joestein514

On 4/2/2024 at 12:02 PM, Always Cruising said:

I read somewhere on Cruise Critic that Beau will be performing on the Joy May into early June.  Will try to find the post...

That was my post.  I contacted him through Facebook.

On 3/31/2024 at 8:08 PM, crow99 said:

 

Varied across the nights, most of the time it was one of two British female pianist / singers but think they rotated it around.

I messaged Beau Tahana from his facebook page.   He will be on the NCL for 1 month this year, from early May to early June.   So, we will be on a cruise where he is performing.   Excited.  He is amazing.

Do you remember who was the performed at The District?  Was it Beau?

8 minutes ago, SliderNc said:

Costa Maya has been a stop that I flip a coin if I’m going to get off the ship or not.  I’ve been too many times and really don’t have much I want to do there.  My wife and daughter wanted to walk around the port and shop so we did that.  I needed to make some calls back home about my car which was in the shop to authorize some repairs so it worked out.

 

We walked around the port for about two hours and shopped.  I bought my wife an early anniversary present when she found a pair of earrings that she wanted that I felt good about purchasing not from our family jeweler.  
 

We ate breakfast in the Haven that morning and we have had the same server for the most part the entire cruise.  Princess Bautista has been amazing to my daughter up in the restaurant all week and even brought her “special pancakes”.  I have to say that the crew overall has been more than amazing this cruise which I think is one of the pluses of NCL.  
 

Dinner was in Teppanyaki and it was by far our favorite meal.  The chef was super fun and had us singing and laughing the entire meal.  It also helps when you have a great table that also interacts with each other.  The food was good overall and if it wasn’t that didn’t matter because we had a blast.  

I have only been to Costa Maya once, but I really like the port.   My wife and I did the healing ceremony (i think that what it is called) - which we liked.  Then we took a taxi to The Krazy Lobster and spent the rest of the day there.   Maybe if I had been there multiple times, I wouldn't care for it as much.

29 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Sorry, but you are on a mass market cruise ship. You should not expect any different behavior in the haven than anywhere else on the ship. If you want that go to a luxury adults only line. 

Well, we will have to disagree on that.  I don't think the term family should mean 'be out of control'.     I also expect children to behave in the rest of ship.   There are certain areas specifically set aside for families/kids.    Those are the area where I would expect some wildness, but even then, within reason.   

35 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I think the older couple needs to find themselves to a different cruise line, like Viking where kids aren't allowed. Have I seen kids misbehave in the Haven? A couple times. Have I whined about crying kids in the Haven Restaurant? Yep! But, at the end of the day, the Haven is a family-friendly luxury cruise area. 

 

I've seen far more adults misbehave, treat crew poorly, and whine about stupid things, like the length of time it took a hostess to retrieve milk from the kitchen (it was less than two minutes, btw). 

 

And, I've seen plenty of kids enjoying a hot tub. They've even joined me when I was already in the hot tub. They were polite. Held decent conversation, and seemed to be enjoying their cruise. Entitled people that dislike/don't want kids "ruining" their cruise need to go elsewhere. They are the problem. Not the kids. 

I dont think that is fair, unless you are there and see what is going on.   Some kids can be well behaved and some kids are a real disturbance.

The Haven is a premium upscale area, first class really, and I would expect anyone there, including children, to behave.  Doesn't mean they can't have fun, but they can't disturb the others that are there.  If they want to be wild, that is what the kids clubs or the kids pool are for.    No different than going out to eat at a nice place and someone lets their kids run around.    My kids are now 21, but rest assure, I put the fear of god into them about their public behavior. 

This does not mean that Adults have an excuse to behave poorly or rudely.   People who treat others like servants, rather than people who are serving them are horrible.  I would never speak down to a crew member, as I try to treat others with the same respect I would like to be treated with.

Can you tell me who is performing in the District in the evenings?

Also.. could you please post a copy of a daily.

Does anybody know if Beau Tahana is still at District on the NCL Joy after her refurbishment?

On 2/28/2024 at 2:03 PM, kates6044 said:

What  are the dance party themes? 

 

Also my first cruise ever- the Beatles shows are they different ones different nights? Like Saturday/Tuesday would be different show from each other? Thank you in advance. 

Yes... Beatle shows are different.  Some might be early Beatles or Sgt Pepper years.  One show progressed through all their phases with costume changes in between.   They were very good.

Happytime - I would like to find out myself.   My family and I will be on your cruise.

Julia was perfect for the observation lounge.  Everyone there is pretty much half asleep anyway.  Especially in the evening.

All kidding aside, she has a nice voice, but she is just boring.   Somehow I picture her singing at a coffee house.

I just got off this cruise as well.   While the pools were crowded, my wife and I never had a problem finding a space at the adult pool - we went there every sea day.

The detour to Miami makes no sense to me.  I would like to know the reason we couldn't have stayed an extra day in Nassau or GSC.   Or why we couldn't have gone to another island.   Since we docked at the NCL terminal in Miami - I think it was a cost saving measure.    

What needs to be pointed out here is that NCL seems to have very poor planning.   The customs should have been handled like the last day of the ship.  Cabin doors should lock after a certain time.  While the people who refused are certainly to blame, NCL also seem poorly prepared.   I noticed this multiple times during the cruise.   When we docked at Nassau around noon, they had people lining the staircases packed like sardines.   If one person tripped or fell, it would have been like dominoes.   Many people missed their excursions as they could not get off the ship.   They should have people with excursions meet in the theatre and escorted out in groups to ensure they make it.

As to live music, most of it was bad (The exceptions would be The Beatles, Beau and the Broadway performers).  The District (which I loved) was hopping when Beau performed, when Inna performed there, it was empty.   They had a singer, Julia Hatfield (said she was descended from the infamous Hatfield/McCoys) - literally performing at the cavern club with 2 people watching.  Maybe after an hour - it was up to 10 people.  If it wasn't for Beau, I dont know what I would have done in the evening.   We went to bed early on the 2 nights that Inna performed.   

Not a country music or Latino music fan.   That was about 75% of the music on the cruise.

The food in general was very good.  I found Food Republic to be very inconsistent.  We loved it the first time, the second time, the food was super spicy, rubbery calamari, and missing major ingredients, like pork and poached egg on the fried rice.

Overall, the ship is very nice.   This adult went on the water slide.  Loved the observation deck.   

Anybody have experience with Avis at the Port Canaveral Cruise Port

Alamo said it is serviced through the Enterprise location, which is closed on Wednesday.

Does anyone have experience with Avis?

I am going to be at Port Canaveral for the day on Wednesday 8/23.  My ship docs at Cruise Terminal 10.   We want to rent a car for the day.  

I see there are a lot of bad reviews for Budget.   But I see plenty of bad reviews for Avis.   I see some recommendations for Enterprise, but it is closed that day.

Any recommendations?

I have already made a budget reservation and I have fast break.

Any ideas on how easy or hard it would be to get an Uber to NJ when disembarking?

How is it getting an UBER in NYC after disembarking?

SO, I live in NJ and was planning to take an UBER or car service to/from the port.   It doesnt seem to make sense to pay for parking for a 10 day cruise.    

Any tips on embarking or disembarking?

Did you board in NYC?

What is the boarding like at Pier 88.

We are taking the NCL Joy cruise on August 20.

I have heard that the boarding is a mess and that you wait for hours, regardless of when your boarding time is.

So - what is the truth?

Also - if boarding is a mess, does it make more sense to show up later - like 1pm?

I was really looking at it as a cheap way to get unlimited starbucks - but that is not the case as the children dont even get startbucks in their upgrade.  But that wont work.

Yes, but on a 10 night cruise - I am spending $500/adult $300/child - $800  X 2 rooms = 1600

I am already buying the extra 2 dinners. - that is $160/room.  Plus I have 3 excursions we are paying for them - so I would save $150/room.

$1600 - $320 - $300 = $980.   I can buy a lot of starbucks and water with that.   I dont care about the internet.

too bad... no value in doing that IMHO.

Do both people in a room need to upgrade to Free at Sea Plus?

We have 2 rooms each with one adult and one child.

I thought it might make sense for the child to upgrade to Premium Plus as we will save an additional $50 off each excursion - 3 of them (so $150) and then they would get 2 more dining credits - savings us the dining upgrade deal.

Meanwhile - they would get unlimited internet and upgraded drink.   They could starbucks, fresh juice and bottled water.

I thought we might save money.

Joe

I LOVE THIS!!!!

First.... Abita Purple Haze is one of my favorite drafts (dont like in a bottle).  Plus there are a few Witt biers.

I hope they have these when I cruise in August.