Pablo Diablo

Hi.  Apologies in advance if this has been answered previously in this forum. But I searched NCL’s site and this board and couldn’t find the info I’m looking for. I’m considering booking a cruise on Pride of America and I’m wondering if there is any difference in what beverages are covered under the Hawaii Beverage Package versus the Premium Beverage Package included in the FAS package when booking sailings on the other NCL ships. Does it have the same inclusions (beer, wine, cocktails & fountain soda up to $15/drink) and exclusions (bottled water, energy drinks & specialty coffees)? Thanks. 

Thanks for sharing your insights on the Joy. I'll be onboard in just a couple of weeks and would love to get a glimpse of the dailies to help in my planning if you wouldn't mind posting them. Thanks!

23 minutes ago, Stelkp said:

On this topic, last time I was on the encore Haven we were given American diner as a lunch option on day one. I read on the bliss that American diner is complementary. Can anyone confirm that?

That is correct. American Diner is now a complementary dining option fleet-wide. 

I would be very surprised if it's veal and would assume it's lamb. NCL has removed all veal dishes from just about every menu over the past couple of years. There are no veal dishes any longer on the Haven dinner menu (veal scallopini removed about 18 mos. ago), Cagneys, or other specialty dining menus as far as I can tell. It's disappointing.

...

Food Republic menu is updated as well.  Presumably, NCL updated (or in the process of updating) all Specialty Dining restaurant menus.

For those interested, removed from FR's menu are firecracker shrimp (this was a favorite 😞),  tuna poke nachos, lamb kalbi gui (chops), ramen w/BBQ pork belly, dynamite roll & spicy pacific salmon roll,   

It appears the Le Bistro menu has been updated as well.  It also now combined Appetizers, Soups and Salads into one group.  Selections that have been removed include the pan seared bay scallops (appetizer)  , roasted maple leaf duck breast (entree) and marrons et clementines (dessert).

No new menu items have been added.

Just a heads up if you wait until day 2 to upgrade.  Do it early in the day!  Otherwise, you run the risk of the unlimited plans being "sold out".  With recent sailings being at >100% passenger occupancy, the ship's internet manager may limit the number of unlimited (basic & premium) plans to a certain maximum amount as there is only so much bandwidth that can be shared among thousands of passengers. On a recent sailing, I didn't get to the internet cafe until the afternoon of day 2, and at that point they had already sold out.  As explained to me by the iCafe manager, to (over)sell more unlimited plans/upgrades would mean poor internet service for everyone on the ship due to bandwidth constraints.

2 hours ago, dcipjr said:

 

FR is one of the most walk-in-friendly restaurants on the ship. I have almost never seen it crowded.

Hi. I’ll be sailing on Joy next month and wondering if you know if Food Republic is open every day for lunch, or just sea days?  Thanks.

13 hours ago, scanr said:

ANY Suggestions on getting Latitudes Desk to reinstate unposted past cruises?  We have 3 past cruises all Haven & Suite.  Leaving on the Breakaway Oct 3.  While adding my wife and 3 adult children to the suites I found only I have points posted for all the past cruises.  My wife has only two past cruises posted and my kids all have zero points!  On Latitudes History Page:

" DON'T SEE A PAST RESERVATION?"  (click) Report a missing cruise. The fine print on Latitudes Rewards then states "

• IMPORTANT: Rewards points are applied to your account after you return from your cruise. Points will be applied within 48 hours after you have completed a sailing. Effective 1-February 2016, missing cruises must be claimed within 12 months from the day the cruise ends, in order to receive Latitudes points. We are unable to respond to requests submitted after the 12 month deadline has expired.

I think this is quite unfair.  I as the lead passenger receive all of my points, but I need to check my wife and kids accounts after return and because I didn't, they lose all points.  They would all be Platinum after this cruise and now have zero!  For my one son after I supplied all past complete sailing data they have him listed as "Past Cruiser" Zero points.  Very angry.  Airfare purchased and beyond cancel date or I would cancel.  All this discussion about bonus points which cost NCL so little and I can't receive standard fully paid for cruise points for all.  Guess it is either back to Royal or on to a luxury line. 

i believe that only the first two passengers on a reservation are eligible to receive the extra point (I.e. double/triple points) promotions. So, it’s possible that maybe the reason your kids’ Latitudes accounts are not reflecting all of the points you are expecting (assuming your kids sailed with you in the same cabin). 

Thank you!

I like to soothe my tired legs after a long day at port. I know Joy doesn’t have a thermal spa like most of the larger NCL ships. But does anyone know if Joy has a sauna and/or steam room?  If so, is it open to all passengers (e.g. in the spa locker rooms like on the smaller ships) or only for guests who purchase spa treatments?  Thank you. 

You can also make reservations for the Speedway through the interactive television in your cabin. 

I sailed on Prima last week. The cost of a thermal spa pass for the entire 7-day cruise was $339 per person. In case that’s helpful in your upgrade offer decision. 

As others have replied, cancelled excursions are credited to your onboard account as refundable onboard credit. On my Prima sailing last week, our port stop at Great Stirrup Cay was cancelled. My purchased excursion was refunded automatically to my onboard account by next afternoon. Of course, if you choose to cancel you would have to do that at Shore Excursions desk on the ship. Be aware that you need to settle any credit balance at Guest Services/Onboard Credit desk before disembarking. Any credit balance will be refunded to you in cash. I don’t know why they don’t just credit back to your credit card, but they don’t. If you try to disembark without your account being settled, security will pull you out of line and tell you to go to Guest Services. So you’ll want to avoid any potential delays if you have an airport transfer and flight booked on disembarkation day. 

I just sailed on Norwegian Prima last week and we embarked/disembarked from Port Canaveral Terminal 5. I arrived a day early and rented a car from Enterprise at MCO (I made reservation online a few months in advance). There is a car rental desk in airport terminal shared by multiple rental agencies where you meet the Enterprise agent to do the paperwork. Then you get on the airport coach bus shuttle to take you to the airport parking garage to get your rental car. When making the reservation, I arranged to return the car at the Port Canaveral Enterprise location on Mullett Rd.  They provide shuttle bus service to the port terminal (they drop you off directly at your ship). Enterprise is approx 1-2 miles from terminal (<10 minute ride). One-day mid size rental was $130 incl tax but excl tolls and add-on options (damage ins., liability ins., GPS, child car seat, etc). 
 

I didn’t use NCL for the return trip to MCO from the ship. I used Cortran’s airport shuttle. Very reasonable price ($30pp) and very professional and convenient. They park right outside the terminal.  Just a couple hundred feet walk away after you exit the terminal. 
 

If you have OBC you need to use, I believe you can book the airport return transfer after you board the ship. For my cruise, they advertised airport transfer bookings in the Daily starting on Day 2 and every day thereafter. Book at Guest Services desk for $37.50pp. Only for travelers with flights departing after noon.  
 

hope this is helpful. 

Bumping this thread as I too would greatly appreciate seeing the entertainment schedule on Prima’s current 7-day Port Canaveral-w. Caribbean itinerary. Thanks in advance!

Bird,

Thank you so much for your wonderful insights and fantastic photos! Your postings have been invaluable to me as I prepare for my sailing on the Prima next month.  I hope you're enjoying your cruise. I'm greatly enjoying following along. If I could ask you a question - do you know if there was a one-day laundry bag special offered during your cruise?  Trying to determine how light or heavy I want to pack for my upcoming cruise. Thanks!

Thank you all for your responses.

Hi. I just received my Haven letter and luggage tags for my upcoming cruise. The luggage tags were a purple/plum color and say "Priority", but no mention of "Haven" on them. My memory may be failing me, but on a previous cruise in the Haven I recall the luggage tags were a gold color. Just wondering what other recent Haven guests' experience has been and if I have the correct tags (they do have the correct stateroom number)? Thanks in advance for your replies.

I’m on the Jan. 8th sailing of the Prima and we’re also scheduled for GSC on Jan. 14th. Does NCL typically have more than one ship stop at GSC on the same day?  

I last cruised on NCL pre-Covid and I recall there was one day during 7-day cruise when the ship had a special offer of one full bag of laundry for $20. Does NCL still have this offer?  Thanks. 

Thank you @ggTexasGal and @BirdTravels  

Hi.  Does NCL provide complimentary cocktails or refreshments for the various cocktail receptions you see listed on the dailies (Haven/VIP party, Latitudes c9cktail party, CC meet and greets). For my upcoming cruise, I declined the Free at Sea beverage package because the two family members I’m sailing with don’t drink alcohol. So I’ve bought soda packages and I plan to pay as I go for the occasional beer or cocktail for myself, which will be cheaper than the gratuities on the Free at Sea beverage package for the three of us. But I was wondering if these parties are essentially “open bar”, or if the wait staff ask for your card(s) to swipe? Also, do the provide snacks or hors d’ourves? TIA!