StuckiTribe

I was actually looking at the Galapagos cruises this morning on Celebrity and trying to figure out the difference between the inside loop, northern loop, and southern loop and if one is preferrable over another. Also looking at best time of year to sail. Would love to hear others' experiences!

I just spoke with the front desk of our hotel (not sure how accurate the info is), but he said Lyft has  contract with the Carnival cruise terminal, but he thought Uber could go into the RC terminal. He also said taxis are readily available. Our hotel is only about 1.5 miles to the terminal, so I would guesstimate it's less than $20 with tip whether we taxi or Uber/Lyft. Anyone else know about Uber and the RC terminal? 

On 8/21/2022 at 11:25 AM, wolft927 said:

So we will be there I. The Norwegian getaway in October, is it better to just spend the day at the pool and beach or is there something else we should be looking to do? We typically spend the days at beaches when in port, is there a better spot close? 

We're on this cruise with you in a few weeks and I haven't found much info on what to do in DR. Since this is a new port for our family, I would love to get off the ship and experience more than just the cruise ship port area, but my husband doesn't meet the weight limit for the waterfalls that we were hoping to do (wondering if they actually weigh people- he's only like 15 lbs heavier than allowed). Maybe we'll do the Cable Car thing? Still researching and looking for good, safe ideas!

I wanted to book with Iguana Mama, but their days are limited and we arrive on the Getaway on a Thursday, and it looks like they aren't open on Thursdays (which is surprising if ships are in port those days) Any other recommendations? The waterfalls look like a fun adventure! 

This is my first time using our NCL CC points. Trying to decide if I want to do an upgrade to balcony from inside or save up a few more points for a free 7 day cruise. Question: can I book the cruise with my TA and then upgrade or what are the steps to using my points? Do I need to cash in the points first and then can I book through our TA? Just wondering the process so I don’t mess up being able to use our points! Are there only certain 7 days Caribbean or Mexico sailings available for the free week? 

13 more days!! Getting excited and ready to enjoy the Escape again! Doing an Aft-Balcony this time and super excited to see the beautiful views!

That's pretty aggressive touring for one day...I'd say pick your top 3 and do that....

We're planning 2-3 days prior to the cruise....no way we could do all that in one day! We don't sail until Sunday.:D

It's amazing how the rates can differ at different times of the year. I've been looking for hotels for the weekend of 6/8-10 before we sail on the Escape, and Fairfield Inn on W 40th is $323/night average for 2 double beds with AAA discount! I haven't seen anything under $200 and most are closer to $300+ for that weekend. Dang!

Have you booked anything yet? We're on the 6/10 sailing and I have been researching hotels for weeks now and can't seem to find exactly what we are wanting. Just wondering if you have decided on anything yet. Going to check out the Hyatt Place now- haven't looked at that one yet.

Right now, I have planned to fly into Laguardia, but we could fly into Newark as well. It's been hard to find any hotels with 2 queen beds- they are almost all 2 double beds. I have booked at the Renaissance Midtown and Holiday Inn Express Midtown West right now I think. Is it better to stick with a chain hotel or are there some smaller hotels I should look at? I'm not wanting anything super fancy, and it definitely doesn't need to be right in Times Square- just within 5-10 blocks so we can walk around. I just want to show my girls the sights since we're sailing out of NY this time (the boys aren't interested at all).

We're cruising on the NCL Escape to Bermuda out of NY June 10-17, 2018. The girls and I (ages 24, 14, and 13) are wanting to travel to NY on 6/7 or 8th to do some sightseeing prior to leaving on our cruise, so I'm asking for recommendations for hotels on Manhattan near Times Square/Midtown that will be safe for 4 girlies traveling alone. My budget is <$300 a night preferably, which is hard to find. I've searched the threads, but really want to get some firsthand recommendations if possible. My husband and the boys will be flying in late Saturday, just to crash somewhere to get on the ship Sun am, so we may consider changing hotels to stay somewhere closer to the port Sat night, since we'll need 2 rooms. We do have AAA. I've also considered VRBO or AirBnB for a condo or apartment. I would like to take the girls to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial, and probably Statue of Liberty. We'll most likely walk/subway, cab if we need to. Just wanting to get some recommendations- thanks!

Thank you! Two Wheels, I was able to find your review and pics from your stay in 12306, so that's the one I opted for! Now the countdown is on lol.

I would take 12. I had 12306 and it was terrific! It has the "good" layout (separate balcony door in master). We did not have noise or other interference. I wouldn't be concerned about starboard or port.

This is the one I finally decided on. 9 was tempting with the larger balcony and being only 1 floor away from the Waterfront, which we didn't visit at all on our first cruise, but I think 12 will be a happy medium. Honestly, I don't know that you can really go wrong....at least I'll be on a ship in the middle of a beautiful ocean and not at home working! Right?!:cool:

Are the cabin sizes the same from deck to deck and the biggest difference is the size of the balcony? I am still trying to decide which deck we want to choose. Our option today are either PH on deck 9, deck 12 or 13, 14900 (starboard), or deck 15 I think 15280 that we have on hold now. So much info to review to help decide! We have a family of 7 and have done the 2 bed twice now. We're planning to book the Aft PH and a balcony next door for 3 of the older kids.

That's what I was afraid of. Plus with the Garden Cafe directly over, I can imagine the cart rolling, etc noises you might be able to hear. My mom and dad stayed in the Haven courtyard last time and it was the farthest one down the hall toward mid-ship, thinking that would be best and quietest, BUT we didn't think about the ping pong tables being on the other side of the wall (there is a little galley-way between) but you could still hear the ping pong boinging off the walls. So I just want to think of everything before picking a room. I'll re-read the other posts, I must have misread about deck 14. Thank you!

We are looking at cruising on the Escape in June 2018 to Bermuda and were wanting to try the aft-facing balcony this cruise since we'll be in port 3 days and will have a beautiful view. We stayed in the 2 bed Haven last time and loved it- on Deck 17 just steps from the pool and lounge areas. I've been reading forums and see that Deck 9 has the largest balcony. I was hoping for Deck 14 because it is adjoining with the balcony next to it, which would be great for our kids, but in reading, I see that Deck 14 has a different floor plan that I wouldn't want (no tub with the big window over-looking the ocean- don't want to miss out on that!) Anyway, they booked us on Deck 15, and I am worried about the noise we might here through the ceiling with the Garden Cafe on Deck 16 right above. Also with Spice2O right above and the Glow party or other parties, I would assume we'll be able to hear it on our balcony, and possibly in our room. I youtubed videos of the different rooms and balcony sizes, but I haven't seen anyone post or ask about the noise on Deck 15. I just saw posts with the order of sizes by deck. We just booked yesterday, but our TA had just placed rooms on hold to check prices, and so we when actually finalize our booking today, I want to change the rooms he has picked. Anyone know if Deck 15 will be noisy?

Thanks! I know America's Cup has been discussed to bring in more crowds, so I wasn't sure how this race would affect it. Of course, we want to go when the weather and water is warmer and the 2nd week of June works better for our schedule! I can't wait....wish it was this June! :)

We are looking at doing NCL's Escape to Bermuda in June 2018 for our daughter's college graduation. I was trying to decide between June 3-10 or June 10-17. When doing my research, I found that the Newport-Bermuda race starts June 15, 2018, but it looks like it starts in Mass. and ends in Bermuda. If we did the 10-17th, our last day in port would be the 15th. I know nothing about sailing, or the America's Cup, etc, so I'm not sure how much this would affect crowding, beaches, etc for being in port for 3 days. Do you think either week would be fine? Will race people be in Bermuda for the start of the race or do you think they will start coming in after the start of the race (after we would be headed back to NY)? Just wanting to get some opinions before I finalize my booking on Monday. I'm so excited to cruise the Escape again! We did the Haven last year to the Eastern Caribbean with our entire family, and it was one of our best vacations ever! The kids have been begging to cruise on the Escape again ever since. Bermuda looks amazing, has beautiful pictures, and great reviews, so I'm excited to try a new destination!

Such a short day in Tortola! I am struggling to find a good excursion. It's hard to spend $109/pp for what seems to only be about 3 hours on the beach (there are 9 of us!). Blue, what other options are good? I have read and read through these boards trying to see but the Rebel Yell seems to be the one most choose (besides the Baths). I would love to see White Bay. I better get back to my reading....just thought I would "ask the expert" your opinion of some other options.

We are on the Escape in May are our port time is 7am-3pm. That doesn't make for a very long day- I'll have to be pushing our party of 9 off the ship early! We were thinking of doing a charter for snorkeling/sailing- I'm just worried about the time (and the expense) of doing a charter $1200 since we'll really have to be heading back to the ship by 1:30 I would think. Any thoughts? Does anyone else have this early port time? I'm afraid the Baths are going to be packed. It seems like that's what everyone is leaning toward.

We are only in port from 7am-3pm. I wonder if it is possible to do a 1/2 day sail or if it's even worth the time and money? We've been looking at a beach day, as I posted on another post, at Brewer's Bay, but our other consideration is a charter sail since we are a family of 9, I would think we could do a private tour. We all love to snorkel and the Norman Island sounds like something the kids would love to hear about! I emailed to ask, but I would assume if we have to back on the ship by 2:30 at the latest, that we would need our excursion to end by 1:00 so that we could shop a little and get back without rushing. I wish we had longer days in port! It seems like such a quick stop!

Thank you for the info! We are sailing at the end of May/1st week of June and I have been researching what to do in Tortola, as this is a new port for us. We're in port from 7a-3p, so it's a short day. There are 9 of us (3 kids ages 8, 11, 12) and they love to just play at the beach and it looks like Tortola would be a good beach day for us.

We are thinking of doing Coral World/Coki beach in STT, and Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau (still kicking around ideas). Thank you for sharing info about the different beaches! I would love to get off the ship for just a few hours since it's a new port for us, I don't want to miss it, but I don't think we can manage the Baths or ferrying to JVD. I think Brewer's might work out perfectly! I'm waiting for an update on the website that tells you how many ships are in port each day before we make our final decision.

CS is making some bank on this deal! I don't remember if it was this thread above, or another one (I've been reading so many in the last few days), but they could literally rent the same room out multiple times in one day- or even if only once per day, it is still not getting used and they are getting paid for it! Wish I had thought of it....could help fund my cruise addiction. :)

I have the same question....day pass from Resort for a Day or Bahamas Day pass or room at Comfort Suites. There are 9 of us in our party, plus another 3 maybe. I saw on the Comfort Suites website that there is a energy surcharge fee for guests over age 21 and a $ per person housekeeping fee, and a $40 per person charge for guests 3 & 4 (which I assume is in the hotel rate since I put 2 adult and 2 children in my search). Do you really have to pay the housekeeping fee if you never even go to the room? We had planned to check in and out at the same time, as people have mentioned on other posts. I'm just trying to see what the cost will really be to divide by 9 (or 12) and see which way is cheaper and more convenient. I already asked if there was a group rate since we are such a large family, but there wasn't through resort for a day. I just want to see who has actually done the Comfort Suite route and what additional fees they have had to pay. I was looking directly at the hotel website, which is cheaper than say, Expedia, but Expedia doesn't charge any additional fees, it's just a higher rate.

I just looked on the NCL shore excursions and the tram tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids. Darn that they aren't cheaper like they are on other ships! (I'm going to look at the Paradise Point website right now to see if they have a child discount- that could make it cheaper for me if all tickets are $21 each).....well I checked ridetheview dot com, but don't see any prices listed at all, so I can't answer my own question. Anyone that has done it know if there are kid prices?