jimandami

Priority embarkation/debarkation, priority seating at shows, daily snacks in room, free room service, free pay per view movies.

I saw a couple kids eating off the standard kids menu at Teppanyaki...did those people really pay full price for that?

DH and I had a forward facing on the GA and the room was fantastic. Our butler, however, was well...not great. I would go so far as to say he was downright rude at times. However, we met a couple people in the Aft rooms and their butler was great. So, I don't think it's room specific, I think it's butler specific.

I didn't see anyone answer your upgrade vs. upsell question. An upgrade is when you book a higher category cabin at full price. You will receive all the perks that come with that category cabin. An upsell is when you call a specific NCL number (usually less than 30 days from sailing) and pay a smaller amount to get a better cabin, typically a Haven. For example, DH and I booked a balcony guarantee cabin, then did an upsell about 27 days out for $750 each. The total we bad for our FF Haven was about $2000 less than it would have cost to book it outright. We did not get the Haven perks (when I say perks, I mean the things like UDP/UBP/Wi-fi, etc...), but did keep the perks we got with our original sailing. We did, however, get everything else that comes with the Haven. I cannot recommend it enough...we loved it so much we paid full price for an Aft Penthouse for our May 2017 cruise.

Hi, we just did this on July 1st from FLL to Miami. We made the mistake of using a taxi and paid $140 with tip from FLL to Miami Port--we hit some traffic so we were basically paying to wait in traffic.

 

On the way back, we were wise to use UBER and it was $80 plus tip. UBER so much cheaper and they are literally 1 to 2 minutes to pick you up-no waiting! Highly recommend! It is a fixed price so you wont pay for the traffic waiting! so nice!

 

I would agree that getting a hotel in FLL with shuttle and free breakfast is the way to go. Then use your phone to order UBER when you are all ready to go. No need to do UBER ahead of time. Just click on UBER and schedule when you and all the little kiddos are ready :)

 

If you want a quote, use UBER to estimate the charges. :)

 

Enjoy!

You must have encountered surge prices or something...we payed $30 from POM to FLL.

Yes, we took Uber from the Hilton in Ft. Lauderdale to POM and then from POM to airport in Ft. Lauderdale. Worked well both times and cheaper than a taxi or shuttle.

We are booked on the 11 September sailing. This is the second post I have seen which talks about a "dinner" meal in The Haven restaurant.

 

When we last sailed that room did not offer three meals; only two.

 

Has that changed?

 

Thank you.

We were in the Getaway Haven in July, and yes, the restaurant definitely served 3 meals.

Definitely Uber...we paid $29.57 in July, which makes it as cheap as the shared shuttle for 2 and cheaper if you have more than 2, but you don't have to sit and wait for others, etc...

I get that a few posters on here have had bad experiences with kids in the Haven, but at times, I also think the problem is overblown. DH and I were in the Haven on the GA in July sans kids and had zero problems whatsoever. There were maybe 8 kids total that we encountered and all behaved well. However, we were in the Haven pool one day and there was a woman who was absolutely cursing up a storm and complaining about the "bleep, bleep kids." These kids were not misbehaving in any way...they were just hanging in the pool. But, I can guarantee she went home and went on and on about kids in the Haven courtyard and how awful they were...I heard her complaining on multiple days. I just think that some people have zero tolerance for children.

I'm pretty sure it is 3

Whoops...was on my phone and read the bottom of the lunch menu as the dinner menu! Yes, they look the same as on the GA.

We were in the Haven on the GA last month...the breakfast and lunch menus look the same to me, but dinner seems a little different. I know there were lamb chops on the dinner menu on the GA bc my DH loved them.

Enjoying your review! We are fellow Disney lovers who recently cruised the Getaway and will be on the Escape in May. The main pool on the GA is adults only and was exactly the scene you describe...I told DH it looked like Panama City Beach on spring break....thank goodness for the Haven! I did think it was interesting that you said there was an adults only day at the pool...is the Escape pool not adults only like the Getaway?

Since I haven't seen any show on the Getaway, changing them wouldn't bother me that much, but if they replace the FREE Flamingo Grill with another for a fee venue, that will make me rethink my cruise, and maybe go back to RCCL. Part of the reason that I booked this was because of the dinner venues. Take that away and it loses part of the Freestyle.Maybe they should change the name to Chargestyle.I know I'm jumping the gun because nobody knows what they are going to do yet, and I'm not about to cancel yet. In fact, i'm still looking forward to this cruise.

Isn't that the plan though? Replacing Flamingo Grill with Margaritaville, which will be a pay venue?

Thank you very much!!

DH and I recently cruise the GA solo and loved it...we did an upsell to the Haven, though, so I'm sure that was part of it. Anyway, we did a cruise next onboard and booked the GA in a family balcony for spring break, bringing our two kiddos age 13 and 8. I have been looking around and found that we could do the exact same itinerary on the Escape the last week of May for $1000 cheaper (same promo, same stateroom category). I understand that the Escape shows might not be as kid friendly as the GA, but are there any other negative differences? Has anyone done both with kids and have an opinion?

Thanks!

Welcome Home!

 

 

Glad that you had a great cruise.

Did you use the internet at all? Wondering if it is still as slow as molasses.

 

Thanks!

 

AM

We were in this sailing and purchased 100 minutes to try to FaceTime our kiddos....yes, the Internet was slow as molasses. We found much better connectivity and speed at Starbucks and Fat Tuesday's in Cozumel.

It was lovely meeting you two as well. Hope you can be upgraded again for your cruise in the spring!

Thanks!! We are hoping! I also agree Teppanyaki was the best specialty restaurant...we ended up going two nights in a row (instead of Le Bistro on our last night!).

I'm following along too....it was so nice meeting you and your family and hanging out in the Haven! I fear that I, too, am spoiled for life!

Yes thank you!! We are also boarding Sunday!

Thank you all! I always pack wipes, OCD about that stuff. We have made our dinner reservations and entertainment reservations already through our PCC who is great! I have to check about the comedy club, don't think I have that.

 

Is the iConcierge worth paying for and if so how many of us should put it on our phones? (DH and 2 teen boys traveling with us)

 

We are planning to board asap. We have a incoming 9:30 flight to FLL from NYC. So nothing to do but stop to buy a case of water and get to port.

 

Cannot wait to try Flamingo Grill. Really hope they do not change it to after our July 3rd cruise!

 

Keep the suggestions coming!!!

We are on this cruise as well! Can't wait. We have a facebook group and have organized a meet and greet/slot pull if you are interested.

We were there in December and our kids loved it! However, it is most definitely not easy for a 6 year-old to climb up on the inflatables. They do provide life jackets but I don't think a 6 year-old could go out there alone. Our DD is a gymnast and is quite strong for her age, but DH and I had to take turns helping her up...and even that wasn't easy. I am in pretty good shape but honestly I sometimes had a hard time pulling myself up onto the inflatables.

I'm not sure about the snorkeling or paddleboards, sorry. I do think the kayaks were free though.