elruth

I purposely didn't book a mini suite on the Jade because I didn't want a shower/ tub combo. Anyone know if a balcony on the Jade has a shower with a curtain or with a shower door? Also do I have to ask for a bathrobe if I have a balcony on the Jade?

SAS was ok from Fort Lauderdale hotel to Miami port but the return from the port to the hotel was NOT ok. It took the driver one hr and 50 min!!! to get us to the hotel in FL which was near the airport. He circled the port several times and also circled the FL airport several times picking up and letting off passengers. Would not use the service again due to having to sit in the van that long.

I noticed on our upcoming Dec 4 cruise on the Jade that the time allotted to Harvest Caye is only from 7 am to 1 pm. Doesn't that seem awfully short ( and kind of strange times? ) Wonder why.

I hope some of the new builds aren't the mega ships but if they are, I hope the design is NOT similar to the Escape, Getaway. I disliked the casino set up with the smoke odor wafting down 3 decks.

Several weeks ago I booked 2 cruises for June 2017 and Nov 2017. ( Divina) Decided to cancel them. They told me it would take 5 to 7 business days for the $ 800.00 deposit to be credited back to my credit card. So far I am past 7 days. Anyone have experience with how many days before they got refund?

We just returned from a cruise that sailed from the port of Miami but we flew into Fort Lauderdale. ( cheaper flight ) Stayed at Marriott Courtyard airport which was nice. Good price too $ 130.00 for 2 queen beds.

We did book SAS to take us from the Fort Lauderdale hotel to the Miami pier. That worked out fine and it was $ 33.00 total if you used a credit card. HOWEVER ( I know this won't apply for you ), do NOT sign up for SAS to take the van from the port back to Fort Lauderdale. We got on the van at 9:15 a.m. and we were to be dropped off at the Courtyard near the FL airport. He dropped us off just after 11 am so we were on the van for a good 1 hr and 45 min!! He kept circling the port to fill the van and then finally took everyone to the FL airport and circled that airport 8 times to fill up the van. Some passengers were upset because it took the driver so long to drop them off at the airport. The driver was beyond rude. I didn't want to tip him but my husband did. I told the driver no way would I have signed up if I knew it would take at least an hr and 45 min to get back to the FL hotel. He said it was " shared passenger service" and I should have know it would take that long.

Not sure why one would be bemused :confused: Unless, of course, you do not travel often. I have had many a flight cancelled after being delayed due to weather. My suggestion that you make the drive, being well-aware of how far it is, was not to save you discomfort over a bumpy flight, but rather anguish over a missed cruise.

I used the word bemused as in : to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement because no one could know that there is no way we could drive such a distance due to age and physical limitations. We actually go on a few cruises a year but all except one were not in hurricane season. I am hopeful we will take off at 8:30 pm tonight. If worse comes to worst, we have until tomorrow at 4 pm to board the Escape so I would just book another airline.

I was bemused when I read the posts that said we should hop in the car and drive. Driving from Asheville to Miami is at least 11 hr and we are 86 and 77 and if we drive into our town which is 10 miles away, that is enough driving for us! Not in the best shape either. The good part of the flight is it is non- stop so it will be a bit over 2 hrs +. Glad it wasn't canceled as the hr delay doesn't bother us. We'll just leave later from our house which is 15 min from the airport. Hope all in the path of the hurricane are safe.

I am the OP. Just got a notice that the flight tonight from Asheville ( direct to Fort Lauderdale ) has been delayed until 8:30 pm. We live 15 min from the airport so that's ok. Just glad so far it didn't say canceled!

To the poster who mentioned Allegiant, we used it only because we have a refund from a previous flight and cruise we had to cancel due to a death in the family. Only had to pay $ 230.00 for the 2 of us instead of the usual $ 800.00 + we pay flying with American, Delta etc. Hoping this all works out.

We are flying out of a western NC airport tomorrow at 6:30 pm and flying to Fort Lauderdale. We are flying Allegiant airlines which has one flight going to Fort Lauderdale!Staying overnight and then taking a van to the Miami airport for the Sat Sept 3 cruise. I am worried that the flight will be canceled and/or the cruise. Anyone else in this same situation?

On the Escape in a mini-suite, are robes provided?

Loved your posts re: the first Escape cruise and awaiting your posts re: this recent one. We will be on the Escape in a few days and had been on a cruise on the Escape in late April so we know how great it is.

I say quit your day job and be compensated for writing the most hilarious posts about your adventures. I see a sit com in your future!

We were on the Escape in April and will be on her in a few days. They list them as " dress up night ". I think there were 2 of them. My husband wore nice slacks and a nice collared golf shirt to even the specialty restaurants and he looked fine. Of course some people like to dress up but I would say the majority don't. Leave the tie and jacket home. If he has a short sleeve dress shirt, that would also be fine without a jacket. My husband packs a short sleeve button down collar shirt which works well.

Yea, I just went back and looked at my pictures...there wasn't a coffee pot. But we did have an interior, so not sure if that's a factor. Honestly I don't recall a coffee pot being in any of the rooms I have ever stayed in including balconies or mini-suites.

I enjoyed reading your review of the Jade as we will be on a cruise in Dec of this year. Where can I find your review of your latest cruise. I think you were on a Carnival Cruise sailing from San Juan? Hope your eye has healed from the surgery.

Usually I buy 1 cruise next certificate for $ 250.00 and actually pay $ 150.00 for it as $ 100.00 was put on on board credit. With the new promotion, I bought while onboard last April, 2 certificates for $ 500.00. The usual return would be $ 200.00 in on board credit but of course they put $ 250.00 on on board credit. They say you get 1 certificate for free but in reality you are getting $ 50.00 more in on board credit than they usually gave for many years. It's all in the language.

We will be on Carnival Fascination this time around. :D

I can't find your review on the Carnival cruise critic site. Did you post one? Always enjoy reading your reviews.

Sailing on Escape Sept 3rd. I have all my cruise documents and I don't see anywhere where it mentions our boarding time. Just says boarding begins at noon.

Just wanted to make sure I got the cabin I wanted and not the one the CAS agent had mistakenly confirmed. If I had waited, there could have been a chance that the cabin I wanted would be gone.

I needed to get in touch with Casinos at Sea and it was after 5:30 pm ( their closing time ) I used the number 1-888-785-8259 and was able to change my cabin on my original reservation and got some more information. Just thought those who need to call CAS after hrs would appreciate knowing this phone number.

What I don't understand re the original post is this. If NCL says the ship needs some type of repair etc. why didn't they cancel the cruise and refund all of your money.I wouldn't want to be on a ship that has some issues that would cause them to cut the cruise short so they can be back in the Seattle port early.

We were on the Escape in April and will sail again Sept 3rd. I was surprised to see that the lunch venues did not include Savor or Taste everyday. I wonder why that is?

Wait what? I have never heard of this. How do you know when you can use 2 of them for a booking in the same room? :confused:

We were on the Escape in April. I bought 2 of them and they said 2 of them could be used if you sailed again by Aug 31st. 2016 ( I think that was the date ) We booked a Sept 3rd cruise 2016 on the Escape and missed it by 3 days.

When is your next cruise and what cruise line? I want to make sure I read your most interesting posts and see your fabulous photos!!

I definitely would not try to do this myself! Have the cabin steward do it.

Thank you for this information.

I checked out Divina and it is about $800 less. I will be Platinum after March 5. I want to sail the first or second week of July (not sure if I want the kids to be home during 4th of July weekend..19 and 23). Anyway, in order for MSC to recognize me as Black Card, would I need to wait to book with them after March 5 (or a little later once my points show up on NCL)? I'm thinking I need to be platinum first, is that correct?

I think you can book with MSC ( you would probably get a better choice of cabin ) now and then once you get your Platinum status, you fill out the form and give them your Latitudes numbers and thus will be Black Card status. Best to call MSC for exact answers. When you book, you have to put down a deposit of $ 400.00. We did for a balcony. You can be issued your Black Card status even just before you actually take the MSC cruise but I must say, their customer relations office etc. is a far cry from NCL's. Go to the MSN website for more info. Call them and get a cruise consultant person who can help you. They take 5 % off once you become a member ( no matter what status from any cruiseline )

Oops! I just read your post that you didn't want to try a new line for your birthday so disregard what I wrote re: MSC! I know we are each getting 12 drink vouchers for the week.

I think I would notice that my credit card bill didn't have any NCL expenses on it. ( for 4 mo. after a cruise ) Even paying the daily charge for 2 people in a cabin can add up unless you paid ahead of time. We always have a fairly substantial final bill to pay since we put gambling charges on it. Hopefully the OP didn't have a HUGE bill but on the other hand, if it was a large bill he ( she ) would probably wonder why they weren't charged.

A few years ago, I had a test done at the hospital. A year + later, they informed me that they had failed to charge me so I had to pay them well over $1000.00. That did bother me as I thought it was paid already by my insurance.