rigs32

Don't sleep on O'Sheehans for breakfast.  Their OJ just tastes better, too.  The Great Outdoors is a great spot to sit with cup of your preferred beverage and read or watch the world go by.  It's also a lovely bar set up.  If you do book the Thermal Spa, know that the standard hot tub (not the thalassotherapy pool) has a challenging entry - no way to step in; you have to sit and spin around to get in.

I frequently sail on the Pearl for charters.  The cabins (club balcony suite or interior) that are near the midships elevators are pretty quiet.  On the port side, you're under the area that leads into the buffet and onto the pool deck, so there are people walking above you, but no tables/chairs that are scraping on the floor above you.  The starboard side, slightly forward, is below restrooms and the entrance to the arcade.

It's to be expected that the chefs didn't personally cook for 2k people every night!

If you were on the waiting list and got the call that a cabin was available, you wouldn't have much (if any) choice in the matter regarding cabin location anyway.

They've had events with thousands of people on the waiting list, so it's just not workable for some of their events now.  I would sign up for First Available only if I just wanted to get on the boat and didn't care about what cabin I had.

“Texting” requires cell service. WiFi can be used for messaging through Facebook or WhatsApp. iMessages are technically internet messages rather than SMS messages that require cell towers

As an update, the Pearl did dock at Taino Bay on Jan 25.  Much like other built up ports, we had to walk quite a distance in order to exit the port area and meet our independent excursion.  At one point, you have to walk through a store to continue on, which was even more shady, imo.  They appear to be building a lazy river to go along with the pool that is already open.  

Low tide that day was at 6pm, which was the time we were scheduled to leave.  We ended up leaving around 7pm, but since I was on a music cruise, I now have some amazing photos and video of the shows with the island in the background.

I'm on the Pearl docking on Jan 25.  As of today, it's listed at Taino Bay.  NCL seems convinced we'll be at Amber Cove.  Hopefully our tour guide will just figure it out.  I did let him know about the confusion.

With a red eye, they would probably lose day 1 of the cruise to exhaustion, so for the price of a hotel room (likely not much more than $100 near MCO), they will be wide awake to fully enjoy embarkation day.

8 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

crazy thing is that Amtrak is completely sold out. I checked yesterday hoping to offer that advice to the OP.   Not only from Chicago, but from all locations within a reasonable drive from Chicago.

That makes sense.  It's the same train running from Chicago to FL regardless of where you board and this time of year, people likely aren't using it for shorter trips.

Just because the safety drill started in 30 minutes for passengers doesn't mean that staff (including the maître d) don't have duties that start before the passenger notification.

2 hours ago, JAGR said:

I think @tbmrt is looking at Meraviglia, so assuming he and his friends install the app on their phones, they should be alright.

That's why I specifically said that OUTSIDE of the app they could not.

Outside of the app, no.  You need either wifi or cell phone service to make that happen.  There has to be some sort of service to coordinate the data moving from one phone to another.

I find it strange that MSC assigned me a boarding time rather than letter me choose, like every other cruise line.  If I have to check out of my hotel by noon, there's not a lot of places I can hang out with my luggage until my 2pm arrival time.  

On 9/16/2022 at 6:22 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

All opinions are welcome.  'Beauty is all in the eye of the beholder'. It boils down to upbringing.

 

My opinion is welcome, but it shows I've been brought up wrong?  That's an interesting assumption to jump to.  I was really enjoying your review thread until the point where all sorts of vague and not so vague insults started getting thrown around.

Not sure why so many of you assume I'm showing up to dinner in raggedy clothing.  But no, I no longer take seven formal outfits plus matching shoes to cruise.  I will dress appropriately, but I spend all day every day at work in a formal suit and heels.  Vacation is a time for me to relax.  

Though if you want my actual opinion, I agree with a previous poster that someone can look really sharp in well fitted clothing that technically breaks dress code and look like a slob in an outfit that conforms.

Cruises started to become less formal right around the same time that airlines started charging for luggage.  I tend to fly Southwest, so can still bring plenty of items, but I would not pay for an extra bag each way just to pack more clothing/shoes that I would only wear for a few hours.

I'm sailing YC for the first time next month and have an interior booked.  I actually sleep much better in an interior cabin - the natural light in a balcony will wake me up even if I haven't had enough sleep.  Is it nice to have a balcony to step onto?  Sure.  But I'd rather spend my money on YC than a balcony when I have easy access to the lounge and YC pool deck.

Just as you wanted to board early on Day 1, so do the cruisers just starting their vacation as yours ends.  Customers still has to clear the ship before they can begin turnaround.  

For those surprised, the itineraries have been alternating pretty much since Oceania started doing world cruises.  Assuming they are still around when I retire, my plan is to go on an odd numbered year to hit more of South America and Africa.  I feel like I have plenty of opportunity to explore Europe on other trips rather than take an even numbered year itinerary.

I’m not sure why NCL would be inclined to give suite benefits to someone who didn’t pay for a suite.  It would make sense if they allowed people to pay for access in a connecting mini.

Just matched from NCL Platinum to MSC Gold.  Checked my current booking and it was automatically updated in my account info.

I tried to use the online form a few times and, until Monday, would always error out.  I'm guessing the system is set up to process the request within a certain window of time before sailing.  I just wish the website would have told me that!

Music charters have ruined me for regular cruising.  I love when all passengers have something in common, the entertainment is almost all in my wheelhouse, and there's a guarantee of things to do late night (even the charters with an older average age have programming until midnight or later).  At this point in my career, where I can afford to spend more, the extra cost is worth it.  [Especially when they offer a BOGO deal and I can get onto additional charters for crazy cheap]

I keep trying to submit my request via the status match website and no matter what I do, it gives an error message.  I sent an email, but complete radio silence on that front.

It's not a cruise that happens to have music.  Think of it as a music festival at sea.  I am in my 40s and LOVE live music and music festivals, but I just don't like the heat/sun/dirt aspect of festivals.  On a music cruise, you are steps away from your cabin, shade, and food at all times.

I've traveled with Sixthman a lot, including one Cayamo.  You will have to find time in the schedule for food because there's so much going on.  O'Sheehans is above the atrium and Lotus Garden is above Magnums, so you can eat while still listing to artists.

Why are you more HAL or Celebrity?  What is it about those lines that is different from NCL?  The free food will be fine, but not outstanding.  Cagneys is a great meal if you're willing to pay the upcharge.  The people on Cayamo will all be fans of that music, so very few children.  People will drink, but they put out more chairs for that event than any other because the music is more chill plus the average age of the passengers.

I see the photos on that thread of the 2 bedroom suites post-refurb.  I still can't find photos of the club balcony suite bathrooms post refurb.

It's dumb that NCL is actively sailing with new rooms but hasn't updated their own website yet