ksmcdonald

Is the menu in post #7 not a current menu? It has the tomahawk on it.

It also has lobster, not just lobster tail on it. Which is correct for Cagneys, the menu in post 7 or the one in post 4??

We were on the Breakaway in June 2016 and my husband orderd the Tomahawk and I got the whole lobster. Hope that menu has not changed!

Looks like they might of taken the pork belly off the appetizer menu as well?

What is a Tomahawk?

You're right. No more lobster in Specialty restaurants! :(. :mad: :eek:

Only in MDR for an upcharge. :rolleyes:

When did this "no lobster at Specialty restaurants" take place. I was just there 4 months ago and I got the lobster at Cagneys (see picture above).

Are you saying that since then they have changed the menu?

Cagney' s for us! I've included a picture of what was left of my husband's cowboy ribeye steak! I totally forgot to take a picture before he started! You can tell by the bone how huge it was! I ordered the lobster and the pork belly appetizer was to die for!

Cowboy ribeye

Lobster

Pork belly

With that said, we really loved the hibachi restaurant Teppanyaki

I have only been on 1 cruise. I am going on my second one THIS FRIDAY (Yikes, Nicole). I bought the insurance both times, but I guess I bought it thru the cruise line. I didn't know there was any other way... How do you do it another way?

Just google "trip insurance". InsuranceMyTrip etc. will come up. I've also called my home owner insurance company (Nationwide) and had quotes. The last time I used Leisure Insurance. Many different options. I think someone above on this post listed a good company they use as well.

I've had two experiences with Travel Insurance. First my husband and I had booked a cruise with my elderly parents and we all four bought insurance. My parents had a cabin and we had a cabin. My mother was hospitalized two weeks before the cruise and was unable to travel. My dad and mom's trip was fully refunded. Ours would of been as well, due to her being 1) my mother and 2) a travel companion. We opted to go without my parents since her situation was not life threatening.

Three months later my husband booked another last minute cruise and purchased insurance. As we were boarding in NY, my dad called my cell and told me my mom was admitted to the hospital with a heart issue. I talked to the doctor on the phone and he said my mom was not in immediate danger. We had to make the decision to either get on the boat and sail, or drive home and get a refund. We opted to sail, knowing that we could fly home from the first port if things got worse and be reimbursed for our airfare and unused days of the cruise. Thankfully she was fine and I was able to see her in a rehab facility when I got home.

It did take off so much pressure knowing I had the insurance and that I had options as far as cancelling etc.

Both my wife and I are disappointed and upset. We both know that NCL doesn't control the weather but that doesn't change the fact that fact that months of planning and thousands of dollars have now been spent on what may turn out to be an incredibly disappointing trip. Are we going to try and make the best of it? Absolutely, but at this point we don't know anything about what the future holds for our trip. We haven't gone down to Guest Services, we haven't yelled and screamed at anyone. Currently we're sitting in our cabin licking our wounds.

 

To those that are saying, "this is what you get when you book during hurricane season" please take a moment to realize what a jerk you sound like. The cruise lines obviously offer itineraries during times of the year that they feel they can safely sail. I'm sure most of realize that nothing is certain, weather is unpredictable but to essentially say, "you're getting what you deserve" is pretty tactless. None of us asked for this to happen, we picked a sailing date that was offered to us, we didn't force NCL to offer October Bermuda dates.

 

My wife and I booked this trip ten months ago. Since then she's been laid off from her job, gone on unemployment and found a new job. Somehow we've still managed to make this trip happen despite her not having any vacation days at her new job, this entire week off for her is unpaid. We scrapped every penny we had and fought hard for months for this one week of fun in Bermuda and a few expensive days in NYC.

 

So yeah, it's a lot easier said than done to be super happy about the possibility of heading to Florida and the Bahamas at this point. I could have planned that trip on my own with a lot less effort and expense.

What exactly would you want NCL to do to make this better? I'm curious to know what other options you think are available to them. And as for cruising during hurricane season, your price for this cruise is almost 1/2 of what other people pay to sail during non-hurricane season. That is why the reduce the prices so much in Sept/Oct/Nov. It is a risk you are taking, but for taking that risk, you are getting a much reduced rate on your cruise. Just enjoy your week on the boat!

We have three kids so we always need two rooms. Just got back from Freedom. My wife and two kids booked in one room, me and one kid booked in another. Set up my room with the King bed and wife's room with the twin beds. I bought the Cheers package since my wife is a light weight (three drinks a day, tops). When we got to our rooms on the first day, the room steward asked if she and I would be in the one room together, I presume because we asked for the King bed setup. No problem at all. Accounts were all linked to one credit card so it really didn't matter.

 

Only problem was my wife didn't have a key to our room. So my son and her swapped S&S. My wife never bought anything on board so it really didn't matter that she had my son's S&S card. When the kids were little, we had all their cards so it didn't matter. Now they are teens and have the run of the ship (sorry fellow cruisers, but at least they are relatively well behaved).

All you have to do is ask for an extra room key. It is not a sail & sign card, just a room key card. No need to switch cards with someone.

The insurance I bought last March said I could cancel if:

you are prevented from taking your trip due to your, an immediate family member's, traveling Companion's, or business partner's sickness, injury, or death that occurs before departure.

Although my insurance did cover:

I guess it depends on the type of insurance you get, but my plan was pretty standard.

So, I guess it comes down to, if your friends husband is traveling with you (travel companion) your trip will be protected if he becomes ill before the cruise. If he is not and your friend has to cancel due to his illness, your trip may not be covered but they will cover the cost of "min. two people occupancy" in your cabin and you will have to go alone or eat the cost of the cruise.

Of course you could always purchase the "cancel for any reason" insurance which cost more, but might be your best bet.

Thanks, but I'm staying in a Havana suite in August! So unless someone speaks up pretty quickly, I may be letting you know! LOL.

 

I'm thinking....the experience must be good or we would certainly hear about it from past guests. I've noticed that a lot of the negative speculation is coming from folks who are booked on the Vista, but not in the Havana area. Folks seem to feel the need to justify why they didn't book a Havana cabin, possibly trying to convince themselves? Then others, who actually are booked in the Havana area, are second guessing themselves based on that speculation, myself included.

 

In reality, I have only read about one incident (kids knocking on someone's patio door in the middle of the night) from a passenger who actually has stayed in a Havana Cabana. And before that incident, her reviews were all positive! But of course, it is this one incident that everyone is going nuts over.

We had college kids knocking on our balcony door on the traditional balcony that is right to the edge of the ship. They somehow figured out how to open all the dividers on our side of the ship and were running up and down knocking on all the doors!

Does anyone know if Carnival offers specialty dining packages for the pay restaurants? We just got off NCL and they offered a 5 night package that was really nice. With the new Vista having more dining venues than other older ships, I was wondering if they might offer just for the new ships.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10YW7fMQarer30UCHKqKJ_zLDmbyMTczCTtYf2XRflh8/pub?single=true&gid=0&output=html

 

click on the blue X by the H7 category in that spread sheet.... that will bring up a slide show, there are photos from that suite in the slide show, and it does show the enclosed balcony.

Glad I stumbled on this thread. Thank you so much for the spreadsheet link. This can come in really handy! Do they have these for other ships as well?

Does anyone know if they will air the NBA Cavs vs Gold State on the ship during our cruise next week? If so, where is the most likely place to watch the games?

We are Cleveland fans and would really love to see the games next week!

Thanks for the review. Very informative and accurate.

We just got off Royal Caribbean two months ago, will be leaving on NCL Breakaway in two weeks, and have Carnival Vista scheduled for next summer, so we've tried them all.

I believe RCL has the prettiest ships as far as decor, so far Carnival has the best MDR food, and NCL has the best paid restaurants. Can't seem to commit to one line!

My husband and I cruised on Emerald Seas in March 1987 for a 5-night to Nassua and a private island. We fondly remember the mid-night buffet and the huge stainless steel bowls of shrimp! We were so impressed at the time to see so much shrimp! Also, remember winning $100 on a 10 cent slot machine, hit five "plums" straight across the line! Of course, your fingers turned black from handling all the coins, but what fun!

My very first cruise was NCL's Sunward II in 1978. We also cruised Carnival's Holiday, and RCL Song of America. Four ships that are no longer in service (Holiday may be but owned by another line). Each one we thought was fabulous! We are now booked on the Carnival Vista for next summer. What a journey over the last 40 years!

I am on the June 5th Breakaway but in an M6. I can say for sure there are upsells available at least at the mini level to Haven. Thing about this sailing though, is the 1st day of upsells (how I knew they were there) 2 H7's outta 6 for 3 people disappeared. 2 weeks later.. there are now more rooms (Courtyard + 2 bdr's now) and the price still hasn't dropped below $1000pp. I could imagine that an inside guarantee they would ask a lot more for.

 

I will say keep calling back, I will be. I am hoping for $500pp, but not gonna be upset if they don't drop it down that low next week. :D

Thanks! I just upgraded to a balcony BD for $250 per person. But I then gained the 2nd promotion (where before I only had one choice with the inside). We planned on purchasing a specialty dining anyway so I can minus that off the $500 increase, I'm happy with my new upgrade. Maybe I'll be considered for a Haven upsell now that I'm not an inside!

When was the last time Royal included one of these packages in a promotion ? They have to price them aggressively to entice sales. Even though NCL charges a higher price and doesn't include some of the above, I'd say the majority of NCL passengers aren't paying $79.00 a day plus 18% service charge. As the majority of NCL's customers are getting the UBP as part of their endless promotions.

But people that book and "guarantee" cabins on NCL are not eligible for the promo's, so they are stuck paying $79.00 a day for drink package. Way out of line! Actually, I feel it would be better to just buy drinks out of pocket at that price. Also, RCL lets only one person in the cabin purchase the package, not making both buy it.

Go sign up...There are 39 of us right now...we are doing a Meet and Greet and a SLOT PULL...Everyone seems like a blast...should be a great time

How do I sign up? I looked on the page and don't see anything that says "join" etc. Do I just make a post and I'm automatically signed up?

I told you I was new at this, first timer for Meet and Greets!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2169107

 

This is the roll call for your specific sailing. All info will be within there.

 

"Roll Calls" is a separate section within the forums.

 

Edit: M&G is at LaCucina at 11:00 on Mon, June 06.

Thank you so much for the date/time!

How do I go about finding out where/when the CC Meet and Mingle get together will be on my 6/5 Breakaway cruise?

I see people posting about attending these and I search Meet and Mingle and can't find any information.

I see Carlo's name has changed to The Bake Shop on the Deck Plans for the Breakaway.

Also, Uptown Grill is still shown on the Deck Plans. Anymore news about this venue closing or changing names? It's been quite so maybe they decided to leave as is? I sure hope so!

So your post starting with :rolleyes: now becomes gospel to us all. thanks

Your original question was not rude, albeit a little short. But the above comment was uncalled for in my opinion.

Those prices are crazy high!

In regards to the above poster, Royal Carribean is $69.00 a day but that includes the service charge. It also includes:

• Premium coffee
  
  
• Premium tea
  
  
• Bottled water
  
  
• Sparkling water (375ml)
  
  
• Still water (500ml)
  
  
• Fresh squeezed orange juice
  
  
• Call and premium cocktails (up to $10 value)
  
  
• Frozen cocktails
  
  
• Beers
  
  
• Premium wine by the glass (up to $12 value)
  
  
• Non-alcoholic cocktails
  
  
• Fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup
  
  
• (
  NEW
  ) 40% discount on purchases of bottles of wine
  
  

They also have two other packages to choose from, the Premium package including top shelf liquor for $57 a day.

• beer
  
  
• house wines by the glass (up to $8 per glass value)
  
  
• all non-alcoholic cocktails
  
  
• fountain soda
  
  
• juices
  
  
• Fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup
  NEW
  
  
• 20% discount on purchases of bottles of wine
  NEW
  
  

• beer
  
  
• frozen drinks
  
  
• all cocktails including premium brands
  
  
• house wines by the glass
  
  
• bottled water (500 ml)
  
  
• all non-alcoholic cocktails
  
  
• fountain soda
  
  
• juices
  
  
• Fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup
  NEW
  
  
• 20% discount on purchases of bottles of wine
  NEW
  
  

NCL is way out of line with their $79 plus gratuities a day!

My husband and I are sailing on June 5 and booked a balcony guarantee. We got a great deal, and I am pleased with the room assignment (mid ship deck 9). However, if there is a possibility for a great upsell deal, I am very interested.

 

I called the upsell number Monday and was given a quote of $750/pp, $1000 pp, and $1500 pp for different Haven rooms. I know that these are good deals, but it is beyond our budget. I have seen people talking about calling back again and again to get great deals. SO, these are my questions:

 

1. How often should I call back?

2. Do they ever upsell to something LESS than Haven (maybe Aft balcony or mini-suite)?

3. If I make an offer, will they accept or decline on the spot?

 

Thanks for any help and feedback. Again, I'm happy with what I have, so please no bashing about booking a guarantee, I'm just keeping options open.

Now I am really starting to get paranoid! I called Monday as well for our June 5th sailing and they told me no upsells were available for the Havens or anything for that matter. I'm in a inside guarantee, first time with NCL.

Is you ship the Breakaway for the June 5th sailing?

Prices are higher to cover the cost of any and all perks....not just the Free @ Sea promotions. Nothing new here.

 

My PCC has always said "if you're willing to pay $125 more for your cruise, I can throw in a $100 OBC".

So true! Like my cruise, I could of gotten an inside at $699 (sail away with no UBP) or pay $899 plus $99 service charge and get UBP. So basically the drink package cost me $299, which is still a deal compared to $79 X 7 days. Just as long as you are happy with your final price, it's a deal!