albertamom

16 minutes ago, Oceangal711 said:

i just downloaded the new app from NCL. I have never used this one always used the iconcierge one. Does this one work the same it looks just like their website..Can you see your on board charges, keep in touch with your shipmates and book tender tickets? TIA

Before you board, it looks like the website.  Once you are on-board, it'll will work very much like iconcierge.  We loved being able to keep an eye on our on-board charges! 👍

We took our kids on their first cruise as adults last month.  Within a week of arriving home, their status showed as Platinum.  As Colin pointed out, they had to complete that cruise as adults before being given their status.  

Happy Sailing! 

18 hours ago, NoleFam20 said:

If you go to the Dungeons and like coffee - go to the vendor with the old red Jeep (Golden Coffee) and get a cup of iced coffee. It's $3 for regular and $5 for alcohol added. I had the regular coffee and it was great! Highly recommend!! The vendor speaks great English and gets his coffee from  his family farm. 

Great tip!  I've written it down and will be sure to stop there if we get the chance! 

11 hours ago, croosieloosie said:

I’m happy for those of you that had a good tour with Dora. If you get her guide Mercedes, just stay on her heels!

Your tip is greatly appreciated!  I'm very excited about our upcoming tour with Dora, but will definitely be sure to follow your advice and stay annoyingly close to our guide at all times! 😉

2 hours ago, SAmome said:

Anyone know if you can take care of this before sail while getting extra room keys or if need to wait until inside international waters? 

 

I understand they can’t drink until sailing 3 miles out but if short line at GS would want to get this part done if possible.

 

 Thanks for the specific posts with pictures 👍

You can definitely take care of it all at Guest Services as soon as you board!  Have Fun!!! 

22 hours ago, Kruzer Zuker said:

Is it the Tikal tour?  How much is it?   Also tempted. 

Ha!  Why in the world did I call it Tiki Park?  I can't believe that I never noticed my mistake! 😳

Yes...Tikal Park.  I'm surprised that it's so hard to find information about it.  

12 hours ago, bethclayton said:

Can anyone point me in the direction of info about 18-20 year olds and the drink package?  I'm not even sure what to search.  My daughter will be 19, we got the UBP, but hers was automatically made a soda package.  I know that we can sign a document for her to be able to consume beer and wine.  So does this mean that she has to pay out of pocket for all beer and wine?  And she also cannot have any liquor on board the ship?  Thank you for any help you can provide, I just want to know what to expect.

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/freestyle-cruise/liquor-beverages

Partway down the page it talks about the waiver.  Even though we weren't able to upgrade, you should definitely ask when you sign the waiver.  They did tell us that we could purchase the Corks and Caps package, but we knew that they wouldn't drink enough to justify that.

At dinner every night, our server would always just take my husband's and my card and ring all 4 drinks through on them (ours and our 2 kids').  If the kids purchased drinks on their own, then yes, they would be charged to their shipboard account.

And yes, no hard liquor (so no fun tropical cocktails), just beer, wine (breakfast mimosas count!) and cider.  A great tip that I learned on Cruisecritic was that the pool bar serves frose, frozen rose wine.  My daughter loved that! 

We were just on the Escape, and signed the waiver to allow our kids, 19 and 20, to drink beer and wine.  They absolutely insisted, even after checking with a supervisor, that we could not upgrade the soda package to the corks and caps package. Their reasoning was that the corks and caps package is not offered as a perk.   I was very insistent that it had been done in the past, but they would not budge.  

Another thing to let your son know ahead of time, is that he cannot order beer or wine until the ship is in international waters.  This means no sailaway drink, but by dinner we were good-to-go! 👍

What an incredible video!  Thank you SO much for posting!

We'll be going through on the Star in January, and I can't wait! 

2 hours ago, teezly said:

I also find this excursion intriguing, but haven't found any reviews either.  Have you had any more success?

No.  None at all.  We're definitely going to do it (on our Jan. 18 Panama Canal cruise).  Hopefully enough people will sign up.

I'll definitely report back afterwards!

11 minutes ago, FitchburgWIFamily said:

Excursions get their own luggage tag color, and in some cases get off even before Priority.  You will  meet together and all get off together.  You will not go through the line.  You will be fine.

That's great news!  Thank you so much for the reassurance! 😊

We have booked NCL's city tour with transportation to the airport  when we disembark in a few weeks.  Will we meet, as with other excursions, and be taken off together, or will we be on our own?  This makes me very nervous about getting to the bus on time.

What a fantastic review! :D

The frosé sounds like just the thing on a hot day! Were you able to find it anywhere other than the pool bar?

Wow! Your videos are getting me SO excited for our upcoming Escape cruise!

My daughter was 17 the first time we were on the Escape, but is now 19, so we will definitely be checking out H2O and the Grotto! :D

Thank you so much! What a great video!

We have purchased our first thermal spa passes for the Escape this November and can't wait! :D

You might want to look into doing a martini tasting at It's 5:00 Somewhere, pay one low price for 6 martinis. From what I understand that sells out quickly so be sure to keep an eye out for it and sign up as soon as you can.

I did this with my sisters on the Jewel and it was an absolute blast!!! We laughed so hard we had tears streaming down our faces! :D

The hot tub, bubble loungers and the lap pool are all co-ed. Several posters have confirmed that they did replace the old loungers with heated tile loungers!

The steam and sauna are not co-ed.

But it is really a wonderful place to relax!

Ugh! I just realized that the video I was looking at is for the Jewel (I'm considering it for Alaska). I found the one for the Star and it looks fabulous! I can't wait! :D

I can't say for definite, but I believe that it is allowed.

Thank you! I hope it is. She likes wine, but will miss the froufrou drinks that she prefers (ie. overly sweet rum/vodka concoctions). Cider would at least give her an alternative. :D

(Look at me, worrying about plying my daughter with booze. Mom of the year!:champagne-toast:)

Yes, I understand the heated loungers were part of that refurbishment. I am definitely getting the pass, even if no plunge.

Hi fellow Panama traveller. I was definitely wanting to get spa passes for our cruise, but the one video I've found of the Star's thermal suite seems to show that the co-ed part is very small, with only one hot tub. Hubby and I would want to experience it together, but it seems to be set up for separate male and female experiences. Is that true?

I did read that the heated loungers were added, but I wonder if they re-designed any of the other features?

Your thread just gave me a thought. I'm planning on signing the waiver for my daughter (19) to drink beer and wine on the Escape this fall. As an Alberta girl, she has been legal for over a year, and has discovered that she does not care for beer at all. Would cider be allowed?

Ok, so you come out of Ink48 on 11th Avenue... Turn left then turn left again onto 48th. Then walk straight along to 12th and cross the road and you're there. Map says 4 mins and that's about right

 

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There's the problem! I was using Pier 90, instead of 88. Now it looks much more manageable. (y)

haha yep I did the Google maps thing too. :')

 

My finding was that in reality there are several paths. I kept to the one closest to the sea. I had read that the walk could be done in about 15 minutes if you didn't bother to stop, but that would be a bit pointless really as the reason for me for doing the walk was to see the fantastic scenery.

Thank you! We'll let the weather decide. :D

It is an easy walk and yes I had a large suitcase. I guess if the weather was really bad it may be worth getting a cab... probably take longer to get there though lol

 

The hotel is really lovely and the staff are super friendly and helpful. :)

Thank you!

Google maps shows quite a circuitous route, and an 11 minute walk. Is there a shortcut?

(I'm an obsessive planner.:D)

Embarkation

One of the reasons I booked the Ink48 was its proximity to the port. I had initially thought I may wish to rush on embarkation day to try for a Vibe pass, but I changed my mind about this and ended up deciding to do the opposite and had a relaxing start to my day. I repacked my luggage, ate breakfast and then walked the 2 minute walk to the port at around 11.30am.

Hi! We are staying at Ink48 before our Escape cruise in November, so I was thrilled to read your positive review!

You had no problems with the walk to the port? Were you towing a full-sized suitcase? The weather in November could be iffy, so I had planned to take a cab, but maybe we'll just walk. :)

I've always called to book the excursions, at which time they do NOT charge you. Then once you take the excursion they charge you and credit you back the excursion credits you have, so you only pay the difference.

This is exactly what I've been doing for our January Panama Canal Cruise. $100 off is a great deal! We've booked a tour on disembarkation day, with delivery to the airport, and it applied there, as well. :D