kchiumento

We leave Friday 1/6 and all our docs say 6pm sail away.

I am only Gold with NCL.  It looks like VV only matches on Sapphire and above.

On 11/12/2022 at 4:48 PM, cantgetin said:

Go to the VV web site and click on loyalty.  There you will find three ways to get "Deep blue extras," so you click on status match.  That will take you to a page where you submit proof of your status on another cruise line or even some airlines--there is a list of what you can use.  I did a screen shot of my dashboard from the other line's loyalty program and uploaded it to the VV site.  If you have a cruise booked with VV, you also enter the reservation number.  In a few days, you'll get an email that either says your Deep Blue Extras have been added to your reservation or that you qualify for the match and encouraging you to make a reservation.  Totally simple, and we did enjoy the perks on our recent cruise.

 I am unable to locate on teh VV Website any info on a Loyalty program.  The only options are "onboard" "Cabins", "Destinations" and "our ships".  Nothing on the bottom footer either.  Perhaps they discontinued?

We wore polo shirts and shorts in most of the dining rooms. We did dress up one night for pictures but not much. It was very casual. You will be fine.

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Disney isn't the only cruise line that has fun stuff to do. Is it non-stop, wall to wall kids stuff? No. but there are fun things to do. To even suggest that a cruise other than Disney is "Horrid" is short sided. And if you feel that way before even stepping on the ship, then perhaps you should stick to Disney. In my opinion, it was over priced and my kids were ready to be done with Mickey Mouse and Disney Princesses by day 4. Go in with the idea that it is fun and new and you will have a good time. Go in with "ugggh this will be HORRID if my kids aren't constantly stimulated by a mouse, a princess or a pirate" and you will have a HORRID time.

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what are some things the butler helped you with? What would the appropriate tip be at the end?

This last trip on the Escape, we really didn't use the butler that much. He did get my daughter some Creme Brûlée one night.

On our last cruise on the Jewel, our Butler made our cruise. We had a vow renewal and he had my dress steamed and my husbands tux pressed and starched. He brought the kids dvds to watch and always made sure we had the snacks and cookies and milk that the kids wanted. One night, he figured out that our 12 yr old (now 15) ordered pizza every night at 10:30 after the kids club. So he had it there waiting for him. My dad (they had the connecting mini-suite to our Family suite) had a scooter and he would take it and charge it for him every night and had it back by our door by 0800 every morning. He noticed that my mom would go to Cagneys for breakfast and walk back a plate to my dad. So he just started bringing my dad breakfast. He really went above and beyond.

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We are still mourning not being able to take our Escape crew members with us. Until next time...

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The best part was breakfast in the Haven restaurant on the outside deck.

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I don't know about Carnivals excursion but our cruise mates did the Atlantis excursion on our NCL cruise 9/3. There were 3 ships in port that day and everyone said it was a waste of time. It was so crowded they were able to go on about 3 rides. I considered it but for that steep price, we opted out and we are glad we did.

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I liked the Jewel class ships if you are traveling without kids. They are mid size, not too big and not too small. Plenty of activities without being overwhelming.

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We used iConcierge in our Escape cruise (9/3 sailing). While it was spotty at times, it worked. Connectivity was better when all other background apps were closed out. If I had trouble connecting, I would close the app out and re-open. I think one just has to remember that you are in a ship, in the middle of the ocean. It will not be perfect. We had 4 people connected to iConcierge and it was very helpful, especially with the teens.

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I have the Splash Academy sheet too if you want it.

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Here are the Entourage (teen club) activity sheets.

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There is a Separate sheet for the activities in Entourage. When I get home I will take a picture of it and post it for you.

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We did this excursion back in February when we stopped in Tortola on the Escape. It was just 3 adults, so we didn't really think about the kid-friendliness factor, or lack there of when we were on Jost. We are going on the Escape again in April, there are 12 of us which includes twins age 12 as well as a 14 & 16 y/o. What is your opinion on JVD with kids?

We had our 3 kids with us. It was fine. They were able to swim and snorkel (the snorkeling is not that great as it is just sand), they were able to eat at soggy dollar and my daughter got her hair braided at Gertudes. Here is a pic of my 2 oldest playing the game with the ring on the rope and trying to get it on the hook. It kept them busy for about2 hours. And then a pic of my husband on the hammock. You can see just how busy it was that day. There were 2 Rebel Yell excursions there, a few people

Actually staying at the soggy dollar and 2-3 couples that chartered a boat on their own that were staying the week on one of the other islands. .

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We are just off the Escape 9/10 and we had 3 kids in the Haven. You will be fine. There were plenty of other families in the Haven. We did not have any incidents of children swinging from the rafters or trying to swan dive in the 3 ft pool from the 2nd level. I read those posts with a grain of salt because the 2nd level of the Haven is enclosed. If anyone would be jumping from above into the Haven pool, they need a psych eval because it would be a death wish.

Most kids see the Haven pool, shrug their shoulders and go to the main pool with the water slides and fun stuff. My kids did. We did spend brief periods in the haven pool and hot tubs.

You will have a butler that will bring goodies for the kiddos to snack on and the room steward will go out of his way to make fun towel animals as well. Do the upgrade. You will not regret it.

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We did this excursion last week (sigh...) we were back in plenty of time for sail away. Here is a picture of my youngest on the beach at Jost Van Dyke.

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In the Haven on Escape as we speak. Our 2br had 2 in the main bedroom, 3 in the smaller bedroom and one on the couch. The 2nd bedrooms has a Pullman bed from the ceiling and the lower sleeps 2.

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How do you find out about the Van Dyke tour?

 

 

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We booked it directly though NCL shore excursions. It didn't show up until about 50 days prior to our sailing, which is Saturday!!!! [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33]

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Thank you for the review. We leave on the Escape Saturday. You confirmed my suspicions about the baths. We opted for Jost Van Dyke instead and after hearing your take on the baths, I'm confident we made the right decision.

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We do have a dog in the fight (those of us with kids who are supervised), as many people seem to dislike all children and hate them simply on sight. Vacationing with children is hard enough as it is without feeling like I have to apologize for their very existence.).

^^^^THIS^^^^

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How does asking that those of you who travel with minors to follow NCL guidelines and supervise those minor children in the public Haven spaces make them children haters? That is part of what you are agreeing to by agreeing to the terms and conditions of your cruise contract, it isn't asking you to do anything out of line.

 

I like kids, and have a few of my own. When they were younger I would never have dreamed have letting them out of my view in a public area and didn't. They were with me, or if they didn't want to be with me they knew they needed to be at kids club or in the room. I did this for MY desire to keep them safe more then anything.

 

I want to ask all the parents making a huge huff, are you arguing just to argue or is it that you really think it is ok to leave your kids unsupervised in the Haven area? If you are supervising them then you have no dog in this fight, you are the people we will all thank for raising such great kids.

 

For the record, I don't care about little hands in candy jars or kids having fun splashing around a little in the pool(as long as they are not splashing other guests), a little noise is cool.

 

Maybe part of it is everyone that pays as much for this space as they have to feels entitled, heck I know I would even if it were an upsell because it is still $$. Parents with kids want to do as they please, ones without want to do as they please and each group has a different view on what they should get for that $$.

 

People without kids DO NOT get the right to gripe that there are kids at all within the space and reasonable expectations of kids and noise should be expected.

 

People with kids sign an agreement(part of your terms and conditions) to supervise their minor children at all times on/during the cruise and should do so.

I never once said I let me kids run amuck in the ship. I never said I do no follow the rule. I do. My kids are now teenagers and I don't let them really go anywhere on the ship alone. Sometimes my 15 yr old will go back to the cabin by himself but I don't think that is not following the rules. But I have see and read people lumping all people that travel with kids (in and out of the haven) into the self-absorbed, horrible parent group. I so over this. I'm going on a cruise to have fun with my children. I choose NCL because I don't have to dress them up like Cupie dolls and make them sit for a formal 2 hour dinner every night.

I'm not arguing just argue. But reading the comments makes me think people traveling without kids feel they are entitled to not ever having to see those horrible little people. And heaven forbid one of them makes a sound above a whisper. GASP! Threads like this incite almost a mob mentality on both side. And I really dislike the divisive tone it sets. There really doesn't seem to be any other point to start a topic like this except to put people against each other.

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Don't some of those SCs have adjoining mini-suites? If so, can the bookings be connected and considered as one for perks?

 

I believe I've heard of that with Owner's Suites and connecting insides - the inside booking is considered an "extra bedroom" and included with the suite amenities.

 

Not sure about this, but just a thought!

Yes. We had 11530 on the Jewel and my parents had the adjoining mini-suite 11532(?) NCL linked our reservations and because we were connected they extended the suite privileges to them. The only thing they really took advantage of was the priority boarding. This was back in 2013, so I don't know if this is still true.

We are leaving on Escape next Saturday and we have a family suite again. But my mom is going along with us as the 6th-person. We are going to put her and my daughter in the 2nd bedroom and the boys on the pullout couch in the living room. I'll let you know how that goes when I get back. So be on the look out for my review after 9/10.

I hope this helps.

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I want to try it but these stories bother me. Yes I realize that it can happen on the main decks, but I am not paying triple for that experience. It is called a Haven but its just a name.

I have come to the conclusion that it is not for me and even by my own attitude that I have allowed to come out in this thread verify s that I would not enjoy my cruise there, so I thank everyone for their insight and responses and to those I may have come across hard to, it was not my intent.

But it did come across harsh. I honestly think the people complaining about the HORRIBLE kids in the haven are make mountains out of molehills. If you believe everything that Everyone has said ever then you would not leave the house. So because a few people have one bad experience in the haven, you are going to not even look at it? Lots of people have horrible cruises and we all still go, right? What one person may view as horribly behaved and inconsiderate children, another may view as kids having a great time and not bothersome at all. There were plenty of adults not behaving either. Every cruise is different because every cruise has different people. Stay in the Have or don't stay in the Haven. It makes no difference to me. But don't try to stir the pot and put people traveling with their family against people traveling with adults only.

I am traveling in the Haven next week on the escape. We plan on having a good time, both in the Haven and out. I'm sorry if that bothers you, but I feel fortunate to be able to go on a vacation like this and share it with them. If people take away the ability for our family of 6 to stay in one room/suite because people are whining about kids, then we will not vacation on cruises and find somewhere else spend our money. I'm sure there are many that will follow and NCL will miss the dollars. But that haven will be empty for all you kid haters to enjoy.

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