iriefeeln

OK, so if you had to rank itineraries, which would you prefer and why? Below appear to be the options based on how Escape's itineraries have been changed through December.

 

 

 

1. Falmouth, Grand Cayman, GSC, and Cozumel

 

2. Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, Cozumel

 

3. Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, and GSC

 

4. Falmouth, Grand Cayman, GSC, and Nausau

 

 

 

 

 

As an over planner, I'm anxiously waiting to see where Epic will be going on my Jan 13th cruise.

4,1,3,2

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Hi there,

Does it make sense to reserve the specialty restaurants prior to boarding? Do they charge you before hand? We will be with our young son, usually he picks from the usual kids menu so not sure if they would adjust/reimburse us for his not picking from the specialty menu?

 

Thanks,

Reservations open up for haven guest 100 days out and non haven guest 90 days out. They only open about 30% of the available times until embarkation. if at all possible make the reservation prior to boarding if still available. you may make them on board but due to the dining package offer that most people have received times fill up quickly , especially for larger parties. if you have to await boarding, arrive early to assure availability.

I am sailing on the Escale September 10th and the first Cowboys game of the year is September 11th vs the New York Football Giants. Does the escape show every NFL game on the ship or do they just play a select few games?

I cruise with NCL every December (week 16/17 of the season and there are always games on. I traveled the escape last year and the atrium had the games and multiple bars had games as well. The cabin TV was also able to get one or 2 games as well. I cant say for sure your game will be on but their definitely will be football shown.

My hubbie, T Bone, and I are leavin on the Escape on Saturday. He's really wantin to do a swim with the Sharks excursion. Given that this is to celebrate our 3rd go round at marriage in 8 years, I'd prefer if he try it without a cage if possible. Just kidding! Well kind of. But if anybody has tried this shark thing, let me know.

My daughter (she was 12 at the time) and I did it in the Bahamas (at her request) . It was the 3rd stop on a snorkel/dive trip. Someone went ahead of us to feed the sharks prior to us arriving to dive site. When we arrived the charter also dropped a chum bucket to the bottom to assure the sharks stayed close to the bottom rather than up around us. The sharks did not stay on the bottom. They were very curious and swam right up and around us (at least 15 sharks that I counted) It was rather nerve-wracking but very exciting nonetheless. It was an unforgettable experience. Most were Caribbean Reef sharks. They were rather large. One that swam up close to me was easily 8 feet and there were others that were larger than that one. I would do it again in a heart beat. It was an amazing experience. Only 5 people on the charter chose to do the dive but I highly recommend it, if the opportunity arises.

Moderno

I was wondering the same thing for my cruise in March. I see the same excursions posted above on the site, but nothing about the cabanas.

 

$400+ for a SMALL cabana?!:eek: Yikes. I was hoping that would be the price for a large one...might have to rethink this.

An how did you go about renting those cabanas? can you do that prior to sail? or do you have to wait until you are physically on the island?

On the renderings for the private island I noticed some "private beach side villas" . Does anyone know what the cost to rent those for the day will be? And or what will be included in that cost?

thank you in advance for the replies....

Thank you for the detailed responses.:)

Appreciate the reply .... Thank you

Good morning

We are in the midst of booking our trip for March 25 on the legend. After looking over the deck plans we noticed room 100 & 101 have some extra space. If anyone has stayed in those rooms or have toured them and can give some advice we would appreciate it. Specifically....noise level or any other pertinent info. We generally prefer to be mid-ship and in as a high a deck as feasible.

Thanks in advance for the replies...

When my wife and I travel we like to get together and watch a movie in bed in the evenings before we fall asleep. We generally load up our IPADS with stuff but we're also wondering if there are on demand or pay per view movie options in the room?

 

Thanks in advance for any replies....

Sorry....specifically on the Star Legend

When my wife and I travel we like to get together and watch a movie in bed in the evenings before we fall asleep. We generally load up our IPADS with stuff but we're also wondering if there are on demand or pay per view movie options in the room?

Thanks in advance for any replies....

My wife and I enjoy gambling while we are on vacation. I was wondering if anyone that has traveled on he Legend had any information on the casino.

1: what hours are they opened ?

2: what types of games do they have

3: does it get crowded?

4: any other helpful info greatly aporeciated

Thanks

My wife and I are new to Windstar and are about to book the Star Legend March 25th San Juan and Virgin Islands. We are not new to cruising but have never cruised the smaller "luxury" yacht style lines. We have been NCl loyalists, traveling in the Haven for years . We love the service the Haven offers but really we are over the mass market lines. We are looking forward to what Windstar offers from all aspects . I love the idea of the water sports deck and the itineraries. From what everyone is stating on these threads, the service is impeccable.

If there are thoughts/ recommendations with regards to cabin preference or not and /or anything else that anyone is willing to offer to a Windstar newbie it would b greatly appreciated .

I am aware that the Latitudes Points program has changed.

 

We just received Platinum status on our last cruise, 05/01/16. When I look at the website the one page states I have 77 points but the graph, if you will, shows us still at Bronze because of the points change system.

 

So my question is, are we grandfathered into the new system if we are already platinum?

 

Thanks in advance and I apologize if this subject has already been beaten to death.

After reading your post, I signed on to my NCL. I have 110 latitudes points and it lists me as platinum but the bar graph shoes me as bronze. I will be following along to see if anyone else comments. I would be rather irritated if I were to lose the 2 free dinners (mine and my wife's) and the laundry benefits. Following....

I read some review that mentioned dropping off bags in room even though not "ready" yet, and I remember thinking that was different than other cruise lines , but maybe it was a Haven review I read.

 

Does NCL let regular pax drop of luggage in cabin before they are secure? For those pax willing to chance no one will steal clothes and waterbottles? I assumed hallways closed off and this NOT allowed but did come across the reference in a review so thought I'd ask.....sorry to hijack thread.

 

 

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It depends on your cabin steward and how far along the prep process he/she is. The hallways are closed off but in the past I have been able to walk through and enter the cabin to drop bags (even when I was not in the haven). Some stewards aren't fans of this and will tell you the room isn't ready yet. Some are ok with it as long you don't interfere. They are super pressed for time to get things done. Your stuff should be safe. anything you are concerned about can go into the safe as well until you return to unpack.

Normal time (1-2-ish) or earlier? Planning on arriving around 10:30/11 but would love to not lug around a carry-on too long.

You are escorted onto the ship and into the Haven lounge. Once you have boarded, you are then escorted to the cabin by the concierge and he/she gives their welcome remarks. At that time you can drop off your bags even if the room isn't fully ready yet and then you may go on your way and some food etc...This is done periodically as groups board .....so the answer to your question is; it depends when you arrive and board the ship. you will have access to your room at that time. At least that has been my experience the last few times I have traveled. I have always arrived prior to noon and after being escorted to the room, I drop my bags off.

How does a la carte pricing work with udp ? I noticed cagneys is a la carte now and was wondering how it worked with my package on my upcoming cruise

If you use the UDP/SDP for your meal you may order multiple appetizers and desserts, but if you chose to order a second entre they will charge you an additional fee ($10 I believe). On a side note, at Cagneys, on the escape, I ordered the bone in rib eye and then decided to add a lobster tail to that and I wasnt up charged.

I was under the impression suite passengers got to watch movies at no charge, can someone confirm? But the Star doesn't have movies, is that correct? No DVD players in suites either? Thanks for the help

I was in a Haven Spa Suite on Escape and you are correct....the pay movies were no charge

For those who have sailed recently. Are you allowed to bring a case of water onboard? Thought I read something about just putting a luggage tag on it?

Also, I heard that if your balcony door was open, the AC won't work? Is there a work around?

One more please, will a gift card keep the lights on instead of a room key?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

 

 

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you

you may bring a case of water on board

As soon as the balcony door opens the a/c shuts off and as far as I know there is no work around for that

any card we shoved in the key slot worked to keep the electricity on

I understand that as Latitudes Platinum members, we are given dinner for 2 at Le Bistro. Question: If DW & I are each Platinum, do we get to go twice? Or, can I take someone as a guest?

I just got off the escape and my wife and I are both platinum and we both received a Platinum free dinner.

Any recommendations for Le Bistro? What are the do's and don'ts? What is the consensus between Le Bistro or La Cuccina? Yes, I realize everyone has different opinions, but I like to hear what other have to say.

Le Bistro is a far better dining option (although I have always had good meals a la cucina) but it is just at a different level with regard to cuisine and service.

The mushroom soup is to amazing , lump carb salad is wonderful as well( on escape new menus not sure if on getaway as of yet) escargot is a good option as an app, and I get the lobster on most occasions and always love it.

Hi everyone! Relying on your expertise once again! I am not as well versed with NCL so have a few questions.

Just booked a January 16 sailing on the Escape. We got a 4 dinner dining package. I am reading that if you dont have reservations booked before hand you may be out of luck yet it looks like you need to pay to be able to book beforehand?

Also, I tried looking for a thread that tells about the changes to specialty dining. I would like to know in regard to having a package if I can expect lots of extra charges in addition at each venue??

Thanks in advance!!!

Correct....you may order as many appetizers and or desserts as you want. If you want an additional entre there will be an additional charge. They will give you a bill at the end of the dinner with a zeroed out balance for you to sign and add additional gratuity if you choose.

Re: reservations....you should be able to make them at no charge. I highly advise it as if you are not on the ship very early on day 1 you most likely will not end up with preferred day and time if at all available.

Getting ready to book our first NCL cruise, always sailed Carnival in the past. We will be sailing in November 2016. We are drawn to the double freestyle special, which gives us the drinks and dining free. So this limits are boat choices to the Escape and Getaway.

If you had to choose which boat would you go with? itinerary doesn't really matter to us. We will be sailing kid free.

So I guess my question is. Is there a huge difference between the two boats? We will be doing an interior room, we have booked balconies before and never really used it.

I just got off the escape last week and I have been on the Getaway 3 times prior. I really have no complaints about either ship. if you have never been you really cant go wrong. I do have to say....the Escape was spectacular and the new menus (which I don't think have gone fleet wide as of yet) are an improvement from the getaway (more options) food quality is the same. An on another note, I am booked back on the Getaway for Western Caribbean next December already. You really cant make a bad choice here.

Please share your success in getting specialty dining reservations or changing reservations on board the Escape. Getting mixed reports. NCL says that they only allow a limited number of reservations to be made before embarkation day. So, it should be easy to add/change reservations if done as soon as I board. But other reports are saying nothing is available except maybe LaCucina at very late hours. Any ability to get seated at specialty restaurants without a reservation? Like if you show up when first opens at 5:30pm? Thanks!

I agree.....book as much as you can prior. If you need to change reservations, they will accommodate you but by the end of the first day, that will be much more difficult task to accomplish. The caveat to this is if you are in the Haven.

I was just on the ship last week and folks we were traveling with that were not in the haven tried to make changes in their reservations on day 2 and were told that the request could not be accommodated. We walked up to our concierge and moved 5 reservations with no issue.