Joesantos

Great to know about this. Hopefully it will include some major spruce ups! Carpet and furniture. These older ships have character but need a cleaning and updating.

On 3/21/2024 at 4:19 PM, ready2cruzagain said:

Just seen this on another site. Price of the mid week laundry special went up $5. I know, some will say "no biggie" but thought I would mention it for those that use it. 

Cram everything you can into a plastic bag first and sit on it cram more then put in paper bag they give you!  Works well!

Also if you befriend a Platinum member who isn’t using the free bag you might get lucky.  My wife won’t trust the laundry but I always come home with clean clothes, other than that pesky little tag that they put on most pieces of laundry 

UK 🇬🇧 Folks get great deals on drinks package though. To compete with Pand O cruise 🚢 lines! Plus to get them over here.

On 2/18/2024 at 4:16 PM, ChaCr said:

Hi

 

As I understand it as a Diamond member I can get up to 4 alcoholic drinks per day.  If true, do I get coupons in my cabin?  Is there something on my card that the bar tenders recognize me as a Diamond member?  Or each time I get a drink, at a bar or at dinner, do I have to tell the server that I'm a Diamond member and that this drink is free for me?

 

Any info would be helpful.

 

Thanks

 

Charles

I think I read that Starbucks is included.

 I’m gonna try next time 

but loaded on your individual card so my wife doesn’t drink and I use hers separately.

Not sure boomer here! But an old timer told me he and his girlfriend take separate ones on formal night! For their obituary! So I’ve been doing same. A nice current picture if God forbid you pass away 

Back in 2016 boat protest kept ships out!

Take a walk further up the hill behind vendors to the more aggressive vendors. Definitely feel their anger 

Recently onboard getaway food was okay, nothing was a wow something’s just not right. MDR was average. Specialty 3 Cagney good! Ocean blue yuck. Osheans pub decent American dinner okay 

Buffet to be avoided. So we actually lost weight. Took stairs. Dancing with 20,000 steps every day and night. 2 comics see em once and done. But the live music was amazing Latin duo in mojitos bar and dancing with some folks who we enjoyed on previous cruise was priceless. Piano guy did country music and line dancing to him. Cutterz band was outstanding with reggae and rock. Even dj was great. So this is why we still love NCL. Plus the excellent activities staff with Alex Stenko, theme parties in Bliss lounge and spice H20.

great times

Gangs trying to overtake the airport recently. I remember a few years ago a boat protesting preventing ships from entering Labadee maybe 2016 just before we actually went there. Seems like the current situation is getting worse. Love the place. Anyone know from recent trips there? How was it?

On 2/29/2024 at 8:32 AM, zaylyn2590 said:

To summarize my detailed question. Should I get a balcony or an interior room? The balcony is about $300 more... I usually sail interior because room doesn't really matter but for 300.... 

we used to bring the little battery operated tea lights for inside cabin still for balcony and help seeing the way to the bathroom 🚽 at night 

Boooomer! Here….

On 2/28/2024 at 12:41 PM, JT222 said:

Hi to all

 

I’m interested in everybody’s feedback regarding NCL product these days. As a very loyal cruiser to NCL I have decided not to book with them again! Since Del Rio left there has been a MASSIVE drop in quality from food to service to entertainment.( This could also just be coincidence or result of covid debts).Is it us or are other loyalists of the same opinion? Even senior management (Katty Byrd) can not be bothered to respond to questions. 
 

The food quality has plummeted in all venues INCLUDING SPECIALITY. The Shrimp in Cagneys was cheap and crunchy. The buffet is repeated and boring to say the least, The entertainment poor. Guest services rude and miserable, Bar staff understaffed( along with many other departments) and overworked. 
 

I could go on and on but more than anything I’m so sad that this once excellent cruise line has become so poor. So are we alone in this thought or are other loyalists feeling the same? To senior management I challenge you to join me on a cruise of MY CHOICE undercover to see what your decisions have done. Enjoy the boom now but when things calm down you will suffer as people go elsewhere. 
 

I would also like to invite management to discuss their love of the environment. Selling a cruise and then changing the itinerary to save fuel is NOT done for the environment. It’s to SAVE MONEY. So sell the cruise with less stops initially so environmental lovers can book and feel so good about it!

 

Anyway, what’s all your thoughts and maybe someone will listen before the damage is not reversible.

 
Regards

NCL still has best activities staff live music and dancing opportunities!

Post pandemic we loved the Getaway once in 2023 and again in 2024 RCL adventure once and very little activity and silent disco and karaoke can’t stand that. 
But on Getaway 20,000 steps dancing each and every day/night dancing to Latin duo in mojitos bar, country music by piano guy with line dancing, cuterez regae band, theme parties with Alex Stenko the assistant cruise director and a whole activity staff keeping us busy, Zumba type class freeeeee! Food was average but we didn’t gain any weight. If my wife is happy I’m happy…..yes shorts are worn in dining room including Cagney so I’ve retired my suit as I looked like I worked there, ha ha

8 hours ago, zaylyn2590 said:

To summarize my detailed question. Should I get a balcony or an interior room? The balcony is about $300 more... I usually sail interior because room doesn't really matter but for 300.... 

We’ve been cruising for over 29 years and over 50 cruises and many were inside, hardly ever in the room but now we do get balcony or ocean views often. Makes it better when sickness onboard as post pandemic travel seems more problematic than before. $300.00 would make sense. Sometimes certain websites include free gratuity with balconies, just got off getaway and had a balcony included free tips! Bjs club booking like costco 

On 2/21/2024 at 12:36 AM, nw2this said:

What time and days was Burn in the Tropicana?  Was the Zumba class free?

Burn the floor performance in Tropicana was on 2 different nights towards end of cruise, dancing class with them once towards end!

Zumba type class was on sea days and later port days freeeee!

in Bliss lounge or by pool check your schedule and highlight it or you miss out.

1 hour ago, Landl cruiser said:

 

Thanks again.

Thanks 🙏 

On 1/29/2024 at 4:40 PM, cruiservictor said:

Norwegian Getaway - cruise of 1/27/24

 

Captain - Luigi De Angelis

Chief Engineer - Oeystein Undrum

Staff Captain - Luksa Stanisic

General Manager - Mario Markovic

Assistant GM - Jose Omier

Food and Beverage Director - Goran Rorbek

Cruise Director - Paquito Fuchs

Guest Service Manager - Ray-An Juan

Executive Housekeeper - Eduardo Thyne

Restaurant Manager - Chandra Muttan

Executive Chef - Alok Kumar

Beverage Manager - Eleanore Rueda

Cruise Next Manager - Rajko Irving

Internet Cafe Manager - Alejandra Monterroso

Shore Excursion Manager - Alain Duenas

Haven Concierge - Alex Nikolic

 

 

Just off the Getaway and Alex Stenko the assistant cruise director was outstanding! Everyone agreed as he got the parties started and kept em going!

Love that little guy Jeff Hernandez and enjoyed him on Gem a few years ago. Just a nice guy and very personable. Plus he did a killer Zumba class.such a great time 

8 hours ago, Seas2mountains said:

 

Just got off the Gem this morning and we are so happy we get to go back on the Gem in about 21 days. 
 

The cruise director is Emma Dalton.  We were really disappointed in the poor entertainment schedule. Last night on Sunday night and the last night of the 3-day cruise, the piano guy, Davi, who is excellent wasn’t scheduled for his first set until 9:15pm and the band, Upgrade, didn’t have their first set start until 10pm. There were bingo games and Deal or No Deal but not much else scheduled.  
 

Here is a photo of the officers taken on Saturday. 

Thanks! Was there a lot of activities like Zumba and live bands with dancing opportunities? 
Thanks in advance..

Going back on Gem sooon! Any information especially cruise director?

Enjoyed Jeff Hernandez a few years ago. Wonderful guy.

On 2/17/2024 at 3:12 PM, TenForward said:

Glad to hear it!  We board Getaway in 62 days!  Do you recall if they had Broadway Unplugged?  Loved it last year and hoping to see again with family who haven't seen it yet.   I love that we have 4 sea days (and Vibe passes). Really looking forward to this itinerary.  

Yes Broadway unplugged. Bring your highlighter and mark your schedule otherwise you’ll miss it. In Tropicana burn the floor dancers performing different nights too.

On 2/17/2024 at 5:30 PM, UKstages said:

thanks for the review.

 

i was on the cruise immediately preceding you. and so i have just one question... who are all those people? i never saw any of them! attila and paul and grace and the colombian girl and the tall UK redhead? no idea.

 

i would agree that the cruise director was rather aloof and MIA...never saw him except at the end of shows when he did announcements. 

 

we also skipped bermuda, but we were given $25 OBC, not $20. and, yes, it was nice of them in the sense that they often don't do it, but they are basically refunding a portion of your port fees.

 

i thought "million dollar quartet" was sensational, but "burn the floor" bored me to tears. it was the most antiseptic dance review i've ever seen. no chemistry among the cast members the night i saw it. 

 

 

they did on the 1/27 cruise.

 

same cast, essentially, as MDQ, so as long as MDQ is listed, it's a fairly safe bet that they will have at least two performances of "broadway unplugged." 

 

Yes Broadway unplugged was great. Zumba type class every day in Bliss or by pool with different activities staff. Same in atrium with different activities staff. All of them in Bliss lounge late at night. All of them in Spice H20 for theme parties, ‘70’s, 80’s, Latin night, glow party, plus a hilarious improv movie night. All on schedule. 

On 2/17/2024 at 6:25 PM, TenForward said:

 

Completely forgot to ask - did you dock at Amber Cover or Taino Bay in the DR?  TIA

Taino Bay the place with free lazy river. Another big pool but very loud music so we got off early and went by lazy river. More quiet. Some music but not blaring. Many shops but everything was expensive. Did buy a bottle of vanilla though. Last year 2023 on Getaway in February we went to the other port where they had a lazy river but it was only for Carnival cruise so we cab ride to a lousy beach. Very confusing DR

I’m not ever bringing my suit on NCL again! Just got home and shorts and tank tops on big guys with flip flops in every dining restaurant specialty included! My ring dinger suit is staying home from now on!

From experience Celebrity has better food and service but everyone is in bed by 8 pm. RCL has great ships but not enough activity. 
NCL has non stop activities and excellent live bands and dancing opportunities. Food is adequate drinks great so that’s why we are loyal, platinum and soon sapphire I believe.

Just got home from getaway and the activities staff were excellent!

Alex Stenko the assistant cruise director was everywhere hosting and dancing and just so much fun. The entire staff including Attila and Paul and Grace and a Colombian girl who taught an amazing Zumba type class were all very fun including a tall redhead staff member who was from UK and so friendly and helpful to everyone. 
7 am stretch and abs class free in gym, followed by fun type Zumba class in Bliss lounge at 8:30 am. Dancing classes with burn the floor dancers absolutely amazing. Live band Cutterz by pool was exceptional. Playing reggae and rock music. Dj by pool very accommodating.Duo of Latin music with nightly dance in sugarcane mojitos bar was great. Piano guy even did a country night with line dancing by mojitos bar. Drinks were great. Food adequate but not fantastic. Great ship and theme parties well attended in Spice H20 and Alex and company had everyone dancing.

Ate at Cagney 3 times very good and ocean blue once okay 

American grill is free now and nice burgers 🍔 and Greek salads and banana daquari!

Osheehan pub was good 

Tropicana had burn the floor dancing too.

Million dollar quartet was great and burn the floor excellent.

Comedians were good for one show and no new material on second so one and done.

No Bermuda and NCL graciously gave us $20.00 each onboard credit, so nice of them, on other cruises they replaced with St. Martin. Never ever saw the captain nor the cruise director so who could you ask?

NCL continues to have the best activities and is a lot of fun…..but food needs improvement!

First cruise 🚢 was Premier and I was in heaven old ship wooden but I was young and enjoyed eating and buffets. Then Carnival a lot then I was enticed by a celebrity ship 🚢 that had a basketball court loved their food and service but no fun activities. Did princess quite a bit because of Zumba for the wife. Then Ncl and RCL back at fourth but NCL now primarily because of the activities staff and all the dancing. Mojito bar with Latin band many theme parties that go late into the night. 
We are active people and on NCL we often get over 20,000 steps dancing each and every day. If and when we get old we’ll be back on Celebrity and HOA for oldtimers. So occasionally I can get my wife to do a RCL because diamond level and 8 free drinks as she doesn’t drink are a better option financially. Best cruise 🚢 ever was on Bliss and Getaway and Dawn and Gem.

On 1/28/2024 at 1:46 PM, Monica887 said:

What cruise line would you go? Which is your favorite of the mainstream commercial cruise lines, and why? And how do YOU think they compare to NCL when it comes to food and service etc? 

 

The more recent Carnival ones I did I didn't care for at all. Newer ships but I hated the layout. Didn't care for the service or food. Didn't like how over the top the cruise directors are. 

 

Only one recent one on Royal and it was an older ship. I would like to try one of their newer ships again but the service was excellent. The food was comparable to NCL (which I think is mediocre to good). 

 

Planning an extended family trip and trying to decide or see if there's anything I'm missing before I go back to NCL as my default. Youngest kid is 11 up to grandparents. Warm weather, easy to get to from the east coast. Christmas week. (We're stuck with school schedules...)

We love activities on NCL but are diamond on RCL land elite on celebrity plus platinum on NCL and upper tier on Princess. Used to love celebrity but it boring and quiet. Rcl is decent but sometimes not as much fun. Holland America definitely later in life as they get the closest port spot and cater to the elderly. Did carnival a lot when younger. So now it’s NCL or Rcl depending on price 

Never understood the loyalty thing but love ito try Virgin sooo

22 hours ago, itsnotjustme said:

When I plan a cruise, the last thing I am thinking is "I wonder who the Captain and Cruise Director are on this cruise?"

 

Clearly this is important to some of you.  How do you use the information?  

Cruise director for activities. Some are excellent others missing in action