happy cruzer

Yes, the NCL wine carry on policy is very good whether you have to pay the corkage or if it gets waived because you have the beverage package. But if you are flying in and don't want to stop to shop for wine, the Viva Vino worked/works good.

Some more detail of how this worked in the past. The one time I did Viva Vino years ago. They had a table set up in the atrium area outside one of the specialty restaurants where they sold drink packages. Most of the display and discussion was about the full beverage packages with just the small slip of paper out for the Viva Vino. We did not buy it there which probably would have been easy. We went to lunch and decided we wanted wine with the lunch so asked our server to buy the Viva Vino. The server was clueless. We kept insisting until the dining room manager was called over and they took care of it for us. We did have to pick which wines we were getting and they gave us a slip for each one. They said if you change your mind they will let you have a different wine instead of the one on the slip. Would love an update from a recent cruise 🙂

Years ago there was Sicilian chicken in the MDR. It was like the description that you found. Roasted chicken in a hearty sauce of olives, mushroom, eggplant, capers and a small amount of tomato. i enjoyed it enough to learn how to prepare it a home. If you like coq au vin, then you probably will like Sicilian chicken.

Thanks to all. Yep, I too think the devil is in the details. Do not like when people say "always get insurance" with no thought that insurance does not cover everything....

Isn't there duck on the menu? How was it? Thanks.

Any new lists for Viva Vino?

Trying to determine how to protect against airline failures such as mechanical failure or no crew avalible. So far Cancel for any reason (i.e. at time of departure) or travellin days early seem to be only options?

Yep, I am thinking CFAR is the only coverage for the airline failure to provide service.

Yes, we do self insure. However, since we just recently experienced trip delay on a return flight. I was trying to see if there was a way to mitigate the costs for a trip cancellation because due to the airline failure vs. weather event. Like I posted normally we mitigate by travelling days ahead, this time do not want to do so. So having to make that decision to self insure or ?

Thanks. Who would cover the cost of the cruise, etc... that was missed.

So how would you cover airfare cancellation for mechanical failure or crew being unavailbable? In the past we always travelled days a head to cover that. But now looking at insuring it for various reasons, mainly that the costs to stay two days is going up and we just don't enjoy it. Our Credit Card covers weather, but not any thing else. So far it looks like Cancel for any reason may be the only option...

Great report! Just in case... Sea Bands work for nausea and for anxiety. Do a little googling you might want to try them - no side effects.

Anyone else have experience with sharing the purchased dining credit? We have only eaten in one speciality - Ocean Blue. That time we did not have credits; we paid the a la carte prices. One of us ordered one salad and one entree. The other had one appetizer. We shared all the items. It was plenty of food. Server was professional and friendly. So would we not be able to do that using a dining credit? Could one use the credit and the other order a la carte? Thanks.

Yes, the ship is a floating hotel but one that arrives and leaves at set times. There are no guarantees (a port can be totally missed) but making sure about time in port and distance to the site you want to visit will help determine what itinerary to choose as you and other experienced cruise travelers know. We are tending more to land travel to visit sites and cruises for vacation/relaxation. Have you decided?

Would love any updates on using the Tervis Tumblers. I did notice in one cruise review picture that there were tumblers on the shelf of the coffee spot on Celebration I think it was. Which made me wonder if buying them anywhere on the ship worked for getting the larger drinks and the regular prices?? Also wonder if you buy a non alcoholic drink would you get the larger size? Thanks.

Her name is what it is on the birth certificate. She will have to get a name change if she wants too. Until she changes her name, use her legal name...

Back to the comment about wine availability, we too noticed that lack. So far carry on red wine has made the difference for us then supplement with the white wine by the glass and beer using Diamond vouchers. Wine by the glass is pretty poor on board most of the major lines. The difference is that other lines have wine bottle packages as well as beverage packages that work for those that drink mostly wine.

Short spring break cruise at the last minute. and got the FLU. Perfect storm. Give it some time and do a longer cruise when kids are in school.

Thanks for the report. The app for Harmony shows Vintages as having the tapas...

Good question. What about Vintages? Can the UDP be used there as well say for a late lunch then have a late dinner in one of the other restaurants? Thanks.

The tervis tumbler looks great. If they don't have those, do they have another souvenir glass (16 oz.) per the signs posted in the bars?? and thanks to the posters that report that you don't have to get the frozen drinks to get the 16 oz drink. Still wondering if it might work in all bars including Alchemy??? Dreaming of sitting on the balcony with a 16 oz beverage....

Any advice on how to use the UDP on Harmony? What to visit for lunch vs. dinner? What is an extra charge to the UDP? Also where there particular menu items that you enjoyed? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for posting; it reminded me to look at the pricing for my sailing. The UDP was 225 plus grats which I booked and will watch for price drops. 291 plus grats is a bit much but you are going a new a ship so that might be the going price...

Very interesting. I wonder what will be tweaked??

If you are chosing based on the itinerary be sure to look at the time in port as well. Others mention that tender ports mean alot of time spent tendering versus touring but the port time also matter. Some lines overnight in ports which can be great. Some lines get priority berths in ports vs. tendering. Small ships can visit more unusual ports. Some cities are quite a long commute for a port day and might be better for a starting or ending port. For example Rome with take alot of time to get to from Civitavecchio. As usual, the devil is in the details.