laura85

We have a cruise booked this Christmas on Harmony. We were able to get The Key for $30/day. We've never used it before but thought is might be helpful since it will be a full sailing. Does anyone know about the "fast lane" for activities? My husband and I definitely want to do activities, but I'm mostly curious for my 12 year old son. He really wants to do all the active stuff, and I've never seen a fast lane for activities on Royal.

I missed this thread! What is their current strategy compared to other lines?

Thank you this was so helpful!

So excited to be going on the Encore in just a few weeks! Will be bringing my kids - and of course my 12 year old wants to do all the activities. I understand that we need to make reservations for the Speedway, and should do that as soon as possible once we board. Does the Speedway have both single and double rider cars? Can my 5 year old ever come as a passenger? Do we need to also make reservations for the Galaxy Pavilion and Laser Tag as soon as we board?

I hear you! I am also new to NCL and will be sailing on the Encore next month. At 31 days out I cannot book entertainment, I'll check back at 21 days out. I definitely want to catch most of the shows at least once. It sounds like they are offered multiple days and multiple times. So even if it requires some juggling, I bet you will get to see everything you want.

We booked it through NCL. It is Called: Sled Dog Discovery & Musher's Camp. In Juneau.

Wow thank you for sharing the dailies, I've been looking for them! We sail next month and can't wait. There are so many negative reviews, so I really appreciated your upbeat review.

That’s really helpful. I’ll be on my first NCL cruise in a few weeks and was wondering about booking entertainment and finalizing specialty dining. Are all the MDR locations usually open for lunch on embarkation?

Yikes a bathrobe!!!!! Is there any way to arrange for luggage to be transferred to the airport? So we aren’t lugging it around all day til out flight?

Seattle. Do not have transportation booked yet. Our flight isn’t until 6pm

That’s right! I remember doing this years ago. Thank you

For most of our cruises we’ve done self-disembarkation. But for our next cruise our flight home is very late that day, so we won’t be in a rush. Can you remind me how it works if we put out luggage night before? How/when do we get our luggage the next day? We’ll be with two children and my mom in a wheelchair, so the less we have to drag around luggage, the better.

How old is your daughter? Several years ago we did the helicopter to a glacier where there is a dog camp. We got to be pulled on the sled and even spend time interacting and petting the dogs and puppies! My son was only 5 at the time but it’s still one of his best memories. All the grown ups enjoyed it immensely as well. Definitely a bucket list type of excursion. We are going back to Alaska next month, but this time we’ll be doing one of the dog “summer camps” where we are just driven to a dog camp that pulls you in a sled through a forested area. I don’t expect it to be as spectacular as the glacier camp, but I think it will still be fun for my now 5yo daughter and now 12yo son. Plus it’s much less expensive.

Thank you for the great review! Your embarkation story made me so nervous!!! We’ll be on this cruise next month (first ever NCL) and I think attitude is important. I’m like you, don’t let others upset me or ruin a trip. I’m just in a mindset to be prepared for crowds and flexible 👍 I’ve read a ton of horrible reviews of this cruise, but I think we’ll enjoy it. Did you go to the Beatles band at all?

This is really disappointing! I will be traveling with my in-laws who are in their 60s/70s and are in EXCELLENT health and really active! We’ve seen a couple excursions they are “too old” for. Is it an insurance thing?

Good question! I hope to try it this December. Here is what I found posted on cruise critic: I couldn’t find anything age specific!

I’m not super chatty with room attendants, and honestly rarely even run in to them after the first day. Our next cruise will have my husband and I plus 5 year old daughter in one balcony room. My main concern is just that the sofa will be stuck as a bed all week?

Ok that’s a good idea! The lunches are a good value! I don’t think I’ll do chops without UDP (been there many times) but we really want to try Wonderland and Central Park, never been to those!

I can book both the special (crazy expensive) holiday meals, and regular specialty dining on non-holiday days. But no UDP listed. We have a family of 5 sailing and I DO NOT want to pay $500 for chops or 150 Central Park on a holiday. They even seem to be charging the full $100pp for kids on the holidays, ouch!!! I think I’ll stick with the MDR those days.

We are sailing on Harmony for Christmas this year! On the cruise planner there is NO ultimate dining package listed. Do I need to wait until it’s closer to the cruise? Is it not offered because this is a holiday sailing?

Does it cover the Starbucks coffee served in restaurants? I’ve seen menus that list Starbucks coffee and espresso at the bottom. Or does it only cover drinks at the Starbucks locations?

I can’t find MDR menus on the app either. When you click on a speciality restaurant it has a sample menu available. But there is none listed on the MDR that I can find.

Wow! I’m new to NCL and had no idea for decorations are prohibited. Granted, I’ve seen people go way overboard with junk spilling over on to walls/hallway, taped stuff. I can see how that could damage surfaces. Be a hassle, etc. I typically do small, custom magnets in the theme of our cruise ports. It’s always a fun craft to work on as I countdown to a cruise! Fun for the kids and of course helps identify the cabin easily. I suppose I’ll just pick up a few small magnets, and will take them down if asked.