First Time on NCL: Questions about dining, drinks, solo cabins, movies, vs princess

[kadrik0]

Hi,

 

Going on two NCL cruises in the next two years. A barebones cheap christmas cruise on the Breakaway this Christmas and we are in a inside cabin since it is the whole family. I also booked a Feb 2020 7 day caribbean cruise on the Escape and will be in a studio cabin. Please answer where you can. I have a lot of oddball questions.

 

1) Subjective but what are the musts on the breakaway when it comes to dining? Cagneys, tappenaki, margaritaville, and maybe the Cirque dining in show are kind of on our watch list with Cagneys and Tappenaki being a almost definite.

 

2) What is the cheapest way to check it at home? On my solo cruise the family wants me to call every day since the purpose of the trip is to scuba dive at almost every port. It looks like downloading the iConcierge app and paying the .79 a minute is the best way to do a quick call in to home. I won't need anything fancy like sending pictures and I am on a prepaid cell plan which definitely doesn't work on the cruise ship.

 

3) I was spoiled by princess and the movies under the stars and their kids pop pass that let me get virgin drinks. How are the movies done on the ship? Besides for getting an alcohol package (too late we picked free excursions) is there a package that includes virgin drinks? I don't see one so looks like we are getting a standard pop pass but I read some bars let you. I just don't know what to expect.

 

4) Going from Princess to NCL are there any gotcha's that you won't expect? I see a lot of alacart items and half the dining in an added fee but I'm not seeing a ton of differences. I noticed you have to pay for the iConcierge app if you want to call or text your family on the ship which is $10/$16.

 

5) How are the studio cabins? They look neat and comfortable. Just a little tight to pack and unpack but that's normal on the cheap cabins.

 

6) How are the activities? It will be nice not being on princess for all their 50+ activities which has gotten really worse this year when we went two weeks ago. Hope NCL is better.

 

7) Any tips for solo traveling? I'm not really worried about getting bored but the dining at night is a concern. Don't want to have an awkward sitting alone meal.

[Sauer-kraut]

The studios are great. You will find that there are cubbyholes for most stuff, but the closets are not deep.

I don't know about how you'll get the scuba gear stored.

For dining please go to the studio/solo get together every evening. The coordinator will make a group dining reservation and those who are interested will all go together. Specialty dining can be somewhat of a problem, but there might be others who are interested or have the dining plan and the coordinator can book those restaurants as well.

Movies are shown late night in the Atruim.

Join your roll call and get to know people there, others might either be going solo or into scuba as well.

[Badgeaz]

I also will be cruising with ncl for the 1st time in janurary of 2019 on the bliss. I hope I got a good price. booked during the $1 deposits. The wife and I have a inside cabin on deck 13 with the dining package

[BirdTravels]

Here is examples of the food and happenings on the Breakaway. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2504449

[kadrik0]

The studios are great. You will find that there are cubbyholes for most stuff, but the closets are not deep.

I don't know about how you'll get the scuba gear stored.

For dining please go to the studio/solo get together every evening. The coordinator will make a group dining reservation and those who are interested will all go together. Specialty dining can be somewhat of a problem, but there might be others who are interested or have the dining plan and the coordinator can book those restaurants as well.

Movies are shown late night in the Atruim.

Join your roll call and get to know people there, others might either be going solo or into scuba as well.

 

Thanks that helps. LOL, yep the scuba equipment will be tricky. I have a feeling my scuba stuff will be chilling in my shower and I'm kind of wondering if I need to bring a hanger/cording to get things up and off the shower floor. I used to just grab two pool towels and dry them on the floor under the clothes hangers. I was planning to do that 5pm meet but didn't know you could also setup the supper groups at that time. Huge relief on that part.

[kadrik0]

Here is examples of the food and happenings on the Breakaway. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2504449

 

Thanks. Huge difference in activities between the ships. I'm really not picky but that last cruise... wow. Filled with 90% spa, shopping, casino, and bingo. Where's the good people watching, comedy, and activities? Can't wait to try NCL.

[smplybcause]

Thanks that helps. LOL, yep the scuba equipment will be tricky. I have a feeling my scuba stuff will be chilling in my shower and I'm kind of wondering if I need to bring a hanger/cording to get things up and off the shower floor. I used to just grab two pool towels and dry them on the floor under the clothes hangers. I was planning to do that 5pm meet but didn't know you could also setup the supper groups at that time. Huge relief on that part.

 

The studio showers are not big. You can Google for pictures or video, but they are pretty much only big enough to fit you in them. I sometimes knock a leg or arm into the wall while showering. There is a clothesline type thing in the shower, but unless your short your bathing suit is likely to be in your way if you keep it there while showering. It's never been a problem for me, but I don't have scuba gear.

 

 

Btw you can switch your perk if you want. And the free shore excursions you mentioned is actually $50 per stateroom per port and usually limits it to 4 ports. It's also use or lose, so you can't skip one port to have $100 at the next.

 

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[Weetahbugdotcom]

Cheapest way to let them know you are ok: every day go take a photo at the kiosk near la cucina. Hold up a sign if you would like. You can instantly post to FB (and email I believe) that Photo for free.

 

 

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[cruise4kicks]

For movies and in-cabin television, Princess wins hands down. We sailed the Ruby in December and never had a problem finding something good to watch. On NCL most movies are pay-per-view.

[gobo2]

I loved the solo cabin and lounge. So cozy. I now prefer then to insides, and having the meet up and our own cruise director was amazing. I had a “core group” of four for most of the week and a different group each night at dinner. I met some really great people.