Kaftan Kween

Sue,

After reading your post I am now determined to take my DH and DD to Maro's when we are in Cabo in February. I even went to Trip Adviser to read more about the place and find that they open at noon the day we are in port. While I don't expect you to speak for every situation, do you think we will have enough time to have lunch and still return to the Jewel for a 2 pm departure? Ordinarily we can finish a well served meal in less than 1/2 hour, but not if it takes and hour +....

Thanks for your help and great report on the Jewel; we sail in Suite 11018 1/20 and I'm hoping we get Bruno for our Concierge. We had Karen on the Star in June. Maybe there is more than one Karen?

Cheers, Jennifer

I would never pay $35K either! WAAAY too much! But, paid less than a third of that for a holiday sailing. A GREAT deal in our eyes. We sailed in the GV on the Star last year and loved it so we are very excited!

 

The upsell number is 800-625-4309

Oh please return with photos of your GV. Do you think it will be all decked out for the holidays? How Lucky!

Jennifer

Thanks, all, for your responses! When we get our embarkation time, I'll be better armed to make a final plan.

Happy cruisin' to all.

Jennifer

Sorry I was unclear. We chose the red-eye to avoid the hassle of a hotel (don't slam me, I know I'll regret it) so we are happy (willing) to kill some time in a Miami hotel restaurant having breakfast, etc...... until it seems timely to move on to the port. That is why I asked the question that I meant to ask: If we arrive at POM at 9am are we more or less likely to be standing on the road waiting to check our bags before we can enter the terminal and checkin?

I know that lots of unforseen circumstances can effect the boarding time but I'd really like to know from those of you who sail from POM regularly is whether you have found a pattern regarding boarding. We will be on NCL Jewell on January 20, 2017 if this is information that is useful.

Jennifer

We are arriving by "red-eye" at 5:30 am into MIA and sail from POM that day. Since we realize we will be killing a few hours (tired and cranky) somewhere in Miami, we are hoping to get feedback on the ideal time to arrive for check in at POM. We sailed from there once, in 2012, and experienced a chaotic teeming mass of humanity all crowded together, still schlepping our luggage with no certainty that we were even in the correct crowd. I am hoping this was unique, but I know a lot of you sail from POM so I would appreciate some input.

The day we sail there will be 6 ships in port so I do expect a certain amount of craziness, but would love to take advantage of our several hours of flexibility to either beat the rush or somehow miss the worst time to arrive bearing in mind that we will be killing time until we go to the port. We will be fine once inside the check in area, due to our status with our carrier, but hope to avoid the horror (yes, I know, memory is a questionable thing) of that first Miami cruise before we even got into the building.

Thanks all for any suggestions.

Jennifer

DH and I are sailing on the Dawn this fall and you should have seen my husband's elation when I showed him the travel weekly article about the Mexican restaurant!

Well done NCL!

DH and I had the best time on the AE in 2014 in large part due to the Paddlewheel lounge performances of Frank Chase. I read somewhere that he is back on the Empress this summer. Anyone know if this is accurate? Also, word is that Frank will be performing on the Queen next winter. Anyone know?

Hi all, DH and I sailed on the Empress from Vancouver in October, 2014 and enjoyed this cruise a tremendous amount! While there were issues with dock scheduling that were frustrating, we would book again in a minute - going West this time, IF the extraordinary pianist/entertainer Frank Chase is still performing in the Paddlewheel lounge. Do any of you know?

In addition to the the superb entertainment, we enjoyed the Riverlorean, our balcony room, all the staff, and especially the food. We have cruised many times on "big boats" and have never had better than the food on this trip! To any of you considering sailing on the American Empress, I say "go for it!" I am sure that the issues I referred to regarding shore stops have been resolved by now as 2014 was AQSC's first year sailing this itinerary.

Cheers

I should add that it appears if we disembark quickly we should have 1+ hour to see what's close before the excursion departs at 9:30. If it is nice weather will we have time to take the "train" to Mt. Aksla and back?

Thanks again,

Jennifer

Hi Lars!

Thank you so much for your wonderful posts/pictures on this (and other) threads. I have pretty much read all 65 pages, and wow! Do you have another life besides unofficial Ambassador from Alesund?

My question is probably on the subjective side, but let me ask anyway. We will be on Norwegian Star in June to the North Cape stopping in both Geiranger and Alesund. We are planning to take a bus to Mt Dalsnibba but need advise on our one day in Alesund. While I would dearly love to spend time in your fair town, I wonder if we will regret not taking the trip to Trollstigen. Norwegian Cruise Line's criminally short time in port 8:00-18:00 probably will not allow both. I really appreciate your thoughts on this decision.

Cheers! Jennifer

We were in 10006 on the Dawn - what is it you are looking about?

Dexddd, mostly I am wondering about the comfort level for all if we shared the suite with my sister and her DH. I'm sure we'll have enough space for adequate separation, just concerned about sleeping situation. DH spends a lot a nights sleeping in his recliner, finding it more comfortable than lying down. Will the "comfortable" chair in the bedroom be comfy enough? And I'd like to know what the sleeping situation would be for Sis and BIL. None of us are small people, :o nor young for that matter.

Thanks for your input. Since the Star just had her facelift you may not even be able to opine.

We cannot wait! Never done the suite life before. Jennifer

We are also platinum, and had an OS in March on the Star, and we had an impossible time getting reservations for Le Bistro and Teppanyaki. This was not problem for us before the UDP, or on other ships.

Hi Craig n Carol from NorCal. Which OS were you in? If you were in the double balcony I would dearly love to pick your brain(s) about your suite. DH and I are on the Star #10006 in June, 2016 and I have a few questions that only one who's been there would be able to answer (honestly)! Thanks.

Jennifer (Recently transplanted from Santa Cruz area)

To anyone familiar with these double balcony suites I would appreciate any feedback you have. I am especially interested in comfort/privacy issues if we share with another couple. Also, is there any weather protection on the front balcony?

Thanks Very Much for taking the time to write!

One more question, Ceba. We would love to take a pre-dawn tour to see the sunrise on Easter Island. Did you tender to shore there? I don't suppose they run the tenders all night, do they? Anyone have data on this?

Jennifer

I found the roll call.

Jennifer

We are doing this trip in reverse next year on Marina. We know the ship is terrific and we are really looking forward to another great sailing on this gorgeous wonderful ship.

To my surprise we also loved Red Ginger but overall Toscano is the best for us. It compares favorably to the Mario Battali i restaurants we love in NYC. Overall the food on Oceania is to die for, even simple things like the sandwiches in Waves.

Ceba, did you use private guides? What did you do on EI?

Hi Sammiedawg! We are also taking that trip next January, just signed up yesterday. NOW i'm all excited and get a full year to anticipate. Do you think it's time to start our own thread or is there one already?

Mr Oz, thanks for your great review. We are sailing on the Marina next January and I have a couple of random questions. Some friends of ours sailed on the Marina a few years ago and told us that wine and beer were served (included) at lunch and dinner. Is this no longer the case? Would you recommend using the Oceania for excursions, or were you satisfied that you got to experience all you wanted to with private guides? What did you hear from the passengers who took the ship excursions? How do you think your experiences rate price wise with Oceanias? Thanks for your time.

if i never had another alcoholic drink in my life i would be ok

 

 

i can not believe people will pay for unlimited booze.

 

At $50 a day x 7 x 2 people

that is $700

 

some of you out there drink like fish.

 

i now you are on vacation but your poor body is working double time/

 

even that you are not drinking and driving people can get drunk have

 

have fights etc

Do you feel better now, UncleBoo?