dincus

Hey Graphicguy! We're in 14742 on the Getaway next week! We'll take good care of it for you😁

Dows this restaurant still exist on Divina? I've read really good reviews of it but even MSC can't tell me anything about it.

How does the unlimited ding package work? Can we eat in any specialty restaurant we want? Are there any additional charges? Does it include lunches? Thank you.

I'm on hold with NCL right now checking on my cruise on the Sun on 9-2. I told her about the Breakaway situation and that their website says they are boarding at 0900 tomorrow. She told me that cruise has been cancelled and a new 4 day cruise is leaving on Wednesday and passengers will have the opportunity to chose to sail on that cruise.

As for my cruise on the Sun, she told me it is on schedule to arrive at Port Canaveral on 9-2 in am. I told her the Sun is in Cozumel and is scheduled to leave 9-1 at 6pm which she confirmed. I told her it was not possible to leave Cozumel at 6pm and be in Port Canaveral the next morning. She had no explanation other than they are waiting on Coast Guard to tell them what they could do.

NCL website with Dorian info is back up and updated at 9pm and says that Breakaway IS sailing tomorrow with early checkin starting at 0900.

I just spent 58 minutes on hold and then speaking with an agent. I got the standard "NCL cannot control the weather". I explained exactly what Tinyturtle said and also everything that I said in my OP.  She said she could only tell me what NCL has told her. The Sun will be in Port Canaveral Monday 9-2.

GADABOUTGAL  There is a rumor that once winds reach tropical force (35 MPH) the causeways close so if you haven't evacuated by that time you can't leave. Brevard County posted today that that is exactly that. A rumor. However once the storm has passed, you can't use the causeways until the bridges have been inspected. That may take a couple of days. That may be the reason that so many people stay because they can't get back for a couple of days after the storm ha passed.

Well told Tinyturtle.. If you're flying in the airport is closed. If you're driving the causeways may be closed. Mandatory evacuation means you shouldn't even be here. NCL is doing their clientele a great disservice.

Not sure why NCL hasn't cancelled or delayed this cruise. Port Canaveral officially closes Saturday night at midnight. Orlando International Airport closes at 2AM Monday morning. Brevard County has a mandatory evacuation for the barrier islands (of which Port Canaveral is on) starting Sunday at 8AM. They are still saying the Sun will return to Port Canaveral on Monday. Doesn't make sense. We live here on Merritt Island (considered a barrier island) and are booked on the 9-2 sailing. We are leaving Sunday morning to evacuate. Once you cross the causeway you can't get back on until the bridges have been inspected so there is no way to get to the port even if the Sun did make it back. 

I understand NCL now allows shorts in many of their restaurants at dinner. We'll be on the Sun for our 54th cruise next week and I've never worn shorts at dinner on any cruise. This particular cruise looks like shorts may be appropriate (5 day cruise, open bar). Any observations from recent cruisers on the Sun as to the dress in the main and special dining venues as to what people are wearing?

On our last cruise on Getaway we had the 3 day SDP. We also had 2 additional Specialty Dining dinners for being Platinum. While dining on the SDP we were able to order 1 entrée and as many appetizers as we liked. When using the coupons that were placed in our suite for the Platinum Specialty dinners were told we could only order 1 appetizer. I contested this and the server brought us what we requested. But on reviewing the coupons it clearly stated that the Platinum coupons only allowed 1 appetizer. I offered to pay but wasn't charged. 

Things have changed over the years. We were on the Windward in 1996 (before it was stretched and renamed Norwegian Wind) and they were offering the first specialty restaurant at sea. It was called Le Bistro and the upcharge was $5. The menu today is very similar to the menu in 1996. I remember boarding the ship after port calls and they were almost begging passengers to try it. Once we did (and found we could order as many escargots as we liked) we ate there several times on the cruise. We've now sailed with NCL 14 times and it's probably our favorite restaurant on any NCL ship. 

9 hours ago, Nolanoel said:

Oceania has an Ireland itinerary that is exactly what I want!  What is the dress code as opposed to NCL?   I think you will love the BA.  Those aft Haven's are huge!  Coupled with a second bathroom and the fantastic balcony - wow!!  You do have to be a bit careful about what floor you are on - if you are too high you will have to listen to Spice H2O.  

Dress code is essentially the same. Casual. When the Marina and Riviera were built they intentionally did not put tie racks in the staterooms. The only time I wear a jacket is for the wine pairing dinners at La Reserve. They are not free.

On the Breakaway we are up pretty high on deck 13. As for the value of the Haven, if we can't get the stateroom that we want in the Haven we don't sail NCL.

6 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I think the dates are a clue as to what might be going on. March through Easter are pretty much Spring Break weeks, due the staggered schedule across states/school districts. I know for a fact that the week of 4/14/19 was Spring Break here in Western NY, which is why we sailed on the Escape the week of 4/7 instead. 😉 And, of course, July is summer break.

 

Ah, this thread has me wishing for a FUN kid-free cruise line all over again. I had high hopes for Virgin Voyages, but their short sailings and lack of a drink package made them a non-starter for me. And I am not old and/or formal enough to sail on Viking (not to mention not rich enough!).

Have you looked into Oceania? We have sailed with them several times. We've never once seen a kid on board. They promote this by saying they have nothing for kids to do on board. The two larger ships, Riviera and Marina have 4 specialty restaurants that have no fees and are considered to have some of the best food in the industry. They have a buffet on the top aft of the ship where every night they have a buffet that includes a grill station where you can order lobster tails, huge shrimp, rib eye steaks, filets, NY Strips, lamb chops, etc. All included.

We also love NCL and have sailed with them 14 times. We've only sailed in the Haven since it's inception. We recently booked a cruise on the Breakaway for my wife's birthday in December out of Port Canaveral. We booked a Haven Aft Cabin. I compared it to a Penthouse Suite on Riviera. Riviera was only a little bit more but it was for 10 nights instead of 7. We went with NCL this time because Breakaway is new to Port Canaveral and we live 10 minutes away. Miami is a 3 hour drive and a huge parking bill. Oceania has drink packages and also allows you to bring alcohol on board. Our first cruise with them we brought 2 cases of wine on board with us. 

Very quiet on board. No waterslides or race tracks. Just a very relaxing atmosphere. Great pool area and spa. Check it out. It may be what you're looking for with no kids!

Thanks for posting the Porch menu Paul. Greatly appreciated.

Paul,

Have you had a chance to stop by The Porch for the menu? Enjoy the rest of your cruise! We board on 12/7. After following your blog, we can't wait! Thank you. 

Have you guys eaten at The Porch and do you have a photo of the menu? Thanks.

Hello -

 

Did they mention a specifc date as to when the Luminae will start serving the new menu? We are on the 4 April sail date and were curious if we might be the first ones to experience the new formal menu. Thanks to all the posters for providing the 'real-time' updates.

 

Cheers...

We ate breakfast at Luminae most days after the opening Sunday night. I'm pretty certain the Hostess told us the April 4 sailing was to be the first day of the new menu.

I'm not promoting booking early flights but we booked an 1135 flight from MIA to BWI. We were very concerned about the slowdown we'd been hearing about and the taxi line wait that we've experienced at Port of Miami. We were in an Aqua Suite and requested the first group disembarkation. We got #1 and walked down to baggage claim at 0705. We had our bags and were in a cab at 0725. We were in AA first class and we have TSA Pre Check and were thru security at 0805. Of course our flight was 25 minutes delayed!!! But we still got home on time!!

We disembarked the Reflection today as well. We ate in Blu 2 nights. We were in an Aqua Class Suite and actually had a short wait Thursday night. We ate in specialties 5 nights, two of those the Lawn Club which we felt was the best dining on the ship. Our 2 dinners in Blu we felt were better than any of the other specialty restaurants.

We had breakfast in Luminae several days. It was very slow service, but very professional. I came on board without a jacket because we were eating in restaurants not requiring one and when I asked the Hostess at breakfast in Luminae if one was required for formal night She made a call and told us it was but they would provide one for me. We passed and ate at Blu.

I spoke with our concierge yesterday. He told me that when the change takes place the first week of April that ALL suites will be able to request dining in Blu based on availibility but you must have a reservation. Only Aqua Class staterooms will be guaranteed reservations.

We've eaten one breakfast and 1 dinner in Blu and we're eating there tonight. Since Luminae opened we've eaten all breakfasts there. It's much less crowded than Blu.

Where did you get that information? ALL press releases and other information states that suite guests will STILL be able to eat in Blu on a space available basis as they always have even AFTER the suites only dining room opens. Are you assuming you won't or has someone told you that suites won't have that privilege anymore? Please advise.

Suites can get in on availability. The only guarantee is for Aqua class.

From an earlier post on Uploading Pictures

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=35534754

 

 

1. Get a hosting site like Shutterfly or Photobucket

2. Upload your pictures there.

3. When your pix are there, bring one up on the site by itself. You can resize it, work with it if you want. Put your mouse pointer over it, right click to copy it.

4. Come to CC, and respond to a post, in the response, place your mouse pointer where you want the pic to appear, right click again, this time, paste it.

Thanks Jim! I'll try it when I get home.

Any Photos?

I took several but I have no idea how to post them! Sorry.

What about Aqua Class Suites? Do they still have the option of eating in Blu?

We have that option now and had a great dinner there last night. But when they change the Aqua suites to sky suites that option goes away.

Luminae opened last night for dinner. We had the first breakfast there this morning. Beautiful room. They are using the Opus menu for now while they develop the permanent menus.

We were just on the Getaway in the Haven in December. We liked the ship so much we booked again for a cruise later this year. We ate in specialty restaurants every night and loved every meal. We're on the Reflection on February 28 so we can't wait to compare.