pcreek

Ok, so where's you Dawn review? I need some motivation myself...and while we are at it...give me that Jewel report too. :D

LOL Okay - Here is the Jewel :

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1747593

And here is from the Dawn - but remember, it is older (2008) and before they remodeled -if that makes any difference.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=889034

(spoiler alert - you'll see we had dinner with Pedro!) :D

Once again - Great Review, Kim!!

Thanks so much for taking the time. I've spent the week 'virtually' traveling with you & your family and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

Loved the video of Sakari and the ship horn! LOL

Looking forward to your next review. The Dawn is our favorite ship (as you can see from my siggy) We just did the Jewel and LOVED it, too!

:D

Thanks for a great review and photos. I have cruised Alaska twice and you have made me consider doing it again. Skagway is my favorite town in Alaska. Victoria is a great place also.

Thanks.

WOW..Derby, KS! I have family there! (Aunt & Uncle) Thought that place was so small only they lived there! LOL just kidding! ;)

I really don't know. Sorry! I DO know that there are cabins up there for crew along the main hallways, plus I can see in the deck plan that the passenger cabins start a fair distance back from the bridge on deck 11. My GUESS, and it's just a guess, that your room is the 4th "open" balcony that you see, just to the right of the non-balcony suite with the full windows

Thanks, Mike! :) That's what I was thinking, too....seeing that there is a suite next to us. Looked like there was a larger balcony / windows there.

Awesome review and incredible photos of Alaska (and the ship!) We may go to Alaska some year in the not too distant future!

Temps in the 30 - 40 degrees is nothing to us. It would seem like one of those 'balmy' winter days around here! LOL

Mike - In looking at this photo, made me think about the Mini we booked!

On deck 11 - 11508 - which is the 5th one back from front - according to the deck plans. Are there crew cabins forward - or do I have a hull balcony? :confused: Do you know? THANKS!!

Ding ding ding ding for you and OP both.

 

 

For the others...

I wonder though, how much does "not gamble that much" for a free cruise really mean? $1k/day, $5k day, ??? I guess one would have to live near the casinos (LV or AC) for this to apply too?[/left]

Well, we don't "gamble THAT much" on any cruise. :p I think the most I've ever used is maybe $300 of my own money on a sea day...and we were in the casino a lot. However, my normal would probably be around $100 - $150 a day...and then the ups and downs...could turn into maybe 2-3 times that amount when you win $5 here, $10 there and put it back in. I only play slots, so I don't know how the tables work.

We don't accumulate enough points during any cruise to 'get anything' additional on the cruise. We do book thru CAS for a discount and have received 2 separate offers of 'free' cruises directly from CAS. This last one we got was all transatlantic or european cruises...and for inside cabins...with option to upgrade. We used a 'free cruise' on our Pearl trip last fall - upgraded to a balcony and it was about the equivalent of a buy one/get one free fare.

Which is an awesome deal, btw! :D NOt complaining here!!

Just trying to make the point that you don't have to spent THOUSANDS of dollars in the casino to get some perks. :rolleyes:

ps - we did call on one of those marketing postcards - promising free cruise and free airfare - and you had to sit through a vacation 'club' presentation. Then the 'offers' were to pick a couple different dates, send a refundable deposit, and wait. We ended up getting our deposits back, as everything we picked was 'unavailable'. go figure.

I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE!! Our B6 cabin price dropped!! Just got off the phone with CAS rep and we're all set with the lower price!!!:D (hey, that's just more money we'll have to spend in the CASINO!!):p

Good for you! :)

I also called CAS this am...and didn't get as good results.

I noticed that the Mini-suites are now same price as the balcony I booked. So..thought I'd see if we can get moved.

Well, the person I got said.. "I'm sorry, you booked with special promo - which is now over. You cannot upgrade - even with paying more $$ - on this reservation. There are no changes allowed. "

Now, a few days after booking, I called CAS to get prices on upgrades and asked if there was a time limit on upgrading - was told "You will need to upgrade by a week before sailing"... I was thinking GREAT, might do a last minute upgrade...

Guess not now. :rolleyes: Oh well.... least we have a balcony and know that we'll be happy with that.

I agree!! I hope the CAS offers keep coming!! This is the first time we've taken the offer.....and we're saving approx 60% on the cost of the cruise...(plus FREE drinks!)....however, now I have to book airfare and a hotel....but we are still saving approx $1000 overall.............

Our first time taking the offer, too - hopefully won't be our last! :rolleyes:

We decided to drive down to Florida this time. Airfare would be more than the cruise..LOL Figured we could take 2-3 days down & the same on the way back for about the same price (or less) than flying this time.

(only because DH gets sent out of town for work a lot - therefore generating LOTS of hotel points for free rooms!)

So we'll get a really long vaca this time - with a 7 day cruise in the middle! :D

On the Dawn, I've always bought a specialty coffee, and gotten free pastry with it.

On the EPIC, it was help yourself regular coffee, and the pastries were free if you asked for them.

We are booked in category SF (aft penthouse). Unfortunately, we are not going until December. Looks like I'll be leaning on you for a review! :D

Well, at the moment, we are only in a midship balcony.

We are one of the few that DID willingly downgrade after having a suite.

The primary thing I think I will miss is the exclusive restaurant for breakfast / lunch...and the added space in the cabin.

If the price is right before we sail, we may upgrade.:rolleyes:

We had spa suite on the Epic and while we LOVED the cabin...the rest of the 'perks' were not that impressive to us. Did enjoy the Epic Club and having the right to 'full access' of the ship...but really the rest of the 'perks' didn't make us want to pay for them again! LOL

I second this. This is a true, comprehensive list of the amenities that so many people ask about.

 

Every time I read a list of suite perks it gets me more and more pumped about my upcoming cruise on the Pearl!

When are you going, and what cat. are you booked in? I'm curious, as we might upgrade on our Pearl cruise in Nov.

I will be awaiting a review if you're going b4 we are.

Thanks! :-)

I have a question.....hoping someone that has taken advantage of this offer knows the answer.....

 

If I go ahead and book an inside cabin via this offer through CAS.... can I upgrade to a balcony cabin later?? (as long as there is one available) Or will they cancel the original booking and treat it like a 'new booking' (in which case we would not get the deal).....

I called back after booking and asked about pricing for higher priced cabins. I was quoted pricing on the higher level cabins and asked how long this pricing was good for. She stated that I could upgrade until about 1-2 weeks before sailing, with the pricing she gave me.

(I assume unless the pricing on those cabins goes down). She said the pricing was just taking off the price of the "free" cabin I was given, and it wasn't time limited.

I wondered, because on the postcard I got, I had to book before July 31st.

I noticed there is a written expectation of play on this one, not sure if I have seen that on other offers - but generally if one plays the same way as they have done before, the offers will keep coming.

 

Robin

WOW - I missed that part! (and I read the 'fine print' - but there was a sticker w/ barcode thing covering the bottom).

I would assume that they would only 'expect' you to play based on your history of playing. right??! We didn't even get anything off our OBC with our play on EPIC. Thought they had changed something about the way they recorded the play, as we did get $$ off OBC on our Dawn cruises...and we always spend about the same amount in the casino.

Anyway...we took advantage of this offer - and it was the first of this type we have received...however, we were guests of CAS on the EPIC (booked w/CAS Discount - certainly not 'free'!)

We think we got a nice deal on this upcoming cruise - worked out to be about 1/2 off the website price for a BA Balcony. Not bad! :D

You are really unnecessarily nast and you remarks make no sense...thats why no one under stands them.... To attack mitsugirly and ColinIllinios the way you did is outrageous.....

 

Book a studio....what is your problem? There are thousands available..... Technically two people can fit in a studio....would you be happy if a couple booked one studio and shared it? What business is it of yours who is in the rooms.... Do you think you own NCL???? They fill the rooms so as to not sail empty....GET OVER IT!!!!!!

 

I travel almost exclusively solo and the deals I have gotten on Celebrity, NCL and Carnival over the past few years blow the priced on the studios out of the water.

 

There is an entire Board dedicated to solo travelers and a huge thread for solo/single supplement deals....go find one for yourself and leave mitugirly alone!!!!!!!!

ditto!

Love cruising out of NYC..only time it was really bad was Feb 2006.

We were late getting back in to NY, due to very rough seas....only to find out that NYC was closed due to snow...all flights cancelled...took 4 hrs to get shuttle from LGA to the Marriot hotel across the highway! We could see it - just couldn't get there. lol

Crazy! not a perfect ending to the cruise...but seeing inches of snow on our balcony was definitely memorable! lol

This is photo of Central Park...that day...

This is our view from Marriot that night...

Awesome review & photos, Mike!!

Thanks again for taking the time to post & answer all of our questions!

I found many invaluable bits of information for my own cruise.

Oh yeah... I especially appreciate that many are taking your advice in Roatan and taking Bodden tours and going to Infinity Beach... :D

Leaving Tabyana Beach virtually empty! <--it's my fav beach ever!. LOL

Ahhh.. life is good ! LOL THANK YOU!

Apparently, I got giddy this am...even tho my cruise is still 6 months away! (and we booked May 2009)

Was at dentist this am, making my next cleaning appt....receptionist says "How about Oct 18th.?" I said, "No, that's not good for me, I won't be available." She says you really know that date you won't be available??

I smile and say "I'll be in the Caribbean. We'll have to make it the week before or after."

Which then led to a 15 min. conversation with 2 of the receptionists at the dentist office on the joys of cruising - and with NCL. Their biggest concern of cruising was "sitting & eating with strangers every day". Of course I explained all about cruising FreeStyle! :D

So.. even still 6 months away, got me smiling all morning! :D

Thank you SOO MUCH, Radio!!

I'm sitting at work (update NY) and needed a mini virtual Ocho Rios break right now! :D

I was there at Island Village & Margaritaville 3yrs ago...and it was a very short visit! We also ran into the Hard Rock across the street from there and got the mandatory shot glass.:rolleyes:

Perfect timing!:D

Thanks again for all your 'hard work'.... Someone really should be paying you for taking these great cruises and providing us all with this great informational LIVE updates!

Oh, WOW.

Guess dh better do a LOT more CHARGING! LOL

He uses the card for this work expense account.. guess they're not having enough expenses! ha ha ha

Thanks for the info! Very helpful (cause I'm too lazy to research myself)

Enjoy your Dawn trip!

So, you have to have a LOT of points to get anything onboard?

My dh just looked at last statement and we have only 900 something.

Not worth anything, yet - right? :confused:

As we're going on Epic 10/10 - can we still accrue points to use on that sailing? :rolleyes:

Thanks for the info!