escentialssoycandles

Maybe I am in the minority but I just don't see it as a big deal. It allows people who are cruising in groups to enjoy the MDR experience for Free and those cruising with them who may want a little something more towards a specialty restaurant to all dine together.

If you don't want to pay, don't order it. NCL will get the statistics soon enough.

Thank you so much. LOL. I was just looking at Keith_Jenner's instagrams that I found during my search (after many false starts...)

 

Any ideas about Teppanyaki?

 

It looks like some restaurants it could easily go above the cover...

 

I think we will end up encouraging them to get the SDP for at least a 3/4 nights. I believe they want to try Tropicana anyway. Now to see if I have enough time for a really smart analysis on which places we would get them more bang for their buck using the $50 credit and which places they would be better off using the SDP they purchase.

 

So glad it isn't complicated or anything. ;)

 

 

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

 

(just found that Teppanyaki will retain cover) THANK YOU!

10 day rotation of the Menus in MDR

New NCL MDR Menus.pdf

First of all - I really appreciate your responses. Thank you.

I as so glad she is finally headed west for some trip reports on those ports.

Now they just need to get a move on for Harvest Caye!!!

 

When you say the specialties are going a la carte' date=' do we have any idea yet what the charges will be? As in, will it now cost much more than what the cover charges HAD been to eat there? The $50 my mom has - do we know if that would get eaten up at just one restaurant?

 

Thank you for the menu shot. O'S is open 24 hours a day, right?[/quote']

 

Yes O'Sheehans is 24 hours a day

 

Here are links to the menus on the specialties:

Cagneys: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48115418&postcount=16

 

LeBistro: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48115443&postcount=17

 

La Cucina: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48115522&postcount=21

 

Moderno (Remains Cover $20): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48115456&postcount=18

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-3/news/news.cfm?ID=6443

Thank you both.

 

@escentialssoycandles Our travel agent called NCL and was told that they could not use their $50 pp credit toward purchasing the SDP. So - I was thinking they could visit two restaurants with that (a $20 & a $30 one). Then they could buy either the 4-day or a 5-day SDP for the other nights. Eating together is a priority' date=' although a night or two apart won't kill any of us. ;)

 

I was thinking we'd do O'Sheehans for lunch a few times. Is the menu different at lunch and dinner? (I agree @suitetraveler they'd love that kind of food.)[/quote']

 

The specialties will all be A la Carte starting this month, so there will no longer be a cover fee per restaurant. Those with SDP and UDP are not affected. I will be posting pics of the new menus when I return from my 11/22 sailing which is the first Western 7 night sailing for Getaway.

 

O'Sheehans rotates Ribs, Chicken and Waffles and Prime Rib for dinner. Lunch Menu stays the same but those offerings are available anytime.

If you are looking for all of your to dine together, I would suggest buying the Specialty Dining Package for the other 2 guests onboard and that way they can apply the credit towards it. If you are making your Specialty Restaurant Reservations with the UDP just make sure to make it for the appropriate amount of guests. You may have to make 3 reservations under MyNcl (one under you and one under your spouse for 8 people - since your kids eat free in the Specialty restaurants with UDP-you can try to book two more people under one of the kids or adjust the table size once on board)

http://www.ncl.com/specialty-dining-package/faq

3 Meal Package: $69.62

4 Meal Package: $87.32

5 Meal Package: $105.02

6 Meal Package: $122.72

7 Meal Package: $140.42

That is inclusive of taxes and fees.

Woot woot!!!

That is why I can't find it :):)

Thanks, will await your post then!! :)

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

Thank you! I will be posting a review and scan in all of the dailies and as many menu's as I can when I return.

Well that's all I've got! Until the next cruise.....Getaway Western Caribbean 2016 🌴🐠⛵⚓

The thumbnails are small and when I enlarge they are fuzzy. Here are my specific questions:

What are the 3 Prime Rib nights @ O'Sheehans?

When is the Glow Party?

Thanks in advance!

I know there is the Buffet on the Getaway but are there other options on Getaway for Breakfast that are maybe less crowded?

I saw Flamingo Grill but I have a gluten allergy and it seems everything there is on bread/breaded.

Any Specialties offer breakfast?

Star Western from Tampa: $1704 for a family of 4 Dec 13-20

Spirit Western from Port Canaveral:$1594 for a family of 4 Dec 12-19

Getaway Western Caribbean from Miami: $2823 for a family of 4 Dec 13-20

Spirit Eastern from Port Canaveral: $3100 w $100 OBC for a family of 4 Dec 19-26

Escape Eastern Caribbean from Miami: $3386 for a family of 4 Dec 12-19

Our family of 8 was personally were looking forward to taking the Star as it recently came out of Refurb but it is moving from Tampa next year so our booking was cancelled.

For that price, you can't go wrong and that is a port intensive itinerary. I don't think your kids would be bored.

I am waiting patiently for dailies and reviews also but my itinerary is the GSC, Ocho Rios, Cayman and Cozumel.

Yep, that is the 7 night Western Itinerary set to sail on 11/22. Stay tuned :-)

Mini suites are larger in cabin and bathroom size on the Getaway. If you were booking a regular non-guarantee room then the Minis on Deck 8 are the ones you want for a larger balcony. Since you are booking a guarantee, you could be anywhere on the ship.

Patiently waiting the dailies and menus! 18 days for me!

Specifically this itinerary?

CRUISE PORTS EMBARK Miami (Florida); Ocho Rios (Jamaica); George Town (Grand Cayman); Cozumel (Mexico); Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas); DISEMBARK Miami (Florida)

 

I've looked and searched but I can't find one- I apologize if it's out there. I just can't seem to locate it. :(

My sailing November 22 will be the first 7 night Western Caribbean. There is a shorter 6 night the week before. I will be posting all of the menus and dailies when I return.

I am generally on a cruiseship for Black Friday so I am curious. IF that is the case, I will go see the onboard Cruise Consultant as I have a couple to book.

Don't forget you may or may not get sun on your balcony when you want it.

My balcony is half covered and half open but I actually can't take in too much sun. That is why I am wondering about Vibe because the reviews I see say the Clamshells provide little shelter.

Sounds like a rhetorical question to me [emoji53]. Enjoy your drinks on your large balcony. Clearly you have no use for a Vibe pass and aren't willing to pay the extra cost. Bon voyage [emoji3]

This is my first balcony so it is not a question of the extra cost. I am wondering if I would get use out of Vibe? Most reviews in November say it is really windy and sometimes not accessible. We only have 2 sea days and one of those has 5 hours filled up with Cruise Critic events - so it is just purely a question of why it is so great and when I could even get there.

Sounds like a rhetorical question to me [emoji53]. Enjoy your drinks on your large balcony. Clearly you have no use for a Vibe pass and aren't willing to pay the extra cost. Bon voyage [emoji3]

This is my first balcony so it is not a question of the extra cost. I am wondering if I would get use out of Vibe? Most reviews in November say it is really windy and sometimes not accessible. We only have 2 sea days and one of those has 5 hours filled up with Cruise Critic events - so it is just purely a question of why it is so great and when I could even get there.

I am sailing 11/22 on the Getaway in one of the large balconies on Deck 8. What exactly is the advantage to Vibe?

I can lounge on my deck and walk just a few steps to several bars for my drinks and not have to endure the swarm of people on the pool deck.

What is the draw of the Vibe? 2 hot tubs, loungers, rain shower and bar for $160

It's been awhile since I've posted a review, but learned a lot on this board before our sailing on NCLs Getaway, so want to return the favor. Took a lot of written notes, that turned to mental notes, that now are being brought back to mind, so I'll just kind of go from beginning to end of the journey and give you my impressions and if I can answer any questions I will. I also brought back all the material left in the cabin and will scan as soon as I can and post those along with pictures.

 

About me and my wife, we are 49 and 47 respectively, this was our 11th cruise since our 1st in 1999 and first on NCL....Carnival-5, Disney-2, Royal Caribbean-1, Holland America-1, Princess-1, and now NCL! We tend to cruise the newer ships when we book. And they are getting LARGER!

 

To try and remember as much as I can I'm just going to start at the beginning of the journey south and the return.

 

Day one we spent in Indianapolis with our 3mo. old grandson and to watch him for the day. That evening we checked into the Indianapolis Airport hotel and did park and fly, used points for the hotel, $30 to park for 10 days, shuttle service to airport and back to hotel to get car and head home. We flew a discount airline with a sunrise on the plane, nonstop flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Good pricing around $480 RT for two, with 3 checked bags. No sit in third seat either way so gave DW and I extra room 😀. Only wish we had know when agent would open the check in counter. We beat them to the airport by a couple of hours. Oh well, had breakfast and sat and waited. Landed in Ft. Lauderdale early afternoon and used a free rental day with a car rental agency in green and only had to pay the $7 airport fee. Drove to Walmart and picked up some last minute items, cokes and few snacks and then headed to our Miami hotel that we reserved on an online site, think Star Trek, where I got an awesome deal of over 50% off and got a hotel right by the Bayfront Park in Miami! Our room overlooked the harbor and bay and we could see the cruise ships at the Port of Miami. So we dropped the luggage, and didn't want to worry with the car the next day, as we had flown in a day early, so returned it to the Miami airport (yes, I know shortest car rental ever) and took the MetroRail to the MetroMover to Bayside Park. Costs....less than $5. And it was fun we enjoyed watching the view and the people. This vacation had no designated agenda we were just making plans as we went!

 

Shopped at Bayside, ate dinner, walked back to hotel, went to bed. Woke up at 5 am to see a Carnival ship pulling into port, went back to sleep and up two hours later getting ready. We checked out at 9am, took a short 10 min. can ride to the port ($15 including tip). Cabbie didn't load the luggage but left that for me, until port. Porter took our bags and we headed to cruise terminal B, we were two of maybe 10 people waiting for security to open. That happened about 30 min later and once you go through you quickly are directed to fill out forms about medical/sickness issues. BRING A PEN, ONLY 3 THERE. Anyway we hurried, and were first to check in and get to holding area!!!!!!! Yay, accomplished what we had sit out to do. Why, you ask.....we wanted a Vibe Beach Club Cabana, more about that later. So the NCL rep told us where the line would form to board and we staked out seats at that area. Then we WAITED..... Finally time was getting close and a younger family in Boarding Card Zone 1 decided they were going to be first and stood by the roped area, then a second couple came and did the same, so we jumped up, so first in but third in line. DW was having a cow, but I took it in stride, was not going to get crazy like everyone else was doing, obviously the lined stared growing quickly. In her defense, she really wanted the Cabana.

 

Side note here NCL was letting a lot of people on early through the rope, some priority, disabled, some I don't know, couldn't figure why they were getting on. This embarkation was the worst I've experienced. Other lines rope you through in an orderly fashion and you reach the ever present photographer who snaps the obligatory photo then you board into the atrium. Here when the time came they opened the rope and people literally started RUNNING! I mean really, I'm an attorney and thinking the liability! Anyway my DW is telling me go get that cabana so off I go get on the boat on 7th floor, stairs down to 6th to Guest Setvices and I'm like 8th in line. DW catches up and we wait our turn. Get to counter and Cabana's are gone 😥

 

Needless to say that ruined DW's mood, but we easily were able to get Vibe Beach Club passes, after almost deciding not to, but glad we did. I'll explain, obviously after getting up so early and being first not to get the prize disappointed her, but later that day and through the week we're glad we didn't. The Cabana's are nice but they do appear to restrict airflow. The chairs in Vibe outside the Cabanas are nicer. It was never ever crowded, except maybe a couple hours late on a sea day, and by crowded I just mean most but not all seats taken. The bar was fantastic as were the bar staff who came to know you. The Vibe Beach Club MADE this trip for us. We love to just lay in the chairs in the sun or shade and relax. We could sleep a little later not worrying about chair grabbing and searching. There was usually a great breeze which was nice and most times we jumped in the hot tub it was just the two of us. We also went up in the evening to the hot tub around 930 pm and had the whole place to ourselves!! DW was very HAPPY!

 

So back to day one, first thing after gaining the Vibe passes we went to the Garden Cafe and had lunch, we ate there for breakfast each day, lunch most days and for snacks late. Food typical buffet, some good some not so good but what you would expect. Sometimes crowded sometimes not, really depends on when you are there. One thing to remember, the front part fills up first and if you head back aft much more open at least the first few days until the secret gets out. Loved the soft serve ice cream, the scooped ice cream and the omelette station.

 

After eating, we went up to Vibe and checked it out. That's when my sweetheart realized maybe we didn't miss anything by not getting that $329 Cabana. Our passes were $99 pp. Went down to check the cabin and YAY, it was ready, we changed into our swimsuits we packed and brought in our backpack, with suntan lotion, forgot the flip flops though, in the luggage oops, and headed to the Vibe at 12:30 pm! Spent the rest of the afternoon there until the 3:30 safety drill.

 

Went to drill then hit the cabin 9320 Aft Balcony, AWESOME CABIN, balcony measures by my foot, 10x17 of my feet which are right at 12" give or take. Two lounge chairs, two sitting chairs and a table. That night we toured the ship, took pictures and had dinner in Savor. I'll now transition to food, we ate dinner in Savor, Tropicana, Moderno and O'Sheehans. Food was mixed, some good dishes, some ok, some not so good. In general we usually ordered the chef special for the evening and it was really good. Steaks were very tender. Soup and salad honestly not impressed. Desserts the same, chocolate warm volcano was good, most seemed dry, not moist. Moderno very good. Worth the money. O'Sheehans loved the endless ribs. Chicken pot pie and fish and chips, eh. Chicken wings, good but messy. Prime Rib was very good. We noticed the menu most items kept repeating and didn't change much. Thinking that's how they try and get you into speciality dining options. We prepaid Mederno, but dice decided that that would be it and we'd stick to the free choices and we didn't go hungry, found enough we liked to more than get us by.

 

Saw two comedy shows, they were good, some good jokes, some flat ones. Did some browsing in the shops. Surprised that NCL doesn't have more moderate priced stuff, souvenirs, tshirts like other lines. Didn't hit casino or any other shows, as I said we were more about relaxing.

 

St. Thomas did the St. Thomas sights and Magen's Bay, 2 hours beach time, picture taking stops like Drakes Seat, Blackbeards Castle, then we took the walk down to downtown, walked over to see the St. Thomas Synagogue and back a few blocks to a waterfront diner for some cool shade, cold water and slice of key lime pie. Bought a few tshirts and a charm for my DW and headed back to Havensight, went through a few more shops then back onboard and to the Vibe! Our 5th time in St. Thomas.

 

Tortola, did the Cane Garden Bay Beach Break, 3 hours at beach, picture stops again and back on boat and to the Vibe! Really enjoyed both beaches. First time in BVI.

 

Nassau, got off ship and did some shopping close to port. Back on and yep, to the Vibe!

Second time in Nassua.

 

The Getaway was a lot of fun and we did really like the Vibe. Without the Vibe I think we wouldn't have had such a positive thought of NCL, the shipped was packed. You couldn't tell inside or in the evenings, but during the day after island stops or sea days it was shoulder to shoulder in the outside decks by the pool and water slides. Other large ships we've been on have not seemed as crowded even though they are large and full. This one isn't that way, thinking it has to do with design of those areas and the lack of a second pool. Anyway, we had our retreat and it was blissful.

 

So much so, we decided that knowing it takes a little effort of being early and first in line, we would do the ship again and do the Vibe. So we bought the advance cruise credits and pre booked the Getaway for Western Caribbean next Fall and booked the Escape the year after. Just got to get those Vibe passes! Already got the aft balcony cabins on both.

 

So there you have it from a cruiser, but first time NCL cruiser. Hope it was helpful and will try to upload the written material and some pics in the next few days! 😎🌴🌴🐬🐢🐚🐠

Just out of curiosity, if you had a huge Aft balcony why did you feel the need to purchase Vibe passes? There is no pool and just two hot tubs. Was it the having a bar handy appeal?

I would love to see where this is coming from. I guess to me, it doesn't really matter as long as it is a music venue, but I would like to confirm.

I specialize in songs in the key of tone deaf

Good one. Gullible I am. :D

If you are on our sailing, check out the roll call. We have a fun group of people. Doing a pub crawl, slot pull, gift exchange and some other fun things.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/showthread.php?t=2127132

I'm negotiating with them and it should be finalized at 5 pm that I'll be the singer the week of 11/22.

Very cool....what type of music? Although I love any live music! I will patiently await the official announcement.

It's mine and my boyfriends 40th birthday cruise and music is what we LOVE so very excited.

Does anyone know who will be featured as the Grammy Experience Artist this month on the Getaway? I am sailing 11/22. Thanks!

The 11-22 cruise is the first cruise for that particular western itinerary. When you return will you be posting the Dailies or at least the "Look at your Week" sheet that you receive when you board? I am slightly obsessive and like to plan ahead. Can you tell me if Illusoinarium is done on every night of the week? I have 10 more days before I can book entertainment.

I too am cruise planning obsessed so I will scan and post all of the dailies and do my best to get the dinner menus as well.

I believe Illusionarium was available for booking on 5 nights. 1,2,4,5,6