Corriegr

This now an absolute PR disaster for NCL with Good Morning America now posting on the Star FB page trying to catch up with passengers .

Looks nothing to do with weather but corporate decision before ship sailed. We were booked this time next year but think we are giving NCL the swerve as appears they have form for this itinerar.

We did wonder why the service was so out of step in FL on the last night. We just thought we had ended up with a bad waiter with no bread no wine and wrong desserts. This actually makes more sense.

We did the four hour historical and cultural tour in the afternoon … EUR 180 for two and great afternoon out going all over the island and learning so much . Our Dutch guide was great fun and our guitar playing singing bus driver the real star of the show … his version of My Bonnie is truly not to be missed. Our big bag of salt rocks were in our ruck sack and obviously showed up on scanning as security girl said we were taking back plenty of salt!!!!

Personally we have enjoyed the band in the Astern even if we were the only couple in there the other night … they played a good mix of classic pop rock and well worth a visit just for a change.

Highly recommend the Whale and Dolphin watching trip we did this afternoon. Booking onboard was cheaper than independently and was a great fun packed two and half hours. We both dolphins and whales which was breathtaking and the final “fly past” of the Roseau shoreline was an adrenaline rush.

Thank you for very informative post. Looking forward to next Monday when we finally board in Barbados.

We have cruise summer 25 and bought Premier package. Used app to book 2 speciality dining times as already slots disappearing. Received credit card statement this morning to find both slots have been charged for instead of credit applied and reservations no longer appear in app. Has this happened to anyone else and how did you go about getting refund

It actually practical for everyone to be able to do an expedition cruise both in terms of cost and also practicalities for people such as my wife who would never be able to manage doing the landings . This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this continent

Not if you booked a once in a lifetime cruise to Antarctica and find your plans in tatters....

I think it was Hugh Mc…. Scottish can’t remember surnames I never can… previous year was a guy called Robbie who couldn’t do enough for you

We had a similar problem on the Virtuosa in July in a YC deluxe balcony on deck 18 under the sun deck with loud noise in early hours and again after 6am … raised early in voyage with concierge and butler but only offered a move with three days left in cruise when a cabin finally became available. One of our big criticisms of this cruise was the low profile of YC director.

Think we may have made same schoolboy error as booked 16023 for 14 nights next June

I will talk to my wife as she knows more about this and where to find post, Diamond club members as well as getting 25% discount on new bookings are also getting OBC as a loyalty match. My wife email her EJ ambassador last week who said they would ensure she got all the benefits including OBC once her Diamond status was confirmed

Same here out from Barbados on 27th Nov and fare we paid far less of what we would pay for YC balcony on Seascape next summer. Happy to pay that is it means service is still evolving

When are onboard points following cruise allocated? We are trying to show Explora Journeys that she has attained diamond for their new status match program but the points total looks a mess at moment Her current points makes no sense as it shows she earnt 6300 on previous cruise last year (1500 YC points and 4800 onboard spend) and the latest cruise (15th - 29th) July, she attained 2000 for YC experience and 700 prepaid which we can only assume is for bid upgrade cost (?) for YC inside to deluxe balcony. This makes a total of 9000 but points total shows 7200 and we have another substantial onboard spend to add on ( I like Swiss watches!!) which should take her well over 10,000 points Anyone else ever seen these kind of problems with points statement?

I’m not sure I’ve not been out the enough but I did talk to one sweet old lady yesterday who was of the view that it was sold too cheaply and it had attracted a crowd that was “Blackpool at sea”.

Good morning from the Mediterranean on another sea day on our way to Lisbon. All very quiet on the YC front with life continuing day to day in a very chilled fashion punctuated by port stops in Toulon and Lisbon. However beyond the (sliding) doors of YC is another world that you only enter if you dare. Sun bed wars continue with the Captain now very much involved when yesterday he and his senior crew were physically removing towels from unoccupied beds. On top of this at yesterday’s sailway quite a lecture was given by him over the tannoy around respect for other passengers and bad behaviour will not be tolerated. This bad behaviour has manifested itself in fighting at bars and buffet, and children stealing alcohol from behind bars for their parents . Apparently this behaviour has resulted in the badly behaved shipmates being evicted from the ship in Toulon. We have also had more pier running incidents with one family almost missing the ship in Toulon turning up at six minutes after sailaway time with ropes already being cast off. Anyway outside the confines of YC is far too exhausting for me so it’s going to be another lazy day not fighting for a sun bed….

A few more just to whet the appetite .. she’s an absolute beauty

She’s getting a fulll on welcome and we have a ringside seat … now very excited about Nov 27th

Sorry not posted last couple of days as wifi has been very patchy and too busy enjoying ourselves. After the teething troubles earlier in week, a quiet word with Concierge Desk and Maitre ‘D has done wonders and we are having best time ever. The food has been excellent and deck life superb. The weather has been the only dark cloud so to speak as it is sooooo hot . We passed on Malaga but ventured out in Alicante for a couple of hours but the logistics and heat did not made very easy for someone (Mrs C) with mobility issues. Yesterday was Mallorca but MSC made logistics a little challenging with the ship docked some 20 mins drive from main centre but laid on a shuttle bus as £12 pounds a person. After the bus scrum in Alicante and the fact the Seaview was port at same time , we decided wandering around in a packed Palma in 39c heat was not going to be much fun. We are also enjoying the fact that YC is such a haven of calm to rest of the ship where the sun bed wars are really entrenched. Even the Captain joked about this when he visited earlier in week about how bad it was. Last night also started to see what you would politely describe as high jinks by gangs of teenagers who had managed to obtain half a bottle of lager.. Lastly we are really enjoying the Olympic sport of pier running and both Alicante and Palma have seen some gallant entrants leaving it just four minutes before sail away to get back on board , including some under five novices…on a serious note not sure how responsible parents would take such a risk.

To be fair the rest of the cruise is fabulous but usually the highlight of our day is going to dinner and it’s just been underwhelming at times .

Ok first port day today in Cádiz, and quiet stroll in the old town before the heat built up and then a pleasant afternoon on deck 19 soaking up the sun. That’s the good points…. The bad side is the extremely patchy service in YC restaurant. We are now 2 from 4 meals where the service experience has left a lot to be desired. Trying to tread a fine line without actually being seen as a moaner but it feels as though there is a two tier experience with certain diners get preferential treatment; being fussed over the whole evening whilst others are lucky if they actually get what is on the menu. Tonight has seen lack of water refills, prompting for dessert and coffee, without even mentioning none of the actual accompaniments with the mains order, whilst the table next us is fussed over by both the senior waiter and maitre’d. Another quiet word has been had, but at this rate will seriously have to starting thinking that our first experience of YC was with rose tinted glasses. Watch this space….

Post to follow

Does seem slow currently in YC on Virtuosa and we are doing 22.4kts