luv2kroooz

Probably a question better asked of your TA. He or she could answer your questions in a more definitive manner.

A big yawn

Some ships have them, some don't. Breakaway didn't when we were onboard. I guess it is up to the Chef. Sounds like you are on Joy and should be ok! Have a good cruise!

Our experience on a recent Transatlantic embarking in NYC....we were also charged taxes in NYC. We were charged taxes in all four Spanish ports. Beverage service was limited to beer, wine, and soft drinks in certain Italian ports and for hours after leaving the dock. Taxes were at least 10% of the overstated menu prices. I think we ended up paying an additonal $80-$100 per person for the cruise. We met some passengers that wanted to use the Plus package, but on a $100 bottle of wine, they were paying $10 in taxes. Upon making inquiry of staff on board, they said they just received the "deer in the headlights" look. NCL staff had no clue. We didn't inquire onboard and just paid the taxes. If there is a tax or fee to be charged, rest assured NCL will attempt to charge you for it. It was so refreshing to embark a Princess ship a few months ago in Brooklyn with the Princess Plus package. We were not charged a dime on any of our drinks consumed while in NYC territorial waters. I assume Princess handled that on behalf of their guests.

Thank you for this review and analysis, disclosing what you believe to be the positives and negatives. I think it really helps those that may be undecided. They can read it and make up their mind about what they value or don't value. Cheers~!

Interesting comments. You will find all kinds of positive editorials (especially here in this thread). They read like cruise ship brochures, instead of critical analysis. Would you let them stop you? Perhaps better advice would be to disregard the extreme negative and extreme positive reviews and set proper expectations based on what each cruiser values. Refreshing.

LOL! Thank you for your argument. Have a great day!

Inconsistently applied among ships. Sounds like Regal may allow this.

I think this is a good change. A nice, casual alternative to the buffet in a space that was severely underutilized even back to the Margaritaville days.

The OP is concerned about the ability to obtain a seat in lounges, availability of lounge chairs on pool deck. This is based on multiple negative reviews they have read. All valid concerns. Why not post about your specific experience as opposed to making generalizations like, don't believe everything you read, or venues are right-sized, or Viva is beautiful? As your pictures show, there is no doubt Viva is a beautiful ship, but many of your pictures don't have any people in them. The OP is more concerned about functionality during the "pinch-points" when passengers are present. I find it interesting that your analysis compares Viva to ships with higher capacity. A more equitable approach is to compare to both larger and smaller ships to Viva, especially given the concerns posed by the OP. By way of example, if we compare the 3,100 passenger Viva to her 2,400 passenger Jewel class cousins, then this theory doesn't hold water and the venues are not right sized. Are the lounges on the Viva bigger than lounges on the Jewel class ships, say Bliss Lounge? What about the pool deck? The Lido buffet? No, No, and No. But the Viva has 3100 passengers compared to the smaller Jewel class 2,500 passengers. So you would expect the Viva's venues to be the same size or slightly larger on a comparative basis to Jewel class. They aren't. Therefore, your right sized theory is suspect and only works when making a comparison to larger capacity ships.

Hmm. I guess they've come a long way since then. We had no problems in November 2023. We made our request onboard, though. Princess has foolishly outsourced customer service to a foreign country post Corona. Contacting them pre-cruise can be futile.

I really couldn't care less. If someone wants to schlep around and struggle with a large suitcase and block my way for a minute or two, go for it. I don't know their story. I'd either stand back and laugh under my breath, offer to assist them, or see if I could find an alternate way to get wherever I was trying to go. We carry off and on all the time. Granted, we are well traveled and pack extremely light..... Had luggage lost after a Carnival cruise many years ago. Fortunately, it was at the end of our cruise. It either never made it off the ship or was misidentified by another passenger and claimed by mistake. Carnival took no responsibility for it. So, now we take direct responsibility for getting our luggage on and off the ship. We are unpacked by 130 or so and are enjoying our cruise.

Wow, just wow. Guilt shaming someone who chooses to carry on their bags. Most fair minded people weigh out the plusses and minuses to this and then make a decision. There are a hundred things to consider....how a porter may be compensated is probably number 101. Wise up.

You've read the reviews. So you have to decide if the valid complaints are important enough to warrant a different ship. Many complaints concern the sizing of venues...pool deck, comedy club, syd's, buffet, way too small. Sounds like you are looking at a port intensive cruise so your days will be full traveling ashore and maybe you will be sleepy at night. Just don't expect to get a spot at the pool or a seat in the clubs or atrium without some patience and standing in line.

All you have to do is ask and other lines will gladly split it if it is held in both names. Which brings us back to the question of why NCL insists on allocating it between two people even if the second person does not own the stock and has no claim to the benefit.

Not a chance. NCL. No Complimentary Lobster.

Yes, fixed menu. This is the ice bar. Drink package doesn't work there. I think you pay $15 or $20 and you get a couple vodka based drinks. Just tip the bartender and you can probably have as many drinks as you want. It's a cool (pun intended) experience to do once.

Doesn't stop Carnival from routinely sending full ships to the Caribbean.

12 months.

Oops. Agree. I fixed that. Thank you.

We would not sail Prima or Viva. Personal choice based on design flaws that have been acknowledged over and again by people in the cruising community that we trust. Escape is a great ship, but it is definitely big. Just be prepared for lines to get off and on the ship in the multiple ports. We prefer Jewel class when sailing port intensive cruises. We believe they handle the crowds better. Have a great cruise!!

What are you talking about? Here is a basis for comparison. Fair minded cruisers can decide.... Is Syd’s on the Viva bigger than lounges on the Jewel class ships, say Bliss Lounge? No. But the Viva has 3100 passengers compared to the Jewel class 2500 passengers. So you would expect the Viva's venues to be bigger. They aren't. So the position presented doesn't hold water. Not every negative opinion presented is a complaint.

Drinking, advertisement for selling cruise next certificates.

Sure, you can book onboard or even walk up without a reservation. There are posters here that you will mandate that you must book in advance, but we have had good experiences booking on board or even walking up to the hostess and making a polite inquiry. I wouldn't recommend this during the peak hours of 6-730. They will try to accommodate you.

Personal experience and posts on cruise critic message boards. No numbers.