bjtravelnews

On 5/14/2022 at 6:37 PM, mking8288 said:

It's seafood for the final night in the Garden Cafe - pretty empty (where's everyone - specialty dining ??? ) stopping there for dessert first before, as it is almost showtime.  Elements at 7 pm and 9:30 pm - a one hour show.  Do book these onboard with the app or via iTV's remote control.  Going to dinner afterward.

 

Again - thanks so much for the very detailed and informative review!!!!   Quick question about reserving the shows.  On the other NCL ships I have cruised on, there were touch screens by the stairs where you could make dinner and show reservatioins.  Are these no longer available?  If so, looks like the in-room TV may be the only other option if you do not download the NCL app?

Thanks!

On 4/30/2022 at 11:24 AM, marnie2005 said:

Any reviews on the Bermuda Triangle Evening Cruise that NCL offers? Is it worth it?

I have just started to go through the Bermuda forum since our cruise is in mid-June.  We have done the Triangle Evening cruise in the past. It was fun and very informative.  Two parts stick out as memorable - (1) watching the sunset from the boat, and (2) opening the doors on the glass bottom to see the fish and shipwreck.  Each person also gets a watered down rum swizzle on the way back to the dock.

Hope this info isn't too late for you!

I can't say thank you enough for your very detailed commentary and frank discussions regarding your cruise and the ship.  It has been 3 years since I have last cruised.  I am going with a group and several who have never cruised before, so they are a but nervous about what to expect.  Thanks also for the recommendation for the surgical masks.  I have a large supply of the disposable N-95s and am going to take them with us,

Wishing you many enjoyable cruises in the future!

6 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@bjtravelnews - Both Taste & Savor are / should be open for embarkation lunch at noon (thru 1:30 pm) - that's usually where we head, and especially these days, I would highly recommend not going up to the buffet (ships will probably be at a high occupancy level / #'s in June as summer/school holidays kick up).  Slow walking seniors in tow, 2 of them falling way behind - we ate last Sunday at "The Local" - food was good, services was acceptable & slow, our delayed orders were partially missing - despite the apologies from our server (we're onboard much "earlier" than most) and a follow-up by one of the asst. manager on duty ... how could they possibly digitally mixed up food ordered using their tablets, hmmm - I just dunno.  

 

Between this month & next month, many of the crew members onboard are due for vacation - there is going to be rotation & replacement coming onboard soon.  Not all of them are coming back to the Joy for the next contract.  One of the hostess we're become friendly with in "Taste" is going home for 3.5 months in early June, missed her family (children, I presume - didn't ask, as a matter of privacy) very much & it's not easy to live onboard - she loved sleeping extra hours when she has a chance - will be moving to a different ship.  A number of MDR servers have been NCL since the Norwegian Sea(ward) days so we had good laughs about those days with much smaller ships, and some're with the Joy since its original China market deployment.  Overall, the crew members as a whole are excellent and friendly, they aren't perfect in everything, but tried hard to please when possible, with a smile - always say hello when paths are crossed in those narrow corridor passage.  Wish you a wonderful cruise shortly on the Joy.  

Thanks so much for the information.  We always try to avoid the buffet on the first day because of the crowds,  Did you get on the ship on deck 5?  It would be easy to walk up one flight of stairs to Taste and Savor.

On 5/14/2022 at 10:32 PM, peg013 said:

 

Thank you! It's getting tougher and tougher these days. It seemed like someone else was going to coordinate the M&G and then nothing but crickets....so I finally took over. We have many signed up, I just hope half of them show up! NCL is expecting 40 and right now we are up to 79 signed up for the M&G. Unusual for a 7 night cruise but the whole TA thing is easier when everyone is keeping each other straight on what is expected. 

 

Interesting about your experience with the M&G.  The roll call for our cruise was started well over a year ago with the OP stating she would take care of the M&G and slot pull,  She has not come back to the roll call since October, so we aren't even sure if she is still sailing with us,  I have done several M&Gs so I could take over if necessarym but don't want to step on her toes,  At what point did you decide to take over?  Thanks again!

WOW - thanks so much for all the details!!!   I watched you ship leave port in NYC and dock in Bermuda (love those port web cams!).  Do you remember which of the sit down restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day?   Again - thanks for posting - loved your frank comments.  I am really looking forward to being on the Joy in a few weeks!

Thanks so much for your detailed review of your cruise!!!!   It is so nice to read and "follow along" with you.  We are taking the Joy in June on the same itinerary.  Do you remember which sit-down restaurants were open for lunch on embarkation day?  It looks like you may have eaten at the Local?  Wondering if either Taste or Savor was open.  Hate the crowds in the buffet on that first day.  Thanks so much, again.  We are really looking forward to the cruise.  It's been way too long!

For anyone who has taken the Joy on the NYC/Bermuda route starting May 1, what restaurants were open for lunch on embarkation day.  I believe on past cruises on other ships Taste or Savor was open.  Hate trying to get through the long lines at the buffet!   TIA!

On 5/5/2022 at 12:39 PM, svmodi said:

We will be sailing on the Joy for the first time in June. Have been on the Gem. Anything special, not-to-be missed, tips about Joy?

You are on the same sailing as me!  Really looking forward to seeing the Joy.  I watched her dock in Bermuda last Wednesday morning on the Port Bermuda Webcam!

Hello everyone.  Sorry if this is a repeat question.  (search didn't find a match).  I am arriving in June with a group, embarking from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.  We are renting a limo bus, so I need to know what is the earliest reasonable time we can get to the terminal.   I have to finalize a departure time for the limo company for our pick up.  TIA.  We haven't cruised since 2019 and are so anxious to travel again!

Thank you both for responding.  Will post on the other board.

Hello everyone.  I am coming with a group to sail on the NCL Joy out of Manhattan in June.  We are going to put our money together and rent a limo,  What's the earliest time we can get to the terminal to check in?  I know we may have a wait once we are in the terminal because boarding won't commence right away, and once they start others will have priority.  It's been way too long since we have cruised!

TIA

We love the glass bottom boats.  Once it gets dark enough, you go downstairs and they turn on the floodlights.  Amazing what you can see.  Some of the tours go to a shipwreck.  If you are looking to book off ship, check out the Island Tour Centre in the dockyard.  They are about $20 to $25 cheaper than booking an excursion through the cruise line.

I have been.  If both the zoo and aquarium are open, then definitely worth it - especially if you have kids.  We used the local bus.  Did the zoo/aquarium in the morning and the caves in the afternoon, with stop at the Swizzle Inn, across the street and a short walk up the hill from the entrance to the caves.

On 9/8/2021 at 10:37 PM, DeputyDawg46 said:

I just finished the Serenade of the Seas out of Seattle to Alaska on 6 Sep 21.  The ship was at 36% passenger capacity was not crowded.  This was my first  cruise in 18 months.  The checking in went smooth with a Health Welfare station first and then moving on to check-in.  On ship by 10:30.  Some things I noticed as changes.

 

-  WindJammer was not open for evening meal.  Closed at 3 pm.  All food was served by a RCI server at each station.  Your SeaPass card was scanned coming in and also going out.  Major problem was that even though masks were required many people at every meal went around the WJ without one and servers/staff NEVER told them to wear one especially around the food area. Even when they were talking to staff/servers one-on-one they were not told!  I suspect most were just absent minded about it but a little reminder should have been made as some stood and talked right over the food.

-  Park Café and Starbucks was only option after MDR closed with limited food and hours.  

-  As D+ (soon Pinnacle) I was allowed 5 drinks on account/SeaPass card  per day not to exceed $13 per drink.  I do not drink alcohol so in getting soda/water I could get my five anytime during the day and anywhere with no specific time slot.  That means five for you and five for your spouse per day.

-  I didn't use the casino, spa, exercise room, or pools so can't comment on them.  However, I did see a crowded hot tub on the last night when we were closer to Seattle and it was warmer.

-  The mandatory muster drill is different and it seams like it is a requirement to have a cell phone to use their app.  You use the app and then watch a video or have a crew member that are stationed at the muster station show you how to wear the life jacket.  There was a requirement during a specified time frame for each person to at least go to the muster station to check in with a crew member.

-  As a vaccinated  passenger I had two wrist bands.  One to show I was vaccinated and another one to track my locations as I understood it.

-  In the main theater they had the vaccinated in the main and larger area on deck 5 and in the balcony on deck 6 for the unvaccinated/mixed.

-  The Theater for movies was closed.  They did have some movies in the Main Theater from time to time.

-  There is no longer a library.

-  Never saw anyone shooting pool so suspect that was closed.

-  The stools at the Sooner Bar itself on Deck 6 were off limits.  You could only sit in the cushion chairs.

-  Usually I get some chocolate covered strawberries in my room during the cruise and not sure if no longer offered or out of strawberries, but didn't get any.

-  Internet was extremely slow.

-  I thought the shows were below standard and the bands in the Centrum were poor and extremely loud.  The individuals on the solo time for piano and guitar were the exception.

-  The Meal with an Officer, which I get, used to have an officer of some sort sit at each table.  All the main officers were introduced and they all left leaving only the passengers to eat alone. They changed the name to Cheers with an Officer.

-  There were no behind the scenes in the kitchen or theater tours as well as no bridge tour.

 

The staff were always pleasant and cheerful and telling passengers how thankful they were that we were there.  A real positive atmosphere.

 

I have one or more cruises each month for the next 18 months so looking forward to seeing how things change and how the new way to cruise will become.

 

Hope this helps some who might have questions.  I'm sure there were many more changes in the areas I did not use so keep a look out for other posts that might have more data.

 

DDawg

 

 

Welcome back!  Thanks so much for your review.  Have a friend thinking about this cruise for next summer.  In your opinion, is it best to get a balcony on port side or starboard side?  TIA for your opinion!

4 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Indeed some good news!  I am glad to see that RCL/Celebrity, (CILA, really) are allowing passengers to take some personal responsibility as it relates to determining if they are fit to sail.  

I never understood why they picked that age as a cut off.  There are lots of younger people with health problems who likely would be at higher risk and a healthy person 70 or older.

Thanks for posting.  Going on the Encore to Bermuda in June.

2 hours ago, Racer70 said:

 

Sea day

Thank you!  Will be leaving for a Canada/New England cruise and Bar Harbor is one of the stops.  Hoping we can get there!

For those of you who were unable to port in Bar Harbor, did your cruise go to a different port or did you just spend an extra day at sea?  Thanks all!

Hello everyone - we are leaving in a few weeks (YAH!!!) for a Canada/New England cruise with ports of call being Portland, Bar Harbor, St John Bay of Fundy, and Halifax.  Does anyone know if there is a tax on drinks at any of these ports like there is in NYC?   Thanks all.  First time heading north and looking forward to the cruise!

Hello everyone.  Cruising on NCL in September to Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax and St. John New Brunswick.  Which of these ports are best for getting a lobster lunch and what restaurants would you recommend.  Saw some other threads on the topic but some of the info is a bit dated.  Thanks everyone!

On 3/27/2019 at 1:16 PM, maryann ns said:

There would be lots of interest for your kids in Halifax including the Discovery Centre (on the waterfront), Citadel Hill, walking the waterfront, taking a ferry or going on Theodore Too, taking the Harbour Hopper, and so on.

 

You could also rent a car and visit Peggy's Cove, beaches and other fishing villages.

 

Here is a link with information for Halifax:   Halifax for Cruise Ship Visitors

Wow - great information!  Thanks so much for all the work in putting this together.  Very helpful.

Hello everyone.  We usually get a balcony cabin.  For our upcoming cruise I have booked a Haven cabin.  Hubby doesn't know and I want to surprise him.  I know I have read somewhere suggestions on how much to tip the butler but can't find that post.  Please, can someone give me an idea of how much to tip the butler each day (7 night cruise) and if there are any others who should get an extra tip?  Also, never having had a butler before, what kinds of services can we expect to ask for?   Thanks so much everyone.  We are celebrating a big anniversary and can'r wait for the cruise!!!!

Hello everyone.  It's been a few years since I have sailed on RC.  I want to get some of those luggage tag holders that have the zip close top and the wire to attach the tag to the suitcase handle.  Have used them for other cruise lines and they are great.  Since these holders come in different sizes, can someone tell me the measurements of the printed tags for Royal Caribbean so I purchase the correct ones?   Thanks so much!

On 7/8/2019 at 10:35 PM, BirdTravels said:

Kinky Boots and Choir of Man were announced as the two free shows in the main theater. There is a problem with I the NCL web site. It was the same on the Escape in April. 

 

Happy Hour will be in the Social. 

Glad to hear that.  We loved Choir of Man on the Escape and were looking forward to seeing it again on the Encore.