complawyer

if you're planning on surprising them, and they invited you in the 1st place, why not just tell them you decided to join them after all? This way you can all make similar travel arrangements. What if the couple have already booked shore excursions, dinner reservations etc? What if they're in a haven, or suite, and there are no longer any of those category cabins available. Do you think they'd be willing to give up those perks to accommodate you? Would you even ask them to. Sanger727. While i certainly enjoy traveling with friends, part of my enjoyment is sitting down, and working out the logistics prior to traveling. Personally, it's not something i would spring on anyone (regardless of how friendly we are) wouldn't it be infinitely smarter to try and book the same flights, same hotels (if they're going in early to embarkation city, or staying after disembarkation, and planning where you want to go and what you want to do?

i would also take into consideration if your friends are traveling with other friends or family. we have a very close friend who cruises with us ( we usually book the 2 bedroom) next aug she has booked 2 balcony cabins for herself, daughter, granddaughter, son, his son, his girlfriend and her child. i wouldnt think of surprising her by booking this same cruise. i firmly believe, if they wanted us to join them, they would have brought up the subject

beg to differ. the islands of santorini and mykonos are both beautiful and amazing, a shore excursion from mykonos is a short boat ride to delos which is an archeological gold mine. no way would i even consider avoiding these ports

spacificbound book a 2 bedroom suite. problem solved!

for the drink package its all (both of you) or nothing (also both of you) it's like the old song Love & Marriage. ....you cant have one without the other

i have booked a 2 bedroom suite many times, and one of my dearest friends always joins us. she gets the smaller bedroom, but since it's only her, she makes due, as she gets all the other perks of the cabin. 6 adults is really pushing it. A few years back we cruised with my grandson and one of his friends. they were 18 and 19, and the 2nd bedroom was also sufficient for them both as they were mostly never in the room anyway. the main bedroom, has a bath, separate stall shower, 2 sinks, and is fairly good sized. while the 2nd bedroom can accommodate two adults, it's not ideal, but doable. it has its own toilet, stall shower, tv set, and the cabin can be closed off from the other rooms. the problem (imho) arises with the last couple. The only other bedding for them is the pull out couch in the living room. while not horrible in and of itself, it becomes an issue if in the middle of the night one (or both) need to use the bathroom. They then have to enter the either of the other 2 rooms. i dont know about you, but i dont want people coming into my bedroom to pee at 3 in the morning. Sometimes i get up in the middle of the night just to go on the balcony and see the night sky. Also if i want to spend time at night in the living room, and the other couple wish to go to bed, it presents a problem. I like to sprawl out on the couch with my kindle and read until i'm sleepy enough to go to bed. I may also want to watch a movie that my wife isnt interested in see. Of course i can watch the movie on the tv in our bedroom, but them she's relegated to the living room where the other people may wish to go to bed. i would keep trying to book a another haven cabin, if at all possible, book 2 people in that one, and keep 4 in the 2 bedroom suite. if you can work that out, you can ten work out whichever sleeping arrangements come out the best for all of you 6 adults, and only 2 bathrooms make (again imho) for a very uncomfortable situation.

im on a cruise to relax, chill, and forget about the world for a little while. there is absolutely NOTHING i miss. You're on a luxury cruise ship and most of your needs can be attended to on board. if i were to miss anything, it would be the dodgers standings in the daily paper. But i guess i can learn to live without that for a few weeks. LOL

actually, if the ship has both a "haven" and a suite category, the cabins are almost identical, and the perks are more or less the same, except access to te have pool, bar, and restaurant. by the way, even if the cabin claims to sleep 6, with 6 adults and only 2 bathrooms, it will get a little crowded.

actually dawg, it's been my experience that after i get home, they've usually already been added to my total. regardless, the poster is correct, you dont get any of the points until after the cruise

maybe ive just been lucky, or downright oblivious (which is entirely possible) but in 25 cruises with ncl since 2010, i have never had a problem with the service. from the concierge/butler/ cabin steward/ maitre'd's, waiters, bartenders and bus persons (and i think that covers most of the staff any passenger will come in contact personally). by the way, we have not always been able to book a suite, so the info also applies to balcony cabin stewards and others. on departure day, i advise the steward to "ALWAYS" leave 4 extra towel, and we're good to go. by the way, im a very firm believer in tipping as i go.

since i couldnt believe the outrageous price, i took the liberty of checking. the $45,500 seems to register for all categories of cabins, so obviously it a screw up on ncl's site. im sure within a day or 2 it'll be back to normal. so, not to worry.

i was about to do the same. whenever we have the drink package, i tend to drink more than i normally would. we're booked on the 17 day rio to lisbon next april. the drink package is 370 per person for 17 days it broke down to $21 per day. i usually have at least 4-6 cokes per day, and they are over $3.00. my wife likes sparking water. and a glass of reisling with dinner. i like a chivas prior to, and a glass of port after. in the long run, it was cheaper to keep the package. by the way, neither of us are big drinkers when we're home, which is why i was going to cancel. But, a cold heineken after a long, hot shore excursion, cant be beat

maybe this is for the 3 bedroom suite (if this ship offers one)

either guest services, they usually have a desk at the side for all dinner reservations, they have a restaurant reservation station at either the buffet or out by the pool area., there are electronic touch screens by most elevators which will allow you to book a reservation also (you may try this ) if youre booked into a suite, lunch is usually provided at cagneys, and there is usually someone there you could go up and try and book there, also if youre in a suite, the concierge is always there and ready to assist with any type of booking. if youre not trying to book cagneys on the very 1st night, there is usually no great hurry, so you should have no problems booking. worst comes to worst, try le bistro instead. food is equally as good, just a little more upscale in appearance

i'll probably get blasted for this post, but imho, both your children are much to young to take on a cruise (1) there is very little if anything for them to do (2) at those ages, they probably will neither remember nor enjoy the experience (3) it will limit your ability to do things in the evenings.(4) shore excursions, are usually not geared for children that young my best advice is wait a few more years. we didnt think of taking our grandson on a cruise until he was 10 (he's now 24)

both are outstanding, but i would pick #2 . Venice is unbelievable, last year we spent 2 days prior to sailing, and hired a shuttle t take us to trieste. we spent a night in trieste (also a very beautiful city) and athens at the end is also amazing. that being said, however, i dont think you can go wrong picking any of them. through the last few years, we've sailed to/from most of these ports, and they are all amazing, especially if it's your 1st time regardless of which you choose, bon voyage!

for what it's worth, after 25 cruises on most of the ncl fleet. i can honestly say that we have never had a bad or even disappointing experience on any of these ships, other that the epic. the cruise itself wasnt the problem. the 1st time we had a aft balcony suite. the round bed took up almost all of the space in the cabin, and the bath/shower/ toilet left much to be desired. i'd never book a cabin like that again, and the 2nd time, we had a 2 bedroom suite (again no problem with the cruise,) but one morning we were coming out of the breakfast buffet, they had just mopped the floor and the sign was blocked. my wife shipped/fell and severely hurt herself. i have said before that for me ,the sheer joy of being on a cruise, being able to sit on my balcony and watch the world sail by is more than enough. i think ive only had one or 2 bad meals, i dont need the extra bells and whistles, i never bother with the after hours entertainment, and whatever shows are being presented in the stardust theater, to me are just meh! since 2010, our 1st ncl cruise ,and continuing through 2023, i have really nothing to complain about or, criticize just my humble opinion.

you can also ask le bistro to not to add the foie gras, and you wont have to pay the upcharge. if you dont add the lobster tail at cagneys, there is no additional charge for either filet 5oz or 8oz btw, i ve had the thermidor a few times, it's terrific.... im not to fond of foie gras anyway

we stayed in venice for 2 days and hired a shuttle service to drive us to trieste. spent a night in trieste (very lovely city), and there was an ncl agent in the hotel lobby, so we signed up, and the next morning there was a bus tgo take us directly to the pier. btw, its a little over an hr from venice to trieste. we also do this if we're landing in london to take us to southampton. gotta stay in london for a few days

i have booked through CAS for almost all of the past 13 years. A few years i used a PCC, i have never really had any trouble booking thru CAS. their staff are extremely helpful. my wife has Diamond club status thru cesar's entertainment, and we get 10% of a suite/haven, and 20% off club balcony and below. we get whatever promo is happening, + her discount and my 10% military

by the way. most of the ncl fleet that dont offer a haven per se, but do have suites (not to include club balcony suites) offer the same amenities. breakfast in moderno, lunch at cagney's , butler, concierge etc.so whether you book on the dawn or another ncl ship, you'll get the same goodies, so go ahead, book and enjoy

yes, breakfast at moderno's, lunch at cagneys. other than the haven pool/bar area and haven restaurant, all amenities in the dawn suites are the same

hey, tonyb99 as we used to say when i was much ,much younger, "is that a threat or a promise"?. im absolutely certain there will be a great deal of sorrow and hang wringing in the halls of ncl corporate offices since you have decided that this will be your first and last ncl cruise. just because they dont offer group dining, i think youre making a huge mistake. check other lines, i believe ncl offers the best choice of itineraries for the most reasonable prices. so dear tonyb99 farewell, adieu, and dont let the gangplank hit you on the way off the ship LOL!!!

girr, here's a thought! put a few ounces of scotch in her tea, and refill as necessary until she becomes tolerable. on the other hand, (not wishing to be a debbie downer) while i certainly see the humor in your post,, just imagine how much you'd miss dinner with your mother if she were no longer here

girr, here's a thought! put a few ounces of scotch in her tea, and refill as necessary until she becomes tolerable. on the other hand, (not wishing to be a debbie downer) while i certainly see the humor in your post,, just imagine how much you'd miss dinner with your mother if she were no longer here