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

[Sickvicious]

Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the Steam & Sauna rooms for free? or do I need to purchase a Pass?

[Chrisp2017]

Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the Steam & Sauna rooms for free? or do I need to purchase a Pass?

 

It's free with a spa suit other wise 199 per person if u buy now

[L-in-CLT]

1. Leave yourself open to some surprises. I did sooooo much research before my first cruise that nothing really surprised and delighted me. My husband, on the other hand, did no research and just relied on me so he had surprises and delights at every turn :)

 

2. Take the feedback here on CC (and all the other sites you might be visiting) with a grain of salt. The way YOU cruise might be different than the way other people cruise. I'm a haven cruiser and I spend extra money that others might not want to. I enjoy a pastry, lobster roll or gelato which are all extra costs on the Breakaway...totally worth it to me, not worth it to others. You decide :)

 

3. Try and take a behind the scenes tour (extra $100ish per person) if it's your first cruise. It really gives you a great understanding of what it takes to run a hotel on water.

 

4. If you are in Haven, request a dinner with a Ship's officer. Not a guarantee, but often if you ask they accommodate you.

 

5. Talk to the crew! Your room steward, waiters, waitresses, bartenders are friendly, engaging and interesting people who come from all over the world and they love to talk to friendly guests.

 

6. Bring binoculars! We've seen whale, shark, dolphin, flying fish and a myriad of birds on every cruise.

 

7. Explore the entirety of the ship...the artwork is great, and the attention to detail throughout is worth seeing. And sometimes, you find the best nooks and crannies to hang out.

 

8. Bring poo-pouri for your water closet. No vents, no windows. Enough said.

 

9. Step outside your comfort zone, even in small ways. Play a game, take a dance class, learn something new.

 

10. Sometimes NOT getting off at a port is a great idea. The spa services are less expensive, the cruise ship is not crowded and it's often he most relaxing way to spend a day.

 

11. Expect to walk a lot so bring comfy shoes

 

 

 

That's all I've got for now. Enjoy your first cruise - no matter what you do, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

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[L-in-CLT]

Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the Steam & Sauna rooms for free? or do I need to purchase a Pass?

 

 

Not free. You can buy day pass or you can buy a pass for the duration of your cruise. They do limit the number of passes for the cruise so you aren't guaranteed a pass if you purchase on the ship. You can purchase them ahead of time on NCL's website. Prices vary based on whether you buy ahead, the duration of your cruise, etc.

 

 

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[LeesaB]

Oh my gosh - poo pouri (or another brand that does the same thing) is an amazing, awesome substance. I used to be skeptical but now I understand. It's magic. If you don't have any, GET SOME NOW. Put it in every bathroom. For the home, cruise ship, take it in a hotel, wherever. It's a life changer. It's a marriage saver.

 

I wish I could say I was embellishing this, but I'm really not. This stuff was a revelation.

[NMLady]

take out at O'sheehans!

 

No more take out allowed at O'Sheehans

[quaker77]

No more take out allowed at O'Sheehans

That's sad [emoji30]

[df5250]

No more take out allowed at O'Sheehans

 

 

Late Night... Saw a few folks sneaking away with plates of food once the waiter wasn't looking on a recent Gem cruise!

 

 

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[L-in-CLT]

Oh my gosh - poo pouri (or another brand that does the same thing) is an amazing, awesome substance. I used to be skeptical but now I understand. It's magic. If you don't have any, GET SOME NOW. Put it in every bathroom. For the home, cruise ship, take it in a hotel, wherever. It's a life changer. It's a marriage saver.

 

I wish I could say I was embellishing this, but I'm really not. This stuff was a revelation.

 

 

RIght???!?!?

 

 

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[Peachypooh]

Especially on sea days on the Jewell class ships it is hard to get a lounger in the sun. It is a little easier to get a chair by a table in the shade. We ended up one day getting 2 chairs in the shade by a table and loved it. We could go stand by/swim in the pool for sun or sit and relax in the shade and also have a place to eat our lunch and snacks. It's not the end of the world not to have a lounger.

Also I approached a crew member when I saw an elderly gentleman wandering aimlessly around trying to find someplace to sit on the pool deck. They were willing to help him find a place to sit and I bet they would help anyone.

[morningstar4]

If you can't tell if you're walking toward the front or back of the ship, just look down at the carpet and look at the direction the fish are swimming.

 

Keep watch for the single red fish swimming upstream -- that's the rebellious fish, which also is the name of a great adult beverage on NCL!

 

 

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Love this tip!

[quaker77]

Love this tip!

Me too [emoji106]

[morningstar4]

(Doesn't apply to me but could help others)

 

 

If you have a problem while on-board, deal with it THEN. Don't hold it in for fear of complaining too much then return to CC and complain.

 

No matter how big (toilet won't flush or toilet floods, for ex.) or small the problem ("...I didn't get a towel animal on most nights...:loudcry:), don't wait until you are home to complain about it.

 

we love our towel animals...lol!

[morningstar4]

What ship?

There are people talking about the Great Outdoors, Spinnaker Lounge and Spice H2O. No ship has all of these, so the value of these tips depends on your ship.

 

We will be on the Gem...I believe it has the Great Outdoors and Spinnaker Lounge??

[morningstar4]

Extremely casual. Everyday wear -- athletic casual, capris, sundresses, sandals. I've noticed that women tend to be more concerned about their attire. Guys seem to have difficulty remembering to not wear baseball caps in the dining rooms sometimes.

 

thanks!

[morningstar4]

1. Leave yourself open to some surprises. I did sooooo much research before my first cruise that nothing really surprised and delighted me. My husband, on the other hand, did no research and just relied on me so he had surprises and delights at every turn :)

 

2. Take the feedback here on CC (and all the other sites you might be visiting) with a grain of salt. The way YOU cruise might be different than the way other people cruise. I'm a haven cruiser and I spend extra money that others might not want to. I enjoy a pastry, lobster roll or gelato which are all extra costs on the Breakaway...totally worth it to me, not worth it to others. You decide :)

 

3. Try and take a behind the scenes tour (extra $100ish per person) if it's your first cruise. It really gives you a great understanding of what it takes to run a hotel on water.

 

4. If you are in Haven, request a dinner with a Ship's officer. Not a guarantee, but often if you ask they accommodate you.

 

5. Talk to the crew! Your room steward, waiters, waitresses, bartenders are friendly, engaging and interesting people who come from all over the world and they love to talk to friendly guests.

 

6. Bring binoculars! We've seen whale, shark, dolphin, flying fish and a myriad of birds on every cruise.

 

7. Explore the entirety of the ship...the artwork is great, and the attention to detail throughout is worth seeing. And sometimes, you find the best nooks and crannies to hang out.

 

8. Bring poo-pouri for your water closet. No vents, no windows. Enough said.

 

9. Step outside your comfort zone, even in small ways. Play a game, take a dance class, learn something new.

 

10. Sometimes NOT getting off at a port is a great idea. The spa services are less expensive, the cruise ship is not crowded and it's often he most relaxing way to spend a day.

 

11. Expect to walk a lot so bring comfy shoes

 

 

 

That's all I've got for now. Enjoy your first cruise - no matter what you do, enjoy!

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Love these tips too - thanks! :)

[morningstar4]

Oh my gosh - poo pouri (or another brand that does the same thing) is an amazing, awesome substance. I used to be skeptical but now I understand. It's magic. If you don't have any, GET SOME NOW. Put it in every bathroom. For the home, cruise ship, take it in a hotel, wherever. It's a life changer. It's a marriage saver.

 

I wish I could say I was embellishing this, but I'm really not. This stuff was a revelation.

 

it's a marriage saver! 😂😂😂

[OnTheGoMom921]

1. You can ask at the casino to punch a hole in your sign & sail card so you may hang it from a lanyard necklace or bracelet.

2. Fill out your room service card each evening for "breakfast" the following morning. Usually just coffee and a few choices, but it acts as a terrific wake up call (steward calls before knocking at door) and you can enjoy your coffee while getting ready/showering.

3. Bring a few fridge magnets. Your walls are all metal, and there are always tons of papers (excursions, reservations, etc) hang them on the wall behind your front door in daily order, you will always remember them before you leave your cabin. And it frees up your small counter/table space in your cabin.

4. Pack a comfortable drawstring backpack for each member of your family. Prepack it for your excursions the night before. Each person can then carry their own towel, sunblock, water bottle, etc. and they fold flat and take up very little luggage space.

5. A highlighter comes in handy for marking your dailies, that way you can see at a glance the time you need to be at an event. Remember to add your own appointments to that day's dailies (like your roll call's meet & greet, dinner reservations, tour times, etc.)

 

6. Regular NCL cabins don't include hair conditioner, so pack some if you need it.

 

7. The main dining room (MDR) is open when you embark, although the staff attempts to direct you to the buffet, just ask how to get to dining room and enjoy a relaxing lunch until your cabin is ready.

 

8. Pack bathing suit/cover up/flip flops in carry on if you wish to hang out at pool/hot tubs when embarking on ship. Your luggage may not be delivered for several hours embarkation day.

 

9. I always pack ginger pills, it helps ward off sea sickness, without the drowsiness associated with Bonine or Dramamine. However, I bring Bonine as well...hey, better safe than sorry!

I'm sure I can think of 100 more tips, but hope these help for now!

[lennydebbie]

OnTheGoMom921 - great tips! I love your idea about getting breakfast sent to the room to be able to enjoy coffee while getting ready! And also the tip about going to the dining room on embarkation day!

 

 

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[fredflint]

Just had a fun thought you know the vacuum clothes bags you can buy, use one of those for the laundry bag will have more stuff in it than anyone else. Ask the room steward to use his vacuum.

[space_bar]

Oh my gosh - poo pouri (or another brand that does the same thing) is an amazing, awesome substance. I used to be skeptical but now I understand. It's magic. If you don't have any, GET SOME NOW. Put it in every bathroom. For the home, cruise ship, take it in a hotel, wherever. It's a life changer. It's a marriage saver.

 

I wish I could say I was embellishing this, but I'm really not. This stuff was a revelation.

 

Agree 100%. Also great for office bathrooms too. ;)

 

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[NMLady]

Just had a fun thought you know the vacuum clothes bags you can buy, use one of those for the laundry bag will have more stuff in it than anyone else. Ask the room steward to use his vacuum.

Not all ship vacuums have hose. Also, not all ships will accept laundry in non-NCL bags.

 

The space bags we use for packing do not require a vacuum but simply need tightly roll to squeeze out air.

[iaswam]

They tell that there is a nominal fee for texting and calling with the app .

 

Someone knows more about this

 

Thanks

 

It's $9 or $10 per device for the week...:)

[iaswam]

1. You can ask at the casino to punch a hole in your sign & sail card so you may hang it from a lanyard necklace or bracelet.

 

They will also punch it for you at Sandbar (the gift shop on the Escape). The cashier offered to punch ours when we bought lanyards. :)

[snownow]

Buy magnetic hooks. Amazon or your local home improvement store. The walls are metal. The wife and Kids (all girls) pack all of their essentials in a travel bag (they have holes to hang them) and hang them up in the bathroom. A huge space saver. Its also nice to have extra hooks to hang damp items.