Breakaway June 30 sailing - changes

[davy jones]

Sorry for being so late, but life sometimes interferes with these things.

 

We were on the Breakaway Western Caribbean sailing from June 30 to July 7.  It was our time on the Breakaway in 18 months.  We previously did a 14 night from NYC, and an 11 night from NOLA.  Normally, DW and I avoid summer and holiday cruises because of crowds.  We were on this cruise because DW wanted a family cruise with our adult children and this was the only week that they could all make it. 

 

To be perfectly honest, I was nervous about the sailing because like to avoid the crowds, and reports are that the BA is very crowded on holiday sailings.  This cruise was completely sold out in advance.  We were also a bit concerned about the number of bad reviews that the ship seems to continue to get and the constant NCL changes that are continually discussed on this board.  How much can change in 6 months????

 

Anyway, I will speak more about the things we observed that were different on this sailing than the other two sailings.  I’ll try to skip the obvious things like crew members and entertainers that continually change.  In my opinion, many of the changes are negative, part of NCLs constant efforts to squeeze as much as they can out of you.  DO NOT, in any way, conclude that we had a bad cruise.  In fact, it was quite a good cruise.  I would give it 4 stars out of 5 overall.  I try not to let annoyances ruin the overall experience.

 

Embarkation – We used the free air perk.  Yes, you have to do your homework, but our case worked out well for us.  In current airline parlance, our flights were truly “free.”  Of course, if you take things with you, you will pay for checked luggage.  That is an airline thing, not an NCL thing.  We did get to choose seats in advance.  All of the offered seats were toward the rear of the plane.  Not a problem for us.  We had a 6:45 AM nonstop on United to MIA and a 1:30 PM nonstop on American return flight.

 

NCL need to improve airport transfers.  We arrived in MIA at 9:30, got our bags, and easily found the NCL rep.  They took our bags, loaded them onto a truck for transfer to the ship, and gave us a ticket for group 3.  There were over 100 people in a waiting area with no seats.  After a bit of a where nothing happened, I asked the rep when we would be taken to the pier.  I was told that the first bus was not until 11:00 AM and that we were on the third bus.  From this, we figured that our bus would leave at 11:30 at the earliest and that we would get caught in long lines at the port.  We went online and got an Uber for $18 plus tip that dropped us off at the ship 20 minutes later, getting to the pier over an hour before the first bus arrived.  We went through security and check in in less than 10 minutes.  We sat about 30 minutes in the lounge until our number was called.  Bottom line:  transfers bad, embarkation good.

 

Cabin – Our angled balcony cabin clearly did not change.  Other than the whopping 12 inches of space between the bed and the closet, it is fine.  Everything worked as it was supposed to.

 

However, I wonder if there have been cutbacks in cabin stewards.  When it was announced that the cabins were ready, we went to our cabin to drop off luggage and the steward was working on it.  He was almost finished.  That was not a problem because we were only dropping off our bags.  I did not see the steward again until debarkation.  I never even got his name.  The anonymous steward did a good job with cleaning and refreshing the cabin, but there were no personal interactions, ice, or towel animals.  I can only conclude that the postings about ice and towel animals are indeed true.

 

Crowds – Yes, the ship was crowded.  It always is.  As one would expect, a 7 day cruise in summer attracts a younger crowd with more children than a longer off season sailing.  That said, it was not a problem for us.  In some ways the ship seemed less crowded to us, particularly in the MDR areas.  On the two longer cruises, the area around Savor and Taste was a mess in the 6:30 to 7:00 PM times when we made our dinner reservations for 5.  The bar would be mobbed and people were crowded around the check in stands.  Some would be irate because they did not have reservations and were given pagers.  We did not see that at all.  You could be immediately seated.  I can only presume that it was a group that largely preferred later dining (it appeared that way in LeBistro) or chose to have dinner at the Garden Café.

 

This less crowded feel seemed to extend to the theaters, which did not fill up for the late shows that we attended.  On the other hand, the pool deck always seemed to be crowded and louder than the other cruises.  We try to avoid the areas near the pool anyway, preferring quieter and more shady relaxation area.

 

The only really long lines were to get off the ship in ports.  It was most evident in Roatan that had a 10:00 AM arrival time.  The late time made everyone want to get off at the same time.  The line went up the steps from deck 4 to deck 6 and all the way to the rear of deck 6.  8:00 AM arrival lines only extended through the atrium.  If you waited 15 or 20 minutes, you could pretty much walk off the ship.

 

Ship – The ship was still well maintained and pleasant.   The smoke from the casino area was more noticeable to me on this sailing.  I don’t know if it was due to more smokers onboard or if the summer humidity made it worse.

 

Dining – We found the food to be the same, which means good overall.  Of course, previous experiences do help you make better choices off the menu.

 

Dining change 1 – The noodle bar now takes reservations and must be extremely popular because we could not get a reservation at any time during the week at noon on the first sea day.  Wish I had known.

 

Dining change 2 – The Moderno breakfast and lunch buffets now have the hot dishes in the Cagney’s area, resulting in more options.  More options are never a bad thing.

 

Dining change 3 – Specialty restaurant prices.  Holy Crap Batman!  This must have been the first sailing with the new prices.  I did not see anything on this board about them beforehand.  Upon our return, I did see considerable discussion about it.  Unless you live in NYC or California, a la carte prices now exceed the prices in comparable land restaurants.  My guess is that everyone has the “free” dining package, so it was an excuse to raise the “price” of the SDP to squeeze more mandatory gratuities from passengers.

 

Dining change 4 – LaCucina now limits you to one item from the starters listing that contains the appetizers, soups, and salads.  You can get a second starter if you do not get pasta or pizza.  Translation, you can’t soup and a salad, or an appy and a salad.  Note to FDR:  Really??? The small savings is offset by the fact that you just look cheap and the corresponding loss of good will.  I think that even the server was embarrassed.  He brought us a pizza for the group to share.

 

General dining question:  Why does it take so long to get a cup of coffee at dinner in the MDR?  It is a question that I pondered on all three sailings.

 

Service – No change.  Still generally good.  Even no problems with the anonymous cabin steward.  Some waiting at the bar, most were short, one was over 5 minutes though. 

 

Entertainment – Performers often change from sailing to sailing.  That said, it was pretty much the same.  We passed on Rock of Ages this time.  Two different bands performed in Syd Normans, but one is going off to the Getaway.  Perhaps it was a transition week. 

 

I only recall seeing the CD once.  I don’t know if it was me, or him.  I actually saw the captain several more times than I saw the CD.  He came into Syd’s with two other officers watched the show for a while, and said a few words.

 

Fourth of July – May 5 has more meaning in the US than July 4 does in Mahahual.  There was a small July 4 celebration that consisted of a hot dog eating contest (winner ate 6 in five minutes), a pie eating contest, and a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

 

Observed and noteable:  The attendant at the zip line on the ropes course stopped and stood at attention for the US national anthem.  This annoyed the American kid who was impatient to finish his trip on the ropes course.

 

Annoyances – The constant bombardment of sales pitches through all available media, including phone and tv messages.  Cruise next is out of control.

 

Note to guest services:  Do not send messages to passenger phones at 4:21 AM.  The large red blinking light on the phone interferes with sleep in dark cabins.

 

Roatan – Did the zip and dip excursion with Victor Bodden.  Good tour and excellent value.

 

Harvest Caye – The inexpensive drink carts on the beach are gone.  You have to pay the higher restaurant prices.  We did paddle boards on the island and were pleasantly surprised when the shore ex credit was applied. 

 

Costa Maya – Chacchoben ruins excursion with Native Choice tours.  Good tour, but I expected a smaller van and not a full sized bus.

 

Cozumel – Paradise Beach followed by some retail exploration in town.  Had to get tequila and vanilla.

 

Disembarkment – We were assigned to the red group for airport transfers.  We encountered the usual line getting off the ship.  Two things were different:  1.  When I got to ship security, I was asked to leave the line and taken aside to some other people.  As you might imagine, this would cause concern.  It turns out that they owed me $30 in unused OBC and took me aside to give it to me in good old US legal tender instead of sending a check.  2.  After ship security, you now go through a facial recognition.  I must not be wanted by the police because we breezed through, got our luggage and left without even seeing a customs agent.  Is this a Miami thing?

 

The airport transfer was flawless.

 

Bottom line – A good cruise, but the constant sales pitches and cheap cutbacks are growing on us.  I wonder if we are reaching the breaking point.  Our next cruise is not on NCL.  We went up a notch from the entry level mass market lines because a good price on an itinerary.  This will give us an opportunity to see if these lines are more suited to us in the long term.

 

I will try to answer questions.

 

 

[Sand and Seas]

Thanks for sharing your observations with us!

We were on the Breakaway in November and again in May.    On our May cruise we were unhappy that they didn't serve the sea day lunch buffet in Modernos so glad to know they have  gone back to that.  We really enjoyed getting breakfast and lunch in there.    We were one of the lucky few that got a reservation to eat in the Noodle Bar🙂

 

[drvmywifecrzy]

Thanks for the review.  I was on the same sailing and like you I was surprised my float mat rentals on Harvest Caye were covered by the Excursion credit.  While I agree the ship could feel crowded it was totally manageable all week.

 

Facial recognition is a new thing on Mega ships in Miami.  Did the same on the Bliss in Feb.  It basically replaces customs so you speed off the ship

[AK Dreaming]

I was on this cruise too.  I had an awesome cabin steward that I saw several times a day, but that is hit or miss.  I do have to agree with CruiseNext being out of control.  I had at least 3 messages on my phone from them.  I just deleted them as soon as I heard it was not a friend but still a bit annoying.

 

Also, they did an Indian Buffet at Modernos the last Sea Day of the cruise that was awesome.

[Paul Bogle]

3 hours ago, davy jones said:

Fourth of July – May 5 has more meaning in the US than July 4 does in Mahahual.  There was a small July 4 celebration that consisted of a hot dog eating contest (winner ate 6 in five minutes), a pie eating contest, and a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

 

Thank you for posting your review. Our third Breakaway sailing is coming in a few months. We appreciate the heads-up on subtle changes. Just an FYI Cinco de Mayo isn't a national holiday in Mexico. Celebrations vary by region but May 5 does mean more in many parts of the USA than it means in most of Mexico. Independence Day in Mexico is September 16th.

Edited July 19, 2019 by Paul Bogle

[sabrefan15]

3 hours ago, davy jones said:

Sorry for being so late, but life sometimes interferes with these things.

 

We were on the Breakaway Western Caribbean sailing from June 30 to July 7.  It was our time on the Breakaway in 18 months.  We previously did a 14 night from NYC, and an 11 night from NOLA.  Normally, DW and I avoid summer and holiday cruises because of crowds.  We were on this cruise because DW wanted a family cruise with our adult children and this was the only week that they could all make it. 

 

To be perfectly honest, I was nervous about the sailing because like to avoid the crowds, and reports are that the BA is very crowded on holiday sailings.  This cruise was completely sold out in advance.  We were also a bit concerned about the number of bad reviews that the ship seems to continue to get and the constant NCL changes that are continually discussed on this board.  How much can change in 6 months????

 

Anyway, I will speak more about the things we observed that were different on this sailing than the other two sailings.  I’ll try to skip the obvious things like crew members and entertainers that continually change.  In my opinion, many of the changes are negative, part of NCLs constant efforts to squeeze as much as they can out of you.  DO NOT, in any way, conclude that we had a bad cruise.  In fact, it was quite a good cruise.  I would give it 4 stars out of 5 overall.  I try not to let annoyances ruin the overall experience.

 

Embarkation – We used the free air perk.  Yes, you have to do your homework, but our case worked out well for us.  In current airline parlance, our flights were truly “free.”  Of course, if you take things with you, you will pay for checked luggage.  That is an airline thing, not an NCL thing.  We did get to choose seats in advance.  All of the offered seats were toward the rear of the plane.  Not a problem for us.  We had a 6:45 AM nonstop on United to MIA and a 1:30 PM nonstop on American return flight.

 

NCL need to improve airport transfers.  We arrived in MIA at 9:30, got our bags, and easily found the NCL rep.  They took our bags, loaded them onto a truck for transfer to the ship, and gave us a ticket for group 3.  There were over 100 people in a waiting area with no seats.  After a bit of a where nothing happened, I asked the rep when we would be taken to the pier.  I was told that the first bus was not until 11:00 AM and that we were on the third bus.  From this, we figured that our bus would leave at 11:30 at the earliest and that we would get caught in long lines at the port.  We went online and got an Uber for $18 plus tip that dropped us off at the ship 20 minutes later, getting to the pier over an hour before the first bus arrived.  We went through security and check in in less than 10 minutes.  We sat about 30 minutes in the lounge until our number was called.  Bottom line:  transfers bad, embarkation good.

 

Cabin – Our angled balcony cabin clearly did not change.  Other than the whopping 12 inches of space between the bed and the closet, it is fine.  Everything worked as it was supposed to.

 

However, I wonder if there have been cutbacks in cabin stewards.  When it was announced that the cabins were ready, we went to our cabin to drop off luggage and the steward was working on it.  He was almost finished.  That was not a problem because we were only dropping off our bags.  I did not see the steward again until debarkation.  I never even got his name.  The anonymous steward did a good job with cleaning and refreshing the cabin, but there were no personal interactions, ice, or towel animals.  I can only conclude that the postings about ice and towel animals are indeed true.

 

Crowds – Yes, the ship was crowded.  It always is.  As one would expect, a 7 day cruise in summer attracts a younger crowd with more children than a longer off season sailing.  That said, it was not a problem for us.  In some ways the ship seemed less crowded to us, particularly in the MDR areas.  On the two longer cruises, the area around Savor and Taste was a mess in the 6:30 to 7:00 PM times when we made our dinner reservations for 5.  The bar would be mobbed and people were crowded around the check in stands.  Some would be irate because they did not have reservations and were given pagers.  We did not see that at all.  You could be immediately seated.  I can only presume that it was a group that largely preferred later dining (it appeared that way in LeBistro) or chose to have dinner at the Garden Café.

 

This less crowded feel seemed to extend to the theaters, which did not fill up for the late shows that we attended.  On the other hand, the pool deck always seemed to be crowded and louder than the other cruises.  We try to avoid the areas near the pool anyway, preferring quieter and more shady relaxation area.

 

The only really long lines were to get off the ship in ports.  It was most evident in Roatan that had a 10:00 AM arrival time.  The late time made everyone want to get off at the same time.  The line went up the steps from deck 4 to deck 6 and all the way to the rear of deck 6.  8:00 AM arrival lines only extended through the atrium.  If you waited 15 or 20 minutes, you could pretty much walk off the ship.

 

Ship – The ship was still well maintained and pleasant.   The smoke from the casino area was more noticeable to me on this sailing.  I don’t know if it was due to more smokers onboard or if the summer humidity made it worse.

 

Dining – We found the food to be the same, which means good overall.  Of course, previous experiences do help you make better choices off the menu.

 

Dining change 1 – The noodle bar now takes reservations and must be extremely popular because we could not get a reservation at any time during the week at noon on the first sea day.  Wish I had known.

 

Dining change 2 – The Moderno breakfast and lunch buffets now have the hot dishes in the Cagney’s area, resulting in more options.  More options are never a bad thing.

 

Dining change 3 – Specialty restaurant prices.  Holy Crap Batman!  This must have been the first sailing with the new prices.  I did not see anything on this board about them beforehand.  Upon our return, I did see considerable discussion about it.  Unless you live in NYC or California, a la carte prices now exceed the prices in comparable land restaurants.  My guess is that everyone has the “free” dining package, so it was an excuse to raise the “price” of the SDP to squeeze more mandatory gratuities from passengers.

 

Dining change 4 – LaCucina now limits you to one item from the starters listing that contains the appetizers, soups, and salads.  You can get a second starter if you do not get pasta or pizza.  Translation, you can’t soup and a salad, or an appy and a salad.  Note to FDR:  Really??? The small savings is offset by the fact that you just look cheap and the corresponding loss of good will.  I think that even the server was embarrassed.  He brought us a pizza for the group to share.

 

General dining question:  Why does it take so long to get a cup of coffee at dinner in the MDR?  It is a question that I pondered on all three sailings.

 

Service – No change.  Still generally good.  Even no problems with the anonymous cabin steward.  Some waiting at the bar, most were short, one was over 5 minutes though. 

 

Entertainment – Performers often change from sailing to sailing.  That said, it was pretty much the same.  We passed on Rock of Ages this time.  Two different bands performed in Syd Normans, but one is going off to the Getaway.  Perhaps it was a transition week. 

 

I only recall seeing the CD once.  I don’t know if it was me, or him.  I actually saw the captain several more times than I saw the CD.  He came into Syd’s with two other officers watched the show for a while, and said a few words.

 

Fourth of July – May 5 has more meaning in the US than July 4 does in Mahahual.  There was a small July 4 celebration that consisted of a hot dog eating contest (winner ate 6 in five minutes), a pie eating contest, and a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

 

Observed and noteable:  The attendant at the zip line on the ropes course stopped and stood at attention for the US national anthem.  This annoyed the American kid who was impatient to finish his trip on the ropes course.

 

Annoyances – The constant bombardment of sales pitches through all available media, including phone and tv messages.  Cruise next is out of control.

 

Note to guest services:  Do not send messages to passenger phones at 4:21 AM.  The large red blinking light on the phone interferes with sleep in dark cabins.

 

Roatan – Did the zip and dip excursion with Victor Bodden.  Good tour and excellent value.

 

Harvest Caye – The inexpensive drink carts on the beach are gone.  You have to pay the higher restaurant prices.  We did paddle boards on the island and were pleasantly surprised when the shore ex credit was applied. 

 

Costa Maya – Chacchoben ruins excursion with Native Choice tours.  Good tour, but I expected a smaller van and not a full sized bus.

 

Cozumel – Paradise Beach followed by some retail exploration in town.  Had to get tequila and vanilla.

 

Disembarkment – We were assigned to the red group for airport transfers.  We encountered the usual line getting off the ship.  Two things were different:  1.  When I got to ship security, I was asked to leave the line and taken aside to some other people.  As you might imagine, this would cause concern.  It turns out that they owed me $30 in unused OBC and took me aside to give it to me in good old US legal tender instead of sending a check.  2.  After ship security, you now go through a facial recognition.  I must not be wanted by the police because we breezed through, got our luggage and left without even seeing a customs agent.  Is this a Miami thing?

 

The airport transfer was flawless.

 

Bottom line – A good cruise, but the constant sales pitches and cheap cutbacks are growing on us.  I wonder if we are reaching the breaking point.  Our next cruise is not on NCL.  We went up a notch from the entry level mass market lines because a good price on an itinerary.  This will give us an opportunity to see if these lines are more suited to us in the long term.

 

I will try to answer questions.

 

 

I was on this ship in May and going again in September. Do you know which band got off ship? When I went the one band played every night but Wednesday and they were very good, I'm hoping they will still be there in September.

[davy jones]

1 hour ago, AK Dreaming said:

I was on this cruise too.  I had an awesome cabin steward that I saw several times a day, but that is hit or miss.  I do have to agree with CruiseNext being out of control.  I had at least 3 messages on my phone from them.  I just deleted them as soon as I heard it was not a friend but still a bit annoying.

 

Also, they did an Indian Buffet at Modernos the last Sea Day of the cruise that was awesome.

Agreed on the Indian buffet.  It was a highlight.  Much better than the Indian food in the Garden Cafe

Edited July 19, 2019 by davy jones

[davy jones]

39 minutes ago, Paul Bogle said:

 

Thank you for posting your review. Our third Breakaway sailing is coming in a few months. We appreciate the heads-up on subtle changes. Just an FYI Cinco de Mayo isn't a national holiday in Mexico. Celebrations vary by region but May 5 does mean more in many parts of the USA than it means in most of Mexico. Independence Day in Mexico is September 16th.

Many years ago, we stopped in Cozumel on May 5.  It seemed like just another day, definitely not a holiday.

[davy jones]

38 minutes ago, sabrefan15 said:

I was on this ship in May and going again in September. Do you know which band got off ship? When I went the one band played every night but Wednesday and they were very good, I'm hoping they will still be there in September.

The name of the band that is leaving is Switch.  They are from Orlando.  They were more of a rock band than the larger band, which was more of a dance/party band.  Both were good, but I liked Switch better.  

 

Switch was the band that the Captain came to see.

[davy jones]

More entertainment comments.

My DD did see Rock of Ages.  Her thoughts about the show were the same as mine.  Good music, talented performers, bad plot.  We feel the same way about Mama Mia and other shows like that.

 

Howl at the Moon filled up very early in the evening.  As always, the performers were good.

 

The comedians were OK, but not great.

[All-ready2cruise]

Hi Davy, I was on this cruise too.. had a FABULOUS time. It was really the first time on a mega ship (as a solo) and I was apprehensive about it... NO need! I had a great time, met so many wonderful people, including crew/staff, think O'Sheehans Sachin, the wonderful, fun bartender and all the wonderful waiters, in the MDRs. Really enjoyed the entertainment in the smaller venues (I didn't make reservations for the main shows, however, HATM was fun and I managed to embarrass myself in the Atrium where 876Konnect was playing, woootwooo... lol. 

Glad you had a good cruise, I did as well. I'm booked on BA again in January. 

 

Thanks again for you review. 

Cheers

 

 

[Shoppie124]

What did you think of Victor Boddens?  I’ve heard some negative things recently.  We are booked with a private driver at the end of August 

[graphicguy]

Thanks for the review.  Glad you had a good cruise.  Love the Away ships.  Have been on both.

 

To me, it really doesn’t matter who or where my steward is. As long as (S)he is taking care of my room, I’m good.  I know I asked my steward for ice in an ice bucket on my Escape cruise a few weeks ago, and he kept me stocked with it every day.  I just had to ask.

 

I didn’t even notice that there were no towel animals until someone reminded me here that they do them only if you request them.  DIdn’t matter to me, so I never asked.

 

It must be a ship or maitre’d thing, but I was never restricted on what I could/couldn’t have on any of my Specialty Dining meals.  True of the Platinum Latitudes dinners and the package dinners.  So, it seems to be discretionary depending on the manager on duty.

 

Again, glad you had a good time and welcome home.

Edited July 20, 2019 by graphicguy

[davy jones]

3 hours ago, Shoppie124 said:

What did you think of Victor Boddens?  I’ve heard some negative things recently.  We are booked with a private driver at the end of August 

I know that there is a person here who had a bad experience with a tour guide and is telling everyone about it.  She also says that Victor handled the situation well.  This was our second time with them and both of our experiences were good.  The seem to have a good reputation here and on other travel sites.

[davy jones]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks for the review.  Glad you had a good cruise.  Love the Away ships.  Have been on both.

 

To me, it really doesn’t matter who or where my steward is. As long as (S)he is taking care of my room, I’m good.  I know I asked my steward for ice in an ice bucket on my Escape cruise a few weeks ago, and he kept me stocked with it every day.  I just had to ask.

 

I didn’t even notice that there were no towel animals until someone reminded me here that they do them only if you request them.  DIdn’t matter to me, so I never asked.

 

It must be a ship or maitre’d thing, but I was never restricted on what I could/couldn’t have on any of my Specialty Dining meals.  True of the Platinum Latitudes dinners and the package dinners.  So, it seems to be discretionary depending on the manager on duty.

 

Again, glad you had a good time and welcome home.

I have no complaints about how the steward did his job.  He was very efficient in a hotel maid kind of way.  It was the first time in all of our cruises that we did not have encounters or discussions with the steward during the sailing.  You knew that he was out there working.  Our cabin was an angled balcony toward the aft.  I think that we may have been the most forward of his assigned cabins, so we would never pass him in the hallway.

[davy jones]

Dining change 5:  In the area of the Garden Cafe with the eggs benedict at breakfast, they had a modified "benedict" every morning in addition to the usual.  I tried two of them.  One was an english muffin with guacamole, refried beans, a poached egg, hollandaise, and siracha.  It was very tasty.  Another day had the english muffin, with tomatoes, poached egg, and creole shrimp.  It was okay, but I would probably not have it again.  I may not be a shrimp for breakfast kind of person.

[dread_pirate]

Would you mind posting the cover charges for the restaurants that had them (rather than a la carte)?

 

Thanks.

 

Sorry for the double post - don't know why it did that.

Edited July 21, 2019 by dread_pirate

[dread_pirate]

Would you mind posting the cover charges for the restaurants that had them (rather than a la carte)?

 

Thanks.

[wiscwood]

Thanks for the tips!  Question about the Noodle Bar.  You mentioned they take reservations now.  My booking window doesn't open for a few days, but it says "no reservations offered" for the Noodle Bar still.  Do we have to wait to get onboard to book it, or will it open up online when the other restaurants do?

 

[PortFees45]

Those restrictions you describe in La Cucina are not stated in the SDP T&C. You can get as much of anything you want on the menu, except for additional main courses. 

[dexddd]

Since 2016 I think the only place on ship they have added staff is the annoying Cruisenext area.  Maybe those folks could multi task and make up some towel animals while telemarketing.

[davy jones]

11 hours ago, wiscwood said:

Thanks for the tips!  Question about the Noodle Bar.  You mentioned they take reservations now.  My booking window doesn't open for a few days, but it says "no reservations offered" for the Noodle Bar still.  Do we have to wait to get onboard to book it, or will it open up online when the other restaurants do?

 

I believe that you will have to book onboard.

[davy jones]

19 hours ago, dread_pirate said:

Would you mind posting the cover charges for the restaurants that had them (rather than a la carte)?

 

Thanks.

 

Sorry for the double post - don't know why it did that.

Teppanyani and Moderno have increased to $39 pp.  I don't know about the others.

 

We had the 3 night package.  We choose Teppanyani, LaCucina, and LeBistro.

[davy jones]

10 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

Those restrictions you describe in La Cucina are not stated in the SDP T&C. You can get as much of anything you want on the menu, except for additional main courses. 

This has been an ongoing discussion, particularly around Cagney's.  

[PortFees45]

2 minutes ago, davy jones said:

This has been an ongoing discussion, particularly around Cagney's.  

The discussion in Cagney's would end with me saying, "What you are saying is contrary to the stated Terms & Conditions, and the restrictions you are describing are not written in any official public NCL document. The manager does not have the discretion to set policies that contradict NCL's own T&C. If this is going to continue, I will be calling the hotel manager directly."