Postman1963

Since Magnifica does not have the yacht club but we are booked with the aurea experience, can we use the yacht club perks at Ocean Cay?

We have the drink package and are in a vista suite.  Can we order drinks with the medallion delivered to our suite?

Will the new mandates last beyond January?

What was the covid test like? I don't want a brain swab up my nose.

AJ

2 cruises cancelled, have been made good with a combo of FCC and refund.  Be patient and maybe give a "nudge" call to customer service and/or your PCC.

On 3/8/2019 at 7:31 PM, Sand and Seas said:

We just returned from the Bliss.  We ate twice at Cagneys, twice at Los Lobos and twice at Q.

Cagney's was good.  We enjoyed the Filet and Doublecut Pork Chop.  Crab cakes and salads were good too.   I do miss the Baked Potato soup that used to be on the menu.

Having said that, without the Platinum meals and the SDP we would probably just pay for Los Lobos as the MDRs usually have something that suits us.  

It was a major miss.  Wish that NCL would make it special again.

NCL must have changed their philosophy from Cagneys being an exceptional experience, to Cagneys being another profit center.

AJ

My wife and I will most likely forgo Cagneys, and possibly NCL for a line we have not tried.

AJ

Cagneys has been an example of Medicare for all...Open it up to everyone and quality and service will suffer.  

AJ

It seems to me that the whole Cagneys "experience" has been reduced to a fancy MDR.  When my wife and I started cruising

we would plan our days around when we were going to dine in Cagneys.  Our planning is now much easier now that we will

not be eating in this once beloved restaurant any more.

AJ

I know what cabin I was in.  What are you asking?

Look right behind the rooms behind cabin 18033.  the one by the hall was the source of the smell.

I was in 18039 YC.  Just outside and across the hall was a cleaning supply room.  When the door to this room was open

the smell was overwhelming.  I could see a drain in this room and as I inspected it I almost puked.  Several times when this room was opened I could smell the bleach that was poured down the drain. I had a nice conversation with our butler and he acknowledged the problem, and admitted that he had heard a lot of complaints.  I don't blame MSC or the excellent staff for this problem, but I do blame the designers of the ship.  Drydock can not come soon enough.

AJ

7 hours ago, Formula280SS said:

 

We were on the Bliss B2B in January.  In our review thread we rated all of the food venues.

 

Also, below is the specific rating of Cagney's.    It "went" from being our favorite NCL venue to one we never "went" to again. 

 

To be fair "to Cagneys," we later noted that others had great experiences there as well as bad; so, we believe  it is not a 'guarantee anymore.  Then there is the issue of waitstaff and how it has changed as such venues from long-term specialty dining experienced women and men to staff that might not have any idea what they are offering.

 

To be fair "to NCL," we've experienced the same thing at Chops Grill on RCCL; extremely disappointing on the exact same points.

 

We had surprisingly great experiences at Food Republic (#1, went there for lunch on sea days and dinner a couple of times each week), LaCucina and Q.  Expected Food Republic to be great and it didn't disappoint; LaCucina has made a massive improvement (over our prior experiences) and Q was simply delightful (Texas BBQ in style versus piles of food).

 

CAGNEYS – D

 

We book Cagney’s on NCL 2-3 per week typically.  After our first dinner in week one, we cancelled all of the other reservations.  We ordered shrimp apps that disappointed in size of shrimp and iced texture.  Like those in a frozen bag 31-40 count.  Certainly different then our first cruises on this class of ship, not only with regard to size (yes, I know you can order several) but also not prepared properly at all.  We shared an iceberg lettuce wedge; best part of the meal.  Then the disappointment.  My Australian lamb looked perfectly cooked medium rare and was.  However, it had ZERO TASTE.  Never figured that out, NOT ONLY NOT GAMEY, but didn’t taste like anything at all.  Wife’s 5 Oz fillet was perfectly colored medium, beautiful sear; absolutely ZERO TASTE.  Our onion rings (I got 2) were cold and the batter had separated from the onions.  When our server “finally” came back, our plates were 3/4ths uneaten.  Never even asked why.  This would have been an F, but we’ve had dozens of great meals at Cagney’s before.

Our first and many other times at Cagneys were highlighted by the enormous 3 prawn shrimp cocktail and the fantastic steak fries. (Known as Cagney fries on the menu).  The various meat offerings were always melt in your mouth tender.  This was starting in 2008 when Kevin Sheehan was CEO.  That also was when NCL cared more about the experience rather than how much money they could suck out of each passenger.  Andy Stuart has completely changed this.

AJ

The star of Cagneys was the fries.  They have changed to something from the frozen food aisle.

The T bone almost requires a chainsaw to cut.  

Cabin 8563, leaving our house in 30 minutes!

Yes, it gets crowded, but that is where the most variety of food is served. Isn't that the "best"?

I was thinking more relaxed, drink service, sit down with a menu and not crowded. (Oh and good food!)

AJ

Is the buffet not chaotic on EOS during embarkation? (unlike every other cruise ship in the world?)

Where is the best lunch for day 1?

Is there a mini bar in the cabin? If so, is it included in the drink package?

We also booked first night done right. Can we choose where to eat? Either way will be good.

My wife and I are Platinum NCL but are trying to expand our experiences. We will be on Explorer of the Seas Sept 17, and are looking for must do/see/eat tips from other experienced cruisers.

My wife and I are going on Explorer of the Seas out of our homeport in Seattle. We are in a promenade inside on Sept 17.

We have done many NCL cruises from Aft suite to spa suite to balcony on many different ships. The only reason I mention this is because we have no idea what to expect on Explorer of the Seas in comparison to our experiences on NCL. I would like to hear from people who have done both.

AJ

Who is cruising on the Bliss next year? Where are you going?

AJ

I am a long time NCL cruiser. What is bidding and how do I get in the game?

AJ

I love this thread because it demonstrates how much respect, humor, kindness and maturity experienced cruisers can bring to the table... uh... or balcony... whatever!

 

congratulations on your 25 years together - something that deserves to be celebrated on any available surface that suits your fancy!

cheers,

kc

 

oops! 7 year old thread? well hopefully they're celebrating 32 years these days :-)

We just celebrated 33 years together!