poohdreaming

Why would this be a question on here? Not related to cruising and the fact that it expire 2 days after you cruise. The only reason you would be concerned is if you need to drive home and it takes more than 2 days. Please renew your DL card now before you cruise if possible. If not, then do so asap once you get back from your vacation. What bostwick girl said is true. You should have received a notice in the mail. Even if you did not and you know that your DL is about to expire, you should go renew it.

Thank you for your review.

If possible, could you answer if the smoke in the casino was horrible or give your opinion. I read some reviews that the smoke from the casino travelled/filled up the air from deck 4-5.

It is best to give Carnival a call. If they have a Casino department, then call the Casino department to ask. All I know is that non-refundable deposits cannot be refunded. Did you already paid the cruise in full? You can call to ask and to switch it to a new cruise date. Probably would have to pay a penalty fee. As for offers showing up in your account, I am not so sure. Have you sailed with Carnival before? It really depends on how much you play on the cruise. You said the got one casino offer and this is from a land casino.

Hello OP. Whenever you have a chance, hope you will share your review or say how you like the cruise on Venezia. Was the smoke from the Casino horrible? I read some reviews that mentioned about the smoke. Thanks.

Even if reservations are made, still have to be in the same line as everyone else. So, what was the point of having one? No priority or to just walk straight in. The amount of wait time depends on the time. If it at a perk time like 5 pm, it will be very crazy. All the MDRs offer off the same menus, it just that of course the room/layout and colors are different. I believe Taste and Savor are about the same in room size. But the other one of course is much more bigger.

@Smitheroo - If you are cruising alone, it is best for you to go to the MDR on the first day of the cruise. There are some ways around of not having a tray if you want to go to the buffet. First, you go get your drink to pour into your bottle (water bottle) and then put it at a table and then go for food. No one will touch your water bottle. Some NCL staffs might walk around with a tray of juices to offer to cruisers in the buffet area.

Jan-April in the NYC - it really depends on where the cruise is going. NCL cruised these ports so many times that they need to make adjustment. How many times they missed the original port? For example, last year, one of the cruise ship was supposed to sail to Bermuda, but because of cold winter, it was redirected to a cruise to nowhere but a stop in Bahamas at night because the ship needed to dock somewhere before going back to NYC.

The menu can always change and no one know for sure of the menu until they put it out on that day. People always make change to their specialty restaurant reservation. On a cruise, you do what you like. For example, a person can decide to eat at the specialty restaurant as well as to eat at whatever the buffet or the MDR is having.

Lanyard or in your phone wallet or whatever work. If you do not mind wearing it around your neck during the whole cruise, you would use the lanyard. If you take pictures, this lanyard will be in it unless you take it off for pictures. Some people don't mind taking pictures with their lanyard. Some people just find it more easily to take out their key card to use for drink, etc. If you do not have a drink package or dining package, and do not do shopping, then it can just go in your phone wallet/pocket.

7 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

That’s great to hear. (Assigned dining is certainly a major difference between MSC and NCL!) Did you have any choice in the assigned dining time, or in the size of your table?   Do you happen to know if a couple could request (and be given) a two-top? 

 

It really depends on level. By level, I mean like Bella, etc. If you selected Bella, you are only assigned one dining time I believe. If others, you can choose.

9 hours ago, AlmiranteChurruca said:

Enjoying your very comprehensive (and hilarious) review very much. Maybe while still onboard you can do some research on the topic of the main dining room being open or not for lunch on embarkation day. I have already read quiet a few comments with the answer being a resounding "NO", but I am still not really sure about that info. My doubts arise from the fact that I have cruised several times with MSC (European itineraries only) and the MDR room has always been open upon embarkation. It is also true that the crew will always direct everybody to the buffet, but having previous knowledge me and my party have always taken the path to the MDR and have always enjoyed a nice and relaxing meal there far away from the buffet madness. Wondering if maybe rules are different for US itineraries. One very clear example of different onboard policies within the same company would be the 5$ surcharge for a second entree which, so far, does not apply in Europe. On my last Xmas World Europa cruise I could order as much and as many times as I wanted to. May sound silly to many, but how the cruise kicks off on its very first day is most relevant to me and I regard that very first relaxed onboard meal as a most rewarding part of the overall experience.

100%+ no MDR rooms are open on the 1st day of the cruise. I guess this is different than Europe or other places other than USA. I believe the $5 surcharge for a second entrée started later. On my previous cruise with MSC, it did not started this at all. I guess it was to prevent cruisers from wasting a bunch of food. This part depends on how people look at it. Some like it and some does not. For example, if s/he is not full or wanted to try another entrée.

On 1/14/2024 at 6:26 PM, kapeaccruiser said:

Can anybody let me know what time you can get on ship, and what time cabins are ready?  Thank you

Usually around 11 am and the time of cabins to be ready vary from one cruise to the next one. If you carried your luggage on with you, there is usually a place to leave your luggage.

Yes, on NCL - MDR is open for lunch on embarkation day. Staffs will tell all guests to go to the buffet, but if you are a previous cruiser with NCL or read on here, MDR rooms are opened for lunch.

For your first question - technically no for fire safely and they have rules put in place.

As for your second question - it really depends on your taste and what you wanted for dinner for that specific night. Sure, you can ask others for opinion. You should look into seeing the restaurant menus as well as pictures to see what you might like. Cagney's should have been good. Onda and Le Bistro is also good.

1 minute ago, hallux said:

For that you may be looking at the Bliss, Joy, Encore or a Prima class ship, they all have observation lounges...

Yes, thank you for saying this. I know these cruise ships have an observation lounge. I was just mentioning it that one NCL cruise ship does not represent all other ones.

Speaking of food - it is either hit or miss. If cold food mean room temperature, then I agree with you.

The op would have to define cold food/poor quality of food. Op stopped sailing on Carnival since 2016. Perhaps should give Carnival another try. It been a long time that perhaps things have changed on Carnival. Op should continue to find the correct cruise line. Mentioning of RCL, hopefully RCL will have something for the OP to like. As a matter of fact, the news is talking about their new cruise ship: Icon of the sea.

I have been on some NCL cruises (Gem/Breakaway). For some reasons, I disliked the Getaway the most of all the NCL cruise ships I cruised with. I dislike the layout of the ship. For example, NCL Gem have the spinnaker lounge which I enjoyed.

Hope you will like MSC. The different between NCL and MSC with dining is MSC, you do not have to line up. Some people mentioned that MSC have good pizza in the buffet. Yeah, wished that MSC have more options for 1st day on board ... only the buffet is open. Looking forward to your review. Good luck and have fun.

Even if you made reservations, still had to wait in line among all other cruisers. The only thing is if you have a group, then they might walk you in or less waiting time.

19 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

Yesterday we started talking with four 20 something women at an event.  This was their first time cruising and didn't know what un refundable OBC was.  They thought the $100 pp would go back on their cc .  It was 3:30pm so I told them what it was and they better get to the shops or lose it.

NCL should have addressed this Non-Refundable OBC in many languages on a piece of paper. A lot of cruisers did not really understand it. When checking out of the gift shop, one lady asked me what was the credit. I explained it to her. She thought it was applied to only her card. It is $100 per person in the stateroom. Meaning other people in her room would have to use it or lose it. Some thought it would apply to the Service Charge, which of course do not.

Off the NCL Getaway, it was in person muster drill. I believe it was the first Getaway back to normal for the in person muster drill. It was very packed waiting outside for the theater to be opened and it was a mess in the theater. It was supposed to start at exactly 3 pm, but it was delayed to like 3:20 pm opening up doors to the theater. It was not done until 4 pm ish. I sailed last year with NCL and on another cruise line. I prefer the virtual muster drill and calling in to confirm it was done or scanning the card once on board by going straight to the station. If in person, it is fine as long as they can do it quick. This time it was unorganized.

Wanted to say, thanks for sharing your pictures. I have some quick questions. Is it a must to make dinner reservations if there are a lot of people on the cruise? Which complimentary restaurants are good? - MDR/Taste/Savor

How was the food in the MDR? Which restaurants is preferred? MDR, Taste, Savor? And is it a must to make a reservation if there are a lot of cruisers? Thanks. 

20 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

I guess you never ate in the Marketplace?? I've cruised on Seaside 2x...Plenty of burgers, hot dogs and chicken fingers available on my sailings!?

FYI, on the Divina it is called: "Calumet & Manitou Buffet"

Not every cruise ships have the same offering or the same restaurant.

FYI, if you cruise with MSC, there's a Lobster (gala night) available as well as one other cruise line (do not remember).

It was 6 pm and 8:30 pm for the 7 nights. It can change for any sailings. If you have an issue with the dining time, you can ask on the first day when you board to change it.