Amy7979

3 hours ago, rfkeith10 said:

We have also booked cabin 10106 for a cruise in late October.  We would sure like to know your thoughts of the cabin upon your return.  In case you haven't seen it, there is a very good tour of the cabin at the beginning of the YouTube  link.

 

Ray

Same offer for you, Ray - if you have any questions please let me know! We just reluctantly left 10106 a couple of weeks ago.

5 hours ago, softl said:

We are sailing the Bliss shortly, Haven package but the cabin 10106. We will move a bit, but it's a cruise ship. Moving is a huge portion of the experience.

That was our cabin a couple of weeks ago and we love love loved it! If Walter is your butler tell him Amy & Bill from 8/11 say hello... and even more so, please tell Assistant Concierge Qi (not sure on the spelling but it's pronounced "key") that we said hi and thank you again for all of the help with our group photo.

On Glacier Bay day be sure to head straight up to the Haven sundeck to watch the scenery from behind the protection of the wind shields!

You're in for a real treat. Happy to answer any questions.

Can someone help me understand the charges I’m seeing to book Ocean Blue on Bliss? We have the dining package, and I understand that there is a $10 upcharge to dine at Ocean Blue...so why am I seeing a $12 per person pre-payment required? 20% gratuity on the $10?

And another question - I’m making a reservation for four - our cabin and two friends. The system knows my husband and I have the dining package but it doesn’t know about our friends...yet the cost is $12 for them, too. Do they just charge everyone $12 and then figure it out onboard? 

Thanks! 

Hi all -

If you were booking an H7 on Bliss (Alaska) and 10106 and 12106 were available, which would you choose and why?

Thanks!

Amy

Now that there are a decent number of sailings under belt, I'm hoping someone can comment on the very few B6s on Bliss? What was your experience? THANKS!

Soda isn't free anywhere. The buffet has coffee, hot water, milk, water, juices and sometimes iced tea, but no soda. You're correct about soda at the bars.

Oh, interesting. That's a definite change from what we are used to. I don't drink coffee and diet soda is my caffeine of choice. We'll make it work!

Unless you're in Haven, you stand little to no chance of getting Vibe passes. Priority boarding goes to Platinum and higher, and even if you're in the first group to board after them, chances are good that they will already be gone. People in the first group will actually run on board to get to Headliners quickly.

 

The two big shows, you can get reservations online prior to the cruise. If they're "sold out" online, use a touchscreen on the ship, the iConcierge App or your stateroom TV to make reservations as soon as you board. For two out of the three cruises we've been on where the iConcierge App was available, it didn't work, because it didn't recognize my name/birthday combination -- it had someone else registered in my cabin, an error that was "cleared up" by the second day of the cruise.

 

Anything else that needs reservations (some cruises, you could reserve some of the comedy shows, other cruises, no) you can take care of once you're onboard.

Thank you for responding. Will temper our expectations and hopes about Vibe. We are driving to the NY port from NH for the Escape cruise and will likely be there very early (just to be sure) so maybe there's an outside chance.

Depending on how big your group is - reservations for everyone to eat together may leave you with little options. You can't book online for more than 8 (I think, might be 6) so you have to call and the large groups I've been with then get right at the beginning (530) or at the end (930). And walking up with more than 8 is almost always a wait and you still might have to be seated a distance from one another in order to not wait a long time.

 

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Sorry I wasn't clear - we won't need to eat together - maybe in smaller groups like 6 or 8 as you mention - but I just want to be able to give general guidance of what they need to make reservations for and when. Sounds like specialty restaurants online when that is available and everything else on board.

If you're a large group, Vibe might not be a viable option. They sell 70 passes total, and they sell out in minutes. You cannot pick them up for others (even my husband couldn't grab one for me, as I was a few yards away). So unless your group can all get there at once, you risk part of your group getting them and part being left out.

 

If your large group intends to dine together each evening, you might want reservations even for the MDR. If everyone is doing their own thing, they will not be necessary.

 

Another difference - there are no formal nights. Shorts are welcome in nearly all the restaurants, probably with the exception of the seafood restaurant (does this ship have Ocean Blue?) and Le Bistro specialty restaurants. Even those will allow nice jeans.

 

You'll find out about deck parties once you're on the ship, or else when someone returns from a cruise before yours and shares the information. As far as reservations for shows, there will be 2 or 3 big shows, and you will want to make reservations in advance for these. If not, you can stand in a standby line to get access when others no show. There will also be comedy and other smaller entertainment nightly in various locations that doesn't require reservations, or that can be reserved on the ship. These things can change, so hard to predict in advance. There will be lots and lots to do each and every evening.

Thank you. I wasn't considering Vibe for our large group on Bliss, more for my husband and I on Escape as our NCL "trial run". On Bliss, we'll have 24 people - all of whom know my husband and me but not necessarily each other, so we will not need to eat in a large group. Just want to be able to give people good advice, particularly those who have never cruised before and will have no idea what they are doing.

The relaxed dress code will be very welcome news!

You don't need reservations for the MDRs really, but you can make them. Can't hurt I guess. Sort of defeats the purpose of the anytime dining, but I don't have a problem with it. Helps me plan out the schedule.

 

It's either 90 or 120 days out that you can make reservations. Rules have changed so I'm not sure what it is right now (I see people report both and then argue about it). Anyways, reserve specialty dining and shows as early as you can. Unlike Disney, the auditorium can't fit half the cruise ship. And even with a reservation, you should still get there 30-60 minutes early to get a good seat. One trick, if you try to book on the app, is to do it while waiting to board the ship. The WiFi signal should reach you and you can book before the people trying to physically do it on the ship.

 

Soda is not free.

Thank you! That's a good tip to try booking stuff while waiting to board.

It doesn't bother me to book dining, either. Just want to be able to give others in my group good advice.

For soda - is it free at the buffet venue? Could we fill up there "to go" like on DCL? We all have UBP so I think we'd be able to get sodas at bars anyway?

Hi all!

I'm a Platinum DCL cruiser who is currently booked on the Bliss for August 2019 - we're "managing" a large group of friends and family for an Alaskan sailing - many of whom have never cruised before. I'm so concerned that I'm not going to be able to effectively help them that I've booked the Escape for this fall out of NYC just to get a better feel for NCL (twist my arm, really).

With that said, I'm calling those who have cruised DCL to help me understand the must-know differences! No kids in our group so don't need info on that but everything else is fair game!

I'm concerned with understanding the dining since I'm used to DCL rotational. Do we need reservations? For just the specialty or even the MDRs? Reservations in advance or day of or.....?

What's this about the Vibe? Do we really need to worry about getting access? (No kids and like to relax so this sounds up our alley).

Reservations for shows? Again, in advance (when?) or day of?

Deck parties - do they send information closer to the cruise about themes, etc? I've seen White Hot mentioned and wondered how you know about it if you're a first timer.

Any other - oh, you'll notice THIS is different - tips from those who have sailed with DCL?

Appreciate it SO much and am looking forward to getting to know NCL. I love the Mouse but he's getting a little pricey so I'd love to love another line too!

Amy

Some friends new to NCL have a hold on cabin 8112 B6 large balcony on Bliss. Does anyone know/think this is a hull cabin? It also seems to be over the backstage area of the Bliss theater which could by noisy during shows and rehearsals. Anyone with experience in this location on Escape? Understand it's very handy for Districe Brew House, but any negative thoughts or experiences?

I'm booked in this exact cabin on Bliss for August 2019 and too am curious what the deal is with the B6 category and the fact that there are only four.