Fogfog

Was reported in the Jax biz journal. Maybe closer than we know?

Always appreciate your posts and humor

Exactly. Restaurants, Airports, Ships.... Not everyone thinks your kids are cute or hold the same opinion of "talent".

You must watch the video IN your room. and then call. On a sailing there were YC guests who failed to watch/call etc and have their cards scanned--they had to then do the walk of shame to get it done. The security system and YC Director then knows which cabins have failed to comply

I could imagine they bundle the "free at sea" and call it what it is-- inclusive. And raise prices. I would expect the bev package included to change and the premium plus fees to rise. Not a hotel pro here - yet expect this is about cost centers, traffic in special dining etc If everyone is getting bev packages--then it is "included". For those that don't imbibe it has less value than those who have drink before dinner etc

It is a nice paid-for perk. We agree. 😘

The YC folks skip the long embarkation at ports of call-- So for example, we'd enter at the bow through a YC awning over the gangway/tent and into that door/up the priority elevators - yet gen pop had mid ship or aft lines/elevators. Its a nice perk when lines to get back on are long and the weather is too wet/too hot/too cold etc. Up a designated gangway, through security screening and then up the YC elevators. Super convenient

haha true Though I do know MSC YC butlers do know who is sailing in YC and at ports of call know who is planning on going ashore... and while we have a YC tent/ awning at all ports and express elevators, they have been known to look for pax coming back. They also know who is in YC and actively remove non YC pax who sneak in 🤪 While we have sailed NCL, we haven't tried Haven- so trying to manage expectations

TYVM @graphicguy Was just reading that tiny text on it. BTW Can someone confirm that Haven has priority boarding at port calls? Is there a tent/awning somewhere or butlers looking for Haven pax? TYIA

True, yet many drink wines from the "new world" , S Amer etc. or "old world" style from France , Italy etc. or wine coming from New Z etc.

I wonder if this is harvest related or just cheapness on the part of lines We had an ultra premium type of package on MSC for our first B2Bs (feb 2020) and that allowed use to use the somm and do wine pairing with outstanding choices as well as for DH to drink the JW Blue etc included, great cognacs etc. In 2022 that package had disappeared. And on that B2Bs.. many things offered on the new prem plus bev package were not stocked... A few years ago we had a great pre plus on NCL and Veuve Cliquot as well as the best whiskey choices were included..and we had excellent wine choices all around....that seems to have disappeared. That's no longer the case for the prem plus as I am reading here. So even if pax want to spend the $ for it-- the F&B dept isn't purchasing/stocking it. Can be pretty disappointing

@Capt_BJ In reverse-- from the OPs initial question...are taxis at the cruise terminal to get into "town" at Ingólfur Square if I want to do a walking tour? This would be in the am from an overnight of an NCL ship. TYIA

@Sthrngary Thank you Gary for this thread. We are trying Haven, having sailed MSC Yacht Club most often. From what we read, there are some distinct differences. We appreciate your comment about adjusting expectations to another brand's style. Will be considering all of your salient advice. TYVM

We have loved sailing with MSC on the Meravilia. They used to have Cirque de soleil in the theater/bar aft (2020) Has that come back? In 2022 they had several different shows on that circular stage--and there was a rock band that did great covers - It is an Italian line and we like the food. And we like that there is a fabulous burrata made on the ship, as well as amazing chocolates. The pizza is tremendous and like we remember when we lived in Italy. Hope you are having a nice time

@PistolPete13 Hope your sailing is going well. Wondering about the weather and storm system

Has this policy changed or been updated? Laundry Pressing Please and TY

We have had such exceptional staff in YC Have written notes to the YC D on each sailing detailing exceptional service, who etc. And always write individual notes and they gift a cash tip to each that made our voyager lovely) They are there to serve, not be our servants, and except for a cranky Maitre D (his asst Arthur made everything right- ) we have not been disappointed. Our first butler on a B2B was such a kind man. He was retiring the day we were disembarking. He was off duty and leaving the ship -yet came up to see us before he left. It was a bitter sweet moment and we have thought about him and prayer for him and his family -- as this sailing was Feb2020. We have a sailing in Feb and then in March so look forward to them and who we will meet

Are those a flat rate? We got some specialty dining with our Haven booking, and I see an offer to add 2 more nights. But menus I find online are a la carte Read somewhere that there isn't a bar on the Pearl that serves the premium brands-- Is that correct, as it would make buying the prem plus package not a real value. We dont have much NCL experience except on the Sun to go to Cuba a few years back

We booked a 2 br Fam villa-- though its NOT as 2 BR-y as some other ships that truly have a small second br...though looks nice and spacious. We paid in full last night about 6pm and in 12 hours are already disappointed that what we thought we'd be getting --and what we get are not nearly the same. We hate the MDR experience on other lines and our only NCL experiences were short sails so that MDR experience wasn't bad. It was just avg and we limited our expectations based on the ship and short sail.... The steak place on the Sun was a disaster-- loud and terrible food. On another sailing we ate in the one French specialty restaurant and had an excellent meal. So go figure. Had not even thought about "shows" as on MSC the YC has its own special seating with no reserv needed..and butlers watchover that section so only YC sit there. Same for Celebrity and suite class-- show seating is protected.

Wondering IF a ship has to miss this port, what port may be added.. in the case of an eastbound TA.

This is helpful Thank you. So would upgrading to the Premium Plus etc for bev package be a waste on the Pearl? No place to actually find the bev? We just booked a Haven suite for a TA We are used to YC on MSC and the truly private ship within a ship. Where do you eat dinner? And if in specialty dining-- who makes the table arrangements? Concierge? We dont expect to eat at a buffet at these prices

TYVM for this. We booked last night and so are committed Where do Haven pax eat dinner? And does concierge make those reservations? I am assuming it is not a MDR experience and same menu for this kind of $ We are used to sailing MSC YC which is ship within a ship, private bar/pool/restaurant etc. We expected this to be similar.

I appreciate your help. From booking - it doesn't specify pier..and from this link https://voyagerinfo.com/cruise-faqs/where-does-norwegian-cruise-leave-from-in-new-york/ I am uncertain how to know which pier (s) NCL sails from.

Good morning Know you are busy today getting to the pier. Would LOVE direct advice--as we just booked a TA on the Pearl for April We have not sailed from NY before and honestly dread it. We'd fly in the day before. Thoughts on best way to do this-- ? We are sailing Haven and have seen reviews that say embarkation for Haven is no better than general pop... which is disappointing as YC for MSC definitely is smoother. So please give me your best advice. Happy Sailing. Bon voyage

TYVM It is a TA so hopefully there is some duplicate on sea days