welove2cruise2014

Getting back to this thread. Has anyone brought a ~2 year old on any of the ferry boats around Bermuda? If so, did you and/or was it easy to bring a stroller along?

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I think the policy is consistent. There is a cutoff date and at first they said yes when I called, but when I gave my sail date was told it is too close. I got a credit of $25 so I’m ahead. Plus, I have an angled balcony and made it clear I wasn’t changing my cabin.

 

 

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I too was told no by 2 supervisors. We are after final payment. A bit irritated that others seem to have gotten the additional OBC even after final payment. Their "policy" doesn't seem that consistent.

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My PCC was able to apply the new OBC ($700!!!) to my Nov reservation even though my category was sold out. She did say she couldn't do it on her own since it was sold out, that she had to ask a higher up. They had me on hold for a while, but nevertheless she got it done!

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To the OP: How was it?? Any challenges/tips/pointers you'd be willing to share?!

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Our last few cruises, I booked and traveled using my passport in my maiden name.

Now that we will be traveling with our child (who just got her passport), I thought it would make sense to finally renew my passport into my married name so that we all 3 reflect the same last name (thought it would make sense especially while traveling). I had previously changed my name for my DL, with SSA, etc.

My PCC assured me it wouldn't be an issue and to just let them know once I have the new passport. However, I'm getting nervous now that this may not be the case.

Anyone have recent experience with renewing a passport after booking, and then subsequently changing one's name on the booking?

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THANK YOU to everyone posting about this. I went to the NCL website and it still has the 5 "free" offers PLUS up to $500 OBC. I just emailed my PCC to see if I could get any OBC added to my booking.

I will post here later what I find out.

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Shippy, you raise an interesting point. Should one cabin be able to make this kind of demand on the shared butler, so the remaining cabins have to compete for even the minimal service OP requested?

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I feel as though someone requiring services of a "butler" will never be fully satisfied and will always have something to complain about.

We don't have "help" at home.

We work hard for our vacations and like to enjoy them to the fullest.

For us, that means NCL suites. They happen to come with this additional service.

Yes, we enjoy the pre-boarding "lounge" experience in the port/terminal.

Yes, we rely on the butler to bring our daily snacks and serve us meals en suite if we prefer to dine in.

Yes, we rely on the concierge to help us make last minute dinner reservations if needed. (Truth be told, it feels kind of silly to call the concierge when I could just call the restaurant myself!)

Yes, we enjoy having the concierge recognize us when we walk into the suite seating area in the theater.

Yes, we've enjoyed the priority disembark at the ports we've visited.

Very rarely have we been disappointed, and have never been disappointed enough to even mention it to anyone.

Sorry for the long post. It just really gets under my skin when posters seem to think that WE are a spoiled, entitled bunch just because we like the "Suite Life".

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We've done decks 8 and 10.

Aft PH (SF) on 10 have the deepest balconies, deep enough for loungers to face the wake.

We did 8170 (I believe that is the one on the end) and the balcony was not very deep but long enough to have the 2 loungers facing one another.

Cabins seemed identical but maybe mirror images depending on cabin #.

Nice thing about 8 is ease of access, since it's easily accessible through the main floor that OSheehans is on in the middle of the ship.

I have read many concerns about SF on deck 8 regarding noise from the Spinnaker (now called Bliss) one deck below on 7... we did not have a single issue.

Personally, Deck 10 all the way... those balconies are awesome.

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OMG what has happened to Cruise Critic? It seems like almost every post turns into a snarky debate. Everyone use to be so helpful and I learned so much on here. I’m sorry but the posts are getting off topic and bi- - hy.

My "asking for stroller recommendations" turned into a sanctimonious lecture on how to parent.

And I thought I was the only one that had a kid with the balcony superiority! We've done OV cabins before, but when I've mentioned it in the last couple of years, I get "I cannot sail in anything other than a balcony." Sure kid, good thing you're working at McD's and earning your own money. You can pay for your own balcony next time LOL!!!

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And also, if you get pregnant, and hubby leaves you, you are on your own.

Don't plan on parent support.

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Great so far, but this did make me think of the one a few years ago about the father that missed the ship in the Bahamas. His story went for a week or so if I remember correctly.

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We are gamblers, so we really don't make any plans for the first night...everyone does their own thing and we meet up later. I have read on other posts and reviews that Garden Villa patrons are treated like royalty...I think that kinda depends on who you are dealing with...lol...Four of us decided we were starving so we made our way to the Magenta Dining Room. Now, let me preface this by saying we really don't like to rely upon, or bother, our Concierge (Elvina) for every little thing. We don't expect to be seated immediately and we don't mind waiting. We aren't pretentious or demanding - we just like to receive the service and attention we believe we pay for. We have cruised many times in the Haven and have never, ever had a problem being seated when we went to a main dining room. Well, we approached the Hostess at Magenta and asked for a table for four. There were several people eating but there were plenty of tables available. She said she could not accommodate us and told us....Go try the Grand Pacific. lol....wow....So my sister, who is just so adorable lol, told her our room number and she said...well..go try the Grand Pacific....so much for the royal treatment. So off to the Grand Pacific we go and explain what happened. We were treated WONDERFULLY there. Dinner was delicious, service was wonderful and we were beyond happy. After dinner we walked by the Magenta and people were still eating so I have no idea what the problem was. Up to the Garden Villa we go to enjoy the courtyard. As soon as we got there, here comes Elvina....lol..."I already know what happened at Magenta, and I am so sorry" awwwww...It seems the Maitre D' at Grand Pacific called her to let her know what happened....wow...we were impressed, but we really couldn't help feeling sorry for the hostess at Magenta.....

 

be back soon.....

But forgive me, I might have missed something, why did / would you have felt sorry for the hostess at Magenta?

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We don't like to plan ahead and usually decide that day where we'd like to go for dinner. It has usually worked in our favor, with one notable exception... the last night of our last cruise. Concierge could not get us into Cagneys, regardless of the time. He "tried" then suggested we contact the maitre d directly. We did (the hostess really), and we ended up getting a table around 8:30. Cagneys was far from "full" at that time.

My feeling is that the concierge ought to be able to "make it happen"... understanding they can't if the restaurant is booked solid but that didn't seem to be the case. The fact he suggested we do it ourselves left a bit of a bad taste.

We did however utilize that pre concierge letter and email to request certain types of daily snacks we liked :)

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I have thick, shoulder-ish length hair that's wavy if unstyled (not in a good way, more like frizzy, straight in spots, curls where it wants to).

I am normally one to get all dolled up on the cruise w full makeup, hair straightened etc (to make myself feel good) ... but it I find about halfway through the cruise, I am generally ready to be a little more relaxed. (Not to mention tired of the time it all takes lol).

So I pare it down to a bit of concealer, do my brows, and mascara and lip gloss. By then I have some color so I am feeling good:) for my hair, if I am letting it air dry (or just wearing as is after pool or beach) I just put it into a loose ponytail or a twist.

Probably not too surprisingly, some of my favorite cruise photos are like dusk time, on our balcony or in the cabin, with my hair down, sort of loose, beachy and windblown :)

N/m

What a silly comment! What business is it of yours if an 8 year old goes on a cruise. This is the dumbest post I've seen in weeks on here. You don't think children cruise or deserve to? Unreal ....

It boggles the mind how others suggest "leave the kid(s) home with family for the week". Some may not *have* family or some like us can't imagine doing that.

Side note: an immediate family member of mine once invited us to join them on a cruise. I "reminded" them that we have a child. He suggested we "leave her with family for a week", I told him that wasn't our style... he paused and then goes "maybe you should have just gotten a dog instead". ???????

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How big is your 2.5 year old? The reason I ask, ours will be 2 when we cruise and is already 31lbs (and fairly tall for her age). She is still in a crib at home and I am nervous she'll be too big for the pack and play!!

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I posed the question but in the reverse fashion not to long ago. My first Haven was on a 14 day BA cruise and was totally awesome. But after hearing what folks had to say about dawn i decided to get one of the aft balcony suites in back. I think they call it SF class cabin 10728? Looking forward to it, as i know it wont have all the bells and whistles but was told it offers a more intimate experience.

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We have only ever done suites on the Dawn for our previous cruises. We are considering either:

A) another suite cruise on the Dawn, or

B) non-suite cruise on an -Away ship (Haven is too pricey for us).

Consider that the ports/destinations are a moot point. For those that have cruised on both, which would you choose?

I'm torn. I know the Dawn, the suites, the overall product... kind of a "no surprises" kind of deal. We enjoy the suite amenities but could get along fine without.

On the other hand, I also like the idea of "new ship" (to us), and my thinking is the novelty of that would compensate for the suite perks and amenities.

Thoughts?

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I feel like maybe because you've anticipated it for a while, and once you're on it, well... it's that much closer to being over!

In my case, I feel like I want to see and do everything onboard the first day so that "go go go" could have something to do with it.

For the most part though, what I love is that feeling of "time standing still" during most of the cruise. Until I'm packing that last night of course!

I have a dilemma now. I had ordered another suit in case I didn't like the Miraclesuit that looked sort of similar but I had never heard of the brand and it was really inexpensive so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, it arrived today and I have to say I like the fit better than the Miraclesuit. Now, I'm debating if I want to keep the Miraclesuit as a backup or just return it. It's sort of spendy to keep as a backup though.

 

It's this one, and they do offer this style in both misses and womens sizes: https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/clubswim-couture-one-piece-swimsuit-8155966/?color=9325

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You will find that any free time you are given is the slowest on the boat at any time. I would normally use mine at 6am when there are few people up, about 2pm when many are sleeping, on shorex or at a late lunch, or about 8pm, prime time for shows and dining. My 1st choice is 6am but I don't stream.

Your info regarding peak/non peak times was helpful! Thanks!

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