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I hate this. We have sailed on the Glory 3 times. Our last time this past November. I hope everyone is safe.

47 minutes ago, trivimp said:

I was just looking at the thread on the Carnival page, the most amazing part is that it took 4 pages for someone to make a "glory hole" joke.  

No one has made one here so far either.

On 12/16/2019 at 12:36 PM, G2inger said:

So there have been others who have done a great job posting photos, giving you a tours, copies of dailies and a general overview of drinks and food. If you’re looking for any of that check out for BirdTravel and Sid’s reviews. After reading those great reviews and going on the Encore this week, December 8-15 I’m going to point out some tips that may enhance your experience on the encore .

One. Try to get to the terminal as early as you possibly can. There are many reasons to attempt to do this. In our case we are flying in from Virginia so we didn’t get to the terminal until 11:25. We stood in line for about 20 minutes outside terminal B to just enter the building. Then when we entered we asked where the platinum line is and were told that there is one line from platinum, platinum plus, priority, and casino guests. Issue is that this line was longer than the general admission line. Everyone on our line was pretty much frustrated as we were on it for at least 25 minutes. Once we checked in and got on board we headed straight for The social club to get on another 40 minute line just to make reservations the shows, laser tag and the racetrack. I left my husband on that line and headed to another Line for making reservations for the specialty restaurants across the way at the Teppan-Yaki restaurant. Couple of tips here: make as many reservations as you can before your cruise date online. I waited to the last minute and wasn’t able to make any online reservations. Another tip If you want to go to Teppanyaki restaurant to make reservations there’s a long line that develops right at the entrance however if you go inside there another five people taking reservations. I will post a picture of the show options here (at the very end) so you can start to plan

Ok, now that the cruise is over I can give you some feedback. A. There is always room in the theater for every show even though the ship was to full capacity – if you need great seats, then book early. B. Comedy shows were fully booked by noon on Day 1, they say no problem just get to standy by line 30 minutes early and you will probably get it NOT TRUE! The standby by line starts about 1 hour before the show and 30 minutes before the show there were 90 people were online – definitely not everyone got in. C. Reservations for the restaurants may open up during the cruise, if there are cancellations but very few and hardly ever for last night. D. I heard racetrack and laser tag were also fully booked for entire week day 1 – the problem is you do not know where you are going to be every minute of every day before the trip so plan as best as you can.  Make reservations, but if you don’t show up they charge you even though I was told that would not happen and had to argue to get charges removed. More later but these points were really important because I talked with and overheard many frustrated guests in regards to these topics.

This sounds stressful and anything but freestyle.

3 hours ago, FLAHAM said:

Does Carnival provide liter bottles at that price?

A 50.72 fluid oz. bottle costs $3.95 on Carnival. A 12 pack of bottled water costs $4.95.  https://www.carnival.com/in-room-food-beverages All past guests recieve one free liter bottle of water which can be refilled.

The prices on NCL are 

3 minutes ago, draxnair101 said:

I always do the beverage package so I've never been hit by any taxes while in a US port nor have we heard from other guests on board (cruisecritic members) that Didnt have the beverage package that they were charged tax... Maybe that was an old policy that has been discontinued?

Me neither. I have never had to pay extra for an adult only section either. NCL may start out more cost effective, but it seems to have more nickle and diming than other lines I have sailed.

30 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

 

As for needing to reserve shows on NCL, you have made a generalization about NCL ships that is not correct.  That is only the case on NCL's newer, mega-ships.  It's certainly not the case on the smaller Jewel-class ships.  We love the latter, they are a great size, easy to get around, genuine promenade deck, etc.   Sorry you aren't sailing on one.   

 

 

 

 

This is good information. Thank you. As this will be my first NCL cruise, I was not aware of this. I chose the ship I did because it has solo cabins and was close to home. It sounds like the smaller ships would be more to my liking. 

4 minutes ago, Zippeedee said:

The theater is not big enough to hold all 4000ish passengers at once. You can make reservations or you can stand in the standby line and hope someone who booked ahead doesn't show up. It really comes down to choices. You are "free" to wing it  and risk disappointment if you miss something you wanted to see (or eat, in the case of dining reservations) or you can do a little planning and make sure you have the experiences you want.

Too much planning, and I do NOT get the experience I want.  Different people value different things. 

14 minutes ago, XuGator said:

We are excited for our first cruise with NCL and have almost strictly sailed with Celebrity.  We really like Celebrity and I am starting to notice some little things that is making me second guess our decision. The first one is  - why in the world is bottled water not included in the beverage package? That seems like it should be a pillar of the beverage package and is a little ridiculous that it is not included. Secondly - after reading some other posts - it sounds like any and all drinks we order while in a US port are subjected to sales tax. Granted it probably will not amount to much but Celebrity never charges this type of tax for any of their drink packages regardless of local tax laws. I assume they just eat the cost. Finally, the idea of having to make reservations for theater shows seems a little bizarre. Why cant it just be first come, first serve like the other lines do it?  I am hoping others who have sailed both Celebrity and NCL might be able to provide some more insight on the 2 lines. Are there other little details such as the ones above that are going to stand out? I am hoping we didnt make a mistake.

My first NCL cruise in in January. I have cruised on other lines. I share some of your same concerns. I go on a cruise to relax and enjoy myself. Having to schedule events goes against the way I enjoy vacationing. I have schedules in real life, I don't want them on vacation. It also seems that a lot of things that are included on other lines have an upcharge on NCL.

The more I read the NCL section here on CC the more leery I become. I will enjoy myself, because that is what I do. 

I am old enough to remember when being charged for water was unthinkable. When people show that they will pay for something that was previously free, companies will accommodate them. In 20 years we will be paying for toilet paper.

So, not only do you pay extra to eat in in Cagney's, you also have the chance to pay extra for certain items once inside Cagney's.

Wow, NCL sees people coming. It will only get worse if people keep feeding the beast.

On 12/7/2019 at 6:13 PM, ClevelandCruisin said:

Back in my hotel room, counting the hours till the cruise.

 

New Orleans is a town  I just have no interest in seeing again. Everyone raves about how awesome it is, Bourbon Street... well no thanks. It's just as dirty as anywhere else, but with more drunk people on the streets... Less than Vegas. Bourbon Street and Broadway Street in Nashville have a lot in common.

 

 

Maybe I didn't experience enough of it for more days.

Being from Nashville, I must say, if all you saw of Nashville is Broadway, you really cheated yourself by not venturing out to the real Nashville.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I think I will just go with the flow. If there is an opening at the time I want to dine, I will take advantage of that. If not, that is cool too. I will be on vacation and when cruising, I enjoy the freedom to not be scheduled.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded. This will be my first NCL cruise and I have learned a lot from this thread.

4 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

You can walk up and ask to be seated. Most restaurants will sell out quickly onboard. Once sold out, you won’t get a reservation. Suite guests often Have the concierge oversell restaurants for them. If you just walk up, don’t be surprised if you are asked to return later (after 9 pm). If you are on a small ship, you are unlikely going to get walk up Teppanyaki. 

I will be solo on the Norwegian Getaway.

2 minutes ago, gmbhardy said:

 

Yes you can get draft beer and bottle beer. Only draft and cans on the pool deck but other bars around the ship have bottles, however some of the mainstream brews like Bud are only available in cans.

Thank you so much. 🙂

4 hours ago, arpie05 said:

I have been inquiring about booking a cruise since Friday. Can't seem to get a call back, follow up email or anyone to answer the phone. Very frustrating. Hated the agent used on cruise earlier this year so don't have one like i do with Carnival.  I have CruiseNext certificates which is why I haven't just booked online w $50 deposit.  - I even called today and after all the questions to hit 1, 2, 3 etc - it rang for over 5 mins.  I hung up.

 

5 minutes??  Next time, put your phone on speaker and go about your business until they answer.

On the Norwegian Getaway, can you get glass bottles or draft beer? I don't like the taste of beer from aluminum cans.I am asking about mainline beers, not craft. Thanks.

This is very helpful. I will be cruising solo, so that may help.

When I went to sign up for specialty dining it asked for dates and times I would like to reserve a table. The thing is, on a cruise, I don't want to be that nailed down time wise. I don't want to be in a situation where I am enjoying an activity and have to leave to meet my reservation.

My questions are, is there a way to do specialty dining without having to reserve specific times?

If I chose not to go with the dining package, can I just go to the restaurant and ask for a table and be seated? I am thinking of the Japanese restaurant specifically.

This sounds like what is happening on many levels with NCL. Customers have shown that they will pay extra for things that used to be included, and that are free on other lines. So, it only makes sense that NCL will push as far as they can. They are in it for profit after all.

Just now, dennismacfitness said:

 Vibe is an adults only area you need to pay for access to.  Serenity is also an adults only but its free and anyone can go in there. Last time, I was on Carnival, I saw kids running through the area.  

Thank you for answering. I am sorry you saw children. I have been on 9 carnival cruises, the most recent last month, and have never seen kids in the Serenity Area.

For those who have also sailed Carnival, what is the difference between the Vibe on NCL and the Serenity area on Carnival? This will be my first NCL cruise.

The Vibe sounds a lot like the Serenity Section on Carnival. I will be embarking on my first NCL cruise in January. Can anyone compare the Vibe experience on NCL and the Serenity area on Carnival so I can decide what I want to do?

3 hours ago, SouthLyonCruiser said:

 

If someone had asked me when I was graduating from high school, in the 60s, and I had replied that I was going to put water in a bottle and sell it for a couple of bucks a pop I would have been laughed out of the area.

And for those who like to quote 'studies', make sure that you find out who commissioned the studies. Generally it will be the bottled water industries.

Yet boomers are blamed for destroying the environment. I miss paper bags too.

49 minutes ago, DryCreek said:

We are booked on the Vista in mid-February.  Seven-day Western Caribbean.

 

That's why I was curious.  We will each bring our allotted one bottle of wine, but sometimes I like a whiskey and ginger ale.  The last time we cruised I had our bottle of Jim beam ordered through the Bon Voyage Program.  It was delivered to our room about mid day after departure.  Since then, they've added a gratuity (delivery) charge and tax.

I like Beam and coke and we have pre-ordered also, so I feel you. It seems to me charges are very arbritrary. 

3 minutes ago, DryCreek said:

But, I have read posts here (to various other threads) where folks say they regularly order the bottle through room service.  If you pre-order, you pay tax and the gratuity.  If you order through room service, you pay NO tax, but still get hit with the gratuity.

 

Or so I've read.

I guess you will just have to go on a cruise to find out. Not a bad thing.