HabsFan23

Thanks everyone!  Very reassuring.

Hi all, 

I'd like some reassurance before I drop 150$ on a test I don't need.  I'm sailing on the Symphony on the 23rd of April.  It's me and my son who is 10: we are both fully vaccinated (me 2+ booster and him 2 shots).

I entered our docs in the app and got the green checkmark which indicates (I believe) that they reviewed them and we're all set.  To me it's crystal clear that only kids under 11 who are not vaxxed need to provide a PCR test taken 3 days before the cruise.  We are both getting a rapid test done, this is booked with our pharmacy.

I received this two days ago:

And there is my son's name and info.  But he is vaxxed: they've seen and approved the docs.  Do I just dismiss this?  I really don't want to call as this booking has had many problems and every time I call it's made worst (deposits not transferred, pricing changed after call drops, etc.).

Anyone experienced this?

Thanks!

Jen

Hi all, 

I've been researching online and I've got most of the reassurance I wanted but two lingering points:

-Can glasses be worn on the waterslides on the ship?  What about on those at Perfect Day?

-I can't book the couple of shows I'm hoping to see - I'm getting this.  Isn't this strange?  We're less than three weeks out.  I know I can't book my dining package choices, but from everything I read, 90 days out for the shows, right?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-vaccine-poll-1.5672571

Thought it was interesting.

What a relief.  Sailing on the SoS in mid-April and was getting concerned.  Now if Air Canada could do the same my mind would be at ease but still, the bigger chunk of $$$ is the cruise.

10 minutes ago, mattR said:

I called the crown and anchor number and they told me that the prices I;m seeing are for new bookings only so couldn't upgrade using the prices I see online.  She said it was a going going gone promotion.  How am I supposed to know if it is a new booking only rate?  Too bad only booked a week ago 😞

I had this happen too: my cruise on the Symphony went down by 500$ per person, so I called but it was for new bookings only.  She gave me a slightly better inside room.  Lesson: wait til the last minute to book, if you can!

Hi!  I'm cruising with my 8yo in April 2020 - what kind of activities do they do in the kids' club?  I'd hope they have sports and go to the slides, etc.  

Thanks!

Jen

Thanks to both of you!

Hi!

I booked a cruise last week and made a 500$ deposit.  The price just dropped about 60$ by person.  Is there a way for me to rebook?  Is it on their site or do I need to call them?  it's a guaranteed interior room on the Symphony for April 2020.

Thanks!

:D Thanks!

I booked a cruise on the Divina at the end of August and paid 200$ as a deposit. I might need to cancel it: do I get the deposit back? Considering the crap website they have, I figured CC is quicker for an answer!

From the pictures I can find online, they don't have much in terms of pool "fun" stuff for kids? I see some of their other ships have a full Aquapark with slides and such but this one only seems to have pools? Salted?

Thanks!

I already wrote up some comments while I was on the ship but I thought I'd sum up my thoughts.

About us: my husband (33) and I (38) have cruised on RCI 6 times. On Freedom and Oasis class, mostly and last year we were on the Allure with our 2.5 yo son. We had a blast but RCI priced itself out of our price range. We travel on land and to Europe and RCI's prices was eating up our "cruise" vacation cash so we decided to switch it up.

The first thing that I liked about the ship is that we got upgraded to a bigger room. We had a huge washroom (room 5142) and we had brought a set up of hooks for a divided for the little one but the room came with a velvet room divided that was simply perfect. Also the biggest washroom I've ever seen on a boat with a full BATH!

The embarkation seemed hectic to me. We waited in line to check in, then another line to access the waiting room then about 45 minutes in a hot waiting room. Never experienced this on Royal.

As I mentioned in other posts, we rushed to the pool to find the kiddy slides roped off. Oh no. Then check the height for the bigger slides: my kid is too small. The kid area is the Sponge Bob area which has about an inch of water on the ground(enough to make it slippery) and a small 6 inch pool in the middle often filled with parents playing with kids. My kid went in there for the 1st two days then didn't want to go back calling it boring. He adores slides so it seems trying this ship in a couple of years might have been a better fit.

I looked for an indoor playroom and found it: the Guppys room. Hilariously (not really) it's the size of a small cabin and has 15 trucks and cars on the ground and that's it. Just a small window on the top. Not a place meant to be played in. My kid goes to daycare all year long so I was hoping to keep him with us but I had to resigned myself to put him in camp at least for the morning: he liked it. Although he told me he got locked in the washroom by accident but "someone found him". He didn't seem too stressed about it, though.

Now the service is where things really go downhill for me. Everyone (except in pay restaurants) look miserable! The bartenders don't say Hello they just say Yes? And that's if you stand long enough to get noticed. If you are young enough so that it's clear you only want pop, forget about it. The key for drinks is to strategize what bar you will go at, and will it be empty.

I play alot at the casino and didn't see waiters for the longest time. They just walk around without asking anyone if they want drinks. You have to flag them down. A few times I was given the "ill be back" finger and they never did. A couple of times they took my order and never brought it. The key is to find one and overtip, I think. I did this and after that the same guy was at my elbow every 20 minutes. Is it right? No. But it's what it is.

We ate at Cagneys (paid for a whole lobster but only got the tail, someone braver than us must have complained because they removed the 10$ charge after 3 days - got caught there, NCL!). The food was okay.

Cucina was quite good. Sushi was excellent, ate there 5 times after regular suppers (we eat at 5.30pm because of son so around 9pm I'm peckish!).

The bistro was also very good. The MDR we only went twice it was okay. Very small portions. The garlic shrpimp is 6 shrimps, a piece of broccolli and a small scoop of rice.

We saw our room attendant 2 times. He didn't do the room for the last 3 days. He said we were in the room too much (with the kid napping and such). He told us to call housekeeping when we were ready. We tried but got voicemail 2 times so gave up. One morning we left all morning and he never came so whatever there buddy.

We did the excursion at Maghen Beach. it was awesome! So much better than the Orien Beach. No vendors bugging you and the sand and water were simply gorgeous. The usual drunkos in the open bus back and the driver tried to get us to stop at different spots to "shop". It was obnoxious but this seems to be par for the course.

Re-reading this, it sounds very negative. We had an okay time. Obviously not going to re-do NCL again. Might try Disney but wait for 2 years. Maybe do an AI next year.

Oh and the late departure on the first day was do to a broken "azimut" (doesnt sound right) that had broken a few months ago and they just got the part that day. So sayeth my MIL who attended the Q&A with the staff.

Rochelle, we will go address it with guest services. We agreed that it's dishonest.

In more positive news, the icongierge app is working great for us. It just lost connection from time to time but you restart the app and it works. Its been great to schedule the passing off of the kid to the inlaws.

But we saw others go by that were the same. You mean i should argue about what they call their item? They must know its not correct?

So as i stated up there, mu husband ordered the "whole main lobster" for an extra 10$. It was tail only no claws. How is that whole?? Now I'm kicking myself for not saying anythng.

My experience on the Getaway from 10 minutes ago: walked over to the bar, waited only 3 minutes, got a chin jut, asked for a shirley temple, got it without a word, called him back asking for cherrirs as there were none. He gave the index finger of hold your horses rolled his eyes at me to other customers and then got me the cherries.

Just so we are clear there are rules posted that say they are not allowed. People just disregard and no one enforces. They also roped off the litlle slides in the kiddy area but kids are going under the net and trying to slide and getting hurt and crying. Then the staff will tell them no but the parents let them get right back on.

We just playef mini golf it was a fun course. The rope course is closef because of the wind.

Also yesterday, two teenagers after being ignored at a bar trying to get soda for about 10 minutes starting a thing with the bartender who pretty much told thrm off. Since she had asked me what i wanted with a chin jut, i was on their side.

For a positive note: wasabi was delicious!

It ended up leaving a bit before midnight.

This day hasn't been great for Norwegian, to my eyes. This is our first cruise away from RCI. And the differences are starting to show. We jumper ship from Royal because of the insane price bumps for thr Allure and Oasis but I think we'll try Disney next. It'll be worth the extra cash. Although just one day in, maybe I'm judging too fast. It's the little things. The public washrooms that reek of urine. We have the unlimited drinks package and there's lineups everywhetr never mind flagging a waiter. It took 30 minutes of playing at the Casino to even see a waiter. We went to Cagneys tonight and it wasn't great. The hubs upgraded to the lobster for an extra 10$ but it was only the tail, a big one but we must have misread we thought it was an entire lobster. It took 20 minutes to get a gin n tonic and it came with dessert. Little things but it adds up. Just my day's observations.

Also for the parents who worry about thr diapers in the kids area: dont. Out of the 30 kids in there this afternoon over 10 had diapers and most of them not even hidden under swim trunks.

The unlimited package was 179$. And the dead drop is 48 inches and min. Of 99 pounds. I'll let you know about the rope course

I bought the no limit Internet package so I'm on their wifi

"Scheduled maintenance" according to the info sheet

Also, granted we are still in port, the Internet is okay. Not good enough for any streaming or for playing internet games but good enough to surf and post here and check Twitter and facebook

As a fellow poster stated we are still in Miami. Im in the library with a toddler sleeping in the room with his daddy. I'm a bit disappointed about the Casino but oh well will lose my cash later!

I wanted to let people know some answers I had trouble finding. For the regular slides (not the dead drop one) the minimum height is 40 inches. My kid is 36 inches was sooo disappointed. And the chlorine in the pool is hurting is skin so oh dear! But it should be fine. We had dinner in the Tropicana it was fine nothing special. Just had some noodles from the noodle bar those were excellent! The waiter told me the seafood ( she specified crab) would be at the buffet tomorrow so we shall see!