Sunday, April 28, 2024

See photos from the annual White House correspondents dinner

color house

General Finishes is versatile and sophisticated enough to meet a wide range of water-based finishing needs, yet small enough to provide the kind of personalized service the larger manufacturers cannot. In 2000, they were recognized as a leading innovator in the development of water-based stains and finishes. Although not a big manufacturer by size, they have the deepest and broadest line of water based and oil based products in the country.

The Best Exterior House Paint Colors for Hot and Cold Climates

When working with an existing color palette, consider the undertones and color family already used within the facade. For example, this slightly cooler red, rather than one that leans orange, plays nicely with the cool undertones of the beige brick and siding. If your home is surrounded by a natural landscape, you can take one of two approaches to exterior paint color ideas.

Latex vs. Oil Paint: Which is Best for the Exterior of Your Home?

Red and blue can look elegant if you select deep, rich shades rather than vibrant ones. Take inspiration from the New York City building where designer Eliza Crater Harris resides. The ruby red brick exterior features a navy blue painted door, white windows, and a brownstone entry frame. The traditional combination can easily be replicated with red, navy blue, white, and brown paints.

Your Friendly Local Paint Shops in Rhode Island

“The best exterior colors are contextual to their environment,” Rill observes. The mass of your home determines the range of color choices for your exterior. For example, a very large house in a very dark color might look too imposing; a tiny house that's painted too light might seem to float away in the landscape. This midsize house is a good example of using a single midrange hue in a complementary way without being overpowering. To prevent the front door from getting lost, try painting or staining it in a warm, rich color. Just like black, gray has a bit of a dark feel to it, but it is also inviting.

A historic home with rich chocolate trim and wainscoting might not exactly jive with an icy cool paint on the walls. Just as yellows are warm and inviting, this peachy beige exterior house color is delightful. While red tends to be reserved for brick homes and adobes, even a wood or panel home would look delightfully warm and inviting with a red paint job. This shade of red isn't too bright and would look especially fantastic during the holiday season. A pale yellow home with white accents is sure to make all who enter, and even those who pass by, smile.

Sherwin-Williams Black Magic

They manufacture their own resins and use proprietary Gennex® colorants, which deliver superior performance and application properties in every product. Paired with their incomparable selection of authentic colors,their products are formulated to help you achieve beautiful, lasting results every time you paint. Hauser, who holds a degree in fashion merchandising and a certificate in interior design, inherited ownership of The Color House, the business started by her late father-in-law over 50 years ago. Hauser is committed to offering all Color House customers and contractors superior service, well trained and knowledgeable staff, and a large inventory of quality product. Our Cranston store serves the premium paint and home improvement needs of the local communities and contractors for commercial purposes.

In addition to the awnings, the saturated green tone is used on window shutters and the front door for a refreshing look that seamlessly blends in with the surrounding greenery. This modern white exterior features both horizontal and vertical panels for subtle contrast, and a sky-blue front door livens up the otherwise monochrome facade. Black window frames echo the clean lines of the home’s body, and a dark-stained wood pergola and porch continue the linear design. Bold, moody, and versatile, charcoal black will never go out of style.

color house

How One Couple Modernized Their 19th-Century Salem Home - The New York Times

How One Couple Modernized Their 19th-Century Salem Home.

Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This stunning Carmel Valley, California, home features its own oak trees, gardens, and views of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Previously owned by Doris Day, the exterior of this 8.62 acre property has a red-colored gatehouse—with bright white detailing—that is the very definition of charming. Lean in hard to the Barbiecore trend by opting for a bubblegum-pink house that refuses to go unnoticed. This all-pink house in France’s famed Grasse region is a masterclass in color commitment. Update your home’s exterior with these curb appeal-boosting color schemes. When it comes to premium paints and stains for your home, Benjamin Moore has set the standard for excellence.

19 Popular Exterior House Colors for Fall 2023 - Family Handyman

19 Popular Exterior House Colors for Fall 2023.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

When it comes to pastel shades, white is a successful accent color that adds contrast without being too jarring. A coat of black paint will give your home’s exterior a modern update. For a contemporary look, use the same paint color on the body and the trim, and pair the dark color with wood and stone accents to add textural details while maintaining a neutral color scheme. Classic white siding appears crisp and clean against these lush green surroundings.

color house

The gray siding on this home, for example, has strong blue undertones, which are highlighted by the turquoise front door and patio furniture. Modernize a classic exterior with a dark gray paint color, and instead of creating contrast with light accents, keep the trim details and front door equally moody. Here, a deep blue paint color complements the charcoal facade and arched brick wall, echoing their cool tones while highlighting the beautiful detail work on the front door. Earthy beige coats most of this home's facade, but a fire-engine red front door bucks the trend. If you're looking to quickly switch up your exterior color scheme, a new front door color is one of the easiest makeover ideas.

Here, aqua blue and mellow yellow keeps play off each other for a quaint effect. Our store, in Cranston, is located at 1107 Reservoir Ave. and serves as a hub for quality paint and home improvement solutions for residential and commercial needs. We happily welcome residents from communities like Providence, Johnston, Scituate, Warwick, and Seekonk. For those living in Providence with its architecture, our store offers inspiration and top-notch products to enhance your living spaces. If you’re in Scituate, where nature and rural beauty come together we have what you need to find high-quality finishes that blend seamlessly with the surroundings.

This house doesn't scream for attention, but it still looks like a place you'd want to visit and spend time in. Marie Proeller Hueston is the author of several books on home design decorating, including Country Living Farmhouses and Country Living Cottage Style. A fan of all things DIY and design, Ms. Hueston lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son, and daughter.

Contrasting black accents, like window frames, gutters, and a front door, highlight the modern architecture and the home’s linear features. Weathered wood planks draw attention to the front porch, bringing in a modern rustic element and warming up the two-tone color scheme. A soft white paint with gray undertones paired with white accents makes an excellent alternative to an allover white exterior.

Estimate My Home Value Real Estate House Worth Estimator from realtor com

house appraisal

See our current mortgage rates, low down payment options, and jumbo mortgage loans. Pennymac leverages a best-in-class AVM often used by mortgage lenders and other real estate professionals for forecasting, as well as initial loan estimates. The appraiser will visit the property and spend an hour or two inspecting the interior and exterior, measuring the square footage, and evaluating the home's features and fixtures. According to the Appraisal Institute, an association of professional real estate appraisers, a qualified appraiser should be licensed or certified—as required in all 50 states—and be familiar with the local area.

Buying Options

You may choose to invest in renovating your living space, which can increase how much a buyer is willing to pay for it. This includes the local school district, as well as your home’s proximity to employment, entertainment and natural resources. Because most lenders won’t issue a mortgage without one, an appraisal is usually a central part of the closing process.

California is building fewer homes. The state could get even more expensive

Apply online for expert recommendations with real interest rates and payments. Stay up to date on market changes and find out how much homes like yours have sold in the past year.

Reasons To Move to Irvine, CA, and Why You’ll Love Living Here

How to protest your Houston home's appraisal value and pay lower property taxes - Houston Chronicle

How to protest your Houston home's appraisal value and pay lower property taxes.

Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

You’ll want to look at homes that have sold in the last 3 to 6 months and are approximately the same size and have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Getting familiar with the comps in your area will also put you in a better position to challenge an appraisal in the event it comes in too low. Basically, the higher your home appraisal is, the smoother the home selling transition will be. Taking the time to understand how to prepare for a home appraisal is your best chance of maximizing your appraisal value ahead of the appraiser’s visit.

Poor curb appeal, neglected maintenance, cluttered rooms and outdated appliances can all negatively impact a property’s value. So too can its size, neighborhood and proximity to noisy areas such as airports and train stations. For example, if you bought a home for $300,000 two years ago and it’s now valued at $290,000, it will cut the equity you have in your home.

How much is a home appraisal and who pays for it?

Any use of Consumer AVM reports by End User shall be at End User's own risk, and End User hereby indemnifies and holds harmless Licensee and its licensors with respect thereto. Pennymac Correspondent Group specializes in the acquisition of newly originated U.S. residential home loans from independent mortgage bankers, banks and credit unions. Theoretically, a messy house shouldn't have the least effect on a home appraisal.

house appraisal

Unlike a home inspector, the appraiser isn’t looking for specific faults or issues. The appraiser will count the number of bedrooms, ensure the absence of any safety hazards and check the functionality of home systems. Gambino said the Glassell Park area where the home is located is popular among artists, musicians and actors. Horton said it’s easy to document, and recommends steps like taking pictures and providing closing documents from the sale of the home. “But there are also not that many view properties in Newport Beach of that size.

house appraisal

Record deals and tax-avoidance maneuvers: Southern California’s priciest sales of 2023

Everyone involved in the home sale has a different stake in the relative value of the home and, therefore, in the appraisal process. The cost of a home appraisal typically ranges from $300 to $500 but varies depending on the size and complexity of the property being sold, the type of mortgage loan the buyer is seeking, the location and other factors. Your real estate agent can put together a comparative market analysis that examines the local market and how your house measures up. These are definitely valuable tools, especially early on in the process. If you’re getting the appraisal as part of a loan refinance, you might still be able to refinance by offering to make up the difference. Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best mortgage lenders, advice on where to find the lowest mortgage or refinance rates, and other tips for buying and selling real estate.

Track the RealValueTM of your home with multiple estimates

Based on the information you have provided, you are eligible to continue your home loan process online with Rocket Mortgage. "This is definitely the exact kind of house where you would dream," Gambino said in an interview with USA TODAY. "It's a very special house where people immediately get, you know, emotionally connected when they're there." Designed by LA architect William King and built in 1982, the listing comes with several gathering spaces in and around the home, with charming gardens, a wraparound deck and a garage that could be used as studio space. If no informal agreement can be reached, you can appeal to the Appraisal Review Board for judgement.

Their primary focus is to determine whether a home is in a livable condition. If the house is deemed unsafe, its appraisal value could be much lower than expected. Getting an appraisal can be nerve-wracking, especially if you aren’t sure of the factors that are involved. Let’s take a look at what appraisals are, how they work and how much you can expect one to cost.

The report is usually sent to the buyer when the lender gets it, at least three days before the closing date. However, appraisal issues were responsible for 18% of home purchase closing delays and 9% of terminated contracts in June 2020, according to a National Association of Realtors study. The size and complexity of a home as well as an appraiser’s workload may impact wait times. Once the appraisal is complete, it could take at least two weeks to receive the report. The NAR 2023 Appraisal Survey found the median time was 11 calendar days although nearly half of reports were received within 10 calendar days.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Entire House: 8 Tips to Make It All Come Together

color house

Bright white trim creates a subtle distinction between the two light neutrals and highlights the traditional structure’s details. The dark blue shutters add an updated touch, and the deep paint color’s cool tones tie in the light gray roof. The primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—are the basis of all other hues, and as such, they're naturally complementary. But very few of us would consider painting a home in red, yellow, and blue, as represented in the original color wheel.

Dark Gray-Green

Using three colors is a general rule of thumb for selecting an exterior color scheme. Most homeowners assume those hues have to be distinctly different, but this monochromatic house proves otherwise. Here, light gray is the dominant color, while a medium tone accents the wood archway over the front door. A deeper shade of gray around the windows and doors supplies the final accent. You can add interest to an exterior color scheme without using bright colors.

Putty and Gray

This one is very vivid and is made even brighter with the combination of the blue door and window. While the relaxing rocking chairs may add to the atmosphere, this minty green shade definitely gives a house an inviting feel. To give things a little character, the darker blue door and shutters help bring out the green and make things look classy. If the last shade of blue was a little too dark for your tastes, this brighter shade may be better suited. It too has kind of a denim feel to it when paired with the dark gray shutters, but it also has a bright and inviting tone that makes the whites and grays pop. Likewise, Leah Alexander, principal designer for Beauty is Abundant in Atlanta, likes to zero in on her clients’ existing materials—cabinets, countertops, floors—before presenting paint color chips.

In a Land of Primary Colors, Home Is Where the Bounce House Is - The New York Times

In a Land of Primary Colors, Home Is Where the Bounce House Is.

Posted: Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The Best Dresses & Outfits For Warm Weather

“If you have an existing accent color that you love, but are looking for a complementing shade, select a color that has the same undertone—it will look intentional and coordinate seamlessly,” Banbury says. For example, if you are looking for a complementing neutral for an existing blue accent wall with a red undertone, select any neutral with a red undertone, and they will look great together. Creating a cohesive paint color scheme in a house is akin to selecting your wardrobe—you may love more than one color, but you wouldn’t wear everything at once. When deciding on the hues for your home, it helps to go back to the basics. This late-19th-century cottage, renovated by designer Ken Fulk (@kenfulk), is a proper tribute to its historical backstory—with a modern twist.

Yellow and Blue

Even though you may have a dream color palette in mind, the reality of your household may keep you from going all out. Say, your kid is obsessed with pink, but you don’t want to have a Barbie bedroom. But just because hot pink is in demand doesn’t mean you can’t compromise in a way that plays nice with the rest of the house’s palette. To appease both parents and kids, Alexander suggests painting a surface that is not all four walls, like a ceiling.

color house

Tonal Gray Exterior

Complement its undertones with cream-painted trim instead of opting for stark white, and add a little bit of whimsy with a blue door to energize the neutral exterior. Dark blue siding, crisp white trim, and a cheerful yellow front door add charm to a modern cottage. The blue paint color works well with the cool-toned gray shingle roof, while the bright white adds contrast and highlights the home’s architectural details. To complete the exterior, a pop of yellow adds playful personality and an inviting touch. As with paint colors, stain offers a wide range of tones and shade, each of which can revive your home's exterior. Wood stains in midrange hues, in particular, work well on a variety of home styles.

Benjamin Moore Nightfall

On this house, the grayish-purple offers a refined accent on the shutters, while the turquoise—a brighter spin-off of some of those same blue-purple tones—directs foot traffic to the front door. If you're looking for easy updates, adding color to only your shutters and front door is the way to go. Go for an earthy color palette of dark gray-green paired with wood and stone for an exterior that feels grounding. For this Michigan home, Liz Hoekzema selected Rock Bottom by Sherwin-Williams.

The 11 Best Designer Sunglasses That Perfectly Frame Your Face

But if you need help deciding which direction to go in, we've asked design experts to share their 15 favorite modern paint colors that work well for exteriors. Nothing says coastal Europe like a brightly colored home with window shutters to contrast. In Burano Island, near Venice, the homes are known for being cheerful and colorful, and this one is no exception. This complex is painted in a color similar to Copenhagen Roof by Farrow & Ball, with shutters painted in an Irish Green tone much like Rust-Oleum’s Satin Vermont Green hue. Turquoise is a fun choice for those who live in warmer climates; it evokes sunny skies and the sea.

color house

Modern House Colors for Your Home's Exterior

If your home has some gorgeous stonework like this home, gray is an excellent color choice. While darker and vivid hues of blue really stand out, lighter shades of blue are also warm and inviting. Blue is a cheerful color and highlighted by the snow in this image, this blue house really stands out. Blue goes with almost anything, and the bright hue chosen as accents for this pink house really make the lighter shade of pink stand out.

Whether you have an old home or a new build, this classic combo looks fresh forever—plus it really pops against a green lawn. Warm weather and sun means it’s time for shorts, sundresses, tanks, sandals, and all of our favorite outfits that channel the summery vibes we’ve been craving since winter. SOURCEBOOK FOR CONSIDERED LIVINGThe definitive guide to stylish outdoor spaces, with garden tours, hardscape help, plant primers, and daily design news. This house is the palest shade of turquoise, making it very easy on the eyes.

Look to exterior light fixtures for adding complementary materials or colors. On this exterior, the dark bronze lantern-style sconces balance the home's symmetry, with a pair flanking the doors on all three floors. Judicious use of an accent shade can lend your home a more refined exterior color scheme. It's a choice that works well with classic home styles, mainly because it doesn't overpower their traditional forms. This home, which deftly matches a deep green-gray with a lighter tone, also relies on an orange-red hue found in the copper roof accents and repeated on the wood front door.

Hauser then opened a fourth location in Middletown, just outside Newport, and finally her fifth and newest location in Smithfield in March 2020. It looks beautiful next to this nice brown door and the pretty green hedges. Want something dark but feel like black is a little too morbid for your taste? A dark taupe brown gives an air of mystery without looking too dark. The brown tone is very inviting and looks wonderful next to a lush green lawn.

The exterior color scheme you choose for siding, trim, window shutters, the front door, and other elements plays a crucial role in the home’s overall appearance and atmosphere. While yellow and orange make you think of the warmth of the sun, blue has long been thought of as a comforting color — and comfort is inviting. While all people react differently to different colors, Psychology Today points out that blue lights have been known to make people feel at ease. But, blue isn't the only color that'll make your home help you feel at ease. Selecting a single color for your home’s exterior can be difficult enough, but trying to find two or more hues that work well together in a whole house color scheme makes the decision even more challenging. Whether your aim is to highlight architectural details or simply to find a complementary shade for shutters and trim, the choice is an important one.

To prevent theft, many stores now lock up tons of merchandise Los Angeles Times

crime prevention design

Retail crime has also been reduced by, for instance, configuring and reducing the height of aisles so staff can see them more easily. Strategies can be as simple as good maintenance, like rapidly removing graffiti, which can deter some offenders. Second Generation concepts drew from the emerging sociological research on “collective efficacy” and land use capacity (Saville & Wong, 1991; 1994; Ministry of Justice, 1994; Sampson and Lauritson, 1990; 1994; Spelman, 1992; Gillis, 1974). It also included principles of political connectedness and culture that appear in subsequent literature (Kilburn et al., 2014). A project co-funded by the European Union Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union has developed and implemented this manual for police throughout Europe and internationally. In 1997, an article by Greg Saville and Gerry Cleveland, 2nd Generation CPTED, exhorted CPTED practitioners to consider the original social ecology origins of CPTED, including social and psychological issues beyond the built environment.

of crime. It is smart planning to anticipate potential crime issues and design

Because the Design Out Crime initiative has only been fully underway for about 18 months and represents a preventative approach to crime, its crime reductions may be difficult to quantify. Many projects currently being processed through the City’s development approval process have incorporated the Design Out Crime techniques. However, since the program remains in an early phase, many of the projects reviewed under this initiative have not been completed. Future crime statistics in the area of these projects could prove useful indicators of the relative success of these efforts.

What Is CPTED and How Can It Help Your Community?

Observer Actors — These actors are still considered to be positive users and are as important as normal actors, with a casual inclination. Designing space for observers is essential and equally important to ensuring the safety of those merely passing through or just enjoying a lunch break. Normal Actors — In parks and recreation, these are the frequent visitors, volunteers, runners, hikers, fishermen/women, bicyclists, program attendees, who use a facility. You want to focus your efforts on assuring that your normal users continue to be positively engaged with your organization. It is important to avoid creating hiding spaces in alleys, storage yards, and loading areas. For example, although in some cases hedges can define spaces, they also have the potential to provide convenient hidings spaces if placed too close together.

crime prevention design

Safe and Healthy Communities

crime prevention design

The insertion of target hardening into CPTED, and the removal of motive reinforcement, signaled a shift away from social cohesion and neighborhood renewal toward a focus on physical, crime-opportunity reduction. This was informed, no doubt, by academic studies beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s about crime and opportunities. “In the seventies, offender-based research started to focus on the rational spatial and environmental choices made by offenders.” (van Soomeren, 1996). CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas, reduce crime, and minimize fear of crime. Territorial reinforcement promotes social control through increased definition of space and improved proprietary concern.An environment designed to clearly delineate private space does two things.

These principles were used in the Perth City Link project, reconnecting the central business district with the entertainment district by sinking the railway line. In 1973, architect Oscar Newman led a ground-breaking study comparing two New York social housing projects. Van Dyke (a high-rise building) had crime rates more than double those of Brownsville (a low-rise building). Given the similarity in populations, Newman argued the physical design of the buildings could explain this difference in crime. As with all CPTED principles, there are no single strategies that will reduce all crime; they should be applied in combinations based on a thorough analysis of the local context. However, the history of CPTED suggests that comprehensive urban planning and community development requires consideration of all First and Second Generation CPTED principles.

Subdivisions and Office Parks

Colorado Program Fixes Broken Streetlights Instead of Arresting People for Broken Windows — Streetsblog USA - Streetsblog USA

Colorado Program Fixes Broken Streetlights Instead of Arresting People for Broken Windows — Streetsblog USA.

Posted: Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

To combat theft, Budano said, companies often scrutinize missing merchandise using individual SKUs, the most granular data possible. More than 40 retailers are testing the Freedom Case in stores, Budano said, including a national chain he declined to name. Representatives for several of the region’s largest retailers — Target, Vons, Rite Aid and CVS — either didn’t respond to requests to discuss internal deliberations on stemming theft or sent brief statements about their anti-theft measures. While the companies work publicly to change California law, they are taciturn about discussing their efforts to stop shoplifters, making it hard to quantify how much more merchandise is now locked up and which stores have embraced the strategy.

Surveillance is enhanced by lighting, proper placement of shrubbery, well-placed windows, elimination of physical barriers, and architecture and social commitment. The scale of merchandise theft, Kubrin added, is sometimes overblown by a retail industry happy to pin its problems, which include market forces such as inflation and a shift to online shopping, on stolen merchandise. Charis Kubrin, a professor of criminology at UC Irvine who studies retail theft, said that although some stores lock up lots of merchandise, others cage almost nothing.

Safest Los Angeles Area Neighborhoods

Legitimate activity for a space or dwelling is encouraged through the use of natural surveillance and lighting, and architectural design that clearly defines the purpose of the structure or space. Crime prevention and design strategies can discourage illegal activity and protect a property from chronic problem activity. A design concept intended to make intruders easily observable, natural surveillance is promoted by features that maximize visibility of people, parking areas, and entrances. Examples are doors and windows that look onto streets and parking areas, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and streets, front porches, and adequate nighttime lighting. Security design and access control is more than bars on windows, a security guard booth, a camera, or a wall. Crime prevention involves the systematic integration of design, technology, and operation for the protection of three critical assets-people, information, and property.

Los Angeles Annual Crimes

CPTED takes advantage of opportunities for natural access control, surveillance, and territorial reinforcement. It is possible for natural and normal uses of the environment to meet the same security goals as physical and technical protection methods. The first paper by Paul Cozens and Tom Davies analyses the effectiveness of actual products developed for crime prevention – in this case security shutters in a residential setting.

The ideas behind Crime Prevention and Environmental Design (CPTED) are highlighted and questioned in relation to perceptions of safety as well as SCP techniques. The authors argue that the clustering of shuttered properties could signal the emergence of a fortress suburb in response to an ‘anxiety market’ that has heightened the fear and perception of crime rather than an actual increase in residential burglaries. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to crime reduction that seeks to reduce perceived opportunities for crime through the design and management of the built or, less often, the natural environment.

The goal is to create safe places through limited access to properties, good surveillance, and a sense of ownership and responsibility. One strategy is known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED, pronounced “sep-ted”). This approach is based on the idea that specific built and social environmental features can deter criminal behaviour. Benefits of the ProgramThe Design Out Crime initiative will benefit every Los Angeles resident.

This was a FREE conference where security professionals from around the world met and shared ideas on how to combat graffiti by Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. For additional information, case studies, and tools about collaborative responses to crime that include CPTED, visit LISC’s Community Safety Resource Center. It is important to find the proper balance between the desire for seclusion and the aspect of safety.

These strategies are context-specific and must work together in order to be most effective. How does the crime rate in Los Angeles compare to similar sized communities across America? When NeighborhoodScout compared Los Angeles with other communities its size, we found that the crime rate was near the average for all other communities of similar size. Failure to assess crime risks before implementing solutions can result in poor outcomes that don’t deal with the local issues, which can make these worse and waste resources. In the Netherlands, the risk of residential burglary fell by 95% in new estates and 80% in existing homes after these ideas were implemented as a wider wave of crime prevention in the late 1980s.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

How To Choose The Best Cruise Ship Cabin For You

msc cruise reviews

Pools were good, both inside and out With great flumes for kids and a ‘go ape’ style walkway. Also lots of kids entertainment area, most however at extra cost. The ship is big and beautiful but we found that there are too few indoor seating areas, where you could go and chill, read a book, have a drink. Need these when sailing in cooler waters and you don’t want to be in your cabin. Getting on and off the ship would have been so much quicker if their systems were up to the job.

Extremely poor customer service

"Very nice cruise, very pleasant staff, nice evening entertainment, meals were plentiful and varied." "Everything was great in the Yacht club, services, alcohol, food and atmosphere." "All the services from the organization and the crew were excellent. Perfect restaurant service." "Buffet was great, food and service were even better than I expected. Thanks." Read all about the outstanding on board experience through the direct cruise reviews sent by guests who have previously cruised with us. It took us half an hour to get from inside the theater to outside the ship, including a long stretch squished into a narrow, windowless hallway, barely moving.

of the world's biggest cruise ships soon will battle for supremacy out of Miami

Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders.

Onboard Activities

If you need a drink or a snack like ice cream, stop by Lighthouse Bar, Springer’s Bar, The Smiling Fish Bar, or one of the many beach bars. But on MSC Seashore, we had to watch a video on our TV at an appointed time, then call a specific number from our cabin phone and then proceed in groups to our muster station to get our cards scanned. At which time the entire guest capacity of the ship was in the stairwells, either going down to their muster stations or returning to their cabins.

We booked a cruise in July so high…

We saw several surprised cruisers being told they had to dump their beverages or drink them before they'd be allowed inside. A large group booking of about 1,000 people overtook many of the public areas on a daily basis, which drew complaints from cruisers who weren't in the group. For example, trivia was standing-room-only on several days, and the buffet was so continuously crowded that I ate there only twice on the entire voyage. MSC Seaside is beautiful ship and I enjoyed the facilities, destinations and entertainment. I did not enjoy the restaurant evening meals as the food was bland and unappetising. Some of the pasta dishes for an Italian ship was inedible and the same bland vegetables were served every evening.

Bars and Beverages

A balcony breakfast while sailing along a fjord will be an experience to remember. Examine the ship’s layout to see where your cabin is in relation to key areas like the lido deck, dining rooms, and entertainment venues. Consider potential noise from above or below your cabin, especially if it’s immediately above or below a dance floor, crew area, or near the pool. Pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Line, solo traveler cabins are becoming more common across the industry. Whereas for many years solo cabins were usually interior grade, there are now oceanview and even balcony cabins available for solo travelers on some lines.

Going into this trip, I knew I wasn't going to find all the bells and whistles of a Royal Caribbean megaship or the service levels and entertainment expertise of a Disney ship. I was simply hoping that getting to experience a brand-new ship at a low price would give a line like Carnival or perhaps the older ships of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line a serious run for their money. Disney Cruise Line's new ship Disney Wish is getting a lot of attention this summer. But with fares that start at $1,000 per day for a family of four, even a three- or four-night sailing might not be in most families' budgets.

Drinking age

Dubbed Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, they all come with different perks and inclusions, as noted below. Another head-scratcher is you might still have to pay a supplement to eat in certain restaurants, even if you booked a dining package that includes a set number of specialty restaurants for a set fee. However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise. I have just returned home after my 4th cruise to interesting ports with MSC Cruises.

I Went on Cheap 4-Day Cruise, Worth It — MSC Cruises - Cruise Blog

I Went on Cheap 4-Day Cruise, Worth It — MSC Cruises.

Posted: Wed, 03 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The water park was awesome, but I would have liked additional family-friendly activities

msc cruise reviews

It doesn’t feel like anyone there knows what they are doing, I have been told conflicting information by different members of staff and had some of the most useless and unhelpful responses I have had from any company. I would strongly advise you book your cruise with another company. I only wish I had seen some of the reviews here before I booked.

MSC Cruises is mandating a fully vaccinated policy for those 18 and older or a negative antigen (lateral flow) test. What this means, of course, is that kids of all ages are welcome and the traditional family mix you would expect on an MSC cruise is maintained. You also won't find quite as many high-adrenaline activities as you would on those lines, such as go-karting, simulated surfing or bumper cars, but the ship does have a waterpark and a ropes course, as well as a fantastic games arcade. MSC offers passengers three tiers of inclusions (or “experiences”), each with its own perks and price. I'd consider another cruise with MSC with my husband or a girlfriend, now that I'm savvy on how to better work the system. But I'm still on the hunt for that cheap family cruise that offers outsize value for the price.

Instead, you would have to pay for a bottle of water or constantly make trips to the buffet whenever feeling parched. This felt like a complete waste of plastic, which seems contradictory to the cruise line’s goals on environmental conservation. And while the Coca Cola Freestyle machines could dispense free water, they were only accessible to those with drink packages. There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience.

Itinerary in hand, I thought I had found the secret to affordable family cruising and that I'd come home bragging to my friends that I had scored an amazing vacation for a fraction of the price folks would pay for other cruises. MSC Meraviglia's cabins all have a mix of 110-volt North American outlets, 220-volt European outlets and USB ports. In my Yacht Club balcony stateroom, I had three North American outlets, three European outlets and one USB port, all at the desk/vanity area — none near the bed. MSC's MSC for Me app allows passengers on the same ship to chat with one another for free without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. The app also lets you make dining reservations, check the daily schedule and view your onboard bill.

Norwegian Gem Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

ncl cruise gem

With room for up to four guests, you'll love these Mini-Suites. Includes two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed as well as a sitting area, luxury bath with shower, additional bedding to sleep two additional guests and a private balcony with a great view. Because it's a mid-ship suite, you'll have easy access to everything on board. These incredible Penthouses sleep up to three, with a bedroom with queen-size bed and luxury bath and shower. Also includes a living area, dining area and large private balcony that offers an amazing view. These Mini-Suites sleep up to four guests, making them ideal if you want to bring the kids.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

ncl cruise gem

A premium beverage package including all beverages is $138 per person/per day. Bottles of water can be purchased on board as well, but there are also free “hydration stations” situated throughout the ship. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world.

Cruise Line Adds “Glacier Day” to Its Alaskan Cruise Itineraries

Norwegian Cruise Line to Sail From Jacksonville, FL, in 2025 - Travel Agent Central

Norwegian Cruise Line to Sail From Jacksonville, FL, in 2025.

Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

You'll have easy access to everything on board, and room for up to four guests. Includes two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate up to two more guests. These connecting staterooms are great family accommodations. You can bring the whole family, with room for up to four guests. Features two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, one pullman and one single sofabed, as well as a sitting area and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private balcony. These Oceanview Staterooms sleep up to four guests and have either a picture window or porthole, with an obstructed view.

Pool deck

The Norwegian Gem will sail from Jacksonville - Travel Weekly

The Norwegian Gem will sail from Jacksonville.

Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

These Norwegian Gem amazing Villas sleep up to eight with three separate bedrooms, each with a king- or queen-size bed and luxury bath. With a living room, dining room and incredible private garden with hot tub, you will have more than enough space to spread out and unwind. Perfect for a romantic getaway, you will fall head over heels for these fabulous Penthouses. Sleeps up to three, with a bedroom with queen-size bed and luxury bath and shower, in addition to the living area, dining area and large private balcony. These staterooms are perfect if you want to bring the whole family.

Let Your Kids Explore Norwegian Gem

Treat yourself at our duty free shops full of fantastic savings on fine jewelry, accessories, perfume, liquor and tobacco. Experience stylish decor in a comfortable oceanview stateroom. All come with nice, smart touches enhanced by a large picture window with clear views of the sea.

Skip the Water Slide

The 2400-passenger ship Norwegian Gem is Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship of the Jewel class, designed and built by the German shipyard, Meyer Werft. The Norwegian Gem took all features of a typical Jewel-vessel and offers a myriad of highlights and services for all onboard. The fun starts as soon as you board Gem via the Atrium on Deck 7, which serves as a busy hub of activities, from live musical performances to trivia contests to movies. Overhead, an eye-catching custom chandelier features color-changing lights, and the centrally located Java Cafe & Bar is usually packed from morning to night.

Turn right and continue past the  Moll de Sant Bertran, the Onades monument and the Moll de Drassanes to the Columbus monument (see map below). The journey from the cruise terminals takes about 10 minutes. From here, you can start visiting Barcelona on foot since many of Barcelona’s most famous sights, such as the Ramblas, the Maritime Museum, the Gothic quarter and the historic Port Vell are close by.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Gem

The Gem is considered a mid-size ship (about two-thirds the size of the newest NCL ships, the Prima and Viva). Up to six guests can enjoy these Villas that are perfect if you want to bring the kids. They have one bedroom with a queen-size bed and a luxury bath and shower, as well as a separate childrens bedroom. Also features a living area, dining area and private balcony. With a living room, dining room, wall of windows with king-size bed and luxury bath, you will have an unforgettable experience in this suite.

Dining

Or stroll along postcard-perfect scenery in the Mediterranean. With tons of dining choices and no set dining times, Norwegian Gem has it all. Chill out by the pool, get lucky in the casino, unwind at the spa, and make the kids happy with spaces built with them in mind. Accommodations range from the luxurious multi-room or romantic suites to spacious and affordable staterooms. Before you experience “Freestyle Cruising” with Norwegian check out this photo gallery which features many of their ships, specialty dining options and innovative staterooms.

Over the years, she has collected quite a collection of charms — each of which has a special significance to the person who offered it up. Charms for the mermaid are presented to one of the top officers on board, preferably the captain, as a way of encouraging passengers to interact with the ship’s extremely friendly crew. Are you still deciding which Norwegian Gem cruise vacation is suited for you? Don't forget to sign up for Norwegian's cruise deals to get the latest news and specials delivered to your inbox. Norwegian Gem has plenty of onboard shopping options waiting for you when you need some retail therapy.

Past artists have included Teacake Ferguson and Jassen Allen… and if you don’t know those names, it’s only because you haven’t yet caught their shows. And trust us when we say that the wings you’ve heard so much about are as good as you’re hoping they are. They don’t come with a lot of blue cheese or celery, so if that’s important to you, make sure to ask for extra. Both of these events tend to be big draws, especially on rainy sea days. They’re usually held in the Spinnaker Lounge and, while it’s a great space, it can fill up quickly.

ncl cruise gem

The pool area on Norwegian Gem is relatively basic, with two pools, six hot tubs and one water slide. There are many, many loungers, though, to serve the thousands of cruisers that sail on the ship at one time. The ship is 965 feet long and, at double occupancy, holds 2,394 guests and 1,070 crew members. At this size, it’s firmly a mid-size ship and doesn’t even compare to some of the world’s largest cruise ships, some of which can be more than twice its size.

And then there is “The Haven,” a private area of sophisticated luxury suites and villas atop the ship that can only be accessed by a special key-card protected entrance. Twenty-four hour butler and concierge service is included, along with access to a private lounge, sundeck, pool, bar, and restaurant. Passengers also receive priority boarding and disembarking.

This is the location of the bus stop where you board the Cruise bus when travelling to the Moll Adossat terminals. When you book your shore excursion, you will be asked to provide the name of your ship and arrival and re-boarding times. Barcelona’s open-topped sightseeing buses have two stops near the cruise port. Follow the road along the pier from the ships (there’s a paved footpath that runs alongside the road). After crossing the Porta d’Europa bridge, continue straight ahead along the pier until you reach a small roundabout.

Norwegian Gem, when it debuted in 2007, was the second-to-last Jewel-class ship for Norwegian Cruise Line, followed the next year by Norwegian Jade. It’s the same size as Norwegian Pearl and, in fact, the Jewel class was the largest of the cruise line’s ships for a brief time, until they built Norwegian Epic, which far surpassed all of the Jewel-class ships. Skip dessert one night and instead head to Shakers, the martini bar located midship deck six. Yes, it costs a few dollars more than is covered by the Premium Beverage Package (although if you have the Premium-Plus Package, it’s covered).

Monday, April 1, 2024

The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023

concordia cruise ship

He was charged with manslaughter as well as causing the wreck and abandoning ship. During the 19-month trial, prosecutors claimed that he was an “idiot,” while Schettino countered that his actions had saved lives and that he was being scapegoated. In addition, he noted the steering error by the helmsman, but a maritime expert testified that regardless of the mistake, the collision was unavoidable.

A look back at the Costa Concordia disaster after 10 years - Daily Sabah

A look back at the Costa Concordia disaster after 10 years.

Posted: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Earth Day: How a senator’s idea more than 50 years ago got people fighting for their planet

They’ll all be filled with air, providing buoyancy like a giant life preserver. With luck, the liner will be towed into an Italian port, where ship breakers will spend two years turning it into scrap metal, which will be sold. Parbuckling is a centuries-old method that winches a sunken or listing ship upright while it is anchored at a pivot point known as the “deadman.” Sounds simple, right? To hoist it, nine enormous rectangular compartments, called sponsons, will be bolted to the ship, each equipped with a hydraulic pulley; the pulleys lead to 36 steel cables as thick as lampposts that attach to six underwater platforms. It also emerged that holidaymaker Maria D'Introno - whose body has yet to be recovered - was told to get out of a lifeboat because it was too full and the tilt of the ship made it impossible to launch safely.

Costa Concordia disaster

concordia cruise ship

Survivors also said they weren’t given emergency drills after they started what was supposed to be a weeklong Mediterranean cruise. We look back at the life and career of the longtime host of "Sunday Morning," and "one of the most enduring and most endearing" people in broadcasting. After a deceased woman's toxicology report showed an abnormality — a chemical compound found in several brands of over-the-counter eye drops — suspicions grow over her caregiver's story.

Costa Concordia

The story of a passenger who drowned after giving up his seat in a lifeboat features in a report released by prosecutors. GIGLIO PORTO, Italy — The curvy granite rocks of the Tuscan island of Giglio lay bare in the winter sun, no longer hidden by the ominous, stricken cruise liner that ran aground in the turquoise waters of this marine sanctuary ten years ago. Through the confusion, the captain somehow made it into a lifeboat before everyone else had made it off. A coast guard member angrily told him on the phone to “Get back on board, damn it! The Concordia Class is a class of cruise ships that are operated by Costa Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines, subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation & plc. The wreckage closed the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping port, potentially costing the area’s economy hundreds of millions of dollars in lost labor income alone over the next month.

concordia cruise ship

Criminal proceedings against officers

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water. The ship's design is based on the design of Carnival's Conquest class fleet of ships. However, their design from lido (pool) deck up to the top deck was enlarged and redesigned. Eight people were working on the highway bridge—a 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) span over the Patapsco River—when it collapsed. The three-judge panel deliberated for eight hours, much of that in a dressing room off the theater where the trial was held due to the huge public interest the trial, involving so many victims, was expected to generate — though few seats were ever filled in the 70 hearings. An emergency generator failed after the crash, and water-tight compartment doors also didn’t work properly.

years later, Costa Concordia disaster is still vivid for survivors

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily. More than a year after it ran aground with 4,252 people aboard, shocking viewers worldwide, the cruise ship Costa Concordia remains wedged on rocks near the Italian island Giglio. Its owner, the Carnival Corporation, is spending $400 million on one of the largest salvage operations ever attempted, the Parbuckling Project.

But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory. The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship’s engine room flooded and its generators failed.

Time-lapse video shows the raising of the wrecked Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia from the underwater platform it has been resting on for the past year. Crews have finally completed the salvage and are towing the Costa Concorida to a scrapyard in Northern Italy. The accident has been called one of the worst cruise ship disasters in modern times.

Trials

Autopsies determined that victims drowned aboard ship or in the sea after either falling or jumping off the ship during a chaotic, delayed evacuation. The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection. An investigation focused on shortcomings in the procedures followed by Costa Concordia's crew and the actions of her captain, Francesco Schettino, who left the ship prematurely. He left about 300 passengers on board the sinking vessel, most of whom were rescued by helicopter or motorboats in the area.

Russell Wald, deputy director of the institute, joins CBS News to unpack more key findings from the study. Computer chip maker Intel is at the center of the latest high-tech race between the U.S. and China. Jo Ling Kent visited their state-of-the-art facility in Oregon for an in-depth report. Singer and actress Julie Andrews began a new career when she teamed with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton to write a hugely successful series of children's books. Their 35th, "Waiting in the Wings," about a troupe of theatrical ducks, is based on a true story. "Sunday Morning" anchor Jane Pauley talks with Andrews and Hamilton about a remarkable mother-daughter collaboration.

The passengers, whose infections were found through random testing, were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, according to the Port of San Francisco. It also details how Schettino was distracted as he was speaking on the telephone while he was ''in close proximity to the coast in a dangerous situation and with the helm under manual control". The last moments of musician Giuseppe Girolamo are described in another section of the report. She was later seen terrified by the edge of the ship, jumping into the water without a lifejacket despite not being able to swim.

A little more than an hour after impact, the crew began to evacuate the ship. But the report noted that some passengers testified that they didn’t hear the alarm to proceed to the lifeboats. Evacuation was made even more chaotic by the ship listing so far to starboard, making walking inside very difficult and lowering the lifeboats on one side, near to impossible. Making things worse, the crew had dropped the anchor incorrectly, causing the ship to flop over even more dramatically.

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