sykimball1498

12 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

Samantha, I hope you and Pierre have a safe & awesome cruise, too!!

Thank you!

We are on the March 11 cruise.  Leaving for BA this evening for 3 day pre-cruise exploration.  Definitely looking forward to this one.

Are glasses of the FRE non-alcoholic wine included in the Zero-Proof package?  Trying to gauge the better way to do this as I do like the coffess at AB and FRE wine at lunch and dinner.

Thanks,

Sam

19 hours ago, mahdnc said:

Hi, Samantha.  Marcia and I very much enjoyed our dinners with you and Pierre!! We hope you both are doing well.

 

We took the same Infinity cruise but in the other direction from Valparaiso some six years ago. You’re going to really love it!!!!  Say hi to Pierre for us. 

 

 David

 

 

Will do.

On 2/18/2023 at 10:06 AM, mahdnc said:

 

Based on your description of your son, a Celebrity cruise over Spring Break will be just fine for him.

 

My recommendation is the 7 night Eastern Caribbean sailing on Reflection out of Ft Lauderdale on Sunday Apr 2: link. 

 

Reflection is one of my favorite ships and she is the youngest (i.e newest) of the S class ships. Reflection has some nice specialty restaurants. Our kids enjoyed the Lawn Club Grille. In particular (photo). Also I see you have some Celebrity cruises in the future (right?) and Reflection complements the other ships you will be on. 

 

The 7 night cruise fits neatly in your available time window. 

 

Our son making our flatbread in the Lawn Club Grille while his sister cheers him on (Jan 2019)

We were on this cruise with you and had dinner with you and Marcia and the kids several nights.  We cherish these memories.  We absolutely loved the Reflection and are actually leaving on the Infinity around the Horn on March 11 from Buenos Aires.  

On 2/3/2023 at 8:19 PM, BlerkOne said:

Coming soon...

We are doing Celebrity Infinity on March 11 this year.  Different itinerary around the Horn but we will do this one in the future.  I will be following your adventures.

On 2/3/2023 at 10:51 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Happy to follow along and especially hear about your planning for Iguasu Falls.     Planning visiting them on a cruise in the next couple of years.

We love your reviews.  Any new cruises on the horizon?  

Thank you for confirming that there are options for this cruise for us.

38 minutes ago, Av8torcrj said:

I’ve asked several times to have them replace our complimentary “champagne” or whatever it is with something nonalcoholic. They so far they have never been able to figure that out. They did have the haven butler put some tomato juice in the fridge which he promptly spilled all over the floor turning our suite into a crime scene. 

We've asked our TA to have this done as well but we will see if they do it.  We will also ask for a NA bottle but who knows if we will get it if it is not done prior to our boarding next week.  Doesn't seem promising.

Are there specifically any non-alcoholic wines on NCL for dinner time?  I am aware there are some mocktails we can get but was more wondering about the new Ariel, FRE or other non-alcoholic wines to enjoy with dinner.

22 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thank you so much for the helpful information. We ended up booking a mini-suite with balcony, and took advantage of the "Free at Sea" offers, so we got specialty dining, Internet, excursions and the unlimited beverage package. I've been watching a lot of video tours of the Norwegian Joy and am really impressed with it. I'm particularly looking forward to the Waterfront and the Observation Gallery. Of course, all of this assumes that cruising will have resumed by then, so fingers crossed. Thanks again!

 

I'm glad you booked and got all the great Free at Sea offers as well.  I have not been on the Joy, but the Getaway has the waterfront and it is really wonderful.  They have al fresco dining as well which is really nice.  I'm sure you will love it!

7 hours ago, Sweetnspicy said:

I hope you have a wonderful birthday trip no matter what you choose! I’m looking at something to celebrate my birthday October 2021 and this year is our 15th wedding anniversary and all our plans were of course cancelled but we are looking to maybe combining these missed milestones. I would love to do a 21 day cruise! 

We did a 21 Day cruise a few years ago.  It was a lot of fun but I was ready to get home after about 18 days.  Probably because the last 2-3 days were quite cold as we were approaching the northern gulf to New Orleans debarkation.  I'm sure you will have a great time! We ahve never done Birthday cruises as my husband and my birthday's are in May and June and we normally go in the winter months.  We do, however, go for our annivresary most of the time.

5 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Hi! My wife and I are planning to do a cruise next January to celebrate my 57th birthday, and we're considering NCL for it, along with Carnival and Princess. We've never cruised with Norwegian before. (side note: my first ever cruise was with Norwegian almost 30 years ago, but things were different then and they don't even have the ship anymore, plus it was with immediate family). We aren't loyal to any one line, having cruised with Carnival, RCI, Costa and MSC previously. What can we expect from NCL relative to the other lines? Our priorities are essentially:

1. Meeting interesting crew members and other guests (we are both very talkative and outgoing)

2. Having good food and drinks (we both love pizza, my wife's vegetarian, I love wine, cocktails, champagne and coffee (esp. espresso and cappuccino), she loves chocolate and ice cream-I love everything except seafood, but even that if it's fresh)

3. I like to work out and relax in the spa

4. We enjoy excursions on ports of call (we're more cultural pursuit types than beachgoers)

5. We don't have kids so it's just us 2, so don't need kid-friendly stuff, BUT I'm a kid at heart and would absolutely do the go karts and water slides

6. Wife loves to dance, and I do, too. We also enjoy trivia contests, chilling in a bar and some relaxing by the pool-ideally in an adults-only area. But we're not 24/7 partiers.

7. We don't gamble or buy stuff at the shops

 

We're considering the Norwegian Joy, which I understand does NOT have a spa. That's disappointing, I'm not gonna lie. However, our travel dates are roughly January 2 or 3 through the 9th-10th, and the Encore (which I really liked from the videos I saw) is doing a western Caribbean itinerary that visits 2 of the same ports (Roatan and Costa Maya) we just went to last December on another cruise, and also Cozumel which we visited in October 2018-other NCL ships cruising at the same time call at ports that we've also been to previously. The Joy is going to places we either haven't been to at all (Puerto Plata, Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay) or have only visited a long time ago (St Thomas, in 2013). We're interested in hearing from seasoned NCL cruisers about what to expect onboard and especially how NCL compares to the other 2 cruises we're considering (Carnival Magic and Caribbean Princess).

 

Thanks in advance and please feel free to ask questions. (also with COVID-19 we may not even GO on this cruise or it could get cancelled-that's always a caveat)

 

 

 

It's too bad you are relegated to only those dates.  The NCL Jade is a smaller ship, with a spa, but without the water slides, etc. that leaves from Tampa on January 3rd (hopefully as we are also on this cruise), but it is a 12 day cruise with 7 ports (port intensive in the middle).  Itinerary is good, comes with the 4 night Speciality Dining and other perks as well. 

10 minutes ago, pmd98052 said:

 

This is not a new SARS or Flu scenario though is it. We've had SARS and Flu scenarios in the past 10 years. Look at the death totals from those without even shutting down. Now look at the death totals from COVID19 with the shut down. I think you will agree it is a dramatic difference. COVID is not SARS or the Flu.

Actually, this is a new SARS virus:  It's techincal name is this: SARS-CoV-2.  My company works with the testing of all types of drug trials and vaccines.  We recently have bid out many and signed many for the COVID-19 trials so just letting you know this is a new SARS virus.  Different than before, of course, but in the same family.

6 minutes ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

 

I can't stand these doom and gloom posts. Florida, where I live, is NOT surging. They have increased testing. The hospitals are flippin' empty!

 

Completely agree.  Here in GA it is the same with expanded testing and we are further along in phased reopening than any other state.  We seem to be managing a little better than some states in phase 1 I think, but maybe just because I am sick to death of the "we are all going to die" views.  

28 minutes ago, huskypup said:

If it's the start up date then Breakaway will/should be in the middle of its 13 day repositioning from NY to New Orleans.   

 

Still no reply from PCC though.

True, but I seriously doubt any sailings will happen from NY until next Spring.  Maybe they will do a shorter cruise from NOLA prior to the start of the next cruise.  Sorry, just noticed Encore is NY sailing to Bermuda so I am probably wrong in my previous sentence...lol.

You probably won't get a reply as this was not to be public information it seems, although I would think NCL would want to share as soonas they have it ironed out.

I think the delay is because they have not yet cancelled the  dates for Alaska, Canada/NE cruises and the EU region cruises.  I think they have to play catch up with all the refunds/FCC and will next cancel the Canada and Alaska  sailing with EU sailings being last.  If they were to cancel all at the same time it probably would take even longer for the FCC or refunds to be processed.

27 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

I saw it as well and my take was that since there was engine info on that spreadsheet that the relaunch date listed was not so much "public" relaunch but maybe "crew" relaunch for staffing or engine maintenance purposes.  It will be interesting to see your PCC's response because it was removed from Facebook at NCL's request.  It doesn't look like information that they wanted to have made public.

I think that is the date they plan to start public sailing.  For instance the NCL Jade repositions to Tampa and the first Tampa sailing really is scheduled for November 22.  We leave on the Jade January 3, 2021 so I did some research to see when it would start from Tampa to se if we would be in the roll-out.  So this seems like the real dates not just crew start up.  But it remains to be seen of course.

I also have this as a stop for my January Jade cruise.  Other ports have shore excursions listed, except for this one.  I think they might also be waiting for DR to open up to tourists.  The other ports have all started to accept tourism again as far as I know (not cruising of course as there are none running right now).  I keep checking and will see if they have anything in the next month or so but I'm not holding my breath either.

We were on the Thanksgiving cruise, did self-assist debarkation and were keying out at 7:30am.  This ship was also at capacity with over 4800 people on it, mostly families.  Customs took all of 10 minutes, but you absolutely have to do self-asist if you even think about this.  No breakfast, nothing.  Get up and out as soon as you can.  It's possible but only you know your family well enough to amke the decision if they can do it or not.

1 hour ago, happytravellers2 said:

Yes, I did see that, which was why I specifically mentioned her because she was the last person to post to my original question. 

I will follow her review on the forum, but would be interested in some feedback specific to the moans currently posted in recent reviews.

We just got off after Thanksgiving week.  We like NCL but will never again go onThanksgiving week or on the Getaway.  It was way overbooked with about 1200 kids onboard and service was very slow.  Tenders were bad as well.  Initially it was supposed to dock but then we had to tender in Roatan.

17 minutes ago, Paul Bogle said:

On the Breakaway earlier this year there were two Moscato's available by the glass priced under the package limit and one that was subject to an upcharge.

Yes, we ordered a Malbec and had the package and they gave us the more expensive one so sometimes if there is more than one wine of the same type you have to specify "within package limits" or "on the package please" to not get the upcharged one.  They didn't even give us a slip to sign so we had no idea until checking our balance a day later.  My advice is to keep an eye on your onboard account on the App or TV. For the Getaway out of NOLA, they will charge tax until International waters so expect that as well, but all in all we enjoyed the drink package, the cruise, not so much.  But this was due to the ship being overbooked and overrun with children at Thanksgiving.  It was our first Holiday cruise.  It will also be our last Holiday cruise...lol.

I just got off the Getaway last week and I think there is a Moscato on the white wine list.  There is also a Riesling which is semi-sweet that you might enjoy.  I stick to Pinot Noir, Malbec or Cabernet on the red side, but I think there is a red blend by Norwegian, but I am not sure if sweet or on the drier side.  Just make sure you tell them X wine in the package as we got upcharged and had to fight to have it taken off the whole cruise.  Finally they took it off the day of debarkation.

5 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

It would be great to hear what other entertainment there is besides Cirque and Burn the Floor.  We saw them on Breakaway and are looking forward to something new.

There is Million Dollar Quartet that runs days 5 and 6 of a 7 days cruise.  It is about the night that ELvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash all recorded in one studio one night.  It was really entertaining.  We saw it in 2017 on the Getaway.  Yes, it is still playing the same shows inlate 2019.  We are going again over Thanksgiving week this time out of NOLA.  It's a great ship, but looking forward to what is new after the dry dock in May 2019.

On 10/28/2019 at 7:16 AM, Nursemc said:

What food do they serve at lunchtime in Savor and Taste?

Also anyone know the breakfast options? Thanks 

They serve a full menu.  Some appetizers include hummus, salads, chicken nachos, fruit, etc.  There are sandwiches like a tuna salad sandwich, cheeseburgers; they even have entrees like leg of lamb and meatloaf.  Dessert has a few choices as well.  I believe they use the same lunch menu for the sea days as well for the MDR.

Breakfast is the normal stuff:  pastries, fruit, yogurt, parfaits, etc for first course;

Main course is like french toast, pancakes, omelettes and eggs benedict.

On 10/11/2019 at 9:05 AM, mfic246 said:

got it thanks - we're out of New Orleans so on the river for a while, not sure how long they charge the tax for.

We are sailing this Thanksgiving out of NOLA as well.  I think they charge until in International waters so probably most of the first evening, but we got the OBC for price drop as well.  Happy to know it will cover these charges.