First Time NCLers on the Breakaway, Likely Sticking with DCL

[Smurfette27]

Hi everyone, my family just got off the Breakaway yesterday and we had an AWESOME trip! I got so many tips and tricks from people on this board which came in very handy last week!

 

Let me start off by telling you a bit about my family. DH and I are in our early 40s with one 13yr old daughter and 10yr old son. My mother-in-law and brother-in-law cruised with us this time. We've cruised 5 times with DCL before giving RCL a try last year. Sailing out of the north east for us means we can avoid the cost of flying, which is great. The cost of the actual cruises are also much cheaper than DCL so we wanted to give other cruise lines a try. We had a great time with RCL last year but were missing the 'Disney touches'... we are big Disney fans and customer service is really important to us. We're not big on having a ton of amenities, we prefer having fewer amenities that are top knotch. We can't stand smokey casinos and are not the type that like gaudy decor and neon lights (hence why we have never sailed with CCL), we prefer more serene, classic touches. So I hope that sets the stage with regards to my opinion on things. To each his own, but that's us in a nutshell! ;)

 

Here's what we really enjoyed...

Our balcony mini-suite was great! The size was decent (although the balcony was very small) and the decor was very pretty. I LOVED the larger bathroom found in the mini-suite. With dual sinks, we were able to get 2 at a time in to brush teeth, wash hands, get ready, etc, which was a definite plus. I do wish the shower's door was smoked glass instead of the clear glass so someone could be getting ready while someone else was showering.

 

We really liked Shakers, especially when Angel was there. Service was quick and one of the waitresses in particular was so friendly and nice. We tipped her extra every once in a while even though we had the UBP. Their drinks (my favorites are the Melontini and Malibu Bay Breeze) also seemed to be made better than other locations made them.

 

O'Sheehan's was fun... nice vibe and ambiance... the wings were decent and I really liked their cheeseburger! The nachos, as some have mentioned on here were absolutely terrible. They were served in a bowl with cheese product slopped on them. It looked so pathetic that we laughed about it... at least we didn't pay for them, and I should have listened to other posters! My fault completely :)

 

With the exception of some of the bartenders and drink servers in the open areas, most workers on the ship were very friendly and pleasant. Others have posted that due to the UBP, they get fewer tips which could contribute to their lack of engagement, so I can see where they were coming from. Kind of sad actually. One server at breakfast in Savor overheard me telling my mother-in-law how much my daughter loves kiwis and a couple of minutes later, he just appeared with a bowl full of cut up kiwi. THAT was impressive and we tipped him extra as well.

 

Food in general was good. Cagney's was good but not great as I had hoped with an a la carte restaurant. La Cucina was better but still, not good enough to pay for in my opinion. The wait staff were great in both places though although quite slow at Cagney's. We're not big on buffets so we only ate there a couple of times for breakfast and once for lunch was which ok. There was one night in particular in Savor where I had the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri and it was EXCELLENT... by far my favorite meal and I didn't have to pay extra for it.

 

Great Stirrup Cay was awesome! We got off on tender D and went straight to Blue Lagoon beach. It was a fairly windy day and this beach was absolutely beautiful and serene. There were plenty of loungers there when we got there but they filled up quickly and many people showing up at around noon had no place to sit there. We explored the area, jumped off some of the rock edges, swam out to the little island, looked for cool shells (didn't bring any back, don't worry ;) ) and had a wonderful family day. The bar, food and washrooms were close by too so all in all, I think this beats Disney's island. Although I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much had we been at the main beach area which was loaded with people. Also, I was happy we didn't rent a cabana after seeing how far away they were from the water.

 

Here's why I think we'll stick with DCL...

I grew up with 2 parents that smoked and have always absolutely despised the smell of smoke, particularly when it's in my hair and clothes so a smoky casino isn't a place for me. I know what to expect so I don't bother going although I do like to play slots once in a while. What I really didn't like about the Breakaway is that the whole area around the casino smelled of smoke. Places like Le Bistro, Fat Cats, Maltings, Shanghai Noodle Bar reeked. Also, because of the number of kids on the ship, they had the 10-12 year old in Bliss Lounge for Splash Academy. Taking our son back and forth from there was quite an effort considering it's smack dab in the middle of the casino. Once you were in there, it was fine but the walk to it was horrible unless it was early in the day when the smoke wasn't too bad.

 

We had the free UBP which I loved! We aren't huge drinkers but I love walking up, getting a drink and not having to worry about paying for it. What I didn't like was the young 20-somethings groups that often seemed sloshed around the pool decks during the day... seeing some guy grope a girl who is wasted just isn't something I want my kids to be seeing. On another night at Shakers, another younger group of 20-somethings were drunk and yelling out song lyrics right by the performers. I was that age too once and I'm not a prude but there's a time and place for that stuff, like at an adults only bar at night... not during the day with kids and other cruisers just trying to enjoy some drinks with family and friends.

 

Regarding the kids clubs, my 10yr old son LOVED being with the dolphins group (10-12). He had a blast playing games and activities with the group and the counselors seemed to be really good. My daughter on the other hand has just turned 13 and was with Entourage (teens 13-17 yrs old). There's just a huge difference between a 13 and 17 year old... even a 16 year old. I convinced her to try it out the first night, just to give it a shot.. maybe she'd meet some other kids here age that she could hang out with. She went and was back with us after an hour. The objective of the activity they did (boys vs. girls) was to try and stump the other sex. So girls were asking the boys group things like "how do you know you've inserted a tampon incorrectly?" or "why is a front clasping bra better than a back clasping bra". I didn't even ask my daughter what the boys' answers were. Come on, again, I'm not a prude but is this really ok? Where do the teen counselors draw the line. Hubby heard about this stuff and never wanted her to go back... there was no way she was going back even on her own terms so no worries there.

 

There was also a lack of family activities in my opinion. Sure the ropes course was fun and the pool slides were great, but NCL seems to be lacking in organized family activities like we experienced with DCL... things like cooking classes, mom and me massages, family game shows, etc. We attended a session of "Win, Lose or Draw" on the Breakaway, and it was downright terrible. They had a single flip chart that both teams had to draw on, and no markers... only pens to draw with. So if you were sitting farther than 10 feet away (this was held at Fat Cats), you couldn't see a thing. Some guy pulled out his kids' crayons and we used those instead! :D

 

Another time, we went to the "family cupcake making" activity. We assumed there'd be some kind of demonstration to teach us how to make some fun looking cupcakes but all it was was a paper plate with a cupcake, white or chocolate icing, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate chips. They added the ingredients to your paper plate and you went to sit down at a table in the Garden Cafe to put the sprinkles and chocolate chips on your iced cupcake.

 

Regarding the adults only areas, in my opinion, they were just ok. The Spice H2O pool has these waterfalls that prevent you from just sitting and relazing in the pool with a drink, unless of course you enjoy getting the spray and splack from the water falling all around you. Does it really have to extend the entire pool area? Couldn't they have left an area without it so you could sit and talk and relax? We ended up paying $200 for the last 2 sea days at the spa but even that was a let down for us. Because the water feature is pretty loud, you're kind of forced to talk loud to be heard by family and friends so it ends up being that everyone's kind of yelling in there which kind of defeats the purpose of a tranquil spa, no?

 

So to sum it up, what's really important for my family (e.g. top knotch customer service, family-friendly activities, a nice adults-only area, fewer raucous drunks, smoke-free areas, etc), NCL just fell a little too short for us. Again, we had an INCREDIBLE time and we really enjoyed ourselves but we have come to realize that it's just not for us. Although I hate that it costs so much with DCL, you really do get what you pay for. It's a lot of the little things like having top quality restaurants included in your price, not having to grab your towel from the room when going to the pool (you just get them wherever and you don't have to trade it in for clean ones), having split bathrooms in your cabin, having a 'tweens' club for 11-14 year olds where the younger teens aren't feeling out of place with 16-17 year olds, etc.

[Smurfette27]

Just realized I didn't mention the Waterfront! To me, this was an EXCELLENT space! We sat out there for sailaway and although a little chilly, we got great shots of the Statue of Liberty. I also loved sitting in the comfy chairs and couches for drinks before dinner. We read out there during the afternoon too. Even if it was chilly, if you sat in the sun, it was perfect. When we were down in Florida / Bahamas, we sat in the shade. Great spot!

[Keith1010]

Very nice review.

 

Glad you got to try another cruise line and ship.

 

Keith

[mcsb11]

Good to know about the teen group....

 

I'm of the ilk that the smoke doesn't bother me. I liken it more to being near someone who uses one of those vape machines. The scent is in the air, but it doesn't permeate into your clothes like it would when compared to cigarettes. I say this as a non-smoker.

 

I agree about the waterfront. My last time on board, no one used this area... ever. It was great!

 

There activities are really sad. They seem to be nothing more than a money grab. It's a shame, as when I cruise on the BA with my family this year, I know it'll be difficult to talk them out of some of these "games"

[Leavethekidswithmom]

That's good to know that the casino in DCL is smoke free, Celebrity is too.

[Smurfette27]

That's good to know that the casino in DCL is smoke free, Celebrity is too.

 

Oh, let me clarify... DCL doesn't have casinos on their ships, hence no smoky casinos :).

[Vacationlover2]

DCL has no casino.

[NLH Arizona]

That's good to know that the casino in DCL is smoke free, Celebrity is too.

There are no casinos on Disney ships to my knowledge.

[Smurfette27]

And about the smoky casinos... I wouldn't mind them if the smoke was contained. I just wouldn't go to them, but on the Breakaway, it's out in the open right in the middle of the ship so the smoke wafts all around even on the deck below and above it.

[Maddysdaddy]

not having to grab your towel from the room when going to the pool (you just get them wherever and you don't have to trade it in for clean ones)

 

Sorry - we're DCL people who are going on our first NCL cruise in a few weeks - if you go to the pool, you have to take the towel from your room? They don't have stacks of towels and drop bins for used ones on deck? How do you get clean towels?

[Smurfette27]

Sorry - we're DCL people who are going on our first NCL cruise in a few weeks - if you go to the pool, you have to take the towel from your room? They don't have stacks of towels and drop bins for used ones on deck? How do you get clean towels?

 

You have regular bath towels in your room but you also have dedicated 'pool and excursion' towels for your party. There are no stacks of towels that you can simply walk up to and take. If you go to the pool or on an excursion, you need to take your pool towels with you and if you want clean ones, you have to exchange them at designated spots.

 

Yes, very different from just walking up and grabbing towels whenever you need them like on DCL. So even at GSC, make sure to bring your towels. I didn't see any towel exchange stations on GSC unless I missed them, so lay them out to dry whenever you can or you'll be stuck with wet towels until you can exchange them on the ship.

[Marine Mom]

I am quite the opposite. I am a HUGE DISNEY fan (I own their vacation club and go there 2-3 times per year) but I have never had any desire to go on their cruises.

 

It sounds like the Breakaway wasn't your style but glad it wasn't completely terrible. We are going on the Breakaway in a couple weeks and love cruising out of NY. We were on the Gem last year and loved it! That was the second time we sailed on the Gem and it is a smaller ship. I never smelled smoke but then again, the casino is out of the way so maybe that is why. You should try the Gem next time. I think you would have a better time.

[sweetpee_1993]

Very comprehensive review. I enjoyed the read.

 

As you can see, we are very experienced DCL cruisers, too. Huge Disney fans before we ever started cruising. It definitely took Disney to get me on a ship.

 

That said, cannot agree more about your assessment of the smoke. We try to keep in mind that we aren't really accustomed to even seeing a casino on a cruise ship. To be indoors smelling cig smoke so much in areas that aren't even the casino is such a huge smack of weird & unusual. I also grew up with smoking parents. I never even tried it myself. Huge aversion here, too. The smell permeates so much of the indoor space. Husband & I sat outside LeBistro for dinner one night. When we got back to our room after dinner we noticed we could still smell the smoke in our clothes and in my long hair. Exposure to the smell can and does leave a lingering, disgusting smell. We also ate inside in LeBistro but did not have the same problem.

 

Our sons are aged out of all the youth programs on DCL. That definitely has an impact on what we look for in cruises for our family now. There's a looooot less draw for 18 & 20 yro boys. ;)

 

I personally am worn out on the dining options on Disney. Seriously. My last few Disney cruises I took to creating my own dinner selections by mixing & matching pieces and parts of menu items. The menus never change. The MDRs are repetitive for me. I don't even want to go sit for that long to eat the same things in the same places again. The serving team rotating with you was really neat. It has it's perks, don't get me wrong. But as time goes by I have less and less desire to be entertained with little tricks/puzzles or get to know the servers so personally. I hate feeling guilty abandoning the team if I don't feel like eating at my designated restaurant at my designated time. They always make a fuss how they missed you which I know is so sweet but it also makes me feel so bad. I just want to show up, eat quickly anonymously in peace, and be done. But, options outside the MDRs are so limited. Palo. Been there, done that to death. Seriosly, when you go with the thought that you'll order all the things you normally wouldn't just to make it interesting, I think that's a sign. Remy. I don't care to spend 3+ hrs dining. Walk-ups. I don't want fried or processed foods. Salad or light dinner offerings are sparse if at all existent. No thanks. It's just so limiting. On NCL having so many varied options at all hours was such a breath of fresh air. No set dining times was wonderful. Truly. I loved that!

 

I wish beyond wish DCL would get with the program and offer some inclusive adult beverage programs. I had hoped when they tightened the noose on their liberal carry-on policy they'd roll them out. No such luck.

 

The inappropriate behavior in public places is never okay no matter where you are. We don't usually go around busy pools on ships so I've not seen that personally. I didn't even notice belligerence around the bars. But definitely agree it's not okay. Heck, even in adult-only areas I don't care to see the groping. Go to your room to get your business done. You have one. It's not far away. Right?!?! :p

 

Word of warning for your soon-to-come Vibe years on DCL: inappropriate behavior & conversation is very much a thing amongst the teens. I've heard all sorts of things about the hook-ups, sneaking around to have "relations", drinking, smoking, etc. etc. on every Disney cruise we've done with our sons. Such is life when teens congregate. Definitely up to parents to have the conversations and set the standards with their kids prior to the cruises. We would run through all sorts of possible situations they might find themselves in and discuss what to do or how to feel about various things. From what you said your daughter experienced, NCL could so use a tween group. 13 is a long way from 17! It is! That's 8th grade vs. senior in high school. :eek:

 

On the Getaway I did a cake decorating class. We used fondant. No choices for colors, etc. and it was pricy at $60 + 18% but it was fun. I never worked with fondant before so I enjoyed it. I even arranged my pre-cut dots into Mickey's on my cake. Don't ask me how the cake tasted. It was pretty awful at best. Tasteless. Dry. Dense. Yuck. But playing with fondant was fun. Glad I did it but a definite one-n-done.

 

Disney's pricing is really getting silly. We are doing 2 b2b cruises in a balcony room on Escape this May. Even after adding all our excursions, buying soda packages, upcharge dining, fees on "free" package offerings, etc. the total cost of 2 cruises is about what we'd have paid for 1 week in a verandah room on the Fantasy in May without adding in excursions, upcharge dining, or bar drinks. Disney simply doesn't offer my family any experiences or perks that justify that premium anymore. I've definitely reached burn-out, too. The excitement if new-to-me things is a real factor.

 

As Disney fans I'm sure we'll be back on occasion but we definitely feel our money can do much more for us in other places, too. It's interesting to see Disney fans branch out and hear their thoughts. Thanks so much for the great write-up.

[sweetpee_1993]

You have regular bath towels in your room but you also have dedicated 'pool and excursion' towels for your party. There are no stacks of towels that you can simply walk up to and take. If you go to the pool or on an excursion, you need to take your pool towels with you and if you want clean ones, you have to exchange them at designated spots.

 

Yes, very different from just walking up and grabbing towels whenever you need them like on DCL. So even at GSC, make sure to bring your towels. I didn't see any towel exchange stations on GSC unless I missed them, so lay them out to dry whenever you can or you'll be stuck with wet towels until you can exchange them on the ship.

 

We didn't get our blue towels in our room on Getaway last year. We asked our host for them because I was afraid if I went up on-deck to the swap spot they'd flag me and charge me. When we returned from excursions and the slides we had our towels wrapped around us back to the room. So we left them with the other used towels and our host left us clean/fresh blue towels along with the bath ones.

 

I don't think we ever did an exchange on-deck. I wonder if you could check-out more than 1 blue towel per person with a room key swipe then turn them back in also with a room key swipe.

[Smurfette27]

I am quite the opposite. I am a HUGE DISNEY fan (I own their vacation club and go there 2-3 times per year) but I have never had any desire to go on their cruises.

 

It sounds like the Breakaway wasn't your style but glad it wasn't completely terrible. We are going on the Breakaway in a couple weeks and love cruising out of NY. We were on the Gem last year and loved it! That was the second time we sailed on the Gem and it is a smaller ship. I never smelled smoke but then again, the casino is out of the way so maybe that is why. You should try the Gem next time. I think you would have a better time.

 

Yes, we really enjoyed sailing out of NYC! Very cool experience and it means we don't have to spend money on flying which is a huge bonus. The downside though is that your first and last sea days are chilly so the inside areas are pretty busy and crowded. Sailing out of NYC was an experience but now that we've done it, I think I want it to be warm from now on, when I sail out. I'm Canadian so by March, I want to escape the cold as soon as I can when I go on vacation ;)

[Maddysdaddy]

We didn't get our blue towels in our room on Getaway last year. We asked our host for them because I was afraid if I went up on-deck to the swap spot they'd flag me and charge me. When we returned from excursions and the slides we had our towels wrapped around us back to the room. So we left them with the other used towels and our host left us clean/fresh blue towels along with the bath ones.

 

I don't think we ever did an exchange on-deck. I wonder if you could check-out more than 1 blue towel per person with a room key swipe then turn them back in also with a room key swipe.

 

Sorry what???? They track your towels with your room key and charge you for them if they're not turned in? Are they afraid people will steal used towels?

 

Of all the information I've read about NCL on CC over the last year, I have no idea how I've missed this...

[sweetpee_1993]

Sorry what???? They track your towels with your room key and charge you for them if they're not turned in? Are they afraid people will steal used towels?

 

Of all the information I've read about NCL on CC over the last year, I have no idea how I've missed this...

 

They definitely control the flow of the pool towels by divvying them out and having a swap-out process. The pool towels are blue. Bath/shower towels are white. I'm assuming the reason to track them is because there was a problem with the towels "walking". Why else would they do that? Again, I'm assuming. Nobody has told me specifically why. But, if they control handing them out and swapping them in, I wasn't taking chances with unaccounted-for towels.

 

Conversely, on Disney's ships when you get in your room make sure you have the embroidered laundry bag, both Wave phones, and the red embroidered decorative throw pillow. If you don't see them tell your host right away. You could get charged for them. All those things have had problems with growing legs. THAT is why I assumed the pool towels in NCL were controlled inventory. ;)

 

I don't know if you can even get extra blue towels on NCL. That was more a question because I'm curious.

Edited March 14, 2016 by sweetpee_1993

[Smurfette27]

Very comprehensive review. I enjoyed the read.

 

As you can see, we are very experienced DCL cruisers, too. Huge Disney fans before we ever started cruising. It definitely took Disney to get me on a ship.

 

That said, cannot agree more about your assessment of the smoke. We try to keep in mind that we aren't really accustomed to even seeing a casino on a cruise ship. To be indoors smelling cig smoke so much in areas that aren't even the casino is such a huge smack of weird & unusual. I also grew up with smoking parents. I never even tried it myself. Huge aversion here, too. The smell permeates so much of the indoor space. Husband & I sat outside LeBistro for dinner one night. When we got back to our room after dinner we noticed we could still smell the smoke in our clothes and in my long hair. Exposure to the smell can and does leave a lingering, disgusting smell. We also ate inside in LeBistro but did not have the same problem.

 

Our sons are aged out of all the youth programs on DCL. That definitely has an impact on what we look for in cruises for our family now. There's a looooot less draw for 18 & 20 yro boys. ;)

 

I personally am worn out on the dining options on Disney. Seriously. My last few Disney cruises I took to creating my own dinner selections by mixing & matching pieces and parts of menu items. The menus never change. The MDRs are repetitive for me. I don't even want to go sit for that long to eat the same things in the same places again. The serving team rotating with you was really neat. It has it's perks, don't get me wrong. But as time goes by I have less and less desire to be entertained with little tricks/puzzles or get to know the servers so personally. I hate feeling guilty abandoning the team if I don't feel like eating at my designated restaurant at my designated time. They always make a fuss how they missed you which I know is so sweet but it also makes me feel so bad. I just want to show up, eat quickly anonymously in peace, and be done. But, options outside the MDRs are so limited. Palo. Been there, done that to death. Seriosly, when you go with the thought that you'll order all the things you normally wouldn't just to make it interesting, I think that's a sign. Remy. I don't care to spend 3+ hrs dining. Walk-ups. I don't want fried or processed foods. Salad or light dinner offerings are sparse if at all existent. No thanks. It's just so limiting. On NCL having so many varied options at all hours was such a breath of fresh air. No set dining times was wonderful. Truly. I loved that!

 

I wish beyond wish DCL would get with the program and offer some inclusive adult beverage programs. I had hoped when they tightened the noose on their liberal carry-on policy they'd roll them out. No such luck.

 

The inappropriate behavior in public places is never okay no matter where you are. We don't usually go around busy pools on ships so I've not seen that personally. I didn't even notice belligerence around the bars. But definitely agree it's not okay. Heck, even in adult-only areas I don't care to see the groping. Go to your room to get your business done. You have one. It's not far away. Right?!?! :p

 

Word of warning for your soon-to-come Vibe years on DCL: inappropriate behavior & conversation is very much a thing amongst the teens. I've heard all sorts of things about the hook-ups, sneaking around to have "relations", drinking, smoking, etc. etc. on every Disney cruise we've done with our sons. Such is life when teens congregate. Definitely up to parents to have the conversations and set the standards with their kids prior to the cruises. We would run through all sorts of possible situations they might find themselves in and discuss what to do or how to feel about various things. From what you said your daughter experienced, NCL could so use a tween group. 13 is a long way from 17! It is! That's 8th grade vs. senior in high school. :eek:

 

On the Getaway I did a cake decorating class. We used fondant. No choices for colors, etc. and it was pricy at $60 + 18% but it was fun. I never worked with fondant before so I enjoyed it. I even arranged my pre-cut dots into Mickey's on my cake. Don't ask me how the cake tasted. It was pretty awful at best. Tasteless. Dry. Dense. Yuck. But playing with fondant was fun. Glad I did it but a definite one-n-done.

 

Disney's pricing is really getting silly. We are doing 2 b2b cruises in a balcony room on Escape this May. Even after adding all our excursions, buying soda packages, upcharge dining, fees on "free" package offerings, etc. the total cost of 2 cruises is about what we'd have paid for 1 week in a verandah room on the Fantasy in May without adding in excursions, upcharge dining, or bar drinks. Disney simply doesn't offer my family any experiences or perks that justify that premium anymore. I've definitely reached burn-out, too. The excitement if new-to-me things is a real factor.

 

As Disney fans I'm sure we'll be back on occasion but we definitely feel our money can do much more for us in other places, too. It's interesting to see Disney fans branch out and hear their thoughts. Thanks so much for the great write-up.

 

 

Love hearing your perspective as a seasoned DCL cruiser (compared to our 5), and as a mom of older boys. I know there'll come a time when my daughter will be all about 'the boys' but she's just not there right now at 13 (thank God) and as you said, an 8th grader is a far cry from a high school senior! We're planning a DCL cruise next March and my dd will be 14 while ds will be 11 so they'll both be able to enjoy the DCL tweens club together. After that she'll be in Vibe and that will freak me out but hopefully she'll be well-prepared and be smart about things at 15.

 

I too wish DCL would have a UBP. That's my one issue with DCL. I end up getting the wine package but I'd love to include mixed drinks in there without having to pay each time for it! So I REALLY loved that option with RCL and NCL.

 

And regarding the pricing, yes, it's getting crazy which is why we tried RCL and NCL these past 2 years.

[NLH Arizona]

Conversely, on Disney's ships when you get in your room make sure you have the embroidered laundry bag, both Wave phones, and the red embroidered decorative throw pillow. If you don't see them tell your host right away. You could get charged for them. All those things have had problems with growing legs. THAT is why I assumed the pool towels in NCL were controlled inventory. ;)

 

Folks are stealing laundry bags, phone and throw pillows on Disney? I guess people walking off with things happens on all the ships.

[Smurfette27]

Folks are stealing laundry bags, phone and throw pillows on Disney? I guess people walking off with things happens on all the ships.

 

Crazy right?! The pillow is actually an embroidered DCL pillow on the bed and retails for something like $150 so they've at times 'gone missing'. The wave phones I think are just lost by people. They're pretty cool... they're wireless phones (look like ones from the early 90s) and there are 2 in each stateroom. You can hand one to one of your kids, or your spouse and call / text each other while on the ship or on their private island (Castaway Cay). It was a great option for keeping in touch with your party. The text option on iConcierge is a great idea but it doesn't give you any kind of notice if you received a text while the DCL wave phones ring (or vibrate I think) if you are called or texted. Since you can take them on to the island too, I think people just lost them. They wouldn't work outside of the ship so there'd be no point in stealing them. As for the embroidered DCL laundry bag, I have no idea how those go 'missing'!:eek:

[Marine Mom]

Yes, we really enjoyed sailing out of NYC! Very cool experience and it means we don't have to spend money on flying which is a huge bonus. The downside though is that your first and last sea days are chilly so the inside areas are pretty busy and crowded. Sailing out of NYC was an experience but now that we've done it, I think I want it to be warm from now on, when I sail out. I'm Canadian so by March, I want to escape the cold as soon as I can when I go on vacation ;)

 

I hear ya. Last year we sailed on the Gem to Canada and although I was a little jealous that the breakaway was in port next to us and was sailing to Florida/Bahamas, I loved Canada! I found the people to be very nice and the "small feel" on the Gem is wonderful.

 

Glad you had a good experience.

[sandheichert]

We are sailing first time ever onBA in Nov. and I am worried about my 13 yo daughter :(

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[sweetpee_1993]

Folks are stealing laundry bags, phone and throw pillows on Disney? I guess people walking off with things happens on all the ships.

 

It has happened. The laundry bags are really nice. They aren't paper or plastic. ;) They're a heavy fabric with rope drawstring and embroidered. I have one that our stateroom host gave me the first time I sailed in a suite. They only charge $10 so really it's not an expensive souvenir. People get miffed if they notice an additional charge on their account and they didn't take it.

 

Same for the Wave phones. They're a cross between a cordless & a cell. No charge to use them. Each room gets 2 & more available with a deposit. They can be used for voice or text both on the ship and on Disney's island. BUT, don't lose or damage one! $250 each! I've heard of people who lost theirs stepping into rooms with doors propped open for turnover on the final morning and grabbing them to avoid their $250 charge. It's crazy. I know.

 

The red pillows are so very nice. Heavy. Embroidered. Themed, of course. They sell the pillows for $180 each. No wonder they sprout legs and walk. Another thing I've heard of having snatched from rooms with propped open doors.

 

Thieves are everywhere. Even in the Disney bubble. I mean, really, what better unsuspecting place to harvest a fortune in stuff from people in lala-land? Right?

[sweetpee_1993]

Love hearing your perspective as a seasoned DCL cruiser (compared to our 5), and as a mom of older boys. I know there'll come a time when my daughter will be all about 'the boys' but she's just not there right now at 13 (thank God) and as you said, an 8th grader is a far cry from a high school senior! We're planning a DCL cruise next March and my dd will be 14 while ds will be 11 so they'll both be able to enjoy the DCL tweens club together. After that she'll be in Vibe and that will freak me out but hopefully she'll be well-prepared and be smart about things at 15.

 

I too wish DCL would have a UBP. That's my one issue with DCL. I end up getting the wine package but I'd love to include mixed drinks in there without having to pay each time for it! So I REALLY loved that option with RCL and NCL.

 

And regarding the pricing, yes, it's getting crazy which is why we tried RCL and NCL these past 2 years.

 

I was still way too bashful at 13!

 

Don't worry too much about the Vibe years. For me it was a nervous happy time to see the boys spread their wings. It was interesting to see how they handled themselves. We talked a lot about all the what-if scenarios. Set ground rules. Discussed things at length. Periodically we'd strategically pass by where the kids were just to verify their information they gave us about whereabouts & activities. The questionable moments, it provided opportunity for the boys to do what was right. It was mostly proud moments. None are perfect. (i.e. my then 19-yro with alcohol poisoning the final night of our EBPC last May) I'm thankful the learning experience was not out somewhere in Houston where the end result could've been much worse. He was with "friends" who knew to go get his younger brother who knew to come get me. KWIM? Teenagers are going to do stupid stuff no matter where they are. I've always hoped they'd make the right call more often than not. I can tell you they have been much better teenagers than I was! :eek:

[BethA]

We are veteran Disney cruisers, and have cruised a few times with RC. July will be out first time on NCL.

Although we have been on many Disney cruises we have not gotten sick of the menus, and we really enjoy getting to know our serving team. I do wish Disney changed shows more often, but it looks like Breakaway has very few shows and not sure I will love Rock of Ages.

 

So glad you posted about the towel thing. I will have to bring our own. I agree about the glass in the shower, wonder why they do not use something different. I am prepared to find the rooms, and balcony small, but most worried about level of service and activities.

 

Even though Disney is expensive, it seems like there are many things on NCL that are extra charges, like the soda package, extra charge in many dining areas. Can you tell me if the menu is different each night in the main dining rooms and do they all serve from the same menu? What other extras should I be ready for?

 

I have started a list of things I need to bring, and suggestions of what you missed from DCL?

Thanks for the review