MrMike45

23 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Every single seat is either occupied or "saved" on the main pool deck...

 

And we now have concrete evidence of what all of us feared in the "Everything Encore" thread.  How is this fun?  Even if you're lucky enough to secure a chair, you're elbow to elbow with strangers while on vacation.  

37 minutes ago, Danny61231 said:

 

With the fantastica package, is room service food included in the cruise price or do you have to pay extra?

 

Basic items are included, and the delivery/service fee is waived.  Things like pizza you still have to pay an upcharge for.  

As we just sailed the Meraviglia a few weeks ago with a 2 year old, let me answer some of the questions that I can:

1 - How do the kids clubs work? Are they open all day or.only during certain hours? Will my 6 year old and 3 year old be able to attend the same kids club?

Basically it is broken into 4 separate clubs, with 2 separate openings for each club.

- There are 4 clubs based on age.  Babies (0-2), Toddlers (2-5), Mini Juniors (6-10 I think), and Juniors (10-15 I think).  Not 100% sure on the last 2 as it didn't really apply to us, but you get the gist.  

As for the times, there are 2-4 times a day where there is xxx Care.  Baby Care/Toddler Care, etc.  This is basically like day care.  You drop off your kid, they give you an emergency phone that works anywhere on the ship.  And it's a window of like 2 hours where they watch your kid.  For the older kids, that could also mean taking them to dinner as a group.  

Then there is family time or free play.  Most (like say 10-12 hours a day) the 4 rooms are open.  But no supervision.  You will have to be there your kid.  But it's great because it's basically a play room.  They have baby toys like cars and puzzles.  Legos (so many legos!), coloring, fooseball, Xbox for the older kids, etc.  

2 - Do I need to bring any special information with (for example immunization records) for my children to use the kids clubs?

No - you sign them up on Day 1, and sign a waiver form basically removing MSC from any potential lawsuit.  No records needed.  

3 - Do they have any type of kids menus or other food options in the main dining rooms for children? Like many kids, mine can be fairly picky when it comes to food. 

There is a different children's menu daily for all dining rooms, that kind of goes along with the them of the evening.  Usually like 8-10 different options on there.  And if for example it is Italian night, they would have like spaghetti and meatballs.  But there are always the tried and true options of like pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.  Lunch, in the buffet, in the back there is a family section, which has kid-friendly options like Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for example, that you can't find anywhere else in the buffet line.  

4 - Are the main dining rooms and the buffet the only free dining options on the ship? Any kind of snack bars or anything that are included?

Nope, just the MDR, Buffet, and specialty restaurants.  Nothing like an O'Sheehans on NCL for example.  Best thing we did was book the fantasica experience so we were able to order room service when our son got hungry at "off" times.  

5 - How are the late night food options at the buffet? When we were on the Seaside after about 10 PM or so all of the food was gone and you had nothing to eat.

Latest I went was around 11:45 and it was mostly just pizza and some "snack" foods.  

I will say this, I'm not sure if you have ever cruised with NCL.  But the kids program on MSC is like 10x better.  Our son literally loved the kids club.  He would get upset and cry when we would pick him up.  And when we would go there, and as soon as we got off on the 18th floor, the walls are painted red (totally different than anywhere else on the ship), he would realize where we were and run down the hallway to get to the kids rooms.  Amazing staff, amazing setup, really made the trip much more enjoyable for a 2 year old couped up in a tiny cabin, and for us, as it gave us a little adult time daily.  

My understanding (at least my own experience) was that if I filed a fraudulent claim charge with my credit card, they would take my side, and contact the vendor to allow them to give explanation why the charge if valid.  

Per your post, Chase contacted NCL, and NCL offered no valid explanation other than the charge is valid.  And the sided with NCL and canceled your dispute.

Something doesn't make sense there.  Are you sure you were double charged this $300 and can prove it was charged to your wife?  

Hi @Beamafar How's it going.  Missing still being on vacation.  Was a very good cruise, with a few down sides IMO, but overall we really enjoyed ourselves and would definitely consider doing MSC again when they come back to NY.  

Just wanted to pop in and say Hi and see how the second leg is going.  

Piecing together from other posts and roll calls...none lol

I think there is one English news channel, and like a TBS or TNT.  All the rest are in foreign languages.  

Again, haven't said yet (we leave in 3 days) but that is what others reported 

41 minutes ago, NLH Arizona said:

If it is not about the $30, what is it that you want Steiner to do for you?

Refund the $8000...the cruise was ruined!!! 

4 minutes ago, cliffd64 said:

That is entirely your own opinion .

 

There are many thousand more people who are not concerned and could not name an executive of ncl even if you put a gun to their head.

Are those many thousand more people members of the forum cruise critic, and posting on the NCL cruise discussion boards?  

The fact that any one posting a comment to the effect of "who cares...no big deal...doesn't effect me" is simply silly to me.  

This entire website is designed to discuss cruising.  This entire forum is dedicated to NCL, one of the major cruise companies.  One of the heads of the company is stepping down, and being replaced by a guy, who by all accounts, is an accountant who will be focused more on dollars and cents than customer satisfaction and suggestions.  If that doesn't warrant a thread and discussion...I'm not sure why any thread on here would.  

maybe if we ignore it, it will go away 

So what's the thinking...NCL starts following more of the international (Oceania) philosophies.  Becomes less of the "fun" cruise line? 

11 minutes ago, DinaS said:

There is a place a few blocks away called Park Right.  I am not sure if they have discounts, but they are always at least 25% less than parking at the terminal.  

 

You can go online to reserve.  Drop bags and other passengers at the terminal, drive a few blocks, drop the car off.  You can take a cab back or walk the few blocks.

 

Upon return, you can take a cab, and they will even reimburse you up to $5 for the quick cab ride.

 

We used them a couple of times - it was easy and problem-free.  They have a couple of garages - just make sure you reserve at the right one :)

Thanks.  I work in midtown, and there is a parking garage on every block...literally.  But with my wife and our 2 year old son as the passengers, and a lot of luggage for a 11 day cruise, wouldn't want to leave the alone while I go park and come back to meet up.  So will just suck it up and pay the $40 per day.  

18 minutes ago, shof515 said:

They do not have it any more, it is discontinued and they will no longer honor coupons 

😞 

But thank you 

I know I have come across them in the past on here, but doing a search came up empty.

Does anyone have a link or coupon for the parking lot at the NY Pier terminal?  Thinking we're going to drive and park for our upcoming cruise as opposed to Uber.

Thanks, Mike 

Aloe?

On 9/10/2019 at 6:31 PM, david_sobe said:

This is Kelly Clarkson

Who's high pitch?

A moment like this.....

I wonder how many people got this 

On 9/9/2019 at 1:00 PM, Kalum said:

It is very clear what a GTY cabin is

...just read it...and she is a teacher...ouch...

I thought this same thing when I read the original post.  This is a teacher...who didn't read instructions fully.  She would fail one of her kids for doing that 

Oh.  Yay.  Kelly Clarkson.  Yay 

9 minutes ago, Cruiser Bruiser said:

Seeing the depressing pool deck photos makes it even more unforgivable that NCL has done away with Spice H2O on Encore. I just returned from my first MSC cruise (Italy and Greece on Magnifica), and I loved it so much I have been shopping for future MSC cruises. Have you heard of Meraviglia, which is coming to Miami in November? Below is Meraviglia's pool and hot tub facilities.

Have our first MSC cruise on the Meraviglia scheduled for October.  The deck plans (and overall layout of the ship) definitely intrigued us when booking. It's a cruise to Canada and New England, so not sure how much outside pool usage there will be, but having an indoor/enclosed one is great.

Is this a new nanny, or someone who has been with you guys for years (your oldest is 6, so since he/she was a baby)?  

If you have known her/she worked for you/lived in your house for years, I'm thinking a formal contract might not be that necessary and you can probably just work it all out with a conversation.  If she is pretty new, then yes, might want to have something written down.  

That being said, this person lives with you at home.  So I can't see them getting on a cruise ship and going crazy partying and drinking if they don't at home, and will be back in your house when the cruise is over.  

16 hours ago, legaljen1969 said:

Great news. I think you will probably make it just fine.  I hope you get everything you need in a timely fashion.   Are you close to a passport agency. You say you are in New York, so I didn't know if you were close to NYC and might be able to manage to get it there.  It does say the passport centers/agencies help people who will be traveling in the next 14 days from the date of their appointment, but considering your circumstance- it might be wise to see if you could get an appointment.  Given your circumstance is a bit out of the norm, perhaps this is an avenue you could try.   It appears there is also a passport agency in Stamford, CT.   Just thinking maybe walking it up to a passport agency rather than doing everything by  mail might be an option. 

You will be pretty close by the time the case is finalized. It looks like unless you are traveling with 14 days you can't get an expedited appointment, but you may want to call and see what they say.  They may be able to advise you on how to get this accomplished close to your date of travel.

Keep us posted.

Best wishes and congratulations on the adoption.

Yes I work in Midtown (right in the heart of Times Square) so definitely will be able to go into a passport agency in person once we receive the documents.  IF everything goes smoothly, should give us over a month by time we go in to the date of the cruise, which I believe is enough time.  Big IF there of course.  

Will definitely post any updates.  Thank you for your advice and help, and also thank you very much for the congratulations.  Even if we can't go on the cruise, the fact that everything will finally be finalized and complete is what's important.  Just money if we have to cancel.  

Quick update (for those of you following along), spent about 3 hours today calling/emailing with various parishes in Louisiana.  The parish I thought the case was in was actually incorrect, and it was in another much smaller court/parish.  

Let me say, dealing with court clerks and officers in a state like Louisiana is such a better experience than those here in NY.  The people I spoke to genuinely seemed to care and be sympathetic to the situation as opposed to the "whatever" attitude I was expecting.  

Bottom line though, everyone I spoke with seemed to agree, if a certified/signed letter by a judge stating that we were our son's legal guardians and perspective adoptive parents scheduled for 9/12/19, along with the approval to apply and obtain a passport for him under his birth name until his name is legally changed, is not sufficient, then nothing would be.

On the positive side of things though, the clerk on our specific docket/case, promised me that she would personally FedEx the finalization decree to me on 9/12/19, right after the case is settled and finalized.  While it is not a birth certificate (that comes from official records and will take weeks), it will indeed decree we are legally his parents as of that date.  If I get that on 9/13/19, I am hopeful I can submit to the US Dept of State and request the passport then be expedited (for a fee of course).  Right now, that seems like our best hope to be able to go on the cruise.  

13 minutes ago, legaljen1969 said:

I don't know if it would work, but perhaps if the birth certificate has been filed with the Court as a part of the pleadings for your adoption case, there may be some sort of exemplified documents the Court can give you stating that an official copy of the birth certificate was filed as a part of the action with the Court. 

I wish you the best of luck.  Happy adoption.

Thank you very much for the advice and help Jen.  Will post any update 

35 minutes ago, legaljen1969 said:

I was thinking the same thing.  I feel quite certain the Court would certify another copy of the Order, which would be an official document that government should accept.  Perhaps someone else has a copy of the birth certificate as well, or you could order an expedited copy be sent to you. I know it will be changing soon and you will be listed as the parents, but maybe for this situation you need to get another official copy.  Might the Court have another copy you could have, or maybe a doctor's office or pre-school, day care, et cetera.

 

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

Can you not request another copy of the BC?  And another copy of the court document?  EM

Not a bad idea and worth a shot if I can get someone on the phone.  Will try now 

@kitkat343 Thanks for looking KitKat, much appreciated, and yes the adoption is what throws everything for a loop because...

2 hours ago, Tapi said:

Do you currently have his original birth certificate or did you have to surrender that to the courts? 

We did have his original birth certificate (although we are not listed as the parents, his birth parents are), and we have the original certified court document from Louisiana indicated that we are his legal guardians and perspective adoptive parents.  BUT....

The originals are now all with the US Dept of State, as for passport applications, you must send in the originals.  

So when (if) the supervisor ever does call me back, one option we have if they reject the application is request the original forms be sent back ASAP so we can take them on the cruise.  But I'm not sure if they will even suffice, since we're not technically listed on the birth certificate.  And I don't want an international Amber Alert thing.