Jana60

On 8/11/2019 at 3:24 AM, CruisingViv said:

Hello!

 This is my first cruise.  

What are the internal cabins like? Do you miss a port hole? 

I’m travelling from Southampton to Rome.  Anyone here going on a trip around Rome before going to the airport? My flight back to London on the 10th Nov is 1610.  

Thank you. Viv 

I personally really like to have some natural sunlight coming into the room because without that it tends to feel like it’s perpetually night. But I have found a solution that works for me. There is typically a channel on the TV on any cruise ship that will show the view from the front of the ship day and night. If you set the TV to that channel and turn down the volume at night you will have a faint glow of the ships lights glimmering from the TV screen and come morning you will see the sun come up. I sort of like to have a tiny bit of light in the cabin at night to find my way to an unfamiliar bathroom.  

On 8/25/2019 at 9:41 AM, Ferry_Watcher said:

No allowed due to fire hazard.  Your iron will be detected during your luggage scan and confiscated. If found in your hand carry bag, you most likely will have to say good-bye to it there.  If found in your checked luggage, you probably will be able to claim it at disembarkation.

The biggest danger that any cruiseship faces is fire and so for that reason they will not allow anything that would increase risk a fire to be brought on board.  Irons are forbidden.  They usually do have irons that have met their approval that they will loan passengers to press their clothes or you can send your laundry to be pressed by the staff but this could conceivably be a very pricey option.

On 9/15/2019 at 3:18 PM, Firepath said:

Anyone else book a second cruise before you even went on your first one? Hope we like cruising!

Looking back to the very first cruise I took In 1999 I mainly remember finding it difficult to find my way around the ship and there was seemingly no one who spoke English and worse than that everyone seem to not care whether I understood them. They just shrugged their shoulders.  Despite this inauspicious beginning I did develop a love of cruising and since that time have completed a total of 38 different cruises on four different cruise lines. The main suggestion I would make to anyone taking their first cruise is to look up as much information as you can about the ship you will be on. You have already made a good start by coming here to cruise critic as you are unlikely to find any better source of information. I would also suggest that you study the deck plans of the ship you will be on. This will typically not only show you where things are on the ship but even many times what purpose each of the main entertainment venues is used for. Then once you get on board maybe take a general walk-through of the ship to see if your studies were a success.  Next study the daily bulletin for the cruise.  It will tell you everything that’s going on on the ship on any given day. I even bring a highlighter and highlight the entertainment options that I am especially interested in. Other than these recommendations if I were you I would simply read and ask questions here at cruise critic.  
I would not have been brave enough to book additional cruises before my very first cruise only because some people find they are very easy to become seasick and until you experience a cruise you don’t really know if you are prone to that weakness.  Just to be on the safe side pick up some over the counter meclizine from your local pharmacy and bring it with you.  it is also wise to book your cabin in the center of the ship at the lowest level offering the cabin type you desire. The bottom middle of a cruise ship has the least rocking and will therefore be better tolerated should you be one of the people who become seasick easily.  

I have found through the years that my own attitude has the biggest influence on whether I’m going to have a great time on a cruise.   So most important of all is just have fun!

47 minutes ago, wurm914 said:

So, what's a cruiser who just wants a bevvy package with her balcony cabin to do?  NCL offers the Inside and Outside cabins with cruiser's choice of one or two promos.  Nice.  If you want a balcony, however, the price offered includes ALL The Perks and is considerably higher.  I've watched the promo's countdown clock on the NCL site tick down and then start over multiple times now.  Enough is enough, come on NCL - don't you have a different promo up your sleeve? Am I the only one? 

 

deb 🙂

if you want a cheap balcony state room and do not want the promos, just choose the sail away category. I have cruised numerous times on numerous cruise lines and I have yet to see a balcony cabin that I couldn’t be happy with.   The problem I always have is finding a balcony cabin that is still available that is accessible for my mobility scooter. It’s really crappy to see a fantastic sale and find that you have no opportunity to take advantage of it.   You could also try booking an ocean view and then bidding on an upgrade to a balcony. The balcony cabins may be priced much higher than Oceanview but the bid accepted is typically much lower and more in line with the number of perks you get with an ocean view.

Does anyone know if I can use a cruise next certificate to help pay down a cruise I’ve already booked or does it have to go on a new reservation?

 

 

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Did you start more than one thread with the same question because I could swear I answered this exact same question last week!

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My question is, can they be used?

 

 

 

Say after initial deposit, can they be used as payment toward the cruise?

I booked a cruise online and then immediately called the online travel agent to get my cruise next certificate applied. Initially they gave me flack telling me that I was supposed to pay the certificate by phone rather than booking online but when I became angry and said that their computer site had not offered that information they called NCL and explained the situation and NCL did allow them to use my cruise next certificate even though it caused NCL to have to send a refund of the $250 to my credit card.

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Martini bar "Shakers" on Breakaway, Mohito bar "Sugarcane" on Getaway.

Had a good time on the getaway but I think I would prefer to have a martini bar rather than the Mojito bar!

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I recently received my luggage tags from NCL that included 3 labels PP. Two had our names pre-printed and the third had cabin info but no preprinted name. I take that to mean I can have up to three checked bags per person.

Most of us print our luggage tags are self at home so we can print as many of them as we wish!

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Who buys this outright? Maybe a 3rd and 4th adult sailing free in a cabin?

The drink package would cost $831 per person for the third and fourth adult so unless someone is really stupid they should wait for a good sale on inside cabins and purchase one for the third and fourth adult rather than sharing one cramped little cabin with four people in it and paying $1662 + port charges for the privilege!

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Highest daily cost, but still no water included. At least they could have finally included water like the other lines.

I’d be willing to bet that if they were getting any people to actually purchase the beverage package they won’t be anymore. So with that being the case the NCL drink package is the cheapest package since all it cost you is 20 bucks a day for that gratuity fee!

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ahh... so wait till there's a no solo supplement sale and each book an inside room. :p

1 person books balcony gty and other person books inside gty and never use the room

Or use the inside cabin as an extra bathroom and dressing room with closet. Most women would love to have an inside cabin sized dressing room! That is assuming your inside cabin is close to the balcony cabin!

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Hi, please bear with me...it's my first cruise of my life! :loudcry:

 

 

 

 

 

I saw shampoo & soap are provided for sure, but how about conditioner and body lotion?

 

if yes, which brand will be? and we can ask how much as we need?

 

 

 

 

 

Our family will stay in H5 of Gateway in 2 weeks!

 

Now I am making a packing list;)

I was allergic to the products in the haven. For that matter I’m sensitive to the products supplied in the other areas of the ship also. I can use the hand soap but I bring my own shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, and lotion.

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I went on NCL Getaway 9/16-23 to Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Cozumel using a scooter for the first time. I checked with the excursion desk as soon as I boarded and they intern checked with each of the tours that I was interested in. They were all accessible for me and my scooter! I did the Salsa, Salsa, & Beach break in Costa Maya, the Jolly Rogers Catamaran, Snorkel, with lunch in Roatan, and the Playa Mia deluxe beach break in Cozumel. They were all great!

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re: 15 day Breakaway for $569 gty (+port fees/taxes)

 

i got assigned an IE on the 5th floor, right next to the elevator. :(

 

IE were listed as sold out when i booked the GTY.

so how did i get an IE?

What is an IE?

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Thank you for this, I am Belizean (my parents were born and raised there) and I have been visiting Belize City since I was a child. Belize is very beautiful and you have access to so many excursions that you can do (caves, Mayan ruins, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc) and I was disappointed when NCL changed the itinerary to HC. I also agree that Belize City is the "real Belize." Most of my family still lives there (my grandfather actually still gives tours) and I would just like to remind people that while it is a vacation to us, real people live there and their livelihood depends on tourists :)

I also find Belize to be very beautiful. The cave floating trips are really great! I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go to Harvest Caye and pay for watered down over priced drinks if they could go to Belize instead!

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I’ve been reading about a ton of ships changing these two ports and now mine did as well. I’m on the Pearl over Thanksgiving. I actually don’t mind because I’ve been to Harvest Caye and never been to Belize City. Just wondering why so many itineraries are changing.

 

 

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I wish my cruise would change from harvest caye to Belize! I don’t care for harvest Caye and I actually don’t intend to even get off the ship at that port!

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Inflated fare to cover the "perk" is certainly something to be said. NCL's marketing gimmick is brilliant, they've fooled customers to think they are only paying $18 a day for their much less than unlimited drink package.

I agree with you that the price of rooms that include the option of the free at sea choices is much higher than the sale away category and I do consider that when making a decision about whether to choose the package with the perks or the cheaper package without. But I will say this about NCL, they have the lowest price for solo travelers of any of the lines. On carnival I would have to pay $899 Plus taxes and port charges for a solo inner cabin without any perks whatsoever. On Norwegian Cruise line I just paid $1199+ port charges and taxes +129 for gratuities but instead of an inside cabin, I have a balcony cabin with 4 free at sea perks plus $200 on board credit! The balcony without the perks or OBC would have cost $899 plus tax and port charges.

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It also has a cap on drinks per day, which NCL doesn’t. So superior in some ways, inferior in others.

Since I only pay the gratuities on the package I’m not too upset about it not covering milkshakes but I do like that I don’t need to worry about keeping track of how many drinks I’ve had any given day and if I happen to order a drink and don’t like it it won’t count towards some magic limit. Just paid my gratuity and I’m set!

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Be careful, there are martinis that exceed $15. You’ll have to pay the difference in price.

Yeah the only one that really bothered me was the chocolate martini! I don’t understand why a chocolate martini would be over $15. Just weird!

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I don't remember exactly how much was involved, but it was a short walk to the bus and maybe a half block to the Salsa. I am in my 60's and have only 1 good foot and 70 lbs overweight and I made it with no difficulties.

It’s embarrassing to say but I can only make it to the back of a walmart super center if I have a grocery cart to lean on! During a flare I would need a scooter to traverse that distance so I should probably talk to someone at the shore excursion desk when I get on board.

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Heck aft balacony and large balcony should be their own category

I wish they would make accessible cabins in the Haven a separate category. I require an accessible cabin and have nabbed one in balcony so I would be afraid to make a bid for the Haven because I might end up being unable to get into the room. I must have a big enough door for my scooter!

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We're veteran cruisers who are venturing on Getaway for our first NCL cruise in Jan. and wondered what time the Haven and other specialty dining venues started serving dinner in the evening? We know the evening shows start at 7:30 PM and wondered whether there was sufficient time to have a nice dinner and make it to that first evening show. Thanks in advance and looking forward to some new adventures on Getaway...our days on Celebrity ships really got boring and the entertainment was the pits!

Most of the specialty dining areas start serving dinner at 5:30 PM. I will be sailing on getaway for the first time next week but on all the other ships I’ve sailed on this was the case and my waiters have always been very nice to make an effort to get dinner served in time for me to make it to the early show if I wish.

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One word: GAUDY.

 

 

 

GC

I agree! It’s not a big deal to me as long as it’s on the outside of the ship and not in my cabin or other public areas. I prefer more soothing colors to look at.

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Question. Does the hop on hop off stop at different sites and wait for you to get off snd back on since they have your luggage or is that just a continuous tour where you don’t get off since you were winding up at the airport thanks for any input we are going to do this.

 

 

 

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I have mobility issues so I am not able to do a hop on hop off bus tour because my “hopper” doesn’t work anymore! I just listed it as one option that is given for my upcoming cruise for post-cruise Norwegian Cruise line tours.

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When is your cruise? I have never had a cruise that did not have an excursion ending at the airport, maybe its just too early? Good luck! Note to the poster suggesting the hop/off bus, the whole goal here was to use the NCL credit so it has to be a NCL tour.

 

 

 

Tom

If you look at the screenshots I posted you will see that the hop on hop off bus tour that I reported IS an NCL tour!

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