Mekamax

I know milestone hits at 25 cruises but I think day wise I am far from Diamond...  Question - if use only your 25% OBC is that for the price of just your half of the cruise as OBC?  Thanks!  Just wanting to make sure I have it straight.  Does CCL send you a certificate to use or tell you in some way?

Not sure but you might be more inline for upgrades at last minute if booked direct. That saying I go with the lowest price and that is usually an online agency that I have now used for years after meeting a t/a from there on a cruise. Before that I was concerned about using them but have used her and her managers for years with great results. Also have found one other t/a and online agency (through fellow cruisers) that I have used they had better prices on one cruise. I think it can be group rates that one may have and the other doesn't. Even booked rcl with one of their rates that was refundable when RCL had non refundable deposits.

This is something RCL could really improve on and start offering self serve laundry as other lines do. When doing a LONG trip or I can imagine if you had kids with you the laundry really comes in handy. This will really hinder us in choosing them when we are traveling to another port to board them.

Can anyone please tell me what they play in the cabin on TV? I know most people don't care about this but I like to watch TV/movies before bed. Last cruise on Explorer of the Seas they had only kids shows on 2 channels and one channel playing sitcoms but it was taped and it was the exact same episodes of the sitcoms each night. I watched them 4 times in a row.... Was hoping this might be just the ship or because it was a 4 nighter transition cruise.

When Cozumel got destroyed after Hurricane Wilma the ships came back way before the island was up and running. We came in on a cruise ship in the beginning and the people were grateful and very nice. They NEED the tourism dollars for life there. The island built back so fast with all the money coming in from the ships it was amazing! If you want to donate go in on a ship and SPEND money! Bring donations with you for what they need. You have to understand that what they need is business. Here days after Hurricane Harvey my neighbor went to get her hair done and felt guilty while so many were suffering around her and her hairdresser told her that she needed her as that was her only income and it helped her get back on her feet.

IF you could extend your vacation by a day for $400 you could have a good time in Miami with hotel and come back the next day on the early flight if it is cheaper the next day.. Just a thought... :) :) :)

Probably wont be ok for the steward not to do the room. Had friends try this and the head steward said it was required. They want access to your room. Might be an idea to tell them only at night as that way they will make your bed down with chocolates and get you fresh towels. More romantic for your anniversary. Also they will leave the schedule for the next day.

It is up to them whether they have an assistant or not. Many choose not to as they don't want to split their tips. The cabin stewards I have talked too seem like they would split whatever they get above and beyond accordingly if their assistant did the work. I guess it depends on whether I talk to the assistant too or not whether I would tip direct to them. Last Carnival cruise I talked to the assistant more than the cabin steward. :)

We did a Disney Halloween cruise and the Meet and Greet people got together and made a schedule of people who would stay in their cabins and give out candy for say an hour or two so those with kids in the group could trick or treat knowing it was with people from the meet and greet. It turned out real good. Don't know if that might be an idea if you have a good roll call.

Great unique question! The guests is my answer. Really depends on the mix and if there is groups, kids etc. You can do your best to book in the time of year that is representative to the atmosphere you want but there is no guarantee as it depends on those other guests who book. Some want the party crowd and it just doesn't happen. Or others book for quiet and it is spring break in another part of the country..... One other thing we have found is the guest mix is different from different home ports. You will get a bigger mix I think from Miami or NY. But say Baltimore, Texas, New Orleans or California will have more local people make up the mix. Makes it very interesting to try different ports. :)

Can I bring the cardboard bottles that are LESS than 750 ml onboard? they are much easier to pack. Going out of Long Beach... THANK YOU!!!

Thanks for the review. It was great!! :)

Some deposits are non refundable. Many different rates out there. Be careful how you book. Trip Insurance usually starts when you buy if bought through a cruise line so is not refundable after purchase but not completely sure how Carnival works it. I would ask them directly.

Drink packages are available for around the same price as RCL I believe.

As of last month Houston port will not let you drop off passengers before about 10:15 to 10:30am. They made you wait even if getting dropped off. Don't know if they are doing this now at other ports too??

The Mahi Mahi was very good. The steak was good and I hope to try the pork next time all off Curtis Stone menu choices. :) :)

YAH YAH YAH!!! This is great. :)

What movies were playing in the cabin and MUTS? THANKS!!! :) Glad you had a great time. :)

Chocolates in cabin are Andes Candies and the movies in the cabin were ones like Ant Man, San Andreas, Fast Furious 7, MI Rogue Agent, and more. Also channels like MSNBC and some playing like NCIS.... Good variety. :)

Just went on the Dec 5th cruise. The ship itself was the cleanest ship I have been on. The cabin was spotless so I guess it depends on the steward. Very tiny inside but the shower was wonderful. Large with glass door. I haven't ever had a cleaner cabin. Service with the UBP was great except at the pool bars which was understandable. The service with the crew was outstanding. I had a few requests and they were handled very well. Loved the large promenade and would like to have had more seats out there. :) Had great weather and the most incredible sunset that melted into the ocean on Thursday. Loved the island band at the pool deck - they were great and they had a BBQ on deck at sailaway. Was disappointed they did not do this again at all during the cruise - or I missed it. It wasn't written in the dailies. One more thing the bartender lady in the Star Bar is awesome and very sweet!!!

Tendering in Roatan didn't start as open tenders until after 11am but someone else reminded me that we didn't get in till 9am and so that would be about the same as other lines that tender as it usually takes about 2 hours to get to open tender. On time also they set their clocks forward on the ship on the first sea day for Cozumel which I believe I am used to this happening the night before arriving. Fun to tender on a lifeboat for the experience but have to admit hope I don't ever have to get in one for real! :O

The sushi was good - great California rolls - at the sushi bar and enjoyed the Jasmine restaurant - there was an hour wait at 6:30pm. The spring rolls and the Hot and Sour Soup were very good - the dinner portions are small. But no wait at Blue Lagoon and had great service at 8:30pm. The chicken wings they cooked right then for me with no sauce so they were crispy and delicious - great service! and the wonton soup was very good. Had a great time overall and ate at all the free dining options and the sushi bar which was worth the $7 for sushi a la carte. :) Food was good but you could really see the cut backs for the free restaurants that I haven't gotten on other lines. I heard the pay restaurants had an actual duck breast and probably escargot that was not mixed with mushrooms. LOL It was a running joke with our group when we saw mushrooms that they were escargot. LOL Food was good enough and didn't go hungry but I think the pay restaurants would have been much better. I could certainly find things to eat and loved the two salad entries I got in the Grand Pacific.

To be absolutely honest I found the ship a little dark and not as elegant as the other lines with the large centrums and I miss some of the large ship areas. This was pretty cut up to me and still got turned around mid week even though it was a small ship. :) Well worth the cruise and had a great time but prefer some other lines over this one - it had been many years since we had been on NCL. Main thing was food and smaller ship. I am usually a very positive person and we had a great time just for us it would not be my first choice next time. But again crew couldn't have been nicer. :)

Thank you all. I was hoping for the dinner show. That's ok. :)

THANK YOU! I'll look for the box. :) :)

What is the earliest you can book a shore excursion once onboard? Is there a box at the desk before they open like on Carnival???? THANKS!

Is there a Cirque show on the Jade? If so can you register in advance? Thanks!!! Any other shows not to be missed?

Is there a Cirque dinner show on Jade? If so can you register in advance? THANKS!!! :D

Martin was the Assistant Cruise Director and he was good too. Really liked Paul. They had the Yes/No game show in the evening one night that was so funny! Really recommend seeing or participating. :) We saw both comedians and thought that Darrell Joyce (been on Comedy Central) was the better one but laughed at both. The other one is Gary DeLena. Two movies I caught in the room were Aloha and Tomorrowland. The Dua Angels violin players in the centrum made beautiful music. The Skywalkers was playing great night time music as we went up one night. Happy Hour Buy one get one for $1 now at Skywalkers 11-midnight and at Club Fusion 3-4pm. They had Team Rootbery jugglers in the centrum and we caught both their shows and they were good and entertaining and funny. Even got to be in one show! :) Ate dinner in the dining room only the first night and after that at the HC so I could squeeze in the entertainment I wanted to see. :) Had French Onion soup that night in the dining room and it was the best I have ever had on a ship! Had dessert and a dish at IC and it was good as always. We just took the free bus to Progresso and did the shopping we have been missing in Cozumel (cheaper and can find some things we can't there) and we also went to the beach. Fun day! :)