Phamer55

You’ve all convinced me this is going to come with a fee. Not interested in then. 

I assume this will be free like Labadee and Coco Cay, but with special areas and excursions with significant upcharges.  I'm fine if this is the case, if I can get a free lounger and lunch, I'd be very happy to do this in Cozumel.  Looking forward to hearing more about this!

Same experience with it being so easy...This past Feb, we dropped off luggage at around 10am, came back to board at 12:15pm.  Our boarding time was 12:30pm.  Nobody looked at our paperwork regarding the time, we could have been 2:30pm and still boarded when we did.  So pretty much show up any time after 12 (that was the earliest boarding you could get, but likely they started even before that).  By the way, that cruise terminal in the heart of Sydney downtown has to best location for any embarkation cruise terminal in the world!

Anybody who just did sailings in 2024 care to comment on their experience? I am especially interested in what people did in Quepos and Golfito. Would like to do a private tour in Quepos to Manuel Antonio for the day.  I've seen excursions on the web, but wasn't sure the pick up spot be within walking distance.  Also, Golfito, besides the restaurant and the ship's 3 excursions, what do people do there?  I am interested in the kayaking excursion, but only if it's really good, did anyone try that?  Lastly, how long were you in port each of those 2 days?

Awesome, thank for all this great info!  It gets me excited for my sailing next year...I've done about 70 ocean cruises and 1 river cruise, so looking to try something completely different with Star Clippers.  I enjoyed the river cruise as it was easy to make new friends...and as you explained, Star Clippers is very similar in that way.

I have been loving reading these daily updates, thank you!

They are late. If they had followed their previous patterns from recent years, they would be out by now. They typically are the first North American major cruise line to announce their new itineraries. So no one can give you a definitive answer. You can Google past announcements to see what I mean. For example, this one from Dec 2022, I was expecting a similar announcement in Dec 2023, but there wasn’t one. 
 

https://www.ncl.com/newsroom/norwegian-cruise-line-unveils-winter-202425-and-summer-2025-cruises-in-europe-caribbean-and-alaska

I am not going on this sailing, but I am trying Star Clippers for the first time next March to Costa Rica.  Have you done that itinerary?  I see you’ve done 56 Star Clipper sailings, wow! 

This was quite the surprise to see that Quantum of the Seas is coming to Los Angeles to do short cruises.  I just booked myself a 3 day weekend cruise in 2025.  I love this class of ship!!  I'm not bothered that it only goes to Ensenada on my cruise, I'll still get off the ship to enjoy a delicious Mexican lunch at my favorite restaurant there, it's all about enjoying the ship for a few days. 

Anyone else excited about this?

Thanks for sharing.  Gets me excited for my first ever Star Clipper voyage next March in Costa Rica.

I just myself booked Costa Rica for March of 2025, so I would appreciate those who have, or will do in 2024, the Costa Rica itineraries, to share info.  I'm particularly interested in the times arriving into these ports so I can plan what to do outside of the expensive ship shore excursions.

2 hours ago, PH2 said:

Looks like an announcement of Fall/Winter 25/26 itineraries, but not Europe Summer 2026 yet.

 

https://www.ncl.com/newsroom/norwegian-cruise-line-reveals-new-fall-and-winter-202526-sailings

Okay, cool, we've got some new itineraries to look at.  I thought their schedule through April 2026 was already completed, but perhaps not.  Or maybe this press release is just re-iterating itineraries already announced in the past.

Was hoping we would see an announcement this week with 2026-27 itineraries, but nothing so far.  They announced them Dec 7 last year.

Last year they announced the Europe itineraries (and other destinations) on Dec 7...So if they follow that pattern, we are only a couple of weeks away!  

Here's the link to than announcement:
https://www.ncl.com/newsroom/norwegian-cruise-line-unveils-winter-202425-and-summer-2025-cruises-in-europe-caribbean-and-alaska

When we cruised in November, Moorea was a tender port in a residential area.

Oh well, at least I’ll save $47 x 2.  Too bad I missed it. 

Hello.  Any recent cruisers know if the Pinnacle Grill is serving King Crab legs on the Koningsdam?  I checked the menu on my HAL Navigator app (sailing in May) and it's not listed, but I still see on it on the "sample menu" from the HAL website.

I don’t use the casino, but I would like to use the excursion credit for specialty dining and maybe shopping, so it sounds like that won’t be an issue 

On 11/5/2022 at 11:07 AM, Phanatic08 said:

Dinner reservations.  Other than the specialty restaurants and the main dining room

is it possible to make reservations for any of the other restaurants such Local and Silk once you are on the ship or is it first come. Thanks 

 

First come first serve at Silk and Local.

Huge Phillies Phan here, this doesn’t sound good.  Yeah, never dreamed this team would be here, so booked a cruise to French Polynesia during the Series, doh!  Really hoping it will be on the ship. We are in port every day, and with 2pm local games, hoping to find a local bar as a backup plan. I know NCL has not been the best in the past showing live sports. 

On 10/22/2022 at 9:25 PM, flcraigs5 said:

So we are on the ship and just received word that in order to satisfy environmental compliance regulations our call to Moorea has been cancelled and will be replaced with a sea day. Asked guests services to clarify which compliance regulation we were not meeting and was told that the ship needed to unload "something" and had to be a certain distance from land. I asked why that couldnt be done during our 4 straight sea days but she said she didnt know.  I would think NCL could have  planned better so that all the passengers that have traveled half way around the world would not miss out on these bucket list islands!

 

That’s really disappointing and sounds like bad planning. I’m boarding the Spirit on Monday, hope they figure out all their issues by then. 

7 minutes ago, Rob_H said:

 

We didn't see/hear any option to leave the ship after arrival in Papetee, except for those with Norwegian flights that night, no mention in the Freestyle. But maybe there was something over the speakers we didn't hear.

 

Next morning the announcement that it's now possible to go ashore was about 7am if I remember right. I don't think an 8.20 am flight is realistic.

 

 

I'm not on the ship, but I'm pretty sure you can get off the ship anytime after 8pm the previous day as long as you carry of your own luggage.  This is typical procedure for cruises that end with an overnight. My flight is even earlier, 7am.  There will be somebody working security.

15 hours ago, NCL4EVER said:

 

This is the menu at the bier garten

 

Thanks for this!  Not particularly exciting menu, I think the Brok Premium would be worth a try, have never had one of those before. 

37 minutes ago, Desiree Hooter said:

 

For the Mustard Drill you should go to your mustard station inside as soon as you board, and have your card scanned at that location. For instance if your card shows A1 for your mustard station you go to A (usually a restaurant) and check in at that location. No need to go outside, and after your card is scanned you can leave.

All true, except it's Muster station, not Mustard.  There will be no condiments available.

Was wondering about the Bier Garten?  How good is it and what beers do they have there?  Also, my cabin is on deck 10 and was wondering if there was easy access to H2O from my cabin.