snorkelmom19

OP,

I would suggest if they won't allow you to carry on what is needed, you could do a couple of things. Let's just say you need a drink with electolytes such as Gatorade.

You could request that a case be delivered to your stateroom and negotiate a

price pre-cruise.

If it is available in a powder, (like Gatorade) you could take unopened packets available in the supermarket or outdoor stores and reconstitute it with water onboard.

Sorry you have to jump through unnecessary hoops. Best wishes to you and your husband.

My husband also has walking difficulties.

In my opinion in is just as easy to grab a taxi. There are also plenty of taxis waiting to take people back to the ship, we have never had a problem doing it this way about $40 plus tip we paid each way.

You can also get a taxi to take you from the Dockyard to Tobacco Bay. It was about $65 dollars and we got to see the length of the island. We had Tobacco to ourselves for an hour or so until the first ferry got to St. George. There are taxis that wait at Tobacco Bay as well, and you can have them take you to St. George and then get the ferry back to the Dockyard.

The buses are great and inexpensive for people that have no mobility issues, but they are often also crowded. What we would normally spend on excursions on other islands, we spend on taxi fares in Bermuda and do our own thing. All fares listed were for 4 people, last July.

Hey Audigirly!

Enjoying your latest escapade.

It's funny, having read all the documents about the animals at LFK (I can speak and read Spanish) I came to a different conclusion about what happened and believe most of the thing started because of smuggled macaws that were found at LFK. I have been following this for what seems ages. No judgements about anyone who wants to visit--it looks gorgeous and it is good to support the local economy, though my dollars wouldn't go there. Honduras is such a beautiful country with warm people and a thoroughly corrupt and violent underbelly--such a shame!

Rafash sounds like a real pain--ugh, that stinks. Glad you made the best of your birthday! Happy fifty!

There was no priority boarding for suite guests--it was a cluster *.

Gave me incorrect show info.

Only saw him the first and last day.

Pretty much everything had to have been booked way before sailing, so most isssues were not a big deal, but IMHO there was very little management of the haven area going on, compared to my previous sailings.

Didn't look up from his computer screen when the guests were leaving on the last day.

I would rate him poor, though others have had superstar service. This was the first sailing of reduced port times and who knows what else, so I would guess that there was a lot of things going on behind the scenes. It was the most unhappy crew I have ever sailed with and I have been sailing with NCL since 1998.

Flying to Bermuda this year:)

Lamani

I knew this day was coming, and quite honestly, sad to say the least. The NCL customers have finally bought into the "new cruise" industry. Gone are the days of yesteryear when meals, service, accommodations were all included.

 

Just look at the replies in this thread! I only eat in the specialties or its still cheaper than Ruth Chris, I like the service better in the specialties, or I have to eat there to get the food I want even though I paid for a "free" meal in the MDR. This is not what cruising is suppose to be all about.

 

NCL took a great product and broke it into too many components that I can't even figure out what's a good deal or not anymore because of all the fees, charges and gratuities. Listen to what people are writing, Oh, I can go and have just a sample of the main specialty menu. What? The specialties are already over crowded because of all the free giveaways. And, if NCL stops these giveaways, do they really think more people will try the specialties at higher a la carte prices?

 

I'm a dying breed, I get that, but when the cruise industry starts to look like, walk like and talk like a land based "duck", then it is that duck and what's the benefit? It takes days to get to places that an airline can do in hours and offers not that much different a product.

 

I like the seas, love to cruise, but I'm starting to look elsewhere, as I'm sure others are too. Will it effect NCL negatively? Only time will tell.

I am of the same feeling as you, but you put it so eloquently. Great post.

I hadn't reserved any, didn't feel like dealing with a line or the crowds, and honestly we kind of think the shows are cheesy. On all ships. That said, Bollywood on Dawn was a fantastic show. We loved it.

Jai Ho! My daughter and I still do our Bollywood impression!

Sorry about your trip. I felt the same way on my July Breakaway trip. I think the luster is off cruising for me. I can't imagine the Escape with even more staterooms to public space.

I thought that with all the bells and whistles I would be entertained, but found myself bored with a lot of the entertainment and hated that I had to reserve everything.

The only time I found the Haven area relaxing was in the very early morning, but there was often lots of trash blowing around that had not been cleaned up from the night before.

Hope your next vacation (as well as mine) is better!

Don't know what your definition of "original" is; not only has he written or co-written many of the songs he sings in, he has written or co-written for others as well.

Well here are a few examples:

Feel this Moment---Take Me On , A Ha

Bon Bon---Tu vuò fà l'americano, Renata Carosone,

Hotel Room Service---Push the Feeling On, Nightcrawlers and Hotel Room,Lord Kossity

The Anthem--Calabria 2007, Enur

You can google the rest. I guess I'm of the thought that changing one note does not a new song make. Is his and other "dj's" style a new style?

That could be debated. IMHO he is more of a producer/collaborator than artist. Had a very interesting conversation with a songwriter I met on the Breakaway in July while waiting for the next set at Fat Cats.

I think it's fine that people like to dance to his catchy beat, but it is not original.

YOU PESKY KIDS GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!

 

(j/k)

Aw, sorry to upset you with my opinion again

It's not the obscenity I have a problem with--it is the fact that he just samples other peoples music, adds a stupid rap in the middle and passes it off as original. None of "his songs" are original.

Yuk!

Wishing the best for you and your cats Bluesea777--Stay safe

We flew into Tampa the night before our cruise, it was easy staying at the Marriott right in the airport, just wheel your bags down the hall and walked outside and grabbed a cab in the morning. Don't know if that works for you, but I would do it again.

Hi,

Was on the Breakaway in July. We thought that the Haven restaurant for dinner was as good as any of the specialties (except for one chicken dish). It was nice that you could just show up anytime between 5:30 and 9:00, has a nice view and you can dress as you wish. Service was better than the other restaurants.

No one's clothes would have gotten wet---a few plastic bottles went missing.

Thanks for your review--I too feel that NCL is getting sloppy with their customer service and communication. Hope it changes, because I really liked their product.

Usually they have a sign up sheet at the kids club for eating with the club. There is a fee involved ($6 in 2013) and the group ate in the main dining room. There have been and continue to be quite a few changes at NCL due to the management changes this year, so I don't know if it will be available in March, but my daughter enjoyed it in 2013.

Well first off...they need to stop running the tv clip saying 4:30!!!!

 

Ftlog it has been reported here that it has been playing for weeks after the time was changed

 

What is wrong with ncl?

 

I have posted it before and will post again....

 

There is a big problem with communications lately.... Not only this video mistake....but the incredibly inept way the breakaway schedule change has been implemented

 

For those who have been under a rock...ncl was forced to change the winter 2016 ba from 12 to 14 days...but continued to advertise...and take ressies for this cruise as a 12 day on their website long after they notified current ressies of this change. What were they thinking by not updating their website and allowing it to accept ressies?

 

Feel sorry for those who booked during this lengthily " mistake " period and bought airfare!!!

 

Sorry but ncl is asleep at the wheel

 

 

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I agree with the above, but I also think Bermuda has it's own special challenges. All it takes is for one accident on the south shore road and you will be late, if you are already running a little behind especially.

Many people rent boats and a few may have issues with the engines.

School is also in session there now, which slows down traffic as well.

I was on the first cruise of the time change to 3:00 pm. There were people who did not know about it at the Haven Bar. They didn't believe me when I told them. There were quite a few guests that English was not their primary language. NCL should certainly have changed the TV scroll by now--almost 2 months.

I think if there was ever a place that a monorail type transportation system would work, it would be Bermuda. Just expect the unexpected, and give yourselves plenty of time cushion for getting back to the ship

Aw, I was hoping to see a video of Seadog walking the plank at Calico Jack's. I mean it wouldn't be a mistake cause "there are no mistakes--there are only happy accidents!". Still enjoying your report anyway:D

Have a good lunch!

Good morning Seadog!

Soon there will be some "happy little trees" on the horizon. Have a great day.

Hi,

I sailed the Breakaway in July in the Haven and had a lot of the same experiences. Also loved Ferdie, Anoop was the invisible man and loved the Haven color changing sign.

I'm not sure if Frederick was still in the Haven Restaurant, but he was great. I thought the food was hit or miss in the Haven Restaurant. Really liked the Crispy Shrimp cake appetizer one night, and later in the week it was meh. Loved the restaurant atmosphere though, and it was nice to be casual.

Thanks for the great pics!

So, by chance the itinerary gets rearranged because of the wether, will the money you paid for ship excursions (through Norwegian) be credited to your onboard account, or back on the credit card you paid the excursion with? My fear is I don't plan on taking much money with me and the excursions I have booked, one in each port, will be cancelled. If they deposit back to the credit card, the refund won't be on the card for 2-5 days. Anyone have experience with this???

They will refund the money if it is cancelled to your on board account. If you don't use it on board, you will be sent a check in the mail. This happened to me in 2013, but I believe it still applies.

Make sure you take sea sick meds with you in case you hit rough seas avoiding the storm.

Make sure that you have some flexibility with people babysitting kids or pets in case your cruise spends an extra day at sea or air traffic gets disrupted.

Consider the rest an adventure, and try to roll with the changes.

Having sailed through a tropical storm with 28 foot seas, the worst of it was over in about 12 hours, and then the weather was beautiful.

Hey Audigirly!

I would give yourself plenty of time if you are driving in.

On our Mid-July cruise, there was an event going on near the port area and we had to circle around for about 45 minutes before we were allowed to go where we needed to go. Then there is the dog sniffing security check and then the wait for the very large (but very slow) freight elevator to take you down to the porters, so then you take a freight elevator up to the check in area.

We got into the city around 9:30 and were checked in and waiting to board at about 11:00, and we were in a suite, so didn't have to wait in a long check in line.

The directions on the East Coast Departures Board are really good, it helps to have the photos as reference.

Since we seem to have similar likes, and have taken many of the same ships/itineraries, I rated my Breakaway cruise ahead of the Star and below the Dawn--(Not so great weather, packed ship, surprise reduced port time, and mostly just ok food. Will look for your review.

I don't know if you read my review, but after seeing your Tobacco Bay pics we had to check it out. Took a taxi as soon as the ship cleared and had the place to ourselves for an hour and a half. Best money I spent on the trip. Thanks for sparking my interest.

Have a great trip!

Can you give an example of the CEO actually disrespecting you?

Going to jump in the discussion:

Yes, On July 19th was met at check-in with a notice that our port time was shortened, no explanation. If it was for weather or mechanical I would gladly roll with it, cause those things just happen. To receive no notice in advance just really sucked and was downright disrespectful to customers who had things planned. In my opinion, the CEO had to be aware of the port time changes, so yes, I do feel disrespected.

I will (as well as my money) wait it out and see what happens.

I hate the spray sunscreen too. I don't know why other people think it is ok to leave their loved ones in order to spray it right by my chair. I have read that it has been banned in several European countries. The EPA warns not to use it on kids. They can contain oxybenzone, which can behave like estrogen in the body, and retinyl palmitate, which may speed the development of skin tumors when exposed to sun. It is even more toxic when inhaled. I too hope it is banned soon.