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My husband would also say he wasn't a gentleman 😉 I said to my husband "you can't wear shorts but apparently I can." 🤣 But I wore jeans so he wouldn't feel left out.

We are considering our first NCL cruise. The itinerary we are looking at is Viva out of San Juan in Feb 2024. We are not cruising rookies but not experts either. We have sailed the most on Carnival (4), then RCL (2) then Princess (1). We typically book balcony cabins (only once were we in an outside cabin and never in an interior) and our last 2 Carnival cruises were in the spa category, which included access to the thermal spa. Looking for any tips, preferences, thoughts. Ideally, if you've cruised NCL and other lines, how they compare, and what you like/don't like. I believe NCL has spa rooms as well, but if you get a regular room, can you purchase a spa access package?

We just got off MG... we were advised that gentlemen were not permitted to wear shorts. That was the only requirement. But we did see a gentleman being seated in the steakhouse as we were leaving, so who knows how much they enforce it.

Not that I'm advocating smuggling, but we're on Mardi Gras right now... we brought on a case of coke zero (sealed) and our friends brought in two cases. None were opened or inspected, and one of the cases for our friends was not fully sealed. The box had started tearing so he trapped it shut. Nobody even questioned it.

Ship - Mardi Gras Deck - 17 Stateroom # - 17249 Stateroom Category – 8P (Spa Balcony) Starboard or Port Side - Starboard Quiet Stateroom? – somewhat... can hear if deck chairs on Serenity are being moved around; also is a connecting room so we can hear our neighbors chatting and singing 😯 (no sound from the other side so assume it's only because of the connecting doors) Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - yes Balcony View – Highest available on this ship, excellent view, no obstructions. Balcony Size? Normal; includes two chairs and a table. Was wind a problem? - No wind issues. If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - n/a Any specific problems with this cabin? - shoe drawer in the closet is starting to rub Any other comments? - bed is beside the balcony door, not the bathroom; lots of storage space; dedicated elevator from deck 17 to 5 for thermal suite is really handy... we even used it more than once to return to the room after dinner or shows by walking down to deck 5... saves having to wait with crowds for the elevators.

Flying WestJet YEG - MCO this past Saturday, we didn't need to provide proof or even document dates. We needed to sign the attestation that we were vaccinated and would present certification upon request. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/proof-of-covid-19-vaccination-for-noncitizen-nonimmigrants-passenger-disclosure-and-attestation.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjX073K1NP8AhVMrYkEHZ7rD04QFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1zzEaR-tNP8f0KeO9PpLVu

Another post on this board a few months ago (it was a LIVE from Mardi Gras review) was talking about something the poster had something made at Alchemy. It was a chocolate martini somehow infused with coconut... the poster said it tasted like an Almond Joy chocolate bar. I need to track that post down and note it for my cruise in 2 weeks.

We're on the same sailing in a spa Balcony. We got FTTF so looking forward to quick boarding 😊

If guests prepay for wifi, dinners, Cheers, etc, it improves cash position but isn't considered income until it is earned (ie., the guest has received the service/product they paid for). There's no increase to income until after the sailing.

I was just going to say that... plus if you add to cart, it goes on at $42. Not sure where someone saw $65.

Sounds just like DH and I. I have everything until he needs to have them, then he gives them back to me. Not because he can't keep track, but because I'm forgetful. If something isn't in its place, I general have no idea where it is. Passports and nexus cards are kept in my travel purse so he'll hand me his stuff and say, "you have my passport and nexus?" then I confirm.

I thought Pig & Anchor was free on Mardi Gras, but when looking at Carnival's website, under "Explore Mardi Gras" I noticed the page for it showed $ Additional. Has anyone heard any announcement that this was going to be a charge? Or is it only certain items on the menu are additional costs? Cucina del Capitano has the same thing.

Where do you find the email address for the specialty restaurant for each ship? We're traveling with another couple on Mardi Gras in a month and have each booked in the steakhouse and Rudi's. Our plan was to go to the maitre d' once we board but if we can make arrangements before hand, that would be even better.

How far out can you book the thermal passes? I assume there are a limited number available.

How much is a Thermal Suite Pass for a 7 day (on Escape if it matters)? I'm considering booking for next Dec, and debating between an aft balcony or a spa balcony, but if we get the aft balcony (I REALLY like aft balconies), I'd probably be interested in getting the pass. FTR, this would be our first cruise on NCL, so open to any and all suggestions.

Nice to see the reviews. We're on MG next month, in a spa balcony on 17. Really looking forward to using the thermal spa, and spending lots of time in Serenity.

RCL may be changing to once daily as well - https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/36989-change-in-frequency-of-housekeeping-service/

Ahh yes... you are correct. I did find the 7 day package for $149. Not sure how I missed it the first go around or why it didn't show up when I tried searching.

I just took a quick look on our MG sailing next month... looks like it starts at $30/day (I didn't see any options for multi-day passes), however there are none available for our sailing. Not sure if that is specific to our sailing or if it applies generally to MG. I didn't see it in the available spa services, so used the search bar to find the daily price.

I don't think your explanation of open jaw is correct. Open jaw is when you have a return flight that leaves from a different location where you first arrived or return from the same location you arrived at but to a different end point. For example flight out is YEG --> MCO then return trip is FLL --> YEG. Or YEG --> MCO, MCO --> YYC. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-jaw_ticket

Specialty dining is not showing anything for my cruise in Jan. Last time they wiped the board and removed everything, they updated the offerings to include kitchen classes. I'm hoping this time is to lower the prices but worry it's to fix a glitch.

Apparently Carnival's Excel class ships don't have self serve laundry facilities... only ironing rooms. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1134/~/laundry-service

Advantage to purchasing early is you lock in prices. We bought Cheers before the prices went up.

Perhaps not practical for you, but for me, I completely disagree. You don't need to drink 5 before dinner... 1 when you board following port day, 1 or 2 drinks/wine with dinner, then 2-3 over the course of 4+ hours after dinner. No hangover, and break even hit, even without bottled water (which I would have grabbed before going into port) without the latte/cappucino with breakfast. Oh, and have no fear, I fully enjoy the port days.

That's me and my husband. Even if I don't break even one day (and honestly that's about all it would be), my husband is a night owl and and usually stays up later than me. He would make up for what I lacked 😁