Coastalbreezes

Yes we both have Free at Sea however we booked this trip over a year ago and my TA said internet was not part of the promo at the time. I have to do some more digging...

My friend and I are on a cruise in September. I called my travel agent about us adding this new promo to our reservation and he told us that yes, we can get it BUT because this is her first cruise on NCL and on the original booking she did not have any internet minutes, she'd have to pay an additional $306 to upgrade internet. This makes no sense to me and seems stupid.

You can try booking online but if not available find out where they are taking dinner reservations as soon as you board (usually near or in the Atrium) and you can make your arrangements.

On my most recent cruises acqua panna was included with P+.

What I think is poor planning for the new terminal is that for Haven guests, you are sent upstairs to the "VIP/Haven" check-in. After, you go to a rather expansive Haven waiting area which is lovely. BUT, once boarding begins, you have to go back downstairs then have a long, long walk to the opposite end of the terminal passing multiple waiting areas. Why wouldn't they have put Haven in that more forward area downstairs in the terminal? Makes no sense to me.

I thought with P+ you could only get full bottles of wine at dinner? Is getting a bottle also at lunch new? I may have been missing out!

Encore is the least friendly ship for smokers. The outside smoking room on deck 8 is always packed and there is no ventilation. Cigarettes are not allowed in the humidor (cigars only). There is also a dedicated smoking area on deck 19 for Haven guests.

Thank you for a great and thorough review. I'll be on Sky in a forward suite in August. Is Efren still concierge? Did you find the bars and wine list fully stocked or were items missing?

FYI: I've been on several sailings this year (Escape, Joy, Breakaway) and all of them did have the Latitudes gathering.

That happened to me a few months ago and after double-checking I had verified my phone and email and watched the video etc I still couldn't get it to 100%. I ended up calling tech support with my reservation number and within minutes, problem solved. The number is 866-625-1160.

While the Wines Around the World Tasting is currently unavailable, ships that have The Cellars wine bar do offer several different tastings during your cruise. Cost is approximately $20+ pp and very enjoyable.

No more buckets.

My friends who were on Joy last week saw pallets of Coke products being loaded on board at their first stop in Virginia. NCL has had an exclusive contract with Pepsi for years and I believe this was a temporary fix.

Generally there are 70s, 80s and 90s parties, a Latin fest, glow party and a "Dress Up or Not" night.

No more chef's table but I saw this article (from March 2022) about the Meet the Winemaker dinner series. Not sure if they are really hosting them again but it would be fantastic. In the past I've attended a few. Several courses with wine pairings with the winemaker. Cost was around $75pp and well worth it. https://www.ncl.com/travel-blog/norwegian-meet-the-winemaker-cruise-series

For a 7-day cruise the Premium Plus upgrade charge is $243.00. I always use my OBC for it and upgrade as soon as I board. Note you are only allowed to upgrade on day one of the cruise.

There is also a nightly Solo Travelers Meet-Up usually at one of the bars. You'll see the time listed in the Freestyle. I'd suggest going the first night and possibly make some dining arrangements. I sail alone most of the time and never feel uncomfortable dining solo.

I use some of mine to upgrade to unlimited internet.

What I'd also really like to see happen is dropping the requirement for all crew to wear masks. They are all double (and some triple vaxxed) same as passengers.

Just off the Joy and I can confirm that there is an enclosed smoking area with quite a few machines and several tables. We found it unbelievable that every single night, there were non-smokers in there actually complaining about players who smoked. Ridiculous.

A full lobster (steamed or grilled) is on the Ocean Blue menu with a $25 upcharge to your dining package. It's roughly 1-1/4 lbs.

There really is no need to tip on the first day. Being in the Haven, you should expect great service. I always bring thank you cards and on the last day, present cash tips and a personalized note to my butler, steward and concierge.

I've attended several Latitude Parties since the restart. Usually it is held early afternoon of the first sea day and time/location is announced in the Freestyle. It's basically a pitch for Cruise Next but also celebrates all the different Latitude levels with free drinks and small passed appetizers. Every one I have gone to was attended by senior officers (the captain being there only a few times); there is a band or duo playing music and it lasts about an hour. No dress code.

I called at 7:00 a.m. eastern time (as soon as their phone lines opened) 833-570-2594. Waited on hold only about 15 minutes, gave my pre-authorization number and was emailed final approval in minutes. Note that the instructions are not that clear so before you print it out, you must initial the form so it can be time/date stamped.

I've sailed Escape 30 times so it's #1 for me.