Sand and Seas

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

 

on the top right of the website, there is a pull down menu for "my account." click on that and a display will open with your name and account number. right below that it should state your casino loyalty level.

Mine just says 'Casino-Value'.....not sure what that means? 

I've been Ruby Tier in casino for a few years.

@UKstages,  you've listed a lot of good ideas.   I do love the new CASNext certificates.  Hopefully, there will be some more changes  like the ones you have suggested. 

Congrats on making Elite!  Can you tell me where you were expecting to see 'Elite' listed online?  I've never seen anything listed on my ncl account regarding my Ruby status.  

Very much enjoying your review!  Big congrats for getting your A1C lowered and losing those pounds.   You deserve an awesome cruise!  Thanks for sharing with us😎

We love Captain Ron too!   Our most memorable viewing of the movie was on the deck of a Barefoot Windjammer cruise about 20 or so years ago.  We were all sitting under a sailcloth to protect us from the hard rainstorm.  It was great fun and we continue to love the movie.   

And remember, if your ship gets lost just pullover and ask directions😉

If MDR menus are changing as noted in this thread, is there someone onboard who can post three or four days worth?   

We read shops were changing.  Is there still a Pandora shop? 

Hope you are having a great cruise 😎

Prima has a limited number of Club Balconies.  They are all forward or aft.  The aft are only available on decks nine to eleven below the Haven cabins.  Our aft CB on eleven was extremely spacious and had a great balcony view.

24 minutes ago, reeinaz said:

Port days were the only days that I ate there.

It's been over a year since we sailed on Prima but I recall it being open every day for lunch.  I just wish they would expand the lunch hours.

5 hours ago, wolft927 said:

Recommend taking an afternoon at the port and go to one of the restaurants that has outside seating and watch the ships sail out. was awesome! also has a good happy hour lol $2 draft beer lol

We had some good food at one of those places.  I think it was called Gators???  It was fun and we had a great server.

Los Lobos, Onda and Hasuki.  With two more we would do Los Lobos and Onda again.  The Los Lobos on Prima was the best LL we have been to.  Onda is always outstanding.  

2 hours ago, p5woody said:

Anybody know if it is open on embarkation day, wonder if it might be less busy on the first day before people find out it is included. 

Yes, Encore was open on embarkation day and got very busy.   The new menu seemed popular as a complimentary venue.  

It's no longer showing on our April 5 cruise.  We did not see it on our last Prima due to reviews we had read here.

@CruisnHallelujahs those pictures look great!  When we got pineapple it was full rings half dipped.  We loved it

10 hours ago, itsnotjustme said:

I thought I read it is 5,000 points for a $250 certificate.  

Yes, it's 5000 tier points for $250 CASNext and 10,000 tier points for $500 CASNext.  I've used several now.  Make sure you haven't played your points for freeplay.   Just let the hosts know you want to 'purchase' a certificate and what denomination.  They will print out and sign a certificate for you.    It can take a few days or a week or so for the CASNext certificate to be visible to the CAS agents for booking your next cruise.  

If you have an odd amount of tier points left they can carryover to your next cruise and be used on that one to purchase the certificate.   Just remember you  have to book AND cruise within one year of 'purchasing' the certificates.    

On 3/1/2024 at 10:24 AM, wolft927 said:

We stayed at the Best Western Cocoa Beach in January. Now not very warm but was right by the pier and we had an ocean front room which had great views of the beach. Free parking as well and had plenty of restaurants within walking distance. 

Also if you like to get up early you can watch the Ships line up and pass by heading back into port Canaveral. 

Yes, we can also recommend BW Cocoa Beach.   We stayed there last May pre cruise.  Weather was great and saw lots of people  enjoying the beach by the pier.  

3 hours ago, dbrown84 said:

chocolate covered pineapple does sound like a welcome change.  They actually forgot to bring anything on my last cruise.  I just let it go.  now, I'm going to be hoping for pineapple....  At least I know I'll get my pineapple fix in Moderno 🙂 

I love hearing that some are now getting chocolate pineapple!  We were able to get it from our Butler on a couple of cruises and it was delish😋

And, my favorite item from Moderno is that pineapple.....yum!

Thanks for the very detailed and interesting review!

Had to read several parts to my DH to enjoy also.  We both agreed with the way you handled the Waterfront incident.   That area is set up with couches, chairs & cocktail tables.  It is NOT set up with lounging 'beds' and signs telling everyone to tiptoe around those who are napping😒

Thanks for sharing your review and thoughts with us😎

We used Cruise Control.  Good communication from them.  Our shuttle driver texted us that he would be there in two minutes to pick us up....and he was!  Although there was room for more in our shuttle, we left for the airport on time with only 4 passengers.   

We were supposed to have another family join us from the Disney ship next door but they had a delayed arrival and there disembarkation did not start on time.  Our driver checked with his dispatch to make sure they would have another shuttle take care of the Disney family with their delayed disembarkation.  Then we headed to MCO on time.

I would suggest you check and see how many ships are disembarking that day.  We were very impressed with Cruise Control and how they handled everything.

I usually order a Surf & Surf which for me is Crab cake and a Lobster Tail.     The only time I had a second Lobster tail was when the server insisted as she said 'the lobster tails are small'.

I agree that allowing a second Lobster tail without charge seems reasonable.   Does anyone else find it interesting that the $25 charge is in the 'small print' at the bottom of the menu?  That leaves it to the poor server to inform the passenger.

12 hours ago, kstrittm said:

Just disembarked today. Used Galveston Saltwater Moms and was impressed. They were reasonably priced, on time, and clearly communicated logistics information. They have a Facebook page. I highly recommend them. Plus, who wouldn’t want to help a Mom?  Lol.

 

Picked me up at Hobby and took me to a hotel in Galveston. Then after the cruise, they took me back to Hobby. They also cover IAH…

We had a great experience with Saltwater Moms too!    We used their service a year ago from IAH. 

For our next cruise, we are flying into Hobby.  How long was it from Hobby?  Also, just wondering if your driver offered to stop at Bucees?   

51 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

Until recently, American Diner was often (but not always) offered as a Haven lunch option on day 1, but now it is complimentary for all, so who knows.

On the Joy (October), we were offered lunch in American Diner at no charge the first day.  This was before the American Diner became a complimentary venue with a new & simplified menu.   As I stated above (post #3), we were on the Encore in January the first cruise after the change to complimentary.   I did not hear of any other specialty venue being available to Haven for lunch that first day.   

We enjoyed staying at Cocoa Beach Best Western.   Just a few miles to the port.  (We had rental car that we dropped at the port.)

American Diner is now a complimentary venue with a new menu.   We sailed the first cruise with this change on the Encore in January.   Embarkation day they did give priority seating to some Haven guests but also served non-Haven guests.

48 minutes ago, LloydJr said:

Will the system allow advance booking of the same restaurant twice?

I was able to book the same restaurant twice for our upcoming Prima cruise.

The Haven pool area 'snack' menu is usually available 2-5pm on our Joy & Breakaway cruises.   As I recall, it has Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and a Chicken Caesar wrap and fries.    It was a nice late lunch.  Just ask the attendant for a menu.  

35 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Speaking of which, anyone know how the hamburger buns are in the now complimentary American Diner? Please don't tell me they're the same.

 

DH said he had a good burger & bun in the American Diner on Encore last month.   We ate there a couple of times during our cruise.