graphicguy

MIami (MIA) is only about 8 miles to the Miami cruise port. FLL is about 30 miles to the Fort Lauderdale cruise port.

Yay…glad to read you made it. Logan is a terror. Used to fly there weekly and rent a car to Acton. And, that’s when the “BIG DIG” was still happening. Not for the faint of heart. Have a “dark and stormy” and relax!

How cool. I’ve taken that excursion, but it’s been years. What fun. Glad to see they still offer it.

Not sure how true this is, but one of the NCL pre-cruise concierges said July sailings are capped at 70% capacity. I’m sure that restricts availability, and could mean higher prices. But, pricing now, compared to pricing before the COVID break, is still less than before. I know my July sailing is nearly sold out.

Got it this a.m., too! I’m sailing to the Eastern Caribbean next month. I took it to be just a reiteration of the U.S. requirement to have a negative COVID test to fly into the country. That requirement had been lifted weeks ago. Yes, it’s redundant. But, I don’t mind. NCL still requires a negative COVID test to embark. But, coming up on 1.5 years of testing requirements, I think they’re seeing the same stats we see. I haven’t looked in a while, but adults in the U.S. have a vaccination rate of 90%+. The older the person, the higher the rate. Even the 18-24 age range is near 80% vaccinated. Maybe infants will continue to need a negative test, until they’re vaccinated. This didn’t happen overnite. It took nearly two years, but we’re getting there. I’m sure Norwegian sees those numbers, too. I’d say the vaccination requirements stay, but the testing will eventually be optional.

Agree on both counts. You want a show and activities, the Martini Bar is where you want to be. But, if you want to see some really good entertainment from some of the solo (or duets) artists, the Eden Bar is a great hangout. It's also a place where they do some of the smaller activities on the ship. Magic Carpet was never busy, which is what made it so comfortable to just take in the scenery as the ship sailed.

I understand. I'm retired. It's a recent phenomenon. But, it allows me to be way more flexible with when and where I can book. As such, I'm usually able to find a good/great fare on one of the big cruise lines and not look at specific weeks. I can broaden my search by cruislines, cruise ships, time of year, month, cabin type, itinerary, etc. Once I broaden my search criteria, it makes it relatively easy to find a "deal". This time last year, all the lines who were starting up sailings again, had cheap fares at the same time. Ordinarily, that's not true. I don't look far out, though. I certainly don't look out a year (or more). Usually, once I decide to go, I start to shop. And, I'm shopping for a fare anywhere from a week out (where I find the best deals), all the way to 2 months out. Past that, I try not to plan...well....anything. I like to be flexible....may have something come along that I'd rather be doing. Sometimes Celebrity will have a deal going on. Sometimes it's NCL. Sometimes it's Royal, etc.

You’re right. I just re-read what I typed earlier, but too late to change it. My mistake. That’s not what I meant.

I’ve sailed the Sostice, too. Love the grassy area on the S-Class. But, still take the Magic Carpet for SAILAWAYs and sunsets. More than once I’ve stayed on the Magic Carpet from sunset to well into moon rise chatting with fellow cruisers and the bartenders while enjoying a warm breeze and listening to the ship cut through the water. During the day, I do love being in the grassy areas on the Solstice, though.

Good question. Not that I’ve seen. It seems like they get to a certain level and make the announcement for “all others” to embark.

Posted this elsewhere, same is true here. On any given sailing, on any of the cruise lines, on any ship, with similar itineraries sailing in similar categories, on the same dates, fare prices are going to vary widely. These sorts of threads pop up regularly stating a guest will/won't sail on any given cruise line because of fares. I bet if you look at that same sailing on the NCL Pearl, same category, in March or April of 2023, you'll find a much different fare. NCL seems to reward those who don't book that far out. Just a general observation. I get my best NCL fares booking last minute....sometimes only 2 weeks (or less) before sailing. Some cruise lines have their least expensive fares when booking far in advance. It's just a different way of doing business. Not saying one is better than the other...just different.

Last Fall and kind of lengthy, but should give you an idea of what to expect....

I can find a deal on any cruise line, just about on any ship, sailing to somewhere I'd like to go. I can also find a sailing, on a different line, sailing somewhere I'd like to go, on another ship, doing the same itinerary where I think their fare is crazy expensive. Over the years, I've learned to shop for the deals. Takes some time, but I consider it a hobby. 😉 As far as what is/isn't included in any of these suite classes, if your expectations are within reason (sometimes not even remotely reasonable), the ship's crew will do their very best to provide it.

Love me some EDGE. I spent many a sunset in the Magic Carpet, just relaxing on one of their padded chairs or couches watching the sky changing colors sipping on Buffalo Trace. One of my favorite things to do. Beautiful ship in and out.

@ggTexasGal summed it up well. The embarkation order is Haven Suites, Latitudes levels (highest gets priority over the lower levels), then the rest go for boarding. Used to be able to show up when you wanted, first come-first served. That’s no longer the case. You’ll be assigned a boarding time upon check in. It goes much quicker if you show up at that time to embark. I saw people put in another line to wait when they showed up too early. Sail Safe in general means you have to show proof of full COVID vaccination(s) administered at least 2 weeks before embarkation. If sailing in North American (including Caribbean) no boosters are required. Bermuda seems to be in flux, so check with Bermuda’s requirements specifically if sailing there. You must also have proof of a negative Antigen or PCR COVID test two days before embarkation. You can go to your healthcare provider for that, or to your local CVS/Walgreens to have that done. You CAN NOT just use one of those quick self tests. It must be proctored. There are proctored tests available to purchase from the Sail Safe site. Or, you can get them from Emed.com, too. https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe#t4m1 Hope that helps!

I get it. There are lots of free things to do. The main shows are free. There’s entertainment throughout the ship at different times that is free. Pools and water slides are free. In short, plenty to do without spending more. I like both the Encore and the Escape. Both are the new ships that are only a few years old. So, they have the new dining venues in addition to the NCL favorites. I do agree that going out of Miami is more desirable than going out of Orlando….unless you plan to spend some time at Disney and/or Universal for a few days prior/after the cruise. Miami is easier to get in and out of.

All activities like go-carts are optional. You do not have to utilize those activities nor pay for them. They are available to book at extra cost, though!

If you are a Stevia user, I pack these…. https://www.amazon.com/stevia-tablets/s?k=stevia+tablets

https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/nclh/earnings https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/ccl/earnings https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/rcl/earnings NCL and RCL are kinda where I thought they'd be. Q4 will be telling. But, we're seeing bookings fill the ships to "near" capacity, and certainly more than they were sailing with this time last year. CCL is something of a mystery. Fares have stabilized. They know how to make money in the cruise and hospitality vertical. Revenue is real given the FCCs are probably (mostly) used up by now. Can share prices go lower? Yeah...the entire market is that way right now. But, I also think the Fed's moves will have money tighten a bit and moving back into the Market. That will be good for bargain hunters (like me) who are looking for revenue growth opportunities with these shares.

You know, you're right. I would order coffee in the a.m. and they'd bring the French press. I thought that's all the coffee that was available. And, given a choice between the French Press and the "urn" coffee, I'll take the French Press every time. I even liked the Nespresso machines in the Suite. But, a freshly made Cappuccino is still my fave. Now, I know. Thanks!

Yeah...it takes some drilling down, but as you say, if you click all the way through to the end (but before you give payment instructions) you'll see what the fare is, what (if any) OBC and perks you get. They won't show that (or at least it's too hard for me to find) to get the fare and perks all in the same place, at the same time, for any particular cruise unless you follow it through. That's particularly true for solo rates.

Thanks! I like foamy milk, too. 😉

OK....I hear what you're asking now. I have only been in one Jewel Class Haven Suite....and that was for a party (a CC Cabin Crawl) in a Garden Villa. Pretty danged incredible Suite complete with the Butler serving canapé and serving drinks. I even think @mking8288 was there with his beautiful wife. That was more than a couple of years ago, and it was on the GEM. I do remember the host (whose name escapes me right now) said he had to get permission to allow us into his Suite. And, we had to be escorted into the Haven and his Villa. What I don't know is if any of that has changed in the ensuing years. The Haven area on the GEM was quite small. And, we had to march through it to get to the suite. So, if you aren't staying in the Haven, you'll be conspicuous. All that being said, when I sailed the Encore last year, I asked for a tour of the Haven on that ship (including a vacant Haven Spa Suite) through the Customer Service Dept. They had to get the permission of the General Manager. And, I had to be escorted and accompanied by the General Manager's Assistant the entire time I was there. They did not allow me to wander around unaccompanied. That's a long winded way of saying that I've done what you're asking. But, it wasn't as easy as just using someone's key card to open a Haven Suite.

@Sthrngary...quick question. I saw you mentioned that specialty coffees can be had in the Haven Restaurant. What might those be? All I've ever had is the French Press, which is better than the coffee urns, but to my snobbish palate, still not great. Would love to get some Lattes or Cappuccinos in the Haven (or better yet, "to go" at the Haven Bar).

Gotta get past the look. I've been willing to try it in the past, but haven't. Either you shoot it, and it looks like it would not go down easy. Or sip it, and think about how it looks over a longer period of time. LOL!