azjim66

Hey all, long time Carnival cruisers going on first NCL cruise. We booked a 9 night from Le Havre To Lisbon in October 2025 on the Dawn. All adults we did all the free at sea stuff and considering upgrading to free at sea plus because it is port intensive and I like top shelf whiskey. I understand the whiskey selection can vary per ship but the extra $50 per excursion seems like a good investment based on all the ports and the extra specialty dining might make it seem like a good deal. We usually book balcony cabins but got an inside on this one because the time of year and likely colder weather. Is upgrading a good idea from folks that have done a similar itinerary. We usually are not excursion type and like to diy the ports but that usually  meant finding a beach bar and chill for port days. We have never been to Europe before and anticipate lots of sightseeing. The Dawn is an older ship that appears similar to the Spirit class on Carnival , which we liked we are a couple in our late 50’s we always enjoyed the comedy shows on Carnival and hope that NCL has some of that. I am a cigar guy so I am sure I will enjoy the cigar lounge on the Dawn. Anyway just looking for some tips from NCL loyalists on what to upgrade and expectations. We are probably looking to arrive a few days early and depart a few days lat to explore Paris/ Honfluer and Lisbon is the NCL airfare deal something we should have considered(I did not add it at booking).We are traveling with a group of similar aged folks who like to party. Thanks in advance 

Very sorry for your loss. May your Father rest in peace!

On 10/10/2023 at 3:57 AM, mohawk1129 said:

FTTF available now for our cruise in January 

For those interested in this product check your planners 

Thanks for the heads up. Just grabbed it for our January cruise!

5 hours ago, Astromaid said:

If you go here as a couple, do they sit you with other people? What are your favorite dishes?

My wife and I just got off the Panorama yesterday. We ate at JiJi and Cucina Capitana twice each and we had a table for two every time. They were both really good!!

On 2/23/2022 at 6:39 PM, ArchieCruise said:

The ship time does adjust but it does NOT match local time.  The ship will be an hour earlier than local PV time.  

We just got off the Panorama earlier today and this is correct.

On 2/25/2022 at 7:26 AM, waytoodeep03 said:

Recently as in the past few days/weeks.

Is it warm enough to swim in the pools? 

 

I am taking a sail to ensenada and I know west coast weather is different. It will say its 70 but feel like its in the 50s. Was this the case on your cruise if you have gone within the past month?

We just got off the Panorama this morning. Although we went further south than you will the pools were busy everyday. We stayed in the Havana area and the pool and jacuzzi's were very popular all week. It was very warm in all our ports. Yesterday as we came back to LB the Jacuzzi's were still very popular and the pools were being used. Hope you have a great cruise!

Ours is a 7 day cruise and we decided to take the "Upsell" to the Havana aft extended balcony.  We got a great deal with OBC originally so this was a no Brainer  for us.  We usually get a balcony  but we had a an inside on deck 6 (6201)with a walkway view to the secret deck. It looked like a cool spot but this was too good of an opportunity to try the Havana thing and an aft balcony.  A little over two weeks away and can't get here fast enough!

I can do an Aft extended Havana balcony for $400+  I may do that one.

Found an upgrade offer in my planner for our upcoming Panorama cruise on 2/19. A spa balcony 14218  for $398.  We currently have an interior with a walkway view 6201. Almost $400 seems like alot. Debating this

My Panorama cruise on 2/19 is also missing and when I try to add it it states can't be found. Hopefully just a glitch

I just received the Itinerary reversal email for our 2/19 Panorama cruise.  According to my booking details our 2/19 cruise still exists!

9 hours ago, victory2020 said:

I changed a couple of weeks ago with no penalty

Were you able to keep the same fare you paid or did you have to pay the difference if it was higher?

On 1/5/2022 at 4:16 PM, travelplus said:

I am holding out on my 2/26 Panorama Cruise. Perhaps it wont be crowded.

We are booked on the 2/19 Panorama and am hoping for the same!

On 12/24/2021 at 3:49 PM, stevethepirate said:

A couple of weeks ago the Dream had Blanton's at the Steakhouse Bar. No place else on the ship.

On the Panorama back on our Feb 2020 cruise they had Blanton's in Guys Pig & Anchor. We are going again this Feb and I hope they still have it..smooooth!  And Alchemy Bar is fantastic!

Looking forward to this review!. My wife and I were also on the Panorama 2/29/20 when we got held over an extra day.  We are booked in Feb 2022. Love the Panorama and its an easy drive from Phoenix! Have a great cruise!

We used CVS for a trip last month to the US Virgin Islands and had no problem.  Make sure you are getting the correct test for where you are traveling too and you should be fine.

9 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

I doubt the mask protocol will go away as long as X% of passengers are non-vaxed.  Even with 100% passengers vaxed, I would expect cruise lines will follow CDC guidelines on wearing masks indoors in crowded areas.  Despite the live evidence that masks don't in and of themselves really act to prevent spread of COVID (witness the high contagion levels in areas with strict mask mandates versus those with looser protocols), Dr Fauci and ilk want you to wear as masks, because they say so.

I agree 100% This was well stated!

Just now, Raxter54 said:

Don't have a problem with vaccinated-only cruises. Just hope that by our cruise time in February the mask protocol could be done away with.....

Same here! We are scheduled on the Panorama 2/19. 

We usually purchase Cheers ahead of time using Carnival gift cards because of the crazy fuel points we get at the grocery store and the 10% discount.  

Sailed on the Dream out of Nola in January 2019 and thought it was a great ship! 

I literally just returned from a land vacation to St. John USVI and masks were required on the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. Once on St. John all shops required masks to be worn same with waiting to get a table at restaurants or bars. Walking about in Cruz Bay I would say that most were not wearing masks.  We spent 90% of our time there on the North Shore Beaches within the USVI National Park and the only time a mask was required was if the particular beach had shops or bar/food vendors.  We did a boat charter and masks were not required.  Prior to traveling there we had to produce a negative covid test taken within 5 days of travel and upload it to the USVI travel portal and receive approval to travel. Upon landing in St. Thomas they checked our approval and did a temperature check and off we went.

We are booked on the Magic October 3, 2020. Final payment is due July 5th. I called Carnival today and requested they extend that date and they did. The new final payment date is now July 27th.  Not sure we will know anymore by then but atleast I have a few more weeks to decide.

On 12/29/2019 at 7:49 AM, PekingeseLady said:

YIPPEE!!!  I'm so happy for you.  So far the Panorama has been very good at answering emails. Teppanyaki, Steakhouse, and Maitre D MDR all responded to my emails.   Thank you Carnival!  

 

I board her on the 4th. Getting very excited.  This is my 26th cruise but I'm so excited about a new ship it feels like my first,  lol🤪😍👍🥳

Hi, Where did you locate the email addresses for the specialty restaurants? I would like to do the same for an upcoming Panorama cruise.

Thanks!

FTTF also allows you priority debarkation should you be able to carry off your own luggage.  The last time we cruised out of Long Beach we were through customs and off the ship @ 7:15 am.   We always get FTTF and we have always been off the ship prior to 8am.  Obviously there can always be delays due to weather/traffic etc.. but this has been our experience.

Hi,

Yes once you arrive at Medano they will just nose the boat until the bow touches sand. You hop off in ankle deep water from there.  I have not been to the Sandbar but have been to the Office and Mango Deck and both were great.