jemz1949

On July 22 Getaway cruise out of Copenhagen, a whole 1 1/2 lb lobster in Ocean Blue and 6 oz lobster tail as part of surf and turf in both Cagneys and OB were available.  Used UDP for both restaurants.   On Epic the week prior, surf and turf in Cagneys only came with shrimp.  

Done this same cruise twice before and will be doing it again the week prior to your cruise.  From the recent dailies that have been posted, appears that the mandatory muster is at 430p.  If you miss it, you will have to make it up.  I would not want to arrive at the pier any later than 3 or 330p at the latest.  Don't know where your hotel is in relationship to the pier and how you plan to handle your luggage.   You could leave it at the hotel...do your exploring...return to pick it up and taxi over to the pier.  Or go ahead drop off your luggage at the pier around 930a or 10a then venture back out for a few hours.  You could also go ahead and get checked in at the same time.  Both of these last two are going to eat up your limited time however.  In 2018, our hotel was just off Las Ramblas and not very far from the pier.  We left our hotel at 10a thinking that we'll be there easily by 1030a at the latest.  Wrong!  Everyone else that was sailing that day must have had the same idea.  Traffic was either at a  crawl or complete standstill most of the way.    If I were you, I'd consider a Hop On Hop Off bus tour as early Sunday morning as possible.  You'll find reviews of the two different companies that offer them on TripAdvisor.  It's relatively inexpensive.  Most of the buses depart from the Playa Catalunya area but you can also join from one of their many stops.  There are three different routes that you can take which will provide you the opportunity to see a considerable amount of the city in a short period of time.  You won't have time to get off an explore but you will see a lot.  Additionally, I'd focus to the two routes that have the most to offer.  

There are two types of tickets that I could purchase online when there in Sept 2018.  One was date/time specific;  the other was only date specific. My tour company actually made mention of long lines and suggested that entry might not be a good choice.  I mistakedly purchased the latter as I was not certain as to what time we would arrive on our tour.   Huge mistake as we spent a good 45 minutes standing in line to get our actual tickets then another line for security.  By the time that we actually entered, we had to basically run in, take a couple of quick photos and try to find our way out.  WARNING:  IF you need to use the toilets (we could only find one set), tack on another line and associated wait.  We were late getting back to our tour group of eight (none of the others went inside) which was not fair to them.  Let your tour company buy the tickets as they know what to buy and for what time.  

Thank you for posting the "Meet Your Officers" photo.  I can't enlarge it to the point that I can read the names however.  

Listing of officers and concierge please.  Thank you.

Listing of officers and concierge please....

On 5/23/2019 at 7:06 PM, drvmywifecrzy said:

Anyone had the tasting dinner with the Chef on Breakaway?

NCL discontinued the Chef's Dinner a few years ago.  Is this something new as I had not heard of it?

No private Haven bar or restaurant on the Pearl.  They have 4-5 tables in the Haven that you can order breakfast/lunch from the courtyard attendant during specified hours or you can go to Moderno which is one floor down from the Haven.  

The "worth" is probably an individual decision with the itinerary being a key factor.  My family did the Alaskan cruise on her three different times in the Haven and thoroughly enjoyed it each time.  

Haven't been on the Getaway yet but based on experiences on the Pearl and Epic,  the Mojito Bar is only the name of a full bar that "specializes" in mojitos.  You can get just about any adult beverage there to include vodka mojitos.  

Thank you for all of the photos as we all appreciate seeing them!!!   

Confused somewhat regarding what tips if any for the tour guides and drivers in SPB  with SPB tours specifically.  I read that European guides/drivers are well paid and as such, tips are usually not expected...and definitely not at the level that would occur in the states.    I then look at SPB Tours site and they suggest specific tip amounts  for each not only in SPB, but also Berlin, Stockholm and all of the other ports that they service.  Your experience?  

What happens to the certificate if I use it for a future cruise in 2020 and then have to cancel it?   

Would you please provide proper, expected tipping protocal in Copenhagen?  taxi drivers? bellmen?  waiters? Thank you.

In the summer of 2018, extended family of 13 used ShuttleExpress to take us from SeaTac to our downtown hotel and then from the pier back to SeaTac after the cruise.  I've done the Alaskan cruise a few times in the past and knew what to expect.  I did not want to split up our family into various taxis or shuttles instead choosing to "charter" a private 14 passenger shuttle thru their sales department.  They picked us up at their SeaTac location and dropped us off at the Westin....no stopping at other hotels along the way.  Cost back then was $265 plus driver gratuity each way.  I felt it was worth every cent of it.  Getting to the cruise terminal from the Westin was an easy metered taxi ride assuming that you can flag down the appropriate number and size of vehicles to handle your group and your luggage.  Cost somewhere around $10 per taxi if I remember correctly.  My group consisted of 8 adults and kids ranging in age from 13 to 3.  Without hesitation I will tell you that there is no way that that we would have ever considered making that walk with the kids and pulling luggage.  No way!   From our hotel, it was probably no more than a mile or so but what a mile.  Steep downhill most of the way then navigating up and over the interstate to get down to the pier.  In my opinion, a needless exhausting potentially dangerous trek to start a vacation in order to save a few bucks.  Not knowing your specifics  to include your departure flight times back home but the area outside of the cruise terminal can be quite busy.  Knowing that I had a confirmed private shuttle at a confirmed time back to the airport for my group was comforting.   IF you do choose to use taxis, be aware that their are many that will approach you as soon as you walk out of the terminal offering their services that are not licensed.... 

Getaway's first sail from Copenhagen is not until June 7.  Suggest that you ask/search again sometime after than date.  

Tracey's Crabshack in Juneau.....don't forget to take your wallet!

42 minutes ago, benkon said:

Thanks SO much for all the info.  We are on the Getaway 9-day Baltic cruise from Copenhagen, 6/25.

 

Please be sure to post a review of your Baltic Cruise along with Dailies....TIA.

Dining and shows....130 days out for Haven and full suites; 120 days all others.    Check out your rollcall for non-NCL excursions as they could save you a boat load of money not to mention a much small group on your tour.  

If you don't mind sharing, what tour are you considering?  Where is the departure location?  

Being in a suite, the concierge will escort you off of the ship in every port ahead of other passengers.  Typically, the concierge will provide you with a meeting place at a specific time on the day before arrival.  Last year, that meeting place was just outside of the Haven elevators.  Assuming that the arrival is on time,  you could easily be on the ground and running by 815a.  

How many bars are there in the Haven and where are they?

On 3/1/2019 at 11:45 PM, Steve551 said:

Tip what you want to.  Most of the guides/drivers are grateful for whatever they get. Depending on the excursion we usually we tip at least $20 each for the driver and the guide.

$20 per person to both the driver and to the guide?

My family will be enjoying a 9 day cruise in the Baltic this summer.  I understand that tipping in Europe is generally not necessary.  Is the same true in the Baltic in regard to tipping of tour guides and drivers?  SPB is suggesting 10% for guides; 5% for drivers.  What are your thoughts and practices?  

What ship?  How old are your kids? Have you dined at any of these before?

Believe that you will have to pay port charges/taxes/fees for the additional "free" guests.