Latitudes Rewards

[megann831]

My husband and I are silver on NCL. I was looking at the benefits and it looks like anyone who as sailed with NCL gets priority check in and the Breakaway offer silver and up members an onbaord gathering with ship officers.

1. Is this gathering similar to the cocktail party we've gone to before?

2. Our children will be 3 and 5 and this will be their 1st NCL cruise. Will they get priority check in or will we have to give that perk up? Will the be able to come to the gathering with us? They might prefer the kids club, but I'm just wondering.

[All-ready2cruise]

My husband and I are silver on NCL. I was looking at the benefits and it looks like anyone who as sailed with NCL gets priority check in and the Breakaway offer silver and up members an onbaord gathering with ship officers.

1. Is this gathering similar to the cocktail party we've gone to before?

2. Our children will be 3 and 5 and this will be their 1st NCL cruise. Will they get priority check in or will we have to give that perk up? Will the be able to come to the gathering with us? They might prefer the kids club, but I'm just wondering.

 

NCL would never separate young families for boarding the ship. The gathering you're mentioning is mostly a sales pitch, we don't go. The priority boarding really isn't a perk at all, just go to the shortest line and you'll be fine.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[mking8288]

OP, on a typically Breakaway sailing out of NYC - there might be easily several hundreds if not a thousand pax with Latitudes tiered membership - sometimes, the priority check-in lines are longer than the regular check-in lines. The key is to arrive early enough to get thru security screening quickly (10:30 AM is our usual zero hour) to get the lowest boarding zone #'s given out.

VIP, casino guest, Haven & special needs have priority boarding and they are the first ones to get escorted & called to head for the gangways (2 used - 1 FWD & 1 AFT)

You check-in as a group/stateroom or family so you will board the ship together.

The reception is short & sometimes split into different days for groups, it's short & they don't even bother with doing sales pitch, just a quick one of FCR buy now & get instant $100 OBC. Kids would be better off doing their own - this event was held at Fat Cats Lounge. The best thing to get out of it - is - for 15 to 20 minutes - AYCD (all you can drink, free) cocktails - wine/beer/mixed ones are served. Enjoy the comp'd & take another one to go - if you wanted to, DW didn't go so I took a glass of wine to meet up with her at the MDR.

[Ilovesailing]

My husband and I are silver on NCL. I was looking at the benefits and it looks like anyone who as sailed with NCL gets priority check in and the Breakaway offer silver and up members an onbaord gathering with ship officers.

1. Is this gathering similar to the cocktail party we've gone to before?

2. Our children will be 3 and 5 and this will be their 1st NCL cruise. Will they get priority check in or will we have to give that perk up? Will the be able to come to the gathering with us? They might prefer the kids club, but I'm just wondering.

 

Almost everyone on board will be at the gathering for watered down too sweet cocktail/punch and a couple door prizes. We never go.

Edited April 13, 2015 by Ilovesailing

[Budget Queen]

Almost everyone on board will be at the gathering for watered down too sweet cocktail/punch and a couple door prizes. We never go.

 

The door prizes are at the general repeater party, not the upper level, second party in my experience of 6 NCL cruises in the past year.

Edited April 13, 2015 by Budget Queen

[rvsullivan]

Almost everyone on board will be at the gathering for watered down too sweet cocktail/punch and a couple door prizes. We never go.

 

Besides the watered down punch mentioned, you can order any mixed drink you want, wine is also available. No/not very much of a sales pitch at this get together. Go have a drink or two, meet the officers and enjoy your day. I would not bring your kids, you can, but it's not much of a kids event.

[John1752]

My wife and I had almost a free bottle of wine over an hour period of time. Actually we wanted to hear what the captain had to say but so many people were there only for the few drinks they wouldn't shut up. Even the captain was pissed....People are rude!

[Bars7816]

We attended two captain's receptions on the Breakaway -- both at H2O. The rum punch was absolutely not watered and was quite good. Wine, beer and Champagne were also served with no limits, along with hors d'oeuvres. Great way to meet fellow passengers. Wouldn't miss it! :)

[mking8288]

The door prizes for the Breakaway, AFAIK, are for everyone attending - "free drinks" and you need to be present & of drinking age to win. Otherwise, there hasn't been any door prizes drawing lately on the BA gathering for Latitudes - not in 2014 and not in 2015. It's possible that are still going on with the smaller Jewel/Dawn class ships (remember the cruise giveaways then ... that's over 10 years ago, folks)

 

Just go & say hello to the Capt & various heads of department for 15 or 20 minutes, mingle and no hand shakes (risk of Norovirus, etc.) - enjoy the beverages served & finger food served on the tray (toothpicks & cocktail napkins provide, free)

 

Won a NCL logo t-shirt one year & the last one was DelSol frisbee disc "donated" by the ship's Gift Shop (either on the Jewel or Gem, 2011 or 2012) from the drawings - nowadays, they don't even collect the invites or check you into the lounge.

[ncklhaus]

I am also wondering about this "watered down" rum punch. I have never had a watered down drink on any of our cruises, unless I was at the pool and left it sitting in the sun so the ice melted.:eek:But that only happened maybe once, and that was my fault, not NCL's.:D

In general, I found the drinks to be quite strong.

[Starflyr3]

We went to the regular Latitudes party on the Jewel - I had about 4 rum punches in the hour we were there, and didnt even get a buzz, which is saying something b/c normally, I dont drink. They did give away some nice prizes, though - jewelry, OBC, massages, ect. And lots of bottles of champagne.

[drvalo]

My husband and I are silver on NCL. I was looking at the benefits and it looks like anyone who as sailed with NCL gets priority check in and the Breakaway offer silver and up members an onbaord gathering with ship officers.

1. Is this gathering similar to the cocktail party we've gone to before?

2. Our children will be 3 and 5 and this will be their 1st NCL cruise. Will they get priority check in or will we have to give that perk up? Will the be able to come to the gathering with us? They might prefer the kids club, but I'm just wondering.

 

On the smaller ships there are two receptions: one for bronze and above and one for silver and above. The bronze and above one has been where they typically give away prizes and usually one drink with some appetizers. The second one is more of the open bar situation with generally the same appetizers as the first one. On the larger ships they only have the second one.

 

I had only one rum punch one time and staggered out of the theatre. Another time, it had no effect, so I guess it depends on the bar tender as to the watered downness.

 

You kids would probably prefer the kids club. BUt also if you don't have the drink package. Just go a little bit late, get a glass of wine and leave. You don't have to stay. It's there is no real program and it's pretty casual.

 

Everyone checks in together. I have even taken my parents (in their 70s)with me in a priority line and they were in a separate cabin. No problem.