Marine Mom

Gem by far!

I'm on a 9-day repositioning from Boston in November 2018 with the Distinctive Voyages promo and noticed this morning that the Take 5 promotion includes that cruise as well.

 

I searched on here and it appeared that some people were able to combine the two (I'm not terribly concerned about the internet package, but would like double shore excursion credit) and stack them on top of each other.

 

I called NCL and the person I spoke to said that it was one or the other. It says they can be combined, but he made it sound like I wasn't going to be able to get $100/port.

 

Just wondering if anyone else had dealt with this and I should call back and try and get someone else.

 

Thanks in advance.

It is actually double ($100 each port) if you book a Distinctive Voyage and receive all 5 offers. I am booked on a sailing with both of those specials and we received double internet minutes (total 500 minutes) and double excursion credit ($100 total). Ask them to send you the amenity confirmation, it shows up on mine.

RE: Search about doing second bid. Yea, that question is hard to find in a search. Then again, a quick scan through a few days posts on this thread and that question would be answered and others that you may not have even thought of.

 

I will add, that not only do the rules not allow it, but by time you get your cabin that you won via a bid, they may well be done doing all the upgrades anyways.

Thank you!

This question was literally asked 2-3 days ago on this very thread - I feel like you didn't search all that hard :-)

Gee sorry I did search and that did not pop up!

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I'm sure this has been asked before but I could not find an answer. If your bid won and you were upgraded early on in the process, does anyone know if you get an offer to upgrade again?

Marine Mom - what do you think - same itinerary, same price per day - Antehem for a repeat holiday cruise or Breakaway for a 7 night holiday cruise to change it up? Loved the Anthem, but concerned about the repeat entertainment on Anthem compared to Breakaway which would be new. Also concerned of things to do on Breakaway on the sea days in the cold.

If the price and itinerary are the same and you really want a change, then try the Breakaway. Some people really love the ship. We sailed on March of last year and it was cold at sail away. The first day and a half you will probably want to stay indoors and unfortunately, so is everyone else. The ropes course was fun, the water slides were fun too and get less crowded (or no line) by the 3rd day. Obviously it will be too cold to utilize those two the first day and a half. There is a quiet area at the back of the ship for "adults only" during the day called the H20. There are a few hot tubs and a bar and is a little less quiet. Since we stayed in the haven, we spent alot of time in the pool area (has retractable roof) during the chilly days. As far as entertainment there are two main shows, Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor, which are good. They also have howl at the moon and an off the cuff comedy show called "Second City".

Give it a try and with any luck, if you bid on the Haven and win, you will LOVE that!!!

I am doing the opposite of you. I have been on the breakaway twice and wanted a change and heard so many good things about the Anthem so we booked for January. Really excited!

For comparison' date=' we've sailed breakaway 3 times, twice in a haven cabin (aft penthouse suite, so haven access but not in the haven). Personally I think this is the best cabin available, regardless of the ship. We like breakaway, Anthem was ok but we found there was a lot of waiting around to do things like bumper cars, flow rider etc. On breakaway there was much more doing and less waiting, we consider it a big playground!

Breakaway has issues, the smoke on 6-7-8 is definitely noticeable, but easily avoided. Atrium activities fill up quickly, so get there early for a seat. Lots of things to do indoors, but not flashy like 270. Haven gives a private indoor pool and hot tub area, as well as butler, concierge and priority everything. Much better suite perks than RCL IMHO.

Sailing past Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty is definitely an experience, especially in the aft suite.

If you haven't sailed Breakaway, it's a similar experience to Anthem, especially in terms of the passenger make up (Northern US and Canadians). Someone has already mentioned Escape is replacing Breakaway in NYC for next year, Escape is a newer ship and there have been complaints about motion. We've never sailed her, so no personal experience there.

 

 

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I do agree that the Haven on NCL is amazing!

Doing the Haven twice on the same ship and stating you will never sail it again... that's gotta be a ship with some issues.

 

-Sean

That's for sure!!!! The layout of that ship is terrible.

The Gem was supposed to go to NO and the escape was coming to NY but now breakaway is going to NO and the escape and the gem will be in NY.

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We’ve been on Breakaway and I agree with all negative comments so far.

 

If you are a smoker you’ll love this ship. The casino is right in the middle of the ship which sends smoke smell through all three levels of the atrium. The Waterfront area would be a great area but the side where the bars are were always packed because it’s also a smoking area. You could smell smoke in the French restaurant because that’s in the atrium area as well as the Italian restaurant because every time the Waterfront door opens the smoke get sucked in and right into the Italian restaurant. We rented a cabana in Vibe for the week which was wonderful but had to walk through another smoking bar area to get into the Vibe door.

 

 

The layout of the ship is really bad and there is nothing grand or pretty about the ship. The theater isn’t even pretty just a movie theater style room with crazy uncomfortable chairs. I’m sure if you’ve researched you’ve seen comments on that.

 

 

I wouldn’t sail Breakaway ever again even if it was free. I haven’t been on Anthem yet but hoping it’s better. My favorite ship to date is Oasis for a reference point.

I agree with you 100%!

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I have not done the Anthem yet (I am scheduled to go on her in January) but I have been on the Breakaway twice (both in Haven) and not a fan. Although the Haven is wonderful, the ship itself, not so. The pool area is way too small for this size ship, many shows happen in the atrium which is also way too small. Always seemed too crowded and I would never sail her again. Hope this helps.

If it was just us we would have but right now we have connecting balconies with my parents and didn't want to risk only one of us getting it and/or getting separated.

I don't blame you. Have a great cruise!

If you are asking me, I am sure. It shows $400pp for family suite with balcony.

Now that is a great deal, did you bid? I would jump on that as that is a great room with a great location.

You paid $1600 total for this upgrade? We are booked in a balcony for the same cruise and our minimum bid was $400pp.

Are you sure it was for the family suite with the balcony? There is a family suite without a balcony also.

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We were just on the Gem and downloaded the Hub app and was able to to iMessage at no cost. It was awesome.

 

 

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Hmmm what is Hub app? I need to check that out. Let me know, thanks.

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You are NOT eligible for an upgrade since you booked a guaranteed room.

Who says that? You definitely can upgrade with a guaranteed room. Friends just received their upgrade through bidding for a cruise next week.

Thanks for your response. I always get the internet package just heard a lot of a new block so was wondering if they put a block in place or if they sold a message plan which I was hearing about.

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We sailed on the breakaway in March and Dawn last August and I was able to iMessage home and it didn't use the wifi, had the phone in airplane mode and worked perfectly. I heard that NCL just started blocking this. Anyone off the Gem recently that was able to iMessage without the wifi? Also, I see they sell the internet package but heard that NCL now offers a package for just texting. Would appreciate any feedback.

That's great! It says on the FAQs that latitudes points are based on the original reservation. I'll cross my fingers that we are given the extra points, as well, as this will bump me up a tier. :)

I think you are correct, I have upgraded twice to a Haven cabin (both upsells) and both times did not receive the extra latitude points for the Haven.

Jane - Dawn

Roland - Breakaway

We met a couple last year on the BA who live about 2.5 hours from us. We instantly became friends, have been to each others house, and now we have two cruises booked with them for this year and early next. It was a friendly ship for sure!!!!

We just did this in March. We paid for the beach/village transfer but we ended up doing the beach only. I don't think the village is walking distance from the beach so if you are interested in going to the village, you will have to take the bus. When we got off the ship, the buses are all lined up ready to go to the beach and then to the village. I hope this helps.

What is too little? What else would you like? Most ships do not have lifeguards. I do think they should, because I find the pools on ships dangerous even for good swimmers, being deep and crowded.

Agree 100%!

Thanks for the review. I was on the Breakaway the eek before and had many of the same observations. Moderno does not have a complimentary breakfast buffet, but Margaritaville does.

I was on the same sailing as you and yes Moderno still has the breakfast buffet. My DH and I didn't realize it until we were walking the deck and decided to cut through the restaurant and there it was! It was nice, not crowded and food was great. The hostess told us they have the breakfast buffet in Moderno/Cagney's on sail days.

Thank you! Do you recall seeing any clamshells in the Haven area?

 

 

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No clamshells is haven area.

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