GRAYTech

I always chuckle when a thread about connectivity shows up. So many quick to praise the unplugged and denounce those internet junkies that can't let it go. I will do neither.

As a sole proprietor of a technology company, with hundreds of clients I support, I simply couldn't go anywhere if I didn't have internet access. At some point I will retire and join the hordes of the unplugged but for now unlimited internet would allow me to enjoy the cruise and check Email after I get an iMessage text alert instead of checking Email hourly.

I wonder if they priced the drinks at a more reasonable level and brought back the two happy hours BOGO for $1, allowed the bringing aboard a bottle of wine each at every port without corkage fee that the ship would still make money and there wouldn't be the issue with a policy. Just thinkin'.

This will never happen, it makes WAY to much sense.

Love the steak Tartare but did not see it at all in the PES lounge on a 14 day Caribbean on the Grand about 18 months ago. In the upper Midwest it's normally made from ground/chopped/minced high quality beef fillet, not ground chuck/hamburger. A small piece of rye, some raw onion, little bit of Tartare then salt/pepper, it's not for everyone but it's one of my favorites.

We fell in love with the grand class aft Vista suite. Yes most of the suite "perks" are marketing fluff IMHO. The only ones that matter to us are MDR room service, Sabatinis breakfast (really good), specialty restaurant meal included, laundry and priority tendering. (We are 1 cruise away from Elite)

We sailed with our 2 kids for years in an aft Vista suite. Big covered aft balcony, separate shower/tub and toilet. It is big enough for 4 in the cabin and usually cheaper than booking a CC mini and inside cabin.

I totally agree the cost cutting Princess has done may make financial sense for the stock holders but the experience has tanked compared to 10+ years ago. If you never cruised Princess maybe you wouldn't know there used to be upscale apps at the PES happy hour and so on. Now they even recently eliminated the BOGO, upped the price and limited the PBP. Our cruise in March 2019 will be on Norwegian.

No I would not book a Princess Window Full Suite especially if you are Elite or 2 in the cabin.

...The cruise was 28 days and one of the couples at our dinner table made sure to go each time they offered Steak Tartare. (I've never felt inclined to give that one a try. It just sounds wrong. :eek:)[/quote

 

IMHO if you like steak you would like this too. Done right with a piece of rye, Tartare, salt, pepper and some raw onion it's one of my favorites. The meat flavor is intense, again if it's done right, meaning the freshest/best filet cut of beef on the planet and it was years ago.

 

I'm actually very happy and surprised to see this thread. We had the beef Tartare on cruises in the past and have not seen it in recent years. Maybe just on the 28 day? The "nosh" on a 7 day Caribbean has been run of the mill. Shrimp tree at best.

Yeah it's not just cruising that brings out the "best" in people. Our first cruise, not NCL, woman was passed-out / sleeping next to shore security before boarding the ship. Ships staff didn't seem to care and prevented anyone trying to assist her. We could see her from our balcony and she was there for at least an hour on the ground before several staff members brought her onto the ship in a wheel chair.

Make it a "Chairman of The Board" for me included with the PBP at the PES.

Deleted.

I strongly recommend disembarking independently and then getting back on after boarding begins. Sitting in the lounge or the theater waiting for the stragglers to show up was like being in grade school assembly, only worse. There's plenty to see and do in Fort Lauderdale, especially if the weather is nice. In the worst case, go to the nearby Starbucks and take advantage of the free and fast internet.

I can't agree more with you. Had we figured out this was an option we would have walked off first thing. As you point out, even if it's just to go to Starbucks to have coffee or do some shopping for the second leg. Anything to avoid the group clearance thing. Will certainly keep this in mind if/when we do another B2B.

Once you are cleared, what did you DO on the ship, if you didn't get off? Not much going on that first day, everyone unpacking.

Swim, sat by the pool and hogged 4 loungers. The bar was open and the buffet shortly thereafter. We have done both, get off and stay on board on a B2B. Either way it is kind of a "lost day". Yes you can make the best of it but as you noted not much going on and we have seen FLL numerous times. It's not a bad thing just not a sea day with activities or a bonified port stop.

I strongly recommend disembarking independently and then getting back on after boarding begins....

This was not an option for us at the time. Everyone on the B2B had to gather and once cleared you go out to FLL with an "intransit" card but everyone had to be cleared together first. We actually had the cards but decided to re-board and have lunch & drink instead of FLL.

I also agree the theater is no Bueno. At least you have a seat and it's cool but not allowed to get up and at the mercy of the folks arriving late. There really should be a better way.

be sure to follow the instructions left in your room - exactly as to time and place to meet if one person/couple is not there at that time - it will delay the whole process:(

That is VERY important. 300+ of us were walked into an empty port terminal being told as soon as we got off the ship and to the terminal we would walk right back on board, 5 minutes tops. Once couple was missing, took 45 minutes to find them. The terminal was hot, no chairs, no water, could not use the restroom because any minute we were leaving for the ship and everyone had to be accounted for.

We were OK, late forties at the time, but this was incredibly bad for the elderly, mobility challenged and otherwise compromised pax. Seeing women in their 80's sitting and laying on the concrete terminal floor because they simply could not stand anymore. They were literally dropping like flies. Felt bad too for the couple, new to cruising. They just "didn't know" and for the second leg of the cruise they were singled out as "that couple" by some.

Oh and yes Princess didn't really apologize, it was the fault of the missing pax but gave us each a drink ticket. Whoo Hoo. My comment card asked that they never allow something like this to happen again. Don't have a procedure in place that makes it even possible for it to happen. Next year we were in the theater for B2B clearance.

...Your butler will bring you drinks, but they are charged at retail price (even if you have the UBP).

I guess I will be stretching my legs occasionally. A bit OT but if I take both cruise cards I should I be able to get 4 drinks each time?

We are booked on the Panama Canal transit LAX-MIA March 2019 in an aft penthouse with butler services. We plan to spend the day on the balcony going through the canal. In fact, we will spend most of the sea days on the balcony and would utilize the butler.

Is it reasonable to expect the butler to serve us 2 or 3 meals on the balcony and bring drinks throughout the day? (booking included the bev package) Is this what they are supposed to do? Of course I will tip appropriately at the end of the cruise based on services rendered.

...If I get rid of 100 one dollar bills over the length of a cruise, its been an enjoyable way for me to spend that money. Personal choices.

Yes personal choices. There is no right or wrong here. You spend how much on a cruise? What's another $100 if it makes you feel good and hopefully, the servers feel appreciated.

I'm always surprised how tipping turns into such a back-n-forth. I'm not tipping YOUR money, what possible difference could it make to you?

Disclaimer - yes I leave the auto-tip on, I don't wave the cash around and I don't care if my $1 or $5 for that matter made my tip 22% instead of 20% on a round of drinks.

Graytech..you did canal March/April? How hot was it? We're doing Feb 2 but I don't know if it's much cooler then. Thanks

We actually have a Star aft penthouse scheduled for March/April 2019 for the ocean-to-ocean canal transit. We were in the Pearl Deluxe Owners Suite on a southern Caribbean 7 day in January. It was very warm, just too windy at times. Don't know about the Canal in February.

We were in 15500 on the NCL Pearl and loved it. I found a link to a review with photos for cabin 15000. I see the layout of the Jade and Pearl balconies are different so my wind comments may not apply to the Jade.

This is of the Pearl DOS -

http://www.jimzim.net/NorwegianPearl.html

This is of the Jade DOS -

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/norwegian-jade-438/the-haven-deluxe-owners-suite-393058/

Thanks, do they provide a receipt to sign or should I be prepared with cash for room service?

You can do it either way but I always tipped in cash. Usually a couple of bucks for something small that they just drop and go or a five if they went the extra mile, set the table, dispersed the plates etc.

...and there was one H2 Owners that I grabbed.

 

Will I be sorry? It's a lot of money.

We had an H2 Owners on the Pearl and loved it. No question the balcony was windy while underway, enough to make the furniture dance around at times. We could scurry out to the full size hot tub and sit behind the partial wind shield comfortably but on the loungers it was obnoxious. Crew came in a few times in the 7 day to take in the pads and bungee down the furniture.

We had 4 in the H2 cabin and it was very doable. Of course 2 of you end up on the couch pull-out which isn't great but works. Depending on your comfort level having all 4 in the same cabin might be an option and significantly cut your cost, it did for us.

Each cabin has pros/cons. I don't think you will be sorry with your choice the cabin is unbelievable but it will be windy, at least it was on the Pearl.

If you do go ahead with the bow balcony please report back your results. We had one booked for a Panama Canal transit but switched to an aft penthouse when it became available. I think the view from the bow would be awesome but was also concerned about the wind factor.

Why not buy five? Why not one in each carry on and both checked bags.

Ship one home and whatever makes it to the cabin, well it won't go to waste.

We loved the deluxe owners suite in the Haven. With 4 in the room the cost PP while high, was doable for us. Attempted to use the Haven courtyard several times but it was over-run with children usually playing marco-polo. Our balcony was fantastic with our own hot tub so all was not lost albeit windy while under way.

We (two of us this time) are doing the Panama Canal full transit next February and opted for an aft penthouse. All the perks of a Haven Suite except the Haven courtyard which we didn't use except for the occasional M&M's.

It has happened to me and I don't accept it. I ask them to please deliver as requested. I want the food hot and if it sits for half an hour while I shower and dress then I don't want it and it will go to waste. So far they have redelivered it again at the requested time.....

Gotta wonder if there wasn't a little something extra with your second delivery. :eek:

Thanks for the insight. We have cruised a number of times out of FLL, not sure why I thought it would be any different in LA.

Fly from ORD to LAX day before

Take an Uber to Crown Plaza hotel near the port

Hotel shuttle or Uber to the cruise ship the morning of

Anyone have a favorite hotel near the port?

Booked the 14 day NCL Star Panama Canal LA - Miami 3/30 - 4/13.

I have only sailed on NCL one time before and made my own flight/hotel arrangements.

Do you get a good deal if you book through NCL is it worth pursing?

Flight / Hotel / Transfers ?

I am very familiar with FLL and MIA but know nothing about LA, never been there. Any thoughts on LA travel / hotels would be appreciated.

Doesn't count but had one last week at Outback when the tap ran out.