2boyzmom

10 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Glad to hear it.   I had previously posted that I thought they were holding back the new passes and glad I was right.

Yes i thought so too. Glad we were right 🙂

On 3/8/2024 at 8:09 AM, UKstages said:

i have been successful buying passes on embarkation day; i’m in that camp, so please don’t misconstrue my thoughts on vibe capacity on the joy.

while it’s true it has just been through a dry dock and was expanded, there is no way they doubled the capacity. all they did, as I understand it, was take the upper deck laser tag area and turn that into useable vibe space. there is no way that doubled capacity. I’d be surprised if it added as much as an additional 35%.

 

again, passes will most likely be available on embarkation day, but it won’t be because they doubled the capacity.

Whatever they did they opened up reservations today and many of us purchased ! 

37 minutes ago, kelib said:

They had passes on the 5/26 cruise today that I got, along with others. They were not there before and they are not on the APP, only through NCL site.

Happy happy ! See you onboard 

On 3/8/2024 at 12:14 AM, BirdTravels said:

There will be hundreds boarding before you. Not worth the effort for the remote possibility of a cancellation. 

Got them and they opened plenty online today . Many of us purchased 😂

Just purchased Vibe passes for May cruise on Joy that have been “unavailable “ since I booked! I guess their new expansion opened up more passes. 

2 hours ago, zqvol said:

You are not going to find any vibe passes on sale on the ship. 

Not always the case. 

36 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

For what it is worth, and this is just my opinion based on trying to keep up with the new additional Vibe space information, I believe they did not start selling the additional passes or cabanas pre cruise yet.    If that is indeed the case, those new additional passes will be available on boarding day.  

Considering they doubled the size and passes were on sale months before the refurb, I am tending (hoping) that this this is correct. Time will tell I guess...

11 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

some people on here believe they hold back passes, but I don't.

With that being said, people do cancel their passes, so it's worth it to continue checking the app until you board and then after you board.

My theory is online passes for my cruise were put on sale BEFORE the refurb. They did not know a number of passes yet to increase so they left the original amount and the rest for onboard purchase. Afterall that has become a big dissatisfier for people who book late to see none available and perhaps change their strategy like the specialty dining.

Recent Cruiser on Joy- Sorry to ask this but too many different responses in search function. Where exactly do you purchase Vibe passes onboard the Joy? I know may be sold out but going to make a run for it and don't want to screw up location. Thanks

Well we booked late (first time in 20+ cruises I did not book a year out) and see vibe passes sold out online of course. So my hope is now that they just expanded the size of the Vibe on the Joy they will hold passes onboard for purchase like they do with dining. Any thoughts?

On 3/5/2024 at 10:05 AM, cruiseny4life said:

I've cruised out of Manhattan Cruise Terminal three times in the Haven (disembarked four times). With the exception of the eight hour long wait in the terminal in April, 2022 (my wait, thankfully was three hours), I've not had an issue with MCT at all. Sure, the room is little and not nearly so comfortable as the Miami terminal, but who cares. I mean, I guess you do?

 

The port staff are kind, get you through quickly, and the concierge/butlers get you onboard quickly. I suppose if I have to sit on a plastic chair for a few minutes while I drink my coffee and have a slice of pound cake, I'll survive. 

What experience are you looking for in Manhattan? 

I've cruised many times from NY and it's paradise compared to some other experiences I have had. The last few times we were Haven so needless to say I'm not looking for VIP this trip but just need early boarding to get some dinner reservations. I'm a planner and booked late 😞

5 hours ago, LongIsland-Cruiser said:

 

It depends on the port you are sailing out of.

 

In NYC, you show up, and there are two lines. The check in line where you show your documents and get your key card, and then the line to get on the boat.  

 

Haven members in NYC will get shunted off to a smaller private room where they will board the boat first.

 

Everyone else is in a different room and you find a seat.  When you get your keycard and you move to the waiting area, you are usually given a boarding placard with a number.  The earlier you show up, the lower the number you get.  Typically, after Haven boards, they will call people that need special help boarding, and then they call by Latitude level (this can be reversed sometimes).  Once priority boarding happens, They then call out numbers and people board based on the number on their placard.

 

I have sailed out of NYC 9 times.  Depending on the day, you will have a wildly different experience.   Sapphire is not the highest Latitudes level, but usually they are called with Diamond, I honestly don't recall ever seeing an Ambassador.  Then they call Platinum.  Then usually Gold and Silver and Bronze.  

 

In NYC, the later you get there, the more the waiting room fills up and seats are hard to find.  But usually you can find something.  Showing up earlier does not lessen your wait time.  The boat has to empty before you can get on.  

 

When I sailed out of Vancouver it was a vastly different experience.  They had that down like clockwork.  So YMMV.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Thank you. Do latitudes get a different boarding number or do you have to listen ? I guess that's what i'm asking.

On 12/5/2023 at 11:51 AM, JGmf said:

The only notable difference on graduating to Sapphire from Platinum was for embarkation boarding.  Sapphire gets called before Platinum.  Sailing out of NYC, that's meaningful.

I'm reading mixed messages on some threads about the boarding times. This is our first cruise in awhile that we are not in the Haven but still Sapphire so hoping to be on early as possible. Will we be called after the Haven? Do you get a special boarding number? I'm reading priority seating area was overflowing. Any info would help. Thanks

On 11/11/2022 at 7:12 PM, BirdTravels said:

In NYC you have a Platinum check in line. 

You have a Platinum waiting area

And  you will be, technically, boarded immediately after the Haven

You get a free bag of laundry

You get the Around the World wine tasting

At this instant in time, they are still not allowing germy guests behind the scenes

You get a private latitudes party (drinks and cheese) 

 

You get two free specialty dinners at any restaurant (one with a bottle of wine) - no $$$ limit, but a limit of one app, one entree, and one dessert. 

 

Birdtravels does Sapphire still get priority boarding? I'm reading otherwise on some recent posts.

My husband and I are big beer drinkers and are thrilled to finally see a variety of beers on tap on our upcoming NCL Joy cruise! Is the District Brew House open during the day or only in the evening?

28 minutes ago, nonchalant_muse said:

 

I'm a huuuge fan of MSC Yacht Club! Will be sailing in YC (on the Seaview) in early Feb 2023.

 

I'll start off by saying that I have never sailed in the Haven (or on NCL, first-ever sailing with them will be in mid-April) but, from what I've read about it, it's a similar concept to the YC with the private section of the ship closed off and dedicated only to Haven guests (i.e. "ship within a ship" concept). I love this as I can enjoy all the benefits that come with cruising on a very large vessel while at the same time enjoy a more private and less crowded space to retreat to when I need a breather 🙂

 

Anyways, this is what I've learned as far as the positives of MSC YC over NCL Haven:

 

1. YC restaurant menu rotates day to day; there are a select core of entrees that remain the same throughout the cruise, all the rest change on each day of the cruise, lots of variety. My understanding is that the Haven restaurant menu does not change.

 

2. YC guests are allowed unlimited access to the MSC Thermal Spa area; this is one of my favorite perks regarding YC, you automatically get free, unlimited everyday entry to their Thermal Spa (and it is sweeet!!!) As a Haven guest, access to the NCL Thermal Spa requires an additional charge unless one is booked in a Haven Spa suite. 

 

3. In YC, room service is included and is free, including delivery of alcoholic beverages for free. My understanding is that Haven does not allow for delivery of alcoholic beverages without a fee (although room service for other items is free and included). 

 

4. High tea service in the YC Lounge every late afternoon (roughly 4 pm). Another one of my favorite perks of the YC, you receive personalized high tea service in the YC Lounge every afternoon of your cruise. I love tea and absolutely adore their high tea service; they bring a cart with a selection of various teas and brew it in front of you, along with a tiered plate setting of scones, clotted cream, jams, tea sandwiches, and petit four desserts. I do not believe this type of tea service is offered in Haven. 

 

5. This is something new and I think may only be offered on the newer MSC ships (Meraviglia-class and newer) but YC guests are given a wristband in addition to a room key card. The wristband works just like the card; you use it to unlock and enter your cabin, to scan and receive beverages from the bar/cafe, to unlock and enter private YC areas of the ship, etc. It's great because one can just wear the wristband without having to carry around a room key card (I found this especially useful while lounging/swimming in the pool, and yes, wristbands are waterproof). To my knowledge Haven does not have this feature, but correct me if I'm mistaken. 

 

As an aside, you DO need your room key card whenever disembarking the ship while at port. Only the room key card will allow you to disembark/embark the cruise ship. 

 

 

That's all that comes to mind for now, hopefully you and your husband will be able to try out MSC YC at least once. It's generally a hecka lot cheaper than NCL Haven, too, if price point matters to you 🙂 

Thanks so much. We just got off a 14 night Haven Breakaway cruise and that same menu everyday is nuts. One night i requested some pasta with tomato sauce and they said special items need to be ordered 24 hours in advance! I realized it's time to widen our experiences with our cruise lines

We are considering the MSC Divina for an Italy trip this summer and see they have an area similar to the Haven. Has anyone sailed this ship and can compare with the Haven for me? Thank you!

On 11/4/2022 at 10:26 AM, graphicguy said:

Just back from Cruise Next…all solo rates….$1,800 for a Club Balcony…don’t know if I can stay in my current cabin but crew would take care of moving my luggage if I get a different cabin.

 

$1,400 for a regular Balcony.

 

Only one Cruise Next voucher can be used.  So, they’ll match my $250 purchase of one cert.

 

If I go through my TA, she’ll give me a $75 discount on the fare, and allow me to use my AMEX TO BOOK, which would give me $200 OBC and dinner at LeBistro+bottle of wine.

 

Latitudes gives me another $75 in OBC.

 

Can’t use Stockholder OBC since booking date is so close.

 

  TOTALS…

Club Balcony-$1,800 less $250 cert, less $75 TA discount=$1,475.

Plus $275 OBC/dinner/wine

 

 

Balcony-$1,400 less $250 cert, less $50 TA discount=$1,100

And, I get AMEX OBC of $100/dinner/wine and $25 Latitudes OBC.

 

Both include drinks/specialty dinners (not sure how many for a 2 week cruise), Excursion credits and some internet (not sure how much for a 2 week cruise)

 

This is for a 2 week repo cruise to New Orleans from NYC!

 

Waiting to hear back from DRs office for meds and where to get them.  Also waiting to hear from dog sitter.

 

Checking on flight changes…

 

It doesn’t help the @JamieLogical and @mking8288 are acting as my enablers…LOL!

We are on the 14 nighter. Hope you join us!

12 hours ago, mtrancher said:

Wonder, as well, if poor granny packed all her clothes in her luggage, set it out that night and woke up the next morning only to realize she did not leave clothes out to wear to get off the ship!

I left our honeymoon cruise shoeless - my husband packed them the night before!!

23 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

The one thing about traveling is that we realize how expensive it is to be living here. We semi jokingly always scout real estate store signs of listings everywhere we travel. I can get a nice little bungalow on an island somewhere for what we're paying just in taxes alone in Nassau county.

We recently grieved our taxes and got them down to 20K :(

Are Haven slippers still a thing? Packing tonight 😉

22 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Still debating which show I’ll attend.

How long do the shows usually last? 

My letter usually consists of cheese and crackers at 3pm and m&m's written on the back of a drink napkin :). And to think I'm a New Yorker 😘

On 10/31/2022 at 8:47 AM, JamieLogical said:

Boarding started at 11:34. And I had a loooong wait on the gangway behind the people in wheelchairs. I assume it was because they all needed the elevators, so the path to the stairs and hallway was blocked. Finally made it through the crowd and had to wait in a short line to get a table at O'sheehan's.

 

 

After getting my drink and food order in, my brother's girlfriend found me and joined me for a drink and a salad. Eventually my brother showed up as well, but didn't want any lunch because he ate too many snacks in the Haven waiting area.

 

I got checked in at my muster station after lunch and enjoyed a Mr. Worldwide (my favorite drink) at the Atrium bar, waiting for the rooms to be ready.

 

 

 

Once rooms were ready I went to mine to drop my backpack and unpack it. My brother texted me to bring him a drink and come see his room (an aft Haven). So I went to Mixx and grabbed us a couple of drinks to bring up to him. Rode the elevator from 6 to 11 by myself on embarkation day!

 

I hung out with my brother and his girlfriend in their large, swanky aft Haven for a while. I was there when their butler came to introduce herself and we had a nice chat.

 

I then went back up to my room for a quick nap before sailaway, but my luggage had been delivered, so I unpacked first. I slept a little longer than I intended, but did make it up to Spice H2O for a bit to meet some people.

 

The solo Meet & Greet was being held at Maltings at 5:30 and I had dinner reservations at 6:00, so I just stayed at Spice long enough to drink two mojitos and chat with a nice couple on their first Norwegian cruise.

 

I then went back to my room to quickly change for dinner and made it to Maltings at 5:30. It was good timing, as we were just sailing past the Statue of Liberty.

 

 

My brother found me there and we went across the hall for dinner. I had made all my dinner reservations online, but being in the Haven, my brother didn't see the need to do that. So when I told him I had a 6:00 reservation at La Cucina, he had the Haven concierge work their magic to get himself and his girlfriend added to my reservation.

 

I had originally booked La Cucina when one of the Platinum vouchers needed to be used for La Cucina or Moderno. I could have changed it once onboard, but it was fine sticking with La Cucina. I had the Shrimp Ravioli and the Veal Marsala. Both were good and the lemon cheesecake for dessert was excellent. During dinner we also passed under the Verinzano (sp?) Bridge and we ran outside to take a few photos.

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner I paid my daily tithes to the casino gods and then I headed to O'sheehan's to try to watch the Bills game. When I got there, the didn't have it on and it seemed there might be a mutiny. Turns out there were 200 Rochesterians who had taken a bus from Rochester to the cruise and then were going to the Jets game the Sunday we disembark, before heading home. So all 200 of those people, plus myself and some other Bills fans were ready to take the bridge, if necessary.

 

When they finally turned the TVs on, they originally put on a basketball game and people were losing their minds, but they did get the Bills game in just in time for kickoff.

 

I spent the duration of the game chatting with Mike to my right, who was one of the Bills fans from the bus. He is a Bills season ticket holder and his son was at the game in his stead.

 

To my right I chatted with Ted, who I had met at both the Spice H2O sailaway and Maltings. Since we are both solo, we decided we might use our Platinum vouchers for each other, so he may meet up with me at Le Bistro on Tuesday night.

 

After the Bills game, it was up to late night snack right as they were closing things down in the buffet. Then off to bed.

 

Day's Drinks: Moscow Mule, Mr. Worldwide x2, Mojito x2, Vodka Cranberry, Blind Russian x2 

Please tell what's in the Mr. Worldwide? At Syd Normans can you walk in after the show begins ?

Was Syd Normans packed? Hoping the shows always begin at 9pm for us next week!