If I had only known... What do you wish someone had told you prior to your 1st NCL cr

NCL newbie here....

Is there anything you wish someone had told you before embarking on your NCL cruise so you didn't miss out on something or so you had information that was particularly helpful or important? Help out all of us newbies (and non-newbies) with your great advice!

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I'll start.... Haven't cruised yet but these are some tips I came across:

1. Download the iConcierge app to communicate with family/friends onboard

2. Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the Great Outdoors

3. Looking for a quick, non-crowded breakfast, comfort food later in the day or a late night snack? Head to O'Sheehan's!

4. If you're not planning to use the bar in your room, ask your steward to unload it and fill it up with a pitcher of Iced Tea/Lemonade - it's free!

5. Wait for the "fill a bag" laundry specials (2-3 days in) and roll your clothing to make the most of the special

6. The Spinnaker Lounge has great drinks/views

7. Don't miss the opportunity to view the Bridge - Deck 11 Forward

8. If you have kids, enroll in the Kids Club when you get onboard and have them go the 1st night to for the "getting to know you" activities

9. Pay for a future cruise deposit while onboard and save money.... haven't figured out how to do this yet, but if someone else knows please fill us in...

10. Many people swear by the thermal spa pass and the adults only Vibe area... Look into them!

Hope my research will be helpful and that I haven't given away too many secrets before I go! [emoji12]

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You can order as many appetizers and entrees as you want in the main dining rooms.

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You can order as many appetizers and entrees as you want in the main dining rooms.

 

 

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My 13 year old son is dreaming of multiple lava cakes!!

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The existence of SpiceH2O.

The existence of SpiceH2O.

I think I read about that too....is that a free adult area? What's there?

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That dismantling of a waterslide during most of our cruise would make the slide not available to my daughter but also the children's pool for most of the cruise.

That dismantling of a waterslide during most of our cruise would make the slide not available to my daughter but also the children's pool for most of the cruise.

oh no! which ship?

I think I read about that too....is that a free adult area? What's there?

I don't know, BUT I will find out it in less than 27 DAYS!

I think I read about that too....is that a free adult area? What's there?

 

 

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Spice H2O Aft of the ship (Getaway anyway) Deck 16

Adults only from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Has lots of loungers, 2 hot tubs, a waterfall and a bar

FREE

Cruising could become a way of life and very addictive. Heading out on cruise # 35 in a few days.

I don't know, BUT I will find out it in less than 27 DAYS!

lol....be sure to come back and tell us what you think!

Spice H2O Aft of the ship (Getaway anyway) Deck 16

Adults only from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Has lots of loungers, 2 hot tubs, a waterfall and a bar

FREE

sounds awesome! does it close at 6 or are kids allowed after 6?

Cruising could become a way of life and very addictive. Heading out on cruise # 35 in a few days.

i'm jealous! this will be cruise #4 for us...we've gone on 2 with RCCL and one with Disney

Research your ports of call to find out what you can do and shouldn't do. In some ports its highly recommended to book an excursion through the cruise line and yet there are others where you can do things on your own. Utilize this app and Ship Mate to learn from others' experiences. Study the deck plans so that you know where everything is on the ship.

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How wonderfully liberating Freestyle cruising. We have spent decades rushing around with set dining times, group tables where you truly learn to dislike your dining companions after a week. NCL has got it right!

sounds awesome! does it close at 6 or are kids allowed after 6?

In the evenings there are movies shown on a big screen. Later in the evening 10 P.M. are the nightly dance parties.

How wonderfully liberating Freestyle cruising. We have spent decades rushing around with set dining times, group tables where you truly learn to dislike your dining companions after a week. NCL has got it right!

I'm really curious to see what freestyle cruising is like and if it will feel that much different to us. We've always enjoyed meeting new people on our cruises, but I do like the idea of not having set meal times (though we have 3 reservations for specialty dining). Should be interesting...

Question.... just how casual is NCL both around the ship in general and in the MDRs?

Here's what I wish I'd known. NCL has an extensive history of making unfavorable changes which will be instituted before your cruise . These may be gratuity increases or adding gratuities to "free" perks . It may be changing policies and not allowing passengers to bring on any beverages . Other changes have included greatly reducing free room service items . They may make negative changes like not allowing food to be taken out of the buffet and then backing down on this one . Hopefully you will get what you thought you were paying for . Good luck on that .

Research your ports of call to find out what you can do and shouldn't do. In some ports its highly recommended to book an excursion through the cruise line and yet there are others where you can do things on your own. Utilize this app and Ship Mate to learn from others' experiences. Study the deck plans so that you know where everything is on the ship.

 

 

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Question.... just how casual is NCL both around the ship in general and in the MDRs?

https://www.ncl.com/faq#packing

Upon boarding go to the main dining room for lunch.

Breakfast at the Great outdoors.

Guest services gives out free motion sickness pills.

Bring a magnet and highlighter.

Still thinking....

Safe sailing

Here's what I wish I'd known. NCL has an extensive history of making unfavorable changes which will be instituted before your cruise . These may be gratuity increases or adding gratuities to "free" perks . It may be changing policies and not allowing passengers to bring on any beverages . Other changes have included greatly reducing free room service items . They may make negative changes like not allowing food to be taken out of the buffet and then backing down on this one . Hopefully you will get what you thought you were paying for . Good luck on that .

 

I noticed they are increasing the prepaid gratuities, but they gave us the option to pay before the increase so I did. How often does this happen? When I chose the UBP and the UDP, it did say that an 18% gratuity would automatically be added in advance so that was not a surprise on my end. It sounds like a lot, but I try to keep in mind that most people who work on a cruise work really long hours with very few breaks, and they work very hard. I haven't been on NCL before, but on my past cruises everyone always went out of their way to make our cruise special and did so with a smile - no matter how long they had been working or how tired they were. With that said, I hope we don't have many unexpected additional fees though.

Upon boarding go to the main dining room for lunch.

Breakfast at the Great outdoors.

Guest services gives out free motion sickness pills.

Bring a magnet and highlighter.

Still thinking....

Safe sailing

Wouldn't have thought of these - thanks!

Only been on one NCL cruise, so take this with a grain of salt.

1. Bars -The pool bartenders are there for volume. This isn't a "CON", it just makes sense given the amount of people flowing in and out of the pool area. Go to the other bars(O'Sheehans, Sunset if you smoke/want to be outside) if you want drinks made "your way" and better service. In addition, most bar patrons have the UBP with the paid gratuity(18% * 79 * CruiseDays). If you want to stick out, find an outgoing bartender and tip them 5/10 bucks early on. We did this and got rewarded with no wait times every time we wanted a drink. Stellar service continued, so we kept the tips flowing at a lesser rate.

Hell, you could probably tip less than that given that I didn't see anyone else tipping with cash.

2. Specialty Restaurants - Cagneys was your classic steak house, choose Le Bistro if you want something special. The veal medallions/mushroom soup were extraordinary.

3. Pool Area = small. We want on the GetAway and it was the smallest pool out of any ships we've been on. It offers the waterslides for kids and H20 for adults(small waterfalls). All in all, not a big issue for us, but go early morning(7AM) for a swim without the masses.

4. Buy bottled water up front. (Goes with Step 1 if you're indulging in the UBP)

5. We found the MDR on the GetAway to be loud. The band/entertainment was down, but it seemed to interfere with the ability for us to communicate with our waiter. Either that or they strategically placed him there. :)

We preferred the quieter dining rooms which served the same food. The wait staff seemed more attentive as well.

6. I'm not a huge fan of magic, but the illusionarium show was pretty solid. I was disappointed in the food, but hit it up if you have kids and want to fill a void in the trip.

I found the ship layout to be subpar compares to the wide open spaces of RCCL. Just my opinion of the design. One of the main things(and I smoke) was the fact that the casino was right in the middle of one of the main atriums. This caused the smoke to waft downwards and infiltrate other hallways. Also, the smokers lounge right outside the pool seemed strange to me.