cidymom

I just received an email confirmation from NCL confirming the internet package that I picked as a promo. It says "250 minutes or 1000MB". I thought the promo was for both. Can anyone confirm who got the free internet package promo. Which is better? Thanks in advance.

Can someone who sailed Breakaway to Bermuda tell me which side (port or starboard) faces Bermuda when docked. I saw a picture from one of the reviews when Breakaway is docked with Celebrity Summit, it looks like the starboard side faces Bermuda. Can someone confirm this or does it change depending on which ship arrives in port first. Thanks all.

I've never cruised with NCL but plan to try it out next year on Breakaway. I've read a lot about upsells to Haven suites about a few weeks out. I just have some questions so that I fully understand the process: (1) Does NCL send you an email directly? What happens if you book through a travel agent? (2) Some people phone themselves so should I put a call through if I don't receive an email? or tell my travel agent to call? (3) How does NCL select who to upsell? Do you have to be already booked in a Haven suite then upgrade higher? or do you get the same opportunity if you are in an Oceanview, Balcony, Mini-Suite? (4) What are other additional costs of booking a Haven suite besides additional tips for the Concierge and Butler? (5) Do you still get charged a daily gratuity charge as usual? (6) Under the current NCL promo, Haven guests get all 5 promos, what happens if you don't drink alcohol and don't want the Drink Package do they still charge you the service charge for it? Thanks in advance for any advice.

If you're book in an Oceanview or Balcony, will you also get an upsell to a Haven suite? or is it only for those book in the higher categories Mini-suites or other Haven suites. I'm trying to figure out how this upsell work as it would be fabulous to upgrade for a discount! Have never cruised NCL before but thinking of booking Breakaway for next year. Thanks for any advice.

Hi everyone. I've never cruised with NCL before but would like to try out the Freestyle Cruising concept next year on Breakaway. When I do a dummy booking on the NCL website for 3 people and pick two promos (Specialty Dining & 3rd & 4th Guest Free), I noticed a service charge of about $25.00. What is the service charge for as I thought it would be free? Would it apply to the a la carte restaurants? Can you go to a restaurant more than once or are you limited in how many times you can eat at a pay restaurant? Is a tip the only thing to add to it? I'm assuming for the MDR which I understand is complimentary we do not need to dress up like with Royal Caribbean? Any advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated as NCL is new to us. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Gambee. I've been following along and reading all your reviews. I got hook on your Allure review and my family finally went and had the best cruise ever. I read your Breakaway cruise review to Bermuda and now your Escape review. As you have gone on both cruises that I'm interested in (Escape from Miami and Breakaway from NYC), I want to ask you which cruise you would pick if you could go again factoring in the ship and the itinerary for the month of May. Thanks for all the helpful info.

Thanks for the review on Breakaway. My family is considering a cruise on Breakaway out of NYC for next May to Bermuda too. I'm worried about the weather and choppy seas as I'm prone to seasickness. How were the seas sailing out of NYC to Bermuda and how was the weather in Bermuda? I understand Bermuda is not as hot as the Caribbean which is good but does it rain a lot in May. Have never cruised to Bermuda, always to the Caribbean, so not sure what to expect. I wanted to visit NYC and the NCL cruise to Bermuda also sails out of NYC so I can kill two birds with one stone! Thanks for your input.

Thanks for the review. How was the weather sailing out of New York and in Bermuda? Were the seas choppy? Since I'm prone to seasickness am worried sailing out of NYC in May. Thanks.

Thank you everyone for your feedback - it's greatly appreciated. As much as I like a longer cruise, I'm going with the newer Breakaway in April as that is the only time we can travel and tie it in with a stay in NYC. It has all the fun kid stuff that will keep my son busy so I can have a vacation too! Many thanks.

We've never cruised with NCL before, mostly with Royal Caribbean as we have a child. We would like to try out NCL out of NYC. We're used to ships with all the bells and whistles (Allure & Anthem) and great shows/entertainment. There are two ships sailing out of NYC next year - Breakaway (7 days to Bermuda) and Gem (10/11 days to Caribbean). We like the idea of a longer cruise but it is on an older ship. The Breakaway is newer and has all the fun stuff but only 7 days and stop at only 1 port. For Breakaway, I'm wondering is there enough to do in Bermuda for 3 days? For the Gem, are we going to be disappointed because we're expecting all the bells and whistles of the newer ships? Would appreciate any of your comments/perspectives. Thanks all in advance.

Does anyone know where NCL Jade will be in Feb/2017? I couldn't find any cruises for Feb/2017, only for January then jumps to March. Is it going into drydock? Any ideas? Thanks.

Would someone who has been on the 12-night Anthem itinerary to Labadee, San Juan, St, Maarten, Martinique, Barbados and St. Kitts report whether they noticed any mosquitoes in and around the port areas. With the Zika warning, I'm planning on wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellent. Because I'm highly allergic to insect bites, I was wondering if anyone noticed an increase in insects flying around the port area or even while the ship is in port. Thanks all in advance for your help.

Can anyone on the 12-night Anthem cruises tell me which two days they usually have the Wash & Fold laundry special. It's great to go on longer cruises but hard to pack for with no self-serve laundry! Thank you in advance for your help.

I was trying to complete my online check-in last night for my Anthem cruise and RCI asked for a photo upload. This is the first time I've come across this. What kind of photo do they want - I'm assuming a head shot? What size photo do they want - how can I get a photo to that size to fit in the box? Can someone provide guidance on how to upload a photo as I'm not understanding it. Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm planning for my upcoming trip on Anthem and want to pack light. Can someone tell me what toiletries are provided in the bathrooms - body wash or bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizing lotion, or? Thanks everyone!

Question for recent Anthem cruisers: would booking iFly for Day 2 out of Bayonne be too cold? I'll be going in April. Should I book later in the cruise? What do people think? Thanks all for any advice.

I'm from Vancouver, BC and I can't find the show on the Discovery Channel? Is it not showing in Vancouver? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Stupid question but I'm hoping someone who has done the iFly can shed some light. I scheduled my family for iFly at the same time. I definitely want pictures of us "skydiving" but will RCI let you bring a camera into that area and let a family member who is in line take pictures while its my turn? From pictures it looks like you have to suit up in a jumper so I don't know if they allow you to bring personal belongings. Or should I schedule my husband on another day so we can take pictures of each other on our turns. Any comments appreciated. Thanks.

Does Independent Driver have a website or email? I wanted a quote for a trip from Country Inn & Suites in NJ to Bayonne for an April cruise. Since I'm from Canada and if I don't get a hold of someone they may not want to call long-distance so if anyone knows of an email address that would be great. Thanks.

Can anyone tell me the closing time of the Solarium Bistro on Anthem of the Seas for dinner and whether reservations are required. I didn't see it in the Dining section when making reservations. Thanks.

Thinking of a cruise out of Miami next year after a land vacation. Can someone tell me how far it is driving time from the Miami airport to the Miami cruise port. Thanks all.

Found the Log In tab; able to access My Account now. Thanks everyone!

RCI must have changed their website. I can't book my dining on Anthem when I've read others on the same cruise have already booked theirs. When I go to the main RCI website, I click on "Already Booked" but there is no where to go to get to my reservation. Am I missing something? Before I was able to sign in with my username or reservation number and my reservation would pop up and now I can't even find my reservation! Help!! Thanks all.

Carol - thanks for all the tips and the links to PATH and light rail. I will have to go over them carefully. The plan is to commute into Manhattan every day instead of staying there. I guess I can buy a week pass for the New York subway. I will be staying over a weekend. I've booked Candlewood for April 12 to 17, 2016. Thanks again.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

138east (Carol) - I looked up your recommendation for Candlewood Suites Jersey City on TripAdvisor and it is exactly what I'm looking for (room with kitchen, close to PATH train into NYC, close to restaurants and shopping) so I booked it. Questions: (1) can you buy a train pass for several days instead of paying each time you get on? (2) we have a total of 5 pieces of luggage, can we still wheel it on the PATH train to get close to the cruise port? (3) if not, what other options besides a taxi to the cruise port? are there shuttles?

 

Thanks for your help.