dnl_in_Illinois

No matter where you stay on the ship, Haven or not, it is the same. If you have NCL on board credit, it cannot be used for daily service charge.

Thanks for this. We will plan accordingly. I will be curious as to how NCL handles the accounting on this. With an NCL ship credit as well as a TA ship credit. I recall in the past we start out with a negative balance in our account (the credits) that get spent as the cruise progresses and of course we usually end up with a balance due. I'm not so sure of that on this trip. Anyway, we will plan accordingly. Thanks again.

Since there are a few folks who have already sailed on the Breakaway Haven - perhaps you will know whether the shipboard credits that we receive can be applied towards the daily service charge? There are 5 of us in my group - in one of the family suites. With the wonderful service and offerings provided by the Haven restaurant, we will only do one specialty dinner (trying to get agreement among teens, parents and grandparent is always a challenge anyway). We are not doing any ship excursions preferring to hire local tours, so I'm thinking, other than our use of the Internet, I'm not sure we will spend it all.

Of course there is always shopping on the ship.

If you can give me the info I will appreciate it.

I'm pretty sure if we choose him we will have him pick us up at the Dockyard too. The only thing he didn't tell us is what time his charters begin. I'm sure he would be flexible but that is the only question he missed answering.

 

Bermuda Wind Sail Charters' regular pick up is at the Dockyard and their times are usually 10AM or 1:30PM. I really wish I could decide! :D

 

Still looking for any/all suggestions! :cool:

Sail Bermuda's captain Caleb suggested that a 10:00am would be the best time for pick up but left the door open for me to specify our preferred time. We picked 10am. He also advised re: meeting the boat in the Dockyard as follows:

"We will be docked right near your ship and you'll just look for a yacht

that says http://www.sailbermuda.com in huge white letters on the mainsail boom.

Honestly we can't miss each other!"

We chartered a boat for a day sail and can bring wine aboard. Can anyone advise me where in the shopping area of the Dockyard we can buy wine? We can not bring aboard our ship, so will have to purchase the morning of our charter presumably from a shop nearby. Thanks to any who can help.

I was also impressed that Captain Zuill was the first to answer my email and also the one that answered all my questions.

 

Are you having him pick you up at the dockyard for the extra $50 or taking the ferry to Hamilton to meet him? Please come back after your cruise to let me know what you thought of your charter. :)

We will pay the $50 and he will pick us up at the Dockyard. Just easier and by the time I get 5 of us to Hamilton on the ferry, it doesn't cost that much more. I will for sure post a review - probably on TripAdvisor.

Have you researched chartering catamarans? Which do you plan to charter? I can't decide. I've contacted:

 

Jessie James Cruises (which is a pontoon boat that we have chartered 2 times in the past and it was great but there is now a new owner so I'm not sure if she is as good)

 

Bermuda Wind Sail Charters (Spirit of the Wind - 51' Morgan Yacht) with Captain Mike or Captain Melissa

 

Sail Bermuda (Shekynah - 51' Morgan ketch rig) with Captain Zuill

 

Coral Reed Adventures (just says a catamaran) This is who the ship (Norwegian Breakaway) uses and it is the same price whether you book with the ship or privately.

 

I really do not want to share a full boat so I want to charter privately. There are 7 of us just in our group and others from our cruise are interested also. If you have chartered any of these or have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

We have booked a charter on the Sail Bermuda Shekynah - Caleb Zuill captain. His email responses have been quick and complete - friendly as well. Our charter isn't until August so no comments about the experience. TripAdvisor has him rated very highly. Hope that helps some.

Last year we were escorted to the Cirque show early but no ohter shows. There is a separate area in the theater for suite guests to sit. We were in a Spa Suite last year and the same this year, I am not sure about the higher suites.

Thanks for your thoughts. I was thinking that the Epic also had a separate seating area for suite guests for the shows in the theater as well and for those shows we went on our own so that is likely the way the Breakaway will handle it.

Good to hear that the concierge folks are exceptional. While we have sailed on the Epic in the Haven twice, this will be our first on the Breakaway. When on the Epic, the concierge escorted us to the shows and in the case of the Blue Man Group we were provided entry prior to the long line. Does the Breakaway concierge follow this same practice? That is escort, special elevator, early entrance to the show?

We always make sure that we spend enough on board to use up our OBC and just pay the DSC. (it's well deserved) That way, there are no disappointments on the last day.

We do same and agree that it is almost always well deserved.

This TA - OBC is $450 so it is NOT to be squandered. Since I am traveling with my grandkids - daughter's family - we do not sit in the bars. We always stay in the Haven and usually use the restaurant there for our evening meals versus the speciality restaurants. Excursions are one good way to use the OBC however our off ship excursions are almost always planned through a private source. Thus my dilemma. IF I can apply it towards the DSC, great, as that is a good use for our $60 a day contribution (there are 5 of us). If I can't use it for the DSC then we will plan something else.

Appreciate your thought.

Except that is not always the case. NCL's OBC are basically always non refundable. The OBC from a TA can be either. You have to ask them or ask for an amenity listing which will tell you if it is refundable or not. If it is refundable, you can use it for the DSC.

As someone else mentioned, your paying the TA for taking care of things for you, ask them and then get it in writing and take it on board with you. These things have a habit of "falling through the cracks" at times.

I was going to call NCL - - decided I got my answer - - now with your comments I will call. We have cruised several times on NCL. One would think I could remember. Or last was on the Epic out of Barcelona (trip for the grand kids) and we had a generous OBC from the TA on that cruise - - I can NOT remember how that got spent. We're not big spenders on board, that is we do not do the speciality dinners and the other fee based functions so if I don't want to waste the credit we need to plan. Anyway, more detail than you needed. Thanks for taking time to respond.

The OBC from your TA can be used toward the daily service charge.

 

The OBC from NCL is promotional and can't be used towards daily service charge.

The NCL OBC is non- refundable since it is promotional.

Thanks for this. It makes sense to me that the TA - OBC can be used.

Question about ship or on board credit. I have a ship credit from my TA as well as NCL.

Can EITHER or BOTH of the amounts be used to pay the daily service charge?

Will appreciate input on this as the NCL FAQ's do not address the question and the posts by "experts" contradict each other, one says yes and another says no.

Thanks in advance.

Error in posting.

It might even make you feel more confident to know that nearly everyone here in PV speaks some English (or is completely fluent). And the reason we love this place is because just about everyone is friendly and helpful. So when you get here, if you need any help or advice, just ask nearly anyone. But if they try to respond by selling you something...then be a bit cautious :).

 

Hank

Thanks again for the additional comments Hank. We were last in PV for our honeymoon some 30+ years ago. I am sure it has changed since then. We are looking forward to the cruise and our first port will be PV. I feel well prepared thanks to your and other comments.

We actually have specific (and governed) taxi stands (they each have their own number) where there are always some taxis. From the Sea Monkey there are 2 nearby taxi stands with the easiest one to find probably right on Olas Altas. If you walk in front of the Sea Monkey (keeping the sea on your right) in about 2 blocks you will come to a street (right in front of Taste of Italy (restaurant) where there are always some taxis.

 

Another taxi area is about 2 blocks away on the corner of Aquiles Serdan and Vallarta. And remember that another way to get back to the port is by taking one of the local buses (any bus with "Sams" on the windshield will get you near the port).

 

Hailing an empty taxi that happens to be driving by is also OK. In fact, in many cases the taxi will actually hail you :)

 

Hank

Hank - - thanks for the additional information re: the taxi's. We want to visit the area of the Sea Monkey so your comments there were right on. With your help and with some suggestions on local food places I think I can now plan our day in PV and do it with ease. Thanks again.

In the street next to the stadium (more or less opposite the Sheraton Hotel), you will find some small kiosks with foodvendors. Hardly any tourists around there, just locals. Our favorite is La Burrita Marinera. They have the best burritas = cooked to order- with either shrimps, marlyn(sp!), squid or combinations of this. They cost between Pesos 50 or 60. There are a few tables.

The correct address is: Ave. de las Americas, local 8 & 9

Open till 6 pm.

This is very helpful and worthy of checking out. Thanks so much!

The weather in wasilla is awful right now...too warm for our winter sports and likely killing my more exotic plants, as they can't take a thaw in the middle of winter. We're actually in PV right now and thankful, as we wouldn't be able to do the "winter stuff" at home. If the weather doesn't get colder and give us some snow, we'll see about changing our return tickets.

Mytime53 - - - my son has complained similarly re: the weather. Always strikes me as odd but then he if a different generation! Or it is all in what interests you or one is accustomed to. THANKS for the suggestions of eateries. I will look into them.

BTW - as you no doubt have heard, we here in the midwest have experienced one of the coldest winters on record. A lot of snow too but the snow is no bother. That we can handle, but the sub zero temps for days in a row are something to experience! The furnace never stops running! Enjoy your time there in PV!

Can anyone advise as to whether there is an area in PV - probably in the main part of the city that has street food vendors? Or if not more than one, a particular vendor that has a static location that you would recommend?

Will appreciate comments.

It's easy, taxis are all over and will stop to ask you if you want a ride when you are standing on the sidewalk.

And if you want to save a few pesos, make sure you are north of the river Cuale when you catch a taxi....

Great, thanks much! I guess you're having a moderate winter if you're in Wasilla right now. Our son lives in Homer so we get his reports. He gets up to Anchorage often. Thanks again for your info.

I appreciate the comments provided in this thread, especially those from the "temporary locals" who are spending their winter in PV and their suggestions and observations.

It would seem that taking the bus into town would be a fun experience in and of itself. My question is - if we ended up in the area of the Sea Monkey or anywhere along the main drag, how difficult would it be to hail a taxi for a ride back to the ships port? We will be in PV in early April.

Will appreciate comments in that regard. Thanks!

Was in Port Questzal in December.

It has one of the nicest ports areas for cruise ships. Lots of shops, vendor stalls, cafes, and wifi. Very clean and easy, just walk off the ship.

 

We took a DIY trip to Antiqua. You will be dropped off at a tourist information area. Nice bathrooms, again vendor stalls and here you hire a local guide for walking tour of Antiqua. The four of us paid $10.00USD a piece. Toured Santo Domingo hotel which is embedded in the ruins of a old monastary. Went to local coffee bar and bought great coffee beans, had a lunch at a lcoal cafe overlooking the main square, had time to shop and back to the torist site for our ride back to the ship. We told our quide these were the things we wanted to do. Miquel was a young man aobut 35, spoke very good English and really was so informative aobut his town and his country. We learned alot aobut the beautiful colonial town of Antiqua.

 

The one hour ride, takes you close to three volcanoes, through sugar cane plantations, and you get to see some of the smaller towns.

It was perfectly safe, others on our cruise even did private tours and they had a good time. I would stay with the ship tour just because if there is any traffic delay on the one and only highway, it could be a problem if your private tour is late.

Enjoy this port of call.

Azulann - - would you offer information regarding how you made contact for the private transfer and tour guide from Puerto Quetzal to Antiqua. Your experience appears to be exactly what we would like to do and a ride for 4 to Antiqua is preferred to the generic bus from the ship. I am hoping that we could connect with a driver in the port. Thanks in advance.

Dave K

Does anyone have knowledge of transportation from Puerto Quetzal to San Jose the nearby city from where the ships port is?

We are aware of side trips to Antiqua but would also like to know about San Jose, how to get there and back, what there is to see/do in San Jose as we explore the town.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

We have a plan to rent bikes at/near the Canada Center. Do I understand correctly that one can ride along the water all the way to Stanley Park?

Yes there are mini-vans, most are fitted out to be handicap accessible however some have a flip down seat in the back that will accommodate a 5th passenger. I read recently that now 19% of our cab fleet are mini-vans so while you may have to wait a extra minute of two they are available. You fare will run about $35.

 

There will be a line of limos at the curb and a 6 pax limos and depending where you are going downtown the fare will run $53 or $66 plus tax and gratuity, this fare is a flat rate.

Thanks! That is the exact information that I need.

We plan to take the SkyTrain from the airport to our hotel upon arrival at YVR. I appreciate all the information this CC thread has provided!

My question this morning relates to what alternatives are available at the airport should we make a last minute decision to take ground transportation versus the train. Since there are 5 of us, I understand that there are vans available as a taxi.

I also have read about the possibility of a limo also being available at the airport if we were to want that option. Is this correct and any tips/info on how that can be arranged?