BennyBrun

Wonderland… I recommend to be adventurous and try as many “appetizers” as you can they are small bites.  Let your server take you on a wild adventure and don’t be afraid to ask for more lobster 🦞 bites … I did lol…. The crispy fish was divine!

Giovanni’s Kitchen.  We were not a fan of the food at this place.  It is nothing like Giovanni’s Table where it’s more Italian.  This one was described as with an American influence.  Why you want an American influence on Italian cuisine is still puzzling to me.  The pizza was better at Sorento’s.  The presentation was immaculate.

I am going to let the pictures do all the talking lol… we had the UDP and ate at all the specialty restaurants.  Feel free to ask questions!

Izumi… $35.00 credit per person on the UDP.

56 minutes ago, WVU-79 said:

We will be sailing on Mariner next month for our first B2B out of Port Canaveral.  We will be driving and parking at the cruise terminal.  During the turn around day, will we be allowed o exit the terminal and take some dirty clothes to the car and bring clean clothes with 2 bottles of wine onboard?  Thanks in advance.  

 

John

Remember to leave time because you will have to gather at the end of your first cruise and schedule for a Covid test that they will provide!

That is fantastic…definitely go to Wonderland… the food there is so much better than Giovanni’s kitchen with an American influence.  It is not like the Giovanni’s table you are used to.  Although UDP vs CK … it’s such a hard decision especially the steaks at Chops vs the filet at CK… have you thought about an early sitting at CK and then Chops at a later sitting just to compare … you are on vacation you are allowed to have two dinners lol…   I included some pictures from the Odyssey when we were on it back in October.  Those were my favorite.  You should also make your way up to playmaker and order the s’mores cookie … you get a credit towards food from the UDP and it is the best cookie ever!!!

2 hours ago, molemaui said:

Really tired of the bait and switch I seem to be getting from NCL. One rep tells me Haven doesn't get the premium drink package, they get the "ultimate" drink package. Couldn't find ultimate anywhere until I saw an old post where ultimate was renamed premium. A PCC that keeps badgering me says it includes everything. Thanks to you answering my initial questions, I feel I have accurate information. 

 

This wouldn't be such a big deal but on the lines I sail most, suite customers have no need to upgrade anything unless it's for something like Opus One wine,  Dom Perignon or McCallan 18. Those I would expect an uncharge for.

 

I sometimes tend to over analyze things but I use $1000/day for 2 as a high end benchmark for cruising. I don't include airfare because you have to fly there anyway. Just sailed Celebrity in Retreat (Haven copycat) with a cost of approx. $693/day. Sailing Silversea next month for approx. $770 day. For January planning on either Oceana-$732/day or Crystal-$1042.day. (small suite-allowing for extra cost-all inclusive) The closest I come with Haven is $971/day which includes upgrading drink package to equal the others. Even if I'm off by a few dollars, you get the picture. 

 

I keep watching sales and specials and like booking ultra last minute if something that interests us is available. Will keep checking Haven but not at $1000/day. 

 

Somebody, please prove me wrong or at least show me where I'm mistaken. 

I agree with you and you are not wrong but that’s a personal opinion.  Celebrity Retreat in my opinion is better than the Haven.  The service by the crew are both wonderful and warm but on Celebrity it’s just a notch above.

Marketing is marketing is marketing.  It’s fluffy like a marshmallow and once you squish it down it’s just a ball of hard facts.  I just calculate what it would cost for each cruise line,  whatever extras I want to pay for or not pay for and look at the final cost that way and decide what kind of experience I want to have.  They all have their good bad and ugly side.

25 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Lol I was told to not worry about the 2nd leg, but buy a bottle of booze I liked first leg and it would be delivered at the end of first leg and voila .. a bottle to drink. Havent tried it. 

I have been told about that too and might have to try it at Cozumel where liquor prices are cheaper outside the pier compound.

Here’s the link to Royal for the policy!  Your experience will differ depending on the port security you encounter.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-alcohol-guest-policy

27 minutes ago, wwva said:

We will be going on a b2b on Mariner of the Seas in January.   We understand that we may bring one 750 ml bottle of wine per person when boarding.    Does Royal allow us to bring 4 bottles with us since we will not be leaving the cruise terminal prior to our 2nd leg of the cruise?   Thanks. 

Yes if you have two people in the room then you can bring 4 bottles in your carry on.  Depending on the port security they may or may not want to see the B2B proof, and the may or may not refer you to Royal security so that they can take two bottles away and return them later on your second cruise.  Have lots of fun!

Wow.  That is cutting it close for me especially for a CA port.  If there is any delay then it will be a nail bitter because even if your flight is on time you have to factor in getting off the flight, retrieve luggage and then try to predict the unpredictable CA traffic.  Definitely have the shoreside staff number handy and be ready to call.  You can also monitor the progress and let guest service know if you are already onboard.  I had a traveling party who got mixed up with the time once in Alaska and I was on the gang way begging them to wait for an extra few minutes while she is running back.  Luckily she made it but she was late!

I provided all the information for my October sailing on Odyssey of the Sea FLL but at checking in they still wanted to verify the information 3 times.  Once outside before you can go inside, then inside where they take pictures of the card, then upstairs to another waiting area (waited about 15 minutes) then you line up and they check the cards again.  It just seems like 3 times is a lot of checking for information that you uploaded before hand.  I felt like I was at the DMV.  The funniest part was that your hands are usually full, carry on luggage, purse, bag, backpack whatever you are carrying on etc… the check in agent kept coming by telling every one in line to have their passport, vaccine card, Covid test and sail pass ready before you get to the checker.  I must have forgotten to pack an extra set of hands to maneuver through the lines.  😝 

Maybe they got their calendar wrong… they thought tomorrow was April Fools day 😝 

The one thing for certain at cape Liberty is that you never expect consistency for anything.  It varies with every departure and rules / check in experiences can vary widely even with the same cruise line.

Wow!!  They made a big deal announcing this last week and I even saw it on several travel news articles.  Wonder why they cancelled it?

I am sorry you are sick.  I hope you feel better soon.

2 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Cozumel is an island so if you wanted to do a Mayan ruins  type tour on the mainland, you're going to have a lot of transportation time and going independent can be risky if there are delays.

I agree 1000% and should book that tour with the cruise directly!

15 minutes ago, Andrew_R said:

I had the same issue with my September 26 sailing on the Epic.  On October 24, I used their online form to get my points.  You can find that on NCL's website.  Log in, go to My Account, Latitude Rewards, on the Cruise History tab you will find a link to Report a missing cruise under your cruise history list.

Fill out the required fields.  In the Message box, I added my stateroom number, embark date, disembark date, and reservation number.  

 

The points were in my account on October 19 (7 days later).

 

Give it a try - maybe you won't need to wait until 12/31.

That is so funny.  I was on the same cruise.  I actually did that and I got the following reply.  I guess you were the part that was not affected.  I messaged them again to see if I get a different response.

”

Thank you for contacting Norwegian Cruise line. 

We received your email and would be happy to assist. The issue affecting the sailing is still being worked on. Our apologies for the delay but our IT team is working on as it is something that is affecting the majority of that sailing. We thank you for you continued patience.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us again.”

Costa Maya I used https://ecoexperience.mx/tours/chacchoben-shore-excursion/

and you have to follow the instructions to meet them which is basically walking out of the cruiser port.  It can be confusing to find the exit because of all the shops but its towards the back where the taxi picks up.  I did the ruins tour and it was informative and interesting.  I did it once and I don’t feel the need to do it again.  Now when I am adventurous I take the taxi to the beach / town area … walk on the boardwalk and have lunch somewhere.

1 hour ago, hollon said:

I'm going on this same itinerary and not too pleased with it, but the date works and I'm happy to be cruising again.  Can anyone recommend any good tours to these places.  I'm up for anything.  Thanks

I booked with this company a few times and I did the private jeep tour.  You select what you want to do and off you go with your private guide.  I told them no chocolate factory or tequila museum after my first tour with them.  I did the chocolate museum with them before while it was not the worst experience it was something I didn’t need to do the first time lol.  I found them to be reliable and professional.  The owner gets on the phone with you at the end to double check you were taken care of.  The lunch is decent on the beach (depending on which activities you selected the location will vary).  Some of the sites depending on what you pick will include additional charges (admission).  https://cozumelcruiseexcursions.net

13 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

Was this Costa Maya OR Cozumel? Or did you have a bad experience in both ports?

 

I agree a small amount of research can really help although I have seen misleading photos in some broker sites so you have to be careful and ask questions.

I unfortunately had the similar bad experiences in both ports booking the tour on my own but after being there a few times and more research I found a few good ones to go on tour with.  I don’t like to those high pressure sales tactics especially at a tequila “museum” since I don’t like tequila lol.

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

There is no easy way of doing homework. If the ShoreEx says "factory tour", there is no way to know that the "factory" is closed due to COVID. We had this exact problem with a ShoreEx on Grand Bahama where over 3/4 the locations on the ShoreEx description were not included because they were closed. After our return to the ship, I had a "discussion" with the ShoreEx manager who, eventually, went from her offer of a 10% discount to a 100% total refund. 

 

Bottom Line: If you are not happy with a tour, take it up immediately with the ShoreEx department and don't accept an compensation until it represents what you believe is fair. At 10%, I told the ShoreEx manager that the offer was an insult to a long time Diamond+ member, that ShoreEx obviously didn't care about their guests, and that I would take it up with the General Manager. 

Oh if you booked with RCL then definitely talk to them if you are not happy.  I was referring to booking tours on your own.  The “factory” or “museum” I was referring to was no rather open or closed but rather a genuine museum/factory.  In Costa Maya and Cozumel the tour I booked said tour a tequila museum and it turned out to be a road side set up with some pictures and agave plants and a set up to sell you tequila and a chocolate factory was a tour of pictures on the wall of people making chocolates but with a set up to sell you chocolates.  I only found out later that when you search online you can find reviews of people who actually went on these tours and warned about the description of the tours.  There are some good ones out there but just do your homework if you want to book on your own.  Also BEFORE you make an online payment, contact the tour operator first.  Make sure you can get a hold of someone and ask questions and more importantly that they are still operating.

Got off the EPIC back in September and points never posted to the latitude account.   I contacted NCL and was told there is an issue with closing out the sailings on the EPIC and to check back after 12/31/2021.  I would stay on top of this especially if you booked the cruise with the double points promo to make sure the account is credited properly.

1 minute ago, nomadguy said:

Key is offered on Navigator (1/31/22) but no mention of room service being included. Hmmmm, to jump on it or not?!

Glad to see I am not the only one waiting to hear about room service lol.

I was on the EPIC in September and had about 500 people onboard.  You had to really look around to find other cruisers during off peak hours like after 9PM.  No sitting at the bars, mask must be worn indoors and bubble excursion in Italy.  It was a great experience and the food was better on the EPIC than any other NCL ships.  Played at the Casino a few times and every time the moment I sat down the server rushed over and asked if I needed a drink.  It was  incredible and I would never expect that again.  I also had to be tested before I can leave the ship but found that the process was very very smooth as long as you show up during you scheduled time.  The mask thing is Spain not NCL and since I choose to sail I can’t complain about it plus at the time I needed a negative test to come back to USA so I was glad that about the mask wearing.