inna61

Thanks I actually just picked an option I hadn't oticed originally--Robinson Power Boat tours--the same stops and a walk from the cruise dock and a hot lunch, also with excellent Tripadvisor ratings. I will report back.

Please report how was your tour. Thank you.

Video from NCL showing large cabanas:

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/great-stirrup-cay

Below is my compilation of info I found on other threads:

The large cabana holds 8 and includes $50 food and beverage credit.

The small cabana holds 4 and includes $25 food and beverage credit.

Includes rental of two float mats, and has a shower.

It appears that the small cabanas have just been finished, as they just appeared as an option to book around Oct 20 2013.

The other new info is that there is now a tram service to the cabanas and back from the tender dock (a few hundred yards or 10 mins walk). They run every 20 mins.

The beach is only 100 ft from the small cabanas which is a lot closer than is the case for the large cabanas. There really is no difference between the cabanas other than size. So if you wanted all of the benefits and to save a little, I would go with the small especially if not too many in your party.

The small cabanas also are nearer the Lagoon, Bobolink Bar and buffet, so a shorter walk to the food. Just take a left when coming out the cabana, away from the main beach to the small buffet. Going right brings you to the main beach and dock.

There is also a bathroom right nearby the small cabanas, which is cleaner generally.

The large cabanas are about 250-300 ft from the water, vs 100 ft for small ones, plus there are wooden stairs up to the large cabanas as they are up higher. Plus you are closer to the quieter amenities near the lagoon in the small cabanas.

Beach in front of the small cabanas never had more than maybe 50 people on it all day. There were plenty of empty loungers available. Most passengers never make it that far from the tender dock. So it's a great spot even if you don't rent a cabana.

You will get a letter delivered to your stateroom about two days before arriving. It will indicate which cabana number. The first small one is 12, then 14, ie no 13 and they go up from there. I don't know how they are allocated but it makes sense that the first booked gets the lowest no. and so on. Also in the letter is a food and drink order form. That needs to be turned into the shore excursion desk so that they can prepare your order at least 24 hours in advance. You get $50 credit to use.

Yes it's free up to $50. I had a $50 credit on my overall account in board, although they never charged me for the $50 of beer that I ordered, as I had pre-paid. If you go over $50 it just gets charged to your ship account.

The place you go to when you first arrive is the snorkel center. This is where you are directed to to check in for the cabana. You can rent the whole set-up to snorkel or you can rent bladder vests which are required to snorkel I believe.

When you book a cabana, because you spent money for that you get priority tendering to the island. Our ticket showed 'Priority Tender'.

Can you post a link? I tried to search both here on CC and google and I'm coming up with nothing.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=41284262#post41284262

How to book UDP online? Can you please post a link to any description on NCL.com?

hope this picture is better

Below are 14 Chef's Specialities that NCL offers in the "Caribbean Region" (from cc post about 6 months ago):

Baked Crusted Guacamole Snapper with Pineapple Rice, Roasted Corn Salsa, Green Tomatillo Sauce

Burritos of Pork in Ranchero Sauce

Caribbean Mahi Mahi Fish Stew

Chicken Breast with Dirty Rice, Leek Pepper Coconut Cream Sauce

Fried Spicy Snapper, Watermelon Salsa and Green with Pepper Sauce

Grilled Chicken Breast with Spanish Rice

Grill Jerk Pork Chop with Caribbean Bean Stew

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Tomato Rice

Grilled Snapper with Pineapple Rice, Picante Roasted Corn Salsa

Mexican Meat Balls with Steamed Rice and Mixed Peppers

Pan Fried Perch with Caribbean Rice Pilaf, Spiced Coconut Spinach, Lemon Grass Sauce

Pan Seared Snapper with Island Bean Stew, Spicy Tomato Sauce

Pinacolada Chicken with Yuca Salad, Tomato Spanish Rice

Steamed Spicy Coconut Snapper

Has anyone gone to the cirque dinner show on the Epic? If so did you like it??? What did they serve for dinner??

Here is the menu

Here are the numbers that I came up with. If you ate at every specialty restaurant once and repeated one restaurant (Cagney's because it is the most expensive) for a total of seven dinners, your total bill would be $155 for the week. This is based on following prices:

 

Cagney's $30

Teppanyaki $25

Le Bistro $20

Moderno $20

La Cucina $15

Asian $15

 

The overall savings for the week using the UDP would be $36 based on the proposed or discussed rate of $119 for the UDP. Your savings will be less if you don't eat at a specialty restaurant every night, which can easily happen if you are tired and don't feel like going to dinner. The savings can be higher if you chose to eat at expensive places like Cagney's and Teppanyaki multiple times during the week

Which restaurant is "Asian $15" in your calculations? I have not seen it on Breakaway. There are Noodle Bar and Wasabi sushi bar on BA, but they both a la carte and not included in UDP.

Please don't flame me :p

 

I have searched and searched and just can't find any dailies that I can download and print for this itinerary. They are either too small or too blurry. It may just be that I don't have a clue what I'm doing on this mac. Who know's...

 

Either way, can someone either direct me to a good link or email them to me? PLEASE?????

 

Rosanna0702 at Gmail dot com :D

Cruising with Zay - A Breakaway Review :)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1938232

Yes, although there really is no need for an actual certificate. Your FCR is attached to your Latitudes number. If you cancel a booking, they simply re-credit your Latitudes account with the FCR, available for future use.

 

P.S. My answer assumes that you're cancelling before final payment is due. If it's after final payment, normal cancellation penalties apply.

Thank you! :)

Will they give me back my $250 certificate if I want to cancel my booking?

Do you know how much is the taxi ride to the resort? Thank you in advance.[/quote

 

 

 

Taxi?? No, they pick you up by boat near where the ship docks! :D

 

No, the boat pick up is at 8:30am. Our ship docks at 9:00am, and they told me that my pick up will be via land taxi both ways.

Hi Regina,

 

I was told approximately 30 minutes. The hotel told me that the dive shop operates the transfers.

 

Deb

Do you know how much is the taxi ride to the resort? Thank you in advance.

Yes, the El Morro route will go by both forts.

How often the trolley runs? Thank you!

You will get a letter delivered to your stateroom about two days before arriving. It will indicate which cabana number. The first small one is 12, then 14, ie no 13 and they go up from there.

 

I don't know how they are allocated but it makes sense that the first booked gets the lowest no. and so on.

 

Also in the letter is a food and drink order form. That needs to be turned into the shore excursion desk so that they can prepare your order at least 24 hours in advance. You get $50 credit to use.

Thank you for the great info!

How do you know which small cabana is yours? On a first come - first serve basis when you arrive at the beach? Or they are numbered and you book by the number?

Thank you in advance.

While it is true you will not get a refund after final payment, OBC in varying amounts (25% - 50% of the value of the difference) is often given if no upgrade is available.

If they drop the price, it means they have a lot of cabins still unbooked, as I understand. In this case upgrade is almost always available unless you are not in the Heaven Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony.:confused:

Thank you for the explanation.

They wil never give you refund/OBC after you final payment. You can ask for upgrade only.

I just sent the sheet to all of you requesting it so check your emails:)

 

Happy planning!

Me too please your cheat sheet. inna61@Hotmail.com.

Thank you so much!