Acruzaholic

What travel agency?

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like a great plan-Considering doing some land based vacations. When we were on Viva Jan. 2024 we booked it for 1/12/2025 out of San Juan going to Southern Caribbean (ABC's) always wanted to do but never have-Would like to do an Aruba Land Trip but cruise is a lot less especially versus an all inclusive. Always enjoyed reading your posts. Already purchased and paid for Vibe Passes for myself and the Mrs.

I also am starting to have your same feelings after recently sailing Dec. 2023 & Jan. 2024 on the Viva. Recently cancelled @ 120 days our Encore Reservation for March 10-17., 2024. The same itinerary you just sailed on-We always secure Vibe passes or we won't cruise. So, may I ask what is Plan B?

On 2/23/2024 at 2:19 PM, vacation44 said:

If anyone is interested, here are the Freestyle Dailies from our Encore last week.

 

Couple of thoughts on OUR experience:

 

1.   As usual, we had a great time and did enjoy ourselves.  This time around it was just my husband and myself (upper 50's) and we stayed in a club balcony suite which had an extended balcony.   

 

2.  This time around, the once-a-day cabin upkeep did not affect us.   Our cabin was cleaned every morning on the early side which would great for us.   Upon meeting our Cabin Steward, we requested four towels daily so we always had clean towels.   

 

3.   We did miss the absence of an additional Broadway style show other than the new game shows in the main theatre.   We have no interest in the game shows.  

 

4.  In general, you had to get to the comedy shows in the Social a good half an hour before show time to get a seat.   We miss the old way of making reservations.  One night we got there around 45 minutes early and had trouble finding two seats together.     This kept us from going back and seeing another show.

 

5.   Los Lobos--wow!    For the first time, we tried Los Lobos and both agreed it is now our favorite NCL restaurant (not counting The Haven).   We even went back the following night!   That night we had dinner reservations at Cagneys and we were placed at one of the tables outside the restaurant near the very loud bar.   We asked to be moved to another table inside the resaturant and were told it would be an hour and a half wait.   I nicely said that we did not make our reservations at 125 days out to be sitting outside the restaurant as an overflow.   The Manager did try to talk us into waiting the hour and a half or to come back another night.   We thanked her and walked ourselves over the Los Lobos, which is across from Cagneys, and got seated 15 minutes later.   Again, another delicious meal.     We were told that we were the fourth party that night to come back again without reservations.    It seems to be really catching on.    The only drawback on us walking out of Cagneys was I missed the seven-layer cake.

 

6.   For Embarkation, as Platinum, we boarded right after the paid upgrade to priority boarding which boarded after passengers needing assistance and Sapphire, Diamond and Ambassador.     While we still boarded on the very early side and got everything accomplished upon boarding that we needed to do, I did not think it was right that paid priority boarding went ahead of platinum boarding which we earned after spending many, many, many thousands of dollars to achieve.   But that is my opinion.

 

7.   While the Vibe on the Encore is not my favorite, for us, it was worth every penny (59,900 of them).   The service was, as usual, top notch.   Lounge chairs could always be found in both the sun and the shade.  

 

8.   We loved both the Boss Underwater Excursion in St. Thomas and Escape to Jost Van Dyke excursion in Tortola.   Both were the highlights of our trip.  We also did the Discover Puerto Plata tour which was unusual for us as we always are geared to water-based excursions.    My husband was happy as he was able to purchase rum and cigars while I was able to purchase chocolate.    Note there was a good amount of walking on this tour which did take a lot of people by surprise.    On Great Stirrup Cay, we rented a Villa at Silver Cove.   

 

9.  The buffet.   I have seen a lot of comments lately about the quality and amount of food choices going down lately at the buffet.    We agree.    This was our fifth cruise since the restart (and third within 11 months) and have noticed a big difference this past year.  

 

10.  CruiseNext Certificates--we purchased them and were able to apply them to our three cabins on our June 2025 Encore cruise which we booked in March 2023.   So far, so good that they have not been kicked back yet.    

 

We do still love the NCL product, but I think we both love it a little less now.    We are up again this June on the Joy with our young adult children, their significant others and extended family and are both still looking forward to it; however, I think we are going to cancel our February 2025 Viva cruise and go with our Plan B which we formulated while we were waiting for NCL to release the Viva Vibe passes.     

 

Any questions, please ask and I will try to answer.

Day 1.pdf 3.02 MB · 36 downloads Day 2.pdf 3.21 MB · 25 downloads Day 3.pdf 2.93 MB · 25 downloads Day 4.pdf 2.98 MB · 19 downloads Day 5.pdf 2.94 MB · 17 downloads Day 6.pdf 3.02 MB · 20 downloads Day 7.pdf 2.9 MB · 16 downloads

Also going on Viva January 21, 2024-would also greatly appreciate it if you could post the dailies so we can also plan dining times  around activities/shows.  THANK YOU

Looking to book a cruise during the promotion time frame of Nov. 8th to Nov. 15th for a balcony cabin and booked 4 months plus prior. I currently only have 1 certificate in hand to apply toward that booking. Will be on the Viva Dec. 6, 2023 and can purchase 2 more certificates then. Can they then be applied after purchase to bring a total of 3 certificates toward final payment? 

Sailing on the Viva January 2024-Which Pier does NCL use for  the Viva-Pan Am Pier or City Pier. 

Go with the VIBE hands down-NO BRAINER-always get VIBE w/balcony cabin-but given your choice of one or the other-money

 well spent on VIBE-have been on Prima 2x w/VIBE-Best part of Prima VIBE is there is no  issue with wind like on Breakaway+ where it is located in front of ship vs rear of ship on Prima and right next to buffet-can take food right to VIBE without trying to find limited seating in smaller buffet seating  area. Don't have to fight for a lounger-always plenty-NO chair hogs-best bar service on ship-and get to meet a select few VIBE cruisers you get to know and see everyday-very social-have met alot of people we now cruise with.

Going April 29, 2023-can anyone post recent dailies so we can anticipate what activities are offered in order to book specialty dining restaurants/times. Thanks in advance.😀

Boarding the Prima on Sunday March 5th-Does anyone know where they will be setup for specialty dining reservations? 

Thank You cml4958-What you sent was exactly what I was looking for!😁

Any chance you have scanned the dailies yet? Recent post of dailies from 1/29/23 sailing don't have the same order of ports as your cruise. and won't work for me. I have the same order of ports for 3/5/23 sailing as your sailing  and am trying to plan specialty dining times around entertainment schedule. ThankYou

Can you post dailies soon-going on the same cruise itinerary in less than 2 weeks.Thanks

12 hours ago, cml4958 said:

I’m not aware of dancing lessons on any ship and not sure about dancing on ship.

 

I rarely if ever eat in main dining room 

I won’t be able to post the dailies while on the cruise but might be able to after.

That would be awesome i you could after the cruise. THANK YOU

Will be on the Prima March 5th-Trying to plan times for specialty dining around evening entertainment-Could you post the dailies during your cruise.  Thank You😁 

Thanks for the great reviews. We will be on the Prima in 3 weeks-any chance you can post the dailies from you recent sailing on the Prima?

We are booked for the 1/22/23 sailing on the Beyond. We also got stuck with a 2:00-2:30 boarding time like you had. However you state you arrived @ 11:30 instead. Did they check your original boarding time or give you a hard time?  We also would like to arrive early like you did-but don't want to get turned away and told to wait @ port  after arriving till 2:00-2:30. Your response will be GREATLY APPRECIATED😁

I have bought a bottle of flavored coffee creamer  the last two times in Miami after flying in. I carry it on board in a plastic bag-never had it questioned or confiscated. I always enjoy my coffee every morning with my favorite flavored creamer-just put some in my Yeti from the room refrigerator and head to the buffet or observation lounge for my coffee.

Currently on the December 3rd sailing of Prima-prepurchased online vibe tickets a long time ago for this and another for the Prima sailing March 5th 2023 out of Port Canaveral. Rommel in the Vibe told me that the Vibe is already SOLD OUT into/thru May 2023. None are available for purchase on board-None are held back for people when embarking/boarding.

It is just a repositioning from Miami to Port Canaveral.

They could always sell more-have always had vibe passes and never seen it anywhere close to being over half full at best, even during sea days-probably the busiest during sailaway.

Is it worth it for a aft balcony cabin.

I have purchased a bottle of my favorite flavored creamer @ CVS in Miami before boarding ship and never had a problem carrying it on ship when boarding.

1 hour ago, Jennsails said:

Ok, got it. So basically check in like flying Southwest lol. Then use elbows to get to wherever passes are being sold and hope that the Haven and suite folks don't have the same idea. We will get there early for sure and I can sprint stairs, if need be 😉

I understand from your posts that you like a shaded lounger-My wife & I always try and  secure vibe passes-they do have umbrellas for the loungers, but the vibe can be very very windy @ times and they will not open the umbrellas for shade. Please consider this in determining if you want to secure vibe passes as some people purchase, then later cancel after experiencing very windy conditions when underway when sailing. We learned to tolerate wind days and enjoy the new friends we meet and spend the week with.  

39 minutes ago, OttawaJohn said:

Can you buy them ahead of sailing?

Unfortunately NO.