debenson0723

The package itself is free...you pay the gratuities, which are about $21 p/p per day. So if you drink anywhere between 2-3 drinks a day, it pays for itself. And you must not have been on an RCL cruise...for their drink package on my cruise, it was $89.99 p/p per day PLUS 18% gratuities. Needless to say, I skipped buying that one.

Unlike airports, I have never arrived in a US port that uses Global Entry...and I have disembarked in NYC, Miami and LA in the past 18 months. And like @Liljo22mentioned, they all used facial recognition scanners for immigration. Scan off the ship and just walk thru without showing your passport.

Not sure what you are saying here. When I go to Europe (cruise or not), I have an international plan from my provider so I can use my cell phone just as I can at home. It is $10 a day. When on a ship, I put my phone in airplane mode and can take as many photos as I want. If I needed to make a call, I would use What'sApp but mostly I wait until on shore to make calls.

On a Pacific Coastal cruise, we arrived on Wednesday with an overnight and the official disembarkation day was Thursday. There were many passengers who lived in Vancouver and got off the ship permanently on Wednesday, never to return. There were others who flew out of Vancouver on Wednesday. So I would guess you can leave the ship the day you arrive but you might want to call or ask as soon as you get on board to make sure.

We very rarely have potato chips in our home (or cookies). No soda either. Just a lifestyle choice. Now Reese's Peanut Butter Cups...different story.

Yes, they enforce it.

Just ask in the buffet.

Which ship?

This is the Starbucks in Indulge Food Hall. Back in the early days of Prima, it was mostly open same hours as the Food Hall. It wasn't included on the Viva (and neither was Coco's) to make room for more seating in Indulge.

You didn't mention what ship but there should be a roll call started over in the Roll Call forum. Post over there for better responses.

You can ask for it in the MDR at breakfast. Don't know about the buffet as I typically don't eat there but you might be able to get it at the bar.

What port? Typically for most NCL ships, check in begins at 9:30am and priority boarding starts around 11:15am. When I boarded the Viva in Miami, the prior sailing was a non-rev and we were on the ship by 10:30 but that is unusual.

Not retired and have 6 weeks PTO. Travel companion owns his own tech business and works remotely on the ship a few hours a day. Typically go to Europe or elsewhere for 3 weeks at a time...if I am going to take a 10-16 hour flight, I am going to stay for awhile. I have worked hard to get to this point and am grateful that I now have the time/funds to travel like I do.

ICONS is a show that features singers from the cast of Beetlejuice. IIRC there were 6 of them. Sequins and tuxedos. They performs songs from the 60s to now, mixed genres. The seats in the the theatre are pushed back some, allowing for tables and chairs to be placed on the floor, with drink service. Runs about 50 minutes and we enjoyed it. Just enough to break up the evening before moving on to something else. And just for the record, Price is Right and Press Your Luck are both free, with the chance for the audience to win prizes. My travel companion was in the Showcase Showdown on PIR and won a TV but took the cash instead. Wheel of Fortune is free to watch and you have the option to play along using your phone for a fee but that is your choice.

My friend was having an issue earlier this evening but I have been fine all day/night. He decided to just try again in the morning but I am still logged in and looking at options.

If all you want is an app and wine (and dessert), then just pay a la carte. No need to use a coupon...save that for an evening when you want a complete meal.

I just take a cab or Uber from my hotel to the port. No way would I drag luggage thru any city to save a few bucks.

No, I'm sorry I do not keep them past the day they are relevant.

Haven't been on a ship with Wheel of Fortune but both Price is Right on the Prima and Press Your Luck on the Viva were free to play for the audience. And no cell phone or internet usage necessary.

Hard to compare what entertainment was like 14 years ago vs. today. I am just off the Viva and there were multiple venues with entertainment...Beetlejuice (the Broadway production), Icons, a Las Vegas style review, the Fleetwood Mac Rumours show in Syd Norman's and various singers/duo in the Metropolitan bar and Atrium area both in the afternoon and evening. There might have been more but that is what I saw. Not sure what you mean by "cruise ship performers' as all of these acts were performing on a cruise ship. Having sailed the Prima on a cold weather cruise, I was not a fan of this ship configuration but with the Viva in warm weather, it appeared to be much less crowded as people were spread out more on the ship.

You might want to check the East Coast departures board on this forum for lots of information about leaving from MCT, hotels, transportation options, etc. There's really nothing to dread as it is not much different than sailing from other ports if you are informed and prepared.

You can also watch them in your cabin if you care to do so.

Upgrades typically start the Monday before the cruise. But with so many cruises selling out or being at capacity, I think those upgrades are few and far between these days.

This was a few years ago but Gothenburg was a commercial port with NCL busses to take you into town and pick you up. Copenhagen was in town but a ways into the center of town (we disembarked there and I took a cab to my hotel as I stayed a few days but you could use an excursion bus or city bus). Warnemunde we walked off and on the ship. Best to check the Ports of Call board for more recent information.