NUPDCOP

Glad to hear that you're going with the flow.... I'd rather be on a cruise as well but -10 temps here tonight on night shift ain't so bad...unless you have to stand outside for an hour directing traffic.

Here is what we have done at each port - but there are so many different things to do it's hard to say what will fit your family just right depending on who is going and what they each are able to do.

Roatan: Victor Boden Tour is great - look them up on the internet - they have zip lining and also a money farm which is totally family friendly. Not everyone has to do the zip lining.

Harvest Caye: private island - find a chair and relax. Everything cost money here there isn't one thing free (food/drink etc) nothing carries over from the ship (UBP etc).

Costa Maya: If you want another great beach day with drinks and food included look at the Maya Chan - we have been there before and will go back time and time again just because of how great it really is.

Cozumel: We got off the ship and found a place that offered some snorkeling which turned out to be one of the best things we did - just found one of those street vendors and talked to him about the price and booked it on the spot. Other than that in my opinion this is one port that I'd stay on the ship for and enjoy things there - meaning less people on the pool deck and by the bars.

Get plugged into a roll call for your trip - lots of good ideas tend to pop up there for things to do. That is how we figured out Maya Chan.. so glad we did.

Just love reading about the issues and how people think that the Haven is the best...I'm sure it is and I'm glad you have the money to take your family on a great vacation. But it's just a room and while there are extra benefits I've heard there is so much more to life than the Haven. I'll totally go with anyone if they have the extra money however lol....until then inside room here we come!

We have only cruised NCL and go back because we haven't had a bad experience yet. Any issues that did come up were small and no big deal and were handled accordingly. We only eat in the free places buffet MDR etc. We don't do the drink package because of the costs - even if its free the gratuities still outweigh if I just want to have a beer once or twice.

We enjoy going to supper when we want, and change it up on different days. Our kids loved their first cruise which was the last one we took. We made the room work and it proved to me that we could totally live in a "tiny house".

When you are escorted off the ship - just look at the people looking at you and tell them that this is what happens when you drink to much and dance on the pool deck bar!

Just go with an open mind and with the flow of the fish on the carpet (hint they swim forward towards the front of the ship). Enjoy your birthday, an enjoy the time away from home. Talk with new people. Try different places to eat if that is your thing or just hit the free stuff like we do - the food all comes out of the same kitchen to start with.

Best guess is to finish up any construction at the ports or to do new construction - this is just a best guess. Itinerary will change based upon the year - winter in the Caribbean moving ships to places such as Alaska etc. No real reason found on internet searches but best guess is that the cruise line wanted to show that they would get their ships and peoples money back into these ports and then allow them to change/upgrade/fix issues with some of the money that came in.

No crystal ball here - so I turned to the Magic 8 ball....it said "ask again later". No one really knows when a price will go up or down. There are some online tools/websites to help track stuff with - but recommend that when you feel it's a good deal/price to go for it.

I recommend you get one or two while on board. They of course want you to book with them while on board but there is no reason to. Promo's come and go all the time. They say you can book and then change it later - which is fine - personally I like doing research on where to go before I commit.

Done it and love it a couple of times - will always book a visit there and I mean ALWAYS! Just book it and you will agree after your visit - best money you spent on vacation.

Don't hate the player hate the game - in bidding that is for a better room. We never told our kids on our last cruise that we were bidding for a room. We booked an inside and showed them photos/videos we found online of the inside room we booked....no haven here for this family.

Been on the Pearl more than the others and would choose it again and again. It's a great ship

It really depends on what you want. Some say that the flowers help brighten up the room.. but then there is a guy like me who says - "why do I need flowers in my room?" The cheese plate is something fun if you are into that type of thing with a little wine or bubbly but again - they serve cheese in the buffet and you could always go get a plate of that and bring it back to your room...

We seen them show up before in our room with no explanation twice. One time we had won free internet minutes and went to the rewards desk and asked that they be gifted/credited to a nice couple that we met on board - she was a realtor and needed to do some work daily when they were on land - we asked that they be given those minutes incase she needed to do something while at sea on sea days. We knew their names but didn't know much else other than that. That is the only time I know for sure we got those strawberries most likely as a thank you from NCL for helping out another guest.

I know we would be totally disappointed as well. Especially because we are like you and get to really book one vacation per year. Is the compensation fair - hard to really say unless you are put into that position. The airfare credit stinks a little bit but because we are in the upper Midwest no flight is ever under $400pp. The rest of the booking offer seems within line but to be getting ready for a cruise for almost a year and then hear it is cancelled a week before would crush us. Looking to book other options maybe would work but like you pointed flight prices at the last minute are crazy in price or all booked.

Never been to the Haven.. but I'd recommend never leaving the Haven and let the rest of us non haven booked folks have the run of the rest of the ship....Just kidding. Sweet deal on that bid you made. I honestly believe to get the most out of your experience just go in with an open mind and have fun.. Ask your butler what he can do - be friendly to them that is what goes the farthest with anyone.

Your computer is haunted... just kidding.. I agree with others - might be a site issue but things do disappear when they are sold out.

You will be assigned your cabin most likely a week or two or more before you set sail. It could be sooner that that like right after final payment. Once we found out when we arrived at the port what guarantee cabin got. The reason it says that you will get BF or better is that until final payment is made by a specific date for everyone they could still sell out the BF level. Also with the upgrade bidding process after final payment they may figure into their computer system that if someone pays extra for that level as an upgrade the cost to give you the next level up will be less for them on your part than that of what someone was willing to pay to get to the BF.

As a guy who isn't "mushy" I'd say do something like go for a drink at a bar on the ship - each order something that you would not normally try and then toast her and talk about her during that drink - share fun memories and how you know she would have wanted you to just have fun. I know that if my wife did that for me it would mean more than photos or anything else...

Upgraded on Getaway from family inside room to family balcony - offered $100 total (not per person) basically got upgraded for $25pp. Sweet deal - large angle balcony.

It's frustrating for sure and I can totally see your point. The elevator issue just doesn't seem right to me, sounds like a communication issue on the land part to get to the upper level which should have made no difference... unless they were sending people all the way down on the elevator and didn't want to stop in the middle.

I've never sailed in the Haven because I just cant afford it. I'm not saying this about you but I have often wondered if folks that pay that extra money to be there have a thought of entitlement because of what they pay for that location or status of staying there. Seems these days I see a lot of Haven related questions but maybe it's just me.

Hope the rest of your cruise went better than that.

I track prices in a spread sheet for the cruise we are looking at and then once we book I still keep looking and tracking it. The truth is that unless you live close to a port and can pick up and go with a weeks notice and don't care where you are on the ship that is the best deal most of the time. The real fact is that most have to fly which means book when ever you feel you are getting a deal. With that said we booked almost 300 days in advance and we are still paying less than if we would book between now and leaving in 3 weeks.

I agree- it is Platinum Plus (and maybe the highest suite people) that are offered this. EVERYONE with the "advice" above, sailed before the new levels and Latitude perks. I've sailed 8 times on NCL 3 different ships, since the change in February. and a general dining option or lottery, was not available.

Thanks for the update....actually really surprised that they don't charge for this - just yet another way NCL could make some money off of people....;p

Yes there are, wife is GF and we have eaten in both locations - I don't recall what she ate but I know we both had a meal.

We had this happen to us on our second cruise and found it to be very fun and interesting....the other 3 couples were not the interesting however - but we were all in our 30's which made conversation easy. I'm guessing that the other couples were put off when they asked if I wanted red or white wine and I requested a Coors Light....just not a wine guy.

We always try and register but its a lottery style so its all about chance from what we were told.