D_And_K_gocruising

I wasnt sure if they had you sign for every drink or not. They just scan and go then?

So, this is our first cruise and we admittedly went overboard (if the pun fits) on amenities. This may be a 1 and done or we may love it. But we want to be able to evaluate and see what the best way to spend money would be. Since we have the drinks package and special dining (FAS) I know they still "charge" you but then the price is discounted off so your receipt shows 0.00 (unless taxes of course) At the end of the cruise, can you get an itemized printout of everything or will it be like a credit card statement where it will just show "tobacco road 0.00" on whatever date it was.. If I really want to see what I would have spent if I didnt have packages, do I need to ask for and keep every transaction receipt? Only thing I can see that they may not swipe your card for is if you have the drinks package and get like a fountain cola, or will they still swipe it even for that? That almost just seems like something they wouldnt keep as close as track of. Thanks again for your answers. 🙂

You have to get as close to apples to apples as you can by booking equal stuff on other lines.. You mention upcharge for adult only pool area.. I guess you are talking Vibe? Spice H2O unless I'm mistaken isnt charged for.

That's what I assumed... But you know about assuming.. Just didnt want any surprises popping up 🙂

There are 2 of us going, so when it comes time to do the check in thing, 1 person can do the check in for both parties correct? I mean, the other person doesnt have to have their own account on NCL etc etc? Since I've never had to do this style check in with passports and stuff, just not 100% sure what to expect when the time comes. I know we'll fight getting a picture to be accepted lol, but other than a credit card to put on the room and our passports what other stuff do I need to do the process? Thanks

Thanks for a fun trip review.. Boarding in less than 5 weeks love hearing about the Escape!! Cant wait to go on our first ever cruise!!!

This is how I'm sure our cruise will feel lol.. Seems like just yesterday I saw your first post and here we are on day 6!!! Goes too fast! Unless you are waiting for it to start 🙂

After our upcoming trip I'll know more if I want it in the future or not.

Where can I find out, what ships at this point and time have the vibe? This is the list I found, but not sure if it's complete. Thanks Breakaway, Getaway, Bliss, Joy, Encore, Escape, and Prima

Thanks, that make a lot of sense! So the vibe isnt bad, but compared to the HAL it's not nearly as full service it sounds like?

What dont you like about the vibe compared to HAL Retreat?

yes.. from a letter they issued.. "CATEGORY RECLASSIFICATONS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2, 2023: - Spa Balcony category B9 will be reclassified to Balcony category BA - Spa Club Balcony category M9 will be reclassified to Club Balcony category MA - The Haven Spa Suite category H9 will be reclassified to The Haven Penthouse Suite with Balcony HI"

Holy crap, the escape only has 75 passes? That's insane!! (coming from a couple that has vibe passes lol)

allergies and peanut dust concerns?

I'm shocked they still waste their money on mailings like that..

WHAT?!?!?!? When did that start?!?

We booked a spa club balcony on the escape and of course since then NCL has discon'd the "spa rooms". So we basically now have a club balcony with a comp'd spa pass. I inquired about just changing to a club balcony room on a different deck (kinda worried about noise on deck 15 rooms, but that's where the spa club balc's were) as the club balcony rooms are much less now. Since we were around 60-70 days at that point, if we changed we'd have had a huge penalty because even though they have changed it, the room is still an M9 (i think) and a normal club balcony isnt.. So.. it would have been a change even though exactly the same room.. I'm bummed, but hey, I chose to upgrade when it was actually cheaper to upgrade instead of buying the spa passes. So I'm not getting all upset about it. It's the rules I chose to play by, don't like them, but gonna go and have a great time, and have learned.

Thanks, I tend to over analyze everything, sometimes that’s good sometimes bad. But I don’t like surprises, so I TRY to find all the possible “gotchas” that pop up..

K! Sounds like a plan.

We've never gone on a cruise, so NCL will be our first.. As far as trying to figure out what I need to pay, to get what I want, and be able to walk off the ship without having any charges, NCL seemed to be IMO the easiest to figure out.. I'm still trying to figure out how much a drinks package will cost me on RCI if I wanted to book there. It may be between $59 and $105 pp/day.. ***** kind of price is that? I also never ever thought the "free at sea" was actually "free" I saw when I was pricing that it included the gratuity pp/day that would be charged. Told how much the "free" specialty dining was. None of that was hidden. I think the only "add on" that is expected was the pre paid daily service charge.. And maybe I just missed that on the initial booking. Sure since then I've upgraded and bought the vibe and went to FAS+, but because I just want it. Not that I needed it, had to buy it etc etc.. From trying to compare as close apples to apples in my newbie to cruising mind, NCL just seems simplest to see what the whole cruise will cost me. Obviously not talking about stuff that used to be included to what's not blah blah blah.. It is what it is now.. Since i never had it, I cant miss it..

Right, weather is ALWAYS the kicker isnt it?

Title says it all. Only post I found was from about 7 years ago and had people saying it was open and people saying it was closed. Just curious. Thanks!

Well we are using it for our Dec 2-9, 2023 Escape cruise. I guess it is sold out (the vibe, not the cruise) so we'll see what we think when we get back!! I dont really care about the pool area, but dont want to have to try to fight for a chair in the sun. Who knows if it'll actually be busy on the ship or not. We pretty much went all out on this cruise, being our 1st one. Got the club spa balcony room and the vibe and upgraded to the premium plus free at sea or whatever it's called. Honestly, have zero excursions planned, MAY get off and go look at some of the "hand made" stuff that says made in china on it at a couple of the ports, but may not even do that.. 🙂 We almost always do vacations where we have lots planned and while enjoyable, not exactly relaxing.. We are planning on RELAXING this vacation 🙂

I'm just curious where you are seeing so many negative reviews? I mean you'll have fan bois and haters on anything so you just have to pretty much ignore "can do no wrong" and "can do nothing at all right". We're booked for our 1st ever cruise on the Escape and when doing research I didnt find anything like what it seems you did. Just curious.

Dunno, a google search of "NCL club balcony suite" brought up the 1st thing an NCL page that listed what you get? Only thing I'm not sure about and maybe IS hidden in the access to first tender in the AM.. Heck on the same page shows the differences between club and normal. Calling certain things "exclusive" is kinda funny... like TV, safe, hair dryer.. Dont think that kind of stuff is exactly exclusive.. Exclusive Club Balcony Suite Amenities Distinctive Purple Keycard Pre-book onboard dining as early as 125 days prior to sailing Pre-book entertainment as early as 21 days prior to sailing 1 complimentary valet laundry 1 bottle of sparkling wine upon embarkation Treats delivered to your stateroom twice per week. Bliss Collection by Norwegian™ featuring fine linens and pillows Lemongrass bathroom products Bathrobes TV, refrigerator, safe, and hair dryer Sitting area Lower beds arranged as a queen-size bed. Coffee maker & ice bucket available upon request. 24-hour standard room service menu Continental breakfast menu Exclusive Balcony Stateroom Amenities Bliss Collection by Norwegian™ featuring fine linens and pillows Lemongrass bathroom products Bathrobes available upon request. TV, refrigerator, safe, and hair dryer Sitting area Lower beds arranged as a queen-size bed. Coffee maker & ice bucket available upon request. 24-hour standard room service menu Continental breakfast menu