The Soap Yard

JoelC · Senior Member

After a hiatus of several years, I'm going cruising again this summer!

meggie · Senior Member

Joel, that is quite an amazing ship! Wow, 4200 passengers. I do like the idea that they are catering solo passengers. From my experience, it's so expensive to try to cruise as a single. The supplement is nearly the same as paying for a couple. Sometimes, you just want to get away by yourself! I know you'll have a wonderful time.

btw, I believe a couple of your ships are going to be here for the Olympics housing security people. I'll have to take a trip to the harbour to check them out.

JoelC · Senior Member

We have 1 ship that will be acting as a hotel during the Olympics, the Norwegian Star. She will be docked in North YVR across from Stanley Park. I believe she arrives around Feb 9 and is there until March 2.

And yes, our Epic is going to be spectacular!

meggie · Senior Member

The cruise ship terminals are on the south side so I'm wondering where they are going to dock the Star. I googled it and the info mentioned using the SeaBus that runs across the harbour.

I'm glad to know the ship is being used as a hotel. Great digs for the games!

-- Edited by meggie on Friday 29th of January 2010 03:35:56 AM

-- Edited by meggie on Friday 29th of January 2010 03:36:29 AM

JoelC · Senior Member

meggie, here is an old article I found from your newspaper which describes a bit about the ship's stay in YVR and where she will be docked. Chartering a ship is a big money maker for cruiselines as you can see from the article.

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Floating+hotel+organizer+hopes+ride+surge+Olympic+bookings/1560098/story.html

meggie · Senior Member

Thanks, Joel. I didn't mean to hijack the thread about your vacation. Where are you going on your cruise? I didn't see the itinerary on the site.

Amanda · Senior Member

Sounds lovely, Joel! Would you believe I've never been on a cruise?

Well, actually, I did go on an Alaskan cruise, but since I was 4 at the time, I don't really remember anything.

JoelC · Senior Member

It goes to St Maarten, St Thomas, Nassau & 3 days at sea. And feel free to hijack anytime...I love talking about the business.

Amanda, I hope you get to cruise again someday.....its the most relaxing enjoyable vacation out there (well except for meeting Michael Park I'm sure! LOL)

-- Edited by JoelC on Friday 29th of January 2010 08:17:28 PM

KarenK · Guru

We went to St. Maarten on our honeymoon -- unbelievably blue water and gorgeous beaches! Mid-July should be ahead of hurricane season. Do people get very motion sick on those big ships? I never wanted to spend the money then throw up the whole time -- not much of a vacation! Maybe sometime I could try a very short cruise and see how it goes. Last time I took a Boston Harbor cruise there were small craft advisories out. I didn't throw up but it was rather scary being thrown around the boat. That ship looks IMMENSE, I would think that would make it more stable?

meggie · Senior Member

The big ship we were on in the Eastern Mediterranean was incredibly stable. There's no sense of motion at all. Mind you, the ship was the length of 3 NFL football fields!However, the smaller Pacific Princess, 600 passengers, that crossed to Hawaii was a bit 'rolly'. I'm a very good sailor but was looking for some ginger ale the second day out. Also, we were out in open water, not in the more sheltered waters that a lot of cruises do.

KK, you should come to Vancouver and stay on the ship. It's not moving!

KarenK · Guru

No thanks Meggie, I prefer accommodations on terra firma. I can feel rocking on a boat that's not moving. The New England Aquarium used to have a barge-like structure that housed the sea lion act and I could feel it sloshing around. I even got motion sickness in a NC house we rented because it was up on high stilts and there were gale force winds that made the house rock back and forth. Same with the high rise I worked in in Boston. It swayed so much in the wind, workers would get headaches and motion sickness. (the elevators used to bang against their shafts, it was that windy). I am REALLY sensitive to movement, so I don't imagine I could go on a cruise.

JoelC · Senior Member

meggie's right, the bigger the ship, the less likely you are to feel very much motion unless you are on a really high deck. It does, however, sound as if cruising may not be for you, KK, if you are that sensitive to motion. I will say, however, that an Alaksan cruise is something to consider, should you ever get brave enough to try it. The waters of the inside passage are normally very calm, its basically like cruising down a river. You are very rarely in open waters that are considered like the ocean and even then, its normally calm during the height of Alaska cruise season. And Alaska is absolutely beautiful.

KarenK · Guru

Joel, I would LOVE to go on an Alaskan cruise, so I'm happy to hear it's relatively calm. I went on a "Three Rivers" cruise in P-burgh and the only rocking was from the people polka'ing on the boat (we didn't realize it was polka night -- maybe it's always polka night in P-burgh). I would definitely consider that!

ruffles · Guru

Hi Joel!
What a grand opportunity for some R+R. They can all wait upon you for awhile. NICE! Will the staff know of your company affiliation or will you be incognito? Will you have a chance to check out and tour the behind-the-scenes operations? Do you want to?
ENJOY !!!

meggie · Senior Member

Joel, there was an article in the Vancouver Sun today about single cruising on the Norwegian Star. I liked that single passengers have access to a special common area designed as a social place place for those in the solo cabins. It should be a fun place.

JoelC · Senior Member

Ruff, to answer your questions:

No, no & no! LOL Actually the company is having an "event" of some sort for us on July 7, where we will at the very least get to tour the ship, so by the time July 17 comes along I will be familiar with it. As for "behind the scenes" tours, been there, done that on other cruises & this time around I just prefer being incognito.

karenkfc · Senior Member

Joel, my sister and her family went on their first cruise last month, on the Pearl. My brother in law is super super picky so we expected nothing but negative comments when they got back, but the entire family loved it. That's saying alot!

How many cruises have you taken? When we were on our cruise in November, there was a couple who were on their 262nd cruise with Royal Caribbean. I'm thinking that if you live somewhere that's close to a cruise port, it makes it a lot easier to hit those kinds of milestones. Wish it were a possibility for us!

JoelC · Senior Member

KFC, I'm so glad your sister & her family enjoyed the Pearl. She's a great ship & all our ships are really good for family cruising.

I've honestly lost count on how many I've been on, but I'd say somewhere in the 20's.

karenkfc · Senior Member

I love the look of this new ship, Joel! Now I'm all hot to try it!

It sounds incredible and I can't wait to hear your review!!

Sammie · Veteran Member

I would love to take a cruise ship to Alaska! I've never been on a cruise before and I don't know if I'd enjoy it since I'm not into shows or sunbathing. Alaska would be cool cause there would be all kinds of cool wildlife!

KarenK · Guru

Lee, that's why I'd like to go -- the wildlife would be so different from what we have here. That's why I love the Outer Banks -- LOVE the dolphins!!!!