legion3

Cruising is nothing like it was in the 70's and 80's at all.

The noisemakers and streamers of the sail away they used to hand out and the mess the port of Miami had to clean up. I still have some of the noisemakers from Royal Caribbean and Cunard they handed out.

The flaming Baked Alaska (although I understand MSC still does this) parade.

Skeet shooting off the side of the ship with a shotgun!

Tips in envelopes.

Not a fan of any buffet, land or sea, not a fan of NCL's MDR's.

If not for the speciality's (we enjoyed them quite a bit) and the UDP, probably wouldn't sail or consider NCL again.

We have the Wave promo UDP for our 7 day cruise, will not be eating at any MDR's and buffet maybe only for a snack or quick bite.

When you sign them in, you will be asked where they can find you if they need to. If you have the calling features of the iconcierge app enabled on your phone, you can give them your iconcierge number, and they will use that to contact you if necessary.

See I never have cruised with this Iconcierge app before and usually turn my phone off and don't carry it around. So there you go.

the problem with telling them where you'll be is what if your not there? I might plan to do one thing then...change on the go...

We are cruising on the Escape in Feb 2016, we will have our grand children ages 6 & 8, we are curious if when the kids are in Splash Academy is there any communication if the kids want to leave, will the staff find the parents somehow?

Generally, no, not for kids of that age. We had an NCL suite phone that we could carry around the ship and they could call us if needed. If they have phones, like CCL, they were really supposed to be for younger or special needs kids.

they can of course request an announcement be made shipwide but unless you hear it...they can also call your cabin, if you are there...

You are saying about the same i did a day or so ago: people generalize and then start to backdown. Of course anyone who gets a 21 day cruise anywhere for $579 either booked last minute, had inside info or something.

 

People also have to remember, a price offered now, for 18 months out is going to change 10 times or more between now and sailing. NCL is just throwing those prices out to see what they can get.

 

You did just what I did the other day; you checked and found several cruises at a good price; just because they were not what another poster would consider desirable doesn't mean they are not out there.

NCL prices are high (higher than the were for most trips) and even on crappy old ship cruises too. Not everyone can cruise when the deals are. NCL is not the deal it used to be.

If I understand what you are saying I disagree: you are saying NCL prices are higher: I just checked on 2 cruises; one out of Miami after thanksgiving on NCL and Carnival: both cases NCL was about $100 difference, for an inside of outside cabin. The other out of NOLA early Dec. same thing: $100 difference. Now these are not on the newer NCL ships, nor the newere Carnival ships.I have no idea the pricing on them, but I have to say, I do not see where NCl is high.

Check the big ships, price the NCL Escape and Carnival Magic for the same week:

Here is a simple quick look at the last cruise in April 2016

An inside on the 7 day Escape is pricing for 4 people at $3266

A Spa balcony (with spa access) cabin on the 7 day Magic for 4 people is at $3298

The Magic inside is $2248 ($1000 difference)

Sure I imagine I could find close fares but not like I used too. And the Magic's ports are better too.

This is the UDP, Ultimate dining package for kids.

The kids (all of them who have DINCHL) eat free off the adult menu in the restaurants in the program and recieve 25% off the adult menus of other venues within the program.

Kids can still eat off the free ship wide kids menu if they want.

the big 5 are included: Cagny's, Le bistro, La cucina, Teppanyaki and Churrascaria.

The dinner show is 25% off.

You should also not be charged the 18% gratuity, booking when you did.

12 years old is still a child to NCL, the 18 year old is not, but the UDP as a promo would still apply since it was for everyone in the cabin/booking.

On the Breeze they were in every port. Even Miami on the first day.

Only the last Port, Nassau they were doing something odd as they used cold salt water - cleaning out the system? Salt water and slides and bucket dumps don't mix...

Otherwise it was the fresh treated water.

NCL has better shows and specialty restaurants and used to be comparable in price to CCL.

Currently their prices are pretty high and no longer as comparable, with some exceptions of course.

And it remains to be seen if the new a la carte is a positive or not for the restaurants as long as the food doesn't suffer, then it should be OK.

CCL just about everything else IMO.

Unfortunately, the only likely outcome, given the condition of the ship.

The oldest steel warship also needs some help, far less $ needed but still...

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2015/06/02/seaport-museum-olympia-restore-state-grant-wolf.html

On our amenities confirmation, ours say Ultimate Dining Package with the code DINPKG next to both adults and

Child's dining package with the code DINCHL next to both children.

This was when the UDP was for everyone in the cabin, so we should be able to have the kids eat off the adult menus for free in any of the venues covered.

And get the 25% off at those other venue's not included.

supposedly we should not be charged 18% either...we will see.

the new package would not have gotten us to book, FWIW. Neither would the current cruie fares.

On our cruise a basic inside is going for the M6 mini suite we booked. no thanks.

It's possible that I am right, i was just giving fair warning. Norwegian allows children to eat from the kids menu for free. So I could see how sneaking from the adult men you could get you in trouble.

What have you been right about before?

Last week in Bremerhaven, deck 10?

 

Deck 8 hallway?

 

A sneak preview for the wall plug questions ;)

Nice pictures :cool:

This view makes the M6 balconies look huge and more than 2/3 uncovered and the B6 balconies not look as big as on the Away ships.

Its probably just the angle the pic is taken at...

We never deployed the sleepr sofa as our 7 yo liked it like this but its a good size sleeper sofa if needed.

There is a Murphy bed that pulls out from the wall.

and

A sleeper sofa.

the roll away is if you need it but you won't likely.

The Murphy is a regular bed and very comfortable.

Here is the murphy as deployed and with a 4 yo in it. Plenty big for a single adult.

I notice looking at some recent dailies that Splash Academy opens at 7:00pm and the early show starts at 7:00pm. That seems to make getting to the 7:00pm show on time impossible. Do they open the academy a couple of minutes before 7 or is it pretty much right on the dot? We have never cruised NCL so we are just trying to figure this out. Our son is 4 so going to the late show is not really an option as we are back in the cabin around then.

Its almost always on the dot or a few minutes before (rare) or even after (less rare).

Its never real early and usually there is a line.

We planned on 7:30 dinners knowing that 7:00 on the dot was not likely to happen.

I have never sailed on Gem but that is generally the pattern on other NCL ships.

I've never done Carnival but have done many NCL cruises. It looks like a dead heat to me.

Entertainment: NCL ncl

Cabin: Carnival CARNIVAL

Steakhouse: NCL Carnival ;)

MDR: Carnival Carnival

Lunch: Carnival Carnival

Fellow Passengers: NCL Dead heat ;)

 

Carnival by a nose. :D

Eroller's review is spot on. His comparison is why we cruised Cunard when it was just me and the DW.

Now we have small kids and Cunard is just not for "US" currently, but one day, when they are older...much older... or when its just DW and me, and Cunard has a trip we want, no hesitation.

Love the formality of Cunard.

Loved the Carnival Breeze as a family cruise, hope to love the NCL Escape as a family cruise!

Can do a tuxedo and khakis with equal enthusiasm. :cool:

No I disagree with this "smoke-free" Carnival, to be honest these " small areas away form the action, are neither. Still too much smoke.

That said I agree Carnival is a great deal and will still cruise.

NCL's prices have also gone up a great deal.

I loved our Cunard cruises, loved them, but it was just me and my DW. Also sailed Cunard back in the day with my family and loved it then too, although my parents were partial to Royal Caribbean.

But now with kids Cunard is not the choice, just not enough for the kids, Carnival, NCL and if they were cheaper Royal for family cruising.

Two totally different lines, two totally different experiences. No comparison in my mind.

FWIW Cunard is not what it used to be, but then again nothing really is.

Breeze was our best family cruise yet. Kids loved the ship, ropes course, water park and Italian pasta bar for lunch.

Loved Tandoor Indian...so did half the officers it seemed. ;)

We enjoyed the American Table meals generally. Nothing was cold, some dishes were not as hot as I might have liked but everything was edible and beyond.

Liked the night with Beef Wellington and Bitter & Blanc...MAGIC!

Honestly Guy's was OK and I suppose considering where you are, on a ship in the middle of the sea, was better than many shipboard burgers, but I feel it is overhyped. Still I hope the Magic gets one before it comes to FL. I would rather have it then not.

Blue Iguana Cantina, while not fabulous, was a good quick bite.

We found plenty of good food on the Breeze. Red Frog Pub wings were a nice fall back.

Enjoyed Hasbro but we are a family. My DD8 won the last show and got a $150 gift card to Hasbro games.

Do you know how many games you can get for $150. Of course it was taxed. :rolleyes:

We just don't cruise for the entertainment, although our upcoming NCL Escape show we are looking forward to the John Hughes 1980 movies show at their supper club.

We enjoyed the American Table meals mostly, nothing was cold and everything was edible.

Breeze was our best overall family cruise to date.

Kids loved the ship.

Tandoor indian food was great.

Carnival is bringing back live bands for the lido deck.

Always like carnivals mdr food over ncl.

I also felt the steakhouse on carnival was better than cagny's but not by much. Carnival seemed more formal in style than cagnys.

Italian for lunch was kids fav.

Ncl entertainment is better but we do not really sail for that so, except for the supper club show on Escape, that is really a wash.

Ncl excells at choices to eat.

Thanks for the review. Wish the Breeze was staying in Fl would definitely sail her again.

We get Magic which hopefully we be as good.

Please, please, please, can you video it when you ask your butler to arrange your party for you, and post the video on your YouTube channel.

 

It'll get loads of views, I'm sure.

It would be under this youtube name; Shady C Network...

Do a google and look it up, quite illuminating.