JGmf

I'm assuming most/all of you CAS players will/have received this in the mail. I got mine today:

Just want to clarify the prior poster: "setting up your account" is no more than using your medallion at the machine. Thereafter the play and the cash-in is linked to you.

Yes it does.

On the plus side, we Americans are good at queuing (as opposed to other cultures that mad rush a place). We may be too good, b/c once someone starts a line, everyone thinks that's the system.

Yes, you can pump as much cash as you like into the machine, whatever you finish your session with gets put in your bank, but you can't take it out without going to the cashier to withdraw. No TITO like other casinos...

@TxTeach79 While you're relaxing in your room, I want to send you a giant thank you for spending the time and effort to bring us along. I enjoy reading your live reports immensely. Thanks!

@Snaxmuppet If you don't mind me asking, did you pay the full retail upcharge to get the suite, or was there some kind of reduced 'value' price for your upgrade?

Book your dining if you have a specialty restaurant in mind. If you are Platinum-level and want to do the (shorter, free) behind the scenes tour, do that early as well, as it can get filled-up fast. Get a cocktail and settle-in for when rooms will likely be ready (2-3pm)...and enjoy your cruise!

Wondering if that's due to maintenance persons doing work. Assuming it is. I'm with you, though: need white noise to sleep. Always bring my hockey puck-sized white noise machine. I always keep it in my luggage just so I never forget it for any trip....that would be bad...

Fold into convenient wallet-sized menu...

Re: sushi swaps...I was on the Enchanted about a week ago. We had "Plus", not "Premium". See photo: I swapped nigri to all tuna, no problem, at least on this ship. I recall he also said we could swap between the two maki provided. We didn't. We also ordered an extra roll, retail price, that you see off to the right.

Well, I'm sure a lot of people like it. Me? Sound horrible.

Piazza music/band/entertainers were staggered....at least on my cruise last week on the Enchanted. Now if only they would stop playing the same sets within a sailing (and even the same songs the other musicians played minutes before), that would be great!

Boooo! Dumb decision, probably made by some NCL branding-hype committee. Uggh.

Confirming what others said: come and go as you please, wonderful large hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, (third room that I think was cooler), and 4 showers. I'm not a "spa guy", but I was impressed and used it more than I thought I would.

NCL has it faults (all cruise lines do), but they nailed in the hallway carpet department!

There's plenty of open loungers on the deck directly above and surrounding the Retreat pool. You'll be closer to the hot tubs and can get an ocean view <unlike when at the Retreat Pool level>.

@MoCruiseFan I'm on the 'get-the-FAS-drink-package' bandwagon and always get it. I was trying to highlight that some people get their panties in a bunch b/c there's a cost related to the FAS thinking that it was purely zero out of pocket. As we all know, there is an upcharge related to the gratuities portion.

@JamieLogical Ha! I thought I'd never see you on these boards again! Yes, consider Princess. I was on the Enchanted last week and doing it again on 4/21/24. Here's my review: I know you were an NCL regular, like me, so here's my quick take on your questions with NCL as the comparison. MDR and buffet food quality? MDR pretty much the same quality as NCL, which is kind of 'blah', but formal night has a lobster option (extras are $10/ea.). That's a nice touch. The Princess buffet is open for more hours than NCL (thankfully) and the quality and variety were better in my opinion. They have cookies and decent desserts...and if you get the Plus (or Premier) packages, you get those ultimate ice cream desserts, which you access down in the Piazza. At least last week, they let you pick whichever gelato and toppings you wanted. (Also, the International Cafe, nearby, is way better than NCL on quality and price (read: free) on their specialty coffees). What about service in the MDR and at bars? Service in the MDR was friendly and very professional, but kind of slow compared to NCL. I think b/c NCL has more specialty restaurants, the MDRs on Princess get slammed harder. The Princess bars had rapid service, in my opinion, with excellent bartenders. NCL also has excellent bartenders. As mentioned in my review, I missed the Waterfront, but substituted with the Wake View bar. How is ordering through the Medallion app going? Can't help you on that, but saw and heard others talking that they were ordering without any issues. Good luck. I hope you land with the best cruise you can get.

I don't necessarily disagree with @memoak, but sometimes dumb play saves the table. That said, I hate it more b/c it slows the rhythm of game (pensive deep thought about their hunches) and also drives me nuts on how stupid it these players can be.

The Retreat pool on the Enchanted is kind of sheltered from wind, as it's surrounded by an upper deck of loungers with two hot tubs on either side.

If you buy the FAS drink package, you pre-paid gratuities...that's what makes it not 'free'. Thereafter, if you want to tip cash, b/c that's the person you are, then go ahead. As for signing a piece of paper, that's long gone....thankfully.

Piling-on. Had the same issue in various bars last year on both the Prima and the Joy. I wasn't asking for blender drinks, only stuff mixed with bottles and ingredients I could clearly see behind the bar. Got a lot of polite "no's". I thought it was major BS. I'm assuming NCL is trying to cement-in the theme/identity of each bar...to the consternation of guests, who, I'm also assuming (like me), couldn't care less.

If you are looking to use the Retreat pool area as "Plan B", yes, that area fills up rather quickly...and 7 is a tough number to get adjacent to each other.

We only went to the suite breakfast once. It was at the Crown Grill; and the service and food were great. We didn't go a second time as we're not really breakfast people. We wanted to try it at least once; and we're glad we did. Also, Sabatini's is still there; as is the Crown Grill. The Catch is a third specialty dining spot.