justhappy

I know that NCL has the free shuttles but in the tour description it says time on the A Ballad is 3 hours, time on transportation is 1 and a half hours. I don’t want assume this means that the tour has a bus just for the tour participants. The tight arrival and departure times are giving me pause. I’ve heard about long waits for the Ward Cove shuttle back to the ship.

I’ve cruised in early December and the ships were decorated already but Christmas Day has to have a great vibe. You are right that Aruba looks like Arizona and New Mexico! Does Aruba have a “wet side”? Kind of like your Washington State, I know west of the Cascades is so tropical compared to the east. I’ve been on a trip from Port Angeles to Wenatchee and it’s amazing how different one state can be.

It was cool to see how Christmas is celebrated on the ship, it looked like fun🎄

Beau Tahana on the piano ❤️ I loved him when I was on the Encore in March 2020.

Agree with you on the smoking issue as well as sometimes I just want the buffet. I’ll be in the Haven soon on the Getaway and I’m already looking forward to the Indian food and crepes I’m going to get at the buffet.

I HAVE to finish this scene ”You want me to hold the chicken, huh? ”I want you to hold it between your knees” That Jack Nicholson glare nails it. Please be polite to your servers in real life folks, no swiping all the plates to the floor or such 😂

Glad to see another trip report from you guys, hope you’re doing well!

Looking forward to reading your review, I will be on the Getaway in late April. I have been on the Getaway 5 times, the last time was in a studio, in January 2020. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Yup, I’ve actually seen that happen years ago.

On the January 28 Escape cruise, we had in person muster drill that was a cluster you know what. AND still had to watch the video during check in. I’ll happily watch the video 20 times in lieu of standing inches from others for 48 minutes hearing about everything but the muster drill.

I think this is the smart move by NCL. In January on the Escape, the in-person muster was a huge waste of time. On a ship with over 4600 passengers we were jammed into OSheehans, where we couldn’t hear anything, see anything and stood inches from others for 48 minutes. People were talking, drinking, on their cell phones, and otherwise not paying attention, good luck to anyone who actually tried to get useful information. And although the muster was in person we still had to watch the muster video during on line check in, as well as getting almost daily email reminders to watch the video. 🤷‍♀️

Why yes, yes it is! Thanks for letting me quote my favorite movie!

I don’t remember any made to order items but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have it.

I think with NCL, as with Disney, and a lot of other big corporations, is the corporate greed that is rampant right now under the guise of covid losses and inflation.

Same here with regards to unpacking before the muster drill. It’s like the last embarkation day “chore” before I can feel officially on vacation!

Great review and I do hope NCL higher ups do get feedback from these forums like I’ve heard they do. So many reports from the new policies that are not working out very well, like not having rooms ready until late afternoon of embarkation day, slow service due to staffing issues and the long waits during the return to in person muster drills. I hope some of it will resolve, I’m sure that some like the muster drill is likely due to new crew not being familiar with it, but partly people taking their sweet time to show up. We showed up at 3:30 and waited for 45 minutes before the actual drill started. That’s too long, most people lost interest in actually paying attention, that’s if you could hear anything at all. The noise level was so loud in Osheeans where we were packed in like sardines. I get the same feeling as the OP when I go to Disney World vs 10-20 years ago, so many changes that are not good and at a price that is way higher than inflation alone would suggest. When you could just decide that day which park you wanted to go to and not have to have your nose in your phone all day to get on a ride. Of course I can vote with my wallet and I know I will not be missed, as there are thousands of folks willing to go who don’t know how much easier and pleasant not to mention cheaper it once was.

True, you never know what your fellow Haven cruisers are going to be like. And I know people are all different and have different ideas about what is polite and what is rude. I give people some grace as they are on vacation too, but there is a point where you just got to have some consideration for others around you.

My husband uses his earphones and has music on his phone playing on low to block out conversations he doesn’t want to hear, he uses this in the Vibe and or sundeck a lot. Works!

Once out the door of my courtyard penthouse on the same floor as the bar, yes, yes I could! That loudmouth boor was at the bar every moment the bar was open yapping on so loudly EVERYONE heard him. I don’t know when he peed or ate cause he was freaking attached to that barstool along with his cronies. Getting a drink was impossible, not to mention irritating.

I’ve been in the Haven with friends who never wanted to go outside of the Haven. In retrospect I should have said ok, see you later but I didn’t. I really don’t feel the need for the concierge to know me well, just handle any issues I have. I’ve been in the Haven where certain guests monopolize the concierge and/or the bartenders and they cause issues for the other guests. it’s nice to not have to constantly hear some people brag about their money or possessions and being far away gets me away from those types. I’ve cruised NCL 13 times, 4 soon to be 5 in the Haven and I’m happy no matter what cabin I’m in for the most part. I just like some locations better than others!

Again, thank you for sharing this information with everyone, so I could make a change and avoid this issue.

The Bliss is like all the other Breakaway class ships I have sailed on and has two elevator locations, forward (which are really closer to midship) and aft. I never had an issue in an aft stateroom walking to the aft elevators and going down to deck 8 and walking the waterfront forward and catching an elevator or up to deck 15 and walking forward. And this was on the Escape with a sailing of 4600 guests. Sorry that your experience was different. As to having to taking your luggage up to self disembark I agree that is difficult. I hope your husband is ok and that y’all enjoy whatever cruise line is best for you. I’m glad we all have choices.

To each their own I guess, I would rather pay more and have more room and be outside the Haven, I enjoy the walking from aft to Forward and seeing what’s going on around the ship. If I stayed within the Haven complex all day long I’d go bonkers. You’re comparison to an oceanfront room vs 3 blocks back is not valid IMO. Give me that Oceanfront aft view all day long❤️

I haven’t been on the Getaway lately but on the Escape last month they did have the small breakfast buffet at American Diner. It was listed in the Daily under restaurant hours of service. If the weather is warm and not too windy it’s a nice al fresco experience.