toyotaford

We have stayed in all the GV's in the NCL fleet.   The Star and Dawn are by far our favorites because of the huge decks.  You can actually open the wall that joins the two GV's if you have them both.  The decks can also be opened to each other.  You are treated like royalty as guest in the villa's.  We don't consider ourselves high maintenance but they insist on going above and beyond to pamper us.  We don't need escorting to all our dinners but they do it.  We don't need to be escorted every time we get off the ship but they do it.  If they noticed we consumed all of an afternoon snack they ask if we would like to have it everyday.  If we get them to bring us a movie they include popcorn with it.  Many people have said and it is true, if staying in a GV you really don't want to leave the ship.  Enjoy every minute of your trip.

4 hours ago, sprint180 said:

What do the Butlers do on NCL?

 

The butler takes care of all your needs inside the room and the concierge takes care of all your needs outside the room.  The butler escorts you to your room once you are checked in.   He explains how everything in the suite works such as the coffee machine, the blinds, etc.  He will set up all your meals if you want them served in your suite.  He will bring you snacks of any kind.  He makes sure your refrigerator stays full of drinks and makes sure you always have enough ice.  He will deliver movies to your room if you want to watch something.  I once fell asleep on the couch and had a robe over me as cover.  When I woke up he had folded the robe and placed a blanket on me.  A little creepy but they do anything they can think of to make your stay more comfortable.  One night we were on Jade in The Mediterranean and the weather was a little bad so we decided to just stay in and decided we would like to play dominoes.  We called and the butler showed up with dominoes in no time at all.  Often when we order a movie they will ask if we would like them to bring some popcorn when they bring the movie.  NCL definitely spoils their suite guest.  Our travel agent suggested it for a cruise 13 years ago for my husbands 50th birthday and we have been hooked ever since.  RCCL travels out of Galveston and that would be convenient for us so we are thinking of giving it a try.  We travel for the relaxation as much as the destination.

We traveled RCCL about fifteen years ago but discovered NCL Suites soon after and have been loyal to them for the last 13 years.  We are currently considering a RCCL cruise and are wondering if someone who has done suites on both lines can compare.  Are there private dining rooms, concierge service, reserved seating at shows, etc?

We are neither a travel blogger or an agent.  We only travel in suites and often bring family, friends or employees with us so it may have something to do with revenue generated from a customer.  Not sure.  We are both 60 somethings.  Nothing really extraordinary about us.  We do have a great relationship with our PCC and she is one of the leading producers for NCL.  That may have had something to do with it.

We are platinum plus and received the invitation.  I assumed it was because we travel frequently with NCL.  

We had a very active roll call on a Panama Canal cruise we did several years ago and we did our Cabin Crawl on a different day than we did our meet and greet I believe.  We saw everything from an inside to the GV.  We also had a "poker run".  I don't remember us splitting into groups because we showed our cabin and I remember seeing all the cabins so I don't think I had to go to our room and wait for people.  I do remember it being crowded getting into the rooms and waiting for people to come out so others could go in.  We started in one of the clubs and ended in the same club to see who had that best poker hand.

We haven't sailed this year but last November didn't have any issues.  On Thanksgiving we had dinner for 25 on our deck.

Thanks for all the words of advice.  We have booked the 12 day partial transit roundtrip from Miami in November.  There will be 4 generations of us traveling.  My dad didn't hesitate for a second when we ask him if he wanted to try it again.  I can't wait to share this with him.

We are from South Louisiana.  30 miles from the gulf.  Hot humid and chance of rain storms is the story of our life.  We live with our glasses fogging up when we step out of our vehicles.  And my dad was so looking forward to this trip when we originally had it planned.  He had already gotten books and started reading and then my mom got very ill.  By the time the trip came she had recovered enough for us to be comfortable going but the doctors wouldn't release her to travel so we went without them.  They will be 80 and 88 if we go in November and still get around fairly well so I want to go ahead and plan it soon.

13 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said:

One thing not mentioned so far is the weather - HOT - HUMID - and the potential of rain storms.

If Panama did not have rain the canal would not have water to move the ships thru its system.

Rain you can handle perhaps but the humid hot weather maybe a problem to folks who just are not acclimated to it.

Stay on the ship in air conditioned areas - but shore excursions you are at the mercy of the elements.

Any cruise to Panama at any time of the year is going to have to pass into and thru a tropical zone.

 

To give you an idea of how humid it is take your camera or binoculars from your air conditioned cabin and

venture outside on deck to take pictures view whatever and the condensation may prevent doing just that.

Take a small hand towel to wipe you equipment of the condensation - those wearing eye glasses can be

affected also.

 

Now on the other hand thru the rain drops falling on your head - have the sun screen available for those

breaks in the overcast - sun burned in the rain - it happens !

 

With all that apprehension noted - DON"T LET IT CHANGE YOUR PLANS to visit the Canal either the partial

or full transit. You may have only one moment in life to do it - SEIZE THAT MOMENT !

 

It is truly one of the modern day -  Wonders of the World  - !

1 hour ago, trivimp said:

We did a full Miami-Los Angeles transit earlier this year -- it was only 14 days.  Just saying, you might have options other than the 21 day cruise if you think that might be a little too long for your folks.  

The time that we can go the full transit is 21 days.  I didn't know that they did a 14 day one though.  The one we did was 19 days.

So you did actually go through some of the locks?  I was afraid you didn't get to do that.

1 hour ago, casofilia said:

We did this about 2 months ago.

We went through the Gatun Locks into Gatun Lake and debarked as we had taken a ship tour.  Firstly we went to overlook the new Gatun Locks for about an hour, there was a film first and then time to wander.   Then we were bused back into Colon where we joined a train for a ride to Panama City.  A pleasant journey.  Then time in Panama City before the drive back to Colon to re-board the Jade.

 

When we were looking at the new Gatun Locks it looked as if the Jade was maneuvering to go back through the old locks to dock at Colon but we didn't see what it actually did.

 We did a full transit of the Panama Canal with NCL a few years ago and loved it.  My parents had planned on going but my mother go sick and they couldn't travel.  My dad has always regretted not being able to have gone.  We want to take them in November but don't feel they are up to a 3 week trip.  Can someone who has done the shorter trip tell me what actually happens the day you are at the canal on the round trip out of Miami.  My dad will be 88 when we go and I wouldn't want to spend the money and him not get to have a good experience.  We have even considered booking the longer trip and flying home early which a couple with us on the last trip did but the dates don't work out for us.  Thank you for your help in advance.  I was wishing I could talk to my PCC tonight and then thought of all the awesome information I have gotten from CC over the years.

I have so enjoyed your review and pictures.  We were on the same cruise and it was like doing it all over again.  I even saw two of our group in one of your pictures.  We had a great trip and the staff was so friendly.  

We just got off the Dawn 4 days ago and had a wonderful time.  Roel Gonzales was as good a concierge as we have ever had.  The ship was in good condition and food was great in every venue we tried.  We didn't make any dinner reservations or shore excursion reservations until we got on board.  We were able to do everything we wanted, including 18 of us eating together at Teppanyaki.  If you are a planner there is no need to wait but we usually end up changing dinner reservations if we have booked them in advance.  We didn't have great luck with request sent to the pre-cruise concierge but never do so that doesn't upset us.  We are just always kind of curious to see if it may start working some day.  I hope you enjoy your time on The Dawn as much as we did.

We have been in all of the GV's and never had an issue with outside noise.  Noise can be an issue on the Dawn and Star with the shared wall.  We had children in the villa beside us once that enjoyed "playing" the piano a lot.  We will be on the Dawn this coming Sunday and traveling with a 10 month old and 6 month old twins.  We have both villa's.  Otherwise I would pity our neighbors.  All in all they are amazing and will provide you with a wonderful experience.

Thank you for the reply. From what you recall, would there be any kind of forward view of the locks from either the living room or the outside deck above? It is probably a moot point, because the odds of winning are pretty slim based on what I'm willing to bid. However, it is still a lot of money for us, so I want to make an informed decision.

I don't think we could see directly in front of us. We kept the TV on all day and it was the camera with views of the front. We did go down there once and came right back up to the room. The process takes several hours and we did get out and view it from several areas but always decided the best views and most comfortable place was our deck. At times we were close enough and talked to the workers on the dock.

We have done the GV on the Gem a few times we favor 14000 although I’m not sure why. It is very different from the Dawn GV. I believe it’s also bigger We love it

The square footage of the interior of the Gem and Dawn are about the same but overall the Dawn is about 1500 - 2000 square feet larger than the Gem.

Have you ever cruised the Panama Canal in a Garden Villa on the Star (or Dawn)? We booked the Deluxe Owner's Suite specifically for the "front row seats". We now have the opportunity to bid on an upgrade to the 3-bedroom Garden Villa. While it looks amazing, it doesn't look like there would be much of a view going through the canal because of the suite's midship location. Am I right? Would the view be any better from the suite's upper deck, or is your whole view pretty much blocked by the pool area (i.e. the tiered sunning area)? I am so tempted to bid, but my husband thinks it would be a mistake if we ended up winning. I would love to hear opinions from anyone who has experienced this.

We have done the Panama Canal in a GV but not on the Dawn or Star. We have traveled in the GV on the Dawn and The Star. They would be amazing going through the canal. Go for it.

On the Dawn one has a kitchen. We dont care about a kitchen, not sure if its the same on the Gem.

 

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The Dawn and The Star are the only two that have the galley. We prefer those. We clutter up a bar and that way it's out of sight.

No problem with these items. Anything fresh or prepared may be turned away (I have seen people standing at the gangway gobbling hamburgers and fries, etc.).

I've brought fudge back a lot! And at one of the stops in Alaska there is a little kiosk outside one of the stores that I always buy kettle corn and bring back. We have never had any trouble bringing food back on.

We travel with groups a lot and never check in together. We usually all get there at the same time and finish at about the same time. Having one person checking in everyone would take a lot longer I would think.

Somebody has already mentioned it but I love the cheese bread from Moderno.

I have booked many groups with NCL and currently have a small group of 10 cabins booked. There group program actually changed recently and you now only need 5 rooms in your group to get the 1 free fare. I am getting two free fares for the 10 rooms. Under the program you probably booked under the required #of rooms was 7. It looks to me like you should get the free cruise fare without bringing the other 2 rooms in. They will just miss out on the perks that go with rooms in the group.