snorklinbarb

Probably new one posted where family had not cruised in a few years and did no advance bookings for shows or restaurants so had a difficult time with that. 5200 guests onboard. Still what OP needs to keep in mind is they also highly complimented crew and service and said they had an "amazing" time. GG, enjoying Bliss review!

Made me chuckle but hope you had a great meal there. Was on Escape twice last year in Eur. and transatlantics and simply loved the team onboard. Twice to Bayamo. Apps are the best between the ahi tuna, scallops on pork belly, blazing shrimp. Oh my! Love that place. Sorry to hear of all the travel delays and frustrations but now you're onboard and can relax! Thanks so much for taking us along!

As cruise is not till end of year, all I have right now is the Vacation Summary which doesn't list any codes. Maybe a nice surprise, lol! All the other codes make sense. Thanks for keeping this thread alive. Very helpful!

On the list on booking confirmation.

Forgive me if I missed this one but I checked the most recent long list. Any idea what TIV is? thanks!

When I got this type of plate, room service said it was for the club balcony suite where some type of "amenity" is offered a couple of times a week. I think they sent strawberries as well. Since it was an "upgrade bid" I wasn't sure what exactly came with the cabin. Didn't come with a signed card like other "treats". Good luck in the casino, Bird!

Hi Bird, Loving your review with all the info & menus as they stand today (I noticed the absence of any Pinot Grigio on comp menu, for example). Obviously food is subjective but what have been your favorites so far? Sounds like GM Deepak and team are showing their appreciation for Bird's years of loyalty and being a repeat guest on Encore. Yes, they do remember guests and will go out of their way to give you the best vacation. Enjoy your special goodies! Thanks for taking the time to explore Encore and share it with us!

What hotel does NCL use in Trieste? Couldn't find anything on the website but will call them. Also the port of call forums here are a great help. Or was this a hotel you found on your own? Heard that if you stay at an NCL hotel you can "deviate" up to 3 days instead of the normal 2.

Can't find anything on the website or T & C that points to an extension of the triple pt (total of 4) promo that ended 3/31/23. Where are folks finding this and what extra cruises have been added? No email here. We're booked on a Eur. cruise that was booked during the qualifying period but might add on another cruise and promo has ended, AFAIK. The current T & C ends with CN Double Up and nothing about extra Lat. pts?

Thanks so much! Maybe she will be back by our sailing date but nonetheless great to hear your praise for the current cast. I'm sure it will be excellent! As for Captain Roger, if you go to the Latitudes party you might be lucky enough to hear him play bass guitar!

Great to read your review as we'll be on Prima end of April. I was on last fall for a 5 nighter so it will be fun to go now with DH! As for the "mature" Donna, do you happen to know if it is Kimberly Locke? She was fabulous in the role and I'm hoping she might be on when we're on. I wonder if any of the CD staff might know? She performed and did very well on "American Idol". Look forward to the rest of your review. On Prima (even last year) "The Price is Right" was considered a feature show. I missed it (thinking just another game show) but guests who went said it was "the real deal" with prizes. I did see one vlogger who said the "Newlywed and Not so Newlywed" show was one of the nights in the theater. Will be interesting to see if your cruise has the same....that one hardly seems like a substitute for good entertainment for the whole theater....when I was on they had "Noise Boys". Very different but also very interesting. Read here that it was canceled. Since we're cruising soon, I'm wondering if there will be an alternative by then?

Had no idea they allowed 3 days early (or presumably post-cruise as well) if you stay at NCL's hotel. I'm looking at a cruise that starts in Venice (Trieste). Is their hotel there or in Venice itself and then they transfer you? Or transfer first from airport to a hotel in Trieste? Thanks and have a wonderful cruise!

Loved your review! Glad to see Cagney's 2.0 was up to speed and to your satisfaction! It's a great team on Prima and they really do want feedback! How was the shrimp, lol. Can't wait to get on again with DH end of April. He's not been on yet but I scouted it for 5 nights (so hope I don't get as lost this time). Thanks for putting such effort into a great review. BTW,, do I detect just a little smile on your husband's face during the Salsa class?! Looked like a fun time! Looks like NCL took very good care of you all around the ship (not just the Haven). Enjoy your next cruise, wherever it is and with whomever!!

I didn't get one, either!

Under the T & C does it say anything about the longer CruiseTours w/land portion (like on Jewel, for ex). The quote is for the whole shebang so can they separate out the "cruise part" only?

Hi Judith, Despite some of the shortcomings you mention, I sure wish I could have made that trip with you and your wife! Thanks for taking time to put up a thorough review - I love when guests give details of why they didn't have a good experience or the reason they wouldn't return to a particular restaurant. You do that so eloquently. I noticed also that the filet in my favorite Tepp. combo w/shrimp had been changed to NY strip. We've never found any great NY strips aboard, period, often too tough as you noted. With that many days onboard you had a chance to not only sample everything but go back to Cagney's 4x! I remember the last Gem cruise pre-covid when you didn't have a very good experience there. Nice that you mentioned the steelhead trout and fisherman's platter. I've tried the latter and agree it was really tasty and a large quantity. Hopefully the delicious double lamb chops are still good! Sounds like the entertainment in the theater fell short. They do bring back entertainers for a 2nd show but it's of no interest if they weren't that good in the first place! Very strange to have one dark night in the theater - like you, I've never seen that! Good to hear they are doing the Broadway cabarets. On Joy last year they had 8 performers and between the group numbers and their solos, it was a really great show! So much so that it was SRO and guests stayed till the end! How was the CD? That can play a big part in how the entertainment plays out. Did you do any trivia? Anxious to read more and hear about what you did in ports, etc! I heard there were only about 1600 guests on the 1st leg. How about your return trip? As a directionally challenged cruiser, no matter how many times I've walked the halls of NCL ships, I loved the fish, lol. On Prima they've replaced the fish carpeting with a geometric pattern that has a yellow triangle every so often....I had to read it on CC that the "triangle faces forward." Who knew?! How is the construction coming along in Panama?

That has certainly not been the case. Great show! Where did you hear there was a charge?

Never noticed the "free" movies listed month the pay ones. Bird, do you happen to know if they give the schedule as well? Someone recently suggested asking at Guest Svcs for the schedule. Otherwise catching a free movie TV from the start is really hit or miss. Thanks!

I haven't had them check my name recently but actually have been on several tours where a clipboard was passed row by row asking for full name and cabin number. On Escape shorex noticed that my husband was taking the excursions despite my being primary guest. Previous to sailing I had requested that we be switched but apparently that was never done because I remained guest #1. They decided to let it be. When I took a shorex I paid full amount less Lat. discount because only the primary guest has the $50 credit. So in that case, they certainly did notice and I guess could have made an issue out of it. Did not use TV to book so can't comment. Good to know.

I also was thinking revisiting the shorex offerings - even if you've been to the port more than once, you can often find something else of interest. In Sydney, NS I was going to skip anything since I'd been there a few times before. Ended up booking a music concert that featured their local music and it was actually really really good! You have the $50 shorex credit plus your high level Lat. discount but the excess can at least be put towards the $1000. Tech is a good suggestion as it's more expensive and can eat up some of your OBC. If you're on a ship that offers an extra "pay" dinner/show (like "Velvet" or "Prohibition", you could use OBC for that. Could always buy a gift of jewelry for a loved one. Valentine's Day coming soon! Good luck and have fun spending!

Do they also apply a Lat. tier discount to the unlimited upgrade under FAS? That could help some.

Since I'll be on B2B next month, the comments on subpar food and service are concerning. Could you tell us a little bit more about that? Any particular venues you would avoid or is this across the board? For reference of comparison, it seems we were on the same 4/25/22 Escape TA together. I thought the food and service were outstanding. Should we considerably lower expectations on Gem? I really like Gem and am looking forward to the refurb. How did you find common areas and cabin? Thanks. Hope you enjoy the rest of the cruise.

On. Oct./Nov. B2B Escape they had Dinner with the Officers both weeks. First time back. Now they were 11 and 16 nights, respectively, so possibly only doing them on longer cruises. I did see that notice from NCL and thought the same as you did. What Chefs Table are you talking about? The other item mentioned was Behind the Scenes which ASAIK has not returned. At the recent Q & A on Escape a guest specifically asked the GM and he was not aware of any plans to have it return. Nor did Cruise Next desk have any further info. Dinner with the Officers may be a ship by ship thing at this point and possibly depends on duration as I haven't read any reports here about it happening on a 7 nighter.