suzieq2cruise

Yes, indeed, it seems we’ve had very different experiences- maybe I’ve just been lucky so far - the concierge was very helpful about the fridge being empty and suggested other snacks that were that could be in our room instead - gratis.   She asked about juices and sodas as well.  She even asked if we wanted OJ and ice waiting to enjoy mimosas with the sparkling wine that is included.   She aldo spent ensuring she  had info correct about the CPAP; a day later we got info on the cpap and other items in writing.    

On 9/1/2022 at 8:30 AM, cruiseny4life said:

In my experience, they'll just tell you to ask your butler when you get onboard. I'm not sure what the OP does to get actual value out of the pre-cruise concierge (I believe him), but I get no value from them at all. On both cruises, I've requested things like the pillow menu, the snacks (M&M's, gummy bears), and to have the mini fridge cleared out. 

 

The pre-cruise concierge response was we'll have the pillow menu waiting. For the rest, the response is ask your butler when you get onboard. Perhaps by calling you get different service? But, unless my life depends on it, I don't make phone calls, so I'll be waiting on Saturday to talk with our butler for my requests:

 

1. Clear out the mini fridge

2. Bring a carafe of iced tea and water

3. Bring gummy bears and peanut (only) M&M's

 

That's all our requests. We tried the pillow menu. It's basically the pillows on the bed, plus the butler finds a memory foam pillow which I don't like. 

 

Now, I'll be the first to say your experience may be better than mine. I know the OP gets wonderful pre-cruise concierge service, so I hope all you others do as well. 

On 8/25/2022 at 5:14 PM, rbxlady said:

That^ made me think of another coffee-related question: am I out of line to ask for heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) for my cabin so I can use that instead of half and half?

 

It’s just a preference, and I won’t die if I can only get half and half (and I don’t use the flavored stuff, sorry), but I would hope I would be able to secure a small pitcher of HWC to keep in our mini fridge for coffee.

 

Thanks in advance!

I don't think so at all.  I think you can even call the Haven Concierge in advance of your journey to request it.    It will probably actually help them if you call ahead about it.   

Thank you!   I very much appreciate your up-to-date data!  Always!  

22 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

One of the fun events hosted by Cruise Next was Wines Around the World. 

You travel to each country and the wine steward explains the wines that he is offering. Along the way, you score each wine. 

 

You can taste the wines or drink the wine for as long as you want. 

 

The Birds chatted with the ship’s sommelier who said that supply chain issues continue to have a big impact on the selections of wines onboard. 

I love the Gris Blanc Rose - this looks fun!  Thank you for sharing the pics! 

1 hour ago, SimplyAlbert said:

 Not Ms. Bird, but DH and I saw it in February and really enjoyed it.   Meal was ok, but we thought the performers did a great job.

Thank you for sharing!   I feel like this would be us too from what I’ve read!

23 hours ago, seemoreroyals said:

 

When we did Velvet Dinner Show on Breakaway this past December we were a little disappointed.  The music was good but we were expecting something comparable to the Cirque shows we had been to on other NCL sailings.  The best part of the meal was the desert.  Steaks were tough.  The rest of the meal was so so.  If he meal had of been better I think we would have enjoyed the show more.

Thank you!!!  This helps bcuz it reinforces what I’ve read about the meal and the show!

Thank you!   Truly appreciate your insight!!!!   Read this to DH and he seems not thrilled!

6 hours ago, Nclgetawaymenhoney said:

Ms. Bird, if you go see velvet, the dinner show can you please share with us you thoughts on the show itself?  Thanks

Yes Please!   Sailing on Sep 18th and older reviews are mixed…

I am going on a Canada Cruise on the Breakaway in a few weeks.  You had the BEST review of the Encore last year when cruising first started, which was a couple weeks before I went!  Here we are again - me following in your footsteps!   So happy to be able to get your insights again Ms. Bird!  I hope you have a BLAST! 

We were on Encore last August to AK and took excursion trip  up Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier - we got VERY CLOSE  (IIrc it was a quarter mile??) to the Glacier. boat met us a couple miles away from Glacier, still very deep into Endicott Arm.   Boat stopped and did the 360 degree rotation, they only stopped it for a moment to reboard those of us on the excursion and then they completed it.    Sounds like the Glacier Bay stop and rotations are even more than everyone got on Dawes….  I do recommend if you are on the the cruise with the Endicott arm/Dawes excursion (or Tracy Arm to glacier) that you do it.  Its a long haul to get OUT to the glacier on the smaller boat (not unpleasant, just long, because you are excited and anxious) and the excursion crew we had was awesome - (very educational!) but once you see it and hear it and get to watch the small pieces fall, while you float amongst the newly fallen pieces, its breathtaking!  Good luck and enjoy!!!  

On 6/5/2022 at 5:07 PM, LisaLisa87 said:

I'm glad you've found it helpful, @suzieq2cruise! How was AK in August? I really want do an Alaskan cruise, and the Encore seems like a great ship for that itinerary.

So Alaska, if you haven’t done it - I found it breathtaking (A coworker who had been asked me what I though upon my return and when I couldn’t find the word she said “breathtaking” and I said “yeah”!). DH and I were both overwhelmed at so much.  I grew up in PNW and imagined it would be a bit more amazing than home.  Boy was I wrong - Just going up into the strait - I could not get enough of the mountains coming literally out of the water with the snowy peaks in the distance.  We both loved it.  

The Encore is beautiful.  We stayed in the Haven, which had a great observation lounge all by itself.  But the Encore MAIN observation lounge was fantastic - great views, gorgeous decor, continental breakfast throughout in early am, tons of cozy spaces by windows….  I will miss that gorgeous space, as I don’t think Breakaway has it (that’s okay, Breakaway has other stuff).  Sugar Canes is worth a visit, and the funky Beatles Show was both lame and awesome (lame cuz its not really the Beatles and the George guy was not quite right, but actually awesome to hear that much Beatles music live!). 

As for the “stuff to do” - there is so much with AK!  Depending on cruise, if the actual separate boat trip to Dawes Glacier or into Tracy Arm is offered, totally worth it - its a long little trip in, but we got SO close to Dawes Glacier and it was stunning.  DH is not usually as enthusiastic as I am, but he was truly impressed and joyful that we took that little trip.  Had friends who did a similar trip that included a land package and their reaction and thoughts were the same….  

Thank you so much for your comprehensive review.  We’re on Breakaway for a NE/Canada cruise in September, so I appreciated seeing the dailies and reading the activities.  I know it takes time to build a review like this and attach things!  So, again THANK YOU!!  We Cruised AK on Encore last August, 3rd NCL cruise out of Seattle -  seems that now, the activities and music are much more back to normal than they were back then…. (We were so happy to be on a vacation at that point, that we didn’t even think about what wasn’t happening on the boat…. Just enjoyed the fact that we could be cruising!…. )

1 hour ago, Shellbelle28 said:

If it's been more than 5 years since you were last on Alaskan Way, it ain't what you remember. Sea wall construction had most pier businesses closed or barely accessible for at least a year. Demolition of the viaduct has changed the landscape. The industrial buildings are  slowly being replaced by apartments and condos. The Wheel is a giant new attraction. The Bell Street terminal is gorgeous, but there is no pull in space for drop offs, it all happens on the street. Chaos indeed! 

I stayed a few days actually down in that area (in one of those rehabbed apartment buildings!) for the first time in my life in 2017 (when you grow up 40 miles away, why would you stay in town?)   Maybe with the viaduct actually gone, it will feel different.  I know in 17, the chaos was different than in my childhood, but it was still chaos… and I imagine the cruise terminal just adds to it!  

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Since we were late arriving, the lines to get off the ship were long and slow. The Bird got a private escort to security via a crew elevator, to avoid the lines on the ship.

 

Baggage hall is small, but less chaotic than years past. 

 

There was no immigrations and customs check (as expected). 
 

There was a line for the cruise line transfer to the airport, but they were loading multiple buses at the same time and sending them as soon as full. 
 

8:45 left stateroom 

9:27 arrive airport (about 25 min drive)

10:09 checked in bags and through security. 

The logistics guy will be happy to hear this!   Thank you!

1 hour ago, OrcaGirl said:

Thank you Bird! Truly a saint among birds, which I guess makes you St. Francis? Not sure.

 

As a result of your exciting-yet-straightforward capture of the sailing, we decided just last night to swap our November Joy sailing to an October sailing of the Encore.

Perfect! 

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Bell Street Terminal Pier 66 was its normal chaotic self for a turnover. This was complicated by the fact that there were people waiting for testing adding to crowds. Our late arrival does not help the mob of people. 
 

Half the lanes on Alaskan Way are closed, filled with semi trailers and tankers, bringing food and beverage to this week’s passenger.  
 

People trying to catch an Uber are having to walk several blocks to get out of the crowds. Both Uber XL and Lyft XL were $63+tip at the time we got out.  NCL transfers were $25 pp. 
 

Ma’am, I am not sure where you are from, so please consider my comments as someone who remembers  being on Alaskan Way at Ivar’s  outdoor seafood bar with my dad as early as 1969…. Dad also worked for the Seattle Water Department for nearly 4 decades and does he have stories about water main breaks on Alaskan way!!!!  So here we go… There’s Chaos on Alaskan Way?  NO way!  Who would have guessed..  Alaskan way in freakin Chaos… they closed lanes while ppl were trying to get there for a cruise?  In Seattle?   What?  

And again for real, your blog here really helped me and logistics guy I married 23 years ago to feel like we made a great decision between to do this!  Thank you!  If I do run into you on a cruise…. I’m buyin! 

Thank you so much Ms. Bird for sharing all of this!   I’ve had some really busy bad days at work that drug through the weekend and into today and so your posts have really buoyed me to just focus on getting through it to the 21st…. You Ma’am and if we are ever on a cruise together, I owe you one!  Can’t wait to see more about Icy STrait!  

18 hours ago, Traveller20074 said:

in a Prior post you stated (Bird)  that Splash Academy and Guppies were not on board? there is no Splash Academy?   

Kids under 12 can’t be vaxxed yet so that may be why.   I read some of the FAQs on health and right, wrong, or indifferent, NCL (at least for these first few cruises) was crystal clear for ppl who might have kids - if they are too young to be vaxxed, you cannot bring them.  I was sort of amazed to see that level of clarity and, while I don’t have a little one or anything, I thought it was probably very good that NCL was that clear, even if it seemed “hard”…. (Hope I am asking sense)

22 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

 

Woodford Old fashioned up there callin’ my name! 1

21 hours ago, RumRunner2021 said:

Really?  That’s your take-away from this thread?

This!   Life is gonna be weird for awhile so if I end up in a line for my test in 12 days, the good news is, the boat will wait.   I bet its better next week BTW!  

23 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

But for the comeback, the first two Starbucks are on the cruise line. 
 

Nice!    

49 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

There will be more videos. Today is Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Years Day, Independence Day, and all of the Birthdays not celebrated on NCL ships due to the pandemic. 

This set of pics and the happiness of it, gave me goosebumps. Thank you!

58 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The medivac has been complete and we have resumed our voyage to Icy Strait. The Canadian Coast Guard flew out to pick up an ill passenger. 
 

Good to know and DANG!

14 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

We dropped our bags first. Then walked across the street to the Marriott. If you look at the photos from inside the facility, you reeeeaaallly don’t want to have bags with you there. Even people with roll-aboard size bags were struggling. 

Thank you so much from me and the logistics guy 🙂