kcwiak

3 hours ago, rluzius said:

If RCCL does not have a ship in port, NCL will get Terminal 3.  Otherwise it will be Terminal 2.

On our last cruise on the Dawn(March 2018), we left from Terminal 2 (even though Terminal 3 was clear) because they were expecting a RCCL ship later that day.

 

Your eDocs will give you the address to report to.

651 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 = Terminal 2

815 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 = Terminal 3

Thanks! I just looked and it says 815 so I guess we are lucky it goes out of Terminal 3 that day!

59 minutes ago, rluzius said:

NCL shares Terminals 2 & 3 with RCCL.  Pray, Pray, and Pray some more that you will be departing from Terminal 3.  It is much larger and nicer.  It has a VIP area for Suites and above, etc.

 

Terminal 2 is a nightmare.  Much smaller and older.  They let 20 or so people at a time up the escalator so it doesn't get too crowded once you get upstairs (before even passing thru security).

 

Little tip.  I highly recommend the valet parking.  For only a few bucks more, you drop your car at the terminal and on return, they bring it right to you in just 5 or so minutes.  No circling the garage across the street looking for a spot, dragging your bags down possibly 3 floors of the garage and and then across the street, etc.

How do I know which Terminal we are going out of? For some reason I thought 3 but I have no idea why lol!

4 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

i arrived a little before 11am.

remember, i was 15th from the escalator and it took 1 1/2 hr to get to the metal detectors.

those that were queued out the door waited ALOT longer.

i would say come  after 1:30pm if you dont want to queue up.

 

oh good Lord. Well we can only stay at the hotel until 11 unless I can get a late check out.  Ugh. I have never had these worries at any other port. Even NYC. 🙄

11 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

yup, tampa port sucks. 

you queue up on the 1st floor to go up the escalator to the 2nd floor.

and there's line queue on the 2nd floor as well.

 

dont come early!

when i took a ncl cruise from Tampa earlier this year, it took 1 1/2 hrs to get to the metal detectors.

and i arrived early and was like 15th person from the escalator. (there were already people queued up on the 2nd floor.)

the line did not move because noone was allowed to go through the metal detectors.

i dont know why.

 

the line on the 1st floor queued out the door!

thankfully it wasnt raining outside.

 

What is considered early? We are having the car get us from the hotel at 10:30. Assuming we will get there about 11. Should we go later or is that ok?

1 hour ago, kitty-sail said:

We're on the Dawn Feb 2 and staying at Sheraton Riverwalk.  I did see the streetcar but with several pieces of luggage doesn't seem like a feasible option.

That is what I was thinking! It is 4 of us and getting luggage and carry ons into a streetcar seems impossible!

19 hours ago, tampadee said:

We are schedule on the Dawn on the 24th.  That may be the same cruise you are taking.

 

We have left from Tampa on the Pearl.  The concierge said Tampa is his least favorite port to leave from.  This is because suite guests have to wait in line with everyone else to go through security.  It took a very long time to get through security.  We did not wait in the suite waiting area because we could just get on the ship and go to lunch. 

It is the same! 😄 

If we were to get to the pier about 11 would that help avoid long lines of standing around? I have a bad knee and standing for a long time is excruciating!

2 hours ago, GeriatricNurse said:

 

 

Be aware that there may be an 'issue' with FOG involving departure from Tampa, which 'may' affect the departure time causing potential delay!

Does this happen a lot?

2 minutes ago, Shidah said:

A few people posted that letter when it came out and it was pretty obvious that was how it worked.  Did your friend think they could book an inside or oceanview on that cruise, and then get 50% off say the total cost of the Garden villa on a future cruise?  That doesn’t make any sense.  

Honestly I'm not sure what they thought but when I read the letter I took it as you could book the same category of cabin or lower and you would pay 50% of the fare.

Who are the current Butler's on Dawn? Thoughts/opinions?

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

On 10/12/2019 at 7:31 AM, newmexicoNita said:

Thanks I hope your explanation helps the OP. I am sure you are right, that is how we understood it as well, but apparently there are some people who do not. 

Unfortunately that is not how the letter read but it is what it is.  NCL is a business and will always do what is in their best interest.

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

On 11/8/2019 at 2:09 PM, TACoor said:

Just called NCL - no wait time - updated our names for a December cruise and was told it would update for all future cruises. Glad I saw this thread. I had deleted the email thinking it was just unnecessary. Still, ridiculous that people can't take care of this on their website!

I deleted it too thinking it was just for people who got married/divorced. Guess I have to call. Ugh. Would be nice if I could do on NCL.com. 

It’s been a few years since we sailed NCL but doesn’t the Concierge contact you before your cruise when in a suite? Am I not remembering correctly?

We do not need to make any reservations at the MDR correct?

Hi! Can anyone give me some info on Dawn or NCL in general for Thanksgiving? Should we book a specialty restaurant or do Main Dining? Do they do the traditional Thanksgiving dinner?

Thanks for your help!

I have a friend who had a cruise scheduled for last June and received the letter that says they would get, due to not going to Cuba, 50% off the current cruise and 50% off future cruise. They just tried to plan a cruise and were told that is not what the letter said. It sure does say that because I saw it. 
 

Anyone else run into this trying to get their 50% off?

15 hours ago, kiwi57 said:

No food available anywhere on the ship from 3:30 pm to 5pm on first day due to cancellation of the sail away barbecue because of winds. When asked we were told “just order room service”  (for $7.95 and a 45 minute wait). 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG There was NO FOOD for an HOUR AND A HALF?!?! Oh the humanity!

22 hours ago, billco said:

Seems there were food and sewage problems also. But, that could also be related to weather.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7551905/Cruise-ship-passengers-5-300-mystical-fjords-tour-rebel-tell-crew-want-liner.html

The man in the video should be arrested and all of the people who induced a riot should be banned from NCL. This is unacceptable behavior. I’m disgusted. And for them to add in sewage issues and stale food is just ridiculous. Did the food become stale due to not stopping at a port?!?! Stupid

I’m sure this has been asked and answered but I can’t find it....

I just received the email to upgrade from a suite (SJ) to a better suite. I put in bids but when I looked at our sailing, everything higher is sold out. Why would they send an email to upgrade if there is nothing available?!?! What’s the purpose??  We sail in 80 days. 

28 minutes ago, mommyto2girls said:

I don’t know what you’re read about the Concierge on the Dawn, if it is Roy you are reading about ( not Roel 2 different people ) I cannot imagine what anyone could have to say that is negative . We have on,y been in the Haven all 18 NCL cruises many of those with Roy as our Butler. I would be thrilled to have him as a Concierge. I think that the expectations of a Concierge need to be established. What is up to standard? 

What I have heard is about Roel but in a previous post someone said they were one in the same. Not sure how accurate that is. 

As for what I feel is up to standard, I would expect to see and/or speak to the Concierge at least once per day. Inquiring if we need any reservations or what have you. I would also expect if he is asked to do something, that it be done. With minimal excuses or with alternative suggestions if the request is not doable. 

6 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I gave you a link to all included liquors,cordials, etc....not sure how to give any more info than that 

Im sorry I did not realize you could not read past my question about the included alcohol. My apologies. 

16 minutes ago, NLH Arizona said:

Post 877 answers your question.

Yes it answers the question about grey goose (which I don’t drink) but what about my other questions?? I’m seriously interested to know....

First off, I seriously need to stop reading CC because it always puts me over the edge after I have booked a cruise and I spend the next 9 months stressing out about the issues we might have! 😂 Or maybe it is just the NCL boards. I was just on a RCL cruise and prior to the trip I did not see as many issues and complaints about the cruise line and their policies. Is it just NCL?? 

So here is my scenario/question. On RCL I purchased their beverage package. Paid $52/pp/pd. I walked up to a bar and said grey goose and cranberry and I was handed it. So am I to understand that on our upcoming NCL cruise, having received the beverage package for “free”, and staying in a suite, if I were to walk up to a bar and ask for a grey goose and cranberry they are going to charge me?? Is that correct? If I ask for vodka/cranberry, what kind of vodka am I getting? Since when is grey goose a better vodka than Kettle One? What do people do when they ask for the “included” vodkas and are told they don’t  have any? Am I the only one who would say you better find some or give me something else and not charge me?

The last time we cruised NCL was 2014 I think and never had a problem but distinctly remember reading all the complaints and being so worried. Got on the ship and had a wonderful time! No problems with alcohol or Concierge or cabin or anything. In one day I have cancelled a holiday cruise with RCL to book on NCL in a suite again and I’m already regretting it. I am reading about alcohol issues, issues with the Concierge on the Dawn (our ship) and so on.  Do I really need to worry about all of this?!?! Or are the people who sail NCL just a bunch of complainers??

1 hour ago, don't-use-real-name said:

INFO ABOUT SHIPS STAFF

 

As an aid if you attend a Meet & Greet party on the ship there is usually a printed card with

all the staff members that you may need to contact for assistance.

It will have the persons title and ship telephone number to contact.

 

If there is no M&G then sometimes in the Atrium area of the ship will be a panel with the

faces (pictures) of the ships staff from the:

Captain

Staff Captain

Chief Engineer

Hotel Director

Head of Housekeeping

Head Chef

Beverage Manager

etc.

Cruise Director

may include Concierge

 

Some of the Ships Daily (newspaper) may have this information also.

 

ON board a ship contact Guest Services -or- "0" on the phone for info.

 

And finally you have CC here - post a note needing the info you need

hopefully some current cruise guest will be able to provide you with the info.

 

The NCL website is a futile fruitless search - there is no specific website for an

individual ship.

 

That Concierge you are making reference to may have been Roel Gonzales (the Roel is pronounced as Royal - Roy).

He was fine with me but I get the feeling that his service was not as expected in comparison with other Cs.

R. tends to delegate his duties passing onto his Butlers - but this is not all bad since he may not have time to individually

tend to all the tasks of a C - better some attention than none at all !

 

Yes you can talk to the Hotel Director and even have him service your requests - but in fairness you should at least

work your way up thru the house staff - you say you are in a suite work your request thru your Butler and see how

that works. That suite if it is a OS DOS or Haven Garden Villa warrants a direct response from the C - but que

the Butler in too. The C can't be everywhere servicing all the suites and Platinum (+) accept that for what it is and

be patient - but if you feel that is not right contact the Hotel Director.

Thank you for the info! Will be sure to go through the proper channels first!