maja651

Thanks all. Yes, it is almost 2 years out, first time we booked so far out! Glad we did though, because we need the time to pay for this! lol

See post 8 from attached discussion for the Garden Villa Differentiators from normal suites.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2520747

My husband and I are curious... when you book the Garden Villa, are all amenity packages (specialty dining for entire cruise, UBP, shore excursions etc) included??

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app

Garden Villa gets all of the current promotions, but for only 2 people. - which btw, I think is LAME. The amenities should be tripled, as the villas have 3 suite like bedrooms.

1. UBP - for 2

2. SDP (3 nights per week) - for 2

3. $50 excursion credit per port

4. $500 OBC

5. 250 minutes wifi per week, for the entire villa (not per person)

In addition, you get the normal suite amenities plus 6 bottles of liquor per week, unlimited soda, bottled water, mixers, free dinner at Cagneys per week courtesy of the concierge, limo ride back to the airport, after the cruise, and absolutely no lines, EVER. Butler escorts you to dinner, escorts you to the shows, escorts you to the villa when you board, and escorts you to the concierge, who hands you off to a port escort, who escorts you off the ship for debarkation, ahead of the lines. You never ever wait for basically anything. I also think they assign the very best butlers to the Garden Villas. Both times we were in the GV, the buters were phenomenal.

Have a great luxury cruise!

Thank you!

How big a group?

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

First week, for now, 3 people. Looking for a couple/ a person to fill one of the bedrooms. Second week 5 of us.

Does anyone know if the Pearl also now has the On Demand movies since her refurb this year?

We just booked our absolute dream cruise....B2B March 2019 in the Dawn Garden Villa! OMG we are going to have to save up so much money, but I cannot wait! At least there is plenty of time to save! :)

We picked these 2 sailings because we have never been to any of those islands, including Puerto Rico, except St Martin and St Thomas. So, it will be so many new islands in 14 days. Let the planning begin! :)

Also - if you are going to book the Garden Villa, the Star and the Dawn are hands down the best....so we were so pleased to see that the Dawn was doing these fantastic itineraries!

Now... back to work to start making money to save up for these 2 cruises. lol

And I will be cruising out of NOLA either late next year or early 2019. That is what attracted me to this thread. Thanks Michelle.

I guess we are cruising similar cruises, just reversed the years.

Thanks everyone for your replies! This helps.

Also - interestingly enough, we too will be cruising out of San Juan, P.R. so that additional question and response helped as well!

We will be sailing out of New Orleans for the first time next March. We will be sailing in an owner's suite that comes with three bottles of liquor. Has anyone sailed out of New Orleans In a suite that comes with the free bottles of Liquor? Do you get the alcohol right away or do you have to wait until you're off of the Mississippi? Just curious as I remember reading a review from someone who sailed out of Houston in a GV and they didn't get their bottles right away.

Ours is $499 for our March 2018 sailing. Maybe depends on the size of the ship you're on? We will be on the Pearl.

The cabanas just popped up for our March 2018 cruise. They are $499 each.

Smqller ships with the Haven also have a Haven sun deck, only for Haven guests. A big perk to us.

There is no Haven access for SE and SF suites on Jewel class ships.

You are right. I missed that.

I travel via CAS so the early embarkation in NYC is already realized..... my biggest concern was bidding and getting an SF in a bad spot (Bliss)..... I love the aft and tossing and turning about even bidding.

 

Are there any drawbacks for a forward facing suite (SE) such as wind while at sea, etc. I know if it rains then it will be impacted but will the wind just go up the front because of aerodynamics.

 

Thanks..

Regarding the front facing balconies, I am not sure as we have not sailed in a cabin with those yet (first one planned for next year in March). I have read they can be windy, but if you are sitting down the wind is not a big deal. Personally, I look forward to the wind. When it is hot, sunny and humid out a nice wind feels good to me! :)

To me, absolutely worth it! The easy embarkation and debarkation alone make it worth it to upgrade to the suite. Let alone, breakfast in bed, hardly any lines, Haven access, etc. The real question is, why WOULDNT you? ;p

edited to point out the obvious - we like to cruise in suites and are willing to pay more up front to do so. I HATE lines and my patience is almost zero, so a suite is a "must have" for me. OK, yes, I am spoiled. I work hard so I am worth it. :)

Never seen a microwave on a cruise ship. (there MIGHT have been on in the 3 BR Garden Villa).

Yep, there is. Microwave in the Garden Villa.

Do you mind posting some stills? I am super sensitive to videos that have any shake movement in them at all. I tried watching but it make me sick right away. (not your fault, my stupid body's fault).

Do you have any pictures of the villa? We are considering booking it for a cruise in 2019 and I would love to look at some pictures. I cannot watch online videos, as the shakiness makes me nauseated every time. :o

Does this mean that like when sailing from Texas, you do not receive your bottles of liquor (for those in OS, DOS and GV) until you are out of US waters?

Nobody should flame you or anyone else for their opinion on a concierge. It really does seem that people can experience very different experiences with concierge/butler on a trip.

 

We've heard people rave about so and so and we've had them and scratched our heads. Conversely, we've had someone who is pretty good and others don't like that person.

 

So tips are one way the folks should provide good service but maybe a survey would also ensure good service like DCL does.

You are right that one person can be great to some and terrible to others. At the end of our cruise when we were having yet more issues with Bruno, I saw some people who seemed to love him. Perhaps he did a lot more for them or just did SOMETHING for them, and they enjoyed his services. Our experience was so different though.

My all time favorite concierge to date is Adrian, who was our concierge on the Epic. We were in a low end suite for that cruise, but he was just fabulous. He set the bar very high, and no one has met it yet, even when we were in the GV the first time (which btw, was a great experience, and no complaints, just not Adrian).

1 yes was on all the time room or 2 people 3 at a squeeze

2 no but ask they might have some stored away

3 think it's in the first bedroom pull out couch but don't really know a there was only 5 of us

4 regular spirits you should get a letter from pre concierge with what available

 

Relax enjoy your trip the more you interact with the staff the better trip you will have as many treat them badly but there absolutely amazing

We had a problem with the hot tub needed to be emptied one day while we were on shore we were yeah whatever concierge credited us $500 for our inconvenience which was really zero because it was back in use by 5pm

Disembarking was a breeze concierge came to villa at 8.50 thru the crew passage ways pops out right at the exit to the ship scans cards hands us over to someone from the port authority straight past the lines there collect luggage outside port authority lady finds our transport loaded luggage and away by 9.05 amazing

When waiting or wanting anything just drop into the conversation your room number and watch how quickly it happens anything else just ask

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It sounds like you had a great concierge. Do you mind saying who it was? We had a TERRIBLE concierge (Bruno) on the Jewel when we were in the GV over Christmas. Numerous issues, including the hot tub not working for more than a day, and we were NOT comped anything. Note, we did not ask to be comped, but we spent a lot of time in the hot tub, and we did not really leave the ship, so the lack of the hot tub that day DID totally impact our cruise.

Before people flame me for mentioning how bad Bruno was, understand we are not super demanding people and we are always nice and respectful to the staff. We like to learn about them, where they are from, etc. We do not treat them like servants. Bruno was so bad I actually wrote him a letter telling him exactly how bad he was, and we talked to the Hotel Director about him as well. We are not complainers by nature, so you can just imagine how bad he was. I hope to God he is not the concierge on the Pearl next year when we sail her.

We have cruised on NCL to those exact ports in the past, and will again next March. Here is what we did last time and what we will do again. LOVE those ports.

* Cozumel - we went to Mr. Sanchos. We paid for the All Inclusive for the day. It was a fabulous, fun day and we plan to go there again next year. The ride from the port was about 20 minutes via cab.

* Costa Maya - We went to Maya Chan and have already booked them for next year. Small, nice beach club owned by Americans who like to cruise. They limit the number of visitors so it does not get crowded.

* Belize - I did not get off the ship last time, as I am not interested in Belize city. This time, Harvest Caye is open and we plan to rent one of the beach cabanas. Yes, they are a bit pricey, but it is worth it to us to have a more relaxed, less crowded beach day with a private restroom and reserved loungers.

* Roatan - we booked a tour wth Victor Boden (not sure of the spelling) last time and toured the island, went to a private home type zoo to see monkeys and a sloth, and went snorkeling. I was not impressed wit Roatan based on that day and plan to stay on the ship next year.

Following because we too want to book a cabana and would like to know how far in advance they offer them.

Don't you think you get what you pay for? Keep thinking of the Gambe MSC review. If you've not watched it, you should... Maybe there is a reason their suite prices are so much lower? Just saying. Couldn't talk myself into Yacht Club after doing my homework.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do wonder if you get what you pay for, but.....NCL has always given us great experiences in the suites, including before the all inclusive packages and the super increased prices. We have always been happy with NCL.

So, my thought is, why not try the MSC Yacht Club? Maybe the prices are low now to entice the NCL suite guests to give it a try?