wvfrogg

I've only been on one Celebrity cruise -- the Infinity to Alaska 6/2011. I was anxious to try it to compare with NCL. To be honest, I was disappointed. The staff kept telling us that where they excelled was food and service. That wasn't true on this trip. Once our waiter realized that we weren't ordering wine with meals, he paid absolutely no attention to us. Our table mates did order wine each night, and he literally fawned over them. I didn't understand why that made any difference to him, although it seemed to. I'm not an overly picky diner or person, you can dress me up "pretty good", I do know which fork to us, and this was the only cruise where I felt like the servers were looking down their nose at me. Choosing not to order drinks or wine should not make any difference. Perhaps the servers make more in tips from the drinks, but their attitude was questionable.

Whatever ... I'll continue to go NCL.

What's a shift?

Man, I am feeling old on that one!! :o It is an unstructured "dress", usually cotton. Can't see through them. Very comfy! Some are called "float" or patio dresses.

I have been following a thread on another board about people arriving at the buffet in the am in PJs and/or robes complete with bed head. The responses have been interesting and it's not just one cruise line where this is occurring. This is about adults, not young children.

 

So am I out of touch since I have not cruised in 14 months? Are people wandering around NCL ships looking like they've just rolled out of bed?

 

Perhaps I being old-fashioned but you'll have to be part of our close family circle before you'll see my PJ's.

Well ... IMHO, there is a point beyond which comfort should not go. I'm all for casual, but how hard is it to put on shorts or throw on a shift to go out of your room. Otherwise . get room service.

Filled this out while I was eating my 7 points plus Weight Watchers meal. Probably not the best idea I've ever had.

LOL -- Can't wait to meet you on the ship! I was trying to figure out if I was going to take my WW tracker with me on the cruise -- and now I guess I'll have to!

But -- have to have the salmon and white beans in La cucina, carpaccio and lamb in Le Bistro, and maybe even a pretzel roll from the buffet. But I also like the egg white omelets in the buffet -- they are a great way to start the day with a little "salsa" on the top.

I really don't think I have had really bad customer service with NCL. I didn't think the desk people on the Epic were particularly helpful or friendly, but they were efficient.

However, once on the Pearl I mentioned on a comment card that the lamb in the MDR was not up to par. The head chef and the hotel director tracked me down the next night at La Bistro, comped me that meal and the next night at the MDR left word that I was to get rack of lamb that night. A guy at the next table saw my rack of lamb and requested it also -- and he got it!! They certainly got some "hero" cards from me at the end of the cruise.;)

The first thing I do onboard ship is:

 

Turn my cellphone OFF!

You better believe it!! And I don't turn it back on until we are back in Miami. I put that sucker in the safe and leave it there.:)

I've done that before -- a Miami flight leaving at 11:30. BUT, I wouldn't try it again. I walked off the Epic, got a cab, and faced almost a 3 hour security clearance. I would rather now take my time getting off the ship and take a later flight. There were some people in line with me that had been late getting off another ship and they missed their flight. The Miami airport doesn't seem to be prepared for the number of flights on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It is a real zoo.

:)I love La Cucina -- love it! I've eaten there on 4 cruises -- twice on two of them. My favorite meal is Carpaccio to start and then I love the seared salmon with white beans. Yum. Usually I have their special ice cream with espresso pour over the top. I don't normally do the pasta -- I can do that at home easily. Their steak, the one time I had it was very good, as was the Osso Bucco. Go and enjoy it!

Or making a mountain out of a molehill as the saying goes.

Or, even, pole-vaulting over mouse turds.

These are wonderful! It's a good thing my study (& computer) has an adjoining potty because I was laughing way too hard! I only got through 3 of them last night, so have plenty more to go! Thanks a million.:D

That happened on my last cruise. Call NCL technical support and they reset something and then you can get them.

I liked Slam Allen also, although he got a little snarly with some guests one night. I really enjoyed the pianist/singer at Shakers -- Jeff Spense. He had a terrific way with the crowd, plus he knew every song imaginable. Also I really enjoyed HATM -- esp. the guy named Rome.

I agree. Maybe the Epic has brought out some new cruisers that are less familiar with the nuances of ships (portholes, hulls, etc.)

Mike, I want to thank you for all of the balcony information. I had not done all the homework first before "upgrading" to 11012, not realizing that it was a hull. Now that I know where to get the information, it was much easier to choose the type of cabin I wanted, so I moved again to a regular "mid-ship" balcony BB. Should have been more thorough the first time around and my PCC wouldn't have had to talk with me 4 times!! (But Niki was really good about it.)

Was wondering is the infamous "Mr Don", or anyone else for that matter, can enlighten us with any "visual" information in reference to the 2 Bedroom Villa's on the 17th Deck. I have read where the Balcony is smaller than desired, but I was wondering about that "other bedroom."

Two of us are already booked into one of these Haven Suites for a future sailing, but we were wondering how comfortable that other bedroom may be.

We have another person (sister) who always goes on vacation with us. She is usually in a room (single) down the hall from our Penthouse. Unfortunately, "down the hall" isn't an option on Epic this time, unless she wins the lottery, because as you already know, no "balcony" staterooms are located in the Haven.

I certainly don't have an issue with having my sister stay in the same suite as us, but I would certainly want her to be comfortable in that extra bedroom, and hope that it isn't something like a pull out couch.

If anyone has any guidance in reference to this, or actually experienced one of these suites, we would certainly appreciate the insight.

 

 

 

Hope all is well with everyone....

 

 

 

Ismay.:D

Hi -- my daughter and I had a 2 bedroom Villa and I took the smaller "children's" cabin. I loved it! It was small, but I slept like a baby -- and I had my own bathroom, etc. With the living/dining room, there is plenty of other space available. I was only in the bedroom for sleeping and dressing. It really spoiled me for "regular" cruising!!

Enjoy the trip

One (somewhat) last thing . . . .

 

 

If anyone is still confused about that very first post . . . .

 

 

:D I had a good time!! :D

Thanks for the review!! I am booked in the studio (12500) Dec. 1, 2012. Was nervous about being "squashed" in, but now it sounds as if I will have a wonderful time! I can't wait to go!

Fran

Carnival Celebration - 1989

NCL Sky - 2002

NCL Sun - 2004

NCL Pearl - 2010

Celebrity Infinity - 2011

NCL Pearl - 2011

NCL Epic - 2012

I am cruising solo on the NCL Pearl - Nov. 13 out of Miami.