spacewoman

Oh wow, on the Star when it bumped the Explorer. That would have been crazy. I watched the video that was posted on here from the guy that video taped everything. He acted so cool and calm. I think I would have been a little more "worried" and not as calm. Yikes. But the Star still has her battle scars. :D

 

I'm honestly not a complainer...AT ALL. I LOVE NCL and I cruise exclusively with NCL (I just can’t pass up the cruise certificates rewards deal and I’m working my way up the latitudes members scale) The complaints I have are not really complaints…just observations. I can’t imagine the staff not knowing about them since they are the one’s having to clean and repair them. Others have not noticed some of the things I have mentioned, I’m not sure if they aren’t “stepping” in the spots I was in or using the restrooms I was in. I’m just not sure. It would be neat to see someone going on the Star coming up to see if they go to the same place and find what I found. Maybe they have it fixed by now. I’m not sure. They do seem to fix things really quick and I love that about NCL. Always working and cleaning the ships to keep them in tip-top shape. :)

 

 

I didn’t realize they had changed their menus recently. Hmmm. I know some of the things that I had ate, I have had on the other ships and it was good. Other things that I didn’t like the way it was made, I don’t think there could be an improvement because it just didn’t go together (like the philly sandwich with gravy on it????). Either way, no matter what, you WON’T go hungry on any of them. If there’s something you don’t like, there’s always something else to choose from. No worries. I gained 7 pounds. LOL They must have some good food somewhere on the ship.

 

 

We have been on the Pearl (which is a Jewel class ship) and we liked her, but after that cruise, the Pearl was our least favorite…and I have to say this because of the “looks”…meaning no huge atrium as you walk in. Remember I’m about that WOW factor and love huge atriums. That was one of the main reasons I picked the Star. I knew she had a huge soaring Atrium. We picked the Dawn for our next cruise because she is the sister ship of the Star and I know she has that atrium as well.

 

 

I know we’ll like the Jewel just because of the Nickelodeon. Sakari is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE that. I wish they had it on all of the ships!

 

 

I wish I was done with this review so I could start working on the planning stages of my next during my “off” time from school. I only have 1 week left and then back to school I go. EEKKK :eek:

 

 

 

Thanks for the “Grandma” comment. (blushing) :o

 

 

 

You're welcome:D

 

You had commented on the video I uploaded. The guy at the rail (with the beer belly:D) is my DH. He's a former fireman and cop, he keeps a very level head from his training. Me - a tad worried as we started to come about again after smacking explorer.

 

Once again glad you enjoyed your vacation. That's the important part - that you just relaxed and had fun!

 

Kathy

So are you saying not to buy it till we leave port??:confused:

I don't know, that's why I posted the question. Any of our cruises out of NYC we have paid sales tax on our drink purchases before we set sail. With this package for the two of us we'd be looking at forking out at least another $65 to cover the sales tax.

Kathy

For anyone who has purchased this first day: were you charged sales tax while in port? That's a big nut to the port city. I know when we are in the NYC pier that anything we purchase until sailing is taxed.

thanks

Kathy

Great review!

We were on the sailing where we bumped explorer of the seas. I do not recall the issues you encountered and I would encourage you to write NCL about it. They welcome letters from their guests. I've noticed menu changes the last few cruises and wonder if this is not creating a quality problem because the chefs are not used to what they are making??

I wonder if you may find the Jewel to your liking, more so than Star. It does not have an atrium though. Coming from CCL it was weird not to see it. I found the layout on Jewel better, but that is just my opinion. Your daughter might enjoy the whole Nickelodeon adventure to her liking as well!

Wish I was on a cruise right now!!!

By the way, you do NOT look old enough to be a Grandma either!

Glad you enjoyed your cruise

Kathy

Two of the best already identifieid- Patti & Jose, and Fire and Ice!!!!!

Definitely two acts not to miss!!!!

These fantastic musicians and singers engage the audience, encourage you to sing along, offer wide-ranging styes of music, and are genuine and friendly mingling easily with their audience members between acts and very gracious and appreciative of their quick to become fans.

As others have indicated - you need to arrive early since after hearing them for the first time, you want to keep coming back. You find your self singing, moving and having a wonderful time. Their energy is amazing and it enfuses the crowds and the crew!!!!

Totally agree - Jose and Patti mix it up for all styles of music and fire and ice's dedication to Tina Turner was "simply the best!"

This needs to stay on the front page so I will post to keep it there for the moment.

As with everyone else I want to express my condolences on the loss of your beloved Dad.

Every time I cruise I wish that both my Dad and Grandfather were sailing with us. They both would have loved cruising.

Mr. Sheehan - your staff's actions and your response (as well as your PR dept) here on this board are the reason we sail and will continue to sail NCL.

Kathy

Good line!

 

I'll keep that in mind in case we run into someone attempting to make fun of the $519pp we are paying for our oceanview cabin on the Norwegian Jewel to Alaska!

Awesome deal Tapi - Congrats!!

Cocktails in Star Bar. Dress-up-or-not night, where most people wear something that makes them feel like they look good. Four-course dinners in front of a wall of glass that looks over the ship's wake. Cocktails in the piano bar. Quality entertainment. Well-designed public spaces that offer a nice balance of whimsy and elegance. Sounds just like Walmart, doesn't it?;)

Beautifully said!

My Mom, who has been on 7 cruises with us, just mentioned the other day about Carnival and the drunk-fest, puking, partying, crime stuff as she saw it on one of the news programs. She said "I'm glad I never saw it on any of our Carnival cruises, I guess that's why they're the cheapest, you get that with cheap" (not verbatim but the jist of the conversation). I was saying to myself What the H*** are you talking about? I could see the comment back in the day when Carnival was putting Barcardi 151 in their "drinks of the day." By GOD I got smashed on a few of those, not knowing how much liquor was in them. Yes over the years we've seen a few "idiots." They're on land as well, by the way.

A classmate of mine from high school will only sail RCI. Well good for you, you make over 100 grand a year and can throw money around. I can't. And no - I'm not out looking for a Walmart cruise line either.

I find NCL and their "freestyle" best suits our needs. We are very happy to come and go as we please and the staff treats us like royalty. They engage passengers of all age groups and I find the officers to not only be very friendly, but to also assist passengers any way they can.

As Halos said, the boards here are very helpful as you will learn to weed out some wacky comments versus the general consensus of most travelers here.

I've noticed our last two Jewel cruises that there are few people paying any mind to the lifeboat instruction. With our CCL cruises we had to have the life jackets on and be at our muster station. All the personnel made sure that we knew EXACTLY how these vest need to be on. For us --- we check the door to see exactly what our route is to the lifeboats.

This terrible incident should tell everyone how important emergency procedures are to learn. Granted, nothing will go "by the book." To me, if it's imprinted in my brain where the lifeboats are and I take the time to learn the layout of the ship, then I've got a good chance of surviving something catastrophic.

My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew.

Back in 2008 my favorite bartender, Lorna, would mix me up a martini I believe is called Blue Aquaris. I tried to replicate it but I'm missing something. It's vodka, blue curacao, lime juice. Mine was too blue. Any recipe for this?

THanks

You can't do this at check in...you have to go to Guest Relations once you board the ship to request a cabin change.

 

Frankly, if someone I didn't know were to knock on my door and ask me if I'd like to switch cabins, my first thought would be that something is seriously wrong here, and I might even report it to security. Knocking on someone's door is a really bad idea...don't even think of doing it...let Guest Relations try to relocate you.

Or it could be some dope like me who transposed the cabin numbers of a relative and knocked on the wrong door:D

Very embarrassing indeed:o

This is one of the pitfalls of doing a group booking. We had the same type of issue this trip. I was able to get an inside directly across from our balcony cabin for our friend who was traveling solo, but my Mom's cabin wound up 5 cabins down. I asked here on the boards and got flamed for it. I did try the TA (an online advertiser here who I was using for the first time). They told me that unless I had the reservation number of the cabin next to us or my Mom that they couldn't help us. It definitely made me wonder if the $100 per cabin savings was worth using them instead of my usual TA. After we boarded I noticed the cabin next to us had a family with small children. No way I was going to ask them to swap with my Mom's. Too much for them to deal with, that's for sure.

If it was just the two of us traveling I really would not have an issue swapping a cabin, most especially if we had a connecting cabin. I know that would be ideal for a family.

We did a group booking on CCL back in 2008. We had the same scenario when it came to cabin assignments. BUT--- I looked on CCL's website (before final payment) and noticed that two cabins right next to ours were available. My TA was able to call her people at CCL and they allowed her to swap a two for two deal (She gave back two from her group booking to get the two we wanted).

I think what it comes down to is one of two things: either book directly choosing the exact cabins you want or 2 - book very early with any TA doing a group booking. Hopefully your TA has an easy way to look for you.

Me - if someone offered to swap me a balcony for my oceanview I'd do it in a heartbeat - you'd be my own special upgrade fairy:D

What a review! One of the very best I've read on the boards.

The donuts, hysterically funny. Loved the pictures of the dolphins. This year I finally got to see one as we were coming into Port Canaveral. I saw a dorsel fin last year near Virginia, but it didn't surface for me to find out if it was a dolphin (too far away).

Your writing style is witty, hilarious and to the point. I especially loved the comments about the line cutter (saw that time and time again on our Carnival cruises) were spot on. There's a lot to be said about getting dining room breakfasts where this does not happen LOL

Again, what a treat to read your review. Everyone here where we live are bummed out with hurricane damages and never ending rain. It was nice to have some uplifting. Hope all your cruises are as enjoyable as the one you just took

Kathy

one of the best reviews I've ever read!!!

We were reluctantly leaving the Jewel that morning looking at Glory as we left the pier area.

Glad you had such a great cruise!

Can anyone tell me if they have diet Dr. Pepper? Thanks!

Dr. Pepper is a coke product and NCL carries Pepsi products - unless somebody gets the contract changed you won't see Dr. Pepper

Not only did we get the postcard I just got but we get debt consolidation, eliminate your credit card debt, get a reverse mortgage, we'll help you lower your property taxes (BOY I WISH), you're military we'll get you a good mortgage, we're overstocked on new cars, and on and on. At least the bulk mail is keeping my brother working:D

Just giving those who were thinking this might be a good thing a heads up. I figured I'd get other posts with the truth behind the whole thing.

Sad part is there are those who will believe it is nothing but the truth. Those folks you could sell an ice fishing trip in the Florida Everglades to. My SIL is one of them.

Sad but true.

 

Mine was leaving from Seattle for 7 day cruise stopping at ST Thomas.

 

Was kind of wondering how they would pull that off.

Maybe there's a new cruise ship out there that can FLY???:)

It's very scary out there SKY

Back in the day maybe late 1990's we contacted a travel agency in Florida who offered cruise discounts out of Florida. These jokers wound up being sued by the Attorney General's office in Florida for their business practices. We lost a very small amount of money to them and when all was said and done the owner of the travel agency had all his personal assets in his wife's name and the courts had nothing to seize to pay back those who were ripped off. This is why I've always done face to face with a TA for our travel plans. (one nightmare through our bank as well unfortunately).

This year we're booked through one of the advertisers here because they gave us such a great price, but I'll tell you I'm still a bit nervous even though they have never given me a reason to be. Just those past experiences roaring their ugly heads:eek:

Heads up to everyone.

Postcard being circulated around saying you WON a free Carnival Cruise up to 8 day voyage. Nice pretty picture of a Carnival ship on it as well.

Come home Saturday Hubby says "you got a card from Carnival saying you won a free cruise." I look at it and tell him, can't be from Carnival no return address from Corporate in Miami. For that matter no return address, period. Says "we've been trying to contact you, this is a free cruise celebrating the opening of our business in your area." If it was in my area I would have seen a big TO DO in the papers.

I tried to look up the number on the internet, just kept saying toll free, no further available. I call the number from my cell phone and get someone saying "hello could you please give me your offer number." Not, Hi, I'm so and so from such and such company. I hang up. I then GOOGLE it. I pick up another cruise message board where I then see a picture of the exact same card we got. I also read about people falling for this garbage. One was into this company for $400 and still hadn't received a confirmation on a cruise date they chose.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE --------- IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!

I still have the postcard and can scan it and upload if anyone wants to see it.

Kathy

I just booked my next cruise and to tell you the truth I feel like a traitor. I will not travel to a port out of state to take a cruise. We sail out of NYC and that is just easier for me. My problem is that I love Carnival but having been on the Miracle twice and the Glory just recently but, I wish that Carnival would rotate the ships they have going out and do it yearly so that you don't have to sail the same ship twice or three times. I think it is nice to be able to experience different ships. That being said I am booked on the NCL Gem for Bermuda because of the time frame. The CCL Miracle does sail but in April and it is a bit chilly at that time of the year. In May and June my choice was NCL Gem. So, I am booked and now I find out that the Gem is no longer doing the buffet on the Lido but that meals will be cooked to order :confused: I am having this checked out and hope it is not true. Also, the food on Carnival is excellent and I am hearing that NCL's food is not that great anymore :( I just needed to vent. Anyone with any thoughts to help me feel better?

I'm a chicken to fly so I have the same options as you - go out of NYC, Brooklyn, Bayonne or don't go at all. We sailed the Pride to Bermuda our first cruise. Then they put Legend in NYC doing Eastern Caribbean. Then were of the same feeling - different ship, itinerary?? We hit NCL for two cruises, then Princess, then did Miracle twice. This year the timing and OBC swayed us back to NCL. We did Jewel. It's a wonderful ship. The Gem is her sister ship. I CANNOT see how they would get rid of buffet. There's no way you can cook to order for that many people. I think someone is pulling your leg. Many posters, including myself, will say the lines are more similar than they are different.

I was surprised to see they actually changed up the itineraries with Miracle this year and that they're including Bermuda next year. But---- April for Bermuda is a risk of having warm enough weather. NCL is also putting together 10 day caribbean cruises January and February.

It all comes down to what the market is demanding. You can also drive to Baltimore for the Pride but be aware she is the sister ship to Miracle so it would be same ship, different decals I call it. Next year NCL Dawn will be running out of Boston. So it's a couple of different options for those of us who don't want to fly but it adds gas and parking costs to the trip.

I have never been disappointed in any of the 3 lines we've sailed. I so want to do Princess again but they only do the 9 day caribbean now during peak season. SHOOT

Thank you for posting.Excellent info. I will make a couple of corrections. The price for the smaller package is $385. The larger package includes an open bar. You do not have to book before the cruise. It can be done on the cruise.

Thus making it easier to surprise someone!!!!!!

Thanks for the corrections, without pulling out the folder I kept I wasn't sure if it was $285 or $385.

Kathy

Not trying to steal thread from Mike but this will give him a few second break of posting as we all anxiously await the Freedom review.

Anyone considering renewing their vows -- please do it you won't regret it, REALLY.

How Mike planned it out as a big surprise was simply fantastic!!!

Unless the price has changed it's $285. You pay before you cruise. It includes up to 8 people and comes with two souvenir champagne flutes and a cake. You also get a framed document of your vows which is signed by the Captain and your witnesses. The cake, by the way, is made how you like it. They drop a note in your cabin telling you when to meet the wedding coordinator. You then meet with her and the captain. They will then give you some time options and you're all set (one couple wanted to renew on their actual anniversary which they were able to do) You can have your ceremony videotaped, the cost is $199. I set up our camcorder in the corner of the chapel and recorded the ceremony as well but there is nothing like that professional camera taking pictures.

For our ceremony it was the 2 of us, my mom, his sister, our travel agent and her significant other. We did the ceremony, had cocktails at the atrium bar followed by dinner at Nick and Nora's (Miracle's supper club). We asked that they bring our cake to the restaurant for dessert. We asked our servers to also offer a piece of this cake to other guests who were dining there that evening.

Just as other posters have said some of us got engaged in unconventional ways - no down on the knee off in some romantic setting, etc. We got married on a shoestring budget, we lost our reception hall a week before we got married and had to have it in a FOE hall; the hotel we chose to honeymoon in at Lake George was, for lack of better words, a roach coach motel with an oil slick for a beach; they upgraded after my husband's pleading to a small cabin that was infested with bees. After 3 days we said we're out of here and went to my grandparent's cabin on Wanaksink Lake and my parents joined us that weekend. In the scheme of things it all worked out well as my Dad died 6 months later.

So--life is short, just do it!!!!

Kathy

What a fabulous review! Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us and especially sharing your proposal and vow renewal. We were tossing around the idea of renewing our vows on board the Miracel in February...you just made the decision easier.

 

You have a very beautiful family and your wife is so lucky to have such a loving and caring husband. Kuddos to you! Especially for supporting her decision on her new career and going away from you and the kids for such a long time.

 

Wish I would have found the review when you first started it. Read it all over the past few days. Didn't want to stop! Beautiful pictures too. I think you should print in all out, review and pictures. Make a fabulous scrap book with it and present it to your honey as a surpise gift....now, do you have time to do all that too? LOL ;)

 

Again, thank you for doing this for all us cruise lovers.

We renewed our vows on Miracle in 2008 for our 25th. You won't regret it.

Kathy

Mikey, Thank YOU, for sharing your very excellent adventure. I've been reading your review for a couple of weeks and its very cool how you take time to "thank the thankers" for their kind words and compliments - to which I just have to say "ditto." The folks who should be thanking you are the guys at the Carnival Guest relations department - there is no question that your review will generatre more revenue for them.

 

DW and I have been kicking around the notion of a renwal for our 20th anniversay in 2014. I think you closed the deal. Are you sure you're not stealth marketers for Carnival? You have so many of us green with envy it made me think of this movie - http://www.movieweb.com/movie/the-joneses/trailer

 

Thanks again, we're anxious to hear which of the four ships was your favorite.

Do it you won't regret it. We did it on board the Miracle in 2008

Kathy