Eggs2Go

Hey, Lush, guess you're referring to an Alaska sailing. After the Mexican Riviera trip I'll be staying on the Bliss for the Pacific Coastal, but jumping off when we reach Vancouver. Back in 2019 I was on the Bliss to Alaska in July. It was beautiful and very enjoyable but I was so cold. Had on longjohns, a woolen cap, and everything else. I admire you for having the fortitude to sail to Alaska in April.

I'm having so much fun reading your live review. Supposed to be cleaning my house today, but keep coming back to you. Agree Jersey Boys wonderful show. I saw on Broadway and have been several times on NCL and really think better on the ship. Perhaps the small theater in Bliss makes it more personal. (trivia answer Frankie Valli). Of course, I'm booked to see again when onboard -- one more week to go before I sail away. Oh your mention of Million Dollar Quartet brings back memories. Best of the best (the fourth guy is Carl Perkins). The incredibly talented Jared Freiburg was Jerry Lee Lewis. He still performs on cruise ships, now with his trio The Vagabonds. In 2024 mostly scheduled on Celebrity and Princess. But does list a Norwegian Escape date of 6/23 - 7/3 (Barcelona to Venice). Also listed is Norwegian Jewel on 11/17 -11/24 but that cruise not shown on NCL website, so perhaps private. You can see all the details plus a You Tube video on his website www.jfreiburg.com Your food pics have me salivating. That Indian food in the buffet available anytime, breakfast-lunch-dinner, and such a treat. The guacamole in Los Lobos. Like you, I order the cod and asparagus at Ocean Blue and as a Floridian must have key lime pie. Where will you dine tonight? If can't get into Le Bistro, perhaps try La Cucina. Always seems delicious to me. And remember to get the tiramisu. Yikes, weather only 63 today. You must be getting close to California. I'll be bringing a jacket along. Wishing you a happy last day onboard (wine tasting will guarantee that) and a good disembark on St Patty's Day.

I've got my favorite pizza joint here in Fort Myers and I stick with that. Like special stuff on the cruise ship, maybe some escargot or onion soup or osso bucco. Of course, that 7-layer chocolate cake in Cagney's for dessert. Correction: meant to say the 24th for my sailing date. Flying into LA the day before and will be staying at NCL's hotel, the Hilton Checkers downtown. Will be a first; I always thought the cruiseline hotels too expensive for me, but this one is reasonable. And keeps the stress out of travel.

I'll board Bliss on the 25th and will be using some of your tips. But mostly I appreciate your joyful attitude thruout your live report. Life is short, let's enjoy the journey. Thank you, and Cheers!

Right. I'm only talking about taking OBC from NCL's world points card. It was considered refundable OBC and paying for the DSC was a nice way of using it up. It was deducted automatically each day. Sometimes I also used it to purchase cruise next certificates, and I know you can't do that with nonrefundable OBC. Whatever. No more OBC for me.

Yes, that's why I hesitated before redeeming for OBC and came here for help first. I'm quite certain that in past when I took some OBC it would pay down my DSC so this must be a new T&C. But no matter. Julig and jds have set me straight. I didn't realize that a statement credit is a choice. It is the far better option for me.

Now I see. Didn't know what a statement credit meant exactly, but figured out that among the available options I can click on Cash and then put whatever points amount back on my card as a credit. I get same value as taking OBC but so much easier since I don't have to figure out how to spend the OBC in a worthwhile way. The statement credit will give me a very nice discount when I make final payment on my next cruise. (I only use the NCL credit card for NCL payments.) Thanks so much.

Simple question: If I use my points for OBC, is the daily service charge paid for accordingly. Yes, I know upgrades are the better option, but as a solo cruiser I'm happy with what I've got and would much prefer taking OBC. Just having difficulty figuring out if the DSC would be covered (seems it used to be),

Is the Epic scheduled for dry dock after the 2025 TA eastbound? No cruises are shown for remainder of April.

I would rather hunt someone down in the casino than to try to text them. I find the ship wifi thing too stressful even though I use my smartphone daily at home. I now turn my phone off once on the ship and lock it in the safe, not retrieved until just before disembarkation. I'm on a cruise, off and away.

The Epic has very nice solo studio cabins. You both may be happier with that arrangement, providing each some privacy and also allowing choice of drink package. With your own cabins you also each would get the $50 off shore excursions. You could book solo cabins next to each other, take your showers etc. at the same time and meet up in the studio lounge before joining the rest of your travel group. I know that's what I would prefer.

The Bliss is my number one favorite ship too. I'll be onboard for the very last Mexican Riviera cruise in March. I know, spring break so lots of kiddos but I'm tucked away in a studio cabin, and I'll remember your tip about Deck 19. Plus I'm booking an NCL excursion in Cabo so hopefully will avoid tendering snafus. I'll then be staying on the Bliss for the Pacific Coastal trip up to Vancouver where I'll disembark. No way do I desire to continue on to Alaska in April. I took the Bliss cruise in Alaska a few years ago during July the heart of summer and thought it was so frightfully cold. The ship's beautiful observation lounge saved me from frost bite I think. Looking forward to all of the details you post and am glad you had a wonderful time.

Amazing life. Doubt I have the stamina for that much travel, but I sure enjoy reading about all your experiences. And you live in such a beautiful area of Australia, seems would be hard for me to pack up and leave. When home, do you go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef? Explore the Rainforest? Have fun in the city of Cairns? I truly loved my land vacation to your home environs back in 2007, forever memories.

Wonder if anyone remembers Yannis Kazalis. He was a food & beverage director in the 20-teens. Very personable and seemed to be visible everywhere onboard. But haven't seen his name since covid. Is he still with Norwegian?

Congratulations. I think you selected a comfortable and quiet balcony cabin that should give you the fantastic sea views you desire. And since you will be in a solo balcony, you will also have access to the studio lounge which has the best coffee on the ship IMHO. The price difference between a studio and a balcony cabin on this cruise is only $311. Amazing. I would join you on the Epic but I will be on a Norwegian cruise on the West Coast at that time. I absolutely love that NCL is now offering solo cabins in categories from inside to balcony. It opens up so many options. Wishing you a wonderful cruise. And yes, I'm jealous about that low airfare too.

Sometimes the weekend website is a little wonky, but when I just checked it states that solo balcony cabins are "no longer available" on this cruise. But even if they are, I wouldn't select one on deck 14 because those cabins are very close to the bar at Spice H20 which often stays open till midnight or so up on deck 15. I would probably pay $158 more and select a regular balcony near the aft on another deck. The prices on this transatlantic seem very reasonable to me. $1440 for a solo balcony or $1548 for one person in a regular balcony. Gosh, I paid about that for an airplane ticket to Rome this summer. And you are getting 12 days in a balcony cabin with food and entertainment before arriving in Rome. Why not call NCL and discuss your cabin concerns with them.

I just booked a solo balcony on the Jewel. Thrilled to get a $300 savings on a nice balcony cabin. Thanks NCL for giving the solos a deal.

Keith, hope your cruise is continuing to be relaxing and enjoyable. My heart goes out to the Greek people when I see the videos of the flooding they are enduring. Suppose the Breakaway is far out to sea away from all that. Next week we'll be passing as you disembark from your adventure and I embark to begin mine on the same Greek Isles itinerary. Thanks for posting this positive and informative thread. As Jimmy Buffett told his sister: Have fun.

I'm here for the new season. Am not much of a football fan (except for cheering on the Oregon Ducks and following Tom Brady wherever) but I am a very big NOLA fan. Read all of your Alaska cruise review on Norwegian and admired your stunning photography. So I know that I'm in for a treat coming along on Saint Greg's NOLA trips. Thanks for posting.

Not to brag, but as luck would have it when we sail next week on the Breakaway we'll be the only ship in port at Santorini on the 15th. So nothing could be finer. But one ship or six ships, sunshine or thunderstorms, I aim to have the best cruise ever (and I go back a ways).

I've read that the outside decks on the Prima are very slippery, especially when wet. Was a different (safer) flooring used for the decking on the Viva?

I think you are right and I was wrong, after all. The fine print states "singles paying 200% of voyage fare qualify" which must mean the offer gives 35% off that second person (the ghost). This fact broadens my world. I mostly select cruises on the larger ships because the solo cabins and lounge suit me well. But I actually prefer the Jewel class ships although I try to avoid paying double by waiting for last minute deals and solo specials which may or may not happen. Knowlng that some discount is available with that offer may be enough for me to book earlier on my favorite Jewel ships, allowing for cabin selection, flight arrangements, etc. So thank you for correcting me. And happy sails to you.

BOGO, yes there is the solo discount. But cabins 70% off for second guest is just another way of saying 35% off each for two guests. No solo discount on that one.

That's not how the offer works. The 70% off assumes there is a second guest. A solo guest would pay full fare (double) for the cabin with this offer.

For the first time, I have selected an NCL hotel and BOGO airfare. My booking is with a one-day deviation. I just now phoned NCL to double check the transfer situation. Agent said my reservation shows transfer from airport to hotel and then the following day transfer from the hotel to pier. Said details will be with my online check-in. This cruise isn't until next March so I won't know for awhile. I chose to try NCL's hotel because the price seems very reasonable, unlike in the past when the hotels have been way unaffordable for me.