cocoabeachcruiser

We're joining the Norwegian Jade on the 2nd May and are wondering if it will be possible, time permitting obviously, to go back ashore once we've cleared security and been onboard. My son is very keen to take pictures of one of the canals, not any particular one just the nearest one to the port. I know there are are lot of very experienced cruisers on here and your advice would be very much appreciated.:)

I did the Jade last month.

We boarded in Rome (twice since B2B:)) Both times we were given a sticker that we obtained from the pursers. It had 'In transit" on it. THis allowed us to bypass everything and just walk back on.

Steve

Help please- I've booked on to The Epic for a Med Cruise in September, but am growing extremely concerned at the increase in reviews that are so poor!!!!!

 

Are these reviews genuine , or from cruisers who are never satisfied....having cruised nearly 20 times, I've always been amazed at reviews I've read about the same trip I've been on , yet never experienced the same problems!!!

 

So help please, is The Epic poor,good, or Great?

Epic= POOR

I have done 40 cruises and the Epic this past December. Worse NCL cruise to date.

Now with that said, that is my opinion based on my likes,dislikes,and interests. I don't eat in the dining rooms or specialties as a rule so buffet is huge to me.

Go and have fun and make your own opinion.

Steve

This has been discussed before, but I figured I would make a new thread very clearly outlining how to do it. This is not against NCL policy, and is perfectly legal and within the rules.

 

So you have excess on board credits? Don't force yourself to spend them -- turn them into cold, hard cash! Here's how:

 

1) Go to the casino

 

2) Insert your stateroom card for the room that has the OBC

 

3) Load the amount of OBC you want to convert into the game through a stateroom charge

 

4) DO NOT PLAY. Hit "CASH OUT".

 

5) Go to the cage and get your CASH!

 

You will get the exact amount in cash!

 

You will lose 3% as a surcharge to your room, but this is easily worth it if you have no use for the OBC.

 

So if you have $100 OBC that you won't be using, the above method will put $100 cash in your hand in place of the OBC, and you will have just a $3 charge on your stateroom.

When was the last time you did this? Last month on the Jade it did not work. There are 2 seperate debits going on within your onboard statement. 1 was for refundable and the other for non refundable.

The way my statement went was all refundable was used first then non refundable. As the cruise progressed items were moved from one catagory to the other if needed. The casino was not taken from non refundable and even certian items like steakhouse credit (was given free dinner in Cagmeys so they put $60 OBC) and that credit never was debited until we ate there so I could not use that $60 for anything else.

The reason I saw this in depth was I was on a B2B Europe cruise and near the end of the first cruise they sent me a letter telling me I was going to lose the credit. (in error of course).I went to the credit desk onboard and got a full explanation.

I had a hard time spending $800 in 21 days so I wanted to try and get it off to no avail.

Thanks for the info. The only beach I'm aware of is Cocoa Beach. Is that walkable from the cruise port?

No Cocoa beach is a 10 minute cab ride. You can go to Ron Jons surf shop while you are there if you want and the area is filled with junk stores and a Pizza Hut buffet as well as the other fast food stuff

Steve

Hi all! I know this may seem random, but my son and my daughter's boyfriend want to bring their guitars on the cruise with us. They don't get together often to play together (we live in different states)and both enjoy it very much.

I have read the NCL website thoroughly and see no "rule" against it, but wonder where they may find unused and out-of-the-way space to play other than in the cabin. Any input?

On the Jewel class ships were get together rooms you could book. That was right next to a bar and dance floor area.

Anywhere else would not be good IMHO. I for one would not want to hear it at all. I don't care if you are Eric Clampton:)

When docking in Cape Canaveral, (Norwegian Gem), can you get a taxi at the port to take you to the beach or do you have to book transportation through the cruise? Thanks.

I am a local,

Cabs are everywhere when the ship docks.

Is there a special beach you want or just a beach?

Just a beach....you can walk to one in 15 minutes right near the dock and there is restrooms, food and on the way you pass several others nice eating places right on the port waters edge.

Do a google map search for Jetty park and see.

Steve

Sorry, I did not respond earlier. I have a couple of pictures of the Great Outdoors here on my blog. Have a great cruise!

Hey ROCruiser,

Can you believe it has been a month since we got off the Jade?

I see you are sailing again in 2 weeks. We are waiting until we hear from NCL before we book again. We booked a year in advance and are not getting double points.:mad: It has been a month and Latitudes has not gotten back to us.

We want the 40+ day cruise but no points, no cruise. :)

Mayby we will bump into you again on a future ship

Steve

Hi cocoabeachcruiser

Interesting about the mini suites. I was considering them but when I looked at the deck plans they are below some of the restaurants so am a bit worried about noise ( perhaps needlessly?). For that reason was thinking about the haven. Could you feel much motion on the aft balconys?

We feel little motion but keep in mind that is also based on the seas and wind. We felt vibration mostly but that was when we were docking only. The mini suites are only a hair bigger and have a curtain and additional bath ammenities but I thought the difference in price our friends paid was too much for so little extra.

Steve

Hi

Am trying to decide on next years cruise and have a future cruise credit with norwegian which needs used. We are thinking about norwegian jade out of Venice to the Greek Isles. I have been on epic and enjoyed the diversity of entertainment and food available. Can anyone who has been on both jade and epic give me their thoughts on one versus the other specifically in relation to cabins ( we stayed in a mini suite on epic) , food and entertainment - any other comments would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

I have done the epic this past December and the 21 day Jade cruise 2 months ago. I have also done the Jewel twice and the Pearl.

I hated Epic. Too big and Nightly entertainment was lacking. The Jade had 2 bands everynight and 2 dance floors with a variety of Music and we were on for 21 days.

The cabins, we alsways get an Aft Balcony but our friends have had mini suites on both. I thought the cabins on Jade were better both aft and mini's. I do not like the contemporary layout. We eat at the buffet for all meals and there is a nice layout on Jade. I thought Epic was too large with that food court layout and the lines always were long on Epic.

Flat paper bag, about 14" W by 20.5" H (virtually the same as those from our RCI and CCI sailings). Roll & squeeze out air, stuff them in & repeat until it's full.

There should be one inside the stateroom upon embarkation for regular laundry or ask for one from the steward, practice with it - as noted, double bag it first.

I also have a roll of packing tape with me that I run a round the bag for extra strenght (more stuffing) and closing the bag.:)

Hi

 

Does anyone know what currency is used in the Casino onboard Jade? I've heard it's US dollars. Also what currency facilities are available? Am I better fetching currency with me.

 

Thanks

 

 

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Just got off the 21 day Jade cruise.

Casino was US $

I was able to pay my ship account in $, Euro's and Lira at the credit desk at the Pursers. A great way to unload my foreign currency.

Steve

I booked an aft balcony on Deck 14. I see where the cafe is above that...will I have a noise problem? (we get up pretty early though)

Yes you will hear noise and there is a chance your balcony will get wet also. They power wash the deck it seemed every night and the water would drip and blow into the balcony. This ship and the Epic were the only two that I have ever had that happen to. I prefer Jewel class afts.

Steve

It pays to book early if you want a specific category cabin and there are a limited number of them. We book Deck 10 AFT suites on Dawn, Star, Jewel and Pearl and there are only 4 of them on hat specific deck. As soon as itineraries are released, we book. We prefer that location (almost more than the Haven suites) and know that if we want to score one we need to move quickly. Booking early isn't for everyone but it works for us.

 

 

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I will agree with that. My original booking was for a guantee cabin in catagory BX. Bottom catagory at a bottom price. They manipulated my upgrades and pricing so they always kept the full fare I paid. I give them credit. The only thing I hit them for was a OBC promo I spotted.

Love "that burns my cookies" I have never heard that!! Made me smile. Sounds like you made out pretty good, so, don't burn the cookies!! haha, see you soon!

Nope. with the new promo I got burned bad.:mad: I could have paid $700 less,have the same cabin and got the UBP and UDP That promo for 2 people for 21 days is worth over $2000.

They do have family insides, but? I leave in 4 days! I guess you are on the second leg of the cruise. I don't know how so many people get OBC. I am more than happy with my cabin. Oh well. CBC, we will see you in two weeks, happy and safe travels to you.

Yes I am on the 2nd leg, and the next leg as well:)

The OBC was a promo last September that I spotted (before final payment). I got 20% of my cruise fare in OBC. Over $700 worth. That will pay for all my tips and still leave me with $300 to spend.

The 4 upgrades I got were before final again.They at one time even offered me a mini suite for no additional charge.I decided to get the Aft instead.

I probably should not complain but when I see them giving the Ultimate beverage and dining promo, I would gladly give up my OBC considering the price was about $700 lower than I paid. That burns my cookies.:mad:

It does not pay to book early.:rolleyes:

See you at the M&M on the 20th.

Safe travels

Steve

Doesn't matter if you are nice or a PITA - after final payment they don't need to do anything...trust me I know. BUT I find NCL more likely to give you something rather than nothing at all...RCCL - good luck, you could be diamond plus plus plus and they won't budge...not even chocolate strawberries..

 

I booked once and the price went down by $3000...(xmas cruise)...

 

So now I'm playing the waiting till the last minute to book and hope to go one and if not, live with it.

I can tell you I will never book an NCL in advance again. Last minute only.

i would call back and speak to someone else, you should be able to at least get an upgrade.

There are no available upgrades. All but insides are sold out. The cruise leaves in 2 weeks

Level six, you should be able to upgrade. Are you working with a PCC or a TA?

 

 

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I am on the same cruise with Level6 and I too are getting the shaft. We cannot upgrade as there are none available.Everything appears to be sold out. So we get back to the "there is nothing to compare it with"

Steve

Hi All! I have been on a few cruises, most recently on the Pearl to Alaska in 2012. My husband and I are in our late 20s. Were taking a cruise at the end of March and I am having trouble deciding which one! The Jewel is the least expensive, Epic being about $400 more with airfare and Getaway being about $600 more with airfare. I am worried since I have been on the Pearl that the Jewel will be so similar that it wont be too exciting for me. I know the Epic and Getaway are in a completely different category. Anyone that has been on them think they are worth the extra money?? Which one would you recommend??

 

Jewel goes from Houston to Cozumel, Belize and Roatan

Epic goes from Miami to Ochos Rios, George Town and Cozumel (have been there before but a long time ago)

Getaway goes from Miami to St. Maarten, Virgin Islands, Nassau

 

My husband likes more adventurous things than just lying out on the beach.

Add me to the Jewel list. Have done it twice and I am leaving on the pearl in 2 weeks.

I was on the Epic the 1st week of December and I did not like it. To many people for me and not much entertainment to satisfy me and the reservation thing is a joke. Freestyle? Nope,you must book entertainment and eating times in restaurants.

Steve

Usually two nights before turn around, they will drop off your new cards and info about getting off during turn around, including a "transit" pass to get back onboard without going through the check in lines.

Depends on cruise.

If the cruise is totaled as one cruise such as a 14 day eastern and western, then it is considered one cruise with the same card same account same everything including casino points. If you are a rewards member reaching a new level during the 1st cruise you are screwed as it is treated as one.

If you are taking 2 seperate cruises with 2 seperate booking numbers then the above posters info is correct

Steve

Can anyone else confirm this?

Confirmed!

But you can get upgraded to better cabins.

Steve

Is it possible to get some clothing pressed, not cleaned, just pressed- aboard the Epic?

Yes,

But it might be cheaper to get it washed and pressed with the fill the bag special. The other poster is right about half price but it is still expensive.

Steve

We requested to debark 1 day early from our cruise when we port in Naples and it was approved.All we have is an email that states it was approved and to bring it with us.

Before I email back, or if I need to email back for more info I was wondering what the procedure was from someone that has done it.

What I want to know is when do we have to get off?

We arrive a 7.30am and the ship leaves at 5.30pm so what I would like to do is pack, get off early and spend the day in Naples,get back on,eat, get cleaned up and around 4.30 walk off the ship with bags in tow.

Thanks in advance

Steve

We seem to have similar cruising tastes. We appreciate hearing of your experiences with the lounge chairs on the aft balconies.

 

Have a GREAT 3 weeks on your Mediterranean Cruises!

 

We plan on that trip in a couple years.

 

Thanks!

Thanks, we will:)

Yes we have an Aft cabin:D

Steve

Thank you Steve... your input and tips are appreciated.

 

We are in an aft on the Carnival Splendor the week earlier and thinking that we may be able to snag lounger for that cruise. One out of two is not all that bad. :)

 

We will follow your suggestion to place cardboard in the hinge to stop the vibration to the access door' date=' if required.

 

Happy New Year! Happy Cruisin'![/quote']

 

We have done Splendor and Breeze in afts and there was 1 lounger and 1 regular chair on Splendor and 2 loungers on Breeze. Both are great size Balconies and rooms.

 

Steve