Need tips for making a NCL cruise special

[billyjoebob]

We're gonna be on the Gem in February for the 10-day Caribbean cruise out of NYC. We're actually going with a few other parties to celebrate one couple's milestone anniversary.

 

We've all cruised before, but none of us have been on NCL. My question: is there anything that I do through the cruise line to make this a special trip? We all have mini-suite's, but I see that you don't get any special perks with that room class. Is there anyone at the cruise line that I can call in advance...even just to get a cake or something? Has anyone celebrated a milestone with NCL, and has the cruise line done anything special?

 

Also, we've managed to get priority embark/disembark on all of our other cruises...either by virtue of having booked a suite, or being a member of their rewards program. Is there anything I can do with NCL (like pay a surcharge, such as you can do with carnival) to get the same perk?

 

Any other suggestions from the NCL regulars?

[Nola26]

Once you're booked and signed up for an account on NCL.com you can order all kinds of things under Gifts & More tab, including cakes.

 

I have no idea on priority boarding options. But honestly if you have to wait you'll be with friends, how bad can that be?

[Starflyr3]

On the website (or through your TA), you can order cakes, room decorations, and fancy food for a party, if you want. I did it last year for my kids first cruise - we had a cake when's shot to our room, and it was decorated in a "Bon Voyage" theme. If someone is having a birthday or anniversary, let them know, also, you may get a free cake at dinner that night, too.

[ColinIllinois]

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-gifts

[cruzsnooze]

I hope NCL doesn't sell perks reserved for suites such as priority boarding. If it's for sale it's not a perk , it's a commodity. The decorations are a very fun idea and I've had it on other cruise lines and it's very festive, I highly enjoyed it.

[DebQ5]

You could also make a reservation at one of the Specialty restaurants for your group. I really enjoyed both Cagney's and Le Bistro on the Dawn. Dress up and make a night of it! :D

[Knobhdy]

I cruised (first cruise) over my birthday a couple of years ago, and NCL kept throwing these little birthday cakes at me. It was a 4 day cruise and I got at least one cake a night. I was in a suite, but even so, I got a certificate for a cake in the birthday card that was left in my cabin from NCL, then after I had used that I was in the main dining room on my actual birthday and I was given another cake because it was the day, and then my butler brought me another cake (in addition to the desserts we ordered) when we had dinner on our balcony another night. I think he also left one in my cabin with my afternoon snacks on my birthday as well.

Frankly the cakes were pretty awful, but the gestures were sweet. The Captain even sang me happy birthday. It was a pretty special cruise.