alreadypacked

which I am kind of surprised that Princess is mostly doing away with the 4-5 day East Coast Getaways...maybe only 1 that I see now for May 2019 - 4 day Cozumel...

 

may have to book that later if the price drops... no FCD's in hand for now :(

As a southeast coast Floridian, I wish there were more of those! Used to be.

Guess the price point is lower [than Alaska or Europe]... not worth it from a business standpoint, I guess.

We've sailed the Caribbean so much, it's been there, done that...

Planning longer, further away itineraries for down the road...

Right now we just want a short getaway in our own back yard (to decompress)--but on a better line than say, Carnival.

Again, very much enjoying your review!

By the way, did you happen to take any MDR food pictures?

If so, might you be willing to post? Thanks!!

Enjoying your review!

Thanks for posting!

OP, hope this helps:

https://www.ncl.com/faq#smoking

As the health and well-being of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance, Norwegian Cruise Line will institute changes to its smoking policy for all sailings on or after November 1, 2014. The specific changes prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies and limit smoking in the casino to players. On Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, smoking on The Waterfront will be permitted on the starboard side, except by the outdoor dining areas.

Guests in the Garden Villas may smoke in their private garden and on their private sun decks.

Public areas throughout all our ships are smoke-free. If you smoke regular or electronic cigarettes, you can do so in designated areas only. If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes is permitted in outdoor public guest spaces and open decks where designated by the ship's management based on the ship's specific characteristics and arrangement. Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, The Haven outdoor areas and children's pool areas. On ships with The Waterfront, smoking is permitted on the starboard side excluding any food service areas. Active Casino players may smoke cigarettes in the Casino during gaming hours. Cigarette smoking is not permitted in any other indoor venue or location.

Guests are not permitted to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or pipes in their staterooms or on their balconies. Cigar and pipe smoking in staterooms and on balconies is prohibited. Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 USD cleaning charge added to your onboard account. If cigarette burns on furniture, linens, towels or carpeting are detected; guests will be advised and charged for the damages.

Electronic cigarettes cannot be used in public areas where there is a No Smoking policy in force; simply because these cigarettes look so realistic and therefore other guests' perception is that we are not enforcing the No Smoking rule.

Great photos! Thanks for posting.

Pool deck beautiful compared to newer megaships.

Interesting thread--thanks for posting, OP!

First Carnival cruise was 2002; last was 2015...

Seen many more changes than what you listed--plan to come back when I have more time to list them all!!

Again, thanks for posting--interesting reading some of the responses.

OP sounds like a first-time cruiser.

I can see how this type of thing could leave a sour taste in one's mouth.

I was a new cruiser once too...

It may be less about the $15, than the principle. And happening on an NCL private island...

I get the OP's feelings.

In the interest of customer service, I believe NCL could've handled this better.

NCL can't always control the behavior of employees... But they can make things right when something goes wrong.

I'm surprised to hear that they wouldn't allow him to get a new key card on his birthday and upgrade to a drink package. Youd think that ncl would jump all over someone willing to pay for a drink package halfway through a cruise

Unless recently changed, with most cruise lines, the age you are on embarkation day of the cruise, remains your age (as far as the cruise line is concerned) for the remainder of the voyage.

I really want to know if the staff gets this money. I have no problem with it if that’s the case but I doubt it honestly.

Have wondered this as well for many years after "auto tips" began. My first few cruises, I remember handing tips in envelopes to staff on last night of the cruise.

Auto-tips made it easier and initially I didn't question it... Still handed additional cash to those going above and beyond.

With every passing year though, I've wondered if the hardworking staff-members serving us really get all the money or if the cruise company skims some of it.

Having previously worked in the hospitality/food beverage industry here in Florida where trainees at the [mostly reputable--for this industry] company I worked for were shocked that all tips they made were theirs to keep--that the restaurant manager/owner didn't keep a percentage (which would've been illegal in my home state)--well...nothing would surprise me...

Thanks to all those who responded to my posts/questions!!

Great to hear that Getaway's Margaritaville was still a la carte on recent sailings and that Shanghai's was still there AND complimentary!!

Hope NCL keeps it that way going forward!! We cruise this September!!

Additionally, we sailed Getaway in 2016 and it had Shanghai Noodle Bar which was no additional charge. Loved it!

Remember reading a while back, that Shanghai's on Getaway would be done away with in an upcoming drydock... But I see it listed on NCL website still... and as complimentary:

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/getaway/whats-on-board/dining

I know things on NCL site can sometimes be not up to date...

For those who've sailed Getaway in the last 2 months or so, was Shanghai's there? And was it complimentary?

Sailed Escape September 2017 and Margaritaville was a la carte and had a nice crowd every day. We truly enjoyed it and thought the prices fair.

We're booked on Getaway September 2018. Just went to NCL website and saw that Margaritaville is listed under "Specialty Dining":

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/getaway/whats-on-board/specialty-dining

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea

Take a bite out of paradise with signature items like Cheeseburger in Paradise. Sip on a Who's to Blame Margarita. Or sit back and groove along to island-inspired live music at this dining venue.

• Price Per Person: $14.95 USD Adult
  

Really enjoying your review!

Thanks for posting!

Nice start!!!

Will be following!

Positively great review!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to post!

Been to Grand Cayman many times--wasn't aware of Hemingway's, though. Good to know for the future!

You will be missing one of the nicest ports if you decide to stay on the ship. Plenty to see in the port area, and a wonderful beach day at Tropicante (google Trip Advisor reviews) if you decide (www.sandalsandskis.com). It’s owned by Steve Uhl, an American. If you email him to reserve a lounge chair, he will give you detailed instructions on how to get there. It’s a short walk outside of the port area to the taxi stand. The walk is safe. I did this many times as a solo cruiser. The taxi cost is $2. You will be met where the taxi drops you off by one of Steve’s employees. There is no charge at Tropicante, but they do expect you to purchase refreshments.

I second this!

Have been there twice now--second time kind of unplanned, as our ship was supposed to sail Eastern Caribbean, but Fall 2017 hurricanes intervened.

Tropicante is great!

Mexican staff speaks English.

Food is well prepared to order and delicious (I have food allergies, so that is always a concern, but felt comfortable after making this known to Steve and staff).

Owner, Steve is American (Originally from Texas, as I recall). We met an American couple (Steve's friends who live in Mexico) last time we were there too--nice folks!

Older gentleman will meet your taxi/shuttle with your name on a chalk board when you arrive.

Realize this review is almost a year old, but just stumbled upon it today and loving it!!!

Thanks for posting OP!

I have read your previous reviews years back and always enjoyed them too.

Please post pictures of the new room service food (if you have any).

Thanks!!

Update to my May 2017 post on this thread regarding the sofa bed on our Sept 23rd Escape cruise.

We had a 3 person balcony cabin. My sister (46 yrs old) slept on sofa bed and found it to be uncomfortable.

Though, I had pre-ordered an egg-crate topper, I still had to ask the steward for it, but he happily provided it.

The problem with the sofa bed, and I am using the term "bed" very loosely, is that it does not have what I would call a "real" mattress. It is simply the seat cushion of the sofa which is a rough-textured fabric and very hard. They only put a flat sheet over it and tuck it underneath the bottom, but the rough texture of the cushion is scratchy to your skin even through the sheet and pajamas.

Even after the egg crate topper, my sister had to put the extra comforter (found in the drawer below) on top of it as an extra layer of cushion.

The sofa bed may be okay for younger children or adults who don't have any back or joint issues. After a few days, her back was aching from sleeping on that thing.

I've been watching this thread since it started and mulling it over (don't claim to have answers). It does seem to me that we all make choices, the company and the individuals. People choose to live in hurricane-prone states or on vulnerable islands. Ocean-based business choose to operate during peak hurricane season (although they benefit from a double standard--many CC members think people are dumb to cruise during hurricane season, but those same members would never fault the cruise lines for providing those "dumb" cruises in the first place).

 

People choose to not buy travel insurance.

 

Ultimately the cost of all these choices is getting spread around. Even if the cruise lines don't bend their policies for the (undoubtedly many) people affected by the storm in their own home towns, they've obviously lost a lot of revenue in the last month.

 

The problem with the theory that it would be a nice gesture for the company to work with someone in this situation, is that I suspect that they would have to make many such gestures. And at that point, if someone can't make their cruise because their home is damaged in some other way (fire, flood, tornado, blizzard?) is the gesture necessary then too, or only for hurricanes? If only for hurricanes--why? Slippery slope.

Can you really fault people for living in a hurricane-prone area anymore than, say, a north-easter-prone area, an earthquake-prone area, or a tornado-prone area?

Not sure that many of "us" in/on "hurricane-prone states/vulnerable islands" have specifically "chosen" to live here, in the same vein that "Ocean-based businesses" have chosen to operate here. I see your point, but...

I personally am a frequent cruiser however this is for a friend...

 

We are here in Florida, a "little storm" named Irma came to visit. We are now part of FEMA's documented storm victims.

 

 

We (and my friends) are without power and have home damage. They were scheduled to leave on Baltic Cruise this Saturday - ALL flights were cancelled/rearranged - my friends can not leave if they wanted to!!

 

 

Now I know ALL about "cruise protection" - please, lets's have some sympathy - leave it out of the comments....

 

 

NCL told them to "pound sand" for any refunds or credit what so ever -

 

 

Any sympathetic advice/contacts etc. they should speak with in regards to NCL being a little more understanding during the nightmare they are already dealing with?

 

 

TIA

Robbysbabe,

So sorry to hear of your friends' plight...

Wish I had a helpful solution for your friends, but I'm sorry I don't.

Empathize with them totally though--we live in South Florida and just weathered Irma too. Sounds like we made out a little better than your friends, but it was still tough. No power for 4 days--100 degree temps in the house--barely two hours sleep each night. DH worked 36 hour shift with police department the night storm hit. Had fridge on generator but still lost a lot of food. Got power back, then double water main break, so no water! Water came back finally... Still have friends without power. The list goes on...

Many outside a hurricane zone just have no idea...

Most in Florida fared better than those in the Caribbean, and my thoughts and prayers and donations are with them... But...still...it was very hard on all of us in FL and still is on many.

mmmmbacon, thanks for the review!

The Westin and Dawn Beach looks really nice!

Question: About how long was the taxi ride to Dawn Beach? Any problem getting a taxi on the return trip?

https://mrose.org/cc/SurgeProtectiveDevices-2.pdf

 

Short version: Household surge protectors were designed to work on household electrical systems. Electrical systems on ships are very different. Surge protection-equipped devices can malfunction internally, resulting in fire, or fail to protect the circuit correctly during a fault condition, resulting in fire.

Thank you triptolemus for providing this important information.

Really enjoying the review and photos!

Thanks for posting!

N0hJ-YTiNdk

 

 

 

Wow those desserts look yummy!!!

Any chance you remember the names?