Sthrngary

December 9, 2022: Cozumel, Mexico continues Some notes that might helps folks going on the Breakaway. Ice Cream: You can order Milk Shakes, sundies, and other ice cream treats at O'Sheehans for a cost. The Milk Shakes are the same as at the American Diner. The soft served at the Buffet is really good and complementary. The Bakery: This little place next to Cagney's is ok. Nothing stroke me as I had to have it. The best pastry on the ship is the Cake at Cagney's. Back and Neck Massage: You can get one for $29.00 for 15 minutes on the pool deck by the Ping Pong Tables on Port days. Just enough without breaking the bank. The Shows in the Main Theatre: Both are great. Even if you are tired, go. Force yourself. Worth the effort. Laundry in the Club Balcony Suite: One bag is complementary. Get it to the room steward by 09:00 AM Friday morning at the latest. Tendering: None this week. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Cruising Lynne I considered doing another thread and decided not too. My wife lasted one round. It is completely the luck of the machine. On the trip. Always remember a cruise is what you make of it. For example, we spend most of our time in the sun in the Vibe Beach Club. When we eat lunch in the restaurants, we play gin. We have done this itinerary many times before so the islands are not the appeal they are to others. My wife in the afternoons does really small jigsaw puzzles in the cabin looking at the ocean. The spa is not buzy on port days and they are doing back and neck massage for $29.00 for 15 minutes at the pool by the ping pong tables. I had my second one today. Lovely and boy did I need it. You just craft the vacation that suits you best and go for it. Tonight is Ocean Blue for seafood and the show Burn the Floor. Thank you for reaching out. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ChiefMateJRK Thank you. They were red the other day. Just the kind of guy I am. Some say a bit different. Thanks for noticing. Cruise well and "Pick a Color for my nails!"

I will do my best. You asked be earlier and yes, I forgot. They are closed now and will open at 07:00 PM. Sorry. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

View from the Vibe in Cozumel.

December 9, 2022: Cozumel Morning Routine: Coffee, Buffet and Vibe. If anything, we are consistent. Beach Day: We had a complementary beach day with the Slot Tournament. We passed on it. We used to live on the beach so it was nice but we like to be close to home base. Vibe Beach Club: we have a cabana. It is nice. When the ship and sun is right, it is perfect. When you want shade, you move out of the cabana. Best of both worlds. Questions to me: What is the min bet and odds on craps? Cruise well and enjoy every moment

December 8, 2022: Roatan · Morning: I think everyone gets the idea that my wife and I are creatures of habits. Our morning always starts with a good, strong coffee. We hardly ever eat Breakfast at home so it is a true luxury on a cruise ship. We ate at the Main Dining Room again. I got a bagel and lox. The bagel is no real bagel. You don’t put lettuce on a bagel with lox, LOL. I also ordered sausage with a bagel and lox, a no-no, but I was feeling feisty. The Danish are kind of average so try them the first day. · Roatan: I have been here many times before. We have done the Jolly Rodger Snorkeling and the Over the Water Bungalow. Both were good but like most excursions, “One and Done”. So we just took a walk off the ship into the shopping area. We wanted Tylenol. It started to rain so we got a beer. Did not last long. Then my wife sees this booth where little tiny fish eat the skin off your feet. We were both “IN” for that one. That was unique and something I will never forget. · Vibe Beach Club: We went up to the Vibe, got a drink and went in to the hot tub which has a cover over it. This is for sunshade but in this case, it was for a severe rain storm. We had a ball just sitting there, in the walm water with the bubble’s on. I may have ordered a few to many Long Island Ice teas with an extra shot. Because we were feeling no pain. This decision led us to realize that a lunch buffet followed by a Nap would be a great concept. · Buffet: The carving station had pork and it was not good. However, there is always a stew that will be great comfort food. We both really did not eat much which happens to all of use mid-way through a cruise. · Cigar Bar: Today was my first cigar of the cruise. Nice room by the Whiskey bar. Lovely folks in the Cigar bar today. From all over the world. This led to several games of Gin where my wife crushed me. Seem I can not play gin well when I have had a few to many. OR, my wife is simple a much better Gin Player then I. · Dinner at the Noodle Bar Again: We loved this place so much we went for the second time in a week. Just as good. HINT #6: The Noodle Bar is complementary. There is always a wait so get there early or understand you will have to wait. · The Show was the Two Comedians: Both were actually good and the main theatre was packed. Time for a “MudSlide”. · Conclusion: The weather was mostly good. The ship is going extremely fast and it is rocking pretty good. The NCL Staff and Crew are doing a great job. Everyone seems to be happy and the crowd this week of guest are all very nice to this point. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

You are more than welcome. A little fun today. I walked off the ship in Roatan. A little shop had tiny fish that eat the skin on your feet. A unique experience for sure. Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment

my understanding is have it in the pill bottles. We just ran out so we bought some in Roatan. My daily meds are pre packaged.

No way to run a railroad for sure. However, it is an approach to enjoy your cruise better. I say ask, if they say NO, That is just fine. Life is to short.

Yes, based on service provided. So far, outstanding.

I did not see one. Cruise Well

It is crab salad like Tuna Salad, rolled like a tube with smoked salmon around it. Two would do it for you. You have other choices to go with it. All portions are small. Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment.

December 12, 2022: NCL Private Island · 07:00 AM: Unsuccessful Starbucks run. The line was too long. I also knew that the coffee in the main dining room was good, so I went back to the cabin. · 08:00 AM: Breakfast at the Main Dining Room: So, we have gone to the main dining room twice and the buffet once for breakfast. Both were good. The eggs to order at the omelet station is slightly better than getting the same eggs in the Main Dining Room. The comfort of the Main Dining Room is better than the buffet. · 09:30 AM: Private Island—This is a very nice place. I have been here several times. Very clean and well organized. We waited for most of the folks to leave the ship before we headed down. No issue at all getting two lounge chairs and an umbrella by the pool. The pool should be heated but once you get in, you get used to it pretty easy. The Food and Drink prices are fair but I don’t like the food there so I simply go back on the ship. When you leave the ship, you can get some towels. You sign for them so bring them back and sign that you brought them back. · 12:00 PM: Vibe Beach Club—If you have not figured it out as of yet, we love the Vibe. It is our source for privacy and quiet from a completely sold-out ship. · 01:30 PM: Lunch at the Buffet—We looked at the “Blue Plate Special” at O’Sheehans and it was salmon. Folks were unhappy with it because it was dry. So we went to the Buffet. I found the carving station with some nice beef, mashed potatoes, and had some lamb stew. The deserts again were average at best but the soft served was again a highlight. · 02:30 PM: Nap · 04:00 PM: Bar Hopping—We had Manhattan at the Whisky bar while playing Gin. Great drinks and great staff. · 06:00 PM: Dinner at the French Restaurant—From a service standpoint, excellent. Lovely place. The food was very good. I got the Scallop dish, Crab Salad with Smoked Salmon, Lamb chops and lots of champagne courtesy of the Premium Plus Beverage Package. Lovely experience and food was good. · 08:00 PM: Casino—Time for my wife to play the coin pusher. You don’t make much but you can play for ever. · 09:00 PM: Headliners—Dueling pianos. This was just OK. They take requests and play them. They also spent a bit to much time asking for tips in my opinion. The place was packed but their was no energy. They were just ok and we left after three songs. The musician at the Martini Bar is much better in my opinion. Conclusion: As most folk start to understand, after a few days you begin to relax more. You stop over filling your plate and food simply is not as good to you because you are not hungry. Happens on every cruise with us. Now we start skipping meals based on our dinner selection. HINT #6: Bring pain reliver meds from home. They simply don't sell them on the ship. It is a policy. Bring extra. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

December 6, 2022: Costa Maya, Mexico · 07:00 AM: My daily Starbucks run. We like to have coffee on our balcony. Just something we look forward to. · 08:00 AM: Breakfast at the Buffet. OK, I am not a buffet fan however if you play it right, it is excellent. I went to the egg station and ordered the eggs the way I like them. I watched the cook them, PERFECT. The link pork sausages is just what I like. They taste like Brown & Serve which for what ever reason is my favorite. Coffee is well, HORRIBLE!!!!!! Get Starbucks and bring it in. · 10:00 AM: The Vibe Beach Club. We did not even get off the ship. We have been to this port before an it is just OK. This will be the day we explore the ship and chill. · 12:00 PM: Ping Pong Tournament which the only players were my wife and I. I have not done this in years. We had a ball and were making so much noise we brought in a crowd. We tend to be completive. · 01:00 PM: Lunch in O’Sheeehan’s—I had a burger and I will tell you the ones in the Buffet are better. My wife had fish sandwich and LOVE IT. We played Gin for about an hour and she toasted me. · 07:00 PM: Dinner in the Noodle Bar—This was a great evening. They sat us at the bar so we watched the chef making all the food. Everything was tasty and this is a complementary dining experience. We will do it again. · 08:00 PM: Drinks in the atrium with live band that was great. We would have stayed longer but they were going from Music to “Deal or No Deal”. Conclusion: More than any time in the past sailings. It sure seems like NCL is doing everything they can to get every dollar they can gain. Whether it is Bingo, Deal or No Deal, and the list goes on. Where before, it was there; now it seems to be there a lot more. My reason for bringing this up is to set realistic expectations. Like Nancy Regan said some decades ago, “Just Say No.” Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am drinking the top of the line Patron which is $25.00 per shot. My wife is having the top of the line Wine at $25.00 a glass. My wife got a full bottle (Under the Program) and brought it back to the suite for balcony. We do bottle waters at every meal and Starbucks twice a day. Do I think it is worth it, yes. For one week a year, you get to be treated like a rock star. The challenge on the Internet was going from my wifes phone, to her computer to my phone to my computer. One device at a time. I was going to purchase the $10.00 per phone package that lets me text, message and call my wife on the ship but the Internet Guy just gave me an extra unlimited Internet. Again, not the policy but he did it for me without asking. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am taking your question very seriously. It is not easy to answer which you will find out. Part of the strategy I give when cruising is to attempt to have a relationship with your favorite Bar and Bartender. I did this in the Vibe Bar and gave everyone a $20.00 tip the first day. Three folks working this bar. I also engaged with them. My way of nicely getting everything I want. The bar tender said, Classic Shooters like B52's were no longer being served fleet wide because of A) Cost; B) Supply Chain and C) They were too time consuming. The next words out of their mouth was but we will do them for you because you have a Premium Plus Package. I found out later it did not matter, it was really the "Time It Took". I purposefully asked for a B52 and they made it for me not questions asked was a wink. I believe they do it from time to time depending on how crowded the bar is knowing it is against the rules. That is as clear as "MUD" I know but it is all the facts I have. NCL is sometime very confusing especially when they change policies. Cruise well and Enjoy Every Moment.

Sorry folks, the internet is not cooperating with me. December 5, 2022: Sea Day · Early Morning Coffee: Time for two large Starbucks Coffee. As usual, the two folks in front of me are shocked that the Premium Drink Package does not include Starbucks. In the past I would say something, but I learned to simply stay out of it. One person got so angry they did not take their coffee. I took both of mine and went back to the cabin. My lovely bride was very appreciative. · 08:05 AM-Taste for Breakfast: I just want to say the coffee in Taste was excellent. I had the Eggs Benedict, link pork sausage and home fries. It was done perfectly, hot, and great. My wife had Raisin French Toast. She said it was good but not great. No line but when we left, there was a wait. I highly recommend the MDR for Breakfast. · 09:30 AM: The Vibe Beach Club and this morning was GREAT. When you have a Cabana, they provide you with Containers of Water. Two a day. · 11:00 AM: Round One of the Slot Tournament Finals. My wife was dead last. Well, at least we got that out of the way. We played a few more slots to contribute to the Casino Staff. That did not last long. Back to the Vibe for a Mudslide and it was great. · 1:00 PM: Buffet which was not bad. Like most buffets you must be selective. My burger was great, and my wife had Pizza and Mac & Cheese. · 02:00 PM: Nap in the room. · 03:00 PM: Bar “Check Off the Box” Game—First we did some shots at the Vibe (Check); than we did a Martini at the Martini Bar (Check); than we did a Mixed Drink at the Mix Bar (Check). Our goal is to have a drink in all the bars with the exception of the Haven Bar (Not in the Haven) by end of cruise. · 06:00 PM: Main Dining Room—The food is good but not outstanding. My steak was very nice and had a nice sauce over it. My wife’s baked Ziti was also very nice. She also had the Cheese Ravioli as an appetizer, and I had a c. salad. Both were very nice. o Hint #4: Check your bill when you go to any restaurant when you have the Premium Plus Beverage Package. I order bottles water all the time and they attempt to charge me. I have to correct them. · 07:30 PM: The Show “Six”—Don’t miss it. About 90 minutes. o Hint #5: Six is the Second and Third night of the cruise. The shows are at 07:30 PM and 10:00 PM. They are packed. Questions asked of me today: 1. What time did I get to the Port? 09:00 AM 2. Who is the Casino Host? I will find out but there are several because of the tournament. 3. Can we get a Mini Beer and a shot? Yes, only shooters are now not allowed unless you have the Premium Plus Beverage Package. Another reason for this new rule for the Shooters is the time it takes to make them and once one person gets one, everyone starts to order them. 4. How is the Club Balcony Suite? Small but nice. The cabin was not as clean as I am used to and the glass in the bathroom was not washed. It had a film on it from tooth paste and a toothbrush. The balcony is tiny. Please remember, I am used to the Haven Suites, so this is much smaller. 5. Do they have Tequila 1942? Not so far. I will keep looking. Patron does not suck though. The lesson here is on a cruise, “It is what it is! Be flexible and just have a good time.” 6. Can I post Dailies? I will attempt to do this when I get home and can use my scanner. Conclusion: Nice Sea day. Drink lots of water all day especially if you are drinking. The internet is horrible and even when you upgrade to Streaming Unlimited from the Free At Sea PLUS program, it is ONLY FOR ONE DEVICE and it is hard to coordinate at time.

My wife lost the first round so she is out. The re-buy-in was $150.00 and she said “No”. She actually was happy the stress was over. Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment

Thank you. Things are great. I hope the same is for you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Handy capped, high level rewards member

I got to the port at 9 o’clock, I didn’t want to challenge the system so I went directly to a person to help me make the change in our reservation for our specialty restaurants Cruise well and enjoy every momentCruise well and enjoy every moment

We are in a Club Suite, in the Vibe Cabana, and did the Free At Sea PLUS. My wife loves the Vibe. I knew she would. Crew is Great. Cruise Well and enjoy every moment

Hello Everyone: It seems that it is TRUE. Shooter Drinks due to price Increase are an up charge for the Premium Beverage Package. Not much but an upcharge. The Premium Plus Package there is no Upcharge. The crew hates this change but I think it is NCL trying to make a bigger profit to make up for loses. Hope this helps everyone. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Not yet, but I am on the hunt. They might be out of Patron though. This Brand loses money on the drink package with me and I don't drink that much. You must have faith and believe your price is somewhere. I sense it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.