judipa

Last time on Spirit was 2006 and I'm sure that a lot has changed. The cabins seemed smaller 

than other ships. I am cruising next year on cabin 9703. Please let me know if you have been

in this cabin. On the deck plan it looks as big as the inside accessible cabins but i can't get

any confirmation of that. Any news or pics would be appreciated.

12 hours ago, cruiserchris613 said:

Couldn't have explained it better myself! I think the proper term for this is the metacentric height, or GM, which is the measure of distance between the center of gravity and the metacenter, or point of oscillation. 

Here's a pretty good video explanation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUgXf2Rj2YQ

 

To reduce the rolling, ships usually steer head-on into the waves, but in this case, the Escape must have suddenly been hit broadside by a swell and sudden gale at the same time, which caused the roll. 

 

I wonder if @chengkp75 has any thoughts on this. What do you think, Chief? KP '75 is much more wiser than a Schuyler '14!

I was on 12/9 Escape also and I don't remember any storms or any problems. I slept thru it all i guess. LOL

That would be nice if there was a Platinum priority but I doubt it somehow.

 

 

It's a ridiculous process to prioritise those that have booked NCL tours at the expense of others and I won't be complying if I'm given Group C or D - I have paid good money for a non-NCL tour and it's not fair to have them waiting around because of NCL's 'rules.'

 

 

Russian immigration won't care whose tour you are on, so if you can find a way off at a time that suits, take it.

Russian immigration is so slow it won't matter when you get off the ship. Got off early several years ago and waited an hour and a half for the rest of our group to make it thru immigration. There are at least 12 stations and only 4 of them were manned. I think they just like to make us wait.

Except that booking a haven room directly - not bidding for an upgrade - still carries much better perks. No tips, specialty dining for every meal each day, shore credits (if you didn't pick that to begin with), internet etc.

 

You are getting more for the increased price of a direct booking.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Question- what to you mean by no tips? Just curious. I would think more tips since you have the daily charge and you have a concierge and butler to take care of.

If you don't use all of your on board credits in the first leg of a b2b can you roll it and use it on the 2nd leg of your b2b??

I have always kept my account going when i do B2B.

Just like a new car loses value when you drive it off the lot, the Pearl loses value when NLH Arizona disembarks... ;)

I was also on the Pearl in December and noticed no problems. Everything looked clean, food was great and service perfect.

Keith- it would be my pleasure :). We have reservations at cagneys and leBistro (twice each). We elected to skip LaCucina this trip, but I'll shoot a photo of the menu there just for you :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Could you please tell me who the Cruise Director is on your trip. Maybe Archie???

Does anyone know if Archie is still cruise director on the Jade. Just love him.

We have booked RomeInLimo for all three of our Italy stops - and everything I have read about them has been top-notch. They have suggested that we use a private guide on our tour of the Vatican at a cost of 150 Euros. Just wondering if anyone has used the private guide provided/suggested by RomeInLimo and either glad they did or thought it was a waste of money. Perhaps others have used private guides through other tour services as well - perhaps they can comment on this question as well.

We used RomeInLimo for Naples, Rome and Florence and they were terrific. We did use their private guide for the Vatican and it was worth every penny (euro). This was my 3rd time at Vatican and first time for a guide and it was great. There is also a short cut from Sistine Chapel to St Peter's basilica and only the guides can use it - well worth it.

I love Barcelona and the "vibe" of that city. I could visit there over and over.

Okay, I am getting to that point where life is crazy, and I need some help!

I am planning a cruise for hubby's 40th birthday as a surprise. The cruise is in October, and is 11 days in Europe! YAY! That, I have booked. But now, I am trying to plan flights there, a hotel for a few days in Rome before, tours and activities, transportation to and from the airport, a hotel here for the night before, and I admit it,I am completely overwhelmed. His birthday is in July, and I want to have it all set up so I can present it to him all put together and share our plans. For the first time, I am seriously considering a travel agent, just so I can find someone who can probably get a better deal then I can, and take some of the burden.

But I don't even know where to start to find one!

So, suggestions, ideas, anything! Feel free to message me, or just make suggestions here that will help. I have never been to Italy, so I have nothing to build from!

Recommend "Rome in Limo" for tours in italy - go to romeinlimo.com.

Hotel - Rome - Hotel Sonya - they have a web site. Reasonable, clean, good location.

48 euros for taxi to rome from airport.

Try Scott'sflights.com to sign up for fare sale notification.

Google transportation from hotel to port or go to your roll call on CC and see if anyone is looking for added people for van to port.

If you would like more info you could email me - judith.hecht@comcast.net.

Good luck and have fun! Taking Epic out of Barcelona with 2 teens on June 4.

I know what you mean, there are certain times a year that I will not sail. Did you go at Thanksgiving in November?

JW - I went on the Escape the last two Thanksgivings - Lots of kids but still great service from a great crew. Very enjoyable.

Oh Yee's of Little Faith!

 

I am very much alive and very much "Life Happens", sometimes unexpectedly, a whole bunch. I came back to several emergencies at my property, with several key staff members having to take time off because of a very catchy severe illness so I jumped in doing the job of three people all at once, including my own. What with the huge end of summer events that are incredible money makers for us in addition to a new Corporate client that is in the International Air Defense Industry, we have been entertaining Heads of State from all over the world, trying to keep the ones that dislike each other (and their staff) away from each other is not easy.

 

Jerome has been on a grueling flying schedule, internationally, along with hosting several 9/11 events in Florida (United Flight 93 Cee Cee Lyles) as well as in Boston (United Flight 175, Boston Logan International Airport Ceremony) plus in conferences in D.C. and in Orlando.

 

Unexpectedly Life Happens.

 

I will say that one important fact on our dual Norwegian Escape sailings is that the first one was the best cruise of our life, on so many levels. The second one, well, given it was the first sailing with new Officers, that will eventually take over the ship come early 2017, the crew was not as sharp, nor in sync with each other, in my opinion, because the expectations could be different and the style of the new Officers had not been coalesced yet.

 

For some the cruise was wonderful, for us, menz a menz. It was a cruise and we were ecstatic to be on one. The events that happened to us, some not relevant to Norwegian, were so unusual, so crazy, that the passenger mix was the reason. Perhaps it was a cruise that was so undersold and given away on discount sites, that it was just a comical caricature of all walks of life. Unfortunately the ill-mannered out numbered us folks with tact and life's lessons filled with manners and respect.

 

I have been wrestling with the comparison review because in some ways, the differences were so stark that Jerome and I both wondered if we were on the same ship just weeks prior. What took place on the second sailing was a plethora of weirdness every day, both with passengers, crew missteps, and just outright dangerous behavior of unruly, drunk and disorderly events that boggled our minds.

 

Jerome and I could have been seriously injured by a crazy drunk lady hurling plates at us, as we ducked right in the nick of time as they crashed against the wall behind us, during a perfectly wonderful final night dinner at Teppanaki. I was mauled by "Jimmy" (Nearly thrown over the central atrium balcony in the casino) on the first night of the cruise as I was trying to protect the virtues of one of our solo traveling young lady Cruise Critic Roll Call members who was very imbibed and was seconds from being sexually assaulted. What saved me from going over the railing is that I told him I was not interested in the young lady because I am gay and then he indicated he would allow me to perform "favors" to him for $500. This allowed the young woman to escape and hurriedly return to her cabin. Pahleese.

 

This same boy went on to trash the ship every night, by harassing young ladies with his "Posse" in tow, breaking the glass door in the smoking lounge, jumping off the 17th floor ledge into the pool on the 16th floor, doing drugs, and being caught doing a variety of drugs and smoking in his cabin....so Security confined him to quarters and he escaped by climbing to another cabin via the balcony and exited unnoticed. Nightmare.

 

There is more, not so funny, and believe me, I have tried to compose something uniquely funny and hilarious about these crazies, but I end up tossing it. These folks were outright Looneytoons.

 

There is lots more. However, for those naysayers who may think that it is relatively easy to sit and compose a story, albeit, for free I might add, I do this because it is fun, not an obligation. It takes hours to compose a single chapter. I am thankful for the following, I always have been. But I still have other responsibilities to attend to, which pay the rent. So please give me a little leeway.

 

I am processing several changes to already composed chapters and will be posting them forthright, as soon as is humanly and humanely possible to do. Life is returning to a somewhat semblance of order so I can return to entertaining my many loyal and trusted followers. It gives me great pleasure to do so.

 

I realize that the new crew, which is the permanent replacement crew for the Norwegian Escape in 2017, will eventually get their barrings and leave their marks on service, consistency and quality. I can not fault the crew for the majority of our experiences. Some, very much so, yes. Most, though, are not at all the fault of the cruise line. This cruise was a Perfect Storm of if it's going to happen to "Trouble", it will happen to me. Trust me, it did.

 

That being said, we are sailing on the Norwegian Escape in March, 2017, once more, to finally gauge how the crew has adapted to these new Officers who will guide her through to the next chapter.

 

Here's to Jovo, Kevanc, Dominic, Melroy, Anthony, Rogeliza, Elizabeth, Diana, Darren, Pamela, Jose, St Clare, Leonora, Moises, Tyler, and so many more!

 

Here is a quick snapshot of the Officers on the Norwegian Escape:

 

Jovo and Melroy are terrific!

We have a trip to Hawaii on NCL next year planned. Less and less banks these days are selling Travelers Checks, and less and less merchants except them. We don't like to carry a lot of cash with us, but sometimes some small transactions like small purchases of quick convenience items and tips are easier done with cash. Are pre-paid Visa, American Express or Mastercards worth it to get cash? We really don't want to travel with Our bank issued debit cards. Any suggestions would be welcome.

DO NOT get a AAA prepaid debit card. They charged each time you pull cash. I learned that the hard way on my first trip to Europe.

Hi Everyone,

We just got back from he 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise on he Jewell. It was a little different than I expected. So here are some things you might want to consider.

1. If you have lots of tattoos ..... you might like NCL

2. If you want to sit around and drink all day long at the pool with ....you might like NCL.

3. If you don't care about great food....you might like NCL. (To be fair the buffets had some good food, but for fancy dinners the food is awful.)

4. If you are in Risk Management and seeing kids running amok in he pool area and spa with parents lounging with drinks...you might hate NCL.

5. If you like an all inclusive ... you might hate NCL...unless you pre buy all sorts of plans.

6. If you hate being nickle and dimed, you will hate NCL.

7. If you are looking for a really laid back relaxed non pretentious time...you might like NCL.

8. The Jewell is small for a cruise ship...but really big enough.

9. The water slide is for kids. Slow, but I loved that as my kids are afraid of fast ones.

10. You don't mind your kids.....mine hated the kids program Splash academy...so they hung out with us for most of the cruise (8 and 10.)

11. If you like music.....you might like NCL. At least on Jewell there was a lot of music - ironically not Salsa or flamenco in Mexico but what ever...It was nice. Not in morning, but started afternoon and all night.

12. If you are not too uptight about cabin.......you might love NCL. (Our cabin was not always cleaned up well, only received towel animals half the time, bunk bed was not pulled down most of the time...same with my mom in other cabin.)

13. If you love to dance at night....and DONT get seasick... you might like the NCL. The main dance floor is on 13th floor in he very front...so if you are prone to sea sickness is awful.

14. Kids are okay everywhere! That is generally a good thing. Most kids where well behaved. I liked being able to bring them most places. I was bummed so many events thought were 13 and up for adult content. - So lastly. I thought there was way too much sexual innuendo - even in he kid friendly comedy shows and acts. Seriously...???

15. If you never want to dress up and want to wear shorts and t-shirts the whole time ...you found your cruise line! (Although there is opportunity to dress up if you want.)

I discovered I am more of a Princess sort of girl. I fully admit I can be sort of uptight. However, I had a great time. The first two days I was like get me off, but then I settled in. The ship was so dated! The people were .... well too casual lets say for me... It is sort of a what happens on the Jewell stays on the Jewell. There were surely really elegant couples who were super "classy", but you only saw them slow dancing piano or jazz music. I never saw them in he buffet! There are several paid for restaurants which is probably where "those types" ate. But there were all types of people. Classy to ghetto - thought mostly somewhere in between. I won't say I would never take NCL again, I might. But next time I want to try another line.

P.S. I am 40 and from Southern California, married, with 2 kids.

I have found other cruise lines on what I call "local" cruising. Those who don't travel much and have limited vacation time each year seem to gravitate towards the shorter cruises that don't go far but that start in places that are easy to drive to from large cities. (LA, Baltimore) Most of the folks are perfectly nice folks but tend to let go a little and live it up and perhaps drink too much or their one vacation per year.

It's amazing how many lives we all touch during our travels. I have made a few life long close close friends and wonderful memories on board

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Well that's the truth friend. Will the Pearl be our 6th together??

I'm sailing on the Getaway on February 26. Does anyone have any opinions on John Dsouza as concierge. I have only had Adrian (loved) and Anoop (bleh).

 

Thanks.

Had him on the Dawn and he was very professional and pleasant.

Hi all,

Can anyone give precise directions on how to get to Headliners when boarding. We are in terminal C if that helps. Thank you!

Go to atrium on deck 6. Then head towards the aft and headliners has two entrances on the right just as you reach the glass staircase.

Hi,

 

I just want to get feedback from anyone who has had a guarantee cabin in the past. I have only done this once (on Carnival) and been assigned a cabin about 6 weeks prior. As of now, I'm 26 days out, edocs are ready, and STILL no assigned room. I've been in contact with my PCC several times, who tried to stall me by saying that they may be doing upsell calls(I'm in an oceanview OC category). However, now the ship is completely sold out, so the likelihood of an upsell is gone, but still no room.

 

I called again tonight, and even spoke to a supervisor(politely) and verbalized my concerns of the ship being overbooked and either not getting a room or getting downgraded. I know, it seems unlikely, but call me paranoid-I read the horror story of someone on an Alaskan cruise whom they had no record of, and everything was screwed up.

 

The supervisor did reassure me that I would get a cabin, and would be an unobstructed oceanview. I asked about how luggage would get to the right cabin if the cabin was to be "assigned at the pier", and she danced around it for a minute but finally said that we would have to cart the bags INSIDE the terminal with us to check in, then BACK outside once we got the assignment.

 

Has anyone ever done this?? At Seattle?? I'm traveling with my elderly mother, who isn't frail, but still don't want her to have to haul her bag all around the terminal b/c they are taking their time assigning cabins!!! Any suggestions on how to make this process easier? Is she able to wait outside with luggage while I check us in to get the cabin?(still a pain, but at least we avoid hauling the bags around).

 

Thanks for any feedback. Believe me, I will never go guarantee again-too much stress, but this cruise was already a hefty ticket price, and I figured booking it 5 mos in advance that I would certainly get a cabin assigned well before the cruise!

 

Stacey

I had a guarantee cabin on the Breakaway in June. Did not find out til 2 days before cruise what cabin number was. All was well. Printed luggage tags and went. If you cannot print at that late day they have blank luggage tags at the port and you can fill in cabin number. It was no hassle and i got my luggage on time.

They usually do not assign guarantees til about a week before the cruise.

Just got off the Dawn yesterday, so much of the artwork was gone it was shocking. The beautiful brass along the stairs near Gatsby's was replaced by dark wood paneling. I understand it is still on the ship in storage. Does anyone but me think it should be put back up ? ? It made that stairway, and gave it the look and feel of ocean liner from another era.

 

The changes in the Venetian are shocking, the ceiling murals and the art on the walls is all gone. It is hard to say whether what is there now is art. Cagney's has lost all it's charm with the walls so plain. What about the murals along the hallways leading to the Stardust theatre, and the promenade deck ? Even some of the artwork on the hull was painted over and is gone. Does anyone else miss the beautiful Impressionists paintings in LeBistro ? They were reproductions of originals, but very good reproductions. What about the statues by the pool ?

Where did it all go ?

They were not all reproductions. There are 4 originals spread out on 4 ships. There was one on the Dawn and one on the Pearl and not sure the location of the other 2.

On the June 19th sailing of the Breakaway we were buzzed 3 times by a private jet after we left Bermuda. Has anyone else had this happen? Don't know why someone would do this. Many people on the ship thought we were being attacked as he came right at us 3 times and then rose up or veered off at the last minute.

I am so disappointed! We have (had) 2 reservations on the Jewel beginning Sept 17, Seattle - Vancouver and then Vancouver to LA.

 

NCL says this is in violation of the Jones Act and that I had to cancel one of them!

 

I can understand that if I were booking B2B but I did two separate reservations. Why would it matter especially if we were willing to pack up and disembark and then re-board with everyone else?

 

I'm so ticked off right now!!

 

Am I the only one that this does not make sense to?

 

Barbara

You cannot leave one US port and return to another US port without being in a foreign country in between - the foreign country CANNOT be in North America. Subject to large fines for passenger and cruise line.

I tried to do this also in 2011 and could not. Solved it by staying on til Miami and hit central american countries before going thru Panama Canal.

Congress needs to change the law- it is very old.

We have been to Monderno on multiple ships. The carving service is sometimes inconsistent. All meats don't get to all parts of the dining room on a regular basis. If it looks delicious, take it,,, it may be a while before it makes a return appearance.

Just request the meat you want and they will bring it - you don't have to wait for them to circulate and stop at you - ask and ye shall receive!

Shows

 

I am going to cover the shows in this post, since I can’t really remember what days we saw what shows.

 

My husband had reserved all the shows on the TV as soon as we got on board. To our DEEP disappointment, Million Dollar Quartet AND The Brat Pack was cancelled due to performer injury. The replacement was some variety show hastily thrown together.

 

Don’t get me wrong, it was GOOD and the talent was certainly there, but I really wanted to see a broadway show and not a VARIETY show. I wonder why they couldn’t have an understudy always onboard or have a better back up plan, as previous reviews I have read about the Escape also had cancelled shows. I’m sure they have legitimate reasons, but I was pretty disappointed by this and their handling of the situation. I didn't prepay for the brat pack, but if I had, would have not been happy with their substitute for the show.

 

We did get to see After Midnight and to my surprise, I LOVED it and it made me even more sad that Million Dollar Quartet had been cancelled. I was disappointed that NCL lets people come into the theatre 10 - 15- 30 minutes into the show. It's so disruptive. I had to standup/squat as a 2-3 people tried to get to their seats who happened to be sitting in our row 30 minutes into the show. I was trying not to stand up completely as to block the view of the people behind me, and the people trying to get to their seats trampled my toes. :mad: Up until about 35 minutes in, I saw people coming in from all over the theatre late, and in my opinion, they should try to stop this from happening. What can ya do tho? :cool:

 

 

We did get to see the comedy headliners shows a couple evenings, which were VERY good and the adult shows were very tastefully done. I have been to some comedians on different cruise lines where the adult comedy is just gross and vulgar, so I appreciate when it is done with good humor and some class. I can't remember their names and I didn't keep the dailies.

 

We saw Howl At The Moon on the last day. I would have to say, compared to other times we saw HATM on other ships, the talent was just NOT HERE for this - I love a good piano bar/dueling pianos, but I just didn’t think the talent was THERE this time.

 

Up Next, 5 O' Clock Somewhere Inside Stage/Bar

Was on Escape in November and loved the trio doing Howl at the Moon! Thought they were the best ever. Saw the same 3 on the Epic and loved them then too. Who can beat Sexy J?

Well, if his true personality was a little bit goofy and over the top, then he was "genuine".

 

Does anyone who has met Julie believe that we have seen her "genuine" personality or rather just a fake persona of her impression of what she thinks a CD should look and sound? ( sorry, Julie fans )

I am in the Love Julie camp - she always remembers people from cruise to cruise and takes time to stop and chat. She even remembers to ask about me when my daughter's family cruises. Also - any CD staff that has ever worked with Julie has only good things to say about her and how much they learned from her. They all say she is great to work with.

Also have cruised with Pedro and he was a terrific CD as was Archie on the Jade!