Eleteace

Hellooo!

It really doesn't matter if you want to pay them at the beginning or at the end, I tend to do them at the start just to get them over and done with.

They are worked out per person per night, I've tried to explain how gratuities work here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/11/26/cruise-line-gratuities-infographic/

I hope that helps! I would recommend paying them before you go if you have the money :-)

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I love the star she's such a cute little ship (although smaller than a lot of the rest). It really just depends what you want from the cruise, there's a lot to consider.

Here are the main things I think you should know before cruising with NCL. http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/12/04/8-things-ncl/ I hope that it helps. Should help you to make a decision :-)

I love the food on NCL, the entertainment, the cabins. Everything really, bit of an NCL fan over here!

I would whole heartedly say go for it!!

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I love the post! Reminds me of why I used to love cruising as a child :-)

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You usually have to sign up to get an early number. If you aren't in any rush you can just get up and go off whenever.

I believe the numbers are just for the first hour or two. More about this here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/10/05/cruise-ship-tendering/

Hope that helps!

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Yep 90 days. Only need to book on the newer ships though!

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Yeah make sure you keep an eye on the tax. Only a little bit but can add up. I was charged around $0.50 on a cocktail that I had.

I love love love the UBP but there's a couple of things you need to remember it doesn't include like bottled water or tea/coffee in the atrium. The package was really easy to use and I really enjoyed it though.

I've done my best to explain the package in more detail here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/09/10/ncls-ubp/

I do agree with everything everybody has said above. Makes sure you try a mango meltdown and a raspberry mojito!' [emoji7]

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Not really, travel agents/companies will 'hold' multiple rooms so it looks busier than it is.

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I would agree with not bothering with reservations. I never do and I've never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes (only at peak times!)

I have written about my experiences with NCL's freestyle dining here, I won't bore you all by writing it out again but I do hope that this helps! http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2017/01/18/ncls-freestyle-dining-explained/

Cruise ship dining can be confusing and a little over whelming when you try a new cruise line, but NCL is definitely the most 'like land'. You shouldn't have any problems at all :-)

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I would stay :-)

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I'm afraid I haven't cruise on MSC at Christmas (although i am this year!)

I have cruised over Christmas twice on NCL and they always have a 'proper' Christmas dinner, carols and a party etc. I can't imagine that MSC will be too much different.

I am really really excited to have Christmas onboard MSC this year!

I have written about my experiences of Christmas on a cruise here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/09/30/cruising-at-christmas/

Hopefully that'll be of use to you, it does mostly related to NCL but still should help you to get excited!

My favourite thing was seeing Santa sail up on a boat besides us, I'll never forget that!

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I have a friend who runs a blog called vegancruiser.co.uk she's cruised MSC before with no problems, may be worth a look :)

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Thanks for sharing your experience. What did you and your friends do on onboard? Did you stay in Entourage when you wanted to hang out or did you look for things to do around the ship?

 

 

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We actually hung out in the entourage place quite a bit! It was set up like a little club almost with games consoles and things in there. We would normally meet up there and wander off to go to get food or to see a show or something :-)

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Definitely agree with the stay in Fort Lauderdale and the über if possible! That is what I did and I couldn't recommend it more.

I used so many methods of transport during my stay: taxis, shuttles, Uber's. It was my first ever über trip and I was really happy! It was cheap and easy.

I've written here where I stayed, how much it cost. How I got around, how long each journey took and how much they cost. http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2017/01/07/fort-lauderdale-airport-to-the-port-of-miami/

Hope that helps a little, can be overwhelming when youre sat at home trying to plan all of this!

(Also agree with FLL being more family friendly, from my experience anyway)

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More cruises 100%!!

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For me there is no competition, the star is nice but it's small and similar to all of the other NCL ships.

If you've cruised with NCL before and like them then I'm sure you'd like the star.

The spirit is totally different, the ship is old but it's so spacious and grand. My favourite cruise ship by a million miles and I'd always pick her. The atrium is gorgeous and I love sitting out on the promonade deck by the pub. I could talk about why I love the spirit forever, more about that here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/10/15/ncls-norwegian-spirit-my-favourite-cruise-ship/

Never been in the thermal spa so can't help you with that bit. Both are fabulous ships so you'll have a great time no matter which you pick :-)

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Dad actually ☺

 

I've sent my daughters a link to your website. [emoji1360]

 

 

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Why thank you! Always happy to have more young cruisers joining our crew.

:-)

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This could have be written by my daughter, it sounds exactly like what she would have said about entourage [emoji3]

 

 

 

 

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Mum???

JOKES! :p

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I did!! Chocolate martini was 17$. I was happy to pay the 2$ they charged me!! It was delicious. The two times I ordered it the waiter did remind me that there would be an extra charge since it was over the limit.

Wow that's impressive! I never found that one.

$2 for a chocolate martini sounds bearable!! Yum.

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I am speaking as somebody who went to entourage!

It isn't a structured kids club, I used to just go the first night to make friends. Other than that it is more of a place to meet and hang out, there is no forced fun which is what I was always afraid of!

They do have some activities, like pool parties, but again you just show up if your new friends are going (or at least I did!)

I enjoyed it I hope he will too, I still am friends with some of the people I met.

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It's all included :-)

The beverage package pretty much includes everything apart from bottled water and tea/coffee from the atrium.

I've tried to go through it all here as I know it can be confusing: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/09/10/ncls-ubp/

The drink limit is $15 but I never found anything that cost more than that.

Hope that helps! Have a fabulous time.

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You have a lovely little blog but I would add that the guesthouse you stayed in is gay and probably not kid friendly and it is almost impossible to get from your guesthouse to Miami in 30 minutes. It is at least 20 minutes from your hotel to I-95. At best, it would take you an hour. Keep in mind they are 30 miles apart in heavy traffic.

 

 

 

Love the neighborhood you stayed in. Victoria Park is a wonderful place.

Gay?!

It was a lovely place, about 8 rooms maybe around a pool. I do think it used to be something gay/swingers/parties but certainly wasn't when I stayed! Pretty sure it had new owners.

But yeah that one is far out of Miami, I did stay in south beach too which is a bit more relevant for this post.

Thanks for the compliment on the blog! Tons of people seem to do the same/similar routes around Miami so I thought I'd write it all down.

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NCL have just written to tell me that they don't pass this tax on to the customer any more (in the UK at least). Here's what they said:

 

"Good afternoon,

 

Trust this email finds you well,

 

No VAT charged on sales of food and beverage or specialty restaurant cover charges

 

Best regards,

 

EU Guest Services"

 

 

 

 

 

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Ooo okay!! That's good. It has only ever. been a pennies but still, good news :)

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No. you did not read what I wrote. Yes for the most part people from the US pay service charge however it is already included and paid for before your cruise and nothing will be added to your bill during the cruise.

 

 

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Yes I did read what you wrote.

The initial question was a little vague and I was doing my best to answer it, just trying to help!

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I'll never be able to un see that now!! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

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Miami is so so lovely, I'm very jealous.

During my time in Miami I used taxis, shuttles and Uber's. I would 100% recommend the über, it was the first time I'd ever used it and I can't recommend enough.

I've listed here how long each journey took, what it cost and what I thought... hope that helps! http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2017/01/07/fort-lauderdale-airport-to-the-port-of-miami/

:-)

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