DaisyGoldberg

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Thank you, seriously, thank you! I'm thinking I will make a Le Bistro reservation and request/be forced to sit outside. All I want are the snails. Never had them. Want to try them. Outdoor dining sounds perfect for this.

Just to clarify, "outside" seating at Le Bistro is generally in the public walkway outside the restaurant. So basically it's like dining outside Aeropostale at the mall. I'm sure the service and food are identical to inside the restaurant, but the ambience is decidedly different. 

If there's a ship with genuine "outdoor" Le Bistro seating, that would be a lovely way to enjoy their menu. 

Was in the Getaway Haven in January and I remember people in "getting off the ship" gear for breakfast or lunch (as well as pajama pants and t-shirts). Shorts, t-shirts, backpacks, etc. Lots of casual sundresses, casual capris/t-shirts. We did remark that it was the most informal dinner group we'd seen in a Haven before - not in a sloppy way, just casual. I commented at one point that I hadn't seen a single tie on a man, even those otherwise dressed a little nicer than casual. Can't recall if I saw any cocktail dresses - maybe one? A couple of spangly tops with black slacks on women. 

Do not recall looking at anybody's feet, so I can't comment on that. 

The Pearl's a great ship - the waiting area to board it in Boston is just a bunch of folding chairs in a gigantic hall (and the Haven waiting area is the same, only behind a curtain and even more crowded). So arriving closer to 11 or 11:30 might mean a swifter passage from literal check in/receipt of key card to actual boarding. Otherwise it's sit down on a hard folding chair and wait. Some like to get there early and get an early boarding number and enjoy the anticipation. Or you can come a little later and have a later # but a shorter wait. 

The dining room is a great place to start your cruise and leisurely dine until rooms are ready.

I always take bad reviews with a grain of salt - what people complain about might be a non-issue to me. You know what bothers you and what doesn't and can decide accordingly. 

I won't sail on the Breakaway type ships outside of the Haven because of the bottlenecks created by the two elevator banks, and the fact that despite an abundance of clubs/theatres they insist on holding games and activities in the atrium, making accessing atrium services and any activities I might want to enjoy utterly chaotic. Too much stimulation. 

That said, the smaller dining rooms and big shows are great, and I would be open to a less than capacity transatlantic trip. I would assume the outdoor areas will be inhospitable for much of the trip so if your idea of a great trip is finding a quiet spot to read you will need to decide how much time you're willing to spend in your cabin.

7 hours ago, GSfromCT said:

I appreciate your feedback and everyone else on the topic.    Does reporting bad or unsafe or unruly behavior require a 1 hour wait at guest services, or would any crew member be able to report a bad situation more efficiently?

 

Sadly, I wouldn't expect much reaction or action from anybody unless they're running around with machetes or actively damaging ship property. My sister was stuck on a fully booked ship with a room full of yahoos celebrating graduation in the next room. They whooped it up coming in and out of the room, which they did every 20 minutes all night long (must have had 10-20 people in there). Calling made no difference. Going to guest services made no difference.  

What seemed to make the difference was when they completely disrupted the comedian's show. She insulted them exquisitely, but I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back, and that night when they started up again security arrived and from that point on they were quiet (after they screamed all the way down the hall demanding to know who reported them).

We heard from other passengers later that they had similarly disrupted the muster drill, completely wasted within hours of boarding, but no action was taken then. Maybe after the comedian incident they canceled their drink packages (or threatened to?)

I definitely won't go early to Boston again (and I live here!) 

3 hours ago, styles27 said:

Cruised Pearl from Boston last April and the Haven waiting area is still awful. It is a very small corner near the restrooms with too few chairs to accommodate everyone that needs one. 

That pretty much sums it up. Was in the Garden Villa and we were just crammed in on hard folding chairs and there was a delay and they held us and the Owners Suites back until all the rest of the Haven had gone up and it did not feel particularly special. In future we'll just arrive at noon and walk through (hopefully). 

I've only sailed the Haven out of NY and Boston, but although NY's is larger and gets you out of the enormous crowds, it's still packed side by side, same hard chairs. 

There's nothing WRONG with the Boston terminal - it gets you on the ship, and it IS easier with a wheelchair in the group. But there is zero incentive to get there early to "enjoy" it. 

Honestly, stay away from the -away ships if you don't like crowds. I won't sail on them outside of the Haven, and I'll sail in a balcony on a smaller ship perfectly happily. The crowds are crushing, and they converge on built-in bottlenecks in ship design. The center of the ship where the atrium is is total cacophony because all games are held in the atrium, so that if you want to eat at O'Sheehans you're listening to people scream out trivia answers or cheer their team in whatever event is ongoing. There's no mid-level exit from the theatre, so if you walk down front you're walking up every step to get back out, and everybody else is walking up those steps too, leading out to the same elevator bank. 

To us it's worth it for the ports and Haven restaurant, but we pass on all but the biggest shows and simply enjoy the Haven, which is great. 

On a Jewel class ship I'm perfectly happy to get a balcony and move freely about the ship. It's hard if they don't have the itinerary you want, but maybe a different line would. I suspect you'd be deeply unhappy and stressed. 

I'm not actually antisocial - I'm happy to chat with strangers in lines, on excursions, waiting for a show to begin, forming a team for trivia or other games, etc. I just don't want to feel trapped and have a nice meal converted into 90 minutes of forced cordiality. I still remember the old days of cruising where an assigned dining companion not showing up for dinner for whatever reason could be either a disappointment or the biggest blessing imaginable 😉

30 years later we still talk about the couple who spread out all of their (literally dozens of) medications/vitamins/supplements on the table and told us what each one was for. 

Can solos book dinner for one or will they expect you to share? I'm willing to wait or eat at an unpopular time, but cruising is my escape from dealing with people I don't know 😉

We had a flyer offering a water package in our room when we arrived and I just ordered it then.

On 2/7/2023 at 12:11 AM, MCMC100 said:

I agree. I just got off the Getaway on 2/1/23. I purchased the Vibe in August when I booked, but the lingering question “do they hold availability” was of interest, so I asked. Two Vibe staffers told me the Vibe was sold out before the cruise and nothing was available. 

SNIP

 

The Vibe was clearly busier on this cruise (12 days NY to E Carib) than I have seen on multiple prior cruises. It appears that the pre-cruise sales have increased volume (in my experience).  

That is so bizarre, because we went through the Vibe en route to the second floor of the Haven (mom is in a wheelchair and that's the only way up there for someone in a wheelchair) nearly every day on that cruise and only once did we spot any appreciable number of people in the Vibe. At least 3 times there literally were NO people up there at all!  

Generally we went mid-day to mid afternoon, but I remember thinking that it seemed like a total bust and nobody was buying it. Maybe it was a total success and people bought it and simply didn't use it? Or we just happened to go through at the precise times nobody was up there?

If people are paying for it and not showing up it seems like NCL could get away with selling day passes once they got a glimpse of the number of empty lounges.

Was on the same sailing. I think a lot of your issues are with the Breakaway/Getaway level ship design. I wouldn't sail on either outside of the Haven, because the combination of using the Atrium for all games/events and the smoke from the casino renders the middle of the ship and its facilities extremely hostile to anybody who doesn't like crowds/smoke/noise. And you're not wrong about the bands being off-key. I assume it's a sound mixing issue, but they really need to see about it. The music in the Tropicana was PAINFUL the one night we ate there. Noticed an issue one night walking through the atrium as well. I know a lot of talented people compete for these jobs, which means it's the sound folks that are falling down on the job. 

I understand your not wanting to try NCL again, but should you see a good itinerary/deal on a Jewel class ship, I imagine your experience would be much better in terms of ambience of public areas. They hold game shows and other loud activities in the theatre and smaller show rooms and the casino is separate (though still smoky).

We just resign ourselves to not participating/watching any of the activities on the big ships. When it's quieter in the casino than in O'Sheehan's you know something's wrong. 

I will do a longer write up later when I'm up to it, but my mom tested + in our cabin in Getaway Haven one week ago today and here's how it worked:

I had brought tests from home, so when she fell ill we tested, got a positive result and called medical and left a message.

The nurse on duty called back and outlined the procedure, basically enumerating the initial fees for consultation (several hundred dollars to walk in and see the doctor and be tested, followed by whatever treatment required, which was likely to be in the $3000.00 range.) I can only imagine how many people say "no thanks" at that point and simply stay in bed or continue their vacation infecting others. My mother was quite ill, however, and we had insurance and the money to cover it even if insurance didn't, so I indicated we wanted to come down. We were told to come down when the clinic opened at 6.  (The clinic is only open for walk ins about 90 minutes morning and evening. Obviously they are open outside those hours for emergencies and treatments, but that's when they process as much as possible)

We arrived at the clinic, filled out pages of releases and promises to pay, and waited until called to see the nurse where her  vital signs were checked. (This was maybe 10 minutes.) Then back to the waiting room and another few minutes to see the doctor, who examined her, explained that this was basically an emergency department, ran according to some maritime law, and he was bound to follow certain treatment protocols depending on what he found upon further testing, and we would be responsible for those costs. We wanted testing and treatment so agreed. I found the doctor extremely pleasant and professional and felt very confident in his approach and thankful for his reassurance to my mom that he would make her feel better. 

I was struck that fully half the medical staff wasn't wearing masks. Even once my mother was fully diagnosed there was not 100% masking in her presence. The doctors all masked. 

We were taken to another room where she was given a rapid test for COVID (positive) followed by a PCR test, and tests for flu A+B and strep (he had noted the state of her tonsils, so I don't know if everybody gets that). She also needed a chest xray because of what he heard in her chest (again, may not be routine if chest sounds are clear). My sister and I had tested negative in our room at the same time she tested positive so the doctor explained that we were free to move about the ship but please wear a mask out of consideration. I was concerned that my sister was up in our room with no information, so given that my mother would be there another couple of hours, decided to go back to the cabin, let her know what was going on, and fetch some reading material.

I returned and the doctor pulled me into a side room to show me her chest xray, indicating she had an infection and would need antibiotics (which he had predicted based on his exam). They did a urinalysis to make sure she could tolerate the necessary medications. She ended up hooked up to multiple ivs for tylenol, antibiotics, and other meds for lung support, as well as nebulizer treatments. The PCR test had come back positive for COVID and negative for the other illnesses.

We stayed several hours until these were finished, then returned to the cabin, where she would be isolated except for medical center visits until disembarkation. We returned to the medical center the next morning and evening for a couple of hours, then the following morning as well, at which point they declared their treatment finished. She felt much better very quickly after the initial treatments and continued improving.  

At all times I felt the care equivalent to what she would have received in our local U.S. emergency departments; it certainly was quicker than she would have received at home, where she likely would have spent hours waiting to be seen. I imagine her age (86) may have sped this up a bit, but I could watch people come and go down the hall and I don't think other people in the waiting room had long wait times.  

While we were happy with her care, other folks were extremely unhappy with their bills and taking it out on the woman at the desk. Chief complaints were things listed and charged that were not done. Because of those complaints I overheard I did read the reports extremely carefully and caught an important error (where it said no COVID virus had been found instead of that COVID virus had been found - I imagine that mistake would have really screwed up the insurance battle ahead). However, I simply showed it to the doctor and asked if this could be fixed and she took care of it immediately. It was clearly a case of the wrong code being typed in and easily fixed. So read your documentation carefully when they hand it to you. It's a lot, but it's important - you don't want to try to fix a problem AFTER your cruise.

There were three doctors and three nurses on duty and we met them all over those 3 days (and most every day). Given the volume of patients they have to deal with, they were amazing and really running wild those hours that they were open for walk ins. So if you need to go to medical for an issue and feel like you're waiting a long time, remember that the same nurse who went to get you ice for your knee or a pillow might have to suddenly grab somebody a basin so they can vomit, or attend to an iv machine beeping because it ran out and is ready for the next medication, and there are only so many hands on deck even when all are present.  

Total for visit 1: $5300.00 (I'm rounding off)

Total for visit 2: $3200.00

Total for visit 3: $1600.00

After the first night the charges showed up on the account on the tv before I received the paper accounting.  Everything was itemized, and the prices actually were not insane - $139 for a chest xray? Try getting that at home. However, paxlovid (actually the Indian pharmaceutical company equivalent) was $800. On her insurance at home it would have been free. But she was not at home, it's a floating hospital with limited supply capability and we were thankful to get it. From other accounts I've seen ships do run out. All of us who cruise know how much more expensive basic staples are on islands, let alone on ships.

As far as the rest of the trip went, my sister and I were still testing negative but chose not to move about the ship. Being in a 2 bedroom Haven suite didn't hurt. The Haven didn't really give us any guidance (we think that by this point in the pandemic there should have been a handout provided explaining EVERYTHING but we had to feel our way through one question at a time.). Our butler brought our meals from the Haven, but came masked and could not step over the threshold and indicated that cameras were watching him.  That was fine - he brought trays and I answered the door in a mask and took the trays from him and handed him old trays/dishes back. The room steward stopped coming, though we sent word we needed more small towels and he brought them. I asked about disembarkation and was told to keep our luggage and we would be last off the ship and accompanied by medical. I told them we could not possibly move three suitcases, carry ons and push a walker and wheelchair and they said help would be provided.

On disembarkation we waited in our cabin until they called and said they would be coming at 10 but to be ready by 9:15. That person told us that only my mother would be taken off and my sister and I would have to run down to the main disembarkation area and meet up with her afterwards.  The medical staff person contradicted this when she arrived and kept us together. There were people to help with luggage and we took the service elevator down to a separate exit where we keycarded out, a customs person checked my mom's name off a list and we were listed as her companions and he checked us off.  Then we went down a steep/slippery ramp (aided by staff, thankfully) to a deserted pier on the opposite side from where others disembarked, as far as I could tell. And then we waited outside a building for several minutes until everybody else infected was present. Thank goodness it was not raining/snowing because that was about 10 minutes outside with no cover. Then we were whisked through another building, directly out the other side onto a side alley, and along the port building  out to 12th avenue where all the luggage assistance people wished us luck and literally disappeared, leaving us with 3 bags, carryons, a walker and a wheelchair in the middle of hundreds of people moving both to enter and exit the terminal building. The police were screaming at everybody to cross the street and we were caught in that, but our ride was not in that direction so we had to fight the flow of traffic and inch our way sideways a few feet at a time through people without leaving bags behind which was complete insanity and we angered a lot of people who must have wondered why we were in the way. 

We were on the drop off level not the pick up level but were able to finally make connection with our ride and get picked up and out of there.  Essentially NCL wants you off their ship, the terminal people want you out of their terminal, and once you're on the sidewalk in NYC you're on your own. I understand it, but it's horrifying if you're not expecting it, and there are safer ways of doing it - if they took us off FIRST, we could have been directed to a specific area to wait for our pickups without encountering the peak arrival times for incoming passengers. Instead we were literally walked right into them. 

So we got home and my sister tested positive and then a couple of days later I did too. I will deal with the insurance in a few days when I'm up to it. Mom is almost back to normal and sister and I are dealing with minor cases so far (thank goodness). 

So, long story short:

1) Have insurance

2) Have a second credit card ready if the one you checked in with has a limit under 10K (I had used my low limit card because I like the points on that one, thinking it would just be a few hundred total.)

3) Bring home covid tests to make sure you are positive before approaching medical

4) Bring over the counter meds from home to deal with symptoms if you have them - we had immodium, thankfully - not sure what they would have charged for that!)

5) Don't bring more luggage than you can manage without a porter; next solo trip I will be particularly mindful to pack light.

6) Be nice to the medical staff and ship staff, and that includes not being a jerk and traveling around the ship when you've been exposed to a sick person but aren't sick yet yourself

7) Don't expect a lot of direction from staff - even in the Haven. 

8 ) Read your documentation carefully and request any edits politely 

9) If you're a smoker, have a plan, maybe a patch or gum, for if you can't leave the cabin to smoke.

10) DO NOT let them separate you from loved ones when disembarking - had we disembarked with the rest of the pax I don't know how we ever would have found my mother who would have possibly been left on the sidewalk in front of the terminal in her wheel chair (I hope not, but...)

Hope this account gives people some idea of what to expect/prepare for, and that they never have to put any of it into use. But better to know than not know...

I too remember when Cagneys was "don't miss" but sadly those days are over. We may make it there on our trip next week, but we haven't reserved it.  Last time I ordered onion rings and got 3 sad little completely unseasoned things that had clearly slid right out of a freezer bag into the fryer. School cafeteria level stuff, as was the baked potato I got a different night (incredibly cold sour cream on a wee potato that had been sitting a while under a lamp.)

Also agree about the fish issue - they don't really pretend to be a proper steakhouse any more.

My strategy is just to mask everywhere outside the room unless we're distant from others on the sundeck, or actively eating/drinking.  Yes, there's exposure while dining... but if I walked by 120 people on my way to the dining room and did not breathe in their germs, that's 120 fewer exposures. No problem masking at a show - there's a few hundred more exposures decreased. There's risk involved in cruising, but a lot of it you can mitigate if you try. (And the mask helps with the cigarette smoke in the casino!)

Given the #s of people mingling unmasked I am not surprised that the post-cruise rates are high.  We've been lucky so far and I don't feel like we're missing a thing.

Loving your trip report as we will be on the Getaway in a few weeks.

As somebody who also doesn't enjoy the taste of booze, I'd love your husband's recommendations of non alcoholic drinks he enjoyed. We'll be in the Haven, too, so if there's a particular bartender who has the nonalcoholic magic touch, I can look for him/her!

Be sure to pack routine pharmacy stuff, too (advil, anti nausea pills) as they don't appear to sell them in the gift shops any more and now require a medical unit visit and a lot of insurance money for stuff you can fit in your toiletry bag.  

Unfortunately, the market has decided how much people are willing to pay for a mass market cruise and that hasn't risen significantly over the past 20 years. People want the new ships and the broadway shows and the themed bars and a dozen restaurants to choose from, but they also want to keep that initial price point static, which means cruise lines have to charge money in other ways or they won't remain viable.

My half of a porthole cabin on my first cruise on NCL in 1990 was about $1400. Two seatings for dinner, midnight buffet, some small but nice production shows. The daily largely consisted of telling you when ping pong and shuffleboard equipment would be available. 

People who want that level of service from 1990 and willing to pay the market price for it can find it on luxury lines (or to some extent in the Haven). For the rest, we take the massive included offerings and pay out of pocket elsewhere. 

On 12/20/2022 at 8:31 AM, cruiseny4life said:

Thanks for letting me know. Definitely appreciate hearing about others experience! I'll just keep my hopes down a little, so that I'll hopefully be pleased with the meal. I'm looking forward to the pineapple! It sounds as if it'll be warm, rather than cold which seems more appetizing than the yummy pineapple at Texas de Brasil. 

It may be a random event, but we found leftover Moderno pineapple one night at the late night buffet area in the Great Outdoors on the Pearl. It makes sense that if there are leftovers they'd offer them. We also got some soup there that had been a main dining room option.

If you're peckish, it's worth a swing by the late night buffet to see what treasures you might stumble upon!

I too have been sorely disappointed the last few visits to Cagneys. Has gone from #1 to skip-able. The steaks were good, but could not outweigh the really poor sides. I remember adoring each course there for years and years, but I think Le Bistro and Ocean Blue will be a much better gamble for you now. 

Sadly I have to retract my breakfast endorsement - we've stayed at the HILTON GARDEN INN not the Hampton Inn in Ridgewood Park. 

Maybe you can sneak over there for a pre-cruise breakfast if the Hampton isn't up to snuff. 

I looked up the movie theatre - it's an AMC.

https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/ridgefield-park/amc-starplex-ridgefield-park-12?utm_source=gbp&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=75ChallengerRd

On 12/13/2022 at 10:41 AM, cruiseny4life said:

We've decided we'll try the Hampton Inn Ridgefield Park, with their free parking and shuttle to/from the pier. They offer free breakfast too. I'm sure it's the powdered eggs, weird brown & serve sausages, and make your own waffles. 

 

It's been a couple of years since we stayed there, but the breakfast was remarkably good ! Enough to remark upon as a really pleasant surprise.  As good as the ship breakfasts - we were impressed. We don't get anything fancy - scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, toast. But it wasn't a dumpy little kitchenette situation with a plate of cold bagels wrapped in saran wrap  - it was a working breakfast kitchen.

It's not a luxury hotel, but perfectly fine for a pre-vacation night's stay. It's in an office park type area, so not a lot of dining options unless you want to get back in your car and drive (which we don't after driving down from Boston). So we pick up sandwiches for dinner when we stop for lunch.  There is a multiplex movie theatre just up the street - or used to be. Mostly we like to just check in, have a nap, and rest up for the busy week ahead.

Pick up and drop off both ways was uneventful and straightforward. About a half hour from the port. We've been lucky enough to not have snow, but always pack a shovel just in case you need to dig out upon your return!

We'll be back there ourselves a few weeks after you return, so I look forward to your report!

I remember the horror of being on my first solo vacation, very strict budget, going to check out and finding a $500 minibar charge on my account. Freaked out because it wasn't mine (don't drink) and didn't have that kind of money to just write off. I was young and scared but at least had the presence of mind to point out to the clerk that in the week I was at the resort I had eaten in all the restaurants and had room service and not once purchased an alcoholic beverage, so what were the odds I'd clean out the mini bar? They zeroed it out. But I've always wondered what would have happened if I DID drink here and there if they would have done the same.

Always, always check the charges as you go through the week (not daily, but well before end of cruise!)

7 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Don't let the neighborhood name, Hell's Kitchen, scare you. It's yuppified/gentrified/whateverfied. Definitely not "scary" anymore...if it ever really was.

Oh, it definitely was!