graphicguy

Good point. I remember the Vibe being $49 for a week. It accelerated quickly, though. I think it went from $49 to $79 to $99 to $119 all in a year. Then it took off again to $129, to $149...all the way up to $249 per person. It may be even higher than that since I haven't checked in a while. All the while, none of the amenities have changed since they were charging $49.

Because everyone is in bed by 8:30..... HAL knows how to rock!!!!!! Sorry....couldn't resist!!!!!!!

Yeah...I was surprised, too. I bought VIBE passes 2x. Both times they had the "let's do shots" crowd in the hot tubs crowd. The other was "let's dominate the bar" crowd. Neither was sedate. I don't have any issues with that. But, for me it was the opposite of what I wanted when I booked. I was looking for a place to chill out, read a book, just observe the scenery float by. Service was great in the Vibe. But, I got the same (or better) service around the Haven pool, plus I could grab lunch at the Haven pool, too if I wanted. And, I was able to chill and read a book in peace, which was what I was looking for anyway. In addition, if I were in the mood to get my party on, I could belly up to the Haven Bar. If the Vibe works...book it. It's become pricey. I think I originally booked it for ~$50 on a one week sailing. Last I heard, it's at least quadruple that now.

I think once you sign up on NCL's web site you can sort of flip through all the sailings you're looking at and the different cabins you are looking at and get the exact amount for all of that.

I don't think it would work in a larger setting. That's part of its charm...being in a smaller setting where the performers can interface with the attendees.

You are correct. I forgot Prom!!!!! That show is fun in and of itself.

Get there early. Syd's is not a venue where you will be able to show up 5 mins before showtime and expect to get a seat. They do different performances (3, I think?) of all sorts of music that most of us know. Worth standing in line to see.

Was about to post the same. Thanks!

You have to watch the fares. They’ll change. Have to be ready to book when you find one you like.

Great resources. MDRs are Taste and Savor….same menus, just different venues (and literally across from each other). SD venues common on all ships is Cagney’s and LeBistro. Italian SD is either Onda or LaCucina. They just upgraded LaCucina menu and I found it to be quite good on my Bliss cruise. 24 hour places to get a bite is either O’Sheehans or The Local. Garden Cafe is the buffet. Entertainment can be found most days (and nights) in the Atrium. Main theater has their big shows. Other shows worthwhile can be found in the Carvern Club or Syd Norman’s on the ships that have those. Both are very highly recommended. The Waterfront area is on the Away and Away Plus ships. You can dine and drink outdoors in those areas. Really nice way to enjoy great weather. As @ggTexasGal points out, fun to explore and plan your cruise based on what you like. Don’t depend on someone else’s likes/wants. Plan what you want/like. You’ll get a Daily Planner every day in your cabin. That’s a great resource to see what you can do. It identifies everything going on nearly every waking minute on the ship. Use it.

Not on NCL, but Celebrity. I had a ton of OBC right after the restart, and they were doing their darndest to get people to book, which I did. I ended up buying the (then) GF a really nice piece of jewelry with it at the jewelry store, making it “free”. Truth of the matter, the jewelry cost about as much as the entire cruise. Truth of the matter, with the OBC, the cost of the cruise was just hundreds, not thousands, of dollars. Now, I understand the large markup jewelry has, that’s true at land based jewelry stores, but I was playing with their money, so to speak. Not normal circumstances for sure. But, you can use the OBC in the jewelry stores on board, too. Resorts that sell their branded wearables is pretty pricey, too. Expect the same on the ship. If you’re a Latitudes member, I think you get discounts in the stores. So, that might bring the prices down. Then, there are the ubiquitous T-Shirt, costume jewelry and the ever present Invicta watches that they offer at HUGE DISCOUNTS! I’m not a fan of those, but it seems guests flock to those for bargains! If you’re looking to get

I resemble that remark!!!! LOL!

Tip my hat to those of you who quit. I know it’s hard. Read somewhere that it’s harder to quit nicotine than to kick heroin. But, there are lots of cessation aids out there now! Also seen reports that after a relatively short period of time, lungs clear themselves once you stop. Lost more then one family member to lung cancer due to smoking. But, have seen print ads showing Doctors smoking, insinuating it was safe!

Your money. Do what you want. Personally, I found getting drinks either from the Haven Bar or from the waitstaff pretty darned easy. But, the Haven offers a more serene atmosphere. If you want the "shot of the hour" club atmosphere, the Vibe is your ticket. It's a rowdier space.

I maybe misread or misheard, but I thought the Syd's shows were internally developed by NCL. If so, kudos to the NCL development team. I consider the Syd's shows among the best at sea on any cruise line.

OH....I get it. I've been traveling solo recently. But, when I had a SO, she felt it necessary to take 9/10s of every piece of clothing she owned "just in case" the weather suspiciously turned from arctic to tropical in less than an hour. Then, there was the fact that the cabin's hair dryer didn't provide hurricane force hot air to dry her hair. So, she had to bring the one she had at home that mimicked a long gun. Of course there were the gallons of creams, serums, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, etc. Not a problem except I was the one who drug all the suitcases. She had 2 large suitcases, a back pack, and her purse, which could double as a back pack. Mine? A roll aboard and a backpack that fit over the handle of the rollaboard.

I have total faith in you! LOL!

I love Park Cafe on Royal ships….fresh salads, fruits and wraps. Quick breakfast sandwiches in the a.m. and yogurt, too. I like their healthier choices. 270 seems to have a bad case of “chair/table” hogs…where people save their spots for hours at a time with books placed for long periods of time with no visible occupants. Agree about the pizza. Why anyone would wait 30 minutes for it puzzles me. But, I think it was a reaction to not being able to utilize any other dining venues quickly. It seems like the supposed cutbacks on the other lines I’ve sailed since the restart, they are worse on Royal, by far.

A woman after my own heart. If you need multiple large bags for your cruise, you’re doing it wrong. You, young lady, are doing it right!!!!!! IMHO!!!!!! 😉

Again, based on the chat I had with the Production Manager on the Bliss during the “Behind the Scenes” tour, NCL licenses these shows from the respective production companies who own the licensing. They have to get all of the shows’ costumes, performances (reviewed by the production companies before they hit the ships’ stages), performer choices, stages and props, etc to be approved. They adhere to the original productions as closely as possible and make changes ONLY to accommodate being on a moving vessel at sea. And, those changes are minimal. As far as who has better entertainment, I like NCL’s shows. But, that’s all personal preference. I think they do a great job with their shows. Some one else with different taste may not. Royal has their water shows on their large ships. Those are fun. But, I prefer to watch them rehearse more than I do their shows. Celebrity has had some hits/misses. I know the EDGE had an interactive show at Eden where the performers tried to interact with the audience. I liked it. I think many, given the ages fo the cruisers, found it unnerving. So, they quit doing it. But, their smaller shows throughout the ship were quite good. Carnival….I dunno….seems their performers and performances were a couple of tiers beneath the others. Comedy was good, though. As we’ve seen here, Choir of Man is a great show in my estimation. First I heard someone didn’t like it was in here. I know people who love(d) SIX. Personally, I wasn’t a fan. Didn’t make it bad. And, that’s not an indictment of those who do/did like it. It just didn’t click with me and I squirmed in my seat until it was over. Sounds like they’re replacing it after its contract runs out. And, from the Production Manager’s info, they’re developing its replacement in house. I know NCL has moved to rotating entertainment performances in places like Illusionarium, Cirque, etc. I think I saw a magic show in one of those venues. It was “OK”. But, the shows they had there previously were just “OK”, too. Except, I was pretty amazed at the Cirque show given the performers were doing acrobatics on a moving ship. NCL has upgrade the entertainment in the Cavern Club and Syd’s. They used to have rotating entertainers in those venues. Now, they have excellent band performances there. Those are scripted and developed by NCL, playing music very popular with their main audiences (Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, etc). Different strokes!

There's an enclosed smoking area in a room off the casino that has some slots and I think table games. I've never been in there but it looks like it holds 20 people? Could be off on that, though. There's also one in the Cigar Lounge by Maltings. But, I hear the cigar smokers get testy about cigarrette smokers coming in there. It maybe holds 8-10 people. Woooppps....just saw RB also answered.

I had heard that. I also heard they were replacing it with something else, which as of yet, I haven’t heard what that might be. When I was on the “behind the scenes” tour on the Bliss this past Fall, the Show Manager did say that there were shows being developed specifically for NCL to replace Six. To me, that’s not a bad thing. Not that SIX wasn’t good…..it just wasn’t my cup of tea. As far as NCL falling behind…falling behind which cruise line? Was on Royal and Celebrity last year, and while their shows were good (when they were performed, which was a crap shoot at 270), NCL still had the edge. Celebrity had smaller shows. Again, good performances but not the same quality as NCL’s.

As best I can tell, they are shifting the entertainment from shows to things like the Laser Tag, Race Car Course, etc. Those are obviously extra charge entertainment options, but that's where they're going. The shows are still there. Million Dollar Quartet, Choir of Man, Six, Jersey Boys, etc. The Cirque shows were fun, but the "dinner" theater concept didn't quite strike a chord. Mediocre food served in a cramped venue wasn't really a hit. They have moved to smaller shows, too. Cavern Club and Syd Norman shows are excellent....again, probably the best bands at sea. I think it's just a shift. Some will like it. Some will not. Personally, while I may or may not care for some of the "big" shows, they have all been very well done. So far on NCL I've seen (from memory)... -Blue Man Group -Cirque -Imaginarium (not sure if that's the name of the show but it was a good magic show in that venue) -Rock of Ages -Burn the Floor -Jersey Boys -Six -Million Dollar Quartet -Choir of Man The last 5 are still active NCL shows. That doesn't include the entertainment throughout the ships. As mentioned, the Syd Norman and Cavern Club shows are excellent in their own right. Plus, you have the comedians, the entertainers in the Atrium just about every night. Is it changing? Yeah....I think they're moving towards internally developed shows (like Syd's) so they don't have to pay the big fees for the Broadway shows. Is it worse? I don't think so. But, I'm not even relatively close to being a broadway show afficianado.