jlmd56
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Posts posted by jlmd56
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We were on the Encore in November 2022 in an aft Haven Suite. This is before my wife's knee replacement. Though she had trouble walking it only took 4 minutes and 30 seconds to get to the bar in the Haven. Though there is a mental barrier to not being 'in the Haven', the truth is the aft suites aren't that far removed.(In full disclosure, when we had a Courtyard Penthouse suite it was on 19 seconds to the bar.)
The aft suite is huge and the 3rd traveler will have more than enough room. The bathroom is tight, though functional.
The balcony is humongous. We had two tables, 4 chairs and 2 loungers. More than enough room for three and the grand aft view from the ship.
I would personally go with the aft suite and put up with the minor inconvenience to get to the Haven.
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Just off the Breakaway a week and miss Le Bistro. The escargot was supreme and my wife's mushroom soup was very good. I'm embarrassed to admit I got the filet but honestly it was the best steak all week (and we were in the Haven).
My wife's lamb shank and chop were excellent.
We shared a Marquis au chocolat for dessert and washed it down with 30 year port. We've eaten at Le Bistro on 9 different ships and it never dissapoints.
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Our 3 day Bahamas cruise in March was canceled and the 2 Cruise Next Lite deposits were re-credited. We subsequently booked a cruise in November with the 125% credit and 30% off next cruise and now are in the Haven for 7 nights on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Only $3000 more than the prior cruise.
I called about the Cruise Next Lites which were going to expire Jan 2021 since we couldn't cruise again that soon. I was told NCL would extend them a year if I called the Cruise Next desk. As it turns out, I couldn't wait until November for a cruise and used them for a 3 day Bahamas cruise in July, 2020.
If you have Cruise Next deposits that may expire in the next year or so you should ask to extend the expiration date.
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My wife and I are on the same cruise July 24 and can't wait to go.
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If you don't feel safe, then don't travel. Our cruise in March was canceled and I can't wait until the July 24 replacement cruise.
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36 days until NCL Sky.
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We've been on the Sky several times and I'm sure you'll have a great time. In response to your questions:
1. "Booze cruise ?"..... I thought all cruises were "booze cruises".
2. The OV sounds like the better deal. We've had on and the bed can be 2 twins or one queen. The room we had also had 2 twins mounted to the wall that folded up out of the way. They did take up a fair amount of walking pace by the bed. There was a chair/loveseat that made into a bed but we didn't use it.
3. Yes, your room key is used to charge everything. When you check-in they your credit card info.
4. For what ever reason, the fitness center was usually empty when we went. I don't think there are public showers.
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We were on the Dawn last November, Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. She's a beautiful ship, just the right size. Also sailed her sister ship, the Star and had a similar experience.
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35 days since we boarded the Getaway on a western Caribbean cruise, just my wife and I. 70 days until we, our 2 daughter's, husband, boyfriend and my sister cruise on the Dawn out of San Juan on a southern Caribbean cruise.
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My wife and I were in 10228 last November and my daughter and sister were in 10728. The butler and concierge were perfect though they may have changed since then. I did a lot of research on the rooms and they're the largest aft facing suites and there is nothing noisy above or below.
The Dawn was great and our 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise one of my all-time favorites. Five ports in a rows, Barbados, Martinique, St Kitts, Antigua and St Thomas.
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We were in 10228 last November on Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. (My sister and oldest daughter had 10728.) Room was great and balcony even better. Great large aft facing balcony. It was a fourth or fifth time that we've had in our facing balcony and I've always enjoyed these the most. Never any wind and I've never had any sort or smoke like some have complained of on this forum.
We originally had booked a forward facing suite with two balconies for me and my wife. I was on to have an adjoining balcony for my sister and daughter but then realized they wouldn't be able to eat in Moderno nor would they have a concierge or brother. Therefore, I changed the reservation.
Another reason I changed the reservation was I had read that the forward facing balcony is very windy and often you're not allowed to use it when the ship is going forward. I'm not sure this is true or if other people have had a different experience.
Any who, the aft facing balconies and suites are my favorite rooms. You can't go wrong with a suite since you get the concierge, butler and get to eat in Moderno for breakfast and lunch.
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and I think of it as more like: true Spanish food than anything Mexican. I have eaten many places in Mexico. Los Lobos isnt like what we have had and I not talking about only in a Mexican border stop I will add. We have spent time in Spain on a few trips. That is why I say it is closer to Spanish than Mexican food.
I've lived in Texas 31 years and been to Mexico scores of times. Los Lobos IS Tex-Mex. Mex-Mex is completely different. Spanish, not even remote. BTW, it's amazingly good. Going on the Dawn in December and can't wait.
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NCL originally got a three year contract for MDQ. It started on another ship (the Escape?) and then moved to the Getaway. They are into their third year now. The current cast finishes around the beginning of December. I have not heard that the contract for the show has been renewed, but that does not mean it hasn't. I will see what I can find out. The show is popular and was voted the #1 show in the NCL fleet.
Nice pictures BTW even tho the show is copywrited!
(My son is the one in the purple coat playing the red guitar standing on the bass-he plays Carl Perkins)
Best show I've seen on NCL. Hope it continues forever. BTW, your son is a great musician.
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Mentioned before, I usually forget to take pictures of my meals. It's not something I do very often. On the very rare occasions I remember, it seems I'm already half way through my meals.
That said, I did take some pics. I had 5 total specialty dining dinners. The rest I ate in the Haven Restaurant.....
I'd say the majority of the time, this is where I was seated for breakfast, lunch and dinners in the Haven. Not 100%, but at least 80%. The Maitre'd knew I liked the spot and seated me there whenever she could....
That was our favorite spot for breakfast. Had to be early.
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We didn't do Taste or Savor our last cruise on the Getaway but on 3 previous cruises on the Getaway and Escape. Always had a great meal.
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Thanks for the review. I'll be in the Haven in two weeks and will definitely keep an eye out for Miraslov and Anoop. This will be my first time in the Haven and looking forward to it.
You will be spoiled.
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Ropes course.....I had every intention of doing this. I have done it on other NCL cruises and loved it. This go round, it seems I was always doing something else and didn't get around to it. That could probably be the theme of this cruise. There was just so much that caught my interest, I needed more time to do all the things I wanted to do.
The NCL trademark chandelier.....and yes, it changes colors all the time....
Cool scale model of the Getaway....
The problem with the mega ships like the Getaway is there are so many things to do. It might take a dozen cruises to see every show, feature, etc. We made time to do the ropes coarse but missed a lot of other things. Well, guess we'll just have to go on another cruise.
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We had the same wonderful experience with Anoop. Several nights we wanted to change our dinner reservations and he made a call, and voila, it was done.
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Want to make mention for a moment about the service in the Haven, and in my opinion, what sets the Haven experience apart from the suite experiences of any other cruise line.
For example, I never pre-planned anything. Like magic, if I felt like going to a show, like Cirque, which sells out, all I had to do was contact my concierge and, like magic, I had front row seats for the evening's show....complete with an escort around the lines waiting to get in.
One night, I was sitting at the bar and decided I was hungry for a steak. Mentioned it to the concierge, and BOOM, a quick call was made. All I had to do was walk to Cagney's and ask for the manager and I was immediately seated.
Again, I planned NOTHING in advance.
In addition, any billing problems I had (will comment more on this in a moment), I voiced them to my concierge, I would walk away, and it was taken care of.
I keeping with the string of EXCELLENT concierges I've had on NCL, this is Anoop....
He's one of a string of concierges I've had the distinct pleasure of knowing on NCL. Since he made most of the reservations (his assistant, I think Jefferson was his name), he knew where we were most of the time and checked up on me to make sure everything was to my satisfaction. This included the restaurants where I ate. If there was the hint of the problem, he remedied it immediately.
I can't stress enough how good NCL's concierges are. I see people say they barely talk to them. You're missing out on one of the major advantages of sailing in the Haven.
Anoop continues the outstanding service I've experienced from Adrian, to Virginia, to Elvina. Can't compliment them enough.
We had the same wonderful experience with Anoop. One night we wanted to change our Cagney's time and he called the restaurant, and voila, it was done.
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"Izzy" is Ezechiel (correct spelling by him), from Argentina. We were on the Getaway one week earlier. My first time in the Haven and what a pampering it was. After dinner one night I told Miroslav I needed a digestive and he a phenomenal drink with some liqueurs I can't remember.
We were there during the US Open Tennis match and he played in his youth and followed the pro circuit. He was very knowledgeable.
We we one floor up in 16124. Took all of 14 seconds to get to the Haven bar and 20 to get to the restaurant. We almost never left.
All your pictures are bringing back fond memories.
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Haven't been on the Gem but have been on a sister ship, the Pearl once, the Getaway three times and Escape twice. I like the mid-sized ships better for overall cruising. Having said that, if I had 4 sea days I would choose the larger ships because there is more to do at sea and more dining and entertainment options.
BTW, last August on the Pearl to Alaska, had the best entertainment ever with Tim Kiminski, Jim Badger, the cruise director and the magician (forgot their names).
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We did the Dawn last November and it docked at 6:00 AM sharp. Probably a 10 AM return would work but sooner would be problematic because of weather conditions, traffic, etc. Fortunately, alas, our return flight wasn't until 6:00 PM. No problems there.
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On the Getaway last week they rescued 4 people from Cuba on the first day off our cruise, Sunday at 11 PM on day of departure. Didn't find about it until Wednesday. Crew members evidently saw them and the ship diverted to rescue them.They were dropped of in the first port, Costa Maya.
Why doesn't the main stream media report these heroic rescues?
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Just got off the Getaway on an Western Caribbean itinerary 3 days ago and were in the Haven. Only ate in the Haven or specialty restaurants. They opened at 5:30 PM which left plenty of time to get to Million Dollar Quartet. We ate in the Haven before that. Ate around 7-8:00 PM at Cagney's and Le Bistro but couldn't stay awake for Burn the Floor at 10 PM.
We get up at 5-6 AM every day even on vacations. If you're late risers the later shows shouldn't be a problem.
BTW, the Haven restaurant is stellar and we could have eaten there every night. We ate at every specialty dining restaurant and Le Bistro twice. The only only one not up to snuff was Moderno. Meat being the star and most expensive ingredient forces budget cutting. I'd willing prefer to have an extra up charge for Moderno to allow for better meat.
Say high to Ma Lourdes, Whitney and Immaculate for us.
Escape AFT / Forward Haven
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted