bluefish17

Was there recently. I noticed the placard on the tender listed capacity as 450 people.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

We were on 16, port side and would definitely rebook there again if possible. It's crystal stairs down to Top Sail lounge. One flight of stairs up to the pool deck and One Bar ( these stairs are on the port side.) Also entry into the YC is easy as there is a card controlled door on Deck 16 at the aft end of the YC right off the elevator lobby.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I believe the North channel is the only option deep enough for a large cruise ship to get to the dockyard. If the Dawn is still aground tomorrow morning, that will be a problem when the Breakaway and the Summit arrive off Bermuda.

The lagoon gets as much breeze as the rest of the island. You can get chairs near the enclosed lagoon area or over near open water. Google facebook great stirrup cay. They have maps and pictures. We didn't get a clamshell but there were some by the lagoon.

The least crowded beach is the lagoon area, the farthest away from the tender dock. Well worth taking the time to get there, though. Immediately after getting off the tender, turn left (away from the beach and water) and cross a small bridge. Sign there says "tram". Get on the tram and ride to the lagoon beach. No crowds, some natural shade, Bobo link bar and food area, bathrooms with outdoor showers.

Another question: I know if you pay cash on the ferry it has to be in coins not bills. Can you use u.s. dollar coins, 50 cent coins, etc?

Can you buy the books of tickets at the dock yard or is it only tokens and passes?

There is a good sized CVS in San Juan directly across the street from the cruise ship piers.

Try the Aloft in Brickell. Location within walking distance of shops, restaurants, grocery store in Mary Brickell village. Also close to the metro mover and metrorail. 10 minutes to the POM.

I bought a "sixer" of Coke cans and a "sixer" of Sprite cans at the Publix in Miami and put them in one of our carryons which I gave to the porter at the cruise terminal. Our other luggage was delivered promptly but this bag didn't show up until almost 7pm and had a red tape stuck to the outside marked "liquor". It wasn't locked so I assume they opened it up to see.

I had a 6 pack of Fiji water in another suitcase and it went through fine. Go figure.

It would depend on where the sun was in the sky and which direction the ship was going in. Almost always the last 4' would be sunny and the rest shaded. The day I took those pictures we were docked in St. Maarten and the balcony was very shaded. (but those were all I had to post). Afternoons on the first 2 sea days when we were heading east, almost the whole balcony had sun. (sometimes too much since over the years I have had a little too much sun exposure). There is a little bit of a "tunnel" effect due to the shorter width in relation to the length which I think you can appreciate from the pictures. The regular balconies on the sides of the ship give you more of a picture window effect from inside the stateroom but of course the balcony itself is much shallower.

I did not have vibe passes but I did look in there. I probably would not get them if or when I return. Vibe is forward on the starboard side and is next to the Haven courtyard in the center of the ship forward. On the port side forward exactly opposite to Vibe is a quiet public sun deck which always had loungers available and extended forward where you can see ahead to where your heading while you sunbathe. There is a bar servicing the area and it must be the other half of the Vibe bar since my drink ticket said Vibe bar (public). There are of course no cabanas or hot tubs on the port side.

I enjoyed it so much up there on the last sea day, I got sunburned despite 50spf sunblock with frequent reapplication.

Also if you pay for the Vibe passes will you feel that you must hang out there most of the time to get your money's worth? I guess it's ultimately an individual decision.

I would estimate there is about 15-20 feet of the wake that you can't see. But the next 5000 feet or so is clearly visible.

It was neat to go down to Deck 8 on the aft promenade and look directly down since the profile becomes sheer at Deck 8. The water straight down looks like it's boiling, it is so agitated.

Since each deck goes progressively more aft due to the slant on the back of the ship, it mostly just blocks the view of Deck 8 and a slight amount of the water since you cannot look directly down.

This is true however for all the aft balconies since if you looked straight down from Deck 10, you would see part of the balcony on deck 9, about 3 feet of it (and the awning).

Here are some pictures of our aft balcony Getaway Deck 9, including the white awning that overhangs Deck 8 Waterfront Promenade. Hope this helps.

Don't worry, it's an awesome room. If we were going back again tomorrow, I would would want to get another aft balcony and on Deck 9 if available.

No, it didn't impede the view. You just couldn't look directly down at the propwash. View was great. Awning keeps strollers on the outside promenade deck 8 from seeing you or you seeing them.

We were in 9918 on the Getaway the week before Easter. Balcony has 2 loungers, 2 regular chairs, and 1 small table. There is still plenty of room with all that out there. The balcony is much deeper than wide but that gives you shade as well as a sunny part. No issues with soot or noise. Also not much engine vibration. Deck 9 has the largest balconies and you can walk downstairs easily to Decks 8,7,6 which have all of the inside dining, shops, casino, etc. We were right above Moderno's but you would never know. There is an awning which surrounds the Waterfront promenade on deck 8 so if you look directly down from 9 this is all you see.

We really enjoyed the Getaway. Have fun on your trip.

I was just there. We went to mullet bay first to snorkel but there is not too much to see and catamarans bring large numbers of snorkelers who fill up the water. The walk to Maho is easy. If you pay attention in the cab, you will know how to go to walk back.

We stopped at Guy's Deadwood Bar and had the best pizza I've had in a while (with some $3 Presidente Beers). All in all, a very enjoyable day on St. Maarten.

This is interesting information as I am one parent taking my minor son on a cruise.

(my wife doesn't want to go; we're doing a father/son trip).

I asked NCL through their chat feature about needing a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent and was told I wouldn't need this. And there is nothing on the NCL site addressing this issue.

I think I will go ahead and get the notarized letter because the last thing I need is having one more thing to worry about.

Thanks for the great review! We leave in less than 2 weeks.

Can you tell me what time you made it off the ship and through customs/immigration? We need to also get off early to catch a 1pm flight from

FLL.