stampincrazyinTX

On 10/2/2019 at 11:37 AM, TheMettins said:

We were the first people in the terminal, and received group 1- I had purchased the Priority Access, but the employees weren't aware of the new program, so we were told to sit and wait for group 1 to be called (we should have boarded after Haven & upper tier guests).  We scored the passes just in the nick of time- the couple behind us got the last two. 

Do you remember the names of the bartenders?  We’ll be there later this month and we’re hoping to see some familiar faces!

5 hours ago, Bambi_Smiley said:

 

Yes, On the Breakaway there is a large area in H2O where smoking is permitted

It's strange re: waterfront because their official policy on NCL specifically states that 'On Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, smoking on The Waterfront will be permitted on the starboard side, except by the outdoor dining areas.'  

On 1/19/2019 at 8:00 PM, Bambi_Smiley said:

 I forgot to add that the area at the entrance of Vibe, the seating area outside Vibe on deck 17, is also non smoking since nov 2018

Do you know if smoking is still allowed in Spice H20?

2 hours ago, Lovetotravel7559 said:

So far this has been a great cruise at a wonderful price.  I was apprehensive after reading a lot of criticism about embarkation in New Orleans.  However we walked 4 blocks to the terminal about 9 am and dropped off our 1 large bag.  I would echo that there weren’t any signs.  We did a reconnaissance mission the night before and someone working near the Port told us the exact place to go ( drop luggage right before the rr tracks and then go across the tracks and turn right into the terminal).  Inside the terminal we waited about 15 minutes in a small area where we received a Boarding Group 1 pass as we passed through and on our way through security.  After security is where our passports were checked, our picture taken and our sea pass card was given to us.  We then went to a large waiting room where we were held about 1 hour and a half.  There is a separate waiting area for the Haven which we didn’t get.  Then all Group 1 were called (after the Haven and those folks in wheelchairs etc).  We hustled to Headliners  where I expected to purchase Vibe passes but of course this cruise did it from a desk at Guest Services.  We were handed tickets numbered 23 and 24 as we stood in line .  Yea!! Paid $318 for a 10 day pass!  After that we purchased the 8 bottles of the cheapest wine and they gave us 8 slips of paper which we will use when we want our wine. So far:  everything is clean and all personnel are helpful.  Buffet was great for dinner with prime rib.  Our room is tiny with a small amount of adequate storage.  No noise from above (we are directly below the Garden Buffet).  However I am able to hear voices and clothes on hangers being moved next door. No matter I used my earplugs. All public and private rooms are clean and we haven’t yet encountered any huge crowds other than right after the lifeboat drill.  We are again going to the buffet for seafood night as Taste and Savor didn’t have anything we particularly wanted for dinner.  Then going to try the Comedy show.  If anyone has questions I will try answer.  

Very helpful embarkation tips, thanks!  Who are the current bartenders in Vibe?

3 minutes ago, davencl said:

Just got my upgrade for 1/27 Breakaway to Haven Family Villa.  Offer was for $1150.00

What category did you upgrade from?  

All ships on all cruise lines have negatives reviews for one reason or another.  Some people claim it was the 'worst cruise ever' because there was no lobster night or because they had to wait (gasp) 5 or 10 minutes for a drink at one of the bars or because their cabin steward didn't leave towel animals every night.  People will complain about anything and make it into a much bigger deal than it really is.  You're on a cruise for your vacation, is your life really that bad?  I think not.  You just have to take reviews with a grain of salt.  

The Breakaway is actually our favorite NCL ship.  The crew is amazing, the food is good, the atmosphere is fun - what more could you ask for?!  Find the roll call for your sailing, sign up for the meet & greet, meet the ship's officers that are there and you'll have a card with their contact information on it.  They want you to use it (and we have!) whether good or bad.  If there is something you have a problem with or if you need anything, let them know.  They can't help you fix your problem once you're home from your cruise! 

Explore the ship, see some shows and have some good food.  I highly recommend Ocean Blue (ask for Tracy, she's an amazing server but she may be on vacation) for some wonderful seafood but they also have non-seafood options.  You'll have a wonderful time. 

13 hours ago, Chuckabobo said:

This ship isn't 100% full (though getting there) and the talk i've seen going back and forth of those that did get upgrades - and others that track upgrades out of a hobby apparently - is that indeed if upgrades are to happen all at once... it happens top down most expensive first, to least.

However when there is more ship availability to play with, last minute cruise bookings are more likely to sell cheaper interior/ocean view rooms - so having some of those available before the suites etc are filled first can also be profitable for the cruiseline.

But then to make things even more confusing, since the upgrades of inside/ocean view happened a few days ago - for several days on NCL and 3rd party sites - inside/ocean view rooms have not been available for purchase.... showing sold out - given they just upgraded a bunch of these people that seems odd - though what is also likely at play is the people who booked a sail-away rate - NCL upgraded inside rooms that paid a pick-your-room rate, to make room for all the sail-away-rate inside rooms they sold.

Again much conjecture and anybody's guess, upgrades as you see described throughout this thread are complicated 🙂

I noticed that your sailing (1/17) isn't even showing up anymore on NCL this morning so I'm guessing it's sold out?  Did anyone get an upgrade that you know of?

Another tip is to not touch the 🖐️ symbol (to open the sliding doors) with your fingertips and use the back of your hand 🤚instead because the back of your hand is less likely to end up in/around your mouth.  

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

 

Just don't end up like me and "fall down a Youtube hole", watching like 10 straight hours of cruise videos! 😋

You're not alone...    sometimes, I'm like what day is it?  Did I eat today?  haha

19 hours ago, bwilliams66 said:

can someone tell me how you determine what an acceptable bid is in order to win....I was in a mini suite on the Escape and bid an additional 600 to try to get to the Haven and I did not get it....does anyone mind sharing what they bid and won? we are going on the Encore in Dec of 2019 and I really want to bid on the Haven if it's available, and I want to win this time. lol

Shortly after the Upgrade Advantage program began (when I think it was only available on Escape, Breakaway and Getaway), we won our bid on the Escape from a BA to an H7 for $580pp.  It was a great price at the time but I didn't think it was worth it after the fact.  Sure a Haven room is nice but the location was awful.  The ship noises early in the morning were SO loud in that room that I would have rather been in a BA.

50 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

 

So very sorry for your loss! 

That is SO very kind of you.  Thank you.

12 hours ago, JBorowicz83 said:

 

 

 

Thanks Tarps14 for understanding the totality of the circumstances. To the individuals that are only posting negative comments, I hope that you never have a perfect storm situation that cost you cash, or the chance to make memories with your families but I am sure you would just let it roll of your shoulders. 

 

Just to let ya'll know I was contacted by a NCL representative who agreed with me and proceeded to switch our reservations with little issue after reviewing the case and notes as well as listening to the previous five hours of calls where I was told things would happen to only have someone else contradict them. They booked us on a different ship leaving 1 day earlier and thanked me for bringing up the issues and even offered a extra promotion which I denied and they hope that I will continue to be a loyal NCL cruiser. At least there are some fantastic supervisors hiding around their corporate office. 

We had a cruise booked and my parents were also sailing on the same cruise.  We were excited to spend time with them as we don't see them very often.  We had a surprise pregnancy about 7 weeks before our sail date.  My doctor would not approve me going on this cruise because of the ports and the Zika virus.  Well, that sucks because we were really looking forward to hanging out with my parents.  The safety of our unborn child and myself was more important than any cruise (especially with the # of losses we've had in the past).  We searched for some other cruise options and found a TA on the Breakaway and my doctor said that was great.  I called NCL, knowing full well that we were already past final payment and explained the situation to them.  Luckily, they were very kind (it helps when you're nice to them) and switched our cruise to the TA.  I asked kindly if they could switch my parents to that as well but because they were on their own reservation and our 'circumstance' didn't directly affect them, they said no.  Fine.  I was totally fine with it because I know the policies.  I didn't get irate, I didn't ask for a supervisor, I didn't badmouth them to friends and co-workers.  It is what it is.  Sadly, a few weeks later we had a miscarriage again.  I called and inquired about moving back to our original sailing with my parents but they were unable to accommodate our request.  Again, it is what it is.  We lost money (more expensive airfare from London back home, etc.) but that's just a part of traveling.  So, yes, we did 'just let it roll of our shoulders.'  I'd pay 1,000 times the extra money it cost us if we could have had a healthy, full-term pregnancy so just count your blessings.

Yes there is priority boarding and a roped off priority waiting area.

7 hours ago, pieshops said:

as a chef I do not get the fascination with the lobster , this is a crappy freshwater lobster that has zero flavor and tastes horrible , now if this was a Maine real Lobster then I could see an issue

Yessssss.  THANK YOU!!!!  Crappy lobster that everyone complains about not getting...I just don't understand.  If that obsessed, just stay home and order some fresh Main lobster online/overnight and do it yourself - likely way cheaper than going on a cruise to have rubbery lobster.

30 minutes ago, InMyFreeTime said:

Hats off to NCL and the Bliss team.  I was on the cruise and remain inspired by the response of the crew and organization.  The childs welfare was clearly their primary concern at all times.  Crew was unbelievably professional thru a really stressful time on the ship. 

 

FYI.  The 8 year old boy was flown back to Miami today by air ambulance.  A Go Fund Me has been set up to help the family under "Noah Anderson" if you would like to help.

Thanks for sharing about the donation page.  My heart is heavy for this family and what they’ve been going through.

1 hour ago, Smokey596 said:

Finally! I was able to get my bid in tonight on the website (not through the app). Now...wish me luck! 😁

Mine finally worked too!  Good luck! 🚢

5 minutes ago, BigEasyCC said:

Saw the same video. Yeah, I think the word is out.

Shhhhhh.  

I don't think anyone was complaining about it - we're just expressing our opinion on the taste.  I wouldn't call up Guest Services and say 'this is gross, I demand something else.'  That, to me, would be complaining.

10 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

 

 

Exactly. I would settle for any kind of water over this.  If anyone is on the same cruise as me and I am in a suite, contact me and the sparking wine is YOURS.

When I first started cruising NCL suites in 2010 they would give you 2 one liter bottles of spring water.  Now I believe they give one 32 oz bottle of Aquafina.  That always made no sense to me.  You are cruising with 2-4 people in a suite and one personal bottle of water?  Is everyone supposed to take a sip or fight over it?  A few 12 oz bottles of water would be a nice gesture.

 

Seriously!  It's like the cheapest thing on the ship.  The Latitudes 'free bottle of water' perk has been a 12 oz bottle on our last 2 cruises.  Couldn't just spring (no pun intended) for a one liter bottle per person?  It would maybe cost them 5 cents more.  

7 minutes ago, gooch47 said:

Around 10 am.  No waiting at security or Check in.  No special waiting area but we did get called earlier because we are Platinum.

That is very helpful, thank you!

15 minutes ago, Smokey596 said:

It sounded like Stampincrazyintx and I were having the same issue? I did not see a reference to Plusgrade.

This is the error message I get:

We are unable to process your request at this time. If you've only recently made your reservation, please try back again in 24 hours.

42 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

 

I suspect that the two issues are unrelated, at least on the NCL end. Plusgrade and NCL.com are two completely separate websites opperated by two completely separate companies and, I suspect, use completely separate payment gateways. If you are getting errors with credit card processing on both, I would suspect it's more likely an issue with the credit card you are using?

It's not my credit card that is the problem (online shopaholic) because it's working everywhere else today.  It's weird.  I'll just try again tomorrow.

Really the only difference is that bathroom has a shower/tub combo and there is a curtain that you can use to have privacy between the 'sitting area' and the bed.  There is nothing you would get in a mini-suite that would be any different than the balcony (i.e. no 'suite' perks as it's basically just a glorified balcony room.

It's not good at all.  We don't even open it anymore.  I'd rather have some sparkling water instead.

14 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

We had a very mixed up embarkation on our early November Breakaway cruise too.   You would think the NOLA port employees would have it figured out by now

 

Our very favorite thing that was unique to the Breakaway was the complimentary themed lunch buffet at Moderno.  I believe it was only for 'At Sea' days.  Look for it in the Dailies.  Just wish they would do the same on the Getaway.  Nice change from the more crowded regular buffet. 

They also had a nice little breakfast buffet in there most days.  Less options, but again less crowds.  Shhhhh......don't tell anyone else

I recently saw that 'secret' in Moderno on a YouTube video and can't wait to go there for lunch.  I won't tell anyone else...