KristieB

On 7/19/2019 at 8:33 AM, princeton123211 said:

Especially spending a few days in town I think you would be better served staying further uptown where you'll most likely spend most of your time sightseeing and dining. Financial District is better than it used to be when I lived in Manhattan, but its still relatively sleepy after work hours.

 

By all means go down to see the 9/11 Memorial (I would tell you going to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island with only 2 full days in town is a waste of time unless they are things you really, really want to see up close), but you'll most likely spend a lot of time and effort taking taxis and subways uptown if you stay downtown. 

Why do you say Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are a waste of time? I'm thinking more just the S.O.L..

On 8/20/2019 at 11:44 AM, prbffd28 said:

I found something interesting while reviewing my Feb 9, 2020 reservation and looking through the activities list, Laser Tag is not anywhere to be found !! Maybe, just maybe, (please, please) they are reading these posts and Spice will make an "encore"!! (couldn't resist that). Could I have missed it in the list??

Anyone else check their reservation and find something different?

I see what you mean. I just looked at the app for my cruise. Under "Onboard Activities" go karts is listed but not laser tag. 🤷‍♀️ Who knows. I'm going to assume it just hasn't been completely updated.

We decided several months ago to book Encore to Bermuda next summer. The lack of Spice had me hesitating. Then we decided to go Haven for the first time. At least we will have somewhere to go hang out or get some sun. We liked  Spice on Getaway. I'll be curious to go check things out around the pool and Waterfront. I love the Waterfront and usually walk it after dinner. Hopefully it's not standing room only. We'll see. Either way we'll have fun. It will help me make decisions on future bookings when we aren't going Haven. 

We have been on 2 of Breakaway's sister ships, Getaway and Bliss. We sailed once on Royal, Liberty of the Seas. We felt that they were pretty comparable as far as service, activities, food. We just didn't enjoy the Royal ship as much but I do want to try an Oasis class ship. Our teens really enjoyed the teen club on both lines. I really like the Waterfront on the NCL ships. 

I must have read it wrong the first time. lol One of the excursions I am looking at costs $99 and we will get the $50 credit, so it ends up being $49 per person. I'm thinking that might be worth not having to organize transportation and everything. There will be 8 in our group. 

So am I understanding this correctly? Organized excursion groups take priority for entrance into the caves. How long do the lines get? Does saving money by doing it on your own still out weigh waiting in line? I'm sure it varies depending on how many ships are in port. 

2 hours ago, bragstarr said:

I’m booked for the New York to Miami Panama Canal cruise November 2020.  Been checking prices daily (right now in inside cabin 😢).  Checked cruise prices this am and to our surprise a 20% drop in price.....apparently for Latitudes members. Shock and awe!

How does that work? You called about an existing booking, do they figure what it would be at the current price minus 20 percent?

I am sad about no Spice, we always travel with extended family and that was a place we could sit, talk, have a drink, and enjoy the view. That I can deal with. We don't fight the crowds at the pool but would occasionally find a lounger on a top deck. We were planning on Bermuda next summer and trying Haven for the first time, but probably not all of our group will be Haven. My issue now is the kids. Two will be 18 by then, one 16. The 16 year old likes the teen club but now that her cousin won't be able to go she may not as much. So besides the pool and slides, what can they do without always having to pay? That is now my issue. With no ropes course, rock climbing, mini golf, etc., will they be bored? Ugh There aren't many choices with NCL for next summer. Now wondering if we should go Royal next time and save Encore and Bermuda for later, maybe a no kids trip.

We stayed on Bliss close to the forward elevators, right next to the doorway going out to the elevator/stairway area on deck 11. It was great. there was no extra noise. I would definitely stay there again.

My mom loves salmon. She had it on Bliss last summer at Cagney's and said it was one of the best she's had.

We were on 11 by the elevators. The only time it was really a problem was after shows ended.

Cagney's and Q for sure. We ate at Q around 5:30-6:00, it wasn't crowded at all and nothing going on. The food was good and there was a lot of it. We weren't impressed with Los Lobos. We didn't do Teppanyaki on Bliss but we did on Getaway and it is fun. You might look for menus to help you decide. Le Bistro did not look at all appealing to me but if you like French food you might like it.

There is also hot tea in the observation lounge. The Local is also open for lunch on embarkation day.

I'm a little late to this party, but just finished skimming all 24 pages. 😛 I followed along from start to finish with Bliss and sailed on her in June. It was too cold and wet the week we went so we didn't spend much time in the outdoor spaces. I share everyone's frustrations with the go-karts and Spice H2O. I love go-karts but not sure in this setting. We weren't able to get a time scheduled and weather also caused problems, my son was disappointed. The loss of Spice has me hesitating a little, we enjoyed it on Getaway. The pools are impossible so not having one was fine with me. We liked to go there just to hang out and have a drink. The Observation Lounge was great for Alaska but I'm thinking we wouldn't go there as much in a warmer climate. I want the full effect of that view, wind in my hair, sun on my face, sound of the water...:) I'll lurk here for a couple more months then I'll decide on a booking. 

Help Please! I’m looking for a wine that I had in Cellars. Does anyone have pictures of the Cellars wine menu? Thank you.

 

 

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When you got off of the ship in Seattle, were there taxis lined up waiting?

We have our dinners booked early on the two show nights. We had confirmation of everything until of course we received the email. Well I am sure at some point it will get worked out.

 

Again thank you for one of the best posts about the Bliss. I enjoyed everything and am very thankful that you are so polite to answer the questions and you are awesome to post all the dailies along with menu and food pics. Where are you off to next?

I really wanted our specialty dining and shows on the same night and was disappointed that I couldn't. CUontheC what sailing are you on?

Yes, same excursion. I called and they rebooked the excursion for our family of four. Refunded me $248!

Wow! That's great.

I think I will call tomorrow just to get an explanation as to why our week is so much higher. I just looked online under my reservation and it’s still showing $249 which is what I paid months ago.

 

 

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Are you sure it's the exact same excursion? Sometimes they will have 2 or 3 variations of the same excursion. Some might be longer or include something more.

I'm guessing the hallway doors are still self closing? One thing I noticed on Getaway is that people just let their doors slam shut, at all hours of the night.

I was thinking Q would be on my list to try. Maybe not. What was the bad at Q?

Others have said it was good. Maybe it's a matter of taste or what they ordered.

Have you heard what the charge is for Prohibition? Does it include a cocktail or two?

 

Thanks for all the great pictures!

My cruise planner says $19.95 and comes with 5 (reportedly small) drinks.

Thank you! Sorry to go back to this - I'm sure the owner of the thread here is "OVER THIS'' issue :) I realize that photo was WAY BAD!. I was just asking about my own personal space - I would never bring towels, and leave for an extended period of time. Other post mentioned "dirty fee" which is why I needed to ask "the rules". It would really be uncool if some photo of me ended up on a thread with my feet on the lounger and I had something under them to protect the space. I had to ask as this tipic has come up adain and again.....AGAIN - this is all I will say on this topic. Sorry and back to the TA.......

Maybe if they were actually sitting on the lounger and the towel was folded up under their feet it would make more sense. I will probably skip the loungers because 1) I don't put shoes on furniture and 2) I wouldn't put my bare feet on public furniture, even if I know mine are clean and foot fungus free. :)

maybe I'm a little too East Coast for cruising, but my first inclination upon learning about this 'leave a towel on it and its yours forever' phenomenon poolside and in lounges is to scoop up said towel/belongings, nicely place it on the floor next to the seat, and take the seat for myself. If someone complained to me about it I would argue that seats are for sitting, not storing belongings, you can tell by the name.

 

would I get in trouble for this sort of situation-handling on a cruise?

I don't know but I would love to see you do that! lol

On our sailing it is $199.

I’m sure this has been asked I tried to go back and look before double asking. Does anyone know how much the thermal spa pass is?

 

 

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