realcindylouwho

I will add to WildcatRock's post that there is plenty of hot water too! Directly across the street there is a large fully stocked grocery store which also sells beer wine and spirits. I didn't check closely for prices but a 6 pack of Coors Light cans was $3.99. I had forgotten my razors and they are less than half the price than I would pay in Kansas City, bonus! There was heavy rains when we arrived at 6 p.m. with streets in the San Juan and surrounding municipalities experiencing flash flooding. Our nephew was going to meet us at the airport and spend the evening with us but the roads west of S.J. were too dangerous to drive. The locals seem very happy to see us and our taxi driver shared his hurriane story with us.

Getting on the ship today FINALLY

I will add to WildcatRock's post that there is plenty of hot water too! Dire tly across the street there is a large fully stocked grocery store which also sells beer wi e and spirits. I did t check closely for prices but a 6 pack of Cool Light cans was $3.99. I had forgotten my razors and they are less than half the price than I would pay in Kansas City, bonus! There was heavy rains when we arrived at 6 p.m. with streets in the San Juan and surrounding municipalities experiencing flash flooding. Our nephew was going to meet us at the airport and spend the evening with us but the roads west of S.J. we're too dangerous to drive. The locals seem very happy to see us and our taxi driver shared his hurriane story with us.

Sailing 11/11 and we went from aft suite on deck 9 to aft suite on deck 10. We are very satisfied with our location. Our PCP said he had heard there are people either thrilled or unhappy with the switch over.

NCL is still working on the moves and there have been some glitches with fares, amenities, etc which will get worked out. Our amenities didn't show, but we kept a printout when we booked in January of 2017, so we aren't worried about those disappearing. At that time the UBP and SDP gratuities were not charged to suite passengers. Our cruise fare shows the same amount we originally booked (at a STEAL!) and the port fees and taxes are a bit lower due to Roatan being removed from our itinerary.

Fingers crossed they add back a fourth port stop, if not there is the ropes course, putt putt and the rock wall to conquer! Add in two bar chairs at the Haven bar...oh my, my hubby has drank many a bottle of Jack sitting in one of those chairs!

You've done lots of research into your destination wedding. However, cruises are a bit different than other types of vacations. We as cruises purchase a ticket onto a ship. There can always be changes made for any reason when it comes to the itinerary or even down to your cabin. This is why it as equally as important to research and purchase cane for any reason cruise insurance.

We had a horrible cancer diagnosis happen to our son in the Fall of 2016. Thankfully we had purchased insurance as we had to cancel a 10 day cruise in a suite, (just a month out) so we could care for our son during his chemotherapy.

No cruise line can make exceptions as this would open the flood gate for the reasons why, and many people would be angered over their refusal to make changes in their travel. Many of us were affected by these bad hurricanes. We all take on certain risks when we book during or soon after Hurricane season. Our itinerary out of San Juan was altered for next month, so I do understand your frustration. I hope you find a way to travel to St. Thomas to exchange your vows!

Okay, we are not the "rolling in dough" people (I'd be on Regent if that were the case....), but we like to cruise 1-2 times a year. My DH works very hard, so wants to decompress when we go on vacation. Neither of us are sun worshipers. The Haven has been a haven for us. Priority boarding, smaller area for relaxing that doesn't have throngs of people, larger cabins, beverages and snacks out during the day, it is a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere without the hub-bub. I didn't think I would use/like a butler, either, but boy, what a blessing a good one is! We enjoy eating in our cabin at least once during the cruise and NCL does it right (paying attention, RCCL?) And I will say that when we were on the Escape, we were very happy with the Haven restaurant.....in fact, some of the entrees offered were the same as what you would find in the specialty restaurants. No need to upgrade dining if you don't want to---it would take about a week to eat through the menu choices.

There are certainly lots of factors that are personal in your decision to Haven or not. I could not get my DH on a cruise in a regular cabin any more....he has trouble hearing and the noise, etc., just frustrates him to no end. And he likes the additional space. We even like to dress up, so usually have more luggage than most, and the Haven has space for those extra clothes and bags. So, it comes down to what YOU consider important and what priorities YOU have for YOUR vacation. For us, we will cruise less often and pay for the Haven. And who doesn't like to feel pampered?

Enjoy your cruise, no matter which way you go! Its YOUR time!

So we don't think completely alike, but so many of your reasons are the reasons why we cruise in suites and on a big ship like the Getaway, the Haven is a must. Here are a few of our reasons why we would choose haven:

1): Our jobs are to make our "customers" happy and if for one week a year we get to be at the center of attention, we are going to go for it and it starts at embarkation! *Here is our latest not special embarkation though...We have usually booked on the Getaway out of Miami on deck 16 but this January 2017 we decided to forgo the scraping of deck chairs at 6:00 a.m. waking us up and booked a one BR H5 on deck 15. Because of this we boarded from the B terminal insead of the C terminal. Our embarkation was in a tiny little 36" wall, partitioned off area where everyone else was looking at us like caged animals in a zoo. So, it was very much not special when they announced for us to line up and to board. A bunch of non-haven cruisers jumped into line with us and the NCL employees gave up trying to seperate the Haven from non-haven and just let everyone in the line go. Grrrr....this caused a mess at the elevators and confusion for the first-time cruisers. Anyway, rant about this over!

2). We are drinkers and LOVE the Haven bar. I mean we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Haven bar. Hubby drinks Jack and the bar will go through bottles on just my husband alone. That specific cruise week, we asked the bartender if she had ever gone through THAT MUCH Jack Daniels and she said "NO!" It was quite a week! Whatever you ask for, they will make it for you. If you drink one specific drink, like my hubby does, when they see you walk up the pour will automatically begin. You don't need to tell them what you want to order. We always provide a nice thank you card (which we pack at least 10-12 of pre-cruise) and provide a nice cash tip the last evening of the cruise. This is our experience, yours may vary.

3). We love the priority/front of the line port tendering/getting off the ship. We don't want to wake up a minute earlier than we have to on vacation. Having this service available if we want it is a great benefit.

4). The food at the Haven restaurant is great. I do the majority of the cooking at home and infrequently eat outside of the house. I love being able to sit down at breakfast and lunch and have someone wait on me. White linens, coffe cups and saucers, a cloth napkin, these are indulgences I don't often partake in during my everyday librarian life. Yes, there have been cutbacks in the past ten years since we started cruising, but I feel very lucky to be sitting in a chair, that someone has pushed in for me as I sat, being order to have multiple choices for breakfast or lunch and not having to plan the meal. purchase the food at the grocery store, or cook the food.

4). We aren't sun people, but I do like to catch some rays in the mid to late afternoon with my OWN choice of music or NOT music and I want relative quiet and don't want to have to pick up some long forgotten towel or lunch plates or drink glasses from the lounge area. I know I can walk up the stairs to the Haven sun deck at 4 p.m. and have my pick of nearly any lounger I want. I don't want to have to deal with adult drunks or non-supervised kids running around. It might also have something to do with the time of year we cruise, but we almost always have very few children on our cruises. We typically cruise the week after Thanksgiving, but our last cruise was in late January and there were not many kids booked in the Haven. (So much more to this story and the week we cruised, the third week of January. I won't go into it here but those who are in the know, know that "that group of super imposing, pushy, noisey, demanding, loud, and sometime very obnoxious east coast Americans" have a "holiday" from school the last two weeks of January. We still had a fabuous time on our cruise!)

5). I like to get off the ship as late as I can. Since we have to fly half-way across the country to get to the ocean, NCL must almost force me off the ship. We can be packed up, pull our luggage to a common area and then have a nice leasurely breakfast. This allows the steward to be able to have access to our cabin and get it flipped for the next lucky guests. We then meet the conceirge or their helper at the desk and they escort us quickly off the ship, usually by an employee elevator. When the doors open and we are placed back into the long line to exit the terminal into customs, we begin the dream for our next cruise.

I am perfectly human and am jealous of the guests who are able to less costly get into a suite with the current bidding program, since we book at full fare and choose the suite that we wish, usually when the dates become available up to two years in advance. But as a previous "upsell fairy" to the Garden Villa at a deep discount price back in the day, I understand the changes NCL had to make. Your vacation dollars are yours to decide how to spend. Gather information, mull it over and make your best guess as to what is correct for you! Enjoy the blessing to be able to cruise, no matter the cabin!!!

We sail out of San Juan on the Dawn 11/19 and I am staying optimistic!

First, San Juan is the capital of P.R. it is the finacial, industrial and tourism heart of the country. Over 2 million people (more than half of. P.R.'s population) lives and works in San Juan or its municipalities. The rebuilding efforts will be concentrated here to get the people back to work and providing for their familes. Tourists are necessary to P.R. especially to San Juan.

Secondly, I have cancel for any reason insurance so any non- refundable costs for our trip will come back to us. We had to cancel a cruise in 11/16 to treat our 20 year old son's cancer. Stuff happens; so insurance is a required and budgeted cost of traveling for our family. Will we be disappointed if we or NCL cancels our cruise? Heck yes. But our neice and her family who live near San Juan have been affected far greater than my disappointment could ever be. If the port of embarkation should somehow need to be changed by NCL, well, we'll just have to make some phone calls. It's a small percentage of our total life that will be used up. I've spent a bunch of time researching the ports of call that we already know we won't be calling on and once they announce our new ports I will start all over again.

Can you imagine the amount of time spent making phone calls and searching the iternet if you had to rebuild your house and replace all of your household possessions?

Third, NCL rarely cancels cruises. It is a great financial cost to them, it creates a negative image to the public and it causes a loss of income to the people who live and work at the missed ports of call. I'd guess there is a negotiating war going on amongst the open ports and the many cruise lines for dates and times. What a puzzle of strategy these hurricanes have created! Imagine 10 ships battling it out for 5 berths at a port. Would this cause a bidding war or are prices firmly set at what can be charged?

Fourth. being in this wait and see pattern is better than the same situation our family was in almost exactly one year ago. On September 26 our son called to tell us he had cancer. One year ago we were told he could have 6 months to one year left to live. But...because of great optimism and fantastic medical care he is alive and back to his normal college student self. So therefore I AM OPTIMISTIC and if you are sailing with us, show us your optimism too!

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On NCL final payment date varies based on the cabin type. Suites have final payment dates of 120 days while insides are 75 days. Although it doesn't pertain to the question, holiday sailings also have differet final payment dates.

We sail out of Puerto Rico on 11/19 on the Dawn and are anxiously awaiting news from the island. Our neice and her three children were air evacuated yesterday afternoon while her husband, who is an FBI agent stayed behind to help with security. They live near San Juan. Weatherundergroud reported 91 mph winds at peak at the airport. This is encouraging news.

 

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I do need to make a small correction to the final payment dates. On NCL'S page, there have been changes made for final payment dates for categories less than suite/haven level and it is based on the day you booked. Some shorter cruises, on some ships, booked far out, may be 60 days, but many are 75-90 days now. We book 1 1/2 to 2 years in advance and cruise in suites, so we have been at 120 days for many years now.

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On NCL final payment date varies based on the cabin type. Suites have final payment dates of 120 days while insides are 75 days. Although it doesn't pertain to the question, holiday sailings also have differet final payment dates.

We sail out of Puerto Rico on 11/19 on the Dawn and are anxiously awaiting news from the island. Our neice and her three children were air evacuated yesterday afternoon while her husband, who is an FBI agent stayed behind to help with security. They live near San Juan. Weatherundergroud reported 91 mph winds at peak at the airport. This is encouraging news.

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We have been fortunate to stay in the Garden Villa (starboard side) on both the Pearl and the Jewel. Yes, there was much creaking and groaning, water sloshing sounds, cracking etc. all during the night. It was a negative for having that wonderful space. However, on deck 15 on the Getaway (starboard side) Haven 1 br January 2017, we experienced an awlful banging sound on the ceiling near the balcony door for a couple of days early in the week. I will say that we were experiencing strong winds those days with several decks being closed to the public. I always bring earplugs, but even with a pillow on my head, the noise kept me from sleeping well. I don't think NCL could have made the sounds go away, I think it is just a part of cruising you may experience. We have the Garden Villa booked for Thanksgiving this year. We know the cruise will not be the one we booked due to the hurricane. I've prepared myself for some noise from the suite and have purchased a white noise machine to help with the sounds I'm not used to hearing at home. Being able to cruise is a luxury, in a perfect cabin there would be no noise, bit I've accepted the fact that it won't be the same as at home and I'm willing to have the noises in exchange for being on the water.

 

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I forgot to add it is on the Dawn out of Puerto Rico. We are celebrating LIFE! My youngest kicked cancers a$$ last year and our group of 16 friends and family will make good use of the G.V. space during the week. Lord help me, 10 young adults between the ages of 21 and 26. I will NEED the good sleep!

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We have been fortunate to stay in the Garden Villa (starboard side) on both the Pearl and the Jewel. Yes, there was much creaking and groaning, water sloshing sounds, cracking etc. all during the night. It was a negative for having that wonderful space. However, on deck 15 on the Getaway (starboard side) Haven 1 br January 2017, we experienced an awlful banging sound on the ceiling near the balcony door for a couple of days early in the week. I will say that we were experiencing strong winds those days with several decks being closed to the public. I always bring earplugs, but even with a pillow on my head, the noise kept me from sleeping well. I don't think NCL could have made the sounds go away, I think it is just a part of cruising you may experience. We have the Garden Villa booked for Thanksgiving this year. We know the cruise will not be the one we booked due to the hurricane. I've prepared myself for some noise from the suite and have purchased a white noise machine to help with the sounds I'm not used to hearing at home. Being able to cruise is a luxury, in a perfect cabin there would be no noise, bit I've accepted the fact that it won't be the same as at home and I'm willing to have the noises in exchange for being on the water.

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Hi there,

 

I have a question for you. I've booked the 2 bedroom suite in The Haven on Jade for the Panama Canal sailing this February. Cruisers 1 & 2 get the unlimited drink package for free.. but here's my question.. if we wanted to add another 1 drink package does cruisers 3, 4 and 5 in my cabin all have to buy it?

 

Further, online, I cannot purchase a drink package because it even tries to charge me for Cruisers 1 & 2, even though the dining package lets me select cruisers 3, 4 & 5 for purchase and de-select 1, 2 who get it for free.

 

Thanks!

Please call your PCC (they may be extremely difficult to reach this week into the next due to the hurricane) before you sail and ask them to add the UBP to the names in your cabin who wish to have it added. It was no problem for us.

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The answer is NO. passengers 3-8 DO NOT have to purchase a beverage package if guest 1 &2 select this as one of the offers. This answer can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on NCL dot com.

 

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If you do a Google seach you will probably reach ncl info that is out of date. It used to be everyone in a stateroom must purchase the UBP.

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The answer is NO. passengers 3-8 DO NOT have to purchase a beverage package if guest 1 &2 select this as one of the offers. This answer can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on the NCL website.

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McCutie, thanks for your observations and reply back. We've got 5 specialties between UDP and Platinum, in adsition we are planning on Thanksgiving supper in the villa, so that should keep us from starving during the week. Wink, wink.

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We have sailed in the "end" suites on the jewel class ships. I would go with the end suites as you have no neighbors to try to jocky your views with and will be able to slightly see around the corner. No wind, quiet, and the smells of the bakery wafting down to your balcony. You did good, real good! I've sworn I would sleep on the aft balcony in my lounger some night, still haven't done it!

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Haha. Not crazy at all. That was our St Lucia visit to the Pitons using Spencer Ambrose. :D

 

Let me get the link...

Thank you, man that was fast, like 15 minutes or less fast! I so appreciate all of your thorough reviews and I know that I can trust your opinion about the places you snorkel (I was meant to be a mermaid just like Sakari!). Any NCL cruises on your horizon? Happy cruising!

Mitsugirly, I've gone through so many of your fantastic reviews and I recall on one cruise you went on you booked an outside excursion and went to some type of volcano area and could do a "mud bath" and then went to a secluded beach area (by boat?) and then passed by a rock area where they possibly filmed a Pirates of the Caribbean scene. Am I crazy, did I dream this review you did? I've been through you port posts at the bottom of your signature and I cannot find it anywhere. If you see this could you reply please? I miss your NCL reviews, when is your next NCL cruise. I know you still have a few ships to cruise on! Thank you. - Princess Cindy

Hi, does anyone have any info on the Dawn? Thanks in advance.:D

I would also like information about the officers on the Dawn. Anyone out there want to chime in with some answers? I'm especially interested in the concierge and the butlers, but other staff names would be appreciated also.

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RealCindy... Congrats on all the things you are celebrating on your upcoming cruise esp. your youngest son beating cancer!

 

We leave this coming Friday and I can report back to you with a definite answer when I return....

 

This wil be our 6th time in the GV and we always had a complimentary specialty dinner of our choice that was arranged/offered through our concierge but just thought it was a perk of booking the Garden Villa.

An out of the blue cancer diagnosis at age 19 plus three days is a real kick in the...well...he did have testicular cancer! It was a scary time but we did tons of research, found a great oncologist, prayed, crossed our fingers and tried to keep our sense of humor during the treatment plan. Now it is time to celebrate remission and he is bringing a group of close friends along. The space in the G.V. for the guys, plus the others joinging us on this cruise, will be well used and appreciated.

Thanks for checking on this perk/not a perk for us. Enjoy your time on the beautiful blue water!

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We were in the GV on the Jewel at Christmas and we did get one dinner complimentary for our party. We've sailed in the GV twice and each time our complimentary dinner has been at Cagneys. Not sure if you have the option of selecting from all of the specialty restaurants. I'd suggest calling the pre-concierge line and asking your question.

Thank you very much! Cagneys...you can't go wrong with steak! I could eat there nearly every night of a cruise.

Yes, we have the 3 meal dining plan plus both hubby and I are platinum, so we have 5 meals already taken care of. I seem to remember during our last G.V. cruise the concierge said to pick one meal for all of us at the specialty of our choice as a "gift" from NCL.

We have a big group on-board celebrating our oldest son's honeymoon AND my youngest son's kicking the behind out of stage 3 Testicular cancer! I'm trying to get as organized as possible now before the wedding, sending the youngest back to college and the rest of life catches up this fall. Could be my imagination though, so I thought I would reach out to someone who recently cruised in a G.V. and find out.

I am thinking that the Garden Villa gets a free meal included at one of the specialty restaurants during the cruise. If any recent cruisers could confirm this for me I'd appreciate it as we are nearing 100 days out and trying to finalize our dining.

My husband and I did this for our 19 year old son on the Sky in March 2015 when it was unlimited beverages. We took our drivers licenses and our passports and were prepared to be quizzed at the front desk. It was pretty much no questions asked and they had our son and one of us (as his parent) sign the form. We stayed in an aft suite and every time we ate lunch or dinner in Cagneys the waitress would bring out a bottle of the wine he enjoyed drinking - knowing he would want more than one glass with his meal. Enjoy your time together on the Sky!!!

 

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My typo, this was March 2016 not 2015!

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My husband and I did this for our 19 year old son on the Sky in March 2015 when it was unlimited beverages. We took our drivers licenses and our passports and were prepared to be quizzed at the front desk. It was pretty much no questions asked and they had our son and one of us (as his parent) sign the form. We stayed in an aft suite and every time we ate lunch or dinner in Cagneys the waitress would bring out a bottle of the wine he enjoyed drinking - knowing he would want more than one glass with his meal. Enjoy your time together on the Sky!!!

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Going on the Getaway next Sunday & I am wondering where is a good place to watch the NFL games? We want to watch the Packer game which starts at 3pm. Thank you!!

 

 

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Hi!!! We will be on the ship with you. Unfortunately our Chiefs were not able to win although they scored the only two touchdowns of the game! As for the Packers, now that Jordy is injured (will he actually try to play with injured ribs?!!!) I don't have as much interest in the game. :( Jody is an alumni of Kansas State University, my DH and my Alma Mater!!!! My DH loves Mr. Brady so during any Pats game he is plastered to the screen and will only move away to use the bathroom and refill his Jack Daniels!

Hope to bump into you on the ship or the Meet and Greet. We will TRY to make it there. We've have never been on the Platinum ship tour and are wanting to go this cruise to see what goes on behind the scenes. We think it may start at 9 and go for 90 minutes. That would give us time to get to Cagney's by 11 for the M&G. Other than recognizing me with my ocean battered woven cowboy hat with a KSU Willie Wildcat on the front of it, just look for two early 50 year olds who act quite immature and have huge smiles on their faces. That will certainly be us! I have our pic on our Roll Call page (the last or next to the last page.)