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Black tie and fig leaf cumberbun on formal night.

Just off the Joy, which just had the OL size reduced by the addition of new cabins.  The ship was full (double occupancy), plus 1200 kids on school break.The OL was one of our favorite spots, and even at full capacity, it wasn't too crowded.  This was a Bermuda cruise.  The OL breakfast was uncrowded till the last 2 sea days, when every dining location was swamped. It's the first time there was a long wait, complete with vibrating beepers, even for breakfast in Savor and Taste.  The last night, the wait for dinner was one hour.  Advice to anyone going in the Summer - make specialty dining reservations for the last 2 nights.     

Leaving Sunday.  Watched the safety video during check-in.  Got emails saying, "watch it again."  We watched it again.  Got four more emails - "Watch it again."  My question is whether I'm supposed to verify somehow that we complied with the request.

On 9/7/2023 at 2:56 PM, graphicguy said:

I believe they keep sending them out until they have a record of all guests having viewed it.  I'm sure it's a blanket, batch message that dies not differentiate between who has and who hasn't viewed it.

Ah, the dreaded Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886.  I should have thought of that.  It might have been necessary to protect US flagged ships from competition in 1886 when passenger service was only transport from port A to port B.  I just saw a list of US flagged ocean-going passenger ships.  There were only 20, and with the exception of Pride of America, none carry more than 170 passengers.  

Joy arrives in Miami April 6, and sails to Bermuda from New York April 9.  Is there a charter for the repositioning? 

1 hour ago, K_S said:

 

Yeah, I'm sure they took the clicks they got over the last few weeks and added that to interest on the ship this week and decided maybe their pricing was not correct. Unforch.

Yes, I knew something wasn't right because we paid $299pp on Breakaway in 2022.  These days prices don't go down.

18 hours ago, K_S said:

Still cannot book the Thermal Suite yet on the website for the 9March cruise.  Interesting.

 

As a side note, for those of you who are discussing non-Thermal Suite topics, I would encourage you to take these talks to a new thread.

 

Not that I am trying to be a thread police.  I just suspect that there are others who might have similar questions about the Joy, but whom may not read this thread because of the title. 

 

Thank you for providing the ship update Rush.

 

We may be getting closer to being able to book the Thermal Suite.  I'm on the April 14 cruise.  For a month, the website had the full week Suite price at $199pp.  Now it it's listed for $299 pp.  Still can't get the purchase to go through on the website though.

I'm on the April 14th sailing.  Still can't book the thermal suite.

That explains a lot.  I'm on the April 14 Bermuda sailing.  The website has been listing a price for access to the Thermal Spa for the cruise, but repeated attempts to add Spa access to my booking have been unsuccessful.  I even called NCL and the consultant didn't know why the purchase wouldn't go through. 

The 10/23 Breakaway Canada cruise had about 3200.  But end of the season for that route, so the warm weather cruises may be closer to capacity.

Boarded 10/23.  Was onboard about 20 minutes after arrival (before noon).  Very smooth.  P.S. - some people arrive as early as 9:30.  Don't know why you'd want to sit there.

Coke on Breakaway.  At $3.50 a can what difference does it make?

No challenges boarding on 10/23.  I agree with the first poster about the fog and the value of the Thermal Suite on this cruise.  We had 3 nights of the foghorn all night long, and the wind rearranging the balcony furniture.  The Acadia excursion in Bar Harbor bordered on the surreal - "On your left is (fill in the blank) you can't see it today, but take my word for it."  They did their best, and despite the weather we had a fine time.

Was on Breakaway till this morning.  Last night, instead of the World Series, the cabin tv had rugby, the same game on 2 channels.  You might have gotten baseball in the cigar lounge or the Maltings bar.  Never saw any sports on the Atrium screen.

Wow!  I'm paying $299/pp for 7 days on the Breakaway.  Different spas, or is demand higher on a cold weather cruise?

I'm on the same cruise.  Saw the forecasts.  Did we pick a time when it rains 58% every day?  We're doing the Sugar Shack and in Halifax the Highland Experience.  The Acadia National Park tour seems mostly on a bus.

Having sailed many times on Celebrity, and looking forward to my first Norwegian cruise in October, it seems pretty much like a wash when comparing the "everything free" with the Norwegian "free at sea."  Celebrity includes the tips and has an internet browsing plan, not limited to a number of minutes.  The downside for Celebrity is the Classic drink plan limits drinks to $9, while Norwegian is $15.  The difference may be that Norwegian charges more per drink.  Not sure.  Other posters have said Celebrity offers only "bottom shelf" liquor.  I don't think so.  Surviving the week on Beefeater Gin, Absolut Vodka and Jim Beam isn't so bad.  They're not Well drinks.  Also, Celebrity includes coffee bar drinks in the package.  Norwegian does not.  You pay the gratuities on the Norwegian drink and dining packages.  No extras on the Celebrity drink plan, but no specialty dining is included either, and Celebrity specialty restaurants are pricey.  Some are $59 pp.  Also, the Norwegian $50 discount per port on excursions is something Celebrity does not do.  All this being said, the deciding factor for you may be the cruise fares, which are higher on Celebrity.  Once I return from my Breakaway cruise at the end of October I'll be able to report whether the Celebrity premium price is money well spent. 

Is there a spreadsheet of cabins and ships?

Great "sale."  You get an extra $100 onboard credit, and the price is $200/pp more than yesterday's sale.

On 7/11/2022 at 12:45 PM, gerelmx said:

Wait for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the offer will be with double OBC (only 2 days)

I guess it depends upon your definition of the word "Sale."  After the supposed 25% off, $200 back and all the other nonsense, the cruise I'm looking at is $200 more per person than it was before the "Sale."  Hoping the "Sale" ends soon.

If they call I'll ask where the beverage package included in the fare offers went.

I don't know how much more expedited embarkation can be.  We arrived about 11:15, and hadn't uploaded photos.  There was maybe one couple ahead of us.  The Celebrity rep. took our photos with an ipad, and we walked right onboard.  Easiest process ever.  Not in a suite.  We're Elite, but there was no Elite check in that I could see, and no one asked about our status, so I wouldn't worry about expedited arrival.

Just off Equinox in a Concierge cabin.  No new footstools, but we apparently lucked out.