Winnigirl

Congratulations! I love your enthusiasm and I know you will love having a balcony!

There is no extra charge to use Spice H2O. The other poster was mistaken about that.

Sorry - I guess I was thinking of "Vibe".

We have been on both and for us, the Oasis would win, hands down. I've never been in such a well-thought-out ship. Loved the "neighbourhoods", the specialty restaurants were very good and the entertainment is fantastic. Not that the Epic isn't a nice ship....it is - but it's layout is so odd. The smoke from the casino infiltrates a great portion of the ship. The bathrooms in the cabins are bizarre. It's like they designed this ship and then said - "Oh - we forgot the library! So they plunked a "library" down in an obscure corner. Oh- we forgot the Internet Café!" So it was plunked down in another weird spot. We came across so much of that. I don't think the entertainment on the Epic was as good as the Oasis. The "Cirque de Soleil" type show was good - but the dinner was terrible. Personally we thought the Oasis food was better over-all, although some of the specialty restaurants on the Epic were very good too. Let me put it this way.....we've been on a lot of cruises, but when I'm standing at the sink, washing dishes and daydreaming, the ship I'm dreaming of is the Oasis.

Spice H20 is adults only on the newer ships until after dinner. Nice up there and on the EPIC it has a small dip pool.

I just don't like the idea of having to pay a cover charge to sit on a deck chair.

We have taken 5 NCL cruises and 1 RC. I have to admit that the Oasis of the Seas was my favourite ship of all time. I absolutely loved the layout, the "neighbourhoods", the specialty restaurants and the entertainment was the best I've seen, next to Disney.I look forward to another cruise with them in the future. But we have also enjoyed our NCL cruises too. Their specialty restaurants are very good. We really have not had any complaints. The one thing I do wish NCL had was a dedicated Adult area. We aren't much for the pools, but I do like to relax with a book. It's pretty hard to find a quiet area. My daughter has taken two solo cruises on NCL and she loves the dedicated solo rooms. That is something that NCL does really well. On the other hand, the Epic had the weirdest layout of any ship I've been on. I really didn't like it at all.

We've been on the Oasis and the Epic. There is no comparison. Oasis wins hands down. It is in the top three of cruises we've taken. It was two years ago and I still think about how much I loved that ship. A perfect cruise for the whole family.

We booked through NCL on May 13 and everytime I log in we get a big notice saying "Don't lose out - last payment due now!" even though it was paid in full on May 13. I called our rep to confirm that it had indeed been paid and he assured us it had and said that the website is often incorrect. Now it's showing I owe them $47.60 - for what I can't imagine. I'm just ignoring it.

This! I understand that some people neither want or need one, but I love them. I actually use them at home in my kids closets -- not a single pair of shoes, but everything else from hats to calculators to sports gear. On a cruise, I like that everything is away and off the counters, but easily visible and accessible.

I agree - I don't even like stuff on my kitchen counter at home. The first time my husband saw me packing it, he laughed. When he started using it on the ship his attitude changed - and I didn't have to hear "where's the Tylenol, where's the band-aids, where's the whatever".... I never leave home without it. (And I've never damaged any doors while using it).

Absolutely love the Bermuda cruise. We took it last year on the Celebrity Summit. This year we are trying the Breakaway. It is so nice not to have to "rush" back to the ship after a few hours. You can relax and take your time. We liked the quieter, more sedate (not boring) atmosphere of Bermuda.

The ferries and buses are very reliable and you find very quickly that it's easy to get around. Bermuda is not a huge island, so getting from one area to another is easy. Of course, having a few days in New York before or after the cruise is another big plus.

I've never really understood the "cheating" concept. Why is it cheating to take the cruise that's right for you? It sure hasn't kept me awake at night. However, if you're going to cheat, I wouldn't be asking Carnival to the prom. It is the one cruise line that we will not give a second chance. Once was enough.

If you are traveling first week of August 2016 and your passports don't expire until February 17 2017 I do not understand your concern since Feb 17 is a bit more than six months after your trip ends. So your passports are definiely good for six months regardless of the rule. And I don't think Bermuda even has a six month rule.

You are right....I should have used my fingers to count! Sheesh:rolleyes:! Honest - I'm really not that stupid, just too much on my mind. Thank you.

I'm sure this question has been asked a million times and I apologize. We will be sailing to Bermuda (from NY) on July 31, 2016. We are Canadian citizens. Our passports expire on February 17, 2017. I know that we are "exempt" from the six-month rule with regards to entering the USA, but will we also be "exempt" for entering Bermuda, or should I apply for a new passport now? (both my husband and I will be travelling within Canada and the USA before that time, so to renew our passports now would be inconvenient, as once we apply for a renewal, our present passports are invalid until the renewal is received.) Hope this doesn't sound too convoluted. Thank you.

Have you booked a "single cabin" on the ship? My daughter did a solo cruise on the Epic a couple of years ago. I booked it for her about a week before it left. We really knew nothing about the "solo" cabins - well, she absolutely LOVED it. Solo passengers have their own lounge, so you can meet lots of other singles. They have a special dining table as well, and their own itinerary for sightseeing and tour guides. You can do as much or as little with them as you choose.

The one question that stood out for me was your query of taking your backpack into Barcelona. First, be assured, that you will be perfectly safe in Barcelona, but the pickpockets along Los Ramblas are notorious. Although we were told time and time again to be very careful, three people came back to the ship reporting that they had money, documents and purses stolen. Invest in a small shoulder bag and keep it to the front of you - or even put it inside your jacket or coat if you are wearing one. Or invest in a money belt you wear inside your clothes. Under no circumstances take a backpack and wear it on your back.

It's nerve-wracking to be planning your first cruise - but I know you'll have a wonderful time.

Did a dune walk from Warwick Long Beach to Horseshoe Bay. May be fun for your little one. Link gives more info:

http://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda_0000b4.htm

Thank you for the information on this attraction. I'm definitely putting it on our itinerary for this year.

I couldn't agree with your example more. I think that most of the snarky comments about nasty crew members come from folks that are, dare I say it, a bit nasty themselves. Sure there's a rotten apple in every barrel, but more often than not you get what you give in this world. I try to treat everyone with genuine respect and gratitude for their work. It's the way I was brought up I guess and I think it's just the right way to behave. :)

This is so true. On our last cruise on the Epic the people next door were so rude to our room steward. It was terrible. You could hear them speaking to him in such a condescending manner and never a please or thank you. He, on the other hand, kept his composure throughout and was nothing but polite in return. I found myself apologizing to him almost every day - for people I didn't even know!! We gave him something a little extra special at the end of the cruise for putting up with their awful behaviour. I find that the same thing happens in guest reviews. If one thing has not gone their way or a mistake has been made - the whole cruise was horrible. That's why I always take reviews with a "grain of salt".

We are sailing on the Breakaway this August and I know how you feel. Two cruises ago we were on the Oasis of the Seas and I still dream about that ship. It was, without a doubt, the best cruise we have ever had. Last year we sailed to Bermuda on the Celebrity Summit - and I was underwhelmed. I just felt out of place on that ship. There was not very much to do and though we are 55+, the majority of passengers seemed a lot older than us. We are trying the Breakaway this year because we love Bermuda. It's a wonderful island with tons to do and it's so easy to get around on the ferries and buses. Definitely plan for a day at Horseshoe Bay - and take the earliest bus you can. It does get crowded. Hamilton is very "British" - reminds me a bit of Victoria. If you can swing it plan for a couple of days in New York before or after the cruise. It's always exciting.

The Chateau Frontenac is a very special experience. For one night I would splurge. Plus, you are in the heart of Old Quebec - wonderful shops and restaurants.

I'll never understand why cruise ships don't abide by their own "rules". The only cruise we've been on where children were strictly removed from the adult areas was - ironically - Disney. I know the thinking is that they "can't offend" anyone - but the opposite is true. Everyone gets offended. The adults that want a little peace and quiet. The parents of the children that are told to leave the adult area. Even the kids who have been removed. I've seen more than one confrontation when a child has been told to leave an adult pool. It's not unreasonable that adults have one pool for themselves. The kids have an entire waterpark - which is great. Enforcing rules makes it more pleasant for everyone.

For a quiet spot indoors, try the library/card room or outdoors up on deck 17 way at the front of the ship. Not much shade, but definitely quiet. I do not think a quiet bar exists as all the bars I saw looked busy. Maltings had a small seating area around the bar and didn't seem to be loud with music so maybe that could work for you? When I'm in a balcony room and without the kids on the cruise, I just tend to enjoyed the peace and quiet of my balcony. :)

 

There is Spice H20 area which I believe is for 18 and above, but not necessarily a quiet place all the time. Someone in an earlier post noted that Uptown Grill on 16 was quiet during port days, probably because it was not open for lunch, but on sea days this area was not a quiet spot on my sailing. The Daily advertised la Cucina area as a designated quiet spot on port days, but I didn't go to check it out. But as most of the people are off the ship then there would I would expect a lot more quiet spots. :)

 

Also keep in mind that if there are a lot of children on the ship it will be tougher to find quiet areas. Was told our sailing only had 400 kids by a Splash Academy councillor and that during spring break they had 1500. :eek:

I'm under no illusions that this is going to be a quiet cruise! We booked it spur of the moment. I love the little darlings - I'd just like to get away for a quiet drink now and then. Guess I'll stick to my balcony!:)

Thanks for the great review. We will be sailing on the Breakaway on July 31st - last year we were on the Celebrity Summit. We enjoy Bermuda and having 3 days to enjoy it is a perfect cruise for us. I am a little nervous about the Breakaway, after the relatively sedate Summit. Are there any quiet spots for relaxing and reading? Any quiet bars for an after dinner drink? I've gone through the decks and it doesn't seem like there are any adults only areas. (If there are, I'd appreciate knowing about them).

Had to laugh at your description of the bus drivers and rides being like the buses in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - that's exactly what I told my husband last year. I was waiting for the driver to say "Take it away Ern" and see a shrunken head dangling from the rear-view mirror.

Tammy,

I thought the entire point of what you were doing was changing to more convenient dates for your trip, so I'm not sure why the use of only 1 cruise credit matters to you for the September cruise at all. You are not losing the other cruise credit. It is only $250, not a fortune and you can still use the $250 cruise credit in the future. IMO, leave things on the September date which is more convenient for you. Think of it this way: it is not unusual for convenience to cost a bit extra and even so, you may be able to save the $250 in airfare by moving your cruise to September. There are some super cheap airfares out there right now for September. Also look for a good price on your pre-cruise hotel now and save a bit more there. You are really not losing anything. You still have a cruise credit to use on your next cruise. The last thing I would do is get all upset over $250 that you still have.

Perfect answer! Life is so stressful these days - $250. shouldn't cause you so much stress! Book the Sept. 11 cruise and relax!

Thank you. The ones on the Wonder and Magic look very cute - but not so much on the Dream...

I'm planning on adding a 4 day cruise on the Disney Dream to our annual WDW trip. We've been on 2 previous Disney cruises - both in a regular verandah room. I'm looking at a special offer for a "Navigator Verandah". I've never understood exactly what this means. What, exactly, is a "Navigator Verandah?" Could someone explain? Thanks.

Hi everyone....I was also on the June 14th sailing.

 

We wanted to go to the MDR for lunch, but when we asked, we were told that it was not open for lunch.

 

We boarded the ship around noon and went to the buffet for lunch.

We were also on the June 14th sailing. By accident we followed some people ahead of us and ended up at the Cosmopolitan. (We, too, are not buffet people). I had a delicious Cobb Salad. Really enjoyed it. It seems that not many realized that the MDR was open for lunch. It was maybe a quarter full, very quiet and great service. So much better than the chaotic buffet.

Any problem getting dining times. Are there long lines around the 6:30 time?

We had select dining and no reservations. We generally went to the dining room around 6:30. The only time we waited (we were given a beeper) was on the first formal night, and that was only perhaps 10 - 15 minutes. Most evenings it was 5 minutes or less. The week seemed to start out sort of chaotic, but got more organized as the week went on.