TPgal

On 2/24/2020 at 9:37 AM, Mike_DeA said:

Regarding the wifi, the post above is incorrect. 

You know, when I replied to that question I knew I shouldn't touch the second question because I only have limited experience with the wifi plans... I tried to edit my reply, but my "talking out of my %ss" reply will be with us for eternity.   Thank you for clarifying my comment for the OP.  You too @Turtles06

That would be my assumption.  You can go to NCL.com and look up the name of your ship and see deck plans.  A mock booking of any cruise on the same ship would allow you to see the cabin numbers.  There might be a more easy way to do that, or you could google the ship and cabin number to do your research. 

Re: Dining.  You do not have to reserve a spot for complimentary dining.  You can show up and wait to eat.   The benefits of reserving are if you are on a timeline, like trying to see a show, if you have a larger group to accommodate.   Showing up and waiting is just fine.  The waits aren't horrific; grab a glass of wine and get in line.  You can also make reservations on the ship if you decide later that you need to dine at a specific time.  

The wifi is device specific.  

Enjoy your sailing. 

On 2/18/2020 at 9:38 PM, Comi.uy said:

However our time is from 5:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m., would you say its risky to take this tour independently? Im not willing to risk losing the cruise

 

It is my understanding that you won't be allowed off the ship unless you're on an NCL sponsored excursion.   I think this is a Panama rule, but even if you managed it I absolutely would NOT.   Traffic in Panama in the afternoons is like nothing I've ever seen.  There is one bridge to drive out of Panama City and in the evening they reroute westbound bridge traffic to one of the eastbound bridge lanes - only there are no barriers or anything - just a lane full of cars going so slowly that there are vendors walking between the lanes of cars selling food, beverages to the commuters.   Our bus was headed in the opposite direction, but we were still over an hour late getting back into Colon.   I think we were underway before they even had the gangplanks up.  

Setting your OBC math aside personally, I would book enough SDP to cover the sea days, and the last night on the ship.   I like to have a reason to be somewhere on sea days and like to cap off the cruise with a 'special' dinner on the last night.  

You might consider the night of the canal transit as well.  Once the sun goes down there isn't much to see and people will have been "busy" all day getting their moment at the windows/on deck, so having a place to land for dinner where you don't have to elbow others might be nice.

It sounds like a wonderful adventure, have fun.

My family took this cruise in April.   I can only tell you why we chose what we chose.   We wanted to go thru the full extent of the locks and we opted for the ferry.    The train was out because I didn't want to be locked in a box and feel like we were seeing it from inside a theater.  I didn't want to be on and off a bus all day either, so the grand tour was out.

So, for the ferry. First let me say, it was great and an experience of a lifetime.  It was a LONG day and if you have small kids you might re-think it, because there was a LOT of hurry up and wait.  My daughter was 8 at the time and did really well, but I was thankful we brought her electronic babysitter for the bus trip back to the ship.   Road traffic in Panama be CRAZY.

We tendered off the ship to the "Yacht Club" - which is a ramp and a bathroom (use it).  Then we drove across the country stopping at an extremely nice gas station/mini-mart where we had enough time to use the restrooms, and buy snacks (do both).

We boarded the ferry and started our journey thru the canal.   We would go thru a lock, tie up and then wait for the other vessels to join us.  It was entertaining and fun to cross with (for us) a sailboat and a tanker.     The ferry had some indoor space and some undercover space, but we were prepared to be outside in the sun.    It rained on us for about 20 minutes and I would normally say that as a Seattle person I am use to the rain.  HOLY SMOKES -that was insane - it was warm and felt like a strong shower.    My group wore swim clothes (board shorts, & spf rash guards) for the day and for a while I thought I may have made a mistake, but nope - be ready for anything!   We dried quickly and have a great story to tell.

Food on the ferry was IMO questionable.  But, with the gas station snacks and the bagels and buffet stuff that we had with us, we survived the day.  Oh bring your water bottle ... they have beer and Panamanian sodas for sale on the ferry.  American money worked just fine - but can't confirm the exchange rate.  

All in all, it was a great day and I recommend it.   (our group was two 78 year olds, two 50 ish, and the 8-year old)  pack your patience, buffet food (in ziplocks) and a waterproof pack for your valuables and enjoy!

On 1/7/2019 at 7:56 AM, mahuwf said:

We board the Pearl this Saturday (1/12) and our travel agent said that she, through the NCL rep, got us listed as a "VIP" and that there would be "something extra" for us in our mini-suite. Any idea what this might be?

 

We originally booked a balcony with three "Free at Sea" choices, but upgraded to a mini-suite later through our travel agent (instead of the bid process). In doing so, we lost one of our "Free at Sea" choices because the NCL rep apparently said that three choices wasn't part of the deal anymore. Our agent was not satisfied with that and went to bat for us and not only got us an OBC equal to the third choice, but also this "VIP" designation. I just don't know what that means.

@mahuwf I assume that you're back; can you share what the perks were and how it went?

"We have the H6 (aft penthouse) and the offers were for the 2 bedroom villa (H4 - wouldn't consider over the H6), and then the Owners Suite (H3) and Deluxe Owners Suite (H2).  I just couldn't justify the additional cost for either Owners Suite, so didn't bid."

We booked into the H4 and won't be participating in any upgrade bids.  We want the second "bedroom" aka closed off space for our 9 year old.   I don't have any regrets or worries related to cost.  We have the room we want.  

My in-laws are in an aft balcony (H6)  and feel the same way about bidding "up".   The loss of the amazing deck would feel like a downgrade to them.   

The H4 has a sad deck, but these are the things you give up for an extra space to house the favorite (only) kid. 

During our April 1 partial Panama canal sailing we were told at the early morning muster before getting off the ship for our 7+ hour excursion that we "absolutely were not (wink wink) allowed to exit the ship with food, and that we (wink wink) absolutely should not use the next 30 minutes to make sure we didn't have snacks with us." People got up an hustled to the "not buffet" and came back with "not-food".

I already had a packet full of items to keep my crew sane i.e. bagels from the buffet, protein bars from home and probably the most illegal thing - apples.   I brought sandwich sized ziplock bags for just this purpose.  

7 hours ago, SeaShark said:

Wait . . .

 

So, not only do we have to worry about becoming Platinum between the legs of a B2B, but now we also have to attend the muster drill?

 

Oh the humanity . . . when will it ever end?

 

 

I demand compensation.

For your troubles, NCL would like to offer you a free drink of your choice, under $15 of course, with a 20% service fee.

20 hours ago, moviegal said:

One other little thing that's worth mentioning - I sailed out of Los Angeles so when the ship was in port in California, everything we ordered that was "free" with the beverage package, was subject to local sales tax. This was ONLY in California and ONLY when we weren't sailing, but those little $1 - $5 tax charges added up! Just be aware.

This happens in other ports as well.  It is subject to the local authority and is not an NCL charge, those taxes go back to the city or port.   Everyone wants their cut of our vacation money.    We have paid it in Miami and Seattle.   TBH, I'd rather pay a $2 tax on a cocktail than slurp down this lukewarm coffee at my desk on this dreary January day... oh to be on vacation...

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

I would say that what you were told is almost certainly wrong.

 

...of this I am sure, I do take the info gained on a call with a grain of salt.

Muster at 4-5 would be ideal, my worry is that we'll be boarding at that time rather than at a more traditional time.   On boarding day I want to get right to it.  I have a hard time thinking of it as a 7 day cruise when day one is only a few hours, and day seven is really just a disembark event.

I thought it had to do with tides, but when I called the help line they assured me that we will be boarding at a more traditional time and won't be doing muster at 1am - she suggested that muster would be at 9pm.

Regardless, for those of us who want to view sail away it will be a late night.

9 hours ago, roxette said:

I was on the Bliss, 21 days, Panama, last month. 

 

Most of the bartenders did not know about the package. Not even those in Starbucks or the Juice Bar. In The outside bars almost nothing was available from the ppb package, ubtil we complained. 

 

But it was not that strange, because not even the food and beverage manager really knew what was included. 

 

On the Getaway in September, it worked Great. On the Bliss, worthless. 

 

That's too bad.  It's unfortunate that even after a few months of offering and promoting this "upgrade" that the most important people don't know about it.

I've just purchased the upgrade as an x-mas gift to ourselves for our September 7-day cruise and think it will be super fun not to worry about $2 here or $3 there...  On our last cruise our party of 5 went thru at least 4 bottles of the cheapo/included champagne and one bottle of Vueve during our LeBistro night.   That alone would make up for the cost of the package for us.    

Our traveling companions in their own room have been contemplating the upgrade as well, so we might have to make our money back over the course of a couple nights.   I don't see it being a problem.  

6 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

 

Artwork outside Food Republic.

 

 

 

We have something similar in Seattle - it's called the Gum Wall outside Pike Place Market.  For the cost of hand sanitizer you can stick your own ABC gum on the wall.     (No offence to the artist, who I'm sure wants us to see something about humanity.) 

I was able to take advantage of the Black Friday promo.  My cruise fare dropped almost $700, same perks.    I was not booked on a double latitudes points promo, so all the other perks stay the same.

I'll keep monitoring prices as we are 270+ days out and nowhere near final payment.

Rather than thinking we overpaid at the booking, we are enjoying the price watching.  

My MIL was able to adjust their rate via their wholesale TA booking. 

In addition to "mechanical issues" there is growing unrest in Colombia, and today the borders are closed due to the protests.   Perhaps NCL and the other cruise lines either can't get into Cartagena or are deciding that the safety of the passengers is more important.

We were in Cartagena in April and it was a lovely city, but if we were there this week I'd enjoy the pool vs. getting off the ship. 

With the PPB, will they bring you a second bottle of wine/champagne if you polish off the first one?  

I mean, not that my hubs and I could ever drink more than one bottle during a dinner. #sarcasm #AA?

Towels - confirmed!

There is also a safe in that credenza thing which was great for holding our valuables while we played.  We didn't find the fruit platter until the end of the day (tucked in the fridge) but managed to enjoy it anyway.

Enjoy it!  

We are booked on a similar-ish itinerary - RT NYC/Canada/NE on the Breakaway leaving 8/30 and our kiddo will be 9.  We will be traveling with her grandparents who are 75 & 81.   

I imagine that the number of kids her age on the cruise will be similar to our Panama Canal cruise last year where there were less than 70 people under the age of 18 on the entire ship. She made one friend, but they had to really try as the other girl didn't speak English and our daughter is zero percent fluent in Ukrainian/Russian. 

She knows this is upcoming trip is more about our time together vs. beaches and zip-lines.  We do plan to be indulgent with time at the pool and other kid friendly activities while on the ship.  At port we won't be doing any 6+ hour bus intensive excursions,  She earned the right to say she hated those after our epic ferry ride thru the Panama Canal and then multiple hour drive back to the ship.  You know it's a strong opinion when it pops out not in the moment, but at breakfast a month later.  I think for the Canada/NE trip I'm going to give her a camera and ask her to be our official photographer and let her document the trip thru her eyes.

I know there is a world of difference between a tween and a nine year old, but I feel like these experiences can be managed and are worth the effort.  With both you and your husband along you can split up to do kid things and dad things.  Plus, what a wonderful memory for your girl to have - a special cruise with grandpa.   One other idea is to give her an option as to an excursion - maybe there is something she'd like to do and one of the port days can be about her.  We did the water park in Costa Maya just for Lucy, and while it wasn't my cup of tea she's still talking about it.  So..winner winner.  Granted, the Nova Scotia Water Park probably isn't as warm... but maybe there is something available that she'd like to do.

Lastly, the kids club even on the Jade with almost no kids my kiddo had a blast.  The staff came up with fun things tailored to the smaller group and she came back to the room exhausted every day.   

Go, take the kid, have fun (and let her have the electronics for down time).  

On 10/22/2019 at 5:06 PM, fastpitchdad said:

...

 

 

Great review.  My college friend was the winemaker at Kestrel for this vintage.  Have you tried the new(ish) WIT winery?

I asked the travel specialist at our doctor's office and they recommended that we get a Hep A series.  The timing wasn't quite right and we were only able to get the first shot before we left, but she said it was better than nothing.

As a precaution, for our excursion days where we left the ship to be outdoors (not at the beach) we treated our clothing with Permethrin.  It stunk during application, but by the time the clothes were dry the smell was gone and didn't cause the other items in our luggage to smell either.   We did the treatment before we left on our trip.  

I am quite the buffet for pacific northwest mosquitoes but during our 11 day cruise I was free from any bites - even during our panama canal by ferry and Costa Rica canal and train excursions.  

Holy guacamole, I am excited to see the other menus.

On our most recent cruise (11 nights in a suite - not haven on the Jade) we were offered the laundry promo twice.   Our traveling companions were offered the same promo, same pricing - all you can stuff in the bag for $19.95 (ish).   What I noticed is that our bags were much larger than the bag offered in the Mini-suite and the Inside cabin.   I was able to get a lot of items of various sizes into that bag - fold and roll, don't stuff.

I wouldn't send anything delicate or that couldn't be washed in an industrial machine.  Our items came back clean, folded and a bit scratchy.  However for a mid-week wash it was great.  

Have a great trip.  

It's a rainy Seattle Friday afternoon, so I am pondering life.   We are a family of 2 (married couple & a 9 year old) booked into a Haven 2BR on the Breakaway.  When the upgrade bidding game starts would you consider a different cabin an upgrade?  Why or why not?

We liked the 2BR on the Jade because we could still enjoy the cabin when the tax deduction went to bed, but  am wondering about other people's 3+ people in a cabin experience. 

Thanks and I know it's not the most important question plaguing us these days...CC is my escape from all that other stuff.