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Most international areas in Europe have very inexpensive rates (~$400-$600 / month) for renting furnished flats, often in small towns within easy train distance to larger city. Look for lodging resources for international students, sonce most Euro Universities do not have dorms, so students use rental flats.
Many nice towns near Amsterdam. great public transportation (With bicycles for rent at each station). Be very careful for the busy Bike Lane while crossing streets! https://amsterdamwonderland.com/how-...-in-amsterdam/
HOW TO CROSS THE ROAD IN AMSTERDAM AND MORE (YES REALLY, READ THIS!)
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO by AMSTERDAMWONDERLAND AUGUST 23, 2023
Enjoy your trip (Take sea bands and some patches if susceptible to motion sickness). The ships are quite stable, but do sway a bit in open water. Spouse uses 1/2 patch for a few days. 1/2 = Keeps from being sleepy / lathargic.
That sounds like a fun affordable way to travel. Private hospitality homes.
Oh yes I will have seasickness remedies in my luggage.
I do have one concern and that is with laundry on the ship. I just assumed I could get a bag of laundry washed on a 14 day cruise. Not the case with Norwegian. Only those with elite status get a bag of laundry service. I guess my balcony cabin must be in steerage class. Everything for me is by piece. $9 pants, $6 shirt, $2 underware. Rather outrageous. What do you do? I will be gone 17 days total and didn't plan on washing in sinks, and drying in the ships bathroom. I do want some clean fresh clothes though. I guess I will just have to pay that ripoff laundry charge.
I do have one concern and that is with laundry on the ship. I just assumed I could get a bag of laundry washed on a 14 day cruise. Not the case with Norwegian. Only those with elite status get a bag of laundry service. I guess my balcony cabin must be in steerage class. Everything for me is by piece. $9 pants, $6 shirt, $2 underware. Rather outrageous. What do you do? I will be gone 17 days total and didn't plan on washing in sinks, and drying in the ships bathroom. I do want some clean fresh clothes though. I guess I will just have to pay that ripoff laundry charge.
On Princess, there is a self laundry on all ships, generally one laundry per deck.
On Holland America, you pay $25 for one bag that you can completely fill. I have to say that I have NEVER seen laundry folded so perfectly. You do have to itemize all of your laundry before sending it out.
The dry cleaning prices on Holland America is about 30-40% cheaper than my local dry cleaners. Therefore, it is better to have my dry cleaning done on board than taking it home.
On Princess, there is a self laundry on all ships, generally one laundry per deck.
On Holland America, you pay $25 for one bag that you can completely fill. I have to say that I have NEVER seen laundry folded so perfectly. You do have to itemize all of your laundry before sending it out.
The dry cleaning prices on Holland America is about 30-40% cheaper than my local dry cleaners. Therefore, it is better to have my dry cleaning done on board than taking it home.
That's how it should be on a cruise, especially a long one overseas. I was somewhat annoyed, when Norwegian told me how it is on their ships.
A couple of ways we've managed this - and we ONLY bring carry on.
Yes, we hand wash in the sink. Amazon sells lightweight laundry soap sheet and a lightweight clothesline you can stick on the walls (without damaging them).
Have a very long day in a port, or better yet, an overnight? Drop off your clothes at a laundry mat and I let them do it. (Research locations online before you leave.)
Bring dark clothes,. Rewear more often than you might at home. Pack old stuff that you can trash when it gets too dirty to wear (tshirts, underwear, nightgowns). You're on Norwegian - absolutely zero reason to bring formal clothes. Wanna 'dress up'? Bring one long sleeve collared dress shirt.
On 20+ cruises, We used onboard laundry exactly once. Cold weather cruise requiring heavier clothes. We found another passenger to take half of our fill the bag to the top deal.
PS roll your clothes when packing your suitcase - don't fold.
Yes, we hand wash in the sink. Amazon sells lightweight laundry soap sheet and a lightweight clothesline you can stick on the walls (without damaging them).
Have a very long day in a port, or better yet, an overnight? Drop off your clothes at a laundry mat and I let them do it. (Research locations online before you leave.)
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We have tried to do the wash and hang on our Caribbean cruises. You would think that lightweight clothing would dry quickly. However, it takes 48 hours at a minimum. Every cruise cabin that I have had has a clothesline.
Looking for a laundromat, even ahead of time, is impractical when you have eight hour port stays.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Our lightweight 'travel specific' clothes, dry pretty well overnight. 24 hrs max (when in humid Asia with no AC / open air cabin). I bring a flexible wire to attach hangers to the vent grill (twisties will work on light clothes).
We have tried to do the wash and hang on our Caribbean cruises. You would think that lightweight clothing would dry quickly. However, it takes 48 hours at a minimum. Every cruise cabin that I have had has a clothesline.
I agree. We just don't consider that to be a problem. (I admit that when we visited the Osa Penninsula in Costa Rica, we tried hand washing and hanging up underwear. 4 days later, we packed it in our suitcase, still pretty damp.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlawrence01
Looking for a laundromat, even ahead of time, is impractical when you have eight hour port stays.
No, it's not. Been there, done that. Several times.
Do they sell detergent on these ships, or do I need to bring some? I doubt I will wash much in the sink. I will plan on a one time letting the ship do it, probably around the10th day of the cruise. It will be expensive but it's not like doing laundry on a ship comes up much in life.
I also decided since I live 200 miles from NYC. That I wasn't comfortable taking the bus down there from Massachusetts, on the day of the cruise.
If the bus broke on the trip to NYC, and caused me to miss the ship. I would be beyond upset. I thought it would be better and more relaxing to go early and get a hotel room. I booked all that today. Thanks everyone for all the advice and info. I will probably have more questions before this cruise.
I do have one concern and that is with laundry on the ship. I just assumed I could get a bag of laundry washed on a 14 day cruise. Not the case with Norwegian. Only those with elite status get a bag of laundry service. I guess my balcony cabin must be in steerage class. Everything for me is by piece. $9 pants, $6 shirt, $2 underware. Rather outrageous. What do you do? I will be gone 17 days total and didn't plan on washing in sinks, and drying in the ships bathroom. I do want some clean fresh clothes though. I guess I will just have to pay that ripoff laundry charge.
That's not true. There will be at least one mid-cruise laundry special where you'll be able to have a bag of laundry done for a set price, which I believe is currently $29. Cruise Critic is a good place to get these types of questions answered. Here are a couple of recent laundry threads from the NCL board there.
That's not true. There will be at least one mid-cruise laundry special where you'll be able to have a bag of laundry done for a set price, which I believe is currently $29. Cruise Critic is a good place to get these types of questions answered. Here are a couple of recent laundry threads from the NCL board there.
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