monl765

We stayed in Old San Juan for the night before, and had a great time with the multiple bars and places to eat.  The cab/shared shuttle ride from OSJ to the pier is a fixed price, cant' remember how much exactly.  (Cabs from the airport to the pier, or to anywhere nearby is a fixed rate depending on distance to the location)

On 6/27/2019 at 8:28 AM, Twipenne said:

Let's start with the fact that I've never taken a cruise in my life, though it's been on my bucket list for about three years. After doing some research, I booked the Norwegian Escape for Jan 25th because between the solo cabins, the no set dining time, the fact that with free at sea I only have to spend $139 on drinks for the week, the water slides and ropes course, it seemed like a ship I would want to try. But then I found CC after I placed my deposit and all I've seen are posts saying that the line is going down hill and they've been miserable on their cruises. And when I look into RCL and Carnival, I find complaints there as well.

 

So, I ask, should I even bother trying cruising?

A bad day on the Ship is way better than a good day at work, or at home wondering what it would be like on the ship.  Go, and enjoy yourself.

So far, I've never had an offer for an excursion from the port I embarked on.  Is this you're embarkation port?

My first NCL cruise on the Getaway, my flight (arranged by NCL) arrived way late.  The ship was delayed anyway, not leaving until about midnight.  NCL handled the transfer perfectly, I arrived during the muster drill.  Turns out the ship left at 2300, but the terminal  (port authority) closed at 1700.  People made it to the port, and could see the ship still docked, but could not board because the PA was closed.  They had to meet the ship at the first port, and were not happy.

What excursions are you planning?  Did you buy them from NCL?

Best:  At any port finding an outdoor cafe/bar serving locally brewed beer.

Least:  A sea day that has a heavy downpour so EVERYONE is inside making a very crouded situation!

And there usually are a lot of cigarette smokers in the cigar lounge.  I don't smoke but my cruise friend does.  He said there are always complaints about cigarette smokers taking over the cigar lounge.

Thank you BirdTravels !  Your posts here of Specialty menus, and the Platinum dinner vouchers in another thread answered my (unasked) questions about that benefit for my next cruise, first time Platinum.

8 hours ago, cruisencrazy said:

I agree with everything you stated.  The reason we didn't go for Haven is the lowest category was over $10,000 when we booked, even reduced it's $7000 now.   I'm just disappointed, and I know this is real life, that we are not treated the same when we purchase the same cruise.  I know everyone does it, but I don't have to like it.  I'm having a bad couple of weeks healthwise and ....sorry to vent.  

It's quite nice to have an OP that isn't full of themselves, and knows how to be civil.  Hope you have a great vacation !

BTW, I love going on a cruise for my Birthday!  Enjoy your birthday, and your birthday cake on board.

On 7/26/2019 at 4:34 PM, mitsugirly said:

Does NCL not offer the cans that you can buy online and have waiting in the room? I was thinking they did but can't locate them.

Honestly, I think that is Carnival.  NCL lets you buy packages of water, but not soda for delivery to your room.  Heck, Carnival even delivered bottles of liquor to your room......(or at least they used to.)

The NFC & AFC championships and the Superbowl were shown on every public TV on board the Spirit, Epic, Jade and Dawn when I was on them the last 4 years.

I have been on several of these late Jan / early Feb cruises, the most recent a 21 day back to back Jan 2019.  Your cruise is the same as one of those legs.  There will be few kids, but there will be several around.  We tended to get off the ship at the ports, taking excursions on some, just walking around finding a place for a beer on others.  Found a great outdoor cafe in Willemstad, did tours in Aruba, drove golf carts in Bonaire, took it easy in St. Lucia and stayed in the tourist area there, same in Bridgetown.  Lots to do on the ship in any of these ports as well.  Also did the jets landing at Maho Beach in St. Maarten.  You will have a great time !!   (P.S.  If you are a Star Wars fan, google "the yoda guy" at St. Maarten and visit the place.  It is walking distance to the ship)

21 days, a B2B on the Dawn in Jan/Feb.  Great times!

Before that it was a 14 day B2B on the Spirit.

A bad day on a cruise ship beats a good day at home wondering what the cruise would have been like.

Head for O'Sheehans for the "First" first drink !

(i.e. first drink of the first day, lol.....)

On 4/8/2019 at 12:14 PM, jakesnana said:

 

Well that kind of stinks :(  I know it's a "free" perk (not really, I sailed a lot on NCL to get to this level), but if a cabin only had one Platinum member in the cabin they would get the same perk as someone with 2 Platinum members in the cabin. Kind of devalues the second Platinum guest. Basically, as it turns out we probably won't use any of them. Our friends will not pay to eat in a specialty restaurant and it seems rude to abandon them 2 nights out of the week for us to enjoy our "perks".

You could try a "ladies" night and "guys" night, the two men have dinner at one spot while the ladies have the other dinner at a second.  At least then you would still treat them to one free dinner and still use the perks.....

Not in the Caribbean, no.

I have been in two, on the Getaway and the Epic. I loved them both, plenty of storage - but no drawers. They are smaller than an inside room, but the bed is the best - a full sized bed, not two twins pushed together. The lounge was great, the coffee was the best on the ship plus the snacks till 10 pm. The bar is open from 5-7 if memory serves, and there was plenty of solo people to talk to or hang out with. In both cases there were very different groups of people in the solo cabins.

You CAN get one with the soda package. Not sure about the UBP. You want one? I have about 10 of them cluttering up my cabinet.

Actually, yes. add @yahoo.com to my name to let me know how to get one from you.

Not there yet, but will be after the next B2B cruise.

9/15 Getaway 7 day => 7 pts

1/16 Spirit 14 day B2B => 14 pts, 21 total

1/17 Epic 7 day booked 9 months out => 14 pts, 35 total

1/18 Jade 10 day => 10 pts, 45 total

1/19 Dawn 21 day B2B Lattitudes double, 42 pts, 87 total.

Meeting people is not a problem. Go to a trivia game, or a name that tune game. Or, as I told my friend on his first cruise, go to a bar and sit down. Look left, then right and it is a 50:50 chance they will talk to you before you talk to them. Everyone on a cruise is looking to have fun.

I have often noticed very pretty girls beside the pool, once per trip. Often it seems to be the crew (dancers) having a day off and just enjoying the sun, but you would not know unless you saw the show(s). I'm sure the guys do the same, but ......

One other thing Cozmic206. If you get any drinks onboard before the ship leaves port, or before it gets into international waters, you will be charged the state tax on the drink. Many times it is less than a dollar per drink, but it is an added charge.

You can tell when you are in international waters, it is when the casino opens.

I was also on the Jade for this trip, along with a friend on his first cruise.

I agree with everything said here, except we really liked P&K, even though they were very repetitive in their songs. Some coaching would help.

O'sheens was great, but not like the Getaway or Epic. The bar was fine, as well as the dining booths along the windows on both port and starboard sides. It had low tables and seats along the inside overlooking the Atrium, not like the taller bar tables and seats on the other ships. It was however, the "go to" bar for us.

I loved Bonaire, we rented a golf cart from Bonaire Cruisers, and drove the southern half of the island. We drove half of the northern part, but went back to the ship due to a late start. I highly recommend the golf cart rental, it was the highlight of the cruise!

I have been to Cagney's at least 4 times, Moderno 3 times and Le Bistro once. If you like the word "rare" in your description of meat, do NOT go to Moderno ! If "well" is in your description, absolutely go to Moderno. I love Cagney's, and Moderno. The best steak I had on board was at Le Bistro, but I did not like the sides....