CruisinHarvey

I believe Sean the hotel director is moving to the Escape. I know Bong the bartender from the Mojito bar is moving also. I thought s couple of other officers were going to, but can't remember who. At any rate, we've already booked a December cruise on the escape just to see Bong again.

My suggestions are: drum roll please!

• Illusionarium
  
• Wine lovers the musical(in the Illusionarium venue, but at lunch time.)
  
• Mojito bar for drinks. I think someone mentioned the chocolate cowboy already, unfortunately I think both Bong and Lorelie are both on vacation. OMG. I must spend too much there!
  
• Cagney's and Teppanyaki for dinner
  
• Tropicana the night they have the Burn the floor dancers there.
  
• The Cuban grill for lunch. Try it, you'll like it!
  
• Spice for sunning, although I like the pool on the Epic, rather than the waterfall on the Getaway.
  
• Howl at the moon and the comedy shows.
  
• Legally Blonde is cute, even if it's a little different from both the movie and play.
  
• O'sheehan's for the pot pies and wings.
  

Enjoy!

High heels KILL my feet. I have to send my formal clothes to be pressed, once they're unpacked. It takes time to pack coordinating pieces of matching jewelry. Oops, we need to take your suit to the dry-cleaners (to-do list before we leave.) The list goes on and on.

 

This is what our family endures every time we cruise. We wouldn't have it any other way though, as we LOVE formal nights.

 

Our first NCL is in a few weeks, and we're looking forward to the optional dress-up night.

 

To each his own.

Makes perfect sense to me. Not even sure why this thread got started. Formal nights haven't gone away on NCL. They don't make people who don't want to participate sit their rooms, as some cruises(HAL). Which is good thing now that they are charging $7.95 plus 18% gratuity for room service.

Maybe that is the reason I enjoy them - it is "outdated" to dress nice for most occasions in our daily life so it is fun to do it on a cruise. We don't eat out often at home so the MDR is fine for us, I don't feel it necessary to pay extra for the specialty restaurants. So do you dress up for those since they are your special dinner?

I think it's wonderful that you and others want to dress up for special occasion. While I don't consider going to the MDR a special occasion, understand the desire to dress up and feel special for an evening. Just don't make me do it.

Most all the younger folks never dress up, unless it's a wedding or a funeral anymore. So as time goes by, and the younger crowd is going to be a larger demographic on cruise ships, and requiring formal wear will stop.

As for me. I worked for EDS for a number of years. At one point they loosened the dress code, so we could have tassels on our dress shoes with our dark suits. No. I don't dress up for dinner. Somehow, it just doesn't make me feel special.

You are correct, it is a class thing. Unfortunately many people today are devoid of class.

Actually, upon further reflection - If anyone wants to keep the tradition alive, I have the perfect solution. They should have the Haven restaurant require formal attire every night. The Haven is considered first class on NCL ships now. Problem solved!

Formal nights are really, really outdated. They came from a time when cruising in first class meant you had to dress formally every night in public areas. It was a way to differentiate the haves from the have nots. It was classist.

Even the dining part is outdated now. When formal wear was required in the main dining room, it was the best place to eat on the ship. Not anymore. The specialty restaurants are were you go for a special dinner. Not the MDR. Let's all get dressed up to go to the Outback Steakhouse. And, while we're at it, let's make everyone else get dressed up to go there too.

Sometimes knowing the origin of the traditions helps to see why it should go away. Although, for anyone who wants to dress formally, that's great! The key there is wants to.

To those trying to rationalize the change. I'm sorry. I've been in business way too long. It is NO coincidence that the no take out policy and the room service charges happen around the same time. They're creating their own demand.

Assuming arguendo that this policy is/will be implemented, it strikes me as bizarre. I really doubt that NCL is concerned with food waste given the copious amounts of food they provide and toss; they provide room service, so it clearly isn't about wanting to prevent food from entering the rooms. Seems to me the only rationale is to force people into ordering room service and, thus, pay the fees.

Got to agree on this one. Just follow the money! Food will still be delivered to cabin, as before, you'll just pay. You can still buy Pringles for $5 or chocolate for $8, in the shops, and take them to your room. Just pay! That's all it is. Very simple. You no longer will be option to eat in your room, unless you pay. No other reason given. We used to love getting an order of wings and a chocolate anything from O'Sheehan's and taking back to our room for a late night snack while we sat on the balcony. The servers would wrap it up perfectly. Gone!

I suppose you can buy as many snacks and such as you like at the ports. Wouldn't be surprised if they started policing that like they do the alcohol.

I'm not happy about the Cagney's change either. We'll see what the cost is now. We may still go. I can't reserve it for my May 30th cruise on the Gem.

Little by little our options are being removed by Jack. Oceania anyone?

Considering cruising during thanksgiving and considering one of three cruises. Please help Norweigen GetAway, Norweigen Escape, or Carnival Breeze. This cruise is for my family (husband, daughter 13 and daughter 15 and myself).

The question is bit open ended. We've sailed both lines. Carnival has a bit different cruiser than NCL has. While NCL folks party, Carnival has Fun Ships. There will be more folks partying on a carnival ship, that's why some of them go. that's neither good or bad, just a something to consider.

NCL free style is a better dining option, IMO. As already stated, you can pretty much eat when and with who you want in the MDR. If you do choose NCL, We've been on the Getaway twice. It's a wonderful ship with lots of dining and entertainment options. The Escape will be similar. The only question may be is the staff settled down yet? New ship, new crew, they may be still working out how to play well as a team. It may not be evident in the level of service, but it may. We're booked on the Escape in mid December, and I'm still thinking it may be too early. I know a number of crew members that wouldn't even think about signing a contract on a new ship.

Another attribute you need to consider, is where you want go. The Breeze has a great Itinerary. Grand Turk is great as is Aruba. In addition you have an extra day. the Escape itinerary is tired, unless you've never cruised. St Thomas, Tortola and Nassau. The Getaway takes the western path to Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Cozumel. All decent ports.

Happy cruising, whatever you pick.

We usually sail NCL, but have been on HAL a couple of times. Our last was the Neiuw Amsterdam in March, in a Neptune suite.

MDR - both about the same. Nothing write home about at either. They do still have one lobster night on HAL, not on NCL anymore. Although the lobster was pretty much tasteless.

Specialty dining. A lot more options on NCL and very good. As someone else stated the Pinnacle and Taramind are very good on HAL. They do one night as Le Cirque, in the Pinnacle. The food was wonderful.

Entertainment - no contest here. NCL is top notch, with a lot of variety. Especially on the newer ships , EPIC and all going forward.

Formal dress - My biggest beef with HAL is the MDR formal nights. Everyone pretends that's it's special to go the MDR on those nights. Given the food is not even comparable to the Pinnacle or Taramind, I not sure why they consider it special. I can't remember the last time a got dressed up to go to the Outback steakhouse.

Sorry. Unfortunately, Lorelie will be off too. She doesn't come back to the Getaway until July. you may still be able to meet the chocolate cowboy though. He works at the outside bar by the mojito bar. By his name, you can't miss him. He's not as entertaining as Bong, but still really personable.

He may not be. He's off for a couple of months before he said he comes back to the Sun for a couple months. Then he moves to the Escape when it starts cruising in October. So if he comes back in July, I'll thinking he may be gone, but it's a close call. Hope you get to see him again. We've already scheduled a cruise on the Escape for December, partly to see him again.

Try this one:

 

https://www.facebook.com/bong.fernandez.54

Thanks!!!!!!!

Sorry I'm late for this thread. Bong is great! Always entertaining. He said to find his facebook page to look Bong Fernandez. We'll have get find exactly which one from him, nest time. There are ton out there, and none for Jonathon.

By the way, Lorelie works the same bar. She makes good jalapeno mojito's( which are on the mojito tasting that Bong does) and is really personable too. She made one, and tried 4 times before she found hot enough peppers to her liking, to serve it to my wife. According to my wife. PERFECT!

Perhaps I wasn't too articulate in actually disagreeing with you. My point is there are still festive black tie events - and some lines 0 where the passengers have not forgotten this. On formal nights on Cunard everyone looks wonderful. Black tie is the most ingenious outfit designed for men - all men regardless of age or physical build look great in it.

 

There are still some places that require a minimal standard of dress, such as the 21 Club in New York:

Can I wear jeans and sneakers?

No. Gentlemen must wear jackets to gain entry to the Bar Room, Upstairs at '21' and the Wine Cellar. Bar '21' and Lounge is business casual.

This all goes back to 1920's when, in first class, formal attire was required EVERYWHERE in public areas EVERYDAY AFTER 6 PM. Would you like that requirement now? I'm guessing not. That's when they brought their big trunks on board. Now with airlines charging for luggage, it's even more constraining.

I think it's really nostalgic to have formal nights. I also assume they'll continue on a lot of lines for a long time, for those who enjoy it. It just won't be compulsory.

Thanks for making my point. It used to be going out to nice dinner was a festive event. No more. One has to be getting married or going to the white house to dress up. They can't fill all these cruise ships with those folks alone.

Old habits die hard for the cruise industry. On land, it's hard to find a restaurant that requires a jacket anymore, unless paying $500 for the meal. Which, the vast majority of cruisers can't/won't afford. As a result, most folks don't have any exposure to the old fine dining experience. We have lot of fine dining in my town, 4 stars, but no 5 stars, I admit. Not one requires a tie or jacket anymore.

Doesn't it seem odd that you have to go to a specialty restaurant on the ship, that doesn't require formal attire, to get the best food? I'd assume it's the best food, or how would they get away with making most folks pay addition for it? Backwards!

The culture of requiring formal nights will end. I think we've all seen it creeping into more and more into cruise lines. Dressing up for dinner, like it or not baby boomers, is foreign to most all of the younger generation. Today's older demographic will continue to get smaller and smaller, as will formal nights. It all comes down to how many paying cruisers continue to want it.

We just skip them. It doesn't bother us a bit. It's easier to pack. We don't have to come out of our 180 square foot closet, ah balcony cabin, and attempt to act refined.

We just check the main dining room menu on those nights. They usually save their best menu on formal nights. If so, we have it delivered to our room. Most mid level lines will deliver it.

I was on the NCL Jewel a couple of weeks ago (Jul 5-12) to Alaska and I won the only qualifying tournament that week. The first tourney of the week was the only one that had enough entrants/re-buys/add-ons to bring the 1st place prize to an entry in the main event. I am still not sure if I am going to go or sell my seat, so if you are interested in buying it let me know.

 

Has anyone played in the main event for Norwegian in the past?? Does the payout normally reach the $200,000 that they advertise? We will probably go on the cruise if there is going to be some good poker action, so we don't have to play against the house.

 

The casino was very tight with very few winners and many many losers. We play a lot at casinos throughout the US and it was by far the hardest to play. Especially, the table games like 3 card poker and ultimate Texas Hold'em. The staff is ultra friendly though and I did hit a jackpot on the video poker the last night, but it did not make up for our losses throughout the rest of the cruise.

Still looking to sell your entry, how much do you want? Please respond @ klogan@gaic.com

Hey Skeeter. Hope all is well. Were you able to speak to your friend?

Jllagun014,

I'll take it for lot less than 800, just to have something different to do. At least, your friend won't get nothing out of the entry. Their call. Hope he/she gets as much as they can. You can contact me @ Klogan@gaig.com

Kerry

We always have the bag overflowing. They never had a problem with that. I'm a little surprised they raised it a few bucks. We were just on the Jewel in February and it was still $25. I guess the nickel and diming will continue forever.

Thanks for your responses. Doing, kind of,a back to back on Getaway and Epic with a day in between. Hard to pack for these. Much appreciated. Hotels not always best places for laundry. I must admin NCL has never lost any laundry.

thanks again.

Anyone been on the Getaway yet? I looked at the dailies and didn't see anything about the $25 laundry whole bag day. Do they still have it? If so, what day?

thanks in advance for your reply.