Marseille, France or from Marseille to Barcelona, for instance.

For travelers wanting to cross the English Channel on the cheap, MSC Virtuosa offers a Southampton to Paris 1-day sailing in November and the reverse of that in April of the next spring.

My favorite type of 1-day cruise

But at least twice a year, Holland America offers 1-day sailings as a sort of repositioning cruise at both the beginning and end of the Alaska cruise season. 

These micro-cruises are one-way sailings from Seattle to Vancouver or from Vancouver to Seattle. April and October are the months to look for here.

These cruises often are part of a longer cruise, so not everyone on board is there for a sub-24-hour getaway.

In fact, on my 1-day sailing on Holland America, half the passengers were sailing to Hawaii after I got off the ship in Vancouver. 

Despite my jealousy and missing out on wearing a colorful lei, I actually enjoyed this short cruise and would absolutely do it again.

Reasons I booked this 1-day cruise

It might seem crazy to only spend one night on a cruise ship.   It’s really not even time to unpack.  And isn’t that one of the biggest draws of cruising?  You only unpack once and see several amazing places in the world?

Although the trip went way faster than I had anticipated, here are a few reasons I booked a 1-day sailing and why you might want to consider the same.

1. A chance to check out a new ship

By “new ship” I mean a ship I’ve never been on before.  So, for me, the ship itself was the destination. 

While it was a short-lived experience, it gave me the opportunity to try out a new cruise line and a new ship, since this was the first time I had sailed with Holland America.

Think of it like an appetizer.  I had a taste of what the ship was like so I could plan a longer voyage on the vessel at another time.  And all for the price of a nice hotel.

I went to a show, listened to some karaoke, enjoyed a classical string trio, played some shuffleboard and learned my way around the ship in short order.  This was on Holland America’s Eurodam , by the way.

2. Getting amazing food all included

Let’s be honest, most cruise passengers have “food” at the top of their priority list when planning a vacation at sea.  And it’s hard to argue against that reasoning. 

Some of the best steak, French cuisine, and Italian dishes I’ve ever had were on a cruise ship. 

So, the opportunity to eat like a king, even for a day, was hard to pass up.  Forget just three meals a day, though.  I was determined to get my money’s worth.  It was like one meal, actually – a progressive dinner that lasted from the time I walked onto the ship until the wee hours of the night.

3. Being able to afford an upgraded cabin

One of the most overlooked reasons for booking a shorter cruise is the ability to afford a suite or more luxurious cabin category.

On a recent cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, I booked a fantastic suite on the lido deck for a 2-day cruise.  This same suite would have been well out of reach financially if I had booked a full week cruise. 

So, if you’re wondering what it’s like to have a suite or more posh balcony cabin, take an appetizer cruise before you see if it’s worth it.

On my 1-day cruise, however, I didn’t book anything too crazy.  I did get a nicer balcony in a good location just because the cost difference was negligible.  With taxes and fees, the total ended up being around $150.

4. Chance to explore a great cruise port

Another reason I booked this cruise was based on the destination.  Vancouver is such a fantastic destination to explore.  Sure, if I was a local resident of Seattle this cruise would have made more sense.  After all, just for the cost of transportation this cruise was a great deal. 

But as I mentioned in my article on repositioning cruises , these are best booked when you really want to focus on the final destination.  I had been wanting to check out Vancouver for a while, so this presented the perfect opportunity.

5. Not much off-time needed

We would all take 2-week cruises and month-long cruises if we could, right?  Even if we had the money, that allotment of time is too much for someone working full time or with other obligations back home. 

This 1-day cruise was over the weekend.   I was able to be back home by Monday and get right back to work.  Even though much of my work involves writing about cruising and traveling, some people book these shorter cruises just so they can give in to the Cruise Fever a little and then get back to reality without getting too back up with responsibilities.

It isn’t for everyone

Not everyone should even consider a one-day cruise.  One of the biggest things to consider is the transportation to and from the cruise ports. 

Since these cruises are typically one-way trips you will have to find your way back home and the cost of that will probably offset any savings on a low-cost sailing.

It’s also not a good idea if you feel you would be rushed the whole time.  I didn’t mind this because I love cruising and I love ships.  I spent most of the time –when I wasn’t eating – exploring all around the ship, checking out the entertainment, seeing the lounges, and taking a dip in thermal suite pool.

I wouldn’t recommend this to a first-time cruiser.  You could consider it a sampling, but it’s not a good sampling of cruising per se.  It’s more a sampling of what the ship is like.

To truly know what it’s like to take a cruise, you need to experience sea days, spending all day in port and getting back to the ship for dinner, having a couple lazy days where you do nothing but soak in the sun or read a book on your balcony etc.

The weirdest part

Walking into my cruise cabin for the first time is always pure excitement – unpacking, admiring the view… then WHAM! Disembarkation instructions. Talk about a mood shift!

I saw those notices on my bed right after I walked into the cabin.

I didn’t want to even think about disembarkation.  I mean, I just walked onto this ship a few minutes ago.  But that’s the reality of a 1-day sailing. 

It was kind of like saying hello and goodbye at the same time.

If you try a one day cruise…

To make the most of your cruise, I recommend two things: first, make sure you don’t have to travel too far to get to the cruise port of embarkation, and second, spending an extra day or two at your final destination.

Also, this is probably a better idea for a solo traveler or a couple who don’t mind something more whimsical.  I wouldn’t recommend a family try this.  Yikes, that actually feels like a nightmare the more I think about it.

Bottom Line

Let’s face it, one-day cruises are the cruise world’s answer to tapas: bite-sized portions of luxury that leave you wanting more. You get a taste of the good life – fancy meals, dazzling entertainment, maybe even a swanky balcony cabin (for way less than usual).

But these mini-vacays aren’t for everyone. If you need a vacation from your vacation, this might not be it. And forget about spending all day lounging by the pool – it’s more of a whirlwind adventure than a chill escape.

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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1 day saronic cruise.

A carefree one-day cruise from the capital to three nearby picturesque islands of the Saronic Gulf. You will visit Hydra, the haven of the artistic world and favorite jet set destination, the quaint island of Poros and the historic Aegina, an island that was a major naval force during antiquity and now has the ruins to prove it. At each location you are afforded some time for sightseeing, picking up mementos and exploring at your own pace. Buffet lunch is included and served on board and optional excursions on the islands are offered upon request. With three islands in one day and a luxurious vessel to traverse the crystal clear waters of the Saronic Gulf, this is an unmissable opportunity!

• Tour Includes
• Dates & Pricing
• Sightseeings
• Important Notes
• Photo Gallery

Daily service all year round. For a specific date, check availability here .

• 155,00 € per adult
• 105,00 € per child

Departure is at approximately 08.00 a.m. heading to the three beautiful islands of the Saronic Gulf. After departure, our guide and the hostesses will ask you to assemble in one of the main lounges of the ship to get acquainted and give you all the information concerning the ship, the program of the cruise and the islands. The order of the island visits may be changed with no prior notice.

• Hydra (apprx. 2 hours) The favorite island of the jet set, whose old traditional stone houses and mansions have over the years housed the enfant gâté of the art world. The narrow stone-paved streets await for you to explore them on foot or by saddled donkey, as the island belongs to a niche group of places that do not allow motorized vehicles. Captivating walks along the old seaside promenade crystal clear waters and radiant fine craft shops create an incredible amalgamation of two different worlds!
• Poros (apprx. 1 hour) Although it is the smallest of the three islands we will visit, its narrow strait offering a most enchanting view of the town of Poros, is a site to behold. The island is extremely close to Peloponnese, with a 200m (650ft) strip of water separating it from the mainland. That gives Poros a unique coastline, as a big part of it is almost lagoon-like.
• Aegina (apprx. 2 hours) During ancient times it was a rival of Athens, the great sea power of the era. As such, the island is, to this day, full of archaeological sites and historical points of interest. Apart from its harbor, there are optional organized tours by air conditioned busses visiting the Temple of Aphaea (archeological site) or the Church of Saint Nektarios, whose relics are on display. These tours are optional and are sold on board the ship. On our way back to Marina Flisvos, a traditional Greek folk show with singers and dancers will entertain you up to the final moment as the ship arrives at Marina Flisvos.

Optional excursions (extra charge):

• Classical tour (Aegina) : Start your classical tour with a Guided Bus Tour of the island, starting with a visit to the Temple of Aphaea which is the best preserved temple in Greece and one of the 3 temples forming the famous “ Sacred Triangle ” of Greek antiquity. Built on top of a pine tree covered hill, it offers the most magnificent view over the island, the Saronic Gulf, Piraeus and Salamina Island. Our guide will tell you the fascinating story of the intriguing history of this beautiful temple and then from there we make a small stop for photographs to the Church of Saint Nektarios, where you can admire its beautiful Byzantine architecture. On our way back to Aegina Port you will have the time to relax and appreciate the exquisite peaceful nature of the island.
• Panoramic tour (Aegina): Drive across the entire island (without visiting the archaeological site) admiring the beauty of its nature, the famous Aegina pistachio groves, the island’s medieval capital of Paleohora and the Saint Nektarios Monastery. Final stop is at a local taverna at the port to enjoy some meze and tsipouro.  
• Swimming excursion (Aegina): Enjoy a soft drink while we transfer you by our company’s speedboat to the coast of Moni, 7 minutes away from the port, to a private organized beach with umbrellas which is ideal not only for swimming but also for enjoying the natural beauty and landscape filled with pine trees. You can swim in the crystal clear blue waters and enjoy the sandy beach next to peacocks and if you are lucky you can see the deer enjoying the landscape as well.
• Visit to Hydra for approximately 2 hours
• Visit to Poros island for approximately 1 hour
• Visit to Aegina island for approximately 2 hours
• Pick up & drop off service from most of the hotels in Athens
• Lunch on board

Not included:

• Optional Excursions
• Your international airfare
• Personal expenses, beverages at lunch and / or dinner
• Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts
• This tour includes a complimentary pick-up / drop-off service from your hotel or other predefined spots in Athens and surrounding areas. Maximum duration of this service to gather tour participants is approximately 1 hour. Thus, pick-up time may vary for each guest and will be promptly provided by your personal agent.
• The order of the island visits may be changed with no prior notice.
• Generally guests will spend approximately 2 hours in Hydra, 1 hour in Poros and 2 hours in Aegina.
• Onboard gift shops issue tax deduction receipts for eligible customers and specified minimum amounts.
• Special diets can be catered to provided that a minimum prior notice of 2 days is given.
• Recommended items to have with you include Sun Protection Lotion (with high factor), Hat, Sun Glasses, Swimming Suite & Towel and Wind-Stopper

• Platytera ton Ouranon

• Before your cruise
• Our Entertainment
• Our Cooking Lessons
• Our Excursions
• Transfer Information
• Classical Tour
• Panoramic Tour
• Swimming Excursion
• Life on board
• Christenings
• Birthday parties
• Glamorous parties
• Meetings & conferences
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• Frequently Asked Questions

PLATINUM CRUISE

Experience the epitome of luxury and intimacy aboard our Platinum Cruise with the esteemed Lagoon 450. Designed for a select group of up to 14 guests, our small-group excursion offers an exclusive and personalized journey through the enchanting landscapes of Santorini.

Elevate your adventure with a lavish BBQ feast, refreshing drinks, and top-of-the-line snorkeling equipment, ensuring every moment is filled with delight and comfort. As you sail along the stunning Santorini coastline, indulge in the breathtaking views while relishing the convenience of complimentary transfers from all hotels on the island.

Join us for an unforgettable voyage where sophistication meets adventure, promising an unparalleled escape into the heart of Santorini's unparalleled beauty.

• Morning Tour
• Sunset Tour
• Important Info

Inclusions - Round trip transportation from your hotel (or a nearby accessible point) and back with minibus. - BBQ prepared on the spot with pork chops or chicken fillet or grilled vegetables (vegetarians), sea food (Shrimps saganaki), pasta with red sauce, stuffed vine leaves with rice, tzatziki, Greek salad and pita bread. Gluten free pasta available (prior notice required) - Drinks (soft drinks, white local wine, beer, water) - Snorkeling equipment, floating devices (ask the crew) - Towels (to be returned to the crew) - Blanket (to be returned to the crew) - Map with extensive info about the island (ask the crew) - English speaking captain & crew - Leaflet with safety instructions on board in En/Fr/Es/Ch/Kr (ask the crew) - WC & facilities for washing seawater off (ask the crew)

- Gratuities

MORNING & SUNSET CRUISES 195 € - Peak Season (May 11th - October 10th) 130 € - High Season (April 1st- May 10th & October 11th - October 28th)

Departure Point From all hotels, villas, Airbnb's in Santorini Morning / embarkation : Ammoudi Sunset / embarkation : Vlychada

Return Details Returns to original departure point Morning / disembarkation : Vlychada Sunset / disembarkation : Ammoudi

Morning Tour Highlights: Begin your day with an unforgettable journey aboard, basking in the invigorating energy of the Greek sun. Capture the mesmerizing contrast between the vibrant hues of cave-houses and the dramatic black cliffs, perfect for those seeking picturesque spots for swimming and snorkeling.

Sunset Tour Highlights: Immerse yourself in the tranquility of an evening on board, as you unwind amidst the enchanting sunset views, allowing the intense romance of the moment to envelop you.

Discover the most scenic spots around Santorini as you sail to the Hot Springs of the volcano. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters near the Red and White beaches. Indulge in a delectable barbecue feast featuring seafood, pasta, salads, and complimentary drinks on board.

Capture breathtaking moments with a photo-shoot against the backdrop of lava creations, the Aspronissi islet, the iconic Black Mountain, the historic Old Lighthouse, the majestic Indian Rock, and the otherworldly lunar landscape of Vlychada.

- Kindly note that the itinerary and stops of a cruise may be subject to alterations without prior notice in case the conditions are not appropriate to sail outside the Caldera. - Guests need to bring warm dry clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, sunhat. - Passengers, choosing a tailor-made tour, have to respect captain's instructions. - All yachts and boats in Greece cannot moor directly on the beach. - Sunset Oia has selected the best points for swimming and snorkeling, the closest possible from the beach. - Hot Springs: It is good to know that catamarans/yachts stop 50m away from the warm sulfuric water of the Hot Springs bay. The temperature in the Hot Springs area is up to 4°C warmer than the open water. Guests swim securely close to the Volcano. Dark color swimwear is recommended. - Please, provide the name of your hotel and contact details (yours or of your host's). One day prior to the cruise, you will receive the pick up confirmation. - Bring a photo of your passport or ID card. - Passengers have to remove their shoes before embarkation. - The duration of the tour is not the same throughout the season, especially the sunset cruise. During June, the tour lasts about 6 hours (daylight is bigger), while in October is about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

For all cancellations or changes, we require having email notification at reservations@sunset- oia.com •Cancellations that will be placed at least 24hours prior departure Sunset Oia offers 100% refund of the down/full payment. •For changes that will be placed at least 24hours prior departure, there are no extra fees but the new reservation is subject to availability. If there is no availability for the new date or tour then a full refund is applied. •For cancellations or changes within 23 hours, prior departure 100% of the total cost of the tour is charged as cancellation fees.

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MedallionNet ® The Best Wi-Fi at Sea

Fast. reliable. unlimited. affordable. now on all ships..

MedallionNet Wi-Fi is included in your fare when you book Princess Plus or Princess Premier!

Wi-Fi wherever you are

Access the internet everywhere on board so you can text, post photos, video chat and stream your favorite shows, movies, music and sports with ease. Read on to learn just how revolutionary MedallionNet Wi-Fi is and how popular it is with our guests.

Fast and reliable internet

MedallionNet Wi-Fi sets the industry standard for internet at sea, and it's now even better with Starlink access and 5G. FaceTime your pooch in the morning. Stream your favorite shows by the pool in the afternoon. Post your picture-perfect dessert from your dinner table. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, you can now stay connected with Wi-Fi coverage as you sail.

By clicking select links below, you will leave the Princess Cruises website and navigate to a 3rd party website that is not owned, operated, or controlled by Princess Cruises or any of its affiliates.

Unlimited and affordable internet

Choose from one-device or four-device packages starting from just $24.99 USD. Packages are available with additional savings as part of our Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages. They can also be purchased pre-cruise and on board through the Princess® Cruises App. Platinum and Elite guests get an exclusive discount of 50% off*.

*Discount will be applied on board in the form of an onboard credit.

What our guests are saying about MedallionNet Wi-Fi

"I was so incredibly impressed with how well the internet worked and how fast it was too! It was so convenient to use and ended up being really cost effective too." –  Lauren V. from Vandifair

"With the rollout of MedallionNet, Princess Cruises is completely changing the game for internet at sea – with blazing fast speeds – and it is now much more affordable." –  Courtney O. from Sweet C's

"Knowing we could access and successfully respond to any pressing work stuff was probably the greatest benefit of all…we wouldn’t be leaving colleagues in the lurch or incurring the wrath of overworked bosses." – from the Kerrie B. blog

"I barely noticed a difference from my home internet…and knowing that I was going to have the internet at sea is probably what made me feel so comfortable leaving [my daughter] for the first time when she was just 6 months old." – Rebecca H. from Sugar & Soul

All about MedallionNet Wi-Fi

Learn how MedallionNet Wi-Fi works and discover how speed and connectivity may be affected while sailing in different regions.

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Earn Double Cruise Credits on Princess Cruises [Limited Time Only]

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There’s good news for Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle members today. For a limited time, guests will earn double cruise credits toward status when they add a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package to their booking.

Let’s dive into the details of this new promotion from Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises ‘ loyalty program is called Captain’s Circle . It rewards guests based on either the number of total cruises or the number of cruise days. There are 4 levels within the program.

• Gold : After the first cruise
• Ruby : After 3 cruises or 30 cruise days
• Platinum : After 5 cruises or 50 cruise days
• Elite : After 15 cruises or 150 cruise days

Members who have achieved elite status in the Captain’s Circle are entitled to a variety of benefits. These include exclusive access to a dedicated Help Desk phone line, discounted fares, and a host of other cruise perks.

With this new Loyalty Accelerator Program, Captain’s Circle members can earn double cruise credits (both the number of cruises and cruise days). To be eligible, a member needs to sail between August 1, 2024, and December 1, 2024 , and add either the Princess Plus package or Princess Premier package to their booking at least 2 days prior to sailing.

Members will earn both double cruises and double cruise nights if they are eligible for this promotion. For example, a 7-night cruise in September (with a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package) would earn 2 cruise credits and 14 cruise nights.

This promotion is valid on previously booked cruises as well as new bookings.

Are you curious about what a Princess cruise is like? Check out my review of an Alaska cruise on the Grand Princess .

What Are the Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages?

Princess Plus and Princess Premier are packages that can be added to a sailing that include extras like Wi-Fi and beverages.

Princess Plus: $60 per day per guest

• Wi-Fi: 1 device per guest
• Non-alcoholic drinks: Bottled water, specialty coffee, juice bar
• Crew gratuities
• Casual meals: 2 per sailing
• Premium desserts: 2 per day
• Ocean Now fee waived
• Unlimited room service
• Fitness classes: 2 per sailing

Princess Premier: $80 per day per guest

• Wi-Fi: 4 devices per guest
• Alcoholic drinks: Top-shelf spirits and craft cocktails up to $20 each
• Professional photos: Unlimited digital photos and 3 prints
• Specialty meals: 2 per sailing
• Casual meals: unlimited
• Premium desserts: unlimited
• Fitness classes: Unlimited
• Reserved theater seating
• Princess Prizes

If you’re ready to go, check out these websites for booking cruises in addition to the cruise line’s website to get the best price. You can even use points and miles to book a cruise .

This new Loyalty Accelerator Program is great news if you have a Princess cruise scheduled between August 1, 2024, and December 1, 2024 , or were thinking about booking one. Just remember that you’ll need to add a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package to your reservation to qualify for double cruise credits. Happy sailing!

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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• Carnival Cruise Lines

Platinum Member Laundry...How many bags?

By ready2cruzagain , February 25, 2012 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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ready2cruzagain

I just had a friend tell me that Platinum receives only one bag of free laundry per cruise. She said that she read this on John Heald's FB page some time back. I have never heard of this. I know that when on the Fascination last time we were on a b2b and I sent laundry out the second week almost everyday. Below is a link to what Carnival's website says and it does not say there is a limit on how many bags you can have done.

Platinum Member

All Gold member benefits

Carnival Platinum benefits* including:

A special Carnival logo item

Guaranteed dining times and priority steakhouse reservations

Complimentary $20 entry fee into blackjack or slots tournament**

Spa Carnival priority reservations

Carnival's "Chocolate Delight" — four chocolate-dipped strawberries with assorted chocolate nuggets — delivered to cabin*** one evening

Complimentary wash and fold laundry service

Priority tender boarding where available

Priority embarkation and debarkation

Complimentary arcade tokens valued at $5 for Platinum guests under 18 years of age

http://www.carnival.com/cms/static_templates/carnival-past-guest-recognition.aspx

So, did the rules change or can you still have as many bags as needed for free? Or did my friend just misunderstand?

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I just had a friend tell me that Platinum receives only one bag of free laundry per cruise. She said that she read this on John Heald's FB page some time back. I have never heard of this. I know that when on the Fascination last time we were on a b2b and I sent laundry out the second week almost everyday. Below is a link to what Carnival's website says and it does not say there is a limit on how many bags you can have done.     Platinum Member All Gold member benefits Carnival Platinum benefits* including: A special Carnival logo item Guaranteed dining times and priority steakhouse reservations Complimentary $20 entry fee into blackjack or slots tournament** Spa Carnival priority reservations Carnival's "Chocolate Delight" — four chocolate-dipped strawberries with assorted chocolate nuggets — delivered to cabin*** one evening Complimentary wash and fold laundry service Priority tender boarding where available Priority embarkation and debarkation Complimentary arcade tokens valued at $5 for Platinum guests under 18 years of age   http://www.carnival.com/cms/static_templates/carnival-past-guest-recognition.aspx   So, did the rules change or can you still have as many bags as needed for free? Or did my friend just misunderstand?

We sent out 2 bags a day apart on our cruise in December and were never charged.

We had laundry done 3 different nights on the Dream last year. No problem and no charge.

I just had a friend tell me that Platinum receives only one bag of free laundry per cruise. She said that she read this on John Heald's FB page some time back. I have never heard of this. I know that when on the Fascination last time we were on a b2b and I sent laundry out the second week almost everyday. Below is a link to what Carnival's website says and it does not say there is a limit on how many bags you can have done.       Platinum Member All Gold member benefits Carnival Platinum benefits* including: A special Carnival logo item Guaranteed dining times and priority steakhouse reservations Complimentary $20 entry fee into blackjack or slots tournament** Spa Carnival priority reservations Carnival's "Chocolate Delight" — four chocolate-dipped strawberries with assorted chocolate nuggets — delivered to cabin*** one evening Complimentary wash and fold laundry service Priority tender boarding where available Priority embarkation and debarkation Complimentary arcade tokens valued at $5 for Platinum guests under 18 years of age   http://www.carnival.com/cms/static_templates/carnival-past-guest-recognition.aspx   So, did the rules change or can you still have as many bags as needed for free? Or did my friend just misunderstand?

Nothing has changed. There was a request on one voyage, in the Med if I recall correctly, to limit laundry for Platinums to one bag but they were never refused additional laundry.

It's the same as it always has been... unlimited...

Thanks for the answers. Glad it has not changed. Hope they keep the free laundry when they redo the Past Guest Benefits because it really helps when doing a b2b.

The cabin steward we had on our 2/14/12 Miracle cruise (who was fabulous, by the way) told us that during a meeting the stewards were told that starting in June, there will be a one bag per platinum guest per cruise limit. I'm hoping that is not true, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Nothing has changed. There was a request on one voyage, in the Med if I recall correctly, to limit laundry for Platinums to one bag but they were never refused additional laundry.   It's the same as it always has been... unlimited...

I had the "1-bag" request more once when cruising on CCL

Isn't it usually when there are tons of Plats sailing, they limit the amount? Of course you still don't want to give them anything that may get ruined, but it's great for the everyday stuff.

I hope not. I would have difficulty with them limiting it since on their website does not specify how many bags. I know when doing a b2b laundry is important.

Sargent_Schultz

For some time the Platinum letter you receive on board states 1 bag per cruise, but it is almost never enforced and I've never had any issues.

People who abuse the privilege and send out bags of laundry for friends and family are the ones most likely to cause a modification to the program.

We did a bag a day on our latest cruise.. for our family of five.

Warning! We will never give our laundry to be washed the last full day at sea. They lost our laundry and it never returned the last night.

(after tons of stress, visits to the Guest services.. they never found it. We left the cruise without some favorite things.... they did eventually find the bag, however and over a month later, it arrived on our doorstep).

Please do not get rid of this benefit! It really is the best thing about being Platinum!

i was under the impression this was dictated by how many platinum member were on a specific sailing.

I sure hope that there is not a one bag limit on wash and fold. Was counting on using that more than once for the 8 night Alaska cruise in May 2013. Really only use it once during a seven night cruise during the Caribbean.

Went to Carnival's website after reading on here that some of the platinum benefits had been taken away. John Heald had mentioned that the new loyalty program was going to be even better. However; it looks like they are taking things away before the new program has even been implemented. Just hope that I am wrong about this and the new platinum benefits are going to be great. Time will tell.

When does the new program start?

That is the million dollar question? At this point, it seems to be a wait and see.

Those bags in the cabins are so small that it is very difficult to get 2-3 days worth of clothes into that bag. On the Conquest a few weeks ago, my steward had to check with his supervisor about taking more than one bag.

cruise_pirate

We have now had about 8 platinum cruises and we give as much laundry as necessary.

Fun, Fun 44

On our Conquest January 22, 2012 cruise we gave one bag to cabin steward. Upon his returning it to us we asked for another bag since no more in the drawer. Didn't know if we would do a second bag but maybe. Steward said on bag per Platinum guest, he would replace when he did tyhe room for the next cruise. Told him we were both Platinum.....gave us a bag, but tried nicely to get out of it. Ended up we didn't need it but was very surprised it is limited now. I guess we should be glad it isn't one bag per cabin like the little treat we get in the evening. Two Platinum guests, one treat. And yes we got the little backpacks. Oh, also the casino card was a buy one get one now, Before was a free one per Platinum guest.

Happy cruising!

On our Conquest January 22, 2012 cruise we gave one bag to cabin steward. Upon his returning it to us we asked for another bag since no more in the drawer. Didn't know if we would do a second bag but maybe. Steward said on bag per Platinum guest, he would replace when he did tyhe room for the next cruise. Told him we were both Platinum.....gave us a bag, but tried nicely to get out of it. Ended up we didn't need it but was very surprised it is limited now. I guess we should be glad it isn't one bag per cabin like the little treat we get in the evening. Two Platinum guests, one treat. And yes we got the little backpacks. Oh, also the casino card was a buy one get one now, Before was a free one per Platinum guest. Happy cruising! Kat

When you say the casino card was a buy one get one are you talking about the free entry into the slot tournament is not free anymore?

Sounds like they are definitely getting rid of the benefits before putting anything new into place.

We always send in white clothes one day and color clothes the next...One cruise on the Dream they told us one bag per person but my room steward said he would take whatever we needed..I usually tip him $5 for handling my laundry...Never heard of the buy one/ get one tournament card and just off the Magic back in Jan.....Dennis

I hear they wash all the clothes in HOT water. Does anyone know if that is true?

UpstateCruizer

I'd imagine for sanitation reasons this is probably true. We sent clothes out several times during our last cruise (Freedom Oct 2011). I too sent them out with light clothes one day and darks the next. We had no issues with shrinkage and everything came out great!

I plan to fully utilize the laundry perk on our 15 day Hawaii cruise next month. There's no way I'm packing 15 days worth of clothing. The only downfall to the free laundry service is that all of my everyday cruise clothing is still packed from our last cruise since it was all clean :eek:

Chigirlcruzin

Yes, it is true. It's why I don't use the benefit. The only things I put in the dryer at home are my sheets, towels, and gym socks. Everything else gets washed in cold and hung up to dry. Or it goes to the dry cleaners.

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Resort day pass for cruisers: Why I still love the idea despite the rain wrecking my first experience

Editor's Note

It was only after I had settled into my cabana at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau, a signature margarita in hand, that I realized I had made a terrible mistake.

It had started out as a lovely day. Sunny and warm. But glancing up through the cabana's slatted wood roof, I spotted something I hadn't considered a possibility when planning the day: storm clouds approaching.

Menacingly dark storm clouds.

The sort of storm clouds that can ruin a beach day in an instant.

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It was at that moment, just minutes after arriving, that I knew: I wouldn't be wasting away again in Margaritaville for the day as I had thought. My grand plans for a fun-filled resort day in the midst of a seven-night cruise were about to be washed out.

And, to steal another line from the Jimmy Buffett song, it was my own damn fault.

When I booked the cabana weeks earlier through ResortPass , at a cost of $324, including fees, I had noted with approval the fine print that said I could cancel for a full refund up until the night before arrival. That's an unusually generous cancellation policy.

If I had just checked the weather forecast the night before, I could have canceled the booking and made other plans. But I didn't, so I didn't see that a monster storm was on the way.

Now all my $324 payment was going to get me and a traveling companion was a good soaking.

Within minutes, the tempest began. My companion and I, as well as everyone else on the beach and around the pool fronting the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau, scrambled for shelter inside the resort's main building.

I can't blame ResortPass, an 8-year-old company that an increasing number of cruisers are using to arrange day visits to beach resorts during cruises.

As I'll explain below, ResortPass gets high marks in my book for its offerings. For a cruiser, it's a useful, if still relatively unknown, tool to arrange a fun day at a beach, pool or water park during a sailing.

The blame for what turned out to be a disastrous day was all on me.

That said, my epic fail, which came as part of an assignment to test ResortPass' value to cruisers (it actually was The Points Guy footing the $324 bill, not me), did point out an important caveat to consider when using ResortPass or another day pass service when cruising: The weather could easily ruin your plans.

You'll want to keep an eye on the weather as the day (and cancellation deadline) for your outing approaches.

It wasn't the only caveat I saw to such bookings (more on that below).

The good news is that after being thoroughly drenched (and spending more than an hour hiding from the storm in a hallway), I was able to salvage part of the day at the resort's small water park. The rains eventually let up. The sun returned. And that gave me a chance to get a good sense of the value that ResortPass offered.

Here's everything I experienced from start to finish during my test of using ResortPass to book a day visit to a resort during a cruise. I conducted the test anonymously — ResortPass wasn't alerted — during a Royal Caribbean cruise from New York to the Bahamas.

The booking process

Booking a resort day pass with ResortPass was a breeze. I simply went to the site's cleanly designed main page, typed in the destination where I wanted one (Nassau in the Bahamas) and marked a date on a calendar. With a single click, I was shown an easily sortable array of resorts and hotels in the area with day passes available.

From there, with just a few more clicks, I locked in a day pass at one of them.

Picking from the list of available properties was the hardest part of the exercise. In all, there were five within a reasonable distance of the Nassau cruise port — an impressive number:

• Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau
• British Colonial Hotel Nassau
• Baha Bay Waterpark at Baha Mar Resort
• Graycliff Hotel
• Courtyard by Marriott Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach

What stuck out to me right away was the variety of options at some of the locations. For two of them (the Baha Bay Waterpark and the Courtyard), only a day pass was available. But for the rest, there were additional choices — in some cases, a surprising number of choices. These included spa passes and specific spa treatments, cabana rentals, day room rentals and — at one of the properties — even winemaking and cigar-rolling classes.

The wide variety of options was a pleasant surprise and sent me down a rabbit hole of clicking on the individual pages for each of the options on the site to learn more.

It was one of these additional options — a beachside cabana in addition to a day pass at the Margaritaville Beach Resort — that finally ensnared me (more on this in a moment), and I quickly booked it.

It was a simple process to enter my credit card on the checkout page to complete the booking.

In general, the day pass costs were quite reasonable. For me, and surely for many other cruisers, this is probably the biggest argument for using the ResortPass site instead of booking a beach or pool excursion through a cruise line.

The day passes for Nassau hotels on offer at the site ranged from $70 per adult for the British Colonial Hotel Nassau to $146 per adult for the Baha Mar Resort — the latter notably higher than the others as it included access to the resort's massive water park.

In all cases, there were lower rates for children, typically half the cost of the adult price.

In most cases, the pricing was significantly less than the cost for a beach excursion in the Nassau area offered through Royal Caribbean, which operated the ship that took me to Nassau. Royal Caribbean's Pearl Island Beach Escape, which included just four hours at a private beach in the Nassau area, cost $139 per adult ($89 for children ages 4 to 12). Another Royal Caribbean-sold beach break at the Nassau area's Blue Lagoon Island cost $104 for adults ($74 for children ages 4 to 12).

Even the priciest ResortPass option, the pass to the Baha Mar Resort's water park, was notably less than a similar pass to the Nassau area's Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark offered by Royal Caribbean ($219 for adults; $114 for children ages 4 to 12).

Why I picked what I did

As noted above, the hardest part of using ResortPass to book a day pass was choosing among the available properties. With all the options available, it took some time.

I was able to rule out one of the choices quickly: the Courtyard by Marriott Nassau Downtown. I had stayed there once before boarding a ship in Nassau, and I wasn't impressed. It's a dowdy property with a sorry-looking pool area.

Looking over the others, I also soon ruled out the Graycliff Hotel, which wasn't along a beach. I was looking for a beach experience.

The Baha Bay Waterpark at Baha Mar Resort, with a wave pool, 1,400-foot lazy river and 24 waterslides, looked amazing. But it also was pricey, and I made an assumption that it would be packed with kids — something a quick look at online reviews confirmed. I was looking for more of an adult experience.

That left the Margaritaville Beach Resort and the British Colonial Hotel. The two properties are side-by-side in the same beach area. Both are so close to where ships dock in Nassau that you can walk to them. You see them as you sail in.

In the end, it was the availability of a cabana at the Margaritaville resort that tipped the balance. At $273 for two before fees, it was just $73 more than two day passes to the resort (the latter priced at $100 a piece). That seemed like a great deal for what was clearly a major upgrade.

Compared to the beach and pool cabanas that cruise lines sell to passengers during sailings, it was a steal.

Royal Caribbean, by contrast, was charging $1,199 to $1,399 for cabanas at the Hideaway Beach area of its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay , for a visit scheduled the very next day. The Royal Caribbean cabanas were more elegant than what I would get at the Margaritaville resort, for sure. They also came with more amenities and access for up to eight people. But, still, that's an incredible price differential. If I was going to get a cabana experience on this trip, the value option was obvious.

The Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau it would be.

The experience

Getting poured on aside, my day pass experience at the Margaritaville resort went smoothly.

Going into it, I was worried about how the handoff would work between ResortPass and the Margaritaville resort. Would they have my cabana booking on file when I arrived? Would it be a hassle to check in? But such worries were unfounded. It was easy-peasy.

Upon arrival, I told the first employee I saw, a porter at the front door, that I had booked a day pass for the resort, and he pointed me to a check-in window a few steps away. From that point, it was just a handful of minutes until I was lounging in my cabana. The attendant at the check-in window had my name on file, and he quickly ushered me and my companion into the resort's pool and beach area. A pool attendant gave us the choice of a cabana around the pool or along the beach. We picked the beach.

A few minutes later, another attendant stopped by to take our food and drink orders.

As promised on the ResortPass site when we made the booking, the attendant said she would bring us two bottles of water, two sodas and snacks at no charge as part of the cabana rental. Anything above that would be extra.

This being Margaritaville, we promptly ordered two margaritas, which were priced at $14 apiece.

It was soon after the drinks and snacks arrived that we saw the storm clouds in the distance. We then noticed the beach area starting to clear out — not a good sign. What did everyone else know that we didn't?

Just to confirm that things were about to get bad, we also got an unexpectedly quick return visit from the attendant, who said she needed to close out our tab early "because of the coming storm." She might not get another chance to see us, she said, implying that our day at the beach was about to come to an end less than an hour after it began.

It was around then that I remembered the ResortPass cancellation policy. What a dope I had been to not check the weather. That said, I didn't have long to dwell on it. I was soon getting soaked.

For the next hour or so, my companion and I took refuge inside the Margaritaville resort — first in a not-in-use restaurant and then, when a cleaner kicked us out of the restaurant so she could clean, a cluster of chairs in a hallway.

We ate one of the free snacks we had brought with us from our cabana, a bag of Doritos, and watched the rain pour down in sheets. It was truly epic.

All the while, we watched the clock. Our time at the resort was quickly running out.

One major caveat to using ResortPass to book a day pass at a resort during a cruise is that the hours that the day passes are valid don't always align with the hours ships are in port.

In our case, our ship — Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas — docked in Nassau in the afternoon, with the gangway to get off the vessel opening at 1:30 p.m. All aboard time was 7:30 p.m.

The cabana rental sold by ResortPass was for the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Factor in the 20 minutes or so it would take us to walk from the ship to the resort, and that meant that even in the best of circumstances, we would have had about four hours at the cabana.

We knew this going in, of course. But we hadn't factored in the storm. In the end, we only spent about 45 minutes in the cabana. While the storm eventually passed, the cabana was too soaked afterward to enjoy.

I did spend some time after the rain floating in the resort's lazy river and taking a nice walk on the beach, but it was less time than I had expected.

The resort itself was essentially as it looked in the pictures on the site. It wasn't a high-end resort. Its beach area was modest in size and didn't feel particularly private or luxurious. The margaritas? I've had better. But the water was warm, and the sand inviting.

If I'd had kids with me, they would have loved the resort's waterslides and lazy river, which were open to day pass holders.

Our cabana was fine for what it was — a sheet-covered day bed with four posts at its corners, a slatted wood roof and fabric curtains that could be closed around it for privacy. But its location in a high-traffic area just steps from the beach attendant hut, with other beachgoers in lounge chairs all around and a giant beach buggy partially blocking the view of the ocean, wasn't all that inviting.

While it hadn't cost much more to book the cabana instead of booking two day passes (which would have gotten us access to lounge chairs by the beach or pool), I didn't think the cabana was worth the upgrade cost — even for a day with perfect weather.

Bottom line

ResortPass is a solid option for cruisers looking to book a day at a beach, pool or water park during a voyage. As I saw during my test, its site is easy to navigate and lists a wide range of resorts and hotels with day passes available — at least in top cruise destinations such as Nassau in the Bahamas. Its pricing is reasonable, and it has a generous cancellation policy.

The latter could come in handy if, unlike me, you remember to check the weather before your resort day to be sure it's still going to be a good day to do it. It'll also save the day if your ship has to change its itinerary at the last minute, as sometimes happens. In that case, you will be able to cancel your resort day pass without penalty.

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‘A Quiet Place: Day One' Review: Lupito Nyong'o Stands Out In A Melancholy Action-Horror Prequel

Perhaps emboldened by the critical success of the Long, Long Time episode of HBO's The Last of Us , production company Platinum Dunes takes the third episode in its post-apocalyptic A Quiet Place franchise into surprisingly melancholy territory. It's an interesting alternative to the usual more-is-more approach that James Cameron patented with the first of the Alien sequels, and Lupito Nyong'o has a spiky but vulnerable presence that definitely makes a change from the now-clichéd kick-ass heroine. As an action-horror hybrid, however, Day One feels more like an ambitious indie than a summer studio movie, and its downbeat tone leaves an unexpectedly glum comedown.

The establishing setup introduces us to Sam (Nyong'o), a terminal patient in a suburban New York hospice. Her mood is one of bitterness and grim defiance as she is compelled to take part in group therapy, reading an unfinished self-penned poem that declares "This place is sh*t" and goes on to the explain some of the many reasons why that should be, most notably because that "cancer is sh*t". The group leader, Reuben (Alex Wolff), tries to encourage her - "That was great," he enthuses, somewhat unconvincingly - and invites her on a theater trip to Manhattan. Sam accepts, but only if they'll stop for pizza after.

The entertainment turns out to be a lo-fi puppet show, which Sam suffers in silence with her service cat Frodo sitting in her lap. Afterwards, any pizza plans are scuppered when the sound of police sirens fills the air and the skyline becomes a blitz of vapor trails. Recalling the aftermath of 9/11, smoke and ash obscure Sam's - and our - vision, conjuring up an eerie, disorientating mood as the now-familiar hordes of insectoid creatures make their entrance, destroying cars and buildings and snatching up screaming humans.

Finally, an explosion knocks Sam out, and she wakes up back in the theater, where she is reunited with Reuben and, amazingly, Frodo. Somehow, enough time has passed for everyone to know the rules of engagement: the aliens are drawn to sound, and the shift of location to urban Manhattan (where we're told the average volume is 90 decibels, the equivalent of "a constant scream") makes for an interesting comparison with the previous sequels. At the theater, Sam learns of a plan to ferry survivors to safety, since the aliens are unable to cross water, and all bridges to the island have been destroyed.

But instead of joining them, Sam heads in the opposite direction, up towards Harlem, ostensibly to find a pizza joint but in reality to reconnect with her childhood and the memories of her father that are rooted there. Along the way, she meets Eric (Joseph Quinn), an English law student who simply manifests himself into the movie - emerging, ghost-like, from a waterlogged subway entrance - and becomes Sam's travel companion, despite her best efforts to shake him off. Like Sam, Eric is hardly the archetype for this type of movie, and such an offbeat pairing, on a such oddly fatalistic mission, tends to work against the tension created whenever Day One erupts into action mode.

Director Michael Sarnoski made his name with the 2021 Nicolas Cage movie Pig , and it's easy to see his signature here, both metaphorically, in Sam's monomaniacal obsession with pizza, and literally, in Frodo the cat (which, spoiler alert, has better luck than most of its co-stars). As in Pig , the hero's journey is one of introspection, which is admirable enough but very much makes Day One a film that toggles between two very different modes and moods.

For the squeamish, the sound design may well be enough - a creepy chattering sound heralds the creatures’ spidery presence - but, as is the norm in monster movies, we end up seeing a little too much of them at close quarters. In one memorable scene, Eric comes face to face with one and narrowly escapes a vicious chomping, but a good jump scare is held a little too long, offering audiences a chance to marvel at the special effects work and giving nightmare fuel for anyone scared of globe artichokes and colonoscopies.

Given that, the focus on character is a smart move, since the novelty value of A Quiet Place is going to be hard to maintain going forward, and the generous use of score suggests even the makers don't have a lot of faith in the power of silence any more. It delivers enough frights for the time being, though, and the casting of Nyong'o carries it to the finish line for the best scene of the whole movie. In that respect, Day One may feasibly do what Jordan Peele's Us so unfairly didn't, and if it does carry her through to awards season, it will finally prove that the old saw about genre movies and the Academy is finally a thing of the past.

Title: A Quiet Place: Day One

Director/screenwriter: Michael Sarnoski

Cast: Lupito Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff

Studio: Paramount

Rating:  PG-13

Running time:  1 hr 39 min

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New travel deals for Amazon Prime members on cruises, rental cars, flights and more

These savings on travel come in time for any last-minute summer vacations.

Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching, and beyond viral beauty products or hot new kitchenware, the e-commerce giant is introducing savings on travel just in time for any last-minute summer vacations.

Amazon partnered with various travel companies, including Southwest Airlines, Viator, Turo, Carnival, and others, to give Prime members early access to price cuts on travel packages, car rentals, and cruises.

In a similar move last summer fellow retail competitor Walmart partnered with Expedia to give Walmart+ members the ability to earn Walmart Cash by booking vacations.

"These travel deals are sort of an extra that they can offer their members," RetailMeNot editor Kristin McGrath told ABC News. "There are plenty of ways you can save and get discounts. These membership programs can just make it a little bit easier."

Amazon Prime travel deals and discounts for Prime Day

Save 10% on Viator travel experiences Save up to 30% off Avis car rentals and earn 10% back Up to 15% Sixt car rentals Book a Carnival Cruise for to 40% off Southwest Airlines get 50% off Rapids Rewards points

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Walmart+ travel deals.

The company offers discounts on fuel and travel, plus up to 20% back in Walmart Cash for booking through their portal during Walmart+ week.

Costco travel discounts and deals

The warehouse retailer's travel arm offers everyday savings on top-quality, brand-name vacations, hotels, cruises, and rental cars, exclusively for Costco members.

Teresita Nino has used Costco to book vacation packages and told ABC News how she saved on international deals.

"My last trip that we booked was to Saint Lucia and we ended up booking the airfare and the hotel -- I ended up saving about $700," Nino said of her experience using Costco. "Nine out of ten times is Costco Travel is always giving me a better deal overall than other travel companies."

Access to Costco's travel deals require a paid membership as an extra perk for customers.

"The travel savings are the cherry on top -- but it's not necessarily the most lucrative benefit," McGrath said. "In these membership programs, you have to take the value of membership as a whole rather than just joining to save on travel."

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