Kierste

We will be on the pearl over Easter.. I plan on having a small egg and candy stash just in case :)

I had to laugh when I saw a picture of a beer menu... And it listed those exotic locales of St Louis etc for the crap beer they sell. I will drink a corona or dos Equis on vacation, but hailing from Portland Oregon--Hubby is going to be going through good beer withdrawals.

I am wondering this too... My daughter, who is 10, thinks it would be cool to have in her passport. I am 40 and think it is cool too :rolleyes:

You will have no problems...no worries! They operate on "island time" in Aruba...and most of the Caribbean!

Thanks! Aruban time must be Hawaiian time amplified!

Well, it took a month of emails to get a confirmation... That seems odd... Hopefully I won't have issues when I actually show up with my easily editable confirmation in hand the day of.

I liked my pcc too... Through the whole process she knew I'd be switching to Costco (I think they still get a partial commission if you switch) and was super nice, always called if I emailed her. I would totally recommend her if it was allowed :)

I finally got confirmation today after trying via email with their "guest experience manager" to prebook our day passes. Anyone have issues with this? I have printed my confirmation and will bring that along with a copy of the credit card charge. But boy, it seemed to be like pulling teeth to get this done ahead of time.

Depends on your district... But we have a four day weekend for Presidents' Day so kids maybe off the 13th thru 16th. We'd originally looked at cruises that week because it would be 2 less days out of school.

I have to agree... pass on Teppanyaki. Way too much garlic in the fried rice... my eyes were burning from the fumes. However, I will say the Green Tea Cake & Ice Cream was superb.

There is such as thing as too much garlic?! No way! ;)

Thank you!! So glad you saw my post--and how cool that we are doing the same sailing (in reverse!) in two months! Hope you loved the cruise!

Luckybones--did they offer the laundry special twice on your sailing? How many days in was the 1st one? I am trying to plan quantity of clothes needed :confused:

Thank you Luckybones!!! Not that I am trying to get rid of my dd :rolleyes: but I think she might like to at least join the kids club for a couple activities and get away from mom, dad and grandma for a bit!

Anyone sail lately have these? I am specifically interested in the longer cruises and the dolphin group (10-12 yo)... My daughter who has never been interested in things like this *might* take an interest this year!

Unless there are delays for whatever reason (mechanical or logistical, for example) the ships push off the dock right around 4PM or shortly thereafter. It's not like new year's eve though... if you're not paying attention, you may look down and suddenly see the dock dozens of yards away!

Lol, okay! Thanks!

So if the itinerary says "depart 4 pm"... Is that the real time they sail away? So then dinner any time that night would be okay? (5:30 pm on?) and you wouldn't miss watching the land get further away?

Thank you!

I think I understand the buffet is always an option... And the great outdoors (which I understand to be a small buffet?)... What about o'sheehans and one or both of the mdrs? Are these all available for breakfast and lunch. We are just in a mini-suite, no special perk places to eat :)

Dd wants waffles and sausage :) if anyone knows the best option for that for breakfast.

Tia

 

I was also told that the water slide was not open the entire time. (This again may be due to a previous charter where they supposedly built a stage near or around where the slide is)

 

Hopefully someone who was on this cruise can confirm the details.

 

-Sean

The water slide was removed from the pearl about a year ago... Too many charters in January thru March and it took up too much room to have a proper stage near the pool.

Thanks guys! Another question... Now that they are doing chocoholic night, it doesn't really matter where you eat that night? You'll get a selection of chocolate desserts? Any idea when it's being offered on the longer cruises (ours is a 11 day.)

Going on the pearl in like 100 days, so starting to thinking about food. Current plan is specialty restaurants on our sea days, and mdr/buffet for dinner on port days. I am guessing the buffet on port days is a busy choice. If we decide mdr, can we just walk up when we want to eat... Which I know is the idea of freestyle... But I have a lion and a cougar in the family when it comes to food... And waiting may not be an option if it's likely to be more than 10 or 15 minutes.

Other question about the mdr and specialty restaurants... Do you get an appetizer/starter main course and dessert with your meal? I was looking at menus, and at especially the paid places I hope so.

Lastly, with dinner, and I guess all meals, soda is extra right? I know it is typically, but I was wondering if they still charge extra at a paid meal. We are planning on bringing our own, not big drinkers of anything but water. But wanted to check.

Thanks much!

We are interested in the marriott day room for next March. Is it a regular hotel room with beds? I would think by booking this, we would also have charging privileges and could use their towels instead of hauling them ourselves?

When we travel, we don't mind paying a little more for our tour to be private... so whilst a tour from NCL might be cheaper, as the PP stated, it could be 50 people crammed on a bus or boat or whatever. My first inclination (since this is our first cruise) is to book private or semi-private tours. You can search the web, and I have even looked on other roll-calls that have our same ports and found reputable companies that I can book myself ahead of time. Usually, they want payment when they pick you up, not before too.

It wouldn't be the end of the world if we got stranded in any of the ports... Just an expensive mistake I guess! But I will plan on being back an hour early anyway. Plus that gives us time to clean up and rest a bit before we head to dinner (we are kinda early eaters!)

We travel frequently, just never did a cruise... I have always avoided large group excursions, and done things our own way... Usually more enjoyable! So, automatically I was looking at booking things on our own and not going thru the ship... Glad to see you guys think I am on the right track :)

If this is a port where golfing is offered as an excursion though NCL you can sign up for that and not have to worry about any time issues (getting to the course and back to the ship).

 

 

 

 

Favorite Cruise Activities:

me - free play in the casinos

s/o - relaxing on the balcony reading a book

Which I will look into... So far what I have seen is we can book most excursions cheaper if we don't go thru the ship.