twoznuff2

On 12/24/2023 at 8:12 PM, 1cruise2U said:

Just checking on response on this one

On 1/4/2024 at 2:18 PM, ChaseTheDream said:

Did you book through the website, or email the hotel? I looked at the Hotel Raffaello website, and when I clicked the book now button, it went to another site. Just making sure I am actually booking with the hotel. #FirstTimer

I booked on the Best Western site.

On 12/24/2023 at 8:12 PM, 1cruise2U said:

Staying Pre- cruise in Rome does anyone have any firsthand info on Hotel Raffaello - Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. They have a room with a terrace that in picture looks cute.

Just checking on response on this one

Stayed there in August 2023. Room with Terrace. Priced fairly inexpensive in my opinion. It was a smallish room (normal European) with a decent size terrace (no special view). Nice included breakfast, wonderful, helpful staff and great walkable location to most tourist sites. I would absolutely stay there again.

I do not kjnow what cell carier you have but i believe most do not cover the "cell at sea" while on board at sea/ ATT offers a international lan for 10 a day but the cruise plan is seperate an limited.

Well something is not being comunicated correctly. This was my chat with NCL just now ( we have a Med cruise coming up so I am interested in this topic)

Megan (5/11/2023, 1:46:16 PM): Hello laurie. Thank you for chatting with Norwegian Cruise Line. My name is Megan. I would be happy to assist you today. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:46:23 PM): How may I assist you today, Laurie? 
laurie (5/11/2023, 1:47:23 PM): Hello, I have been reading some information on a cruise board that says NCL is not serving or selling alcohol in the UK ports and some Italy ports. Is this correct? 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:48:28 PM): One moment while I find out for sure. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:50:14 PM): That is incorrect we serve alcohol in all ports of call. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:50:30 PM): I just wanted to double check that nothing had changed, and I did confirm this. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:50:37 PM): Is there anything else I can assist you with today? 
laurie (5/11/2023, 1:52:07 PM): huh.. someone posted a picture of a sign that said due to southhampton laws they could not serve or sell alcohol. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:52:25 PM): I completely understand but I did confirm that there are currently no port limitations on where we can serve alcohol. 
laurie (5/11/2023, 1:52:40 PM): Thank you. 
Megan (5/11/2023, 1:52:46 PM): You're welcome.  Is there anything else I can assist you with today? 
laurie (5/11/2023, 1:53:01 PM): all is good thanks 

Staying Pre- cruise in Rome does anyone have any firsthand info on Hotel Raffaello - Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. They have a room with a terrace that in picture looks cute.

Thank you

Does anyone have a picture of the Starbucks menu? Is it the drinks only or do they serve breakfast sanwiches and bagles and such as well?

I just did a chat with NCL and this was my answer.

Megan (1/10/2023, 3:31:19 PM): Hello LAURIE. Thank you for chatting with Norwegian Cruise Line. My name is Megan. I would be happy to assist you today. 
LAURIE (1/10/2023, 3:32:13 PM): I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THAT HASUKI OR THE OTHER TEPANYAKI RESTURANT IS STILL INCLUDED IN THE DINNING PACKAGE? 
Megan (1/10/2023, 3:32:34 PM): All specialty dining restaurants are included in the Specialty Dining Package, Laurie. 
Megan (1/10/2023, 3:32:44 PM): Can you please advise what ship you will be sailing on? 
LAURIE (1/10/2023, 3:33:48 PM): WILL BE SAILING ON THE VIVA IN AUGUST. i WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT  IS NOT A "DINNER SHOW" 
LAURIE (1/10/2023, 3:35:31 PM): HELLO?? 
Megan (1/10/2023, 3:36:31 PM): I am still here, Laurie. Please be patient with me as I am also assisting other guests. 
Megan (1/10/2023, 3:37:09 PM): Teppanyaki is not considered a dinner show. 
LAURIE (1/10/2023, 3:37:19 PM): PERFECT. THANK YOU 

38 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Anyone that really studies cruising has been following the industry trends for the past many years.  The cruise strategy needed to change as the cruising environment evolved.  I would like to break the past few years into categories based on how the Covid virus affected all our strategies relating to cruising. My goal in this op-ed and all my writings is to provide information that MIGHT “improve some folks over all cruising experience”.  It does not work for everyone; however, it might assist some. Please add your thoughts/comments/posts with the intention of helping fellow cruisers enjoy their cruising life a bit better. Let’s look at these times:

 

1.      Pre-Covid-19

2.      When Cruising Restarted During Covid-19

3.      Post Covid-19

 

Pre-Covid: Before we knew that the Covid virus was a real thing.  The cruise industry was on the rise.  Ships were selling out consistently and/or were cruising at least at a very high guest capacity.  This created some obstacles to our enjoyment of our cruise vacation.  Some of those obstacles of cruising are listed, but not all. See below:

·        Embarkment: I hated the embarkment and the registration procedure.  I felt like I was at the Airport, on the busiest travel day of the year.  We would wait in lines for sometimes over an hour. It reminded me of what it was like when visiting a Disney World Attraction. I just to joke, “Are we at Magic Mountain Yet?”

·        Main Pool: The legend of the “Pool Chair Hogs” is NOT a myth.  Folks would wake up early and place personal items on a pool lounge chair to reserve it for the ENTIRE day.  Some would be on the chair all day and others would hardly ever show up.  The notion of sharing wealth was never a thought for these folks.  If you moved their items and they eventually showed up, it could lead to potential confrontation on our vacation, which is what most people want to avoid. This need to avoid stress and confrontation on vacation was the “Chair Hogs” greatest weapon. Some guests would have professionally made signage to reserve their chairs. 

·        Buffet: The buffet was always crowded, rarely did folks wash their hands.  Both adults and children touched food with their hands and sometimes did not put that food on their plates.  It was a health and safety hazard, just waiting to happen.  Rules and policies were rarely followed. The crew were afraid to enforce policies because their status would go down with any complaint. Guests complained about other guests all the time, and nothing seemed to ever change.

·        Shows:  The ships were so crowded that reservations were needed for the large production shows.  Still a member of a big party would hold entire rows, their friends and family would not show up.  Another example of “Chair Hogs”. I always felt bad for the person left alone holding that row.  They always looked embarrassed.

·        Bars/Lounges: Any place that had alcoholic drinks was super crowded.  You had to stand for quite a while, in line, to get a drink.  The staff at some of the bars would attempt to service everyone, however it was impossible.  My wife once had to wait for over 45 minutes just to be acknowledged at the pool bar with the result of not even getting her drink.  She was upset to say the least.  I like a good husband solved that issue, but it should never have happened.

·        Small Entertainment Venues:  Folks waited, in some cases over an hour in line, to get in and get a seat.  The Cavern Club is a great example of this type of situation. Then folks would come in one entrance walk through seeing no seating available, then show their frustration just to walk out the other side. Walking in, seeing a crowd, and walking out without making a scene is the proper thing to do.  It seems on cruise vacations; manners sometimes are left home.

·        Room Cleaning:  The room stewards worked so hard and had so many cabins that you would leave your cabin for hours and when you got back, the room was not done. You would leave again so you did not interfere with the cleaning of your cabin.  Cabin cleaning should always be seamless to the guest. Staffing in the cleaning department seemed to be an issue and it was noticed by all.

·        Excursions:  Many would sell out.  When you went to the public area for your excursions, the offloading was never quick, always frustrating, and disorganized.  The worst part was waiting on the buses to take you to your destination.  It was another wait, sometimes for hours.  I remember one where it was a VERY EXPENSIVE beach “Over the Water Cabana” that was all inclusive.  It showed the time on the excursion was 8 hours.  After all the hurry up and wait, very long and uncomfortable bus ride full of confusion.  We only had just over 4 hours.  If I had known that I would not have taken the excursion.

The list goes on and on.  It all had to do with huge crowds of vacationers eager to have a great time and NCL short staffing.  If you did not have a strategy, you would get more and more frustrated as a guest.  Add the constant crowds, it became uncomfortable.

 

Pre-Covid Solution:  This is why most major Cruise Lines Brands had special VIP areas like NCL Haven.  Guests experiencing the above-mentioned inconveniences wanted an improved cruise vacation experience. For those that could not afford the sometimes-excessive premium for the Haven area, they created and developed the Vibe Beach Club and the Thermal Spa which was a far less expensive option.  The cruise companies knew how we guests felt and leveraged it to gain higher profit margins with add-ons.  These VIP or Exclusive, usually adult only areas would sell out well prior to the rest of the ship. Here are some approaches to solve the pre-Covid issues.

·        Embarkment: As we know, when you book the Haven, you have priority embarkment and dis-embarkment.  You have a service elevator to instantly get off the ship for excursions.  NCL even had an option for those non-Haven Guests to have priority embarkment privileges at a cost.  If this aspect of your vacation was important to you, then pay a small amount to have priority boarding.  Not ideal but a solution.  Cruise Brand Loyalty programs often have priority boarding as well.

·        Main Pool: The Haven comes to the rescue yet again.  The Haven’s own private hot tubs and pools.  Yet often, these areas would be taken over by families with children due to the 3-4^th passenger sails free program. This made the Haven Adults Only Sundeck a benefit.  Yet when the Haven was sold out, this private Sundeck was still crowded.  Just not like the main pool.  On the other hand, the Vibe Beach Club was rarely crowded even when sold out.  Both Haven and Vibe became part of my strategy to improve my experience.  On my upcoming non-Haven cruise, I have pre-ordered a Cabana in the Vibe Beach Club for the week.

·        Buffet: You had to pick and choose the time when to go to the buffet.  That decision reduced the frustration of huge crowds a bit.  You could also go to the Main Dining Room or 24/7 restaurant as an alternative.  You just had to think about it ahead of time. The buffet was an issue because of its popularity. Yet it seemed everyone still complained about it.  I say, pick and choose your moments if you don’t like crowded food venues.

·        Shows:  Booking your show times early was the order of business. NCL usually allowed this online however sometimes, it was only available when you got onboard. You just had to do it as quickly as you could. That is a strategy that not everyone thinks about.

·        Bars: The only solutions here was unfortunately to make friends with the bartenders and servers.  My plan was to find my favorite bar, tip heavy on day one as well as make friends.  When I got to the bar and it was always crowded, all I had to do was make “eye contact”.  At the pool for my wife, it was much the same but with the wandering servers. Find a good one, tip them and make eye contact. For those that say, “We should not have to do this.” You are right.  You have a choice.  Get frustrated or find a solution.

·        Small Entertainment Venues: Some claim the Haven Staff would walk Haven Guest into the SMALL venues prior to the door being open.  This has never happened to me, ever.  Yet some claim it is perk of the Haven.  The real solution was standing room only in the back of the room and making sure you bring your drink with you. Bar service is tough at these venues. If you think NCL should have more show times?  Hold your breath before that happens. 

·        Room Cleaning:  Turn on the “Clean My Room” light and don’t expect to come back to your cabin for at least 3 hours.  If you see your room steward in the hall, smile, say hello and let them know you are out.  This time frame due to the high capacity of guests also eliminated those delightful towel sculptures. Shame, I loved those things. The key to a Room Steward is kindness and understanding. 

·        Excursions:  Book what you want early and pay for it online. That is the general rule. If you think you want to cancel it for a refund, know the rules.   I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to book the NCL Private Island Beach Villa, and they would be completely sold out even months before the cruise sailed. No strategy and you could miss your favorite excursion.

 

During the Height of Covid-19: The cruise industry stopped in its tracks as we all know.  When they opened again, it was still with Covid being a HUGE fear for some.  The first few cruises were interesting, to say the least.  Our strategy had to change from fully sold-out cruise ships to 25% to 50% capacity.  Like everything else in the world, some good and bad happened. You would have thought that a ship with 25% guest capacity would be a dream.  Sometimes, a dream is a nightmare. I went on a luxury brand during this time, and it was one of the worst cruises of my life.  Why, no people.  The service, food, suite, and ship were outstanding.  Lack of people made it boring.

·        Embarkment: Much less people so the crowds were far fewer.  The issue was the need to take Covid-19 tests at the pier which was not well organized.    Add to that the different destinations would have special rules that could change daily.  The Bahamas was a great example of that. The wait at the port to see if you were positive or negative was nerve racking.  I was always the one still waiting while my wife or family was already approved laughing at me from the sidelines. Then your cruise experience could change once onboard based on those ships based on the last week covid positive guests.  You might be required to wear a mask in public places or when not eating.  That created uncertainty. It also created guests complaining openly. Not ideal.

·        Main Pool: The issue of getting a pool lounge chair was now a non-issue.  On our first cruise out when the ships started to cruise again, we sometimes were the only guest at the pool.  I hated it and started to appreciate the crowded pools I used to think were awful.   Where are the “Chair Hogs” when you need one. We were docked next to a mega-ship; we were on a luxury brand.  My wife heard deck music and pointed out young people in the pool area.  She said to me, “I bet you wish you were on that ship, don’t you?” She was right. I never would have thought I would feel this way. Interesting.

·        Buffet: Vast improvement in quality, service, and cleanliness.  The crew would put food on your plate and bring it to your table.  You had to have your hands sanitized before entering any food venue.  The waste from over filling your place was greatly reduced because the portions were done on your behalf. Never an issue finding a table.  No mask, no food was the rule, and it was enforced. I remember eating and forgetting to put my mask on to get more food.  I was stopped instantly.  I happily complied.

·        Shows:  Most got cancelled randomly due to a covid outbreak with the entertainers. When they ran, the area/venue was wide open.  No reservations are required. The lack of guest had to be very hard on the cast.

·        Bars/Lounges: Never an issue getting a drink or having a seat at the bar.  The same thing holds true for the pool bar/area. If drinking on a cruise was a priority, you would be in 7^th Heaven.

·        Small Entertainment Venues: Funny, they were just as crowded, and the same strategy works for this time as it did for the pre-covid time. People still in the middle of a show would walk in, talking.  They would walk through the crowd making a scene just to exit the other door.  Some things never change.

·        Room Cleaning:  The rooms were cleaned immediately.  The Room Stewards were always available.  Like night and day. Initially most cruise ships were fully staffed even with low guest capacity.  Kind of nice for guests, not enough gratuities for the crew.  I felt bad for the crew and did my best to over tip.  We are so fortunate in our country and these folks were out of work for a long while.

·        Excursions:  This was an issue.  Some ports were closed, and others never opened.  Countries outside of the US had much different rules about covid than we did.  Very restricted. Add to this weather issues. The empty ship became the port which after not cruising for years, was ok for that first cruise.

 

Post-Covid:  I must clarify that there will never really be a post-covid.  It is still here just like the flu season.  It is like luggage; you have it forever. When I say, Post-Covid It means where we are today and in our near future.  The ships are almost completely sold out again, the prices are higher especially in the areas like NCL Haven, guests are still using their Future Cruise Credits, and Vibe Beach Club gets sold out quickly.  The need for Covid-19 testing at the port is gone for NOW but it might come back if there is an outbreak in the future.  What is the difference from pre-Covid?

·        Embarkment: The lines are back even though no Covid testing is needed. What makes it work better is 21 days prior to embarkment, you can do your online registration.  Currently, NCL gives your boarding time then.  This policy allows for a much better registration process at the ports, especially the ports outside of the new NCL Miami terminal.  As always, Haven allows you to board anytime. You can still buy early boarding and high loyalty members have priority. My plan when not in Haven is to get the earliest time for boarding, sit right in front of the boarding door.  Problem solved. To do this, I wait online for the portal to open for my cruise and do my online check-in within minutes.  I always get the earliest time for boarding and checking in.  I don’t mind waiting in a chair at the port. 

·        Main Pool: Packed and the “Chair Hogs” are back in full force.  The difference is most pool crew members are better at seeing a chair not used and taking the personal stuff away, holding it at a desk for the guest when they return. Now if a “Chair Hog” complains, the crew members are not penalized. The cruise brands have greatly improved this, but it is still there.

·        Buffet: Yow can now put your food on your plates like before, there are still areas where the crew will do it for you.  Everyone must sanitize their hands which is one of the best parts of Covid aftermath.  If someone touches the food, they are instructed not to do so, and the food touched is tossed.  That is all personal observations, not hearsay.

·        Shows:  The shows are packed again.  Reservations are needed.  Get them early.  As before, the Haven Guest have their own private area for the large shows on Orchestra left.  With a little planning it is not an issue. Strategy eliminates most of our frustration.

·        Bars/Lounges: Busy again, however I have noticed more staff.  Interesting that in the Haven Bar, there is a new breed of “Chair Hogs”.  They are the folks that are sitting at the Haven Bar most of the cruise.  Day or night, they are there.  I solved this problem or better stated, NCL solved this problem for me.  They made the Haven so expensive I can’t afford it anymore. I shifted to the Vibe Beach Club which can now be booked pre-cruise.  The bar there is NEVER crowded.  I also love the bar in between Cagney’s and the French Restaurant sometimes called the “A List” bar.  The name of this bar changes from cruise to cruise.  The only issue is it opens at 5:00 PM.

·        Small Entertainment Venues: Nothing changes.  Some things are always the same.  My challenge is to convince my wife to join me knowing we might be standing.  I fail more than I succeed.

·        Room Cleaning:  Back to waiting a few extra hours for the room to be done.  The difference now is you completely know what to expect and your vacation is better with people vs. an empty ship.  That is not everyone’s opinion, but it is mine. I love watch “Mr. Sexy Legs” with so many people in the pool area that you can’t see the deck.  More fun that way.

·        Excursions: We must pre-book our excursions well before the cruise.  I personally have done most of the cruise excursions in the Caribbean. I am not a fan, and we usually simply get off the ship, hire a car, rent a golf cart/scooter, or take a walk where it is safe.  Our upcoming trip to the Mediterranean, all bets is off. I will have pre-plan to a max our excursions. It will be my first and last trip to Europe in my lifetime.  

 

Conclusion:  Where we used to simply buy our cruise and go with little or no strategy.  We NOW, or should I say in my family. I NOW think everything through. I must also say, where prior I would always be in the NCL Haven, which I love.  Due to budget restrictions, the Haven is not on the table so to speak.  This creates a strategy that focuses more on “Haven-Lite” experiences.  The Vibe Beach Club picks up most of the slack along with the new, “Free at Sea PLUS” package just introduced.

·        Air/Ground Arrangements: We always do these ourselves so we can control our flights/days/times/brands.  We also always fly the day before and stay at a hotel near the port. Almost missed a cruise once and you are a believer when that happens.  In two weeks, we have a cruise out of the Port of New Orleans.  We can drive there yet we still will travel the day before.  Our luck, our car breaks down. If we fly in, we usually take an Uber to the port and a Taxi to the Airport.  Taxis at the port are always available and easy to find.

·        Reservations: Reservations are coordinated for dining and shows; meals in specialty restaurants are matched to the day’s itinerary.  All is done as soon as the ability to make a reservation is provided. When available, I download the menus for the Specialty Restaurants. I created a homemade Excel Calendar many years ago and simply re-used it.

·        Check-In: We do the online check-in the moment it is available to get the earliest boarding time. We park ourselves by the boarding door.  Now it is for convenience vs a requirement.  Prior it was to RUN to get a Vibe Beach Club Pass.  The Vibe pass is easier now by pre-cruise purchase option.

·        Vibe Beach Club: We have now pre-booked a Vibe Beach Club Cabana.  The Vibe is now the center of all our activities when not in the Haven.  It is also the first place we go when we board.  We bring a change of clothes with us on in our backpack.  Vibe has also been a great please to meet new friends much more casually. You tend to see them every day.

·        Premium PLUS Drink Package: My wife and I aways get the Premium Plus Drink Package which now is part of the “Free at Sea Plus” add on making it easier. I wrote a CruiseCritic.com OP-ED on the Premium Plus Drink Package giving all my many reasons.  The OP-ED is very popular so give it a look.

·        Excursions: All excursions are now pre-booked and paid for in advance.  The main strategy is to recognize if it is a tender or docked at the port.  That makes a difference for time you will be on your excursion. If tendering happens, I am much less likely to leave the ship.

·        Main Pool: We leverage the pool during port days.  It is still somewhat crowded, however far less. The same holds true for spa treatments which we limit due to excessive markup. 

·        Other Pre-Pays: Gratuities and third-party travel insurance that covers trip interruption/cancellations are pre-purchased. On Travel Insurance.  On the last three (3) cruises, I had claims on all the trips.  One claim will pay the premium for travel insurance for the rest of my life.  My wife got covid which forced us to cancel the cruise 8-days prior. Check with your Health Insurance Provider on your exact coverage when cruising.  My provider only covers me in the United States.

·        Special Packing:  I have a round power strip that is made for travel.  It has US and USB plugs. I put it on my bedside with extra-long USB multiple chargers for phones and other devices. Years ago, I bought rechargeable portable hand fans that are a must.  I have a habit of making a goodie basket with these items for each cruiser.  My wife gets upset with me because she asks, “How many full-sized bottles of sunscreen, travel packs of q-tips/Tylenol, and lip balm do we need?” On the actual cruise all I hear is, “Does anyone know where the sunscreen is?”  The life of a planner is a lonely one.

·        Journey Document:  This is my first reference for my Journey Document in this op-ed. Some folks see the excessive details, number of pages (usually 20 pages), information covered and preparation.  They say, “It is vacation, just let things happen as they will.  Chill out.”  I must disagree.  I have done that and missed out on things, activities and increased my stress.  Now everything is handled that can be reasonably thought out.  This leaves situations that no one can control or plan for as the unknown.  My experience is much less messed up and from the moment I check in, my mind can relax.  All the heavy lifting is over.   I can’t leave this topic of the Journey Document without sharing how it helped me in the past.  Here are a few situations:

                 Spa Treatments Pre-Cruise Sale:  I got an invitation to book 3 or more spa treatments and get 20% off.  I hopped on it and booked four.  Two for my wife and two for me. We were on the Celebrity Equinox at the time.  When I got onboard, the Spa person asked if I wanted to book some spa treatments and I explained what I had already done.  She said, “That does not work on this cruise!”  I showed her the correspondences, reservations, and receipts.  I also called the main company that called the ship. It was handled in 15 minutes because I was prepared.

                 Drink Packages: my family of four adults were traveling in the same suite.  We all had the normal Premium Drink Package that comes with the NCL Free at Sea perk.  I found a way to get paid for the upgrade for ONLY my wife and I for the Premium PLUS Drink Package.  You had to use your Future Cruise Credit, have it pre-approved and have your Travel Agent get it done.  Not easy but I did it.  When onboard, on day one, my kids ordered drinks.  I said on my onscreen portfolio they were charged for their drinks.  I went to Guest Services, with my Journey Document and showed the information.  It was also fixed in 15 minutes.

                Other Areas: Specialty restaurant reservations, special amenities requested from pre-cruise Haven Desk and the list goes on.  All supported with documentation because of my home-made Journey Document.

 

The fact is I over prepare, and I know it.  I in no way am suggesting every does what I do.  Instead, I am trying to give some heads up on areas that guests can take to make their cruises a more enhanced experience.  The population of CruiseCritic.com will add more areas as comments to this post.  That is why there is a community.  I hope it helps both the first-time cruisers and those that cruise a lot. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment!

Any chance you want to share your Journey Document as a sample idea for some of us less experienced cruisers?

Sounds like a good idea but what about people who have already had Covid and are past the contagious/sick stage. It is still possible to test positive for 3 months after you have had covid.

This is what was on the NCL page shows as of 4/9/20 @ 1600hrs

Specialty Dining Package

My son proposed to his girlfriend on our cruise in October 2019 and had the whole thing photographed with the perspective photo people. They did an amazing job. Its a little pricey for the photos but... we were very happy with what we received.

So just noticed the "promo" is 30 % off again (3rd time) since Christmas.  Come on NCL lets get the prices back to a "normal" rate. 😡

Sorry just had to vent. I want to book my next cruise but the prices have been SOOOOOO high since they started this "sale".

50 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

I guess my point is that if someone is "at an age" where they aren't interested in the amusement type attractions, then why not look at more refined options like Celebrity or Holland?   NCL is all about that stuff.  Why settle for a smaller, older, and less equipped ship when there are clearly lines that cater better to people like this?

I wont say DH and I are "at an age" but we do not care to do the slides, go carts or laser tag. We do like both the Jewel class ships and the breakaway class. The breakaway class has lots of place to dine and we love all the entertainment (music, shows) that those ships offer. I am not so "old" i want to be in bed by 10pm. and have nothing to in the evenings.

On our cruise last month when we went to Cagney's, the waiter asked us if we knew "how the Specialty dinning worked". 2 people (My adult children) in our party had never cruised with NCL. So the waiter then explained how you get I entree, 2 sides and a desert. I told my kids just order what they want. They ordered 3 sides each and we were never questioned or charged. I think it is to "encourage" less waste.

39 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

You may not bring any beverage onboard. Except for wine, where you pay a $15 corkage fee for 750ml bottles. 

Thank you. I had a blonde moment and was only thinking of how I would switch to Sparkling cider for the kids at new years. Didn't even think about the no drink on board rule.  

Does anyone know if the Non alcoholic wine is a sparkling cider like Martinellis? Does NCL even have sparkling cider or should I just bring a bottle on?

• 
  View Photos

  O'Sheehan's

  Dine on Irish pub classics while sipping your favorite draft beer, all in a casual atmosphere open 24 hours a day. There's no charge to dig into your favorite comfort foods such as Shepherd’s Pie, Fish n’ Chips, and Reuben on Rye, or throw some darts while taking in a sports game.

  • Price Per Person: Complimentary

  •  

  DECK8

  CUISINE24-HOUR EAT

•  

Hello, I thought I already did a post for this but I cant find it so sorry if this is a duplicate. I was wondering if anyone has any recent menus from the Jewel. Trying to figure out if there are any differences between what we had on the Bliss in May and what to expect for the Jewel this October. I know we do not have some the specialty restaurants such as Los lobos and Food Republic. Anyone know if there are differences between the Local and O'sheehans?

I used my app/gift card on the Bliss in May without a problem.

Does anyone have any recent menus from the Jewel? 

I use this style( see attachment) on the newer ships that have RFID cards and do a hole punch and use the lanyard only for the older ships like the Jewel.

Vera Bradley Zip Id Case and Lanyard.html

Thank you all for the response back. The tax amount is about what I thought it would be and I now remember that a lot of the bars were closed while in Victoria. I hope the bars are open on departure day in Vancouver.I guess we shall see. 

We are sailing out of Vancouver. On sail away day will we be able to take advantage of our drink package tax free? When I sailed in May on the Bliss we were charged a "tax" the whole time we were in port. If anyone know I am curious to plan ahead for the extra expense if there is a charge.

My reservation for October to Hawaii from Vancouver was also affected. My OBC didn't show and it was no longer showing as a Past Guest Perk.  I called my travel agent and she said it was a glitch since NCL was updateing thier progam. I called her again today and had her send me a copy of the amenities reciept. She then waited on hold with NCL to finally get me my $200 OBC. Definitely, agree you need to check your booking.