laniriveira

8 hours ago, sanmarcosman said:

Gelato was served every day of the cruise in April. I hope this will be true in January as well.

Ohhhhh I hope this is true next May!!

On 11/14/2022 at 3:19 PM, lax19 said:

Just got off Panorama Saturday the 12th. Three out of the four production shows were outstanding (Soulbound, Celestial Strings and Broadway Beats). Costuming was incredible and the performers were really good. The other show (Woodstock/Rock…can’t remember the name) was not great. Odd costumes and no real rock songs - No Hendrix or Stones.
 

Do the ropes course and Sky Cycle on a port day when everyone else is off the ship for no waiting. Do them early because the last two sea days heading back to Long Beach are quite windy and they may be closed.

 

we did the sushi making class in the carnival kitchen. That was a lot of fun! Sign up early before you get on board because it fills up fast ( only 18 or 20 spots).

 

There were 4200 people on board, but it did not feel crowded. We usually ate in the MDR around 6 and never waited more than 10 minutes after booking through the App. The serenity deck was not very crowded and we could always find loungers there or at the main pool. The deck above the aft pool has some nice spots to sit and eat. The longest lines were for pizza, but still the mist I encountered was 10 people.

 

My biggest piece of advice is get involved and get out of your comfort zone. Attend the parties and games. The fun squad is outstanding and Marty the cruise director really made the cruise enjoyable.

We can’t wait to sail!  Thank you for all the tips. Hope you enjoyed your cruise 🚢 

Can someone elaborate on the meaning of ‘elite’?  We’re sailing in a free interior (double occupancy) with $200 OBC and ‘drinks on us’ while playing in the casino.  Paid for taxes, fees, and port expenses.  Would that be considered an elite cruise?

We’ve always chosen the ‘your time dining’ so we could request a table for our specific party size.  Obviously, there are busy times during dinner that would require you to wait longer for an available table.  

On 11/6/2022 at 3:05 AM, CRocks said:

Wife + I both LOVED the Panorama and it's itinerary! We're platinum, and next to Alaska, this has been our favorite cruise. Enjoy!

We’re very excited to sail this ship!
We are 11 days away from platinum, 4 days after our sailing on the Panorama .. we would love to sail more but it’s a trek getting from O’ahu to the mainland!  Have a wonderful time in Alaska 🦀 

On 11/5/2022 at 4:52 PM, southbayer said:

Exact same thing here... Haven't been on a cruise since 2019.. Panorama next week tho!

Lucky!  Have so much fun — we’re not sailing until the end of May 2023 🫠

On 11/5/2022 at 2:25 AM, Joebucks said:

The lack of casino bar and small comedy club are the stains of this ship. Other than that, I loved it. Heroes tribute bar is the best sports bar I have seen on a Carnival ship. The food options are plentiful. Everything is in rather good working and physical condition. I really enjoyed the itinerary too. 

Hmmm no casino bar!!?  We’re actually sailing with a casino promo which includes free drinks while in the casino.  I’m guessing they having to trek to another bar to get our drinks.  

6 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

best thing about the panorama is the elevator system.  you punch in your floor ahead of time and get assigned an elevator car.   no more line jumpers! 

 

its a nice ship.  have fun!

Really?!?  So, if someone hops in they’re going to whichever floor we selected?  Once inside the elevator are you able to make a selection?

6 hours ago, csm5986142 said:

For embarkation lunch, go up the stairs near the rear buffet, to the Asian or Italian restaurant (there is an upcharge for dinner, but both are free for lunch).

When we were on Panorama a couple months ago, the buffet was crazy busy during embarkation and people could hardly find a free table.  We went upstairs to the Asian restaurant (it's called JiJis at night but something like the Asian Wok during the day).  It was very quiet with just a few other couples in the entire restaurant.  Service was amazingly quick and the food was really good.  By later in the week people had figured it out and lines were long and service was slower.

My other favorite thing about Panorama is Fresh Creations on the serenity deck (made to order salads where you select the ingredients and they put it together for you).  Really good salad with different options than their typical salad bar.  We grabbed a salad and brought it down to a lower deck and we had like 8 people ask us where to get it.

 

Thanks so much for the tip!  We will definitely head there for lunch on embarkation day.  Do you happen to remember which dressing options were available at Fresh Creations?  

It’s been quite awhile since our last cruise, 2019 to be exact.  Any post-COVID changes that I need to know about?!  Like, are we still able to

bring on soda and one bottle of

wine at embarkation?  

In regards to the ship, what is the best and worst things (in your opinion of course 🙃) about the Panorama?

Thanks in advance \m/

Is this offered only on certain ships? We sail on the Crown end of November and milkshakes aren't listed under the soda's and more package. It states, "Indulge yourself with this premium Unlimited Soda & More Package, entitling you to unlimited fountain soft drinks, plus mocktails, juices, and complimentary hot chocolate throughout your cruise. Price includes service charge."

I was on the miracle Sept 2016 and pack the Coffee-mate 2Go (3 fl oz) in a ziplock bag and packed it into my checked luggage and it made it safe and sound to my stateroom. Mind you, I left it at the Lido buffet one morning and went back 10 minutes later and it was gone!!

No, it has to be actual cash money, $20, $50, $100 dollar bills. You can swipe a credit or debit card at a kiosk but they will bill your entire folio onto that card that you add onto your account.

How funny, I never thought of it until reading your post! My son is born on the 13th and I play 13 black on roulette all the time and usually always hit it; well most of the time! I think 13 is a lucky number. Enjoy your 13th cruise :)

DS turned 9 on a 4 day Inspiration cruise this past December and staff wouldn't let me enroll him in the 9-11 year group. I think it depends on the staff member you speak with when you go to registration on embarkation day.

The Pearl was the first Thermal Suite we ever did. We loved it and even more than on some of the bigger ships. Only one we like better is the Epic which has an outdoors resting area.

What specifically is male and female only on the Epic, if you can recall?

We were on the Jade 11/2013. On port days during lunch and dinner hours (I don't know them specifically) you are charged if your child remains in Splash Academy.

Kids are able to order from the kids menu at all specialty restaurants (at least from my experience aboard the Jewel and the Jade).

I took a closer look at myncl and for my sailing (3/6/16 - 3/28/16) I am unable to make reservations at the following restaurants on specific days ...

Cagney's 3/13/16 is not an option on the drop down menu under dates

La Cucina, Moderno, Teppanyaki and Le Bistro are also unavailable to make reservations on 3/9/16 and 3/13/16

Weird!

Maybe try logging out, clearing your cache and trying again. I'm booked for the same show on 3.22.16 at 7:00pm and it is allowing me to making dining reservations (UDP) that same night from 8:30pm - 10:00pm.

Ok, forget my last post! I called NCL back hoping for a representative that would have more info on the Thermal Suite Pass and found out that if you are sailing for 14+ days the Thermal Suite Pass is $199. So, thank you OP for posting this info!! I cannot pass up a 22 day Thermal Suite Pass aboard the Epic for $199!!!!

I called - that's the cost for the entire cruise, both segments. All booked, thanks!

Really?!?!? I just got off the phone with NCL and was told that the $199 I am seeing on myncl is for one leg. DH and I are on the 3/6/16 22 night Med aboard the Epic. We have the option to book 3/6/16 or 3/16/16 for $199 and I called into NCL after reading your post and the representative I spoke with said that I would have to choose a segment I want and pay $199 but the $199 is not for the whole 22 days. Did you book online or over the phone?

Hi Treven

 

Last few chefs tables I have done, there was no longer any meetings or discussion, there was a form about food allergies, but general feeling was if you said yes you would not get picked,

 

It was not like the old days, no choice.

 

yours Shogun

Bummer! Well, we plan on trying out the steakhouse one night.

It is not required to have a reservation and in fact they will usually take reservations for no more than 30% of the anytime tables.

 

Just show up when you want to eat. However, just like a restaurant on land, if many others decide their anytime is the same as yours, there will be a wait for a table to be available.

That is such a relief to know! I was getting worried about how I was going to know when I'd be hungry for dinner in the morning lol. I figured the popular dining times would require a wait, which is fine.

Another vote for the Pub Lunch. It's pretty popular so get there early.

Also there is the Chef's Table. For $95/person, you get appetizers and champaigne in the galley with the head chef & maitre'd. Then out to your table in the MDR to enjoy a 5 course meal with paired wines. At the end there will be a ship's photog to take a pix of your group with the head chef, maitre'd and head pastry chef. You will also get a copy of Princess' cook book, Courses and the ladies will get a long-stemmed rose. If you are, in any way, a foodie or like me, like to think I am, this is something not to miss - doing it at least once. It's quite an experience.

To get on this you need to call the DINE line on your telephone or see the maitre'd outside one of the dining rooms. They only take a maximum of 12 diners, so the earlier you can board the better your chances.

 

You know, I'm such a foodie myself! DH isn't allergic but gets sick (nausea, upset stomach) from onions. Green, white, raw, sauteed, shallots etc!! So, he is so afraid to commit to the chef's table. I really wanted to on our Mediterranean cruise on board NCL but didn't want to as a solo. One day when my children are older hopefully one of them will join me :)