skittl1321

We had regular balcony cabin 10183. It was midship and a great location. We were a bit too far down to do stairs up to the buffet, but we did do stairs down; and we were able to take stairs up and down to shows, dinner, and the lobby; so less waiting for elevators. My 6-year old was THRILLED to have a bunk bed. My 4-year old actually ended up sleeping on the floor everynight, weirdo. The bed stayed as a bed, and I would have liked to have a couch, but it was nice to have distinct spaces for the kids, as before we would do an activity we would make them "HOP", head on pillow, for 3 minutes to calm down; sometimes that 3-minutes took nearly half an hour to get their heads down and them calm. The two adults in the cabin next to us were extremely loud (it was a connecting cabin), and thank god, because I am sure they hated us, I know we were too loud... The cabin was very narrow. There was not a lot of walking space in front of the bed, and there was a little stool and table under the vanity, but there would not have been room for a coffee table to stay in front of the couch. I was very happy with the balcony. There were two chairs and an ottoman/table. There was enough room to put it in front of the chair and set your feet up. I had read the balconies were small and there was only room to sit with the chair sideways. All 4 of us could comfortably sit out on the balcony, though with small kids, I often preferred to sit on the ground with them, so no one tried to climb. The balcony door had a lock, but also a secondary lock that was above the kids reach. No towel animals, but our room steward did always tuck the kids stuffed animals in, and even their ipad one night... We had plenty of storage for a family of 4. We brought 8 magnetic hooks, and would bring a few more next time, as we had tons of swimsuits to dry out, little kids don't like putting wet ones on, so we went through 2 a day. We also had their floaties (though we ended up not using them on the ship, as they are decent swimmers and the water shallow, but they were wet from port.) We also bring an over the door shoe organizer for all our stuff. The bathroom shower was very very small. The smallest I can remember on a ship, but it did have a glass door, so at least there was never a curtain attacking us. Our room steward never told us his name, but we said hello in the hallway every time we saw him. He was friendly, but extremely busy.

Hmm, so here's my problem with photos. My husband does all the photos, and he's teaching a ton this week so hasn't processed any of them, so let me try a few that I snapped with my phone. My typical buffet breakfast. The white donuts were SO good. Bavarian creme filled. (Chocolate ones were chocolate filled, pink were jelly filled, much to my daughter's disappointment.) The bacon was SO good and crispy, and no bacon police to limit how many you can have. Buffet lunch: The fruit on this ship was SO good, and these creme puffs/eclairs were amazing. I liked the white creme better than the chocolate though. Dining room breakfast. The omlets here you could have tons of things added, as opposed to the pre-fab ones on the buffet (I never saw an omelet station at least.) Another dining room omelette. The english muffin was not toasted, so I could not eat it. Ironically, my kids like bagels untoasted, but those always came out toasted. I had read previously that MSC doesn't serve butter with their bread, but we always had butter on our tables. Surf and turf: These mashed potatoes were the best thing I ate the entire cruise. I just wanted the turf part, and it was an excellent steak. I don't really get the fuss over lobster, but I think my husband ate it, and the kids tried it. Caesar Salad: This was so good. No anchovies, which I prefer. On carnival I can't eat them they are so fishy, so I was so excited to get one I ate nearly every night here. We probably had 20+ of these over the course of our cruise. The kids LOVED these (though my daughter really wished the sprinkles were not on the whipped cream, since she doesn't eat whipped cream), and they were my favorite dessert too. The various pastas in the everyday section of the menu were the go-to for my daughter. Grandma's chocolate cake was rich, and so delicious. Is this called prime rib? I ordered it mainly because it came with a "loaded baked potato", but the potato only had sour cream on it. Still, the meat exceeded my expectations once I got around the fatty parts (which I understand are a feature of the cut). I haven't eaten much beef in years, so it surprised me how often I ordered it on the cruise. Just a funny shot to close out the post. "Cultural differences" on MSC. Our water never had ice (and that was fine with me), but my daughter's milk did.

My family of 4 just got back from the Seascape. Our kids were 4 and 6 and had an amazing time. I am working on going through photos, and will try to do an in-depth review as the days go by, but my short review is: Wow! My expectations were greatly exceeded. I was really worried I picked the wrong cruiseline after reading so many negative reviews during my planning, but I have very few complaints at all. It felt like when we started cruising carnival in 2008, high quality food, high quality service. We cruised in a balcony cabin, fantastica experience. Drinks and Wifi were included in our booking. We had early dining, which was at 5:00. Having young kids, we did very few of the planned daytime activities, and were in bed well before any evening parties, so our cruise experience is maybe a bit different from others who are staying up late and partying. Some initial thoughts: Food: Buffet was a madhouse on embarkation day and after Grand Cayman, but not too bad any other time we went for lunch or breakfast (we never went for dinner). The breakfast choices were preferable to the dining room, but it was easier for us to go to the dining room with the kids. The lunch choices seemed a bit lacking, I didn't feel like there were many things we wanted to eat, so we usually had pizza. The kids did not like any of the dessert choices on the buffet, I could have eaten my weight in cream puffs and eclairs. Dining room breakfast service was not great- there was always a mistake with our order, and often they didn't have what we asked for. Dining room dinner was amazing, our head waiter was a highlight of the cruise. Kids menu was a bit boring, but the kids loved eating off the main menu, and just adored having ice cream every night. My husband loved the dinner menu and found tons he liked to eat. I am a picky eater and ate more beef on this cruise than I have in the past few years combined, but it was all really good; I just had a hard time finding options. Drinks package: We had the easy plus package, and honestly, I wish I could have had the non-alcoholic package so I could have soft serve ice cream included! But my husband was happy with the variety of wines available at dinner, as well as the mixed drinks or ciders he had during the day. The kids LOVED getting virgin strawberry daquiris and pina coladas, and I drank a lot of diet coke! Our drinks waiter was confused at dinner that I didn't drink, so would often bring out the Asti or Prosecco my husband ordered for me as well. (Never the red wine though...) No problem, I just passed the drink over to my husband. We mostly went to the bar in the atrium and the bartenders were amazing for our kids. My 4-year old loved cherries in his drink, and one time the waiter gave him 10! Drink service was not fast, but the bartenders almost always were making frozen cocktails, not just handing out beers, so it takes some time. Drinks were not premixed, so I could get a virgin strawberry daquiri with a banana in it, basically making a strawberry banana smoothie 🙂 Kids ice cream in the kids drink package was available most of the day, at the jungle pool bar; soft serve, chocolate, vanilla, or mix. It was REALLY good soft serve. We did get charged once and had to have the $4.50 charge removed. They tried to tell us the problem was an adult ordered it; but we handed over the kids card, and they eventually did remove us, but customer service really fought back on that. I'm glad my kids shared, because I really wanted ice cream, but I wasn't paying that much for it. Pirates Cove water park: 100% the best part of the cruise for us. Our kids lived here. We didn't ask until the end of the cruise if our daughter could go on the slides because she was under the posted age limit. (I walked up and just said "what's the age?" and they just asked me how old she was, I said 6, and they said fine, and I signed a waiver.) If I had done that the first day, I don't think I would have been able to get her off the waterslides ever. On sea days it was a mad house, but after ports (or during) it was really amazing. My younger son loved the mini slides and enjoyed the kids pool. We didn't go into other pools because of their depth. Elevators: Um, so this is probably the number one complaint I've heard across the ship. Honestly, I think the elevator system was fine, maybe even good. The problem is people don't understand it. (I worked in a high-rise that used basically the same system.) You press the button for the floor you want to go to, it assigns and elevator and tells you how long it will be. I THINK you are supposed to press the button the number of times there are people in your party, so the elevator can determine if it is full, but nothing said to do that, and we didn't, nor did we see anyone else do it. Here are where the problems lie: People don't understand how the elevators are assigned, so when it shows a long wait, they press another floor near the one they want. Then another. We saw people press every single floor in a row. So now the computer is assigning elevators to go from that floor to every single floor. We were also guilty of abandoning elevators to take the stairs if the wait was more than 2 minutes, so the system could really use a cancel button! With a regular elevator bank though, you'd just be waiting and waiting, and you'd have just as many issues with full elevators. I think the seascape could really use MORE elevators. We did get the "no elevator available" message a few times; but we've been on plenty of cruise ships where we just wait and wait; so at least with that message the people ON the elevator aren't stopping at every floor. Kids Club: Our kids only went to kids club twice (mini club). They had a dance party where they took the kids out on deck; and our kids told us it was incredible; but when we tried to get them to go again, they told us it was boring and there were only legos to play with. Both times we went to check them in and out it was absolute chaos with so much noise from all the parties in the rooms; but the process was very secure. Shows: We went to see 3 shows and a comedian. The comedian was fine but not really our cup of tea. He literally kept checking his watch, as part of his act??? but it just felt like he could not be bothered to be there and was literally saying "5 minutes left to meet my contractual obligations". That's OK, not every comedian is for everyone. The guy behind us clearly thought he was hilarious. The shows were amazing. No, they are not broadway shows. They are song/dance revues, with arielists and contortionists. The dancers were very good. The costuming was good. The singers were good. The music was way too loud. It reminded me of Carnival 15 years ago, when we used to be super impressed with their original shows. My 4-year old was absolutely enamoured with every second of the shows, and we LOVED that after the performances the entertainers came out to take photos. That was such an incredible touch that really made the cruise for the kids. The 7:30 show often sold out. We skipped the "In Concert" show because the kids were tired, and I wish we hadn't. We also skipped the instrumentalist. I bet the pop-up entertainment in La Caberet Rouge was excellent as it was many of the same performers, but it was too late at night for us to attend. The space is underutilized during the day, so our kids loved going back there and dancing on the stage when the room was empty. Will add more later... ports, more about food, stateroom, and any thing people ask about. (Plus some photos.)

Man, you'd HOPE they mean downward adjustments, but it doesn't say that... AND it also says "may" not "will be entitled to"; big difference there. They could take your balcony, put you in an inside and say "oh well" because they "may" adjust the fare, not "will" do it. I mean, I'm not surprised. In the US the laws basically let corporations do whatever they want. The UK and most of Europe offers stronger consumer protections.

This is the crazy part to me. I've seen them move cabins; but that they can change your fare is crazy. They could move you from a lowest deck inside to YC and then charge ya for it based on this.

Good point. I'm cheap so I was only thinking of free options!

Yes, this is true of any cruiseline with assigned seating. If you choose the Aurea experience, you get open seating dining, so you would not have a seating time. Otherwise, you could eat in port, or eat in the buffet. Or you can try to get your dining change to late dining at the 9:15 pm time; if that works for you the rest of the cruise too.

I have my eticket, but the website says I need a boarding pass as well. I'm not able to get those. Can anyone explain what is needed to board?

I haven't cruised in a few years. Carnival I didn't book shows, and they had lots of different ones. (Maybe they are requiring booking now.) MSC isn't requiring I book shows. My Celebrity cruise was small so they didn't have production shows. I haven't gotten close enough to the royal cruise to start doing that either. I just didn't expect 'freestyle' to require so much advanced planning. This show is one thing I don't want to miss. But now I know 21 days out, so it's all good.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had skipped it because we aren't YC

Now I think I am leaning towards Le Bistro and Los Lobos. I might duck into Food Republic for an ala carte lunch...but I'm pretty cheap and tend to do included meals, so may just need to wait for the next cruise. I think the comments have knocked Cagneys off the list though. It's so hard to choose! I guess this is a good problem to have- too much good food.

Can any parents help me set my expectations for the kids club? I have a 4-year old and a 6-year old. At home they are very independent, but I am just so nervous about leaving them without me on a ship. Is the club well staffed? Are there decent ratios for how many kids are in there? How have the activities been? Please help an anxious parent out! I think my kids will enjoy the club; but then I read general reviews of the ship and hear about pushing and fighting among passengers, and it makes me nervous to leave my kids. Will they experience that in kids club, or is it generally well run?

Thanks- that makes me feel a bit less worried about evening entertainment. I don't mind waiting in line, and I'm solo, so I don't need to find a group of seats.

I can have expectations of what I want a cruise to be like even if I haven't sailed the line. My main plan for this cruise is to rest and see amazing scenery. I have no doubt it will actually just be wonderful no matter what it was. But the reputation I knew of for NCL was that they had amazing entertainment. I knew they had high quality broadway shows like Six and Kiny Boots. I see now that a lot of that has been cut, and needing to prebook, I am just worried I'll get boxed out of it and not be able to see a production show, which is often my favorite part of cruising- since there is only one of them on the ship. NCL hypes "freestyle cruising", but maybe that is just because it is a relaxed dress code? I've had to plan out which days I will eat dinner where, and also figure out before the cruise which day I can possibly see a show. Freestyle is more rigid than I realized. I am still very excited to try a new line. As for "very stressed", I'm sorry I didn't choose the adverb that you prefer. Using "super" as the adverb here is common enough slang that the dictionary mentions it. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/super

Oops, forgot to name the ship and most people hide signatures! I am on the Encore, first time on NCL. Sounds like I should put Le Bistro high on the list. I hadn't considered Ocean Blue because I don't do sea food, and I think the entrees and desserts probably put a steak at Le Bistro above Ocean Blue for me. Teppanyaki wasn't really on my list; if I'm getting steak at Le Bistro, then I don't really need to go to do the same on Cagneys. Now it's just deciding between Los Lobos and Food Republic. I could honestly do either ala carte and just get a small meal from them out of pocket; but I usually don't spend extra on a cruise (and with solo supplement, this cruise is already getting expensive), so I'd have to just pick one... Too many choices!! Thank you all for your opinions!

Thank you! I will mark 21 days out! I appreciate the help.

To add a bit of a complication to the decision... just notice Le Bistro has a steak au poivre, which is one of my favorites. So that is now on the list for me to figure out...

I am trying to decide between Los Lobos, Food Republic, and Cagneys. I need to pick 2, as I'm not going to shell out for the third. I've read so many reviews that Cagneys is hit or miss, that I was thinking of skipping it; but I really like a nice Filet Mignon, so it seems like a good opportunity. The other two menus look really good and seem to get great reviews, but are things I can easily (and cheaply) eat at home. I'm a solo, not a super big eater, so don't need a huge meal. I am a little confused what is included with the free at sea dining at each restaurant. I've heard at food republic you get 4 things? At Los Lobos, I really want the table side guacamole, is that included? Is it entree, appetizer, and dessert?

I thought I would be able to book Choir of Man 90 days out. I checked yesterday and it wasn't available. Today I'm at 89 days and it wasn't available. Does this mean it filled up without me noticing it at all? Is Comedy Club only bookable online? New to NCL, and finding all the prebooking for such a limited amount of entertainment very stressful. I'm used to seeing a show every night on older cruises, and am super stressed!

Thanks that is very helpful. NCL is new to me! Lots to learn. Next I have to figure out entertainment.

So yesterday I had a spur of the moment decision to book a cruise next month... I have never cruised a line where I need to prebook dining. I have read on the board that solos need to book tables for 2, since 1 is not available. All the dining options only have options for 4 or 6, so I assume the two tops are gone. Can I book a table for 4? I'd love to give Cagney's a try... but booking for 4 seems wrong.

Cozumel in December is amazing. It isn't usually hot at all. If a Norte can come through it gets chilly (enough that the locals are in parkas, and I'm glad to wear jeans instead of shorts). Couldn't tell you about the tour. When we are in Cozumel we spend our days underwater and nights at restaurants.

We are a family of 4, and would like to go to the Turtle Farm in Grand Cayman. Their website says taxis are $10-20 per person one-way; which makes booking with the cruiseline seem a bit more palatable. But most posts I am reading here and on other boards say the taxis are $10-20 per trip, which is much less. Does anyone have current information on whether taxis in Grand Cayman charge per person?

Not the ice cream.

I wish there was a way to downgrade my included Easy Plus package to a non-alcoholic package. I want ice cream, i have no interest in alcohol. (But my husband would not want that to happen to his package, and thus I'm stuck.) Maybe my kids will let me have a bite of theirs; but that might be a hard sell for them.