missinver

I am on the Encore 3rd November but was unable to buy the pass on the app. I've just went in through the web address and got booked no problem!  Thanks for this advice!🙂

We are doing trans-Atlantic in November on the Encore so really enjoying your review.  Hopefully your sickness has passed now. 

Was able to track down these dailies from another group.Hopefully you find them helpful for finding breakfast dining options

NCL - Joy free-style-daily Day 3.pdf NCL Joy free-style-daily Day 6.pdf

Sorry I didn't keep these! 

We are just off the Joy. I'm not sure what the breakfast options were as we never ate there at that time. But there are lots of options in the afternoon - vol au vents, filled rolls, pastries, cold meets, cheese, scones. It always was very popular. 

We did this trip in February 2022 and your review takes me back to what was a fabulous cruise!  We were lucky that we got to stop at Costa Rica where we went to the sloth sanctuary.  It was also only half full at that time, which reading how busy it was for you, I am very glad about!  No queues, no sunbed hogging etc. which is probably why it was my favourite cruise ever! 

No straws at all on our Panama Canal cruise on the Bliss.  Our first port was Jamaica, and I stocked up with a pile of paper straws from Margaritaville.  The crew had no issues at all with me using them. 

17 hours ago, Lionkingrichard said:

So just off the Dawn and service was great! Tipped the Bartenders and drink servers a little extra each day and they really appreciated. 

 

So on the ship people were saying that none of the staff gets the tips we prepay or at the end(daily).

 

NCL sent a letter to our room that said the Bartenders and drink servers, also Butlers/Concierge and also Children clubs don't share tips. It is used to pay their salaries.

 

So the extra tips they get really do help them!

 

 

We got this notification as well on the Bliss last week.  As not everyone goes to the bar for a drink, they are not included in the daily service charge.  We enjoy a drink at the bar at night so tipped bar staff separately.  

We are just off the Bliss 16 night Panama Canal cruise.  The entertainment on ship is excellent.  There are 3 bands - Siglo, an excellent rock band who play at the pool, atrium and Cavern club; Perfect Strangers, more r and b, reggae, easy listening; and Duo Rika who play a more latin vibe. 

In the Cavern club the Beatles tribute band has a trio of shows which they rotate from early to late Beatles. 

There are 2 pianists, one plays requests in the District brew house and is fabulous.  The other plays in the observation lounge and early evenings in the atrium and she is also excellent. 

Mostly there are 2 shows a night in the theatre, the Jersey Boys were on I think 2 or 3 nights and this is a fabulous show.  This is the only show we went to so I'm afraid I can't remember who else was on!

In the Social there is usually a comedy show - I can't remember the ladies name who was on for part of our cruise but she was very good.  The early evening show is more family friendly with the 9pm show much more adult orientated. 

I would say as the weeks/months progress the amount of entertainment on the ship will increase.

You will have a fabulous time!! 

2 hours ago, tinkr2 said:

I'll be cruising in February with zero reservations. Ive been vaccinated, boosted and just had omicron. I'm going to make the best of what I get . 

I absolutely agree.  We are travelling from Northern Ireland to join the Bliss for Panama Canal on 4th February.  We fully intend to be on that ship unless circumstances outside of our control stop us.  We are both triple vaccinated and I had covid a couple of months ago.  Life has to go on!! 

Its so refreshing to see a good positive thread!  kdmbluerzr - we have booked for this cruise as well.  Its still almost 10 months away so we are very hopeful we'll be on it!   We have the added complication of a transatlantic flight to book, but lets hope there are some bargains to be had. 🙂

I was able to book with the 20% off from UK on Monday - I received an email on Sunday from NCL advertising it.  I was straight on to my travel agent on Monday morning, as we have been stalking the Panama Canal cruise on the Bliss for Feb 21 for ages!!  It reduced the price by around £700 & the price included drinks & dining package.  Gotta love a bargain!! 

Thanks for your review, we are on the Dawn in 6 days time!!

We are on the Dawn in 2 weeks time for 11 day Southern Caribean cruise, so we are thoroughly enjoying your review!

I'm picking up lots of great info. on this thread. Thanks to everyone who is contributing!

Hi Champagne Lover! No, we are on Mariner of the Seas, we arrive in Singapore February 6th & cruise departs on February 8th. The HOHO bus sounds like a good idea, we have so little time it would be a great way of seeing lots of the city.

Oh that's not good, but I'm so glad you got a suitable alternative booked, but sucks that it is more expensive. The time is marching on & our holiday will be here before we know it!! Would be great to meet up on board for some cocktails!

Radiance Cruiser, I am stalking you around the forum's tonight & soaking up all the information you are getting!! Our flight from London arrives just a couple of hours before you around 2.40pm. I will probably spend the next 5 months trying to plan this trip, we also have 5 nights in Bali after the cruise, so that needs researched as well lol!!

I've just found this thread & I'm on the same cruise as Radiance Cruiser, who I have already had brief introductions with on the roll call!

I'm extremely interested in all the information provided as we are now starting to put plans together to maximise our short time in Vietnam & Bangkok. RC my husband also was very interested in doing the tunnel trip, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I am going to over rule him & go for a city tour of Saigon. I would imagine it will be our only time ever in Vietnam so I want to experience as much as possible. :)

Dexddd - yes just the 2 of us.

Cagneys - some of the starters are different but the main courses seem to be the same with the same prices.

Le Bistro - a lot of the menu is different - I had "les quatres cornets" for starters which was little cones with different fillings. Also my main course was a seafood selection (lobster, shrimp, scallops) on puff pastry.

Our bill at Le Bistro was just under $70 and that was 3 courses each (we had UBP so no drink charge). Cagneys was nearer $60 but we didn't bother with pudding here.

Both were excellent but my favourite was Cagneys!!

where are they posted Keith & I'll have a look.

Yes, a la carte pricing is in all speciality restaurants.

We are just off the Spirit on Saturday after a 7 day western Caribbean cruise. I have to say we were also concerned about the bad reviews we had been reading. We needn't have worried, we had a ball. We had no issues at all, the food was great - we ate at Windows, Shogun, Le Bistro & Cagneys & enjoyed them all. Our balcony cabin was fine & I certainly didn't have any issues with the bathroom.

We spent most evening in either Champagne Charlies where there was always entertainment, Barry on the piano or a duette singing, or at Henry's pub. We didn't go to any shows but heard good reports about them.

Its a smaller ship than some we have been on, but that doesn't in any way stop it from providing a great cruise experience!