2Cruise4Ever

On 3/28/2024 at 10:15 PM, WillCruiseForMoney said:

It was originally mentioned by @2Cruise4Ever, perhaps they will let us know if they had any data on their eDocs.

I never did figure it out.  Sorry!

Hello fellow NCL-ers!  Leaving on Escape this Sunday and am so very excited!  @Sthrngary  I have my Butler letter ready to go, too (thank you for the template!).  Will write a review with pics when we return.  Thank you all so very much for the helpful advice!  We love the Haven and are super excited to return!

21 hours ago, PatJim said:

This is so well put.  Thank you.

It’s a pleasure getting to know the staff, some of whom have become great friends over the years.  We’ve been known to book unplanned cruises just so we can see them.

Patricia

You're very welcome.  And, same with us.  We actually took our 10 year anniversary cruse a month early so that we could sail with some crew members who's contracts were ending.  Love the NCL staff and crew!!

17 hours ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

Total Wine is within walking distance and they have a decent wine selection with some nice wine.  There are some great places in Brickell if you want to go there 

Brickell Wine Bank is a great shop as  and A5 Liquors has a great wine selection.  Total Wine will also deliver. 

 

There is a wine shop in downtown however I have not personally shopped there and got the name from a friend. 

https://maisonmura.wine/collections/all

Awesome.  Thank you!

5 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

@knscruiser322 Great balanced review.  This is the kind of review that NCL should look at and learn from.  Your reference to the difficulty in gaining a lounge chair by the main pool and the arguments folks have was my main reason many years ago to pay the premium in the Haven.  Not all the reasons but a big one.

 

On your reference to the attitude that some Haven Folks have is a shame.  We all pay the price and no one guest is more important than another.  I do have a funny story.  I was on the NCL Joy, In the H2 Owners Suite but kept that quiet just so I could simply enjoy the week with my family. 

 

I am an extrovert and my wife is an introvert.  From time to time I would go to the Haven Bar by myself and have a few drinks.  I would engage with lots of folks.  My approach is simply enjoying folks company and I rarely bring up this blog, or my understanding about the Haven.  I never give my screen name unless someone asks me directly.  I am on vacation and just want to enjoy it.

 

A person next to me started to come across as the "Expert of all Experts" on all things Haven.  For me this was great, I would listen while enjoying my drink and let this person put on a show.  Half of what he was saying was not correct.  I said nothing.  He drew a crowd, and tried to be the center of attention.  No one knew me at all until someone in the group said, "Well, Sthrngary on CruiseCritic.com says this and you are saying something different."  What an odd feeling being quoted when no one knows I was sitting right there.  

 

this "Haven Expert" said, "Oh, Sthrngary YES.  He is a good friend of mine."  I know I had a stroke but I usually remember my friends.  I said nothing.  I just smiled.  The guy left and the person that challenged the issue said, "I don't think that guy knows what his is talking about.  I understand, SthrnGary is on this cruise, have you ever met him?"

 

I said yes, "I am SthrnGary and what he said was completely wrong.  However what good would it have been to call him out on it.  Let him enjoy his time even if he is not the person he says he is."  That really happened and thinking back on it, I was more sad for the guy then angry.  The one thing I will say is we all have to find a way on Vacation to avoid at al cost drama.  If I want drama, I can go to my adults daughters home and ask her about her work.  I am ON VACATION NOW.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

It's funny how a few CC-ers try to puff up their feathers... YOU do NOT!!  And, I am so thankful for that!  I so appreciate all your tips / tricks.  In fact, I took your Butler letter and customized it for us for our next cruise in 13 days!  So excited!  

We have sailed NCL for over 20 years (probably not as many cruises as you, though).  And, we have been afforded some special requests that weren't really requested..  I won't elaborate... it's between us and them.  So, I get you about staying incognito!  We do, too. It's all about the relationships you / we forge with the staff and crew.  Not to expect anything special... just because we like to have those new friends.  We are still friends with many NCL-ers from when we first sailed as a family nearly 20 years ago.  It's an honor and a privilege to have those friendships.... and NOT to be flaunted!

On 7/28/2023 at 3:00 PM, skrufy said:

Stayed there many yaears ago. Wonderful hotel. The view is nice to wake up to. The only draw back to the view is you have to look across Dodge Island. Also stayed at the YVE, nice but is an old building with a small elevator. Bayside Marketplace is a short walk.

The Marriott Biscayne Bay has an unobstructed view of the port. 

Thanks for the info!  We plan to hit Bayside Marketplace for sure.  That looks like fun!

Are there any wine / liquor stores nearby the Intercontinental?  We can bring wine on board and are flying in.  So we don't want to pack wine bottles - lol.  Hoping to have a few to take with us on the cruise.

48 minutes ago, disneylover89 said:

They changed the hours though.  Instead of 10am-6pm the new hours with the change are 6am-2:30pm.  

For ours it's listed as 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The new rumored schedule shows 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  I don't like the shortened time, either... but will still make the best of it.

15 hours ago, hallux said:

 

 Neighbors of my parents are sailing the Escape in August on a Bermuda trip - Aug. 22 is the first New York departure...

Yep, the ship is re-positioning to NYC right after our cruise ends.

4 minutes ago, Monica887 said:

How do you get this information? I'm on the Escape a different week, but if someone booked a tour/resort/car rental etc in a port, they would need to know in advance!

One of my friends who booked through BJ's noticed the itinerary change on her reservation online.  And, most definitely about advanced warning!  We sailed the Getaway in Feb and was supposed to go to Bermuda... they switched it to Nassau instead and didn't tell us until we were boarding.  Fortunately, the excursion I had planned had a full refund policy for cancelation and had enough time to call before we set sail.  

7 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

Not for long because beginning on the 10th of September, The Escape will be sailing out of New York City for a series of New England cruises followed by a series of cruises to Bermuda before returning to Port Canaveral for the Winter Season according to NCL's website.

Oh, yeah, I knew about that... forgot.  Not a big deal, like I said.  I have been in touch with someone who is on the ship now and confirmed the change.  Looks like ours will be affected, too, if they stick to the schedule you mentioned.  I'll be prepared to make changed if needed.

1 minute ago, www3traveler said:

This has been this way for several weeks now.  One week Puerto Plata is first, the next week last.  The current cruise has Puerto Plata last.-- nothing new.

The people I know who had their itineraries changed didn't know about it until a few days before.  And, I know someone on the current sailing who said they changed it last minute.  Do you know how long they will keep the new schedule?  Not a big deal... I just need to move some things around if it does change.

Rumor has it that the itinerary has changed for the Escape sailing 8/13 to 8/20.  Some travel sites (that a few of my fellow cruisers booked through) are announcing the change, but NCL hasn't said a word.  I did some research online, but haven't found anything.  The original schedule was:

Day At Sea

Puerto Plata, DR

St. Thomas

Tortola, BVI

Day at Sea

Great Stirrup Cay

Rumored schedule:

Great Stirrup Cay

Day at Sea

St. Thomas

Tortola, BVI

Puerto Plata, DR

Day At Sea

Anyone here heard anything?

27 minutes ago, sandi422 said:

If I understand correctly, Haven rooms earn double points toward Latitudes levels.  We are traveling with another couple in a 2 bedroom Haven. Our names appear first on the booking. Will the other couple earn double points even though they will be the 3rd and 4th person? We took advantage of the sale where the 3rd and 4th person were super discounted.  Thanks for the help!

I don't believe so.  I think it's only the first two listed on the cabin.

2 hours ago, AKR2011 said:

 On port days, the main dining rooms are not open for lunch, and sometimes the buffet closes right when the crowds are returning to port too, so check your dailies if you will need a late lunch on board. O'Sheehan's will be open all day. ️

I think the MDR for lunch on port days varies.  We've been on cruises where one is open and we've been on cruises where they are all closed.  So, yes, check the dailies.

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

You're referring to specialty dining, correct?

Is there a need to reserve the MDR?

No need to reserve the MDRs.  It works like a regular land-based restaurant.  Walk up, put your name in and they give you a beeper if there is a wait.  We've never waited more than 15 minutes.

13 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Roughly 22:55 (10:55 pm EDT) at POM, checking the live cam feed & Marinetraffic: C's Celebration and M's Seascape are still moored at their berth ... just like the Escape. 

 

Disembarked pax trying to book or fly standby on available, alternate flights to get home might have just limited luck and success - 3 ships ... even if that's just a fraction of the combined 10,000+ ship passengers.  It's not as if airlines got plenty of seats available ... on the other hand, flights that departed earlier today/afternoon probably had a good # of no-shows or cancellations, etc.  What a mess triggered by the small boat collision with the ferry 😒

Doubtful there were any empty seats.  Both MIA and FLL airports were closed much of the day on Saturday due to the storms.  So, it was a double-whammy for the airlines this weekend!

So sorry the OP had a lousy time.  Wish you all the best on whatever other line you choose.

Been cruising for over 20 years, mostly on NCL.  Have never had what I'd call a "bad" cruise.  Some experiences were better than others.  But, my philosophy is "My worst day on a cruise is still better than my best day at work!"

Frankly, I'd be happy with however many sea days the ship would give me.  The ship is a destination in and of itself.  Embarkation fiasco?  Definitely not NCL's fault...  blame the port authority.  Canceled ports?  Good luck finding a cruise line that doesn't cancel ports.  It's in the fine print of the contract.

Dinner in Cagney's wasn't good?  Oh, well...  no cash out of your pocket.  You could have asked for an additional dining coupon to try somewhere else since it was so bad.  I'm hard pressed to believe guest services wouldn't oblige.

NCL also has no control over flights.  Since you disembarked early enough you could have tried to fly stand-by.

I'm not an NCL cheerleader by any means.  Just pointing out some areas that could have been better or no fault of the cruise line despite what some might blame them for.  I am a cruise cheerleader!  Any cruise I'm in, in my opinion, is a good cruise!

We sailed Getaway in February in a balcony cabin.  No robes.  I believe they are only for Haven / Suite guests.

On 5/29/2023 at 3:21 PM, EatonDoolittle said:

https://www.tortolapier.com/

 

Also town, where Pusser's is, is just a short walk. 

Thank you so much!  We are only in Tortola for a short time.  We've been trying to figure out what to do that day.  Excursions are out of the question since we dock from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and we're not early risers.  I've read so many people say that there is virtually nothing in the port area.  Uh, I think they were wrong!  This looks to be absolutely perfect!

Thank you for these suggestions!  We plan to stay all day at the Taino Bay aqua park and take advantage of the lazy river and pools.

1 hour ago, www3traveler said:

Please remember that only a certain number of dining reservations can be made online prior to your cruise.  At this point I would not stress out about it.

True!  They only release 20% of the reservations pre-cruise.  So, you can still do what you want... just take care of it right away as soon as you board.

You don't even need to go to the restaurant reservation desk.  Make a bee-line to one of the touch-screens near any elevator.  You can make your ressies there.  Then, head to muster.  

The check in times were added when covid testing was a requirement.  That is no longer the case so they do not enforce the check in times anymore.  Arrive whenever you want to. We were on Getaway out of NYC in February... no one was looking at check in times.  If you want a smooth process then plan to arrive after 1:00 p.m....  most of the onslaught will be before then.

On board a ship with nearly 4,000 people.... really the only quiet place with a lounge chair will be in the Haven.  You can always tell your butler and concierge not to fret over you.  But, I think you'll find their services to be excellent.  If you and the fam want to go to a show or a specialty restaurant your concierge will handle those reservations for you.  Want in-suite dining for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?  Your butler will take care of that.  

Been cruising for 20+ years and I can tell you that every single cruise I was treated like royalty... Haven or not.  But, we like to quiet areas, the extra attention to tiny details, and especially the food in the Haven restaurant.  Will we sail in a regular balcony?  Yep, and have many times.  But, when we are with our family, it's Haven every time.  For the reasons I mentioned above, and we can get a 2 bedroom suite there.