Cruiseforus0214

4 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Since you're back in the thread, would you be willing to post your cabin #?  I like to be prepared.

 

11158/11160. Side by side but adjoining. I felt the location was in the middle. The elevator was down hallway and to the left and never heard any traffic. 

21 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thank you for your review! I'm glad your kids had a good time. We're booked on the Encore for next May (2025). What were your impressions, if any, of Food Republic? How about Los Lobos, Onda, or Cagney's? Just trying to get an idea what food is like on the Encore. We've been on a few other NCL ships but not that one. Thanks again!

Food Republic was amazing!!! It's a cross between a Ramen Bar and a Sushi Bar. The food was outstanding, so many choices! Cagney's I had the twin lobster tails and they didn't suck! We only ate in Le Bistro and I've been on 3 cruises where this restaurant was a stand-out and this time I just found it "ok". We're going on the Joy in November and I'm doing Teppanyaki and Ocean Bleu!

16 hours ago, kimandtim said:

Sounds like you had a great trip! Not trying to pry, but with all the talk about downgrades to Casinos at Sea, could you give me a ball park on how many points you earned to get your comp cabin?  I know its not an exact science, but I also know about what I have earned on past trips to qualify for a comp and I am curious if its even anywhere close (I am a video poker and blackjack player)

I only play slots, and I don't even know. I do know we put 4K of our own $$ in the machines with little ROI LOL! I honestly don't know how they calculate it. We spent so much more on our last cruise and did not receive any room comp offers!

10 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Okay, I'll be more bold. How much money did you need to lose (throw away) in the casino to get a future cabin worth a couple of large?  $10K?  $20K?  More? 😮

 

We put in 4K of our own $$ over the 7 days. As far as the winnings, the machines were tight...really tight and I don't think we won more than $2000 between the 2 of us

11 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

When you say the room steward did not make up the room twice.  You mean the entire cruise she made up the room twice?  

Hi!

There were 2 whole days our rooms were not cleaned once. 

19 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

welcome back!  I sail in 45 days so Id love to know how the entertainment was.  Thx!

I loved it!!! Choir of Man was amazing. Now I'm not 100% sure, but I thought their contract ended in April and a new show was coming in (Might be SIX?). The bands were great!! The ocean fest pool party was 2 hours of live band music where the 3 different bands shared in singing hits. You can't help but sing it's so awesome! We did not make it to as many comedy shows as we would like but the one we did attend was hysterical. The games of like wheel of fortune, bing, deal or no deal I consider entertainment and the cruise director/assistant cruise director made them hysterical!!

14 minutes ago, Cruising Lynne said:

Sounds like you had a great family vacation over all. Thank you for posting your review, and including the pre and post cruise info. 

 

FYI on NCL they no longer make up rooms twice a day. You can contact the steward or leave him a note to get more towels. 

 

Nice job earning a club balcony comp. Now you get to have fun again!

I probably should have been clearer on the room steward. She did not come to the room for 2 whole days. I knew they weren't cleaning twice anymore, which honestly I'm cool with we're pretty neat people. But not coming at all to either our or the kids room was unexpected. I'll know if we're not in the Haven's I have to just request more towels. Thanks for pointing that out!

We are from Rhode Island. My husband Rob(55) and I (49 and holding) travelled with our 2 teenage sons (Matthew 16 and a Defensive Lineman/Austin 13 and a cheerleader, who is also rather large). It was the first flight/cruise for my kids, both Rob and I have been on a few in our time. Here's our experience!

Saturday 3/16/24- Flew from Providence to FLL direct on Southwest without issue. We took a car service from FLL that I  booked through gowithus.com. I've used them many times and think they're fantastic. That cost $120 for a private van and all of our luggage. We stayed pre-cruise at the LaQuinta in Miami and The hotel was perfect for pre-cruising and included a buffet breakfast that satisfied my sons, which is no easy task! I did some work by the pool in the morning and then we used their shuttle service to the cruise port. It was $60 for the 4 of us and it's a 3rd party, not the actual shuttle for LaQuinta. The air conditioning was not working. Next time I'm just doing an Uber.

Sunday 3/17/24-We arrived at the cruise port at 12:45 which was later than our arrival time we booked and it had zero effect on embarkation. We were literally checked in and on board by 1:30p. Fastest we've ever encountered, even when we've sailed in the Havens. We spent the rest of the day exploring the ship. We booked the kids in the Entourage Teen Club that day and it's a good thing, they were full by the next day. They had a variety of things for them to do (video games, parties, trips to go-karts etc.). We had dinner in the buffet because it was rather chaotic everywhere but there. The dinner was BBQ and it didn't suck. 

Monday 3/18/24- First day at Sea. Austin and I get up at 5a every day, so we spent time having breakfast together. He's my Velcro kid. We then went and reserved our chairs at the adult only pool. Nobody had an issue with him there as he was reading his book. The action was great and we did bingo later in the afternoon. My 16-year old found a bunch of football players from Colorado and we essentially never saw him again. We ate dinner in Taste and honestly it was really good. Kids went to the party in Entourage and Rob and I went to the Casino (more on that later). 

Tuesday 3/19/24-This was the stop at Puerta Plata DR, we did not get off the ship and do not regret doing so. We had the whole place to ourselves and we went on the water slides, the pool, and had a blast. We had dinner in Food Republic. Service was excellent and we loved the menu. Kids went out to Entourage and we went back to casino.

Wednesday 3/20/24-St. Thomas and I booked the Turbo Cat snorkel tour through NCL. IT. WAS. AMAZING! I've been to St. Thomas about 8 times, but this tour was perfect. We snorkeled out at a reef area and then spent the last 1.5 hours at a beach snorkeling where we saw tons and tons of Turtles.  It was breathtaking. Rob and I had a date night and ate in Le Bistro...it was meh. I was a bit surprised as I have always loved that place, but this time the food was just OK. The kids went to a party in Entourage, we went...wait for it...to the casino. 

Thursday 3/21/24-Tortola. I booked a beach tour outside of NCL and have no regrets. It was 5-hours at Paradise Beach and we used the chairs at Quito's. Bottom line is chairs and umbrellas are free as long as you patronize their bar/restaurant. It was a no brainer and we loved it. You also get free wifi there. Matt rented a turbo snorkel machine which was $25 for 25 minutes and he had an amazing time taking underwater video/pictures. That night we went to Teppanyaki for dinner and it's probably my favorite specialty restaurant. Chef Elizabeth had such a great singing voice. Kids had a blast. That night we hung out as a family did Deal or No Deal, the Wheel of Fortune and just chilled out together. 

Friday 3/22/24-This was a sea day and we had a great time as a family again. Reading books, games, you name it. They announced that the stop in Great Stirrup Cay was not safe and another sea day was booked for Saturday.  Dinner in Savor and the service was terrible. Worst I've ever had on NCL. We never got drinks other than water and the food was just OK. Austin and I went to Choir of Man which we just loved and Matt and Rob did the virtual reality. Kids dumped us for Entourage and we headed to the Casino.

Saturday 3/23/24-Last sea day and it was PACKED, but manageable. It was quite windy so we didn't stay out the whole day, it was impossible to read or even hear. We ate in the Local and the food was great. We chose to do self service disembarking, so there was no crazy rush to have our stuff out the night before. 

Sunday 3/24/24-Self service disembarking we were off the ship by 8a and in an Uber to FLL to stay at the LaQuinta Hollywood Airport. DISGUSTING HOTEL. Never staying at that particular LaQuinta again. We flew out Monday morning back to PVD on Southwest with no issues. 

PROS: Great buffet food breakfast/lunch. The new Indian food station was the bomb. Service at bars were good for the most part. Entertainment was great and so much for everyone to do. The Casino host Kim called me on Tuesday when we got home and we were comped a Club Balcony room for my 50th birthday in November. Well worth it in my eyes!!!

CONS: Our room steward was terrible and she didn't make up the room twice, even though the light was on. So we ran out of towels and she was unphased by it. We needed to call for service to our shower drain as it was overflowing in the bathroom. Took 3 days before it was repaired and we didn't even know they came. The room steward did not receive extra gratuity like we always do, she was just not good. 

We love NCL and even with the little issues that popped up, we are booked for 2 more. Please feel free to ask me anything!!!

We're on the getaway for this sunday sailing. What torture it is in those final hours to see if it's accepted. My thought though is for me to book exactly what i'd be happy with no matter. When I do the math, what we're paying total for the upgrade, is virtually the same for booking if outright without the upgrade. I think it's a lot of fun and $$$ they create and I'll more than likely do it again!

I don't mind saying, we were in a mini-suite and paid 3300 initially booked on board last cruise we were on...I did the lowest bid of 1000pp. Though my bids were slightly higher on other categories. I don't get the logic

OMG OMG OMG.....So we went from mini-suite (Which we were totally happy with!) to an H5!!!!! This is our belated honeymoon and it's a surprise for my husband. I would have never booked this category in a million years!!! I think I just squealed out loud in my office...oops...I hope everyone is winning their bids!!

What does it mean if your upgrade goes from pending to processing??? My other offers say expired. But this one says processing.

This is so awesome to see everyone getting these upgrades! I have bid low/fair as well but we shall see. Keep these happy posts coming!

This cracked me up and made me smile. Thank you for that awesome update :D:D:cool::D:D

I'm slowly driving myself insane to see if we get upgraded for this weekend on the Getaway. I haven't researched at all current openings on the ship because that will just further add to my self inflicted torment :rolleyes:

I have 4 bids out all in the fair range, so hopefully in the next 2 days we get some news if we don't, our mini-suite will just fine. Starting to get excited to travel at least!

What insanity this creates in a life of somebody who needs to pack!!!

I'm on getaway for saturday too, my profile still comes up asking me to make bids. I have 4 bids but I'm going to track them like mad now LOL!!

Same here! On the Getaway sailing on 4/16, these promotional emails from NCL are brutal right now if you're waiting for an upgrade bid! But like others we booked the room we'd be happy in, as we had no idea there was an upgrade program when we booked last year. I do feel a little silly checking all the time, but that just adds to the excitement of it all. Good luck to everyone!

Hello Cruisers!

my hubby and I are booked in a mini-suite on the Getaway for Sunday April 16th sailing. I keep getting the upgrade offer email. I've put a bid on 4 different category of rooms, but wonder the likelihood of getting the upgrade? Any experience on this? I'm happy where we are, it's our belated honeymoon so i'm hoping we do get it just a little extra experience.

Thanks!