Russiamomm

I learned the hard way on my TA earlier this month to upgrade in the first two days if you think you want to. At least on that sailing, they had a “special” the first two days to upgrade to unlimited for something like $129 for the duration of the cruise - 16 nights. My thought was that the price would go down as the days passed and I’d upgrade later in the trip as my 300 minutes were used up. I didn't need the unlimited for the first half of the cruise as it was very port intensive. I wanted it for the six sea days at the end. Anyway, the option disappeared from the app on day 3. I went to the internet manager who quoted $275 to upgrade. They wouldn’t budge. So, when they say it is a special on the first two days, believe them. It is a good deal and really is a “special”, unlike so many other “deals” that they offer. Just my experience. YMMV.

I’m just off the Epic on a 16 night TA. What others have said is true. You can send iMessages to anyone with an Apple device. You don’t need to sign into the internet and use your minutes to do it. It just happens when you’re logged into the ship”s Wi-Fi. As far as logging into the app, yes, you need to log in to see your account, things happening on the ship, your calendar, your onboard account, etc. When you get on the ship, open the app and there will be instructions on how to log in. If you’re lucky, you will remain logged in. If you get kicked off, it will bring you back to the same screen. Just log in again. Once you’re logged onto the WiFi, there is a separate “block” for internet. That’s what you go to to get to the internet. It will tell you how many minutes you have left and give options for upgrades. Just click “Go Online”. It will bring you into the internet and the minutes start rolling. Just remember to go back to the app to log out when you’re done and log out. The minutes will go really fast if you don’t log out. I managed to get off the ship with more than 100 minutes (out of 300) left over. You just have to be careful. Just one more note. Even when not online using minutes I still got my regular news alerts (although for some reason someone thought I was in Colorado when I was in the middle of them Atlantic. 😂). I also got alerts when someone sent me a message through FB Messenger. I was able to read the incoming message but needed to log into the internet to respond to them. Just a few tips.

I was on the Breakaway in April and just got off the Epic - both times in the Haven. In the BA I wore flip flops to almost every meal. It was never an issue. On the one warm day we had on the most recent sailing, I wore them once. Again no issue. We saw many (men and women) wear shorts and flip flops. Again, no issue. I take the rule to mean that you have to have shoes on. Doesn’t specify what kind of shoes. Just my two cents.

On the Latitudes Behind the Scenes tour on the Breakaway last year the Entertainment Director said the current contract required the show to be in the small venue. He said they were hoping to adjust the terms to move it to a larger venue but it hadn’t happened yet. Maybe it never will.

Agreed. Go to the CruiseNext desk. If you’re in the Haven, go to the Haven concierge.

Same. I’ve always gotten the offer to upgrade. Even won twice!

Not sure what happened here, but I know I responded before, the answer is absolutely not. The spa passes are per person.

I’d share a meal with you any time! 😃

Once again, thank you for your review! I’m actually loving this delayed review. It lets me relive the trip! I’m sure we saw you in the thermal spa. Wish I had actually met you!

True. The question is not whether you can eat alone, but rather can you join a shared table if you want. The answer is that you can do either. But if you want to share a table it may be more difficult, especially in the MDR or a specialty restaurant other than Teppanyaki.

Completely agree. That’s how it is with most lines, including NCL. Not on Virgin. You won’t see this on those ships. That was my only point. Understanding that this not the Virgin board. 😃

Understood. I know this is the NCL board, but this is one of the things I like the most about Virgin. Everyone - from the room stewards to the Captain - wear the same t-shirts, There are no Officer uniforms with bars on the shoulders/sleeves. I couldn’t care less about rank. As long as they are friendly and doing their job, I’m good with it. 😃

I’ve never heard of this or noticed it. Not to be snarky, but why does it matter?

It is an option, just not the norm. I wish it was. Don’t write off NCL so quickly. They have a lot to offer. I’ve travelled many different lines. Sometimes with my husband, sometimes with a friend, and several times solo. NCL is still my favorable lime. (Taking Virgin out of the equation. I love them, but it’s really not fair to compare them to anyone else.)

Definitely an old thread. But I don’t think it’s a “policy” of NCL to not allow sharing tables. It’s just not the practice, especially at dinner. If you ask, and there are others willing to share a table, they will accommodate. last year on the Breakaway I was traveling solo. Didn’t want to brave the buffet - I wanted a sit down lunch. Went to Taste and to my surprise the hostess asked if I wanted to share a table. I gladly did. Was a large table for six with one couple sitting at it. They has specifically asked for the large table and said they’d welcome others. It was a wonderful lunch, with good company. Moral of the story is that it can happen. I do wish NCL was more open about the possibility.

If you’re a gambler, book through Casinos at Sea. I’m not sure they’ll do it on the first cruise with them, but maybe if you have some kind of status elsewhere. I’m not a huge gambler, but I’ve been booking with them for several years. My “guy” can usually get me at least a little bit of a discount. You also get free drinks in the casino and a separate checkin line which can speed up your check in/boarding. While the free drinks isn’t a huge deal if you have a drink package, it does include bottled water and espressos at the casino bar, which isn’t included with the normal FAS drink package. Also, NCL has a good veteran’s program. If you qualify, you can sign up with your ID.me profile. It gives you 10% off the base fare of every cruise.

Also to note that you, unlike Carnival, can get two drinks at a time and don’t need to sign for each one. You only sign if there is an up charge.

I just want to make sure that people are not confusing the gratuities on the FAS drink and dining packages with the Daily Service Charges. They are two different things. While the dining and drink packages are sold differently outside of the US, everyone is also charged the DSC of $20 pp/pd ($25 in the Haven). The DSC can also be paid in advance, but don’t have to be. If they are not prepaid they will we added to your onboard account each day.

Absolutely no. The passes are sold individually. They take your key card as you enter.

Major track in the soundtrack of my youth! I’ve seen the shows in Syd’s multiple times. I agree it’s the best venue at sea! We’ll worth the wait!

The BOGO airfare can be a good deal, but you get zero control over the flights. The flights could be great, and they could be horrible. You will not get your flight info until 30-60 days before the sailing. There’s a lot of discussion in these boards about it. You can make a deviation in dates. I believe it’s up to two days on either end. If you want the air package you also have to book at least 110 days before sailing.

It’s been glitchy all week. I could not log in at all for almost a day. Then someone here helpfully said I should clear cache and cookies. I did and haven’t had an issue since.

I also booked through CAS. We purchased FAS+ for a May cruise last week. Earlier this week it wasn’t showing. I called NCL (the general number, not CAS). They send me a new invoice showing it and around 12 hours later it showed back up in my account. I’m not sure about the Upgrade issue. I always book through CAS and have always been able to bid for upgrades.

I’ve done it once - bid twice and was immediately outbid. I gave up. The same thing happened to everyone I heard about that put in a new bid. Fast forward a few weeks and we won the last bid we put in, which was still in the lower range of the original bidding range. I think it’s a way to create a frenzy and up the bids.

I still find CC extremely helpful for general information. But I think the Roll Calls are dying. They are being replaced by groups on another site that I cannot name. Personally, I find the other site much more useful for a variety of reasons, primarily the ability to message each other to arrange excursions and meetups. My personal opinion is that CC’s rules about naming other sites and disabling the ability to personally message other members is going to be its downfall, at least with regard to roll calls for specific cruises.