What can I expect from my 2-night Cruise to Nowhere?

[Sandyrella]

I am going on the 2-nighter out of Boston on October 28th with 5 of my girlfriends. None of them have cruised before.

 

Just as a bit of background... I have cruised NCL 4 times with accommodations ranging from inside to Owners Suite (best upsell of my life!:p) but I have no idea what to expect from this. I have been on the Dawn (from Miami) and also sailed from Boston (Spirit) so I'm not expecting any really surprises on either of those accounts. With that said, I can't wait to see the refurbished and renovated Dawn!!

 

I have some specific questions but any additional insight any of you can add would be great!

 

- What is the best time to arrive at the port? In the past I have always arrived around 11:00 a.m. and we're on the ship by 12:30 latest.

 

- Can we check our baggage or is it all carry on only?

 

- I plan to bring a couple of bottles of wine on and have no problem paying the corkage. Will security be a tight as a 7 day cruise or is there any possibility they will go unnoticed ? :D

 

- What kind of entertainment can we expect? Are there big shows on both nights? I keep reading about a comedian...is this standard on every cruise to nowhere?

 

- What is there to do during the day? I'm used to reading by the pool but this is obviously not an option...not only because of the weather but also because my friends probably won't let me :rolleyes:

 

If any of you have any answers to my questions or any added info, I would really appreciate it!

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Sandy

[Sauer-kraut]

A lot of partying, a minimum of sleep, crowds crowds crowds, and everyone trying to pack in a week of cruising in 2 days.

 

Have a great girls getaway! :D

[Sandyrella]

Thanks Sauer-kraut. I think we already new all that, especially the party part :D But is it really that much more crowded? We aren't treating it like a cruise per se although it's a darn good excuse for a party and it is meant as an introduction to my friends that are worried about claustrophobia and seasickness.

 

Our girls getaway will be great...one of the group is celebrating her 50th on our sailaway day!

[Cubechick]

Yes it will be that crowded. The sea day is fairly pleasant. Until people start recovering and partying again. ;)

The 2 nighter I did, you carried your bags.

I don't know if they'll catch your wine or not. Like you said just be ready to pay.

If you're looking to make dinner reservations do it the moment you board.

The entertainment offered will be pretty much the same as a regular cruise. Just packed as everyone tries to experience everything.

 

These are fun cruises, but definitely not a typical cruise experience.

[Sandyrella]

Thanks Cubechick...is it all areas that are more crowded. Is it because the deck space is probably not being used due to the weather?

 

I've explained to my friends that this is not a typical cruise experience but they are very excited about being on a ship and having a girls weekend away.

 

What would you say the dress code for dinner is? They all want to dress up (not formal) but my own experience with NCL is that I would guess it will be more casual than usual..

[Sauer-kraut]

It can be as dressy as you want it, I would go more casual only as it cuts down on carrying on extra clothes. A nice pair of pants and blouse would be about as dressy as it gets. HOWEVER some people will be celebrating special occasions so again you will probably see a mix of everything. Go with what is comfortable for you.

[Cubechick]

Thanks Cubechick...is it all areas that are more crowded. Is it because the deck space is probably not being used due to the weather?

 

I've explained to my friends that this is not a typical cruise experience but they are very excited about being on a ship and having a girls weekend away.

 

What would you say the dress code for dinner is? They all want to dress up (not formal) but my own experience with NCL is that I would guess it will be more casual than usual..

Our 2-nighter had lousy weather, but we found plenty of quiet places on the sea day. It's really in the evenings/nights, when everyone's up that everything's crowded. Bars and casino especially.

I'd wear whatever you'd like to dinner. It seems that we experienced about the same mix of "dressed up or not" that we see on a traditional length cruise.

[flashdog_1]

You know how the first day/night is on a cruise when no one knows his way around, so there's lots of milling, and therefore feels crowded? Well, that's how it will be the 2nd day and night, too. Some people want to get their money's worth so stay up partying all night! Not healthy, but that's their choice.

 

Since there are no excursions to choose, everyone will be on the ship, so you'll have more people trying to get seats outdoors despite the time of year. People from inside cabins like to walk the decks and sit in deck chairs say on the promenade deck, with a blanket around them. So your only decisions to make will be what time and where to eat, or what bar to go to, or what NCL activity to participate in.

 

If all 5 of you will be staying together in one big suite then you can figure that out easily. But remember that one person may want to do something else and then catch up with you.

 

Have fun~!

[luddite]

Expect a forty-eight hour party.

[DMH15]

We took a 2-nighter on the Dawn out of NYC. Immediately people were scrambling to book specialty restaurants and spa. My mom waited until after sailaway and wasn't able to get a spa treatment.

 

Also, the casino was not only crowded and smoky, the table minimums were high.

 

Was the CTN typical of a regular cruise? No. Did I have fun? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. I would prefer a longer cruise, loved the two 14-day ones I have taken, so relaxed. But the sailaway was still magical and gave me those same goosebumps I always get.

[family cruisers]

Is everything on the ship opened ? All specialty restaurants / Spas etc?

Thanks

[retired rascal]

many too many drunk passengers

[ktpc2005]

I have been on one and it was like 48 hour college party.

 

I was looking at the prices for this one and they are pretty high, but the inventory is low. My MIL is going to Bermuda the week before and paying only a little more than what people are paying for a 2 day cabin.

 

Also do not get there too early on embarkation day as disembarkation for a Boston Bermuda cruise goes from 8:30am to about 10:30am.

[Cubechick]

Is everything on the ship opened ? All specialty restaurants / Spas etc?

Thanks

 

Yes. But as stated above, if you don't book immediately upon boarding you'll miss out.

[Boston and beyond cruiser]

I'm going on this cruise as well with 2 of my friends - can't wait!

 

I'll actually be on the Dawn on the Boston to Bermuda run from 9/30 - 10/7, and then again on the 28th - not sure how my friends talked me into this.

 

Well, maybe it's payback for dragging them on a 2-night cruise on the brand new Gem in December a few years back during a raging BLIZZARD. The wind was howling, the snow was blowing, the waves were crashing, but we had a ball - the hardest part was keeping your martini in the glass while walking....:)

 

Maybe we'll see you on board! It's sure to be a fun time.

[Samira0207]

- What is the best time to arrive at the port? In the past I have always arrived around 11:00 a.m. and we're on the ship by 12:30 latest. Get there as EARLY as possible-this way you can make the most of your 1st day. Have lunch on board; just relax.

 

- Can we check our baggage or is it all carry on only? I've always just used a small carry on bag-even on a 2 night there isn't much clothing i would need.

 

- I plan to bring a couple of bottles of wine on and have no problem paying the corkage. Will security be a tight as a 7 day cruise or is there any possibility they will go unnoticed ? We carried on a bottle of wine with out any problems on NCL 1 night cruise. the trip was a surprise for my husband he had packed a bottle of wine in his bag thinking we were going to a hotel not realizing we were getting on a cruise!

 

- What kind of entertainment can we expect? Are there big shows on both nights? I keep reading about a comedian...is this standard on every cruise to nowhere? There will most likely be a comedian-and then a typical singing/dancing type of show. Acrobatic acts possibly too. And a big party in the night club-more so than my 7 day cruises!

 

- What is there to do during the day? I'm used to reading by the pool but this is obviously not an option...not only because of the weather but also because my friends probably won't let me. Gym; relax; classes offered; eat; spa.

 

Have fun!

[moonbee73]

Hi,

 

This is a girls weekend for myself and friend also, I've been on Royal and Princess but never Norweigan. Looking forward to it, I was wondering if anyone would dress up because Halloween is the Monday after. Either way I cant' wait to go and be catered to for 2 days. ::)

[valleyvillage]

...on our 2 Nighter Star CTN Los Angeles. The atmosphere was fun and fast.The biggest difference we noticed (don't know if it is like this on all ships) they had ALL the hot tubs closed, even the ones in the spa and they cleared out all the mini bars. The butler had a bit of a "let's get this over with" attitude, but the concierge was wonderful.

 

All in all, fun fun fun. Would do it again, but not a 1 nighter. It's that one full day at sea that makes it seem much more like a cruise!:D

[cruisingberger]

Super party time! We took one a few years ago. The ship is packed and the bars are the big draw. You'll have a great girls weekend. Have fun.

[Brighton Line]

On a one night CTN there is NO checked baggage.

Everything will be open, the shops will be "Tax Free" not Duty Free.

You don't need a passport, and there is no custom check getting off. You swipe off the ship and that's it.

That is when I had some fun. The amount of people swiping off with "Bong" not a "bing" and security telling them to go to Customer Service because their tab isn't settled.

On a one day there isn't even a lifeboat drill but you will have to have one on a two day. USCG requires it within 24 hours of departure so that is why a one day does not have one (they stopped selling booze for 7 ENTIRE MINUTES while reading the safety drill over the PA) :(

A CTN 2 day is nothing like a regular cruise, but most enjoyable.

Carnival has 2 Day CTN for the Miracle out of NY on 10/13, you got me thinking of doing it now...

[Sandyrella]

Hi,

 

This is a girls weekend for myself and friend also, I've been on Royal and Princess but never Norweigan. Looking forward to it, I was wondering if anyone would dress up because Halloween is the Monday after. Either way I cant' wait to go and be catered to for 2 days. ::)

 

I'm really not much of a Halloweeny person. Dressing up is not an option for me :). We are looking forward to our girl's weekend as well!

[Sandyrella]

Thanks for all the great insight. Does anybody know if there is karaoke? One of my girlfriends is a really goodsinger and would probably love to do this!

[Sandyrella]

Nobody else into Karaoke? I get it...I'm not much of a singer myself but somebody must know if we will find a Karaoke spot? :cool:

 

My friend that sings...it's her 50th birthday the day we sail! I just know she would love to do this! ;)

 

On another note, any good restaurants in Boston that you can recommend? I've have been to Boston once and really enjoyed Regina's pizza in Little Italy. It was quite the experience :rolleyes:

[janice2348]

I am looking at the cruise to nowhere from NY in April as an alternative to the expense and hassle of a 7 day Bahamas cruise. Does anyone have an opinion on this? :confused:

[Sandyrella]

Well, as you know, I have never taken the 2 day cruise but given the choice of 2 or 7 days? 7 days would win hands down! If you are sailing from New York, there shouldn't be any hassle.

 

As a fearful flyer, any excuse to sail from a port within driving distance pf Montreal is a benefit to me. Yes the 7 day is more expensive but it is also more of a vacation. You will have time to relax and enjoy the pools and hot tubs before hitting Bahamas. We did this trip years ago in March and even though we lost some warm weather days in the sail to and from, we still really enjoyed the cruise.

 

I'm not anticipating this 2 day cruise to be relaxing. It's going to be a party, a weekend away with my girlfriends, definitely a good time...but not relaxing. I guess it all comes down to what you are looking for in a vacation. :)