endymion6942

Fried Oyster Poboys from New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Company.

Norwegian Cruise Line.

The lamb chops and the cream on mushroom soup served LeBisro on the NCL Pearl.

Steak in Cagneys’ on NCL ships. Whatever is available on others.

Chose the Pearl over Celebrity. Just happy to be cruising again😊

You’re absolutely correct. The Pearl does not make a full transit of the Panama Canal.

My wife, friends and I have been to Maya Chan I’ve forgotten how many times.

it is a privately owned all inclusive day resort with a great beach, bar, and fresh cook buffet. The entire staff is super friendly and attentive.

Earlier ‘this week we had three different cruises booked for this December. The NCL Pearl was the only ship going to Costa Maya. The tie breaker for me was the fact that we will be able to go to Maya Chan during this cruise.

That should tell how much I love Maya Chan.

I cannot speak about the Bliss. However, we are booked on the Pearl for a 11 nighter departing December 23,2021 that is their Panama Canal cruise.

You might want to look into it if the canal is high on your list.

Quick question do they provide bathrobes on the Spirit?

 

 

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They do/did if your in a suite.

they give them to my wife and I since we are Platinum Latitudes.

thanks, everyone...the feedback has been very helpful..I am now leaning towards booking a cruise on the Dawn...it sounds like something I would like to try out...like others have said, a cruise is what you make it, and I've never had a "bad" cruise (knock on wood ha ha)

 

the benefit of sailing out of NOLA is that I am in Baton Rouge...short trip by car...N'awlins is a great place to visit, and the food is terrific, so I would also encourage anyone sailing out of NOLA to plan a couple of extra days in the city

 

and...Geaux Tigers indeed! it's baseball season now, and I think there is a game in Alex Box today : )

Its still early in the season, I think the tigers are 4 and 2.

Driving in from BR you can save on a hotel by leaving yor house at 9:00 and arriving at the port after parking 11:00 or 11: 30 depending on the I-10 and where you decide to park.

Yah. Belize was still Coxen Hole a week ago.

Coxen Hole is a waste unless your looking for LEGAL pharmaceuticals at dirt cheap prices.

Scott

I am considering booking a cruise on NCL Dawn out of New Orleans in November. I have yet to cruise NCL and don't know a lot about that line or the ship Dawn. In the past I've cruised RCCL and Carnival. I tend to like the medium sized ships like Carnival Triumph or Conquest. What I'd like to know is what I can expect to be different on a Norwegian cruise as compared to Carnival and RCCL. I would be especially appreciative of any comments from fellow cruisers who've cruised all 3 lines in the past...thanks for any feedback y'all can give!

Where Y'at Tiger Belle

First thing to remember is that RCCL has pulled out of New Orleans.

So that leaves Carnival and NCL.

I personally like the "Freestyle" sailing model that NCL offers. RCCL is much more traditional. Carnival, I have sailed twice comped for work reasons, and was treated like dirt.

I PERSONALLY have always found the staff to be much more friendly than on NCL ships than other lines.

I am not a good one for buffet or MDR opinions because we usually eat in one of the specialty restaurants.

I assume your looking at the Western Caribbean route. NCL just opened their new private resort near Belize. I am told it is very nice and can't wait to go there next year.

Money is money. It has been my experience that I get more bang for the buck over lines. Again, This is my opinion.

Being a foodie living in Metairie, I love the french restaurant LeBistro on NCL. They use Crystal instead of Tabasco in the kitchen.

Everyone will have their own opinion. My opinion is go on the Dawn.

Geaux Tigers

I have been on Spirit 3 previos sailings and am doing a 4th in December.

Your writing a really great review.

I especially like all the pics of Maya Chan. I am sure that Mark and Jane appreciate it. I have been to Maya Chan 9 times and consider it my home away from home in Mexico.

The last time I had a Haven suite, we paid the normal up-charge for the specialty (Lebistro) but there was no additional fee. That is/was what the butler is for.

However, NCL seems to be changing things quicker than a baseball game.

We have been on the Jewel, Gem & Epic and will be new to the Spirit.

Can anyone help with three things.

1. For the Epic, I managed to download a PDF document showing the decks of the whole ship, just like you are issued with at check in but, I can't remember where it was on the NCL site. Can anyone help?

2. Is there an outside café where you can have the buffet meals?

We are rather fond of eating breakfast outside but, looking on the site I cannot see anywhere like the Garden Café on the other ships. Am I missing something?

3. I understand there is no Thermal Spa, but is there something similar indoors?

Many thanks

Spirit is a small but beautiful ship. I have sailed her 3 times. this December will be our 4th.

Spirit does not have a Thermal Spa like Epic.

The buffet is on deck 12 and it is call Raffles. There is outside buffet seating nearer the stern.

Hope this helps.

I really don't see the big deal with the name change. I got to meet Kevin once on EPIC and he was a pretty cool guy.

I'm surprised the name change has taken as long as it has considering the egos involved.

Why not get the old "Blue Lagoon" signs and menus out of storage.

That should make it easy.

If they can't find them, I have some new names they can use fleet wide.

OF COURSE, the new name has to be named for the boss:

Del Rio's :confused:

Frankie's Place :rolleyes:

Frankie J's :p

Taco del Rio :D

I have a bunch of names that will get me thrown of Cruise Critic, so I will list them. :D

What do you think.

Hi. My past cruises are listed in my signature. We have only cruised with RCCL and Celebrity. We are looking to book a cruise to the Caribbean in October out of Miami. Celebrity is our favorite cruise line so far but they don't have ships sailing the Caribbean until November.

 

We have never had a bad cruise but some have been much better then others. Our least favorite was RCCL Allure, way too many people and the ship was too big for our taste. We love the Solstice class ships on Celebrity. Just trying to give you some background on our likes and dislikes. We always cruise in a cabin that has a balcony. We have been in Junior Suites or RCCL and Aqua Class on Celebrity.

 

My question is which ship would be the better choice for cruising out of Miami in October. What is a "mini suite" and what is the difference in the balcony cabin categories.

 

I appreciate all help since I don't know anything about NCL. We always opt for "my time dining" on Celebrity and RCCL since we don't like an assigned dining time. Thank you! Wanda

We have sailed NCL and RCCL many timeS. We have also sailed Celebrity. I like NCL for a number of reasons. I like the Freestyle concept. As far as a junior suite iS concerned, on NCL. it is a little larger than a balcony cabin but has a bathtub, which regular cabins do not. I took a quick look at departures out of Miami in October and your two options are ESCAPE, which is NCL's largest and GETAWAY, which is just a little smaller that Escape.

I you ae looking for a smaller ship, you might want to change or cruise date and look at one of NCL's "Jewel" class ships.

Another vote for Maya Chan. All inclusive, great food and top shelf bar. Private beach. We love Maya Chan. We have only been there 10 times.

I know that Maya Chan in Costa Maya cleans their beach every day. My last trip a few weeks ago saw no seagrass. I was told that the seagrass on the beach depinds on the wind direction.

Hope this helps

I personally like Maya Chan. We have been there 10 times. It gets better and better every time we go.

My wife and I are driving in to Port Canaveral and will need 1 night in a hotel. We were hoping to find a decent hotel where we can leave the car and get a shuttle to and from the cruise port.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Many thanks for any and all help.

I have to purchase a model of each ship and a Coffee mug.

Never seen those on NCL ships.

They do not have DIY laundry. Any pressing we need done was given to our cabin steward.

I certainly wouldn't risk my vacation in hurricane season in the Caribbean! That's why we go in Early spring.

I would love to do a Baltic or European cruise. But trying to do one of these as a last second option is impossible. Airfare rates are ridiculous.

 

Just hard to believe a ship out of NOLA isn't viable during the summer months.

I really don't think hurricanes are the major part of the decision for cruise lines (except carnival) sailing out of here during the summer. I think it's the heat. It is currently 92 degrees here in New Orleans and it's not even noon.

This time of year it is too hot to enjoy a cruise, much less leave your house.