graphicguy

I certainly share this with all the sailors on the Prima.......I can't tell you how happy your review makes me. What a wonderful trip. Thank you!

Those Merrell boots should be fine. I think they forbid sandals, "flip-flops" and the like.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

No issues....they've offered to take us to be seated first when we're staying in the Haven. I have no problem taking advantage.

In other news, @YVRteacher found plenty of cookies on her Jewel Alaska cruise. So, apparently it's not an NCL policy or a cut back, but a ship to ship decision. My promise to all my CC friends, I will get an straight answer to this seemingly baffling NCL shifting with the winds policy about cookies. Sorry Henry....back to regularly scheduled programming.

Then again, Haven guests paid significantly more for their cabin for better perks and service. So, from that perspective, it is quite fair. 😉

The food is good there, too. I had some smoked pork and sides along with (several) beers while listening to the music. I think I stayed there a couple of hours. Enjoyed it.

They may be allowing Haven passengers to enter Syd's before the doors open. I've heard they don't do that any more. But, I have been able to do it (with Concierge escort through the back entrance) previously. I doubt the Head Concierge, Lyster, is still on board (think he was headed to Encore and then Viva). But, he said they didn't do that any more, and then ended up doing it for a few of us in Feb,

Makes one wonder if the line cooks just don't care. They are tasked to get their particular potato prepared. Wonder if there is any QC on "HOW" the potato (or any food) is prepared. I know they are tasked with getting 1,000s of vegetables cooked and plated at each meal. But, if you can't do it right, what's the point? Personally, I've been known to send dishes back if the plate, and anything on it, isn't to my liking. Truth told, if you report the potato sadness to the restaurant manager, you'll get properly prepared potatoes, and probably get a whole basket of fries sent to your cabin. 😉

Seen that on Carnival, too. Since I don't sail Carnival as much as NCL, and I'm not going to "pay" to board early, it's a non-issue for me. But, it is more orderly. Where things get chaotic with NCL, those who get to the port early think they're going to board early. And, most of the time, that's simply not the case. If you arrive early, and you're not a Latitude member, you're going to be waiting a while. On NCL, boarding times are separated by Limited mobility, Haven and then Latitude status, in that order. Not nearly as regimented as Carnival.

They can drench Brussel Sprouts with bacon, a cheeseburger, a ribeye, cheese sauce and throw in some onion straws for good measure. Still won't eat them. 😉 Cookies seem to be a "thing" with NCL right now. They're inconsequential, to say the least. But, their availability are consistently inconsistent. It's hard for me to believe that somewhere, someone made a decision to quit offering cookies, particularly for the reasons we've heard. There's a reason they aren't universally available, the reasons given are, at best, suspect. If you're going to cost cut something, you decide it's cookies? Seriously? Not buying that excuse either. I believe the cookies are generally available, but the sailings where they aren't, there has to be a reason. I will find out. Hashbrowns? I'm sure the reasons of their unavailability are just as questionable. I just don't care enough about hash browns....particularly because the only place that serves decent ones is Waffle House.

On a mission.....just to be clear, cookies on board don't mean much (if anything) to me. But, there seems to be a confusing story by NCL as to where they are...particularly on the Prima. My last Prima cruise, I had no issue finding cookies in Indulge and the buffet. But, as others have reported, they ARE having issues finding them. Further, as Henry and others have reported, NCL ship management crew have widely different reports ranging from..."we don't make them any more because people waste them....it's a corporate decision not to make cookies.....order them from room service." I AM PLANNING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. It's sort of like our last Mediterranean sailing when quizzing staff about VAT while in Spain. Until we got to the bottom of it and made it a point during the M&G, they didn't remove it. After the M&G when we tried to nail down the NCL policy and how it affected the guests, it was finally removed, FOR EVERYONE. So, either offer cookies or don't. Going to try to get something definitive when I board Joy next month. Not taking the excuses NCL has offered so far, because it's lame. If there is too many cookies wasted, then you better stop offering brussel sprouts and broccoli, too. Those will definitely go to waste. Will report back.

Sailed out of NYC plenty of times, too. Have seen Haven check in to the left and to the right once you enter the building. Never have seen any sort of separation of lines outside. That would be a tough thing to implement.

Nice VID! I'm sailing on her next month. I like the Observation Lounge. This is making me excited for the cruise.