SliderNc

Glad your son is okay @Sthrngary.  In 2017, my wife had an issue with her BP and we went to the infirmary on the Escape.  It was $350 as well, but we submitted it to our health insurance when we got back.  It was covered as out of network charges for us (which still recouped us 80% of the bill).  If you don't have insurance (like we didn't) this is another way to recoup the costs. 

On 11/23/2021 at 10:09 AM, maryivo said:

I'll just have to get myself there early and park it!  We're on the April 9th sailing (Joy) out of Miami.  Can't wait to be in the Haven and on the ship in general! This has been a 4-year in progress cruise with all the interruptions.  Enjoy your cruise.

We are also on this sailing with you in the Haven!  It's been almost the same amount of time for us (4.5 years) since our last. cruise!

On 11/23/2021 at 2:11 PM, PTC DAWG said:

Like what? I’ll try most anything food/drink wise. 
 

That said, I prefer a nice BOURBON.

I do not enjoy "sour" beers or anything with peanut butter in it.  If I remember correctly, there were two sours and a peanut butter something or other.  I think I had everything else.

On 11/23/2021 at 11:15 PM, sparkygirlfamily said:

Just as an FYI the splash pads and pools fleet wide have been redone particularly on Breakaway and Getaway have been completely redone to remove the palm tree slide.  Please watch a recent video 2019 or newer to see the current splash pad area.  If that is a critical piece of the cruise experience for your family.  

My daughter is 9 now so I don't think this is an issue.

10 minutes ago, cmecruise1962 said:

Oh no!  I bid on this, thinking my Mom would be more comfortable with her own bedroom and bathroom.  I figured the bed would be like the solo cabins...so I could definitely sleep on that.  I'm not sure I could do a couch bed (and I would never make my mom do it!)  Hmmmmm...maybe I'll save the money (which could easily be a non-issue if my bid isn't accepted) and share the king sized bed with her.

In my research as we will have one of these rooms on Encore for our Alaska cruise in 2022, some people have asked for multiple egg crate toppers from the room attendant which has made it a bit more comfortable.  Also, if I'm not mistaken, there is a bunk bed above it as well that comes out of the ceiling.

36 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

This machine is actually serving Starbucks Coffees.  Cappuccino, Expresso, and the list goes on.  The front screen is a touch screen, just press what you want and you are off to the races.  Many Internet Influences talk about this type of machine as one of the benefits of the Haven.  Because elsewhere you have to pay for Starbucks.  

My wife just fell in more love with the Haven.  Our last cruise on Escape, 50% of our onboard charges were her getting her Starbucks.  Maybe this will bring it down a bit.

Nice cam of Joy making the turn in the basin right now.  She's underway for her first cruise.

3 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

As we all know, the NCL Encore was stuck in the Panama Canal forcing it to cancel it departure on this past Sunday.  It is now docked at the new NCL Terminal in Miami.  It is scheduled to depart again this Sunday, November 21, 2021.  

 

The NCL Joy is in route to the same Port of Miami and NCL Terminal for its first cruise in 2 years.  It is scheduled to be at the new NCL Terminal on November 18, 2021 for a sailing Saturday, November 20, 2021.  Those are the facts as I know it.

 

Who knows what happens when to ships are scheduled at the same terminal that only handles one ship?  Does the Encore move to allow the Joy in since it sales first?  Does the Joy to to another terminal?  Just wondering if anyone has seen this happen before.

 

Cruise well everyone. 

According to the Port of Miami dock report, Encore will move to anchor so Joy can use the terminal for the 11/20 sailing and then come in for their 11/21 sailing.

10 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

May I ask where you found out the the 18th date?

This was as of right now when I looked at the Miami-Dade government site searching for cruise line dock usage this week.

22 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Pay Attention:  This is from a guy that has been watching cruise prices especially the Haven for over three years.  It is a hobby and I do it with my coffee every morning.  Here are some things I have noticed recently and I hope it helps folks.

 

Specifically on the NCL Joy in November 2021. The first cruise back for the Joy is the Thanksgiving Cruise which leaves on November 20, 2021.  Notice the Haven is completely sold out.  Here is what I saw. 8 days before the ship was sailing out, there were Haven suites available.  Then they were gone.  Those are the upgrades getting accepted.  The reports on social media was that the Minimum bids were actually getting the upgrade.  Keep those dates in mind.

 

The next Joy Cruise is November 27, 2021 departure.  It is 13 days before the sailing. Lots of Haven suite available.  Look for your upgrade bid opportunity.  It might be a once in a lifetime situation at a bargain price.  The reason for all this opportunity is the ship will be sailing with 50% to 60% capacity.  No children and only vaccinated.

 

Just a strategy and I do not have a crystal ball.  If you want to upgrade with bid, do it now. 

Q3 earnings report was not good for any of the lines, including NCL.  I suspect they are doing two things right now:

1. Making up for lost revenue, even if it is in smaller numbers.  If you get people to upgrade and move to the Haven, you have lower level cabins you can fill much easier.  Small domino effect in that some people that are other lower level cabins can upgrade to balcony, etc and so on.

2. People get a taste of the "suite" life and NCL hopes they get someone (like me) who get upgraded once and then won't book anything but the Haven at their normal prices.  I'm sure the conversion rate is super low (probably below 10%) but the increased revenue is what they want from someone who might cruise once or twice a year and would be willing to book Haven.

2 hours ago, Tennant said:

Yes, we are fully aware of the vaccine requirements.  Our children are/will be fully potty trained when we cruise and we are also aware of all of the rules regarding pools.

 

This however was not a question about vaccines or pool rules.  Looking for recommendations on the best ship for young families.  Thanks! 

Back in 2015, we had my daughter (2.5 at the time), and nieces (7 and 2.5) with us on Breakaway.  They had a blast in the splash pad area and just walking around the ship.  The toddler program was pretty good as well and we did a bunch of arts and crafts during certain times and events with them as well.  I think any of the Breakaway/Breakaway+ ships will be good fits for younger children.

Tipping is one of those subjective things.  Even at land resorts where I've had butlers, I've always given a good tip to start because a lot of people do not know that they aren't part of the normal tip pool that servers, bartenders, stewards, etc. are part of.  The letter is one the best things you can do even if you choose not to tip up front.  For my wife and I on our last cruise, we did not eat breakfast in our room, however, we did make a list of "wants" that the butler could easily accommodate after our days ashore or just hanging out in the Haven area during sea days.

Sadly, once you are upgrade to Haven, it's really hard to cruise any other way (IMO).  You are spoiled and provided things that the rest of the general population on the ship don't get.  One of the best things that we took advantage of was the priority disembarking in ports.  We never rushed to get off the ship to get to our excursion and it kept us from waiting in long lines of people, which I think is even a better perk now with the current state of COVID and large mass gatherings of people.

Enjoy your Haven experience.

Agree with the previous poster.  We had one on Deck 9 and it was nice overall.  We didn't spent much time on our balcony, most of it was on the Haven Sundeck and pool area.  One thing to remember, and with the room we had, there was noise sometimes in the evenings and later at night as the crew social area and I think a crew bar are down in that area of the bow.

27 minutes ago, WarfRatWA said:

 

Heresy I say...heresy.  lol

It was during a time when I was transitioning from being a beer drinker to drinking more bourbon and scotch.  Granted, I still drank a ton of beer...

3 minutes ago, Selion said:

Curious...  Do you have to drink them for them to be counted, or just ordering them will suffice?

This is a great question.  I drank every beer I ordered but I don't know if it counted only to order it.

9 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Allow me to share a butler story.  My first opportunity at a butler was many years ago on Celebrity.  The butlers was nice.  I did zero study on what a butler will do or not do.  Therefore we basically asked for nothing and hardly saw our butler. After returning, I started researching what a butler can do for you and why they don't sometimes.  

 

Those articles are all over CruiseCritic.com and Google.  This completely changed my approach.  In this stream is a download of my Journey Document.  Read the section on what butlers will do and not do for you.  Also, I write a note for the butler and give it to them upfront.  It tells about each member of our party and our likes/dislikes.  In the envelope is the butlers tip/gratuity. This information made every single butler from that point forward so much better an experience.

 

NOTE: My last trip was on Crystal Cruises.  Our butler was a complete Game Changer.  Butlers can make the different for sure. 

My first cruise butler experience was on the Escape in 2017.  From our years of staying at all-inclusive resorts with butlers earlier, I knew what to expect and what they would and would not do.  Needless to say, we did the same thing.  We tipped our butler the first day when he brought us down to our room after going to the Haven Lounge to get settled in.  I gave him a note with what my wife and I liked/disliked and needs and a fat tip to start.  I felt like he was going to be asked to be packed in our luggage and come home with us halfway through the cruise.  We never wanted for anything and knowing our schedule and such for excursions and dining, he was always on point with anything and everything we asked for and even some things we didn't ask for.  I cannot recall his name, but he blew all of our butlers away that we had a resorts previously. 

Additionally, properly trained butlers are the key.  There are some really stringent training and requirements for people to become butlers and become a certified and accredited butler.  I had asked him if he had gone through the training and he said that all butlers on all NCL ships have to be accredited.

I did it on Escape in 2017.  I got 3rd.  There are just some beers I wasn't willing to drink. 

I have many fond memories of cruising when I was a young boy with my family so I can understand how excited your kids are.  My daughter who was 3 on her first cruise remembers bits and pieces of it and has been asking us to take her on another one.  She's getting her wish for spring break 2022 on the Joy and another cruise in July on Encore to Alaska.

As for the dilemma you are in and the fact that you have other plans, I would be leaning towards the other plans.  I don't see NCL lifting their 100% vaccination and the risk of getting very young kids vaccinated in time has too much uncertainty right now.  I would be looking to adjust my trip and make the best out of a situation that doesn't seem like it's going to get better or change in the near future. 

We live for experiences in our family and all of our trips we have taken with the exception on one cruise, we have brought our daughter.  While not what you want to happen, I would work hard to make whatever you decide to do the best and safest experience for your entire family!  I wish you the best on your decision and future plans.

48 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Does Bell Brothers Cafeteria still exist.  Was one of my favorite stops in WS.

Sadly, it closed down in 2010.  I know they tried to open again in Pfafftown, which an area north of downtown Winston Salem, in the Old Richmond Grill, which is still open, but based on my research I don't know if they ever did.  I never had eaten at either place though but had heard that there was some good southern food there.

14 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

No problem.  My son and daughter are also first time Haven Guests.  My issue is they will be in the Haven Deluxe Owners Suite on their first time.  Where to you go from there.  For my wife and I, this is a once in a life time Suite.  Never in a million years did I ever think this would be possible. 

 

BTW, I lived in NC early on in my life.  We lived in Cary.  It was when Jimmy V won the National Championship.  A long time ago but quite a lot of fun.

 

Cruise well.

This is her first cruise where she is actually old enough to really enjoy it actually as well.  Her first cruise she was almost 3 years old and she doesn't remember much of any of it.  Growing up, I spent a lot of time cruising as my father was an engineer for some of the older cruise lines and later the port electrical engineer for the cruise port in Manhattan so I spent a lot of time cruising, especially in inside cabins at the bottom of the ship.  It was fun and a great experience, but I can see now that she won't ever (or my wife for that matter) cruise in anything less than a suite on any line.

NC is where I've called home now for about 25 years.  I currently live in the Winston Salem area, but have spent time both around Charlotte and Raleigh.  It's a great place to raise a family.

Thanks @Sthrngary for putting this together.  Excited to read along.  We are booked for 4/9/22 on the Joy so it will be interesting to see your take on things.  It will be my daughter's first Haven adventure and she is exited.

From recent experience for my 4 CN's that expire 12/2021:

I booked a cruise for April 9, 2022 (Joy) and was able to only use one certificate.  NCL said because it was in 6 months from the cruise date, that their policies (I haven't found it in writing anywhere) state I can only apply one vs. two.

I booked a cruise for July 24, 2022 (Encore Alaska) and was able to use two CN's towards them.

I will end up losing one of my CN's because I will not have enough PTO next year to take another cruise.  Are these transferable or able to be sold?

43 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

I'm also happy about this.

I booked the 1/15/2022 Joy sailing out of Miami with my wife and 21 year old daughter about 5 months ago and convinced my sister in-law to also book even though she has 2 girls, 7 & 8, and they weren't eligible at the time. We believed the scientists and thought there was a good chance the vaccines would be there for the kids before our sailing.

Our final payment date is 11/16 and my sister in- law would have cancelled if this great news hadn't happened last week. 

But it did and my wife and I are thrilled to cruise with our nieces and other family members in a 100% vaccinated environment.

The kids are now scheduled for their shots and will be fully compliant with what NCL has very smartly implemented.

I do hope NCL has their kids programs up and running even though it's likely that there won't be many children under 12 sailing yet in mid January. 

 

 

Edit: Also, I don't think anyone here should waste their time answering Cruisin*4*fun. 

Please, one comment since 2012. an obvious troll.

We waited until last week to book our Spring Break cruise on Joy this year once the vaccine became approved and we are happy that they are extending the 100% vaccine requirements for NCL.  Enjoy your upcoming cruise with your family. 

I don't see them failing and if anything, I find them adding value by doing this, TBH.  I find this catering to a good majority of the clientele who want the safest cruise possible and now if they choose to vaccinate their children, can cruise with less risk.

12 hours ago, kuku77254 said:

My son and I were booked on a cruise in '20 and our now stuck with FCC so we have to book something else soon. We have limited options in the schedule so there are three ships we could choose from that work for our dates. He will be 9 years old and will travel in the Haven if they changes anyones recommendations. The easiest travel for us would be on the Breakaway, the best itinerary would probably be the Encore and there is one on the Joy that would work as well. Accommodations are important to me and fun things to do on the ship are important to both of us. I'd appreciate any input on those ships because I want to make the most of what we have to choose from. I wish we could wait until '23 because there's some trips we would much rather take but don't want to lose all the money. TIA

Breakaway is a nice ship and the oldest of the three you mention.  We sailed with kids ranging in age on it to Bermuda back in 2015 and thought the ship was really nice.  My daughter was really young at the time so she spent most of her time with us vs. the children's club.  I think the Haven experience on all three will be very similar so you're probably pretty safe in that respect.  We sailed Escape in the Haven and loved it.  I think at that age, there are really good options for his age group with the kids stuff and now that the vaccine is available for the 5-12 age range, there might be more kids his age on the cruise.

Best of luck in your choice and with the Haven, I don't think you can go wrong.

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

It's 20% ($79 + 20% = $94.80).

I math good...

Thanks for fixing that.

1 hour ago, chrisdar1 said:

Checked this morning and the April payment date is now 60 days for the cruise I'm looking to book, so I'm pretty happy!  (Payment in Full date is February 9 for the April 10th cruise.)

Yep, looks like they extended it:

https://www.ncl.com/about/payment-schedule