ecclectic-eccentric

Thanks for the great review and the photos! You've made me "homesick" for 10728 where we spent our 20th anniversary just a month ago. I can't imagine a better suite/location! And yes, champagne on the balcony is very, very romantic...we indulged in it every chance we got!

Congratulations!

ee

You may still want to bring your own beans if you are particular about your coffee. I didn't find the provided coffee packs made a very tasty cuppa until I followed by DBiL's advice and started using two of the packages per pot. Then it tasted like something

I second this suggestion. I'm not a coffee snob per se (maybe a little bit), and I'm definitely not an NCL basher (love NCL!), but the coffee for the little maker in our mini-suite on the Jewel was not enjoyable at all. After one try at that, we decided that it was well worth it to just go up to the buffet and bring some down.

JMHO,

ee

Do all ships have the Freestyle Sundeck now?

Great info, Cabincop! I wondered how on earth a butler could go running all over the ship to different restaurants...how silly of me!

ee

...so I'm very grateful for this thread. It's nice to have an idea about how much to tip the butler and concierge.

I'm always curious about the tipping at the end part. We've normally tipped a little bit each day to our steward and to anyone else who helps us out, like waiters or bartenders, even though they are in the tip pool. I can't help but feel like we might get better service if the staff member isn't wondering the whole time if they're just going to get stiffed at the end of the trip. (Not to mention, I always feel flat broke by the end of a trip...I'm probably more generous in the beginning...:D.)

ee

While our first "real" cruise is still a few weeks away, I can't help but share our most embarrasing moment aboard ship. About twenty years ago when we were young, and wild, and free, we were aboard an overnight ferry from the UK to the Netherlands, and being that poor goes along with the young, and wild, and free bit, we didn't have a cabin, just one of the reclining seats.

Well, after we'd all lifted more than a few too many alcoholic bevs, our travel companions headed off for their lounger. Left to ourselves, the mood turned amorous...very amorous, but what to do? No privacy! Until we noticed a life jacket cabin. Hmmmm....let your imagination run free.

Now for the embarassment part: When we emerged from the life jacket cabin sometime later, Hubby realized that his shoes, and some of his clothing which, by the way, contained his wallet, were missing! I think I hid while he approached the crew, who had indeed found the missing items just outside the aforementioned life jacket cabin. Gee, do you suppose they knew? LOL!!