farjar

I don't know what particular excursion you are referring to but by booking an excursion you have no intention of taking could result in others who truly wish to participate not getting a spot at all.  Many tours have limited openings so you being a "no show" is rather inconsiderate.  We have often waited 10-15 minutes past an excursion's scheduled departure time for late comers or those who don't come at all. 

We are sailing Alaska in Sept. using the NCL airfare package.  Our final payment isn't due for 2 more months.  I assume that since we haven't yet paid, NCL has made no attempt to secure any airline reservation for us. Looking at various airlines' timetables some have very desirable flights while others are horrific.  The longer NCL waits the worse the selections will become.  If we pay early will NCL make our flight reservation now since we are committed to that cruise?  I know we won't hear our flight details until about 60 days prior to sailing but will NCL look for flights once we pay when options will be better or wait until 2 months out when the options will be more limited?

Also any positive or negative experiences with NCL's Alaska airfare package (Vancouver-Seward) would be appreciated.

I'm assuming when using Port Valet you put out all your large luggage the night before but still keep back a carry on bag with the items and clothing needed for your disembarkation morning like any other cruise.  You then just carry that bag on the plane.  Is that right?

We will be sailing the Bliss to Alaska and see it has neither O'Sheehan's nor Moderno restaurants.  Does The Local serve corned beef sandwiches like O'Sheehan's does?  Also, as platinum level, we are entitled to dinner for two at either Moderno or La Cucina.  Since there is no Moderno is La Cucina our only option for that platinum benefit?  We love Moderno and O'Sheehan's and are extremely disappointed the Bliss has neither. 

Thank you for your very helpful information.  We are very exited about our cruise and are counting down the hours!

We are sailing Dec. 5th on the Epic and wish to make reservations for Escape the Big Top as soon as we board.  It's our first time on the Epic and wonder what is our best option?  Do we go to the theater box office, a kiosk, or the Consierge desk?  We are platinum level and also wish to book the Behind-the-Scenes tour.  Can it all be done at the same location? If we use a kiosk where are they located?  We already have our dining, shows and shore excursions booked so it is only onboard reservations we are lacking.  Any additional Epic insight would be greatly appreciated. 

I've heard certain destinations are now requiring the use of coral friendly sunscreens.  Is this true of any of NCL's western Caribbean ports?  Any suggestions as to a good brand?  Thank you.

We are also flying into MCO the day before our cruise and staying at a hotel near the airport.  The morning of our cruise we are being picked up at our hotel and driven to the port by Cortrans shuttle service for $20pp.  They are also picking us up the morning we dock and taking us back to MCO for $20pp.  Their website has a long list of airport hotels they stop at.  You may wish to look at them if there are only two of you traveling.  We used them on one of our last cruises and were very pleased with their service.

In April we spent 18 days on the Sun going through the Panama Canal in one of the best located inside cabins we've ever had in our 9 cruises with NCL. It was 0130 on deck 10. It was located near the aft stairwell on its own little hallway shared with 8 other cabins so the only foot traffic were people going to those cabins. We walked out of your cabin turned the corner and were at the elevators/stairwell. One deck up was the Garden Café and Great Outdoors. Down the elevator on 6 was the Stardust Lounge and on 5 was the Seven Seas main dining room. It was very conveniently located for our needs and extremely quiet. I would recommend it our something similar in that area if you are booking an inside cabin on the Sun..

Thanks Vyhanek. That's exactly what I was asking. If we show up 15 minutes before our dining time and there are 30 people in line ahead of us, do we just say "excuse us we have a reservation" and try to go to the front of the line. I would feel a bit uncomfortable doing that but I wouldn't want to lose my table either. On smaller NCL ships we have never had to make MDR reservations. On the Sun, for example, the right hands doors were for entering the MDR and the left hand doors were for exiting. Has anyone ever just walked directly up to the desk through the exit side?

This will be our first time on the Epic and we have already made our MDR dinner reservations. How soon before our reservation time should we show up and is there a separate line for people with reservations? Since they apparently only hold the reservation for 15 minutes we wouldn't want to miss it.

We like certain entrees served in the MDRs like Steak Diane or whole roasted prime rib. Are all the NCL ships serving the same menu on the same day or is there a "Day 1 of cruise menu" specific for the ship you're on? I seem to recall prime rib being served on a "sea day" associated with the optional formal evening, for example. It would be helpful to know before booking our specialty restaurants what will be available in the complimentary dining rooms. Is there a link to see the menus prior to sailing?

NCL offers string ray encounters in both Grand Cayman and Great Stirrup Cay. Both are priced at $75 although the Grand Cayman tour is 2 1/2 hours (activity level 2) while Great Stirrup Cay is 1 1/2 hours (activity level 1) We are in our early 70's but in good physical shape. Is one better than the other?

We will be first time platinum members on our next cruise. We would like to pre-book our free dinners at Le Bistro and Moderno prior to sailing but will not have our voucher until we get to our cabin. How does that work? Will we be charged a fee when we book and credited back later when we turn in our voucher? We would prefer not to have to go to our room first, get the voucher then stand in the reservation line when we get on the ship. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

We have never prepaid gratuities on our previous 7 cruises but did so before our upcoming one. That was because the rate was increasing as of April 1 and we wanted to be able to pay the old rate. On a past trip our room thermostat was broken for an entire night and we froze until it was repaired. We requested the service fee be removed for that one day only. We feel if there is an issue it is easier to have the charge removed if you haven't prepaid them than to try to get a credit later.

We will be sailing soon and with the "distinctive voyages" offer we are entitled to 120 minutes of phone calls. Are there phones in the internet café or elsewhere we use? Can we call from out at sea or do we have to be in port? I would like to tell my family at home when they might expect to hear from us. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Sheebah for the great posts. Any chance of you taking pictures of the dailies like you did of the O'sheehan's and teppanyaki menus and posting them? We are sailing in January and would love to get a sneak peek.

We don't have a smart phone or texting capabilities. We only have a prepaid cell that we buy minutes for from airvoice wireless. It is basically for emergencies.

Our cell phone plan does not cover calls from Mexico to the US. What are some suggestions how to keep in touch with family at home? Are there places near the pier in Cabo, PV, or Mazatlán from where you can call? Can we buy a calling card in the US and use it in Mexico? What does it cost to call from the ship? Are there internet cafes in port? Are they safe to use? Is using the ship's internet café a better option. We are seniors with no Wi-Fi or anything high tech. We do have email accounts but would prefer phoning. Any information would be sincerely appreciate.

This recipe for Choco-Hoto-Pots from Oprah.com is the closest thing I found to Chocolate Melting Cake. See if you agree. I use custard cups instead of ramekins.

Choco-Hoto-PotsCreated by Nigella LawsonFrom the show What Ya Cookin'? Makes 4 servingsForget about the calories—just sit back and enjoy the decadence provided in this warm chocolate treat. INGREDIENTS

• Butter for ramekins
  
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  
• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 3/4 cup superfine sugar (regular is fine too)
  
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional)

Place baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400°. Butter four 2/3-cup ramekins and set aside.

Using a microwave oven or double boiler, melt together the semisweet chocolate and the butter. Set aside to cool.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sugar and flour. Add cooled chocolate mixture, and mix until blended. Fold in white chocolate chips.

Divide mixture evenly among ramekins and place on baking sheet. Bake until tops are shiny and cracked and chocolate beneath is hot and gooey, about 20 minutes. Place each ramekin on a small plate with a teaspoon and serve, reminding children that ramekins and chocolate are hot.