kaylasnana

We are looking at a western med cruise for next year on the Epic. We really like the AFT balconies. Can anyone help me pick a deck? Are any decks a better choice than another or any larger than others. Thanks so much.

I remember one of employees in the Lido on the Zuiderdam that always remembered everyone's name. I wonder if he is still there.

Super - I just realized that we have this cabin in October. I know that's a long way out but not sure how I'll ever know if it gets fixed.

When can you book the behind the scenes tour? Before boarding or after?

Personally, I think the cabin you book has a lot to do with it. Last cruise we were booked in an AFT balcony and got upgraded (for $) to a suite. Then both my brothers (I think they were linked to me) got called. One was in a balcony and declined and one was in an inside and took the upgrade to a suite.

so are the aft balconies on deck 5 standard size or somewhat bigger?

Loving your live review and looking forward to more. We plan to take this cruise in October.

I think a separate thread just listing known rooms that have had a/c problems over the last year (although it sounds like it's gone on longer) There are many threads addressing this issue but none that I can find listing cabins. Obviously not every cabin that had problems will continue to have problems but it would be nice when you are booking to at least have the knowledge. It looks like decks 6,7, and 8 are mentioned the most. Let's hear some cabin numbers please.

I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a Panama Cruise on this ship. I'm planning on booking an Aft balcony. All this conversation about the a/c problems has me worried. Obviously the whole ship isn't having problems but with my luck, our cabin would. Not sure what to do.

Never mind. I tried to do a search again and found lots of good information.

My husband and I love aft balconies. Are there any decks or cabin numbers that people loved? Sometimes certain ships have bigger balconies on certain decks. Not sure if this is the case on the Zuiderdam.

Thanks again Bill and Cleverdaisies. I can't wait for your return and to hear your thoughts.

thank you Bruce for the information. I had looked at the review board but hadn't gone far enough into it. Plenty of good information once I did.

Bill - than you so much for the information. I'm a little confused though. I thought we would stay on the same ship (Zuiderdam) for the whole cruise. From what you wrote, it sounds like we would change ships.

I'm seriously thinking about doing the 10 day Panama Canal on the Zuiderdam out of Fort Lauderdale next October. I realize that it is only a partial Panama Canal transit but this is the max number of days I can take at once. Can someone that has taken this cruise recently let me know what they thought?

Is there an easy way to figure out which cruises are part of the 123 deal?

I know on the Dawn, the aft balconies on Deck 10 have larger balconies (maybe other decks too?). If I was looking to book on the Epic, are some decks better than others for the Aft Balconies?

thank you all so much. I also am considering a European River cruise but my husband is choking on the airfares.

I've only been on 3 cruises (2 ncl and 1 Holland). I love NCL and would like nothing more than to just cruise with them but for our next cruise I can't find what I want. Due to amount of time we can take off and some other factors, I think I need to look at another cruiseline for our cruise. I don't think I want to go with Carnival or Celebrity. Looking at RCCL maybe. If you love NCL but had to pick a 2nd cruise line, what might that be and why? Little background: my husband and I are seniors and all other cruises were to the Carribean. I'm thinking Europe or Panama.

Same thing here. We were booked on deck 10 AFT and got the call. I think my brother was linked to us and he received the call (and he was in a regular balcony). Then just recently, he was in an ocean view and got the call. I wonder if they know you have upgraded in the past, they call you?

Last year we had booked the Dawn, aft balcony 10230 and the upsell fairy gave us a deal to a suite (boy, does that spoil you fast). I think it helps if you are in a room that they know they can sell or upsell easily.

How do you tip the butler and concierge? Do you bring envelopes and hand it to them directly or can you add it to your ship bill and specify where it goes?