david_sobe

These are more like giant bathtubs and not hot tubs. But this discussion brings up a good point what breeding grounds tubs are. Hot tubs are full of chemicals and checked daily. The tubs in the suites have no chemicals to kill bacteria and viruses. They are like big bathtubs and the only way to properly clean them is to drain them and clean them like a bathtub. If they were real hot tubs they would stay full and chemicals added daily. Who wants to soak in a tub with no chemicals after another family has marinated in it right before your cruise. 🤮

If NCL ever put out such a policy this board would have lit up like a Christmas tree. I think this was discussed here and this was found out to be a rumor, correct?

I want you and Bird to do the perfect couple game together. Popping balloons on each other's lap would be the highlight of the cruise for me. Possibly even worth an upcharge to see. The Perfect Couple game is one of my favorites.

NCL has been cutting entertainment for years, even years before COVID. Does anyone remember The Grammy experience on Getaway? That did not last very long bringing aboard Grammy winners to perform in their club. Even Fireworks were nixed. This was when Burn the Floor was debuted. Were they not doing double duty of performing in Legally Blonde too? Even going back to 2013, I saw on Epic the Cirque Dream show was so watered down compared to how it was in 2010. We are going back to 1 big show and a bunch of smaller filler stuff with game shows, etc. Is not ICONS the same performers doing double duty from the main show? We may all be playing Hungry Hungry Hippos in the main theater pretty soon. 🙈

OMG they got rid of the computers? Then what is the use of an internet cafe?

I am very old school. The live trip reports I have done, I have went to the internet cafe and used one of their computers and my minutes to log in each day for a live report. I don't post any photos until I get home. That's a really old school way of doing things since most use phones for everything. I am even typing this on from a keyboard on a tower computer. 😁

The Goth cruise trailer

Thanks for the trip report. I have never take one but know the winter sailings from New York to Bermuda are brutal with weather and seas. NCL closed the MDRs on port days for at least 10 years now. That was an expensive cruise you took in 1992. But cruise prices plummeted during the meltdown of 2008. Around 2010 and 2013 you could sail in a balcony on a new ship on Epic for $800 for 7 nights and went as low as $699 at one point. Haven prices in 2012 were $2300 per person in a 2 bedroom suite on Epic which was NCL's newest ship at that time. Prices surged and continue to surge because demand is so high. I take cruises for the ship and not the itinerary. I sailed Getaway when she was brand new. I felt the ship was meh.... a total over correction from the Epic. They went overboard in developing a sterile and traditional ship. The waterfront is very nice though. The use of space on Getaway seemed crammed. The restaurants got smaller but the tables got closer together. IMHO the Breakaway class is the first NCL design to cram as much as possible in smaller spaces. Everything open to the walkways and casino compared to ships where restaurants have their own 4 walls and separate from the common areas.

That's old. It was a new NCL policy that they reversed almost as soon as it was issued. It was a debate of maybe 9 years ago.

What privilege? I think people who run to the corner to defend NCL at every turn is a bit much. While I think its reasonable to charge money for more lobster, I dont believe for a second that top shelf liquor and lobster charges have anything to do with customers trying to bilk NCL. Its all a way to make bigger profits. Sort of reminds me of when NCL announced no more towel animals because of "environmental reasons" or not bringing food to the cabin for "safety reasons." But many believe that. Its all enhancing the guest experience of course!

From the Captain: For your travel convenience, we wont be going to Paradise Bay but we will be having lobster in the main dining room and buffet. (Stampede from the customer service desk to the buffet) Captain ***sighs**** relief, it worked

Dear cookie brigade. Thank you for your search and discovery. If you have any remaining resources, please locate any hash browns or towel animals and report back in code language. Over and out

I think its only 2 bathrooms. But there is one cruise site that does show a third bathroom. I could be wrong but does not the NCL site say 2 bathrooms? I think the bedrooms upstairs share a bathroom. I like the use of space. Many RCCL suites have a similar layout but its loft style which takes up space for a high ceiling in the living room. I wish they were aft. I always like to sail port side but this time I picked starboard because no slides on that side.

Me too. I will be excited to see it. They are less expensive than an owners suite. Its either going to be out of this world or meh.

The beach the taxis drop you off at has chairs for rent and a bar and grill. Its not affiliated with any cruise line. I think we paid $15 for a chair which was insanely a great deal plus the cost of the cab fare. The drinks were so affordable and was floored they allowed people to drink from beer bottles on the beach. I sat in this beach chair at a secluded beach with a bucket of Corona. I was in a dream.

If you do go to Long Beach Bay, stay away from the cruise line touristy excursion. It costs money and they have the chairs stacked on top of each other. The taxis take you to a much more secluded part and its free. They will charge you for a chair and it includes wi-fi. They have a bar and grill there. There must have only been about 20 people around us. It was heaven.

New ships under construction a price drop will never happen. Its one of the few times that booking early saves you money. Once Aqua debuts many of the premier cabins and especially Haven cabins will go up in price. Its almost not worth checking. My cruise is 2 years away and my Haven class of cabins is already sold out.

I board one month before you so be sure to come back for the review 😉

I have done the Long Bay Beach on my own. There are numerous cabs that will take you there. One of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Gorda is over rated IMHO. Big rocks on a beach. The beach day at Long Bay Beach was probably my all time favorite beach excursion. Not touristy, not crowded, friendly and affordable chairs and accommodations, and beautiful.

Antarctica always has them. But this is distraction and is not logical because other cruise lines continue to sail there. This is also probably why NCL did not list it as a reason to their passengers because it was not true. Logic tells you that if NCL was going to bound itself to a go slow order, passengers would be notified of this reason. None of this is logical or makes sense. This is the last comment I will make on this thread because too many are using fake reasons to explain a non-explanation. In Public Relations you never put something in writing that is NOT true. NCL would only say this change was to "enhance their guest experience." They will not lie or tell fairy tales because that is dishonest and would come back to bit them. Clearly there was a reason for this change.

I used to cruise twice a year then once per year. With prices and other priorities its not as much anymore. When I retire it could be much more again.

Then why are other lines still going there? Why would NCL not put that in their statement to the guests instead of "enhancing the experience" For the love of God, if a hurricane is churning out there, there is clear explanation why the itinerary changed. We can agree to disagree but I still vote bull. People bend themselves into pretzels defending such a laughable statement. That's the only part of this story that annoys me. I don't think anyone is entitled to compensation. I'm a big boy and can accept unfortunate facts in front of me. Sadly so many others cant which is why we get these fairy tales.

Yes. That makes it even worse. That go slow order had been in effect for years. NCL still advertised and sailed there for years. If it was in effect and NCL was going to honor it then why advertise a cruise and then when your passengers board tell them that is the reason they cant to. Also other lines continue to sail there. We are smarter than that.

Thank you for sharing that. I would not expect anything else to be said. Their lack of honesty here tells me (IMHO) that something in the ship changed. While still safe to sail, it cant make the longer itineraries in that time frame. Other ships from other lines continue to go there and the go slow order existed for 3 years yet NCL still booked cruises there. The process of elimination tells you what the issue may be. IMHO this is part of cruising. I may be in the minority but I would be defending NCL all the way on this thread if they honestly explained the change. We all realize a cruise can change any itinerary or ports. But there is always an explanation for good reason. When the highlight of the trip is cancelled to "enhance the guest experience" tells you everything you need to know. NCL's defense would be if they offered compensation to your cruise then all the other cruises would be entitled to the same. I suppose its the sad reality in the cruise business. We all have different opinions on this. I may not be for offering compensation to guests. But a little truth goes a long way to the customers. But sadly I think I am in the minority on that and NCL is in a defensive posture. They can still do 80% of the trip and give a few hours more in ports. It works. I hate being lied to no matter how small. That is my only issue with this.

My Encore cruise was booked about 1.6 years before my cruise while the ship was still under construction. My Epic cruise was booked about 9 months before sailing but it was under construction. I will never forget when NCL let cruise critic board the Epic when it was leaving France for its first mini cruise and had all these reports from the ship. I love the unknown aspect of a new ship especially since Aqua is a Prima-plus ship. I booked it during Xmas so its really 2.2 years prior to sailing.