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shoreguy
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 03:18 am | 1st Post |
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It should be a crazy week with a huge "to do " list so I thought I would start this tonight.
The Jade to Norway and the North Cape
6/22/08
OK time for another live from thread. They get a little more difficult each time. It is interesting from a prolog perspective to look at how I got to this point with five days before I fly to London and head to Norway for the first time.
How did we end up on this cruise? December 2007 I was booked on the Gem for 10 days in February. I had looked at this cruise to Norway but the pricing was not attractive at all even with some folks I loved cruising with before already booked. Well as so many things in life stuff happens and work got in the way of the Gem cruise. I cut a deal with NCL after a couple of emails I gave up my booking on the Gem made in July 2006 at over $ 1400 pp less then the then current fare and I book this cruise for a couple of thousand more and they waive the penalty. So there I was at the end of December booked in an aft facing mini suite on the Jade. Buy the way my aft facing mini on the Gem was gone in 2 hours after I cancelled. It worked out for both me and NCL.
Things got better every month as many of the same folks I did the crossing on the Gem booked this cruise. The pricing got better every couple of months with the final price drop was the day final was due. In total the cost of the cabin dropped a total of $1800. Not bad. I watched the pricing on the penthouses every day and they never really dropped. Since I was traveling with my adult son the only options above a mini were an AB or A3. All the ABs were gone when I booked. I just could not justify $7000 pp for a A3 Courtyard Villa as wonderful as that space is.
The down side several of the folks I was looking forward to cruising with had to cancel for health reason or health reasons of family members. I will truly miss Calmac and her Scottish clan on this cruise. If you get a chance to cruise with them Hilary, Stuart, and their remarkable son Callum jump on it.
So air is booked, cabin paid for, transfers figured out and it was time to wait for the cruise. 1:39 pm on Friday the 13th my luck changed for the positive. Working from my home office that day terrified to travel I got the surprise email from the “upsell fairy”. Her formal title is Business Enhancement Consultant. For far less then the $1800 I had already saved I could move to an A3 Courtyard Villa, Considering it would have cost me $8500 more to book it I was on the phone at 1:40 pm. I had to put her on hold to go find my wallet but I was not letting this get away. 2:17 pm I had a new invoice via email and was booked into heaven on an NCL ship to the midnight sun.
So as it stands today I fly to London on Friday night, I have my train tickets from Gatwick to Southampton for Saturday morning, and my reservations at the Jurys Inn for that night. I plan to board the Jade at 11 am on the Sunday for 12 days of pure joy.
A couple of emails this week and dinner at Cagney’s the first night booked for 12, group dinners of 20+ booked for July 4th in Teppanyaki and a farewell dinner in Papa’s July 10th booked as well. Tours booked for most ports including kayaking in a fjord
At some point I have to think about packing and getting the house ready to be gone for 2 weeks. One thing for sure work will not get in the way of this adventure.
Stay tuned
____________________
“I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead.” Jimmy Buffett
NCL Jade,Gem,Pearl,Jewel,Dawn,Sun Pics
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimalaska
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ute_fan
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 05:21 am | 2nd Post |
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| Have a wonderful cruise! I always look forward to your "live" updates. Also, thanks again for the information on New York. I'm glad I caught you before you sailed!
____________________
NCL Sea -- 1/2004 and 5/2005
NCL Sun -- 6/2004
NCL Jewel -- 11/2006
NCL Pearl -- 5/2007
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Kirdo
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 06:00 am | 3rd Post |
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Looking forward to a good read! Bon Voyage
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insidecabin
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Wed Sep 12th, 2007 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 09:51 am | 4th Post |
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We are in for another good one calmac clan will be missed and we will not forget they started us on this great adventure.
Our voyage here is a bit different,
It began last Oct with the Gen inaugural a few days away and the Gem Dec TA to look forward to. The Jade 14n cruises to the med went down to $999 a bargain and we were tempted, but we just getting fed up of the med and wanted something different, it was a missprice, £price in $ and it got noticed so the price went up we forgot about it.
Went on the Gem, some of the old group from the Pearl were on and it was a fantastic trip the seeds of an Idea were forming the calmacs were booked on the Jade North Cape, been on the list as a todo for some time but this cruise is traditionaly expensive and NCL new this, we were looking for a special cruise(we had 4 events in 2008) and this could be it no flying so the parent could come parents and this could be for them also no flying,.
So the seeds were sown, we put this on the watch list, for health reasons and price it was going to be awaiting game, we set our target at an AB 4 share. Prices did not move on that AB, more of the fantastic group has signed up so this was becoming a must do, Dec TA come and went and we had more reminders of how good it is to travel with this team.
The inside went to $999 everything else more than double still no movement on those AB but for this cruise a bacony is a must so we pass the great deal on the inside, still plenty of availability so hang on in there, March a great deal comes up on Celebrity a CC cabin at a good price for April so we book it with the parent and are ready to go.
A week before this Celebrity cruise the prices had moved(not on that AB though) a few days before final and as we know some had to cancel so the Aft Af's opened up, these were cheapest cabin with a window that was the trigger, BOOKED 2 aft af's one each.
The waiting was over were going on a cruise and had another booked 8 weeks later just the way it should be.
Carry on with life and nothing really happens with this cruise, suites are overpriced so not selling well the ABs dry up, then the last of the AE goes all very dull till FRIDAY 13, all the villas disapear and an aft AF and then another are back in inventory its the upsell fairy emailed the cabins either side of me and they have moved, where is my eamil no where to be seen, thats life great news for shoreguy back in the courtyard that he made home on the TA.
Roll on a week, Friday pleasant evening a bit tired so head to bed some time after 11:00pm(UK time) think must check the email, nothing in the inboxes, lets just clear out the spam folder
NCL SPECIAL OFFER
This Message Is High Priority No S**t tell me something I don't know
AF->AE/AD/AC for a very special price thats what I want to hear.
Now this had arrived at 22:50(17:50 eastern) and it was now 11:30 just my luck to miss the most important email this year watching some Friday night trash TV and a spam trap.
Grab the phone(international long distance this needs urgent attention) and pull up the booking engine, get through and start to talk, booking engine shows 2 AD on deck 10 and 2 ACs email says 6 cabins gon't see the other 2. Discuss all the options including some not in the email and finaly settle on 2 AD's for us and the parents, cut a deal and at 00:21 the invoice email arrives SORTED.
I had hoped to keep this a secret form my parent but NCL has to send them an invoice email so Sat afternoon I spilled the beans I had upgraded them to a Suite as a gift for being great parents for nearly 50 years(bargain).
So there we have it
We are now in probably the best cabins(for this trip) to what some say is the most picturesque cruise destination in the world, we are traveling with my parents for there postponed 50th wedding anniversary cruise and cruising friends from around the world.
Can it get any better..............
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goldmom
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 11:02 am | 5th Post |
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Shoreguy and Insidecabin- have a wonderful trip. Look forward to hearing all about it!
Sharon
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 11:40 am | 6th Post |
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I'm all ready for this adventure. I've got me mouse all cleaned out so it glides across the pad smoothly and I have snacks to eat while I sit and read what will be a great two week blog.
Enjoy the cruise.
____________________
Next up:
Norwegian Spirit 07/08
Grand Pricess TA 04/09
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BAMA X 2
Teeny Bopper
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 11:42 am | 7th Post |
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Come on Shoreguy! Quit screwing around and get this thing started!:popcorn:
Do you think you are on vacation or something??
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ADM-007
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Cruisin Lawdog
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 12:07 pm | 8th Post |
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Ya'll have a good trip,Jim. I'm jealous. Wish Cruisin' Nana and I were going too. Looking forward to reading about it.
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Calmac
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 01:19 pm | 9th Post |
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"Insidecabin" is beginning to sound VERY outdated!! Have a great trip!
____________________
Future Cruises:-
Considering our options for 2009
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BeckyThane
Super Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 01:28 pm | 10th Post |
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Calmac wrote: "Insidecabin" is beginning to sound VERY outdated!! Have a great trip!
LOL I was betting Nina they'd have a balcony on their next cruise! 
Y'all have a ~great~ time!!! 
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KerCar
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 01:50 pm | 11th Post |
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Best wishes for an AMAZING adventure
Have a GREAT cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
____________________
Kerry
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insidecabin
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 03:42 pm | 12th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: Calmac wrote: "Insidecabin" is beginning to sound VERY outdated!! Have a great trip!
LOL I was betting Nina they'd have a balcony on their next cruise!
Y'all have a ~great~ time!!!
addictive these fancy cabins,
This is to spoil Nina for her birthday, not for me you know.
This is one trip was always one that needed the views or if you want to sleep an inside.
Next stop a GV.
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BeckyThane
Super Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 03:57 pm | 13th Post |
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insidecabin wrote: BeckyThane wrote: Calmac wrote: "Insidecabin" is beginning to sound VERY outdated!! Have a great trip!
LOL I was betting Nina they'd have a balcony on their next cruise!
Y'all have a ~great~ time!!!
addictive these fancy cabins,
This is to spoil Nina for her birthday, not for me you know.
This is one trip was always one that needed the views or if you want to sleep an inside.
Next stop a GV.
 Riiiiiiiiight.
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dwrist
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 04:02 pm | 14th Post |
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Jim, Phil, Nina, Erna, Jorge, Petra...
Sailing away into the land of the midnight sun.
I know all of you will enjoy the cruise and the fun. Take many pictures, make more memories and Phil, I hope your parents enjoy the AD gift.
____________________
Sharon
Maverick--a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.
A ship in port is safe, but that is not why ships are built.
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MrPete
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 04:02 pm | 15th Post |
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I'm in!
Make sure you post lots o' pix!
I'm a closet "LIVE FROM" thread fan. OOPS> I guess I'm out. 
____________________
Copula eame se non posit acceptara jocularem
NEXT UP:
Explorer of the Seas 8.1.09
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insidecabin
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 04:30 pm | 16th Post |
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dwrist wrote:
I know all of you will enjoy the cruise and the fun. Take many pictures, make more memories and Phil, I hope your parents enjoy the AD gift.
I am sure they will but hopefully not to much and want to make it a habit.
That would put a serious dent in the Inheritance.
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cruisingfromMN
Frequent Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 07:05 pm | 17th Post |
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Can't wait to read about your adventures. Have a wonderful time!!!!! 
____________________
NCL:
Dream: Caribbean 1997
Majesty: Caribbean 1999
Star: Hawaii 2002
Star: Hawaii 2004
Spirit: Caribbean 2005
Star: Alaska 2005
Star: Mexican Riviera 2006
Jewel: Mediterranean 2006
Star: Mexican Riviera 2007
Sky: August 2008 back to back
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 07:40 pm | 18th Post |
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| Safe travels everyone. We'll be looking forward to your reports.
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Rich, ACC
Carefree Vacations
http://www.carefree-vacations.net
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seawitches
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 08:35 pm | 19th Post |
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| Bon Voyage Jim, I am so envious... Enjoy.
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~ I am an educated woman...but..."why am I so freaked about this". freaked and fascinated"~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S45OJnQp6mI
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jimswims
Frequent Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 10:07 pm | 20th Post |
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| Have a great cruise. I look forward to reading all about your adventures.
____________________
Jim
8/7/09 NCL Spirit, Boston to Bermuda
Previous cruises NCL: 6; RCCL: 4; Carnival: 2; Cunard:1.
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 10:44 pm | 21st Post |
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BAMA X 2 wrote: Come on Shoreguy! Quit screwing around and get this thing started!:popcorn:
Do you think you are on vacation or something??
X 2
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ADM-007
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Carey and Kerry
Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 11:25 pm | 22nd Post |
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| Safe travels to all & have a great time, can't wait to hear more!!!!!
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Carey
All she needs is a tin cup!!
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QuickieGlenn
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 11:30 pm | 23rd Post |
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Shoreguy...have a blast
Just say YA YA you will fit right in
The fjords are something to see
Take lots of pics
____________________
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
RCL Song OF Norway 1991
NCL Dawn 2006
NCL GEM Feb 2008
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MrPete
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Posted: Tue Jun 24th, 2008 12:24 am | 24th Post |
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BAMA X 2 wrote: BAMA X 2 wrote: Come on Shoreguy! Quit screwing around and get this thing started!:popcorn:
Do you think you are on vacation or something??
X 2
Are you really allowed to X 2 your own posts?
____________________
Copula eame se non posit acceptara jocularem
NEXT UP:
Explorer of the Seas 8.1.09
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maryfrei
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Posted: Tue Jun 24th, 2008 12:27 am | 25th Post |
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Can't wait for the blog, hope this is your best cruise ever!
____________________
Mary
Norwegian Gem - April 11, 2009 - 10668
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