CruzinMel

5 hours ago, ggTexasGal said:

Possibly someone new was stuffing envelopes and just didn't know better?!  🤪 It certainly made me double-check the NCL website!!! 

I had the same experience this week when I got my luggage tags - way confusing .  And cheap.  Print some updated letters, NCL!!!

23 minutes ago, bundtkate said:

4ish days to go until we're in the Haven on the Joy (well, I guess technically we're outside the Haven in an HI, but po-tay-to po-tah-to) so I spent today writing up our butler letter. I was approximately as wordy as @Sthrngary and might possibly hold the distinction of being the first person to notice the double spaces after periods in the template. Despite being theoretically too young for such things (I'm in my 30s), I was a double spacer myself and one of the founders at my work (who is actually a fair bit older than me) trained me to stop. I ended up putting in single spaces with a pang of regret. 🤣

I still have 2 days of work left, but my brain is already on vacation. Thanks so much to everyone here for all of your help learning how to make the most of the Haven. I haven't even decided where to eat on embarkation day (decisions are hard!), but I feel well-prepared and I'm sure our wedding cruise will be great!

 

I am an unrepentant and incorrigible double spacer and that's about it.  They will get my sentences single spaced when I no longer type!  🙂

I hope your wedding is everything you dream of and the beginning of a beautiful life together.  

I agree with Sacteach - I had that experience, except I was trying to book 4 people and it would only let me do 2 on one excursion, but all 4 on another one - and on a third, it let me book 4 but then when I checked out I got denied because the excursion sold out while I was booking it.  

The advice I got when I called NCL was to keep checking back, because folks cancel, etc.  My other thought was to book a private excursion with Viator or similar.  

First of all. . . they're here!  They're here!!  They're here!!!

In other words, the luggage tags arrived!!!  Woo hoo!!!  Now, luggage tags aren't that big of a deal; on  non-Haven cruises, I have printed them out myself and one time I forgot to put them on, but my friendly porter whipped out a stapler, folded them properly, and stapled them together on my luggage.  So, not necessary.  But it's a perk, and it's a nice perk, and it makes it more Real, as it were.  They arrived with the welcome letter from the Haven, with instructions on Online Check-In and eDocs and the phone numbers/email for the pre-cruise Concierge Desk (855-625-4283, NorwegianConciergeDesk@ncl.com). 

One confusing thing:  I thought I'd read there were no vaccination requirements; either that is untrue, or someone at the Haven desk needs to look at the back of this letter, because it details vaccination requirements and the necessity to present proof of vaccination at the pier at embarkation.  Not a big deal for my people, since everybody except the Percussionist is fully vaxxed and boosted (and he will be before Christmas, even if he keeps trying to dodge it - which makes no sense at all, because he works in public schools, but whatever.)  The blurb on the back references SailSAFE protocols and says to visit the website for details, but. . . it's confusing, but not a dealbreaker.

On That Site That Shall Not Be Named, I found dailies for the first Caribbean sailing - it was enough for me to figure out that Malevo is twice in the week, starting on the first sea day, and then Choir of Man picks up I think on Puerta Plata night and then. . . well, I gave up.  I learned my lesson with this crew (detailed planning ahead is useless), and while I have a couple of must-do's that involve the Pour House (aka, karaoke and Rumours night, because it's Indiana Jones' favorite album of all time), and we must see Malevo because we have a percussionist. . . otherwise, I'm going with the flow and not planning too much.

Plus, since NCL makes it harder to get reservations by not letting you book shows until you get on board. . . what's the point?  I'm going to hope that between my own efforts and help from the Concierge, it will all work out.

On the mobility front, I got Mom's transport chair rented.  We had considered a power chair, but frankly, she ain't that coordinated.  I had nightmares of her running into other pax (she had nightmares of running off the side of the ship), and so, transport chair.  Plus, it's smaller.  I'm already sweating 5 people in a regular set of rooms (which sounds ridiculous, but it's true), so space is important.  The bummer is that I couldn't reserve online - I had to call and talk to a person at Scootaround.  Not a big deal, exactly, but I am on the phone 75% of the day at work, and I despise phone calls. 

Scootaround will deliver the chair to the room, and I got damage insurance and cancellation insurance (the rental is non-refundable), because with Mom, you just never know.  I'm planning to bubble wrap her between now and the 30th.  With luck, it will all work out, and if not . . . that's why they make insurance.

The Shareholder OBC landed in our accounts - $50 split between my account and DH's because NCL awards that credit to the stateroom, not the stock owner, and I guess 50 bucks each is easier for them?  Works for me - I will have no problems spending $50 of nonrefundable credit.  I had initially downloaded the page from our prospectus that showed the stock ownership details, and emailed that and the request form; I got an email back saying they couldn't see the stock details (???!!!), so I replied to the email with a screen grab with the relevant details highlighted, and got a new amenities invoice within 10 minutes of sending the second email.  Boom.  It would have been faster, but I searched my emails for the wrong sender (I get a lot of emails, which I also hate, so I rarely check email) and missed it for a couple of days.  Regardless of stock appreciation, I just got a $100 return on my investment.

I have a list of other things to accomplish - things like,

• canceling Indiana's Damajagua Falls excursion so some other person can get it (which will entail another dang phone call to the Shore Ex desk - the pre-cruise Concierge can't cancel excursions, although they can do just about anything else); 
• fixing our dining packages (it will be more economical to go ahead and buy a 2 or 4 meal package for Mom/Indy/Percussionist, espc since Moderno is one of our places to go and that on its own is a $58 charge);  
• fixing excursions in general - the Mom Factor is really messing up the excursions for me.  I am paralyzed by indecision and have booked. . . none.  Given the way NCL excursions sell out, that could strand us on a port day, so I gotta bite the bullet and make some plans;  
• My Butler Letter (hat tip to SthrnGary, generous genius) is nearly complete;
• retrieve my luggage from the Percussionist - he went to Europe this summer for a competition, and took ALL my good luggage because he was carrying equipment;
• get the Percussionist's passport details, for online checkin (I have everybody else's passports here).

There are reports that the eMuster has gone back to being the PITA Muster (Hate Them!)  I am hoping it is not true.

So much to do, but getting soooo much closer!

NCL assigns the Shareholder OBC to the stateroom, rather than to a particular passenger - I'm guessing that since pax 1 and pax 2 are the "main" passengers (in, the double occupancy charged), it's easier for the system to do it that way - less programming.  Plus, passengers can be moved around on a reservation, and it's messy enough without considering credits - I moved some around and lost excursions and dining that had already been paid for - I got a refund, but the excursions were all booked up when I went back to rebook. 

TBH, I don't think it's refundable, and the split makes it easier to spend.  

On 7/22/2022 at 9:22 AM, RachelGraham94IUs said:

I don’t see the reasons to worry. The possibility something bad happens to you is very low, so do you want to pay for nothing more than 45$? Sorry, man, but that’s how it looks for me. Even if you want to find expensive cruise insurance, remember how often something happened to your health when you were abroad. I think it will help you change your mind. It’s always better to save some money and spend it on the trip to see more interesting places and try more unusual food and services. Read more money saving travel hacks and tips here

Yeah, no.  The thing about insurance is you don't KNOW when something will go wrong - if you're a gambling sort, then no big.  

OTOH, if you have even once traveled and something bad happened - like, say, your traveling companion having a heart attack on the ship and having to be med evaced home - you'll get the insurance and pay for it with a smile and a sense of comfort, and look for better med evac coverage the next time you fly, because that stuff is NOT CHEAP.

13 hours ago, NikiPinkston said:

Aloha, my CC friends! Just wanted to let you know that we have family here for a few days so I'll continue my review after the holiday. Thank you for all of your kind comments. Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!

Same to you!!

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

As long as you can produce a statement that shows 100 shares of NCLH. 

Agree with The Bird - I just did it last week.  It shows up as OBC split between pax 1 and pax 2, and I got both an email and a new amenity confirmation.  

I am so enjoying this cruise of yours - thank you for sharing it with us!

Another buffet thought- I really prefer breakfast in the buffet because it can be almost anything, depending on my mood.  Down home, meat a palooza, English fry up, pancakes and waffles, fruit and healthy crap...anything.  

On 11/18/2022 at 10:56 AM, Sphilli2 said:

If you don't mind cooking, the cheese bread is very easy to make. I use a recipe from Plain Chicken. I haven't had the ones from Moderno to compare but we really enjoy them homemade. 

I've had the tapioca flour for a while and I keep forgetting to make it....but it's good to know it works - thanks!

On 11/14/2022 at 9:19 PM, cb2367 said:

I've been considering Alaska or Mexican Riviera as those are the places I haven't been to yet. Had Mexican Riviera booked for April of next year but had to cancel.

 

This thread was informative, so I think I'll probably do Alaska. I wouldn't be able to do two weeks so it looks like I'd be limited to Bliss or Encore. What's the best time to go to Alaska?

Just a thought - DH and I can't do 2 weeks either, so we are booked on the Jewel one way from Seward to Vancouver.   So, there is another option - Jewel goes back and forth on alternate weeks.  

I think the biggest thing is the location of the restaurant and bar/pool/lobby.  On Escape, the restaurant is on 18, upstairs from the bar and the entrance - so if you are on 18 like me, it's quieter, but you are always going up or down except to eat.  

18 days!!  I was wondering how close you were- one expects you did online checking already, and without incident?

45 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

No, PaulBrowning was in the winner there.  You handle that very well.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Hmm.  First PaulBrowning, and now a pigeon*....I think this corner of the internetz is making someone jealous. 

You are helpful, kind, detailed, pleasant and no-nonsense.  I am with the group that appreciates all of your advice, as well as the thread itself.

So let that pigeon fly away, and take their crap with them. 

*pigeon:  a noisy, intrusive bird that frequently makes deposits of an unpleasant nature and flies off before consequences occur.  

3 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

For people who love the cauliflower soup, it is now an appetizer selection on the rotating dinner menu in the main dining rooms.  You can ask which night it will be served and it will also be served in the buffet on that night.  

Oh, you have just raised my hopes tremendously - this is my first gluten free cruise (I got diagnosed with celiac in 2021) and I am going to cross my fingers, braid my hair, and pray to the cream soup deities that the kitchen wizards can make this gluten free!!!  I know it's a simple thing, but sometimes, it's the simplest things that are the best. 

If I can wrangle this soup, and those little cheese bread thingies from Moderno (they are made normally with tapioca flour and cheese, which means they are a GF goto as long as the cheese is freshly shredded - bagged pre-shredded cheese is sometimes very lightly coated with flour, which I already knew because it means it doesn't work if you make cheese straws with it. . . but I digress.)  Cream of cauli soup and cheese breads, maybe a salad?  I'll be a happy cruiser!  Thanks!

Looking online at the Hotel Captain Cook vs the Comfort Inn Ship Creek - just from the online sites, you couldn't get 2 more different hotels, if only looking at price - for my date, the Comfort Inn is $165, and the Captain Cook is over $500.  So, there's that.

I didn't realize, too, that the Comfort Inn's proximity to the rail station also comes with train noises.  Since my Beloved sleeps lighter than the lightest of sleepers, that might be an issue.  Did you notice a lot of noise?  

(Recent reviews of the Comfort Inn are scathing - but I'm looking almost a year out and one hopes they would solve their issues by then.  Another problem, though, is that I want to be able to cancel without a charge.)

4 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Prime rib. I’m not even that picky about prime rib. How often can you typically find it in the buffet?

I can't remember.  It used to be that they'd do prime rib in O'Sheehans, too, but it has been a while since I have cruised - a more recent traveler will know better.  

For seating, we always go as far to the back as we can - it gives me a chance to check out one side all the way, but also gets me a better shot at a less crowded spot.  Plus, the view is great!!  

Eating at nonstandard times helps avoid the traffic, too - the most peaceful meal we ever had was on a port day at 2 pm. 

As for food...they had a cream of cauliflower soup I have remembered and sought out since 2014.  I'm praying they make a gluten free version.  Muesli in the buffet is my first-morning meal, even if I end up in the MDR later.  And strangest of all, the best prime rib I ever had came off a buffet on the Getaway.  I like a sit down meal, but for breakfast and lunch, I'm a buffet girl.  

I'm on the hunt for an Anchorage hotel, with a similar time table to the OP - flying in (hopefully) late evening, needing a place to lay our heads before boarding the regular ARR train to Seward.  I'm not worried about the early departure - we are from the East Coast, so 6 am Alaska time will be 10 am for us (might as well get *something* good from jetlag, eh?).  I don't want the Cruise Train because I want some time in Seward before we embark, and I already have that hotel reserved.  We are very excited about the train!

So if I sum up what has been posted so far, the recommendation is to be closer to the train depot than the airport, and so far the only hotel recommendations are the Comfort Inn Ship Creek, or the Hotel Captain Cook, and then walk to the train depot?

Is it difficult to get an Uber or cab from the airport to either of those hotels?  I don't mind a shuttle exactly, but again - jetlag - 8 pm in Anchorage is going to be midnight to our bodies, after a long day of travel, and I don't want to wait for a shuttle if it's not just right there.  Would rather order an Uber or schedule a car service - is that feasible, do you think?

 

2 hours ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

if you want an easy embarkation, starting in Alaska is hands-down easiest.

Just because I'm curious, why is it easier to embark from Alaska than Vancouver?

Safe travels!

6 hours ago, Bertie Doe said:

Ah, I didn't realise Miami's humidity. Our only 2 trips to the US were 30 years apart, both to NO, quite energy sapping 😎 but enjoyable. Will def check out excursions for Miami and Fort L, thanks.

I live in Middle Georgia, with its fair share of humidity - when I get to Miami, those first few breaths feel like I need gills.  Sunscreen is a must, drinking fluids is vital, and don't be surprised if you feel like a souffle in the middle of the day.

That said, I love Miami.  My experience has involved more driving than I did in NOLA - there, we got a hotel close to the Quarter and walked or took a bus/train.  In Miami, we rented a car or did Uber - it seemed less walkable to me.

14 minutes ago, shof515 said:

here is a picture of the gangway:

 

i somewhat hate to say but it kind of looks like a fun slide to get off the ship. that could be a neat way to leave the ship

Wait - that isn't STAIRS???  That's a ramp?  

9 hours ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

Seward is an easy embarkation port. You can walk to the port and likely wait in a short line to check in unless you happen to get there right after a bus arrived. Embarkation is so spread out throughout the day that it prevents large lines. If you’re done exploring Seward, you might as well head right to the cruise terminal around 11:00 before the train drops off the first set of pax around 11:15. 

Ooh, that is good advice - thanks!!