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We did the thermal spa on the Gem and it was incredible!  This one looks a little different.  I liked the Gem one as the co-ed space was huge and based on pics of the jewel one, the jewel one looks smaller.  The GEM one had a hot tub in the coed area as well as a big hydro pool.  The locker rooms also had the same stuff as the Jewel one. 

We are on a 12 night repo cruise from tampa to boston in march 2025 and I bought the pass for us.  I think I will keep it even though there are at least 6 ports on the sailing.  But, once we start heading north it will be quite nice.

I don't expect the pool area to be that crowded with this being a sailing not many kids will be on, but having the heated loungers and a hot tub to ourselves will be nice, although we won't be able to be in them together in the unisex locker rooms. 

Does that sound logical to everybody?

hi, thinking about sailing on Breakaway (first time on ncl) for jan 4-11 2020.  Would have my wife and I, in one cabin, and 4 adult children (ages 18-24) in another cabin but I need 4 beds.  IS the family balcony the only inside/oceanview/balcony cabin that would allow for this?  I figure the 2 lower beds split apart, the pull down and the sofa bed.  One of them is small for their age, so I don't think the pull down or sofa bed would be an issue.

Thanks.

I for one have been looking at the MSC Armonia sailing there, as I really liked our sailing on the Seaside.  I know it isn't in the same class, but I would hope Armonia is a winner for some, anybody?

We had lobster tail one night with filet mignon in MDR, on the seaside. That was on Christmas Eve on the inaugural.

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We were on the dec 23 sailing and it was free. As my daughter said, maybe charging will make the lines shorter. They waited 90 minutes to ride it for free

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What is this I hear about guests being seated in the buffet area instead of the main dinning rooms?

 

 

 

Are the dinning rooms not big enough to accommodate all guests? Is this by design?

 

 

 

I have not heard of this practice in any other cruise line.

 

 

 

Cheers.

I was on the seaside during 12/23 week and did learn that this marketplace buffet area is one of the main dining rooms, we weren’t assigned to it, but did think that was strange too.

Great ship though!

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Yup we are on the seaside! We have teens and young adults with us so thinking dockyard might be a yawn fest for them. Would like to find a snorkeling area and maybe an place for water sports?

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Hi, In port on Dec 26th and thinking about a visit to Nelson's dockyard (first time ever in Antigua) and wondering if things will be closed that day being the day after christmas?

Also looking for suggestions on visiting Nelson's Dockyard and a beach. We are in port from 9am to 5pm.

There are of course excursions from the ship, but I like the idea of just being able to come and go as we please instead of being on a tour timetable.

Thanks.

Thanks for the info. I know that dolphin cay at Atlantis requires you wear a wetsuit so that will be our choice most likely to avoid the cold water issue.

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Hi, We are porting from 12 noon to 6pm on Dec 29th.

My daughter and son would like to do a dolphin swim, but my oldest isn't interested in it. My wife and I might. Given the limited time in port, what would you say our best option is?

Balmoral / Blue Lagoon / Dolphin Cay are our options. What I'm concerned about over Balmora is that going there is just that - no other time in port to shop, etc. The same goes for Blue Lagoon but that location looks like there is more to do there other than just beaching it after the dolphin experience as in Balmora.

We could book a Dolphin Cay experience and just get there by water taxi, but would there be something else to do there that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Is there a beach we could go to near there for free after this?

It's our last day, back to Miami the next day. The other 2 ports are St Thomas and Antigua so there will be plenty of beach time then I guess, but no dolphin options there.

Thanks for any advice.

Kids ages are 16 / 19 / 22.

Hi, will be sailing into Nassau for ship time of 10:30am on dec 29 and leaving at 6. Given these times does it make sense to do an Atlantis excursion, blue lagoon or a resort for a day stay at British colonial Hilton or just Junkanoo?

Help! Busy time of year and late arrival

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We are sailing the dec 23 seaside from Miami and staying the night before in Fort Lauderdale. MJS transportation will take us to Miami from the hotel but leaving at either 9:30am or 11am, not sure which to choose. It's a shared service so would be stopping in other places I assume. Ship debarks at 7pm so not sure when we can get on board. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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We are on the inaugural Seaside sailing and our cabins needed to be moved (our TA helped us). The ongoing construction changed the room capacities.

Hi, we are booked on the Dec 23 2017 Seaside sailing. When we booked with Fantastica tier (balcony and an inside) we got the unlimited drink package and OBC. Now it appears that Fantastica includes drink vouchers. Rebooking would save us $400 but we wouldn't get the drink package, just the vouchers - are the vouchers one per passenger or cabin? We have the more-for-less classic drink package included. We are not heavy drinkers....

Our kids with us then will be 22, 19 and 16. Does drink voucher include ice cream and soda too?

Thanks...

forgot to mention, age of 'kids' would be 20, 17, 14....

Hi, Been thinking about the Boston -> Bermuda NCL Dawn cruise for many years, being only 45 minutes from the Boston port. Obviously much cheaper than flying to FL or driving to NYC, etc. If we did this, we would do so with cost in mind.

Viewpoint would be the cruise fare would be the bulk of the money we would spend, and try to do island touring as inexpensive as possible - would be in late July or August so I figured just beach days would do it for me - also interested in seeing the caves and my daughter would like to do dolphin swim.

Question is, for those who have done this sailing, is it possible to not spend a lot on island touring, enjoying the island but relying on the $$ you have already paid for ship services (pool/food, etc) for most of the entertainment.

I figure one expense would be lunch, as depending on where you are on the island, going back for lunch would be troublesome.

Thanks for any advice....

Ken

Just booked! Christmas sailing - balcony and inside - with our kids - ages 22/19/16 then....their first sailing on any cruise, my wife and I have sailed RCCL and Carnival. Have also enrolled in Voyager Club with Loyalty Match - waiting for that to happen.

Woohoo!

Hi, planning on the inaugural 12/23/17 sailing for the Seaside. It will be my wife and I along with our 3 kids, then ages 21 / 19 / 16.

We can get 2 balconies or 1 balcony and 1 inside at $700 less than the 2 balconies. Either way, we will have our 2 oldest (sons) in one cabin (the inside if we go that route) and the balcony would have my wife and I and our daughter in that.

Is saving $700 worth it? I figured our 2 sons could use our balcony if they felt they wanted to chill on it, and we could use that $700 instead towards excursions and/or flights, etc. None of our kids have ever cruised before.

We also could do a seaside suite with the cool jacuzzi on the balcony, but that's just all of us in the same room and $700 MORE than the 2 balconies. Of course, there is also the yacht club, but again - all 5 in one room.

This would be the Fantastica grouping.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Ken

Hi, saw the Balcony Blitz promo - booking a bella inside (looking at Divina next June) gives you auto upgrade to Bella balcony, assigned 1 week before cruise.

Positives/negatives?

Thanks gymbomb. Breakaway might not be in the budget, and if not we will 'settle' with dawn

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Trying to take our teens and young man on their first cruise, ages 14/17/20. Thinking about either Bermuda via Ncl dawn or breakaway (we live in new England so not a travel issue) summer 2016 or msc divina to Caribbean summer 2016 or Christmas 2016.

I know a lot about the ship differences, but wondering about port opportunities. Bermuda is just being docked there for 3 days while divina is new ports each day.

I think that Ncl breakaway for bermuda would be better due to their better ship amenities for the teens, since we will be on that ship a lot. But, price is higher than dawn.

For msc, I know it is port intensive so I don't worry too much about ship amenities...

Thoughts?

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So we have been thinking about msc divina cruise for about 2 years, as it seems to be best for us pricing wise, other than carnival. If we go next year, summer, or this new years we would bring along our 2 teens ages 17 and 14 , boy and girl, and our adult son, 20. We did book one for feb 2014 but had to cancel.

I spend more time on the boards assuring myself that divina is okay for us and that kids will be happy. They have never cruised, my wife and I have on carnival conquest and rcl serenade of the seas in 1996!

I think we should stop worrying and go for it, I'm sure we will have a great time...thoughts?

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Thanks for your replies - been very helpful and encouraging.

I'm sure the unlimited food will be an enticement for them!

Hi, Finally ready to book a summer cruise with our family of 5 - my wife and I, and 3 'kids' - ages 19/16/13. 2 boys, 1 girl.

NCL Dawn is so easy for us out of Boston, we are less than 1 hour from the port. Many people though have told me Breakaway would be better, but the quotes I got from my TA show it $1.5K more than Dawn. Given that the kids have never sailed before (my wife and I have to Carib) I think it will be fine, as they really don't have anything to compare it to.

I figure the days at port we will just be 'doing' Bermuda, and the sea days will just be nice for relaxing, eating, swimming, etc....

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Hi, Does anybody have a review or pictures of Divina teen and tween areas?

Thanks