Giveitatry2023

We just returned from the bliss. 4700 passenger, 1600-1700 crew. Service and crowding was an issue. I would assume staffing is an issue across all boats and maintenance staff among them as I noticed small easily repairable things broken (like the bars on hangers leaving two nails sticking out that damaged clothes ect) 

6 hours ago, julig22 said:

When I tried to check in for an upcoming cruise while still onboard a different ship I couldn't access the emuster video and wasn't able to complete check-in.

The IT guy said it was a common problem.

There is no e muster video, it’s in person now

1 minute ago, KSSS2013 said:

Well you did say “crap”, that might have got an auto filter. 
 

Just a suggestion, maybe add a line between paragraphs if you can still edit it. Very hard to read on a Mobil device. 

I re read and did say hauling ass but I didn’t realize that qualified, either way I have seen worse on that site so not sure if that’s it. Either way they’re no auto, each post is admin approved before posting. They could have just said ass is considered foul language! 

Post cruise on Bliss March 12-19. Anyone also looking up stuff on the Facebook NCL public Page note this post was declined and I was suspended until June 19th based on the language in it. Is is copied and pasted word for word so no swearing, just not overly favourable I guess so I’m banned.
 

Updating a couple things that no one could verify prior:

Go Carts- any size child can go on the go carts. Only during set hours when they have the double carts on. Generally 10am-11:30am. Fair warning they are super slow. The 5 year old was thrilled. The 8 year old kept asking if I had my foot on the gas (it was too the floor the whole time, the speed on the double carts in very restricted) 
Aqua racer minimum height is 40 not 48 as indicated on website
Ocean loops were closed most of the time but when they were open lots of people got stuck. Minimum weight says 120/130? But unless you weight more than 150# wouldn’t do it. 

Restaurants: we were on the boat by 12:00 and still had trouble getting reservations. Luckily we had made most prior but if you have a group of ensure you book them in advance. Many people were told that only 20% were prebooked and they could get reservations once on the ship, then couldn’t get anything but 2 people at 9/10pm. 

Staffing: there were 4700 passengers to 1600-1700 staff. They were struggling and waits were long. At the local we waited 40+ minutes for drinks, Nevermind food. Sometimes you got what you ordered sometimes you did not. Staff were all working hard, but clearly over worked and not enough of them to keep up with the amount of passengers. many bartenders would heavy poor to the point it wasn’t really drinkable, bar in H20 spice had the best bartenders. 

Does not seem like most of the staff know what’s going on or the answer to many questions. Many passengers we’re frustrated at the lack of information. Don’t think it’s their fault, not enough staff and not enough information given to them. 

Six the show is great. My husband and I skipped Jersey Boys. Kids and in-laws went. Kids weren’t into it, Father in law liked it. 

Food quality, even in speciality restaurants was so so. Don’t go in expecting great food anywhere. pretzels and hot dogs at local were great! Everything else set your expectations to a mid level all inclusive. 
Cagney - Ok, La Cucina - ok, Le Bistro- better than other two but not amazing by any means although service was great. Food republic - pretty good but chaotic 

Main dining rooms- everything from delicious to inedible. Total crap shoot. 

Excursions- we didn’t book any but many passengers were frustrated and didn’t think anyone from cruise line had pre screened them. Again have low expectations.

Pool deck, great on sea day 1, sea day 2 they were hauling ass making it too cold and windy. Ship was going very slow very early morning next day for 6+ hours so why they didn’t slow down between 10-2 or so and allow people to enjoy pool is anyone’s guess but don’t bank on sea days being spent by the pool.

Disembarking- we had an early flight so did self assist. Was a long wait in giant lines that snaked through deck 7. Avoid if you have a later flight and the time. 

Tender ports were managed super effectively, getting off and on at all ports was easy enough aside from elevators being jam packed. Stairs are your friend on this ship it is at full capacity or past it in our case . Elevators as a whole were a bit crazy and if you’re within a floor or two of top or bottom it was easier to go opposite direction and then back up or down. 

Entertainment: some required reservations but was very unclear how to get them without waiting yet another line for 45 minutes plus. Six and jersey boys can be prebooked. 

Other entertainment seemed to be Centered on buy this bingo card or deal or no deal card, or game show style stuff in the atrium. 

Kids club- mine weren’t into it and went for an hour total. Just said it wasn’t fun. Would not give specifics. 

Food republic sushi was pretty decent but the ordering is a bit of a mess especially if using dining plan. 

The casino smoking area is disgusting, has no ventalation and the smell can be smelt on at least half of deck 7 from it. Enclosing a room to smoke in without any fans seems like a poor choice. Why they did it is anyone’s guess.

Room service was the best option for breakfast. again you may or may not get what you want but something shows up at some point. 

Whale and dolphin spotting from waterfront deck and balcony’s was top notch.

1 hour ago, TJPARMAL said:

Thanks for the encouragement, I hope so too. I teach a college class on Family Law and we talked about this last night. We talked about how we all have a responsibility to come up with solutions, so over their spring break I asked them to brainstorm how to turn the tide on this - through law, education, social media, or some other creative solution - but that it's immoral to throw up your hands and say, "there's noting I can do." I am trying to turn my anger/sadness/fear into action for safety.  

That’s amazing. I hope they come up with something great. In my experience the biggest changes in people who are “opposed” is them interacting with someone outside their narrow viewpoint and suddenly realizing there’s an actual lovely person who is real. 
 

My personal life policy is see something say something so rest assured there are people like me who will speak up if your child is being treated poorly when your around, and many children who will do the same.

Could you possibly verify if food republic is no reservations? Online it’s showing reservations are not offered? 

41 minutes ago, CaptainBazz said:

You do not need the app to connect to wi-fi...just go to settings...wi-fi...and log onto the ship...in my experience iMessages have always worked to both friends on the ship and to the kids back home.

Thanks, kids will be on the ship with us and 3 grandparents, but some on them are let’s say less than reliable about keeping an eye on their phones. 
 

often an air tag (in a watch band) works better for keeping tabs more so than asking a grandparent where they are but given the number of decks suspect that will be useless onboard. 

I have no advice. I just wanted to say you’re a great parent, and it’s truly mind numbing and I’m so angry for you that you have to ask this. 
 

I hope your 14 year old gets to be their fabulous self for your whole vacation. ❤️

Hi All,

Sorry if this has been asked, couldn’t find it. 

Rounded up some old iphones for the kiddos to be able to iMessage us on the ship. Both kids have the internet package but will they need the Norwegian app to sign into their wifi so it connects to the system and works? I think they’re a bit old for the app additionally they don’t have NCL log ins? What will be the process? 

49 minutes ago, luckybecky said:

 

Arcade prices: most games were $1.99. A few were a little less, $1.66 I think, and a few were more, up to $2.66. The arcade is a pretty good size, and there are a few games near The Local. There are also a couple of mini bowling lanes near the Local, they were $6.99

 

 

Thank you so much! 

Do you know if a platinum member could take their grandchildren along? 

The $209 price is the base to buy it if you don’t already have a package. The $109 is an upgrade offer 

If you’re near the arcade could you not the approx cost of games, probably the redemption kind that give you tickets? Want to know what kid of fortune I should bank on my kids spending. 

1 hour ago, julig22 said:

Some people think using $2 bills for tips is cool. 

FYI -I'm currently the owner of a $2 bill because I agreed to buy it from a bartender in Buenos Aires - his bank refused it.

I always use the local currency for quite a few reasons but the biggest being that I don’t need to create an exchange nightmare for someone. Always amazed by people who tip in coins of a different currency that they are in. No one receiving them can do anything besides use them as paperweight. This is why everyone has a travel bucket of random coins from various countries that will never be spent. 

42 minutes ago, marktwothousand said:

dude - I felt EXACTLY the same before I first fruise, and now I’m hooked. I’ve hardly done any non-cruise vacations since. You’re going to love it. There’s so much to do and keep busy. Don’t worry not everyone on board is a princess 

Thanks for the encouragement! I tend to get pretty frustrated having a schedule when on vacation so I’m not super hopeful, but we’ll give it a go and if all else fails, I pulled the trigger on the premium drink package so I wouldn’t be annoyed about my wine choices and have unlimited lattes to recover from said wine choices. 

1 hour ago, wacruiselover said:

So much to learn before cruising. You can get them from your local US bank. From Wikipedia:

 

The United States two-dollar bill is a current denomination of United States currency. A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is featured on the obverse of the note. The reverse features an engraving of the circa 1818 painting Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull.

I am Canadian. We had real $2 bills until about 30 years ago at which point they went the way of the $1 bill, into a coin as they should be. 
 

but a FYI on travel in general not related to cruises if you have to special order $2.00 bills it’s incredibly likely whoever your tipping isn’t able to actually use or exchange them wherever they go.  Banks and current exchanges only take common denominaton good quality bills. Paying in local currency is always the most considerate thing you can do when travelling. 

16 minutes ago, wacruiselover said:

You will be just fine. Just make sure you bring a stack of $2 bills for tipping and a stash of ZipLoc bags for the buffet and any leftovers from specialty restaurants. 🤪

$2 bills? What current has $2 bills. Plan on bringing USD for ship and Pesos for ports. 

We leave in a few days for our first cruise with extended family. They are big cruisers. I’m pretty apprehensive. Seeing posts like these make me pretty certain that the passengers will not be my people. 
 

This level of entitlement in this post is so next level that I don’t even know what to make of it. 
 

i really hope we luck out and get a ship full of chill go with the flow travellers, instead of this.