thedoc29ca

Cruising the Encore round trip from Seattle in July and have air booked through NCL. Have return transfers booked through NCl for the first time. Overall pleased with NCL Air flights. Direct both ways. Early morning arrival the day before will allow us to explore the city. Slight concern with return flight 11:30am Sunday from Sea-Tac. Wondering if our NCL transfer will accommodate our NCl Air booked flight time but would not be surprised and kind of expect that there would not be communication between departments. Some posts recommend no earlier than 12:00 others have had no issue self disembarking and making early flights. Would rather not be waiting for a bus to fill and considering cancelling transfers and making our own arrangements unless NCL transfers are certain to leave and get us there for appropriate times. Thanks in advance for any input and previous experience.

Have not been on the Joy. Have been on Getaway and Escape 3 times each and enjoyed all of the cruises. I’d say more similar than different. One consideration would be the amenities that your daughter might be able to do. The drop slides on all ships have a minimum 100lb weight requirement, Joy’s Go-karts have a 48” minimum height to drive. In this area I’d give an edge to the Getaway. The ropes course, non drop slide and the rock wall on Getaway are all available if your daughter would like to try them.

Thanks for sharing your insights. We are still undecided and are waiting on another family to return from their current cruise - on the Escape to get their thoughts as well. Any other tips for Port of New Orleans if we opt to go that way. Walking luggage to the porters is already noted in my notebook, 🙂

Last year we were to sail out of Puerto Rico on the Epic. We had NCL Air and shuttles. The luggage was on the bus that dropped us off at a conference centre for COVID testing. Unfortunately my son tested positive (despite testing negative 48 hours before @ home). Long story - short version is that our luggage went on the boat and we did not. It took almost two months for it to be shipped back to us at home but we did receive it.

Great suggestion. We always fly in a day/night early and if we choose Escape with the Saturday departure I'll need to make my own flight arrangements as I understand with NCL Air I won't have control over flight times and I can't take off the Friday so it's late evening flights only. Thats one thing in favour of the Breakaway and a Sunday departure - I can let NCL take care of the air.

Thanks for the Thanks for your insights. We cruised out of Canaveral after flying into Orlando and it is a bit of a slog. Unfortunately as a teacher I've got to deal with peak time crowds. If you don't mind me asking what is it about Breakaway you prefer over the Getaway?

I was looking at booking two connecting inside cabins for a family of five instead of one family oceanview to have more space, an extra washroom and more free at sea perks. Was cautioned that splitting into two rooms would mean there would be a chance we would be on different flights. If in the same room - same flight.

Trying to decide between two cruises and looking for insights / opinions to see if I missing anything in the comparison. I tend to over analyze and plan so thanks for enabling me. Lol. Travelling with my wife. Her sister, husband and 3 sons (ages 14,10,8) would like to join us. Tail of the Tape Breakaway out of New Orleans visiting Cozumel, Routan, Harvest Caye and Costa Maya. Escape out of Canaveral visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Great Stirrup. Port of Departure and day of departure - I give the edge to Breakaway - never been to New Orleans before and with a Sunday departure can go in 1-2 days early and explore. Escape goes out Saturday and with needing to work Friday not much time to enjoy pre-cruise. Ship - Edge Breakaway - I think slightly. We’ve been on Getaway and Escape and I prefer Getaway and am assuming Breakaway would be similar. Also feel that my nephews would have more to do with rock wall and bouncy trampoline and spider web as their weight limits them to non drop slides. Itinerary - I give the edge to Escape(all ports my wife and I have visited, mostly all new for in laws) - Stingray City and Snorkel combo and Blue Hole are two of our favourite and I’m sure my nephews would love them. Slight concern that two of the ports are tender and might not make them due to weather. Thanks in advance for any additional insights in the comparison as well as how fellow NCL cruisers weigh the ship vs itinerary when booking a cruise.

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the pro tip. We are very excited to try something than a Caribbean cruise and tips like this are much appreciated.

We are on the Encore this upcoming July to Alaska and are considering the week long Spa Pass. Historically we’ve cruised the Caribbean with the kids and have enjoyed the pool deck and outdoor activities. This time we are just the two of us and are wondering with cooler temps if the spa will give us something to do during sea days and/or when we are back on the ship in port. Looking for previous experiences on outdoor deck activities on Alaskan cruises vs Spa passes and week long or daily spa passes. Any input is appreciated.

I’m a planner/over planner and this thread is just what I was looking for. We are on Encore to Alaska July 2, 2023. We are Platinum with a 2 meal specialty dining. To summarize book reservations at midnight 125 days out for dining and don’t worry about which voucher or way to pay until on board. When on board I’m thinking on using Platinum vouchers for Los Lobos and Onda and then specialty dining for Cagneys and Q Texas Smokehouse. Is entertainment booking @ 25 or 26 days for Platinum? Any recent experiences? Also is it 125 for spa passes? Thanks for helping me over plan.

We are taking an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle next July. We have NCL Air booked to take us in the day before to allow us to explore Seattle a little bit. Recognizing that there is no control over flights/times we were wondering if two days in advance might be better in the event our day befor flights get us in too late in the day to enjoy the city. Any previous flight times people have received and wouldn’t mind sharing would help us decide. Thanks

Does the daily schedule/cruise compass only appear in the app once on board or is it visible pre-cruise. If it is visible pre-cruise how far out. Thanks

We’ve done connecting insides on the Getaway and enjoyed the extra washroom,storage and privacy for the price of one balcony. Another option is an aft balcony opposite the corridor for the inside staterooms and the inside room at the end if both are available.

Another vote for the Hampton Inn-Brickell. Great location close to transit, lots of dining and shopping, very clean, nice breakfast.

Good tip - I’ll give them a look. Thanks

Awesome - I’ll plan accordingly.

I’ve attached the NCL Vacation Summary and Port Schedules - it appears GSC and Nassau are flipped.

Was checking various cruise ship port schedules to get an idea about how busy each port would be on our upcoming July 4 NCL Sky cruise and noticed they don’t match the itinerary on NCL. Has anyone had this happen? Which itinerary should I follow? Trying to avoid booking private excursions on the wrong day.

I’m not seeing the Waverunner excursion for our upcoming stop at GSC. Reached out to the Shorex number and very little info was provided. Informed me that they also do not see it on their end. I asked if it was sold out our not running perhaps due to staffing. Also asked if it was sold out for online booking might some spaces be held back for booking in ship. They could not let me know about that either. Has anyone been to GSC recently who might be able to confirm the status of the waverunner excursuion? Any insight if sold out if there are spots that might be available for booking on the ship. Thanks