. . . did NOT get lost in the Bermuda Triangle!

We are all back with wobbly legs and big grins. If you missed out, I
think most folks will be posting photos to the AQ Event.

Pine Cone Adventures (Mark/Sue Pepe) did a fantastic job and I am so
very glad I joined them and met new folks and got lots of stamps planted
on board ship and a few previously planted on land. Don't miss any
future adventures. The more the merrier when it comes to cruising
PineCone Style.

There was some grumbling about Norwegian Cruise Line - Dawn which you
might want to consider for your next cruise and these have nothing to do
with Pepe:

1. Not all restaurants are free -- i.e. $10, $15, & $20 cover charges
will get you fancy service but not necessarily fancier food than you
could get in the Aqua or Venetian for $0.

2. In addition to alcoholic drinks sodas, juices, and bottle water is
an extra charge -- unless you order 8 glasses of juice with the morning
room service before 10AM. There was a juice dispenser for breakfast in
the buffet (Garden Cafe). But I like ice tea so I was ok.

3. The only really 24hr food was available at the Blue Lagoon -- which
probably only sat about 60 people of the 2000 on board. I think the
service there would have been better had it not been located along a
main passage way from midship to aft. Just too much commotion. And the
menu was very limited - although I liked the tomato basil soup and mild
buffalo wings.

4. Since the Wed Nite Hamilton street festival lasted until 10PM, NCL
should have had one of the buffet lines open for a late nite meal -
sandwiches or the like. Blue Lagoon was a mad house.

5. THINK TWICE about booking an excursion thru the Excursion Desk.
Several of us had booked for an 8PM Bermuda Triangle cruise (glass
bottom botton and free Dark 'n' Stormy) for Thur eve. After a busy day
on land we got back to the ship to find a note on our doors that it was
canceled due to lack of participation. Now the excursion desk has very
very limited hours so how was one suppose to learn about this
excursion?!?!? But more aggravating was that by Wed nite they should
have known about the limited participation and notified us by phone
message that it was likely to be canceled, would we like to do the 1PM
afternoon ride?? (which itself was almost canceled for lack of riders).
Those who went at 1PM had a great time!!! Turning green with envy. The
Excursion Desk could have turned this around with a small room credit --
so we could have gotten a Dark'n'Stormy on board or some postcards etc.
The excursion required 48 hr notice for me to cancel but jerked me
around with less than 3hrs notice!! True the excursion was really
conducted by Fantasea -- but NCL was handling all the reservations.

6. I wouldn't take a cruise that didn't have an interest group (like
letterboxing) because I went to one show in the theater and it was
bombarded with commercials. The Cruise Director was pushing spending
more money on board at every opportunity. I dreaded hearing his voice
over the loud speakers -- since I didn't have a mute button. Had it not
been for all the LBrs I would have been bored to death on board.

7. There had been some minor thefts -- door decorations/clues -- at
which security turned up their noses. Also during disembarking all the
luggage grouped by about 5 color codes is set out in large areas such
that finding your piece could be impossible or likely grabbed by someone
else rushing to catch a plane. Such that rather than putting our bags
outside the cabin the last nite (Sat) many of us chose to carry (wheel)
our own luggage off. Keep that in mind when packing. Bring only
wheeled luggage!!

8. But the finishing touch was when we left the ship at Deck 7 to cross
over to the pier, the gangway cover didn't quite meet the ship and they
were stupidly hosing down the upper decks so I thought it was raining -
instead we were being subjected to a drenching shower as we crossed over
-- had I slipped I would have sued for a million dollars (having only
come in second on the murder mystery contest).

All that said, you need to read all the fine print and search for cruise
reviews before you sign up. The Dawn as a ship was beautiful and I was
in awe of the size and decor. Also found it very clean and the cabin
staff very helpful. Which reminds me there is a $10/da/adult charge to
your account for tipping cabin, food, and matre 'de staff. I had no
objection to that but some folks were caught off guard.

Judy B
Fairfax VA
sewsowbizzy





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