peacefulOR

Sorry that you are missing out on your cruise! Your symptoms sound like gastroenteritis, very painful stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. That should be a legitimate reason for bowing out. Good luck on the paperwork and your next cruise.

Hi all

 

We're sailing on NCL Escape at the end of September and flying in from the UK the day before. I'm looking for recommendations for hotels which are near to the port where we set sail from

 

Thanks in advance :*

Hello. You could also consider Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown. It's a little over a mile from the cruise port but some rooms face the water and it's right across the street from Bayside Market, with lots of choices in restaurants, services, and shops. Holiday Inn has a free hot breakfast.We usually stay at Best Western but I really liked this location. Enjoy your cruise!

So I like to go onto the balcony 1st thing in the morning in my underwear.

 

The wife say I should not do it?

 

what do you think?

I would recommend keeping your pants on while in port:eek:

Has anyone been able to set up on Uber without a smart phone? I just have an "old-fashioned" cell phone and credit cards, of course. Thank you for your help!

Hi! Going on my 5th NCL cruise (2nd on Breakaway) this summer. Here are a few tips I can think of:

 

1. I always bring 3M hooks (they don't damage the walls and come in so many varieties).

 

2. I bring a few collapsible bins (fabric ones that fold flat and don't take up too much room in the suitcase) to use on the closet shelves, etc. to keep my socks, etc. organized. The smaller ones are great for the bathroom too!

 

3. I'm a scrap booker. I also try to bring a large manilla envelope for each day so I remember what I did. I put the dailies, tickets, etc. from each day and write the date and any memorable moments on the outside. It's amazing what you forget with all of the fun you're having.

 

4. Definitely go to the cruise director's activities on the first night and introduce yourself! On my first cruise we did this and 12 years later I am still in contact with Colin (our first CD) and he is actually one of my best friends! His parents even stayed with me when they came to the US!

 

5. I always pack a few extra hangers - just an FYI.

 

6. I always pack too much! Lol!

 

7. An over-the-door shoe holder is an amazing organizing tool - especially when traveling with a family. It can hold toiletries, toys, chargers, etc. (this is where your 3M hooks help).

 

8. I ALWAYS bring an extension cord and a surge protector strip. There are never enough outlets in the cabins.

 

9. Ladies, one word - wristlets! Great for your card, phone, and all of those receipts you get throughout the day. Lol!

 

10. Have fun and enjoy every minute! It always goes by too fast!

 

 

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Some good tips but number 8 is only half right. Extension cord yes, no surge protectors allowed. They draw too much power for the ship electrical system and have been prohibited for a long time. Enjoy your next cruise and be safe.

If you can't find Downy wrinkle release, you can substitute distilled water with a few drops of Downy or any good fabric softener. Mini spray bottles should be available almost everywhere for DIY ladies(y)

Folks, remember, NCL is not "banning" these items because they feel like it, but out of concern for the rest of the passengers. The electrical systems on a cruise ship are not as robust as your home. The reason for this is the amount of moisture in and around all electrical outlets. I probably bet, all outlets are on a GFC and trip at the slightest increase in current. Since a number of the appliances mentioned usually have a high wattage rating, this could cause a potential fault in the electrical system, which could lead to a fire on the ship.

I'll second this! Where are you planning to go if you catch your room (and several near you) on fire? Some rules may seem silly but not anything to do with a potential fire hazard. Please don't use these and surge protectors for your own safety as well.

? Does anyone know if the Getaway Salon does Gel Nails? If so what is the cost? Thanks in advance.:)

You might also try the board for fashion and beauty. Lots of discussion about all things beautiful. Have a great cruise!

I started a thread here on cruise critic to see if anyone would book a cruise with NCL if it was offered adults only. Boy did I get flamed by a lot of people. I would book it in a minute.

I didn't flame you.....and would book that cruise in a minute! Sometimes parents of entitled children forget that everyone else has rights too. I paid $300 for a spa pass so I can relax a bit. Rainey

Currently booked in a BC catagory balcony, It is an angled balcony cabin which we were lucky to get. So I was considering an upgrade to a mini suite. Is a min suite worth giving up my angled balcony? just curious before I submit upgrade request.

 

Thanks WCR

We're in an angled balcony, good location, and can't see "upgrading" to a mini suite with a possible tiny balcony and a skinny tub. Nope, we'll stay put unless they drop the price for Haven spa WAY down from current starting point. That balcony is really something compared to most.

Everyone is different, it seems. It can be anytime; we got out cabin assignment before final payment (about 5 mo. out). Others report finding out 2 days before or even at the pier. With the new bidding for upsell system coming in, I suspect that you will get your assignment early enough so that you can bid up to 2 categories higher and spend more money.

I think you're smart. We book a GTY balcony about 9 months out and got the upsell email a few weeks ago. Very high starting prices because we had such a good deal to start. You probably got the offer because of people like us who turned it down. We don't want to risk an big balcony on the starboard side (sailing East) and end up in something we can't control. I don't think the minis are worth it for the bathroom size if you end up with a worse location.

I don't think there would be a lot of kids on 16 night TA. We have stayed in balcony cabin near the kids club multiple times and have never heard any noise. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for the reply. We've done a TA on HAL and that was certainly true. I don't blame the little ones for being excited; it's the connecting cabins next door (7 possible) that may be an issue. On the other hand, we've got starboard and an angled balcony, both pluses for me. Will enjoy our cruise regardless. Packing good ear plugs, just in case:rolleyes:

Trying NCL for the first time with a GTY balcony cabin on 16 night TA the end of April and assigned to a a family cabin on deck 12 (Splash Academy area) four months ago. There are only 2 of us (mature adults) and the cabin sleeps 3. Could we be moved (not upgraded) at any time? Love the cabin but think it will be very noisy. I know, you take your chances with a guarantee, just wondering if this happens often ? Thank you for your input, Rainey

We received our e-mail today about the service charge increase. I appreciated the option of prepaying the charge but will still wait. Only $14 more when you consider the thousands that are in their account instead of ours with another six weeks until sailing, I know.

On this same morning, we read a review of the Getaway, the ship we will live on for 16 nights , that spoke of deplorable service and terrible food. Not the first one to complain about service (and lack of). Even a few who were in Haven. If the service charges keep going up, shouldn't we be able to expect : clean cabins, courteous, timely dining service, an experience where we don't have to say, "Remember the good old days?". We will continue to add cash gratuities for cabin attendant and wait staff. If service is sub-par, I believe in addressing it on the ship, not after the fact, but have only had to do so once in 9 cruises.

As far as the Haven goes, I would hope that they would get outstanding service without question. Most have paid a great deal for the same plus they have butler and concierge tips on top of the increases. We will stay optimistic about our cruise next month and treat others the way we wish to be treated. Happy sailing to everyone! Rainey

We were there on a cruise stop and our favorite thing were the jet boats. Seems like it was at least 30 mins long, took us under the Oakland Bay bridge and lots of fun. Easy to locate mid-wharf area. We found discount coupons when we googled jet boat rides, SF.

I'm on the GetawaY also and figured that VIBE would be about $179-$199 each, based on charges for one week. I booked the thermal spa instead based on the weather, especially after looking at the average temps. along the way. It's $299 each if you book online; add $20 each if you wait. Sure will do Vibe on a southerly route though

The most common and dangerous thing on a cruise ship is falling. Would you book a cruise that guarantees no movement? Maybe doesn't even leave port! Would you pay more for it? There seems to be a lot of hyper focussed venom regarding the issue of smoking on a cruise. It really should be much lower on people's list of concerns.

 

 

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I believe that the most dangerous thing on a cruise ship is ignorance

I am totally pro non-smoking in all public venues (hotels, restaurants, airplanes already on board) for health and safety reasons. Having said that, I am a former smoker who understands that some people will continue to choose to smoke regardless. If cruise lines like NCL want to appeal to the broadest market, they need to step it up in designing or retrofitting casinos and some nice lounges that not only isolate the second-hand smoke (now known to be the most hazardous) from non-smoking areas but also protect the smokers themselves from the same. Upgrade the smoke eaters and ventilation , offer two completely separate rooms, not just areas, for casino patrons, and give smokers at least one indoor bar that they can smoke in peace. :halo:

We booked a BX guaranteed balcony and I wondered if when you are assigned your cabin, will your category of room be BX? Or does NCL assign you to other categories of balconies?

We got our cabin assignment on the Getaway almost 6 months before sailing (April, 2917). My NCL still shows it as a BX cabin but when you look it up, it falls in the BD category (the bottom). Not unhappy, got the starboard side which I wanted for a TA heading East and an oversize balcony. Wouldn't have chosen deck 12, Splash Academy, because of reports of kids running in the halls early morning. That can happen anywhere, and does, even in the Haven,so we're staying put. Enjoy the low price that you got for your cruise; you saved A LOT over the fares that include "free" drinks, food, etc.

Cigarettes are not illegal, they are not contraband & they are not prohibited items, if they were how could NCL sell them on every ship & at every bar? Just because you copy and paste "rules" does not make them applicable.

The "rules" are written to include illegal substances that can be smoked, including but not limited to, marijuana and crack cocaine. As for all the money that NCL would lose, really? Smokers are in the minority and I bet that the casinos, etc. would be filled quickly with non-smokers who choose to protect their lungs and avoid them now. Most of us respect your "right" to smoke; we don't recognize your right to infringe on the health and well-being of others.

There is no smoking indoors on Celebrity ships, and that includes the casinos. And those ships are not exactly sailing empty. :)

Celebrity is at the top of the list for several reasons. Good point!

I would definitely book and possibly pay a bit more for a non-smoking cruise or, at least, one that had designated smoking areas that would not include the casino or any indoor space that would be impacted by second-hand smoke. The reality is that no one knows for sure how much business is lost in ship casinos, restaurants, and lounges that non-smokers avoid. I think that they'd find a whole new group of consumers. The issue remains that second-hand smoke is harmful to both smokers and non-smokers but some choose to take that risk. Many do not. I've been in casinos that had totally enclosed glass rooms with high-functioning smoke eaters that help protect smokers as well as others.

Just to clarify, the bidding system does not allow you to bid on spa rooms other than Haven Spa (H9). You can only bid on specific Haven categories or guarantee rooms in other categories which could be anything from the smallest standard room to a large balcony or spa.

If you are in a balcony, the e-mail will show you photos and a brief description of the different suites available for you to bid on. That's it, no other choices. It would seem that the spa balconies or minis that we want will be offered to OV and maybe even Inside. You are gambling, much like a gty, within each category. Some are good locations, some not at all.

We're in a guarantee balcony and just got the e-mail. Started with the owners suite and most of Haven choices (sliding scale from NO to ridiculous. Only other choice was generic mini-suite, not a good upgrade in my opinion. We're staying pat; would have liked to get a spa balcony but that's not an option.:o