tel2

I would suggest you bring an american power strip. There is only one outlet in the room. If you need to charge multiple items, i.e., cameras, ipads, phones etc, it is annoying. If everything you need to charge can be charged thru a USB port, we found this one helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QX83FKK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_1&smid=ACHP5SF272J3I

We usually bring a power strip as well

Terry

It really depends on the concierge. Some are completely inflexible. Others bend the Rules a bit. I usually ask nicely when I'm in that situation, accept whatever the answer is, and tip better when I get the answer i want.

For example, on one cruise, my sister, who had a room adjoining our suite, had a spa pass that she paid for but I didn't because there was a sauna and steam room in the haven. I wanted to spend afternoon with sister, but spa had no day passes, and neither did vibe. So I nicely explained to concierge that sister had paid for spa, but I couldn't get a pass, and that it was her birthday (true) and we wanted to spend afternoon together, and inquired whether it would be possible for her and I to use steam room and sauna in haven, and then have lunch delivered to suite. I knew I could do the latter, but knew I wasn't supposed to do the former. He couldn't have been nicer, said he would allow as it was a special occasion, and even had our butler deliver a birthday cake with our lunch.

I have also stood in line at cagneys (on a ship w/o a haven restaurant) and watched a truly obnoxious couple loudly and relentlessly demand that their party of 8, only two of whom were in a suite, be allowed to have breakfast there together. They held up the line for 10 minutes. They were still turned away, even after he yelled that he would "have your job for this." I didn't see them again in the Haven or cagneys.

I sometimes think it is all in how you ask.

Terry

Hi

I know you didn't ask this question, but in the interest of planning and preparedness, I just wanted to mention that if your parents are not also in a suite (it was unclear from your post) they likely will not be permitted in the Haven, even with you. I do believe you can invite them to dinner once in the Haven restaurant, but there is a charge for that -- Cannot remember how much it was but we did it once. I vaguely recollect it was 20.00 per guest, and we were only allowed to do it once. But they will not be allowed, for example, to accompany your kids to the pool etc.

Terry

We usually ask for a small pitcher of milk (for husband's coffee, he doesn't like half and half) and a pitcher of cranberry juice, which I drink, and we have never had an issue.

Terry

I do not believe that is correct, unless things have changed recently. Nonrefundable OBC cannot be used for the DSC. However, I have on multiple occasions gone to guest services, obtained a gratuity voucher, filled it out for the employeE I wanted to tip, and had it applied from my OBC. Anyone know if it's changed.? So, tips yes, DSC. No.

Thanks. Maybe the new Haven menu just hasn't been rolled out yet?

Hi everyone

I have searched, and have seen a couple of references to a new Haven menu, but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Can anyone point me to it?

Also, has anyone given an answer yet to the question of whether the UDP includes the MDR up charge items?

Thanks

Terry

I am posting this knowing I will look like a complete idiot, and will send New Yorkers into gales of laughter, but if you are driving and using a GPS, make absolutely sure you have put in the zip code. The first time we drove to the port, coming from Philly, I just put in the address, and knew something was very very wrong when I looked up and saw we were on heading onto a bridge, instead of a tunnel, and realized my husband was blindly following the GPS directions. Turns out there is also a 711 12th Ave in Brooklyn and that is where it was taking us. Took us 1.5 hours to circle back to the port, given some parade, and a marathon and general traffic issues........ Thank god we had planned to arrive early or we would have been in big trouble....

If NCL is serious, and they invest in high quality ventilation systems, the smoke even in the room will be far less noticeable than it is now, and it wont escape. I would have quarreled with that statement a few months ago, but I recently had to attend an event in a cigar bar in my City, which was grandfathered into the no smoking ordinance. They invested in top notch air filtration systems, and I was astonished that although I was looking through a set of glass push doors at a bunch of people smoking big cigars, there was no haze of smoke even in the room where the smoking was going on, and in the food area, just steps away and separated by only that glass door, you could not smell the smoke at all. I was beyond surprised.

Terry

Hi!

On missing spa passes and OBC, double check to make sure your spouse/travel partner doesn't have/never registered for a My NCL account. I had OBC and had purchased a few things through MyNCL. They all went through on my credit card. But when I pulled up my current reservation -- which shows both my husband and me as guests -- it was showing only one half of our OBC and 1 person for each excursion, instead of 2. After multiple calls, it turned out that my husband had apparently registered for a My NCL account at some distant point in the past - he doesn't even remember doing it -- and when we logged into his account (after we finally figured out his logon and password), the other half of the OBC and his excursions were there. How stupid is that.....

terry

Terry

Sorry, but I have to say that this discussion reminds me of an unnamed person with whom we sometimes travel that insists at specialty restaurants on ordering way more than any one person could possibly eat, then proceeds to take only a few bites of each item ordered and allow the remainder to go to waste, because she "paid for it and wants to get [her] money's worth." The gluttony appalls me, but since we've known them for 30 years, I keep my mouth shut tight.

For the most part, if you either take the specialty package, or order an even larger-side normal meal, i.e., app, salad, dinner w side and dessert, the price will not be substantially different. It will only be higher if you order multiples, and I bet that most of the people complaining that it will now cost more never do that in a land-side restaurant where if you order 3 apps, you pay for 3 apps, and so on.

Terry

Ok, I am very confused about this discussion. As I understand it, the Specialty Packages, requiring a minimum of 3 dinners, will still be sold, and the al a carte pricing will not apply to them, except as designated by additional upcharges in a few restaurants, i.e., tapas, raw bar, sushi, ocean Blue. So, how is this more expensive than before? If you like the specialty restaurants, buy the 3 meal (or more package) and then you will not have to deal with the al a carte pricing, right? Am I missing something?

Terry

We always rent an apartment. It is much more cost efficient, and for us, more comfortable. We have had good luck through VRBO, now Homeaway. But we follow much the same guidelines as the previous poster. We try to stick with "owner operated" properties. If I have a problem, I want to be able to speak with the owner, not a listing agent that may or may not pick up messages on weekends etc. We never rent anything that doesnt have multiple photos and multiple reviews, at least some of which are recent. We review the photos very carefully, and probably annoy the owners by asking many questions, i.e., do you supply toilet paper and basic soap, is there a coffee pot or french press, is there a full size freezer or just a refrigerator with a mini freezer compartment (we want ICE), does the building control turn off and on dates for heating and air conditioning or can we use them as we deem appropriate, are there any additional charges, such as cleaning fees, etc. We always call the owner at the number listed on the site. We generally press to pay the deposit by Paypal. We have never been unhappy with our choices. In april, we booked an apartment with a terrace right on campo d fiori -- it will probably be loud and it is slightly out of the area we usually like to stay in, but my husband thought it would be fun, so we will see.

Good luck.

Terry

Hi! I have done Bruno's Food Tour described above on a Sunday. Not sure if still offered on Sundays, but was about 2 years ago, and I am hoping to book it again in April on a Sunday. I think I have done just about every food tour in Rome, and this one was, without question, the best ever.

Terry

I have been on Breakaway 3 times. Each time, I arrived at the port by 10AM. Each time, I was in the first non-Haven boarding group. Each time, I was easily able to secure Vibe passes. I went directly to Guest Services as soon as I boarded. I was usually 10th or 15th in line. No problem. Just get there early.

Terry

On Breakaway, smoking was permitted at the bar. Also, there was a seating area with couch type chairs, not loungers, near the entrance and there was a stationary ashtray next to one of the couches. Im not sure if someone moved it there, or it belonged there. My husband sat over there to smoke a few times, but no one else was anywhere around -- he originally sat there because he first went to the bar and a woman kept fanning the air and he realized it was annoying her so he moved. The waiter didnt say anything to him when he ordered a drink. But he was prepared to move if anyone else came over. So, not sure if smoking was actually permitted in the couch area or whether they just let him do it to avoid annoying the woman at the bar.

Terry

The last time I cruised on the epic there was no layout booklets, layout hasn't changed drastically, mainly a rename of fat cats. I think there was greater reliance on the electronic navigation screens on my last cruise.

 

My understanding is obc is taken off final bill, at end of cruise, I don't think you can allocate it specifically.

Sure you can. Each couple should just make reservations for 3 people. The cost of 3 will be charged against each room's OBC. You cannot do this until you board I dont think, unless it has changed recently.

I would take a mini suite any day. The bathrooms are much larger - not just the additional of a tub. The balconies are larger. And, in my view, the location is usually better.

terry

I've done both and would definitely recommend the 2 bedroom. The downsides are you only have one balcony, and you will have to pay addl gratuities for the butler and concierge. The upsides are the perks, the large living room area, the multiple TVs with DVD players, the ability to eat at the haven restaurant, the butler who will bring you whatever you want, the Lavazza coffee machine, the private pool and hot tub, the concierge to make all your dinner recommendations, the priority you get for tenders and getting off the ship at ports. Hands down, the suite makes for a better more relaxed vacation.

Terry

]]As we headed out with the crowds I heard an older gentleman talking to his friend….it was so cute and he was obviously a new cruiser. He was remarking how he couldn’t believe a restaurant like this was included in free dining. He kept saying how he couldn’t wrap his head around all that was included. I do know a lot of first time cruisers often think they can only eat in the buffet or pay extra for the main dining room. So many are surprised that they actually do get sit down meals as well.

 

So, this reminded me of a very funny story involving my husband when he was just 22 (40 years ago...). He was in the service and the parents of a buddy had booked a 4 night cruise with their son, and at the last minute, they couldnt go, and they told the buddy that he could go and bring a friend. My husband was the friend. I guess it was in the old days when substitutions just days before a trip were allowed. But my DH and his friend were both servicemen, and although they were able to get leave, both were pretty much broke. So they went on this cruise, and had NO IDEA that all the food was free. They had each deposited a small amount of cash, and used what little money they had for beer, and spent the first 2 1/2 days eating peanuts and other bar snacks as their total sustenance. They then met a couple of girls near their age at the pool, who took them up to the buffet because the girls wanted a snack, and they finally realized they could eat at the buffet for free. They never figured out they could go to the dining room.....

Maybe this will help? It looks like you can do the trip in 1/2 day and maybe others on your sailing will want to join you?

 

http://www.provenceandwine.com/en/5/chateauneuf-du-pape-provence-and-wine

Thanks. I have been searching, but hadnt found this tour.

They could do a lot of things but they wouldn't still be entitled to do so.

Hello, we were in exactly the same position last year. I was comped a Penthouse, my husband was comped an OV. We did the same thing with his sister. But we paid to upgrade to a balcony, and then got the balcony that conencted to the penthouse. And we got extra keys (didnt try to switch rooms because we knew we could not). But to our great surprise, the concierge was kind enough to extend the suite benefits, since we had connecting staterooms, to all four of us.

Terry

This is so disappointing. I love Palma. Marseilles not so much. If we were in port longer I would look for a wine tour to Chateauneuf du Pape -- but it takes 1.5 hours to get there, so.... Or if I was going later I would go to Luberon to see the lavender fields, but Im going in early May and they will not be blooming yet. No happy about this.

Terry

Oh goodness yes. We lost a boatload of money on our last Alaska cruise, and my husband spent the entire inner passage sail in the casino (what a shame to miss that!)

terry

My own opinion is that NCL recognizes that most people are unwilling to pay for al a carte, and does not expect to make more money on the al a carte itself. Rather it expects that the al a carte pricing will drive many more people to purchase the UDP, which will increase revenue. And, of course, some people will not care at all about al a carte pricing and will pay for whatever they want to eat.

My own guess is that it will be a successful strategy. Folks who used to buy one or two specialty dinners now will say, oh, it is a much better value if I but the 3 dinner plan.... We never purchased the full week plan because we get two platinum dinners, but we often purchased an additional 2 or so on each cruise, depending on port intensity and where we were. Now, there is little doubt that we will buy at least some package, because my husband likes 2 or 3 apps, then soup, then salad, then an entree, and often dessert as well. I usually get an app, a salad, an entree and dessert. Al a carte would kill people like us. Thus, they have converted an occasional specialty user to a more frequent one, and I suspect many others will be converted as well.

Terry