brikee

Awesome review so far. How was the lobster roll at ocean blu? Was it worth it? Somehow I missed this last time I was on breakaway!

The link doesn't work when clicking on it. It must be very scary for crew and passengers though. Last year on breakaway we hit very rough seas and I was scared for my life. Keeping them in my thoughts and prayers tonight.

You're OK. In 2017, Tu Bishvat, the day Yeshiva week is based on, occurs February 11.

 

 

 

For those who are planning travel, use Google Calendar to review religious holidays and various country holidays.

In GCal website, on left side, choose the drop down arrow next to "Other Calendars", and then "Browse Interesting Calendars" and then preview or subscribe to desired calendars.

Thanks for this info!! My mind is at ease now. I'm looking forward to a hopefully peaceful vacation next year. :)

When will they start offering pick two + 3rd and 4th guest sail free on Jan 2017 breakaway cruises?? I feel like I've been waiting forever.

Good deal if you can snag it.

Thank you for the cruise summary. It goes to support how good it is to have insurance.

I'm sorry to hear about the yeshiva group though. I'm planning to go on a 14 day cruise on breakaway next Jan 15-30. Do you know if this overlaps with yeshiva week? I hope they aren't on our ship in 2017.

So sorry brikee! Thank you for sharing what can happen, I'm sure it can't be easy.

Yes it's a very sad thing to go through and i wouldn't want anyone else to go through if it can be avoided. Thankfully we are blessed with two beautiful boys now. But whenever I hear someone is pregnant I always tell them to take it easy and be careful so they can have a safe pregnancy.

Don't risk it. It isn't worth it! I went on a baby moon 2 week cruise at 20 weeks and had miscarried on the flight back. It might not happen to you but why risk it. When the baby is older you can go on another cruise.

I'm waiting for the friends sail free promo on a Jan 17 sailing. If I book now to get the two free offers promo then the FSF promo comes up in a few months, could I add that promo on or I lose the two free offers? I will probably save around 2 grand on FSF promo (traveling with two kids under 3).

Wondering if I should book now or wait.

Thanks for clarifying! I will keep waiting for our breakaway cruise in Jan 2017.

I thought I had read that the 3rd and 4th guest promo starts 1/4-1/31. Anyone know if this is true?

If you are booking a balcony which side do you prefer? Port or starboard? I'd like to book the side where I can see passengers running back to the ship when it is close to departure.

This is the best review ever. I will be going on a cruise in 2017 with a nearly 3 year old and one year old. The breakaway 14 day from NYC to Caribbean. We went in 2015 where our child was just over one at the time and he had so much fun in the guppy program. A parent was required for all the activities though, we couldn't drop him off. There was baby disco, toys and bubbles which he loves. Hope he will enjoy it again when we go back.

Are there any tips you might suggest for other parents who are bringing small kids? Like things you wish you brought or did/didn't do.

Thank you for your in depth review!!

Enjoying the review so far and pictures. Thanks!

Yes meant la cucina. Thanks!!

In la cucina could you order three or four escargots apps? I love those in the mdr on other ships. Sometimes I would just eat that only for dinner.

Agree watch for KSF promo. Last time it happened around July. Significant savings there.

I think he wanted a soda ;-)

Lol yes the last line does sound naughty.

If you are able to still purchase insurance from NCL, beware of an odd thing that happened to me. If you do so, and then start to add things to your reservation like transfers, drink packages, your insurance rate goes up as it's a percentage of your total package rate! I had my TA add transfers and it bumped my fare into the next hundred dollars and she got a new invoice asking for $60.00 more for the insurance. I wound up canceling the transfers and just buying them at the airport, and then onboard for the return.

Good to know. Thanks! I checked w TA and it is insured through Allianz classic plan. I compared with insuremytrip and it appears the same including the price. It comes out to around $600 for 8 adults and 1 infant.

My son was free since my hubby and I are getting insured. Hope we don't have to use it but its good to know we will be covered if anything should happen to anyone in our group. Thanks all for the tips.

Ok thanks all! Ill get more details then check out insuremytrip site.

I'm traveling with a group of folks young at heart between 50-70 years old in about two months. There are about 8 adults and 1 infant in our group. We were interested in getting insurance incase something happens (ie someone slips during an excursion). We were quoted between $100-$200 per person depending on age from our TA.

I just wanted to check with others here, who do you normally purchase insurance from? TA or a third party company? In the past my hubby and I were the only ones who went cruising and we were young without a child so didn't use insurance. Now we just want to be covered incase something happens. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA

Ok we will call the governments offices directly. My TA actually directed us to go to the state website. Shows how helpful they are :(

So for PR and St Thomas they should be ok using their US visa correct? We will try to contact the offices for the other countries.

Yes, I was a bit concerned because not all were government sites.

So I checked out travel.state.gov and found the following:

1. Barbados: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/barbados.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays under 6 months

2. St. Kitts: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/st-kitts-nevis.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:Not required for stays under 90 days

3. St. Lucia: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/st-lucia.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:Not required as long as you have an onward or roundtrip ticket

4. Sint Maarten: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/sint-maarten.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:Not required for stays under 90 days

5. St Thomas: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/british-virgin-islands.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:Not required for stays up to one month

http://www.bvitourism.com/entry-requirements

6. Puerto Rico – Uses US Visa because they do not issue Visas.

esSo I did additional research and found the following. It seems like for Puerto Rico and St Maarten, a visa is required. For St Thomas, they can use their US Visa. For the other countries, it doesn't seem required. I'm hoping these sources are reliable.

1. Puerto Rico and this site(scroll down to Customs): Citizens of Vietnam living in the United States can travel to Puerto Rico using their valid United States visa. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Rico tourist visa is required for citizens of Vietnam.

2. St Thomas: If you are visiting from Europe or any other country you will need a passport and a United States visa to enter St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

3. St Maarten: Saint Martin tourist visa is required for citizens of Vietnam

4. St Lucia: Saint Lucia cruise visa is not required for citizens of Vietnam for a stay up to 1 day. Good news if cruise visa is the correct choice for the purpose of your trip to Saint Lucia.

5. Barbados: Cruise ship passengers entering Barbados and departing on the same vessel on the same day do not require a visa, regardless of nationality. Barbados cruise visa is not required for citizens of Vietnam for a stay up to 1 day.

6. St Kitts: Cruise ship visitors, staying less than twenty-four (24) hours, are not required to have visas, regardless of their nationality. Saint Kitts Nevis cruise visa is not required for citizens of United States for a stay up to 1 day.

Wow all. Thank you for these details. Will do additional research.