david_sobe

Not really. While milk is more expensive to make than soda, soda is in demand on a cruise. I've never heard of a milk package 😁 Look at the drink packages. I can get a martini that would cost $15 with my drink package but water will cost you and is not included. Soda is pure profit. A little bit of sugar syrup and some soda water. Cruise lines know how to make money 🤑 On another note I want an investigation into these people that claim they can get a can of soda at a restaurant on NCL. Every time I have asked for a can they say they dont have it or not allowed. But I keep seeing youtube videos and reports that say "Save money, tell them you want a can" because the glass of soda is half ice and half of the can. I am to the point that I need to see it to believe it 😄

The key words there are "select sailings." Many of these promos don't exist for new ships like the Aqua. However the third and forth guest are still only $99 each for my sailing in February 2026. Cruising promos are like new car advertisements. There is lots of fine print. NCL started saying 50% off all cruises. Well when you read between the lines that only means when you buy a double occupancy cruise, the second person sails "free" thus 50% off. That is stretching things a bit IMHO.

I've never known NCL to have a brunch. Other lines have them but I never saw one.

You will find out NCL has lots of things you have to pay additional for that you can get included in suites on other lines. There are no free drinks. No drink specials in the Haven lounge. No happy hour at the Haven lounge either. Even if you book a Deluxe Owners suite you will still have to pay for access to the spa. You will also pay for internet unless you are in an owners suite. Haven daily service fee is more too. Your room will be made twice per day instead of only once in rooms outside the Haven. The Haven restaurant menu never changes either unlike RCCL and other lines that have their suite menu change daily like the MDR. You will also pay for all sodas in restaurants unless you pay for a soda or alcohol package. Bottled water and specialty coffees not included in traditional beverage package. Welcome to NCL 😁

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have only sailed from the port of Miami. Now that Miami has its own separate Haven security line maybe they will also have priority luggage? ****sigh*** its Miami so dont hold your breath.

I am not knocking them because there is no such thing as a bad dessert IMHO. But sometimes the meal is so good I hate to ruin it by a mediocre dessert. I found the cheesecakes to be average without much taste. I do agree the Tiramisu is excellent. But my peeve is the apple stuff. I love apple pie and especially with ice cream. The apple pie desserts just disappoint me every time. I think they used to have an apple crumble at Cagneys. Its something I would expect to get at Dennys ( and I am not knocking Dennys). Many years ago this board used to say the NCL desserts were no bake types. I am no pastry chef so I have no idea. The desserts on NCL are like what you would get at your local grocery store. Meh. Best idea: Stick to ice cream!

Its tough work. I read an article once that said a disproportionate amount of cruise line suicides (jumping from the ship) are photographers. There is lots of pressure on them to sell photos and take as many photos as possible. It just put a seed in my head to never be rude to a photographer no matter how pushy they may seem. Its long hours, away from home, and very isolated living in small quarters. Its a little like the military where some small minority very desperate people join just to survive.

Cruise ship workers are no different than the rest of the population including us here on CC. They are not immune from criminal behavior like everyone else. I live in Miami and cruise ship workers are always in the news for something happening on board. I still would say they are better than the general population and would feel safer with them then the general population. There was a cruise ship worker (not NCL) recently that hid in the cabins of women when they showered. He hid under the bed. Pretty scary stuff. But these kind of perverts sadly are everywhere including police, politicians, teachers, and cruise ship workers. etc.

OMG Please dont give NCL any ideas 😆 The best perk is the Haven restaurant is open on port days. Nothing like coming back to the ship hungry and sundrenched and having options other than the buffet or The Local.

Thanks for sharing. The rule of thumb used to be you don't get to the Haven until you pass the security line. Everyone went through security together which used to confuse some people. But in Miami they really changed things up.

I'm really impressed. This takes priority embarkation to a new level in Miami. I am still surprised they do it because there are not that many suite passengers and the port pays the security screeners, no? For smaller ships you could show up at any time and wiz through security. It puts a new meaning behind priority embarkation. This is a brand new terminal. Any other ports have a separate security line? I know they all have the Haven lounges but have its own security screening line? Why does it not say Haven boarding or Haven boarding only in this area? In the old terminal there were signs.

I have not been to the new Miami NCL terminal yet. The Haven has a separate security line now? The old terminal everyone went through security before separating to Haven and general boarding.

The Sky does not have a Haven complex but it still has Haven suites. You will be entitled to enter the Haven pre-boarding lounge and have priority embarkation. I dont know if they still do it but with such a small number of suites, the Sky butlers would come down to the lounge and personally escort you on the ship. Once past security, look for the Haven signs.

Something about NCL desserts that make them look way better than they taste.

I cant wait until the photos start leaking and being released. What will the new atrium look like?