BalconyGal

Breakaway.  Beautiful decor but I hope to never sail her again. 

We used to do Le Bistro the first night but switched it to Moderno several years ago.  Le Bistro is the 2nd night and next to last night.  We always do Cagney's the last night and one other time too.  You can't go wrong. 

Nassau.  It feels like they shove Nassau into every itinerary then can.  I've been there so many times I couldn't even give an accurate count.  And everyone is so pushy when you get off the ship that we stopped getting off several years ago. 

Enjoying the review.  I hope you can continue...

Matthew, I always love reading your reviews.  You did not disappoint!  Thank you for sharing.  

You live in such a beautiful part of the country.  Let me know if you have any questions about my little city since you'll be cruising out of here in June. 

Happy New Year. 

There are heated tile loungers that are heaven.  A jetted therapy pool.  Sauna, steam room in the single sex locker rooms.  I think it opens at 8.  It closes at 10.  Current pricing I'm not sure about.  In April it was $199 for a week I think.  Well worth it. 

4 hours ago, njkate said:

I know nothing on web. I'm curious if for some reason NCL cancels a cruise after final payment do they refund your money or just give credit for another cruise.

Probably refund or allow you to apply your money to another sailing. 

6 hours ago, uconnWBB said:

call your travel agent or call directly to NCL. This has happened to me before when they cancelled the whole cruise

 

That’s what I was afraid of when I was having so many issues making final payment yesterday and today when I was tying to book dining. 

My PCC is on vacation so I spoke to someone one at NCL and specifically asked if they were canceling the cruise and he said no. They could still be canceling it and the info just hasn’t trickled down yet.

I guess we wait and see. 

We have always wondered about the half empty restaurants too.  

We took our 9 month old in April and for Nassau we bought day passes at the British Colonial Hilton.  It's a 10 minute walk from the ship.  There is a nice little beach and a pool.  There is also a restaurant and bar.  We booked though resortsforaday and there was a $40 food and beverage credit.  We enjoyed it and would do it again.  

The balcony will not have a full glass front, it is part of the hull.  It makes the balcony very private. I wouldn't change it.  I'll look for a picture. 

9 minutes ago, senseib said:

Same thing happened to the April 28th sailing from NYC.  

What the heck...

We are booked ( and fully paid) for the Jade April 18th sailing.Two days ago we got an email stating the ship would now leave from Brooklyn vs. Manhattan cruise terminal.  Then the booking all but disappeared from myNCL.  The res # and date are still there, no itinerary, no itinerary name and no ability to look at or book excursions.  It's also asking to make a payment even though we are fully paid.  Others on the roll call are reporting the same issues. 

Now the booking has completely disappeared from NCL's website. It's like it doesn't exist.  

Any insight from those in the know? 

Thank you for your review.  I think (hope) it's a big ship thing and not an NCL thing. 

I am not a fan of the big ships at all.  The Jewel class is perfect IMO.  I have a special diet and have always been very well taken care of except for my cruise on the breakaway where no one seemed to be in charge of special diets and I got very sick after my first meal.  Since then it's been back to the jewel class.  

9 hours ago, david_sobe said:

This is unfortunate.  I have booked cruises online, cold calling but now use my NCL PCC.  And guess how I found my NCL PCC?  It was a cold call to NCL.  I got really lucky.  She has worked directly with NCL for 15 years.  Now I only book with her.  If she does not answer the phone, I email her and she responds back.

I too had a miserable experience with a cold call to NCL. Once you find a good one who makes it their career, hold on to them.

I agree.  It took me a while to find my PCC but now I have been with her for years and she has never let me down.  I found her through the recommendation of a friend I made through our roll call.  She is very available and always answers all of my questions.  Good luck to OP.

I have never noticed a difference in butler service when we stayed in an Owners suite or a penthouse.  We definitely use the courtyard more when we have stayed in the actual haven however.  It is quite a trek from the aft to the haven proper.  

On 11/20/2018 at 4:36 PM, CruisinfromCO said:

In the convention center which is literally across the way from the ship. NCL has a table set up so hopefully we will know more once we get through another long line. 

Wow, what a terrible way to spend your vacation.  😞

Have they released any information about what happened to the ship?  Not being able to sail to Miami under her own power seems pretty severe to me.  

What ship?  We brought our 9 month old son in April and had a blow up pool all ready to go but there was a wading pool in the baby area.  And now I have a blow up pool full of balls in my house...LOL 

I have seen other parents before I was a parent with the blow up pools by the pool.  It's where I got the idea actually.  

Definitely go straight to the main dining room.  It is a lovely, peaceful way to begin your vacation.  In addition to O'Sheehans mentioned above on many sea days they barbecue by the pool.  Enjoy the Gem, she's my favorite! 

On 11/15/2018 at 7:38 PM, nukesubsailor said:

This Daily Mail article is so full of incorrect information that it is nearly worthless.  The casino is not on deck 16.  The photo shows the starboard side of the ship and indicates the forward most life boat is #2.  That is wrong. The boats on the starboard side have odd numbers while the ones on the port side have even numbers.

I find most Daily Mail articles to be worthless.  They repeat the same information over and over again just to keep you scrolling past ads.  Annoying. 

Chaney’s (steakhouse) 

LeBistro (French)

Teppanyaki (if you like Asian food) or if you don’t like Asian food 

Moderno (Brazilian steakhouse) Go very hungry!

On 11/3/2018 at 8:22 AM, 4774Papa said:

Platinum benefits are good, but not great.

Yes, we get a meal in Le Bistro for 2 with wine and another for 2 without, as well as a free bag of laundry.

 

Still, that pales compared to the benefits for Elite on Celebrity and Diamond on RCI.   Both have a great happy hour every night with free drinks as well as laundry.

The two free dinners supplement the free dining plan we usually get so we like that benefit. 

The best platinum perk is the laundry. We go home with mostly all clean clothes after every cruise.  We love it! 

I agree the rest of the platinum perks are nothing to write home about. 

23 hours ago, NightOne said:

Going on the Bliss in 30 days and it will be my first time on NCL. I have already filled out my form and sent it to the special needs department indicating I need a gluten free diet at all times. I will meet the restaurant manager when I board to figure out dinners and breakfasts. I prefer to order my meals the day before so I will be doing that for breakfast and dinner the next day.

 

However, I am curious about lunches and what other specific things are options for celiacs onboard.

 

1. Do they have lunch in the MDRs every day? Do you order this the day before too? Same options if not?

 

2. What specifically can a celiac order from Margaritaville for lunch? I heard Volcano Nachos might be an option but I not sure and need feedback.

 

3. Obviously the buffet is off limits but are there any other food stations around the ship that have celiac safe options? (Pizza place, burgers,snacks, ice cream, etc.)

 

Any other info you have on non-dinner time food options for celiacs would be great. (or even dinner too) 🙂

 

Thanks

I have celiac and pretty much exclusively cruise now.  Mostly on NCL. 

When you board the ship go to the main dining room for lunch not the buffet.  Inform them you have a special diet.  They will send the special diet coordinator to take your order, possibly the maitre'd on larger ships.  After you eat they will give you the menu for dinner and you will order for that night.  

After dinner they will ask you to order for the next day.   And you will do that every evening for the length of the cruise. 

They can pretty much make anything you want as long as they have advanced notice. 

The buffet is fine.  You will look for one of the supervisors they will be wearing tall white hats and they will walk you through the safe options.  You can order pizza at the pizza counter.  You will need to give them 15 mins or so.   They will have gf pasta, buns, bread, muffins, cake. 

Anything else?  And don't worry NCL does gluten free right.  You will be very happy.