TrumpyNor

You can also check today's prices and compare the cruises a couple of weeks before or after the one you are interested in - the fuller the ship the higher are the cabin rates... ;)

Hello.... Would anyone know the names of the following Epic personnel sailing the Epic - Western Med on 14th September perchance and please?

Many thanks....

That is 6 months from now, so it would be impossible to know for sure. Especially since they rotate between ships and also have vacation times. And since they all came on board on different dates they also leave on different dates. I think you would have a much better chance of getting the information you want if you post the same thing in August. ;)

How well do you sleep when you are cruising?

 

I am not a great sleeper. Tossing and turning for an hour or so is my routine. Even when I'm exhausted sleep does not come easily. I follow all the recommendations such as dark room, no TV, etc. but it's been going on since I was a small child. So this is normal for me.

 

Now when I'm cruising on NCL (or other ships) sleep is not a problem. Sometimes I think I should make a cruise ship my full time home!:)

Your words could have been written by me.....!

But when I am on a cruise I sleep like a baby - every time. I find the beds very comfortable, same with the bedding, and even though usually I never feel the ships movement when I am awake, it probably helps as well when I want to sleep on board. :p Even a nap in the afternoon is not a problem - we actually sleep so well on board that we have to order a wake-up call so that we don't sleep through the evening if we want an afternoon nap.... :D

Like others have stated before me - NCL doesn't send out the PAPER "Welcome Aboard Booklet" and luggage tags any more.

Here is a link to the electronic version of the booklet:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ncl/welcomeaboard/

Luggage tags you just print out yourself - and a tip is to laminate them to stand against weather or ruff handling. You can just use transparent Schotch tape on both sides, and then either staple it around your suitcase handle or punch a hole in it and attach with a small string. I always wait to put on the NCL luggage tag until we are ready to take a cab to the port.

I was on the Spirit for 9 days a couple of months ago - and my favorites were (as "always") Le Bistro and Shogun. I have 15 NCL cruises under my "belt" so far - on seven different ships, so I have found my favorites.

At le Bistro I usually have the rack of lamb or the fruits de mer (the last one usually cost $10.00 extra, not sure if that is included in the UDP) - and my husband always goes for the "filet de boeuf grillé" (grilled beef tenderloin). For starters I try to vary a bit myself, but my husband always goes for the mushroom soup or the snails in garlic butter. For dessert the creme brulée is very nice.

At Shogun, I always choose one of the spicy dishes (don't remember the name unfortunately). My husbands preference is the "mahi-mahi" (fish) - he says it is fantastic. And the spring rolls they have at Shogun as a starter are really nice with a spicy chili sauce.

Just go ahead and pre-book all your restaurants - you can always change your mind when on board (usually more than 24 hours in advance, but just ask at the restaurant counter). If you should decide to only have dinner one time in one of the restaurants, just ask them to change the second reservation you have for that particular restaurant for one of the others.

If the Teppenyaki is included in the package, you should book that for one night as well. It is great food and even greater entertainment - also for the kids.

I always have my suitcases (hard) and bags locked until it arrives in my cabin - with a TSA lock so that if for some reason the port authorities or ship security need to open them they can without breaking the lock . Never had an issue, and believe it is better to be safe than sorry.... ;)

Both my husband and I have celebrated birthdays on NCL cruises, and always receive a small birthday cake at the end of the dinner. It is free - doesn't cost a dime. All you have to do is let the receptionist at the restaurant where you will have the birthday dinner know that it is your husbands birthday - you can either tell them when you make the reservation, or just let them know when you arrive at the restaurant. It would probably be nicest if you managed to do so without your husband knowing, then it would be a nice surprise. Not because the cake is the "best in the world" - but because it is a nice gesture, especially since all the waiters will gather and sing the birthday song.

Enclosed are photos of the last birthday cake we received (the white one, in 2013), plus one that we received a few years ago. Then you can see what to expect. :)

The final payment date is usually 75 days before the sailing date. After that you can't change to a lower price or a lower cabin category without having to pay a fee (the closer to the sailing date the higher the fee). But you can always upgrade to a higher category if there is a price drop during the last couple of months before sailing, and just pay a few dollars for the upgrade (you have to pay the difference between what you have already paid, and the new price for that higher category). But be aware that if you decide to do that, you might loose any special perks that was included in your original booking and get other perks instead. So you just have to count the pro's and con's before deciding to do the upgrade.

I have purchased an upgrade on several cruises in the past - some times from balcony cabin to a mini-suite, and some times from a mini-suite to a real suite, and just paid a few hundred dollars extra per person (much less in difference than it was originally when I first did my reservation). Some times the prices drop and some times they don't - it all depends on itineraries and "popularity".

I did have a question about an Alaska Cruise. We have a MiFi that goes on the Verizon network. Since most of this cruise is very close to the mainland of Alaska, do you think we would be able to pickup the signal for it?

I live in Norway, and have a special internet subscription on my mobile phone for all Western Europe. Therefore quite often on a Mediterranean cruise when we were close to shore (sailing in and out of ports) I was online sitting on my balcony, thinking it would not cost anything extra. Well - I was wrong. Received a large bill from my telephone company after I returned home, for use they called "internet data at sea". And this was when sailing pretty close to the coast line.

Just would like to mention that when I didn't use the internet on my phone on board, I turned it off and left it in the safe in the cabin - to make certain no roaming charges were going on.... Well, I learned from my experience and now I only use internet on my phone when we are ashore, usually on a cafe or bar with free wi-fi. On board I find the internet connection from the ship so slow that it is not worth it, unless absolutely necessary. I only use a computer in the internet cafe on board on the last night of the cruise, to check in to my return flight and print boarding passes. And for that I choose to do it "pay-by-the-minute" (and that cost $0,75 per minute, and $3,95 as starting fee).

so it is better to take a taxi than any NCL provided shuttle or whatever other options are available? do I need any paper work of some sort to prove I have already paid?

 

I did the Orient Beach excursion through NCL (I think it was called "Orient Beach Rendevouz") in January 2013, and if I should do that again, I would go on my own. We were a rather large group, and the sunbeds that were "reserved" for us was in the back row - even though the majority of sunbeds in front of us were free. It also seemed like the administration at the particular part of the beach that was for the excursion (called "Waikiki") were not prepared for our arrival, it was a lot of confusion before we finally got any sunbeds. Some of the group almost started fighting over the sunbeds available... :mad:

If you go on your own, you are free to choose which part of the beach to stay at, some parts are nicer than others. :)

Finally I would just say that usually I book all my excursions through NCL out of convenience, and usually I am content with the quality - but not this one....

I see that you already got answers regarding "perks" in mini suites, I just wanted to mention that that all though the mini suites qualify as "De Luxe" balcony cabins, they are different both in size and layout between the various ship classes.

I have only had a mini suite on the Sun (on three cruises), and that was a really nice one. I have been told that on the Sun the mini suites are larger and nicer than they are on the majority of other NCL ships, for me the space and the storage place was the main reason I chose a mini suite instead of a regular balcony cabin. Especially since my three cruises in the mini suite were longer than a week (9-10-11 days). :)

traveling in march and stay in a penthouse what perks can i expect??? what did u use butler and concierge for???

Here is an easy answer:

The butler can help you with any requests regarding "inside" your suite, and the concierge can help you with stuff on the rest of the ship plus shore excursions...:p

Hi - just wondering if the Ocean View rooms have a mini-fridge? On our last cruise (another line) we had them clear out the mini-bar/fridge so we could keep cold water on hand. Hoping this will have it as well.

I have not been on the Getaway (or Breakaway) myself, but I have been on 7 different NCL ships and they all have mini-fridge (minibar) in all their cabins, except the inside studios for single occupancy. So I am pretty certain your ocean view cabin will have one as well.... :)

I always tip the guide unless he/she has been really bad for some reason (that has happened...). Usually in the range of $5.00-$10.00 if the cruise is in the Caribbean, and 5.00-10.00 euros if the cruise is in Europe. I leave it up to the guide to share with the driver (they usually do).

I agree with those who say that a return flight at 11.35 AM should be OK. But delays CAN happen for a number of reasons, all though it doesn't happen often - so make sure to purchase a travel insurance before (or at the same time as) you book your flight. Better safe than sorry IF something unexpected should happen. :)

I'm definitely not Haven. I'm trying to find quiet places in the sun without screaming kids. Is the sundeck on deck 14 also for everyone's use?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I always do that myself - try to find quiet spaces away from the crowds. And my personal experience is that the higher up I get from the pool deck, the more quiet it is. Last year on board the Norwegian Sun, I ended up on the helicopter deck all by my self (there was a few sun beds there as well). Loved it! Often you can also find small "terraces" with a few sunbeds in "between" the main decks. I always take a walk all over the upper decks on the first day, so that I know my options later.... :p

Cruise or don't, if you do, don't drink, if you do drink, well, when in Rome. The entire barstaff, bartenders, waitstaff, and barbacks are covered by the 15% gratuity and they aren't covered by the DSC (as I understand it).

 

I for one am happy with the current system and will not work to change it, thank you.

I agree with you - and yes, you are absolutely correct. The entire bar staff are NOT covered by the $12.00 daily service charge that all passengers are charged on their on board account.

All regular crew (not officers) have a base salary of just a few hundred US dollars per month (this is on ALL cruise lines, not only NCL), and the auto gratuity for bar staff is the only way to ensure that they have a decent salary every month.

Waiting staff get their "auto gratuity" every day even if people are off the ship and not having their meals on board, the bar staff only get their gratuity if somebody purchases drinks from them. On many port days or if the ship is having an overnight stay, they make little money and on sea days they make it quite good.

Does everyone have access to this or just the owner's suite?

 

What about the sundeck on deck 14?

If you mean the "regular" Freestyle Sundeck on deck 15, it is certainly open for everybody. But usually it is very quiet there, not many people. Maybe because "freestyle" in this case means the possibility to go topless or nude, all though it is not mandatory... ;)

If you are in an Haven owners suite (I believe all owners suites on the Pearl are part of the Haven), then you will have access to the private Haven sundeck that is only for Haven suite guests, situated on deck 15 on the left side/port side, just above the Haven courtyard. It is marked as "private sundeck" on the deck plans.

Pearl...March 16 to 21, 2014...anyone know who are the HD, CD, & Concierge for this sailing? thanks in advance for any help...

Maybe this would be a better place to post your question:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1966226

I understand that in balcony rooms, there are robes for guest use. Anyone have an approx. size for these robes? I'm a full figured gal so a one-size fits-most may be a tad snug for this gal.

Also, we are planning on getting the spa pass - if we chose to, are we allowed to bring our breakfast into the spa area where we can sit quietly away from the crowds?

The robes that are in NCL balcony cabins or suites, are actually quite large. Like somebody else wrote, I believe it is size XL (men). But if that is too small, then I am certain you can ask the room steward to get you a larger size. They might not have very many in size XXL but I am sure they have some. :)

I always bring with me around $300 dollars in cash, and if for some reason I need more I just charge it on my on board account instead of using the ATM. I believe it cost $3,00 to take out $100 in the casino or at the guest service desk. And that is way lower than the fee I have to pay to my CC company if I get my cash from the ATM machine instead.

I will be sailing with my passport - which has my address with the city as Houston, TX. Technically I live barely outside the city limits, but Houston, TX has been my mailing address since 1998.

 

My NCL confirmation has the correct street address and zip code, but auto-filled the city as Jersey Village, TX which is also very close to me.

 

That won't cause any issues will it??

 

Thanks!

I don't think so, but why not just log in to MyNCL and change the city in your profile address to the correct city? I believe that you can erase the auto-filling and write a different city name in the box....

First cruise with NCL coming up.

 

We will have $550 in onboard credit from NCL this upcoming cruise.

 

Since it is on the onboard account, can we go to the casino and get cash to take ashore also?(or use for tips throughout the ship)

 

Or does this only work from your assigned credit card?

 

Thanks in advance.

If this is an OBC that is from NCL, then the answer is NO, you can not use it to take out cash or to pay the daily service charge. But if it is an OBC that you have purchased online your self (or received as a gift from family or friends), then you can use the OBC towards anything on board, including cash withdrawal.

Hey,

 

currently on the Spirit: Captain Kim Karlsson, HD Orazio Caci and CD Gio Artavia.

 

Happy Weekend :-)!

HD Orazio Caci left the Spirit on January 6th to work 2 months on the Gem, and after that he didn't know what ship he would be "send" to....

Since the Getaway is now officially a part of the fleet, let's start with her officers:

 

• Hotel Director – Sean Wurmhoeringer
  
• Asst. Hotel Director – Errol Nelson
  
• F&B Director – Martin Ivanov
  
• Executive Chef – Anil Chinthapattla
  
• Restaurant Manager – Deepak Gonsalves
  
• Bar Manager – Jose Contreras
  
• Executive HouseKeeper - Marites Sonza
  
• Guest Service Manager – Jocel Guzman
  
• Cruise Director – Julie Valeriote
  

Captains: Rune Myre and Tommy Stensrud will alternate.

Capt. Rune Myre was the captain on the transatlantic cruise to New York, but I know that captain Stensrud joined him in New York January 26th to start working on the Getaway as well....

Personally I have been on 15 NCL cruises so far, but have never had Rune Myre as captain. But I have done 4 cruises with capt. Tommy Stensrud as captain, and so far he is my favorite NCL captain. Very friendly and laid back, and very often walking around the ship and talking to passengers. :)