Sand and Seas

For CAS, can you tell me if your original cabin was just discounted by CAS, or fully comped? (I've gotten different answers about price drops with CAS)

We always walk to port in New Orleans from our stay at Harrah's hotel (and we have been retired for a few years). There are several hotels close to port. Have had no problems with traffic as there is a crosswalk to the 'whale' lot at the mall. There are rail tracks right in front of the port but there is always a police officer at that crossing. The porters are available to take your luggage just before you cross the tracks at the port. The only traffic we have seen on the rails is the trolley. If it comes by, it's just a few seconds of delay to cross the tracks. We have been walking back & forth from our hotel before and after cruise for several years. Worse walk we had was in the pouring rain. When we had the mandated NCL provided covid test, we were sent back across those same tracks by the whale lot to the Marriott for testing. (Perhaps that Marriott is the closest?) If you go by car/taxi/uber you will be in traffic lining up around the convention center to drop off at the port. It looked really bogged down when we cruised in January. Not hard to walk across at crosswalk when all the traffic is stopped😉

The Price is Right on Prima didn't have a cost. Hopefully 'Wheel' is complimentary.

Caesars Entertainment.

Shanghai is a favorite of ours. There can be a wait as there is limited seating. They will hand out pagers. We also enjoy OSheehans. They made a good Reuben there 😋 Hope you have a great cruise.

I hadn't heard of CET hosting groups on MSC. I would find that interesting too! My CET host has taken us on NCL for Alaska & Caribbean. CET paid the dsc/admin/port fees which made it nice. They also let us 'earn' airfare during a visit to LV.

Thanks @rattla for posting these pictures. I would be happy to order either of the two 'special's pictured above, even if it's the same item from the MDR. The Haven will freshly plate my order and customize it if I wish. In the MDR, they just do not have the resources so the MDR server will just pick up one of the dozens of pre-plated 'specials'. And, the Haven restaurant has such great service and that always makes the meal special.

We checked in last night and cruise docs were available 12 hours later. Try clicking on it to see. Strangely, we each got two emails today that reminded us it was time to check in. Still the credit balance glitch, but happy to have my eDocs already!

Oh yeah, the ice cream sandwich sounds pretty good too!

Just re-reading this thread for fun tonight and had a thought.... I'm guessing the sundeck lunch/snack menu is being prepared in the Haven kitchen? If so, perhaps I could enjoy those tempura vegetables and a chicken Caesar wrap while enjoying the air-conditioned dining room🤔

I've brought an empty plastic bottle onboard dozens of times. Never had them look at it.

Please let us know if you are successful later today. I will be attempting our check-in tomorrow.

Have you been able to check-in yet?

Thanks for reporting that it let you check in. I've got a negative $48 'due', plus an Onboard Activity for Dining of negative $140😕 @mking8288, also reassuring to have you tell us it's a 'known issue'. Hopefully check-in will go well for us all🤞

After boarding ship, I usually purchase the 'soda' drink package using my non-refundable OBC. (We get free drinks in the casino, but I like my Diet Cokes everywhere else.) Then I have to wait in Guest Services line to get a new key card printed with 'soda' on it. We recently upgraded this next cruise to Haven (12 heavenly days....YES!) Would the Haven concierge be able to process the soda package purchase for me and then print a new keycard? Our last Haven cruise, we had a small problem with something on our bill. The assistant concierge 'caught' us waiting in the GS line and insisted we come back to the Haven with her so that she could take care of it for us😊

Closest hotel we found to the port is Ink48.

Food Republic is a specialty restaurant that is on several other ships in addition to Prima. Maybe you have seen postings with the small plates served at the Indulge Food Hall on Prima? It is a complimentary venue that we loved. At both venues you order from tablets on the table.

Yeah, I know sodas aren't good for me, but it's my 'cold caffeine' fix. Years of working some extra long days, or being called back in for late nights🥱 We usually save the drink package 20% fee and just get our free drinks in the casino. However, I do use my OBC to purchase the soda package so I can get that cold caffeine in the restaurants too😉

After security in the old Miami terminal, I would often spend a few $$ to get a couple of Diet Cokes to take onboard. It was after security and no one apparently cared. However, there was often a 'rush' on those Diet Cokes so if you didn't arrive early they might be gone! After those two or three diet cokes were enjoyed onboard I was forced over to the onboard Pepsi products😧. Now that NCL has changed to Coke products, I bring an empty 20 oz. plastic coke bottle in my luggage. I've never had problems with the empty bottle getting through security. Then, once onboard, I can get my Diet Coke and pour some into my coke bottle to keep in my cabin's fridge. As a casino guest, I can usually get Diet Coke or Coke Zero in cans at the casino's bar to take to my room. I do not like to drink from the can. Again, empty plastic coke bottle takes care of that😉

No triple-point for this one. We still have a ways to go before Ambassador. We will have to see how much NCL (and CAS) really wants us to keep cruising with them🤔

Whatever the technical issue might have been, we had no problem booking dinners for our CAS reservation a few days ago. By the way, even though it says 'not able to book yet', if you have tier status, or are in a Haven or Club balcony, system will let you book at 125 days or 130 days out.

Good to know! We will make sure to carry a couple of drinks with us to start out😊 I'm hoping to get some quieter use of that sundeck while others are off ship on lengthy excursions. We will be taking it a littler easier this trip while DH continues to gain strength in his new 'bionic' shoulder.

It's amazing! Somehow you always seem to be on our next ship a couple of months before us.... or this case just before we board. How do you do that🤔 I'll be watching your posts for the very latest updates on Joy. Have a great cruise😎

If you are able to fly into Houston Hobby, you will be closer to the port than flying into Houston Bush. After some research on the Gulf coast departures board (see post #3), we booked with Galveston Saltwater Moms for transportation. They were great and we have already scheduled them again for our next Prima from Galveston. We absolutely loved Galveston. If you can, suggest you go in a day or two early and enjoy the island.

Great minds thinking alike here😊 Why fill up and have no room for dessert? (DH says he like MDR day 6 for the tasty Meatball appetizer....and he will probably order two of that!)