New to NCL; on Getaway; lots of questions

[Holly1225]

I am new to NCL & have lots of questions. The threads have been very helpful, but I still need more info. I hope you can help.

 

1) Boarding - We are boarding in Miami. 1st - what is the earliest time we can get on board & about when can we expect our luggage in our room? 2nd - How long does it take to check-in? I gather it takes a while. Finally, I read in the threads that there is a place you have to drop off your luggage before you check-in. Someone said they missed the drop-off place and had to go back to it. Any info on where the luggage-drop off is?

 

2) Internet - We are getting the internet package. How well does the internet work? From talking to the NCL folks, you can't stream, but I mainly want to read the paper, look stuff up & keep in touch. Can you use it in your room, in common areas & on the outside decks?

 

3) Drinks - We are getting the drink package. I know the limit is $15 and if the drink is more expensive, you pay for the difference & they add the 18% gratuity on the additional amount. I don't like rum drinks or drinks with a lot of sugar in them (it gives me a headache). I prefer single malt scotches, cognac and some fancy martinis or a Manhattan. Does anyone know if these type of drinks are within the $15 limit?

 

4) Quiet spot for a drink - Is there a lounge on the ship with a nice view and some light music where you can enjoy a drink before or after dinner or are they all loud & noisy?

 

5) Meals - Do you need to make a reservation before you get on the ship for the specialty dining places? Similarly, do you need to make reservations before or after you get on the ship for the included restaurants. Regarding the included restaurants, which is the smaller, more quiet one (more upscale than the others). For lunch & breakfast, are there venues, other than the buffet that have waiter service. Once again, I'm looking for peace & quiet.

 

6) How well does the iconcierge app work with an Android. Will we be able to communicate with each other if we're on different places in the ship?

 

7)Disembarkation - How long does it take to get off the ship? Our flights are not until mid-afternoon so we're not overly concerned, but there are some horror stories in these threads of about 2 hours lines to get off. Has anyone used the NCL transfer to the airport? If they are like many other cruise lines, they pack the buses and make you leave much earlier than you need to because people have different times and different airlines. Is NCL like this?

 

Thanks for your help.

[Kfamilycruise]

I am new to NCL & have lots of questions. The threads have been very helpful, but I still need more info. I hope you can help.

 

1) Boarding - We are boarding in Miami. 1st - what is the earliest time we can get on board & about when can we expect our luggage in our room? 2nd - How long does it take to check-in? I gather it takes a while. Finally, I read in the threads that there is a place you have to drop off your luggage before you check-in. Someone said they missed the drop-off place and had to go back to it. Any info on where the luggage-drop off is? Do you want Vibe passes?If not, don't rush. Get there around 11. There are porters waiting outside. Tell them you are getting on board and go on it. Make sure you have your documents and ids with you and not in your suitcases. Luggage is in room anywhere between 2-4 depending. How long to check-in just depends on the day and people working. I've never had it take more than 45 minutes to get to waiting room.

 

2) Internet - We are getting the internet package. How well does the internet work? From talking to the NCL folks, you can't stream, but I mainly want to read the paper, look stuff up & keep in touch. Can you use it in your room, in common areas & on the outside decks? You can access Internet everywhere. You can't stream and it isn't great. You get kicked off a lot and it is slow as molasses.

 

3) Drinks - We are getting the drink package. I know the limit is $15 and if the drink is more expensive, you pay for the difference & they add the 18% gratuity on the additional amount. I don't like rum drinks or drinks with a lot of sugar in them (it gives me a headache). I prefer single malt scotches, cognac and some fancy martinis or a Manhattan. Does anyone know if these type of drinks are within the $15 limit? There is sure to be some liquor in your category. If it is more, you will pay the difference.

 

4) Quiet spot for a drink - Is there a lounge on the ship with a nice view and some light music where you can enjoy a drink before or after dinner or are they all loud & noisy? Sugar Cane Bar or anywhere on the waterfront is perfect for this atmosphere.

 

5) Meals - Do you need to make a reservation before you get on the ship for the specialty dining places? Similarly, do you need to make reservations before or after you get on the ship for the included restaurants. Regarding the included restaurants, which is the smaller, more quiet one (more upscale than the others). For lunch & breakfast, are there venues, other than the buffet that have waiter service. Once again, I'm looking for peace & quiet. You don't have to make reservations before you get on, but I'd recommend it, they fill up quickly. Included restaurants when you get on the ship. Manhattan Room is very loud because they have live music -- Taste and Savor are exactly the same. We've enjoyed both. Neither is more upscale than the other. The Manhattan Room is slightly more upscale, but as I mentioned, noisy. For breakfast do Taste, great, waiter service and good food and quiet. I've never done lunch in the restaurants so I can't help you there -- I have gotten the Lobster roll from the outside window of the seafood restaurant and it is delish!

 

6) How well does the iconcierge app work with an Android. Will we be able to communicate with each other if we're on different places in the ship? Sorry, I have an iPhone, but it has always worked well for me.

 

7)Disembarkation - How long does it take to get off the ship? Our flights are not until mid-afternoon so we're not overly concerned, but there are some horror stories in these threads of about 2 hours lines to get off. Has anyone used the NCL transfer to the airport? If they are like many other cruise lines, they pack the buses and make you leave much earlier than you need to because people have different times and different airlines. Is NCL like this? The NCL transfers always get you there way too early. Since you don't have to rush off, take the last color that you can use to get off and relax for most of the morning. Hopefully you can wait off the line. We've done an 8 am walk off and only waited maybe 20 minutes to get off.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Enjoy the Getaway! We've been on her twice and had amazing cruises both times!

[zqvol]

I am new to NCL & have lots of questions. The threads have been very helpful, but I still need more info. I hope you can help.

 

1) Boarding - We are boarding in Miami. 1st - what is the earliest time we can get on board & about when can we expect our luggage in our room? 2nd - How long does it take to check-in? I gather it takes a while. Finally, I read in the threads that there is a place you have to drop off your luggage before you check-in. Someone said they missed the drop-off place and had to go back to it. Any info on where the luggage-drop off is?

 

You can arrive and get in the building to begin check in around 10:00. Boarding typically begins around 11:30 - 11:45. Luggage will arrive sometime before 8:00 p.m. There is no rhyme or reason as to when your bags will arrive. You drop luggage off with the porters that are outside when you drive up.

 

2) Internet - We are getting the internet package. How well does the internet work? From talking to the NCL folks, you can't stream, but I mainly want to read the paper, look stuff up & keep in touch. Can you use it in your room, in common areas & on the outside decks?

 

Internet is slow, but not all that slow, it will work just fine as you describe. You can use it throughout the ship, both inside and outside, assuming that your device can connect to the Internet wirelessly. I have never been kicked off my connection on any NCL ship - just lucky I guess but I do not see many reports of people being disconnected.

 

3) Drinks - We are getting the drink package. I know the limit is $15 and if the drink is more expensive, you pay for the difference & they add the 18% gratuity on the additional amount. I don't like rum drinks or drinks with a lot of sugar in them (it gives me a headache). I prefer single malt scotches, cognac and some fancy martinis or a Manhattan. Does anyone know if these type of drinks are within the $15 limit?

 

You will have no problem finding a variety of adult beverages that meet your criteria. You may not get your first choice in a single malt under the $15 limit, but as I recall there are some available. Do a search and you should be able to find a bar menu that includes prices.

 

4) Quiet spot for a drink - Is there a lounge on the ship with a nice view and some light music where you can enjoy a drink before or after dinner or are they all loud & noisy?

 

5) Meals - Do you need to make a reservation before you get on the ship for the specialty dining places? Similarly, do you need to make reservations before or after you get on the ship for the included restaurants. Regarding the included restaurants, which is the smaller, more quiet one (more upscale than the others). For lunch & breakfast, are there venues, other than the buffet that have waiter service. Once again, I'm looking for peace & quiet.

 

Reservations really depend on party size. If it is a two top you probably don't need reservations, but they are available in all of the venues.

 

6) How well does the iconcierge app work with an Android. Will we be able to communicate with each other if we're on different places in the ship?

 

7)Disembarkation - How long does it take to get off the ship? Our flights are not until mid-afternoon so we're not overly concerned, but there are some horror stories in these threads of about 2 hours lines to get off. Has anyone used the NCL transfer to the airport? If they are like many other cruise lines, they pack the buses and make you leave much earlier than you need to because people have different times and different airlines. Is NCL like this?

 

Yes as to when they do the transfers, they are early, but they do get you off the ship without waiting in the lines. I would suggest instead of hurrying off the ship just wait for a while, even if you want to take your own bags off. Unless you are trying to catch a fight there is no reason at all to rush.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Notes above

[sanger727]

1. I've boarded at Miami before, don't really remember the specifics but unless you get dropped off by a clueless uber or self drive, you shouldn't have any issues finding where to drop off your luggage. We usually take the hotel shuttle and they drop you off there and the porters come running over to help the driver unload the bags.

 

3. You can absolutely get the type of drink you want under the limit. If you want a specific scotch or something there are premium ones that may be over. Some of the fancy martinis are over too but plenty are under. If you want to stay under the limit the whole trip, you certainly can; you may just not be able to try every drink on the menu.

 

5. Yes, make reservations at the specialties, ideally online ahead of time. Otherwise the first day when you board. No worries on the included restaurants; no need for reservations there.

 

6. We had iPhones but iconcierge worked well. One of our phones kept getting kicked off the wifi and disconnecting but the others didn't. If you check you phone, you won't have any trouble seeing that it's offline and reconnect to get messages; but don't take a nap relying that someone can get through to you to wake you up or anything.

 

7. On our last sailing it was self debarkation, suites/high loyalty, first open tickets, then NCL transfers, then the remaining spots were open. I do recall them having 2 slots reserved for NCL transfers; one for flights before 2 i think and one for after 2.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Luke I Am Your Father]

I am new to NCL & have lots of questions. The threads have been very helpful, but I still need more info. I hope you can help.

 

1) Boarding - We are boarding in Miami. 1st - what is the earliest time we can get on board & about when can we expect our luggage in our room? 2nd - How long does it take to check-in? I gather it takes a while. Finally, I read in the threads that there is a place you have to drop off your luggage before you check-in. Someone said they missed the drop-off place and had to go back to it. Any info on where the luggage-drop off is?

 

The porters will be right there in the parking lot as the shuttles, vans, taxis drop you off at the terminal. It is all but impossible to miss them. Check in is one thing actually boarding is another. You can get through check in quickly depending on how many people are in front of you. The check in time should be on your edocs.

 

2) Internet - We are getting the internet package. How well does the internet work? From talking to the NCL folks, you can't stream, but I mainly want to read the paper, look stuff up & keep in touch. Can you use it in your room, in common areas & on the outside decks?

 

 

The internet on the ships is all but useless except for very quick on and off things. Do you remember 300 Baud dial up? This is slower in many cases.

 

5) Meals - Do you need to make a reservation before you get on the ship for the specialty dining places? Similarly, do you need to make reservations before or after you get on the ship for the included restaurants. Regarding the included restaurants, which is the smaller, more quiet one (more upscale than the others). For lunch & breakfast, are there venues, other than the buffet that have waiter service. Once again, I'm looking for peace & quiet.

 

 

No you do not have to reserve ahead of time

 

 

6) How well does the iconcierge app work with an Android. Will we be able to communicate with each other if we're on different places in the ship?

 

Yes but it is not free

 

7)Disembarkation - How long does it take to get off the ship? Our flights are not until mid-afternoon so we're not overly concerned, but there are some horror stories in these threads of about 2 hours lines to get off. Has anyone used the NCL transfer to the airport? If they are like many other cruise lines, they pack the buses and make you leave much earlier than you need to because people have different times and different airlines. Is NCL like this?

 

It depends on a LOT of factors.

[kenlyn]

Just off the Getaway Sunday. We checked in through the casino so can't help with that or the drink package however i had an internet package and thought it worked great. I checked email, used messenger, and used Facebook daily. I was never kicked off and for those things it was quite quick.

We chose purple tags which was a 9:15 walk off for disembarking. It took us 1 and a half hours from start to finish through customs. NCL was organized and the lines were obvious looped throughout the ship ending at customs. The bigger the ship the more people there are to clear. It took awhile but it was usually moving! Have a great time we enjoyed this ship well enough to sail her twice!

[Holly1225]

Thank you so much for all the info. It makes me feel a lot better about embarkation, disembarkation & dinner reservations.

 

What is a "vibe pass." Kfamilycruise mentioned it. Will it help us get on the ship faster? Also Kfamil -- thanks for the Sugar Cane Bar recommendation for a drink & the Taste for breakfast. Hopefully no on else is reading this so they're both really quiet.:)

[momto2js]

#1. The bag drop and check in won't take long, but the room that you wait in can be painful!! We arrived around 10:30 and boarding started @ 11:30. Then we got to the waiting area there was no where to sit so we found a place for our family on the floor along a wall where we sat until our group was called around 12:00. On our next trip, we will arrive @12 and hopefully the crowd will have boarded by then. This is one case where early isn't necessarily the best option.

 

#5. I made reservations for the entire week ahead of time. We ate early, but I have kids and needed to know they would get fed. If it was all adults and we had more flexibility, I likely could have waited (I wouldn't of because I am a planner, but I could have)

 

#7. We did self carry and we were in the car at 7:55 am. It was the fastest I have ever gotten off a ship. We leave early because the number of places to "hang out" on the last morning are limited and my monsters would drive EVERYONE crazy while waiting. Depending on your group size it may be more cost effective to take a cab to the Airport.

[karenpstok]

i didnt read all the responses but if no one mentioned the waterfront, it is a great quiet comfy spot for a drink. I even napped a bit on the couches there some days.Beautiful spot. Lines to get off vary. On my last two getaway cruises they separated the US passport holders and the other countries so being canadian i was in the other line which i found to be fairly quick considering all the people. Enjoy your cruise!

[www3traveler]

My favorite bar is Spice H2O on Deck 16 at the rear of the ship. Open from 6 A.M. to 7 P.M. for adults only. Has a couple of hot tubs and a waterfall feature.

 

Enjoy

[Holly1225]

Thanks again for everyone who responded. Is there someone out there who can tell me about "the waterfront." It sounds quiet, with beautiful views. I'm afraid I won't find. The largest ship I have previously have been on had 1500 passengers. 40000 is a little daunting. I'll feel like a country person in NY city.

[cheech907]

Thanks again for everyone who responded. Is there someone out there who can tell me about "the waterfront." It sounds quiet, with beautiful views. I'm afraid I won't find. The largest ship I have previously have been on had 1500 passengers. 40000 is a little daunting. I'll feel like a country person in NY city.

 

You won't miss the waterfront. It wraps around the entire ship. Each restaurant on deck 8 has indoor seating and outdoor seating on the waterfront. They have nice chairs in between restaurants to relax and watch the water. We enjoyed sitting at the Mojito bar on the waterfront - Beautiful views. We did not take advantage as much as we should have though - But we are booked for March 26th so we will give it another go!

[markr100]

For question #3: Date 07/2016. It was posted on this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2348836.

Edited February 17, 2017 by markr100

[Oldgoat61]

I have yet to sail on a mega ship, but the NCL ships I have sailed on had iconceirge, and it costs you $7.95 pp if you want to contact someone on the ship. Even if you decide not to contact someone, it is a valuable tool you can use while on board.

 

I will make a suggestion though. Once you get on board, avoid the buffet, unless you don't mind a mad house of people. There should be other options for you (MDR). :D

[Holly1225]

Thanks Oldgoat for the bar menu. It looks like they have a lot of good stuff. And thanks Cheech for the picture of the waterfront -- it looks beautiful. We'll definitely head ton the Mojito. This sounds like it will be a lovely trip.