Brian V

Ship - Getaway Deck - 8 Stateroom # - 8116 Stateroom Category – M6 Club Balcony with larger balcony Starboard or Port Side - Port Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Most of the time, very quiet. As you are above crew space that is used when docking the ship it gets rather noisy early on a port day. As long as you don't want to sleep in, not an issue. Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Excellent views from the railing, bit of tunnel effect from inside due to the depth of the balcony. Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Huge balcony...2 chairs, 2 loungers, and a table large enough to eat dinner off of :). Only drawback is that you stick out farther than the balconies above so sacrifice some privacy. Was wind a problem? - No problems except when in 50+ knot winds near Bermuda...going to say everyone on the portside was staying indoors 🙂 If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - N/A Any specific problems with this cabin? - It is a hike to the elevator / stairs, only 4 doors from the very front of the cabins on 8. For someone with mobility issues it could be a problem. Any other comments? - Love, love, LOVE the big jetted shower and larger overall bathroom. Would book this cabin again.

Hope that has cleared out by the time we set sail on the 17th but the forecast looks like right around freezing and rain / snow for the three days we will be in the city. Oh well, better than the -40 I woke up to this morning🥶 Thanks @Gappleby for the daily, good to see they have things planned for the Illusionarium, looks like a neat venue.

It does make "acceptable" Mimosas but on it's own...pass :(

The living area might be a tiny bit bigger as well but I'm pretty sure you would need a tape measure to tell 🙂 We agree, sometimes you can even get the club for less than $100 more than a standard balcony. The 2 cruises we had on the Gem and the Jewel we didn't go for the club because they are all on deck 11 (the deck below the pool deck) and we were worried about the potential noise from above - that shouldn't be an issue on the Escape 👍 Enjoy your celebration @lovetotraveltx🎉

True words...and IMHO the pods / packets they supply were much better than the mass produced buffet coffee 🤢 Just let your steward know if you want regular or decaf, or if you want tea...along with what fixings you need - they will be happy to accommodate and all will be replenished daily 🙂

@CCJack, I have questions about those cabins if you don't mind a slight hijacking 🙂 With them being above the theatre backstage or the mooring station (hard to tell on the deck plans), is there early morning noise when docking, late night noise from the theatre, any other issues beyond the "sporty" 🤢 ride from being so far forward? Totally agree 👍, those jets are just what my back needs in the morning!

We had robes on our last trip, Seward to Vancouver in a standard balcony. Did not request, they were just there? Previous trips we have not had robes (nor did we ask) in a standard balcony. Did get them when we got bumped into a club balcony, not sure if that's a perk or just NCL randomness... Either way, if you are on the larger side you will find the robes to be rather hospital like...they wont cover everything

He's locked in a room watching safety videos on continuous loop...

Totally agree...you can catch a train direct from Venezia Santa Lucia to Trieste Centrale with a 15 minute walk (or 5 minute cab ride) to the pier. 2:05 travel time (plus walk) and direct service. Way easier than getting back to the airport and a 15 minute walk to where the cruise line shuttle would collect you.

Looks like that will work perfect for us, our hotel would be about 10 minutes with carry ons 🙂 Looks way easier than navigating Penn Station!

Thank you so much for this! We were going to take the train from EWR to Penn Station then a cab / Uber to our hotel (E45th and 3rd) but this gets us within a 5 minute walk...for less than $10.00 each? Sold! 🔨

Ship - NCL Gem Deck - 9 Stateroom # - 9608 Stateroom Category – Balcony BA Starboard or Port Side - Port Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Located 1 deck above O'Sheans and close to the midship elevators we had some concerns when we booked but we were pleasantly surprised! The only outside noise was from the waterfalls as we went up one of the fiords towards the glaciers🙂 Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Very good, no obstructions. Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal Was wind a problem? - No Any specific problems with this cabin? - No Any other comments? - Would book this cabin again without hesitation👍

It's true...this week it's "50% Off All Cruises", next week it's "Second Passenger Sails Free!"

Not so on NCL - they specifically state that all non US residents must carry a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the end of the cruise. https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents US CBP may be OK with a close dated passport but it won't matter if the cruise line won't let you on the ship 😞 OP really should reach out to their specific cruise line as policies can (and sometimes do) vary from government policies.

@kjquilts Make sure and get up early sailing into Kotor, grab a coffee and get topside - the best sail in I have experienced 👍

They are not paying you in advance...if you don't show up, you don't get paid, right? Slipping a bartender a $20 on day one with the expectation that you will get served before your fellow passengers...100% a bribe in my opinion. Slipping your room steward a $20 because you asked for extra pillows and a coffee maker and a robe? Different kettle of fish...

As @RD64 says, 11:00 am flights are sketchy to say the least. Given that you will need to be at the airport by 8:30, 9:00 at the latest (security and check in are not the most organized I have seen) - not going to happen 😞 We managed to get ourselves off the ship (the Gem as it happens) by 7:10 - dragged our own bags on a half empty ship and were in a taxi to the train station by 7:15. On a full ship, I can't see that happening 😞

Ah, thought that might have been the case 🙂 Still, check in through a shorter line, straight to the ship after (assuming a zero count)...not so bad 👍 So laundry, dinners, priority...yeah, I guess I might like that 😎

OK, the jury is IN on priority boarding...add to my list of perks that are NOT a waste of time 👍 I usually try and get around 10:30 for a check in, usually gets us aboard by 11:30 but...10:15, drink in hand, pondering the lunch menu? Count me in🥂

Wow, glad we booked when we did. It would have been nice to have a few hours in Seward but...a well rested wife makes my life sooooo much better...and safer 🙂

I ain't gonna tell him he can't 😱

So for the platinum dinner perk, it is per cabin but the laundry perk is per person? Sweet, it's even better than I hoped for😎 I have always said, I don't give a darn about dinner with the second assistant navigator, not too jazzed about the "exclusive" cocktail party, jury is out on priority check in (we shall see after our next cruise😉), but man, free laundry?? Yes please. Free laundry twice????? Best. Perk. Ever! 🤩

Hmmm, maybe they look at them as walking shorts?

Thankfully they don't tag your underwear or socks (guessing it all goes in a mesh bag?), can't imagine finding one of those tags "down there" 😮 If you are in a club balcony or above you get a free bag of laundry...or you did anyways, maybe that has been penny pinched away? We have used the service 3 times (I think) and had no issues with lost items. 👍

Observation Lounge - great spot for outdoor viewing while staying nice and toastie - or nice and cool if you are trying to escape the heat 👍 Waterfront - fantastic for when you want outside but don't want the hustle and bustle of the pool deck 😎 Tons of bars / lounges / venues, and the atrium on the breakaway (+) ships is great 🙂 She was our first, and we will return to her😘