Live from Encore TA

[CazV]

Hells Kitchen for dinner would be my suggestion too. I can totally understand why someone would be feeling anxious about this though. As a solo female I would feel the same if I'd never been to NYC before. Hopefully the lady mentioned will be able to join with some others to go do something and she'll feel safer. 

[Single Cruiser]

Sorry haven’t posted in a while since the bombshell dropped.  The mood has genuinely soured with lots now demanding to just leave tomorrow night.   Speciality bookings onboard have been cancelled beyond 7PM and the belief is services onboard will stop.   So effectively tonight is our last night of entertainment.

 

They are suggesting that it will take at least 4hrs starting 7PM and only after that do around 11PM-Midnight boarding restarted if zero count (oh and still expect to be off the ship by 9AM Monday!).

 

heres the leaflet me eventually got.

 

 

apparently no help for disabled passengers or porters if people decide to leave.  At least two families I know have now booked hotels in NY for the night and will just go straight there at 7PM.

 

after a week at sea with all inclusive I don’t really fancy going to a bar and pay NYC prices.   I’m going to try and leave it late as possible (I’m group 5 so probably won’t be called until 9-9:30) .

[Single Cruiser]

Today’s dailies and departure doc.

 

 

 

 

 

cruising to America is just so problematic every time now that I’ve decided to call it time on Trans Atlantic to mainland USA.

 

 

[Single Cruiser]

I did finally get to see Kinky Boots at the matinee showing as even though it was a slow starter it warmed up towards the end.  Although I will say that choir of Man is clearly the favourite of the two headline acts.

 

[isdoo]

1 hour ago, Single Cruiser said:

 

 

Edited November 9, 2019 by isdoo

[Peachypooh]

So am I to understand that this was just announced unexpectedly and it wasn't communicated

to the passengers until the very end? I don't like those kind of surprises and would have

gotten an airport  hotel after going through customs. But NY hotels are expensive and not everyone

has the funds or the ability to figure out where to stay.  

[isdoo]

1 hour ago, Single Cruiser said:

Sorry haven’t posted in a while since the bombshell dropped.  The mood has genuinely soured with lots now demanding to just leave tomorrow night.   Speciality bookings onboard have been cancelled beyond 7PM and the belief is services onboard will stop.   So effectively tonight is our last night of entertainment.

 

They are suggesting that it will take at least 4hrs starting 7PM and only after that do around 11PM-Midnight boarding restarted if zero count (oh and still expect to be off the ship by 9AM Monday!).

 

heres the leaflet me eventually got.

 

 

apparently no help for disabled passengers or porters if people decide to leave.  At least two families I know have now booked hotels in NY for the night and will just go straight there at 7PM.

 

after a week at sea with all inclusive I don’t really fancy going to a bar and pay NYC prices.   I’m going to try and leave it late as possible (I’m group 5 so probably won’t be called until 9-9:30) .

 

Wow! No wonder you and probably half the ship is annoyed. 

 

Very poor by NCL. 

 

Running a cruise with no ports to arrive the day before a holiday is poor judgement. 

 

 

[Single Cruiser]

4 hours ago, Peachypooh said:

So am I to understand that this was just announced unexpectedly and it wasn't communicated

to the passengers until the very end? I don't like those kind of surprises and would have

gotten an airport  hotel after going through customs. But NY hotels are expensive and not everyone

has the funds or the ability to figure out where to stay.  

yes we knew it was arriving Sunday evening but no one was told we had to clear customs that night and we’d all have to be off the ship until zero count.   Some expected just to get NCL transfer to airport on Monday 

[HowardK]

Thank you for your review as I going in May- I had a few questions if I may ask:

1. Has there been any feedback on the studio lounge/ solo gatherings vs. other ships

2. Any review of anyone having a unlimited race track pass, or I believe the 18 games for $60 virtual reality.

3. was vibe not open on this sailing?

Seems if I do vibe and a race track pass then I won't be going out venturing in Bermuda more than 1 day.

[Peachypooh]

8 hours ago, Single Cruiser said:

yes we knew it was arriving Sunday evening but no one was told we had to clear customs that night and we’d all have to be off the ship until zero count.   Some expected just to get NCL transfer to airport on Monday 

NCL would have had to know about the customs issue way beforehand. At least if they told people

ahead then people could have made arrangements ahead instead of scrambling to decide what to do.

For example as I mentioned in an earlier response I would have made my hotel reservations

at the airport I was flying home from ahead of time and perhaps pack a little lighter since

I would be handling my own luggage. 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Peachypooh

[AlexandNessa]

Wondering why they can't manage immigration on the ship? 

 

When we did the WBTA on Breakaway last year, our immigration prior to the UK was done in one of the MDRs. 

 

What we went from Bermuda to Boston on Anthem of the Seas, immigration was also handled on the ship. The bars wouldn't open until everyone cleared, but it was pretty painless. 

 

 

[Single Cruiser]

3 minutes ago, AlexandNessa said:

Wondering why they can't manage immigration on the ship? 

 

When we did the WBTA on Breakaway last year, our immigration prior to the UK was done in one of the MDRs. 

 

What we went from Bermuda to Boston on Anthem of the Seas, immigration was also handled on the ship. The bars wouldn't open until everyone cleared, but it was pretty painless. 

 

 

I agree and same as they do if you come in via the US Virgin Islands like St Thomas.

we then had a dot added to the cruise card to show we had cleared immigration and could go ashore! 

[Steff79]

thanks for your review, love your and dougs review. Did you played Laser Tag? was it with VR glasses and how was it?

[Single Cruiser]

7 hours ago, HowardK said:

Thank you for your review as I going in May- I had a few questions if I may ask:

1. Has there been any feedback on the studio lounge/ solo gatherings vs. other ships

2. Any review of anyone having a unlimited race track pass, or I believe the 18 games for $60 virtual reality.

3. was vibe not open on this sailing?

Seems if I do vibe and a race track pass then I won't be going out venturing in Bermuda more than 1 day.

Most of the outdoor decks were closed for large parts of the cruise due to the weather conditions.  I believe 2 passes were purchased so someone should have pics on social media but it’s been closed off to general guests

 

no unlimited track pass was advertised.   But again this could have been because it was closed for a lot of time.

 

 

[Single Cruiser]

So last night was effectively our last night for entertainment etc due to the immigration fiasco which I’ll post how well it went or didn’t hopefully before midnight! 
 

we had our first real theme party - glow in the social nightclub.

 

[CazV]

4 minutes ago, Single Cruiser said:

we had our first real theme party - glow in the social nightclub.

 

 

Wasn't there an 80s party? I'm sure I saw photos somewhere from it. 

[Single Cruiser]

Day 9 Dailies.   Fingers crossed we get a smooth immigration.  Have been told they’ve laid on extra agents.  Ents re-start from 10PM.

 

 

 

[GA Dave]

17 hours ago, Single Cruiser said:

Sorry haven’t posted in a while since the bombshell dropped.  The mood has genuinely soured with lots now demanding to just leave tomorrow night.   Speciality bookings onboard have been cancelled beyond 7PM and the belief is services onboard will stop.   So effectively tonight is our last night of entertainment.

 

They are suggesting that it will take at least 4hrs starting 7PM and only after that do around 11PM-Midnight boarding restarted if zero count (oh and still expect to be off the ship by 9AM Monday!).

 

heres the leaflet me eventually got.

 

 

apparently no help for disabled passengers or porters if people decide to leave.  At least two families I know have now booked hotels in NY for the night and will just go straight there at 7PM.

 

after a week at sea with all inclusive I don’t really fancy going to a bar and pay NYC prices.   I’m going to try and leave it late as possible (I’m group 5 so probably won’t be called until 9-9:30) .

Personally, I would be more pissed off at the CBP than anyone.  What is this crap that they cannot be open on a federal holiday?  Are they closing all the international airports across the country??  All the border crossings from Canada and Mexico??  Of course not!  Than why are they closing their services at the Port of NY?  Are no cruises going into any other US Ports on Monday??

Someone in the federal government needs to answer some questions.

[eroller]

17 hours ago, Single Cruiser said:

Sorry haven’t posted in a while since the bombshell dropped.  The mood has genuinely soured with lots now demanding to just leave tomorrow night.   Speciality bookings onboard have been cancelled beyond 7PM and the belief is services onboard will stop.   So effectively tonight is our last night of entertainment.

 

They are suggesting that it will take at least 4hrs starting 7PM and only after that do around 11PM-Midnight boarding restarted if zero count (oh and still expect to be off the ship by 9AM Monday!).

 

heres the leaflet me eventually got.

 

 

 

 

So two disembarkations and one embarkation within a 12 hour period?   And a short night in between?  No thank you.  I can't blame anyone for being quite pissed, and honestly I think I would just permanently disembark tonight if there was anyway that was possible.  Very poor planning.  

[17cruisesnsl]

Thank you for taking time from your vacation to post! 

Sorry that the weather did not cooperate.  Hope all goes smoothly tonight 

 

[Single Cruiser]

The general manager rang me last night whilst out so rang him back and we had a chat. 
 

so still think it’s bad planning coming in so late in an evening but he assured me that CBP were doing all they could to speed up the process (extra officers etc).

 
Refreshments will be provided in the terminal but it only holds about half people onboard.

 

ive got a hotel stay Monday Night already so will just hang near the terminal.  

 

 

[PortFees45]

On 11/4/2019 at 3:54 AM, KeithJenner said:

The last ship with Howl was the Escape, so there are four ships which have it (Epic, Breakaway, Getaway and Escape).

 

Personally, I love Howl on the Breakaway, Getaway and Escape, but really hate the venue on the Epic and have never enjoyed the show there.

 

In my experience, Sweet Caroline is played most nights at Howl. Repetition of certain songs (Piano Man is another) is a valid criticism of Howl as well in my opinion. I do think that are better at mixing up the songs though, so people don't necessarily notice the repetition if they go in and out through the evening. We often stay for the entire evening so notice the repeats.

More proof that the Escape was Norwegian's "Last Good Ship"

[McFins]

Such a great and helpful review.  Thanks for taking the time to post.   In looking at the dailies, it appears the Skyline Bar does not have entertainment (like the Escape).  Is that correct? 

[Single Cruiser]

Well im Back onboard.  Was one of earlier groups off and so one of first back on at 9:20pm when they started boarding again 

[Single Cruiser]

3 minutes ago, McFins said:

Such a great and helpful review.  Thanks for taking the time to post.   In looking at the dailies, it appears the Skyline Bar does not have entertainment (like the Escape).  Is that correct? 

Yes what was the dance floor area is now more casino machines