debenson0723

If you only have specialty dining for you and your wife, I would probably send the kids to Indulge or the buffet where they can eat as much or as little as they like. At 16 my son would rather eat at the buffet much more than a 'fancy' dining place. He even went to the Local multiple times on his own, Other than that, I would say pay a la carte for Food Republic but like the previous poster mentioned, price out the restaurants and make a decision that way.

I got a full set of pins also on the Prima TA in September.

BTS tours are back as a Platinum and above Latitudes perk on most ships. Book on embarkation day before 9pm at the CN desk. And make sure you have closed toe shoes.

This may have been your experience but it certainly hasn't been mine. I guess some of us are just more memorable than others...

She posted a photo of the goodies...not cookies.

Just off the Joy in February. At this point in time, nothing has really changed with cruising while on board the ship other than once a day service in your stateroom (some will debate this but it is the only change I have experienced). The main difference is pre-cruise with the 21 day check in on line and the check in (not boarding) times at the port. The 2 prior posters gave you all the information needed for onboard (and the YouTube video suggestion is spot on). Enjoy your cruise.

This is what I do also. I typically find someone at the solo meet ups and will invite them to join me. If they are also Platinum or above, then we share 4 meals (or 2 and 2 if I invite someone different to share the 2nd meal).

I just booked an international flight for next month directly thru the airline and it didn't ask me for any passport information to book. It stated I could add it 48 hours prior to my flight when I checked in, along with my KTN.

Even if departure is 6pm, boarding usually starts at 11:30ish. I have been on cruises that depart at 9pm and was onboard by noon eating lunch.

Why would someone not be able to eat lunch? There is the MDR, the Local, the buffet and Indulge Food Hall available at lunch time. Plenty of spaces for everyone to pick what they want and eat. It's possible at Indulge or the Local you might have a short wait for a seat but we never waited at the MDR or buffet. If someone is saying they can't eat lunch (or breakfast, or dinner), they aren't trying hard enough.

I have been on the Encore on two different cruises and never gotten seasick. I have done the LA to Vancouver cruise on the NCL Bliss (sister to the Encore) and NCL Pearl (smaller ship). Going up the coast past Oregon on the Pearl, I got seasick for the first time...the Captain said the waters were always rough in that area and he was trying to get out of there as fast as he could. I took a Bonine and went back to bed for a few more hours. By the time I woke up, the worst was over. Same area on the Bliss and the Captain again stated the waters were rough but I didn't feel a thing that time. Everyone is different so hopefully your husband will be fine on the Encore. Enjoy your cruise!

If you are in the Haven, the concierge can change any reservations you have to the days and times you wanted. So if you wanted Cagney's on a certain night and time, it's an easy fix for them. And I wouldn't worry about a reservation at Q...it is usually empty and you can walk up at any time. Enjoy your cruise!

Alaska Airlines has a 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm flight from Anchorage to Portland. Not cheap and not direct but I would pick and pay for one of those if I didn't want to leave at 3am (which I also saw...learn something new everyday).

No, you cannot pay more for a decent departure. When you do the NCL air to get a lower fare than booking yourself, you get what they book you. If you want to be in control, then book the airfare yourself and pick the flights that work for you. There are many stories on CC of bad flights but some also have good luck with the flights. It's a crap shoot. And are there really flights that leave Anchorage at 3am?

1 - 11:30 is your check in time, not your boarding time. As mentioned before, just get in the Latitudes line, check in and then you can board when the Platinum or higher cruisers are called...usually 2nd after disabled. 2 - Never used the concierge services and wouldn't know where to find them (have heard the CN desk can help but not sure about that) 3 - BTS tour is back. Go to the CN desk on embarkation day asap as this does fill up. Make sure you have closed toe shoes or you can't go (found this out the hard way). 4 - You didn't mention which ship you are on but dinner reservations can be made either at a central location as soon as you board or at kiosks near the elevators. If you don't get the time you wanted at the venue you wanted, try early the day of, as there are cancellations. Enjoy your cruise!

I believe the bartender is only there during the studio meet ups around 5pm...and it may be by request of the studio director, as on my few solo Getaway cruisers, there was never a bartender there but that was quite a few years ago. There is the espresso machine, pitchers of ice water and juice, cookies and pastries. There is/was a wine vending machine that is a separate cost and not part of the FAS beverage package. My first NCL cruise was in a solo cabin on the Getaway and it got me hooked on NCL. I met people in the lounge that I am still friends with to this day. Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks for your honest review. I have been on Encore twice and have enjoyed it both times. Just a few comments: Choir of Man is only on the Encore and the Escape so that was luck of the draw for you. Other ships have Jersey Boys, Six, Burn the Floor, Footloose and more. Some sort of Beatles variation seem to be on every NCL ship I have been on (except Prima) and I am getting a little burned out on them. I will go see them once maybe, to compare them, but I am about done with them. And so you are aware, I just read multiple reviews of the recent Symphony of the Seas TA and it was along the same lines. Service is being cut back to once a day, cutbacks to Entertainment and the food quality is horrible (so they said) so if you didn't care for Royal's food before, it might be even harder for you. Looks like Celebrity (or a new line) might be your only option, I am getting ready to do a 2 week land vacation and while airfare and hotel costs are in line with what I would pay for a cruise, the food and excursions are going to be my budget buster. I am seeing why I get a better bang for my vacation buck on a ship.

Probably everyone has received it at one point or another. I knew our cruise was completely sold out in February for all classes but received this email also, If someone were to no show or cancel the morning of, the is a very, very small chance of an upgrade but I wouldn't count on it. As ships start sailing full again, the chances of an upgrade are getting smaller and smaller. Enjoy your cruise.

No shirts?? Not even a t-shirt?? I admire those that can pack lightly. I am a notorious over packer but am trying to reform. I took one carryon roller bag and a tote bag on my 5 day Joy cruise and survived but it wasn't easy. And yes, I admit to being high maintenance...once I get on board and unpack, I hate everything I brought, LOL. I also know that no one else will notice or care what I am wearing but I dress for me and no one else. Looking forward to your adventures.

$21 a day is not a pretty heavy gratuity to me and $15 limit is more than enough for any cocktail I drink. On my February Joy cruise, which had 4300+ on board, the longest I waiting for a drink was well less than 5 minutes. I have waited longer sitting at a restaurant on land to get a cocktail. Relax...it's vacation...a few minutes here and there shouldn't make a big difference in your enjoyment.

Hopefully enjoying their cruise.

If you are on a warm weather cruise on the Prima, you should be fine in Indulge because some people will eat outside. My cruise was the TA in the north Atlantic and it was too cold and wet to eat outside (and some days the door were roped off so you couldn't go outside). We ended up going to Indulge around 11:10 to get a table and were there when it opened at 11:30. Also, it you go way to the port side (behind the Starbucks) there are some stools near the outside doors and some tables that no one seemed to find. We also had no problem getting reservations for specialty dining and if it was late, we changed to an earlier time on board (just keep checking as cancellations do happen). I would not do Prima in cold weather again but am hoping to try Viva early next year when it is in the Caribbean.

This cruise just makes a port stop in Panama so my thoughts are a passport is not needed. But I would never leave the country without a passport...what if you get a port employee that isn't clear on the requirements and causes additional stress at the start of your vacation?

A link was provided above for the NCL Contact Us. If you follow that, there is another link inside that says Click Here to post a complaint/feedback/concern. I also found this via a google search. You should be able to navigate the rest.

Glad you had a great cruise. Any idea how many were on board the ship?