Whitefacekat

AQUA

1 hour ago, trex-de said:

decided to get a quick test to be sure.  Now having problems finding anyone who is offering PCR quick tests. It will be terrible if the process keeps anyone off their cruise and you lose your $$ for the cruise

Try Quest Diagnostics. 

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

Just  think about those who do not read cruise  critic or fb and got the emails about getting the test beforehand some are calling NCL and agents are telling them otherwise.  I think many will be left at the pier.

You may be right. Sadly

7 hours ago, odie1024 said:

@Whitefacekat, hey Steph, since you live near me have you decided where you are getting your PCR done? I stopped at CVS in Sturbridge to speak with them and of course they cannot guarantee 24 hour turnaround. If I am reading everything correctly as long as we have the test on Wednesday morning even if I get the results back on Friday and apply ASAP for the TA we should be all set. Thoughts.

Going to call Quest in Springfield, and CVS in Stafford (springs) maybe Quest in Enfield.   I am having my fisrt Covid pcr tomorrow in Southbridge at the Hospitals screening site, for a Friday Procedure, going to ask them their thoughts.  NCL said that should be good for the 96 hour Bermuda to load as fast as you can after the test, it should be good. 

Steph

On 8/4/2021 at 1:10 PM, irishgirl666 said:

Any one out there cruising out of NYC on the Breakaway September 26th?  

The roll call

3 hours ago, minnievanmommie said:

One of the wonderful things about cruise critic is the ability to meet people and greet them!  Over the decades I have run many meet and greets.  
This  was by far the most fun and energetic and upbeat meet and greet ever!   The crew and officers were sooooo excited to be back at sea.  We even made up some swag for them to show them our appreciation. We had a poster made and we all signed it for the crew!  We had a lovely gift exchange as well! 

 Great trip and great meet and greet!
NCL provided their BEST hors d’oeuvres , flights of beer snd cocktails and the DJ!  
Thank you Cruise Critic and NCL!!

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Thanks for sharing. Deepak looks Great. He will be sorely missed for the Escape trips.

Silas is the best isn't he. ! 

Now  I need to get on the Encore to see both of them.

Steph 

1 hour ago, creativegenius said:

Today they announced you can "Preload your Bar Tab" with $50 - $100 added to every $300 pre-loaded.  Doesn't seem to be a way to do this online but in a tweet:

 

Give us a ring at 954 488 2955 to speak with our Sailor Services Crew and setup your Bar Tab today! Cheers

 

But do you get a refund of unused funds?   day trip I would be dead if every drink was $10 or less 

On 9/8/2019 at 3:45 PM, phissy said:

Here is current list of officers for NCL BLISS

 

Mark Maeling- General Manager (aka hotel director)

Rohinton Mottahed       Food and Beverage Director

Roland Schrock             Asst. General Manager  (same as last year)

Roberto De Pasquale    Cruise Director

Vikram Rao                    Restaurant Manager

Roger Deepak Gavankar   Exec. Chef

Haide Balón                   Beverage Manager

Charlyn Padilla Saladin.  Guest Service Manager

Marina Caparros          Group Services Manager (coordinator for Meet and Greet)

 

Concierge                 David Contreras

Was mentioned today JAKE is now CD 

On 10/9/2019 at 8:44 PM, NanaNana55 said:

Just curious if anyone know who the Concierge is now on the Gem?  Think Anoop was leaving last week for vacation.  Thanks

Annoop best ever

On 10/24/2019 at 4:05 PM, sfxthx said:

Does anyone know, who will be on the Encore Transatlantic?

Jovo is the GM as with all new ships, Silas is supposed to be opening CD, , 

On 8/17/2019 at 3:23 PM, ncb106 said:

Hi I just found out a guy name Ferdie will be my cruise director on the December 21 I never heard of him anybody had him before 

Had Dinner with Ferdie on Gem in may, with 7 solos, and again in September.  He attended a birthday dinner for my friend Diane, and provided her with a special cake , chocolate ganache.  He is a Hoot.    

On 8/29/2019 at 10:35 AM, brokenarrowhd said:

NCL Gem

 

G.M. - Metin Camurlu

C.D. - Luz Brillantes

F&B - Vikramaj Parthasarty

E.H. - Cesar Hapa

E. C. - Bijech Chandran

R.M. - Aline Barrett

B. M. Rogelio Raydanas

G.S.M. - Bon Villaluz

Cruise Next - George Kassis

 

.

Gem is Richard is GM, Ferdie is CD, Jeff Hernandez was asst CD filling in for a few weeks, Cesar is definelty the Executive housekeeping. just got off  .  I was on for 2 weeks 

Steph 

On 9/8/2019 at 3:45 PM, phissy said:

Here is current list of officers for NCL BLISS

 

Mark Maeling- General Manager (aka hotel director)

Rohinton Mottahed       Food and Beverage Director

Roland Schrock             Asst. General Manager  (same as last year)

Roberto De Pasquale    Cruise Director

Vikram Rao                    Restaurant Manager

Roger Deepak Gavankar   Exec. Chef

Haide Balón                   Beverage Manager

Charlyn Padilla Saladin.  Guest Service Manager

Marina Caparros          Group Services Manager (coordinator for Meet and Greet)

 

Concierge                 David Contreras

thank you! 

On 9/9/2019 at 8:01 PM, shadowmeboy said:

 

Thank you for sharing! How was Mark as GM. He was great as Senior Food & Beverage on the Bliss last November. Also how was Roberto as CD.

 

Asking because I am sailing in 13 days

Glad Roger is still Executive chef, amazing, and listens to passengers, very nice

On 9/15/2019 at 12:27 PM, cementhands said:

I heard Luz the cd has moved on to possibly the Sky.

Jeff Hernandez might be the replacement cd on the Gem.

Going on the Gem in October and I will post info on return. Luz is amazing and does a fabulous Tina turner tribute. So full of life. Going to miss her. I believe Jeff is new to being the CD.

Jeff was Asst CD on Gem last three weeks when I was on, returning to  general CD staff  as of Friday. But he did a superior job, he is on his way to a promotion.  Ferdie is the CD back from vacation. 

On 9/16/2019 at 8:07 PM, graphicguy said:

Have had Elvina, Virginia, Anoop and Adrian, as my concierges in the Haven.  All were outstanding.  And, the best I’ve ever had....even including Hotel and Resort Concierges.

 

NCL does an excellent job of recruiting, promoting and training their Concierges.

Anoop  was amazing for my two weeks on the Gem that I just returned from, Genuine and  superior service.  I had Virginia in the past, she was amazing. 

On 9/16/2019 at 8:13 PM, cementhands said:

Do you have any information on full name of Ferdie?

many thanks 

Ferdie Imperial  at dinner with us in La Cucina week of May 10

6 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I just looked at their website and it appears they have replaced Cuba with either Cozumel or Costa Maya on all their cruises.

VV replaced Key WEST for Cuba on mine

The ship has arrived in the US, and travel partners are getting a peak  shortly.  in about a week 

On 3/25/2019 at 4:50 PM, bjtravelnews said:

Looked ahead to Bermuda for 2020.  Looks like the Encore will be doing the NY-Bermuda cruises starting in April 2020.  Ship looks amazing!

 

Also doing Bermuda May 3 2020, we are already planning, Steph

1 hour ago, Teacherloves2Cruise said:

Hoping that someone on board during the refurb will post pics as the reno takes place. I love getting a sneak peek at the process before I am on board on April 26th. While we are talking bars, is there a certain bar on this class of ship that serves as a martini bar?

If they have a "Shakers" I didnt check, but it should be on the Bar and lounge list on whats onboard

Just now, Whitefacekat said:

This is the new Joy deck plan from the site.   Cannot tell about the bar, but every other Atrium has one. Deck plan doesn't list one though

unless that loop next to starbucks is the bar,  looks like the Epic atrium bar, and Coffee bar setup. 

On 3/7/2019 at 2:32 PM, Teacherloves2Cruise said:

Bummer! I was hoping your were right! 🙂 Do you, or anyone else know, will the atrium have both a bar and a Starbucks? Will the Starbucks be set up as a stand in the atrium or an actual space with an entrance, walls, etc.?

This is the new Joy deck plan from the site.   Cannot tell about the bar, but every other Atrium has one. Deck plan doesn't list one though

On 8/3/2018 at 1:01 PM, Sand and Seas said:

Maybe someone with more knowledge can give us info on that. In the past I recall reading that they took out a lounge (on the Dawn?) and replaced it with Suite cabins.

The refers to Retrofitting cabins,  On the Dawn they took a big empty space the Spinnaker lounge and put in the now existing suites, not sure how they built them out.  We wish the studios were going to be there. But the 2 bedroom concierge class suites on the inside are being sold on bookings.  I already got the word that some experienced cruise staff that were solo hosts will be onboard, so there will be a nice active Solo program. 

On 8/15/2018 at 9:42 AM, dides said:

Noticed some further tweaks to the deck plans and dining offerings on our reservation - they are now adding Ocean Blue in place of some high end shops and Cocos is replacing the Godiva outlet

Nice to hear about  a few of the changes.  

Ocean Blue on the Bliss was not the same menu as Breakaway, Getaway or the Escape version Bayamo. Lobster pie,  not like lobster pie in the Northeast, was not inspirational. 

Gone are the Crab legs, seafood Trio with lobster tail.  Read the menu before committing

So far all that leaked out, Los seems to be absent.  Loved it on the Dawn and Bliss.  No Moderno either. 

18 hours ago, Traveling Fools said:

 

 

Current posted itineraries and length of VV's cruises aren't very attractive to many veteran cruisers, especially those who have to travel large distances.  Once the bloom wears off (probably sooner than later), look for changes in both those categories.

Thats why my solo friends and I are doing back to back for nine days in October.  and we are all over 40

On 11/10/2018 at 9:49 PM, amscene1 said:

VV has been clear that that are targeting one nitch. You have to pick at least 2 from the following:

 

YOUNG

AFFLUENT 

LGBT 

 

If you check off 2 of these catagorys, you can sail VV

None of those, I am retired . I  booked with  20 plus other retired  solo  women and at least one man.  Being retired and over 50 though doesn't make you old.   I pay over $1400 for a week($200 a day) on NCL, I am happy to pay $975 to $1000 (also $200 a day) on V V. Retired people cruise more than Millenials. I sail 5-7 times a year.  

On 11/10/2018 at 9:47 AM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I don't think that it will be "Haven"....I'm picturing more "college/grad school frat party". Whether that's good or bad is up to the individual. 

I think virgin will be very very surprised that  'older' people will travel with them in numbers.  20 to 30 of my friends, all solos,  are booking, many of them back to back to make it 9 days, and we are 40-75.  The people in the 60s and 70s that I am closest to are  all in with the Fitness free aspect, some are gym rats and runners, They think Young.  Bring on the Yoga and the gym for me!!!  Love the Yoga on the top deck planned

Steph 

2 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

I think Virgin is the complete opposite of NCL. In fact Virgin and Viking cruises frequently use the phrase "NO NICKEL AND DIMING.'

There is not Daily service charge

There is no auto gratuity

There is no upcharge for spa or restaurants

 

Virgin has the opposite philosophy of NCL

I agree with all that, but they have a concept to include Solos,  now they will be the line with the 2nd most solo cabins on a ship, 46 without a giant supplement .

Solo on my  booked trip is $1000,  booking is $825per person/ double occupancy. $175 solo penalty is low . It's  closer to NCL than all others.  Royal is double except for solo cabins except fo 60 off 2nd passenger sales. Carnival is always double.   Celebrity is nearly always double, 

With 40 solo insider, and 6 solo seaviews,  its a Ncl like concept. Wonder if solo events are planned?? 

7 hours ago, Sensenigr said:

 

 

Hi Doug:

 

I'm putting together the slot pull for my Bliss cruise next March.  My format is nearly identical to yours; however, did you contact the casino prior to the event, or did you just do it?   If you made a contact, do you have an email that you could share?

Hi 

I will throw in my input.  I visited Christina the Host when they opened the Players club on boarding afternoon after muster. She agreed to 3 bottles of wine for 1st , 2nd 3rd prizes.  She also cautioned, they could not save machines,  and to maybe 'scope out' a machine and have someone sitting there to hold it prior.  We chose Quick hits 3 dollars near the Skyline bar ahead of time.  

Good luck we hit a mini jackpot and several more bonuses, and lots of excitement. We did a $15 format, and we all left with 19, the 1st  2nd  3rd prize winners split the small balance 50/30/20(we rounded down the winnings to nearest dollar. 

3 minutes ago, Sean6365 said:

Is it coming to the Encore?  I saw where it was being set up for the Joy.  

I am a bonehead!!!! I have my ships jumbled, I edited it out yikes. 

wrong info edited