razor7_us

Your bed will be by the balcony

You may very well experience a problem. Cruise ships do not have a "never ending" power generation source and as such have step down transformers installed in the power grid to prevent an overload. You can plug your high wattage hair dryer in, but the chances of you singing the "pop goes the breaker" song might become a reality. BTW, the fuse panel is not in your room and you might to wait for maintenance to reset it. The provided hair dryer is hard wired ànd designed to prevent this problem.

Mid ship is exactly what it is. In between the lowest deck and highest deck. I choose that so I'm not on the same floor as all family's with crying kids

 

With the gem mid ship is 8 9 and 10.

 

size

Interesting. I always book a balcony which is located in the middle of the ship as opposed to forward or aft. Middle to me is center, less ship movement, closer to the center of the action so to speak. The reason midship balconies BA on the Gem are 8 - 10 is because decks 11 boasts mid ship mini suites

My Mother-in-Law, traveling from Germany on a valid passport and an ESTA, will be joining us on an NCL Western Caribbean 7-day cruise with stops in Roatan, Honduras, Harvest Cay (NCL Private Island in Belize), Costa Maya and Cozumel. My question.....Is her passport and ESTA all that is required or will she be required to obtain a visa for one or more of these ports? Has anyone ever experienced a problem from a less than knowledgeable port agent(s) regarding ESTA, Foreign Passports or VISAs? Thanks in advance.

We loved HC when we were there in November. Yes the beach is a little coarse but it's more of an active island than beach day - that's why they built the pool, right? My kids enjoyed the zip lining and ropes course and our oldest loved loved parasailing - they went so high they could see schools of dolphins and parts of Panama. It was a cool day but we loved it.

They must have been space shuttle high considering Panama is over 800 miles away.

This is disappointing. While I can appreciate fellow members being pleased to sail on the GEM from other locations, this leaves those of us in the NE with nothing but mega ships. The GEM was, in my opinion, at about 2200 passengers a good size; not too small (like the HAL Veendam), but certainly not with a capacity larger than the enrollment of many well known universities. And I do not know if it is because of the size of the ships, but the convenient 9/10 day cruises are being eliminated for 2 week voyages. To each their own, but having been to these islands numerous times, I don't really need to visit 4 more islands, each one looking exactly like the one before it. Work, kids schedules - all that comes into play now.

Have to agree, and since Southwest (preferred airline, have massive points) doesn't fly direct to NOLA from Baltimore, it will be awhile before sailing her again after she repositions.

Can't speak for Escape, but for Breakaway and Gem you could, but the TV remote would not allow you to change TV input to watch it. We purchased a very small flat screen TV at Wal-Mart (probably 12-14") for a reasonable price which takes up very little suitcase space and have used it onboard ever since.

So because you didn't get a call for an upgrade, you decide to tell the world you're done with NCL. Why didn't you just book the cabin you wanted in the 1st place?:rolleyes:

http://www.cab888.com/

Catch a sedan or van at the ship, ask for driver's card when you reach your destination and they will return for you. Quick and reasonable.

Your hair dryer will trip the breaker and since the panel is not located in your room, it could be more than a couple of minutes before it is reset. My wife swears by the in-room provided dryer. Says it's more than adequate.

Going on Escape next May with my wife and daughter theses stories make me worry a little. Me and my wife have only been once before on US soil, 8 years ago for a professional co convention. It will be my daughter's first visit. We will be applying for ESTA and thought that was just enough.

Now I will certainly print every single document I get.

I would also like to see that site with our travel info.

Bracarense, if it has been 8 years, your current passport might not pass muster. Effective April of this year you mus have an E-passport to enter the US by plane or sea.

"Also, generally, people who post reviews or comments and get utterly offended and defensive when others don't agree. I'm thinking about the "will workers outside of the Haven recognize me and greet me by name" lady."

I love this quote. I remember the original post also. That lady was something else

Broadwaycam took the words out of my mouth. It is perfect advice.

I am an avid fan of Cruise Critic and the NCL boards, been reading them for years. I have only cruised with NCL, so there is no industry comparison for me, but I do travel extensively, one or two cruises yearly along with a land based trip or two, so I do know the value of a dollar. Just because I have a limited number of posts on CC does not mean I am a naïve cruiser or uniformed traveler.

My absolute, hands down, bottom line, #1 gripe is with the phrase “Nickel and Dimed.” God how I hate seeing those threads. Before anyone says, “Well don’t read it then,” it is sort of like a train wreck. You do not really want to look but you have to and once you start, it is hard to stop.

So let’s hear from you all in CC land. Your #1 B**ch, gripe, groan, moan or complaint. Only the #1 on your hit list please, otherwise I could go on for days about……………………………………………...you get the point.

You should expect it to take about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours from leaving your room to clearing

customs.

 

 

Nonsense. My wife and I have used the self assist on all 3 Breakaway cruises and we have been one of the 1st off the ship with my luggage, through customs and in my car within 30-40 minutes each time. We even had time for breakfast prior to leaving. Our last cruise was a family cruise, 3 rooms, 8 cruisers, and we were all in our cars within 30 minutes. It can be done

 

If one chooses to disembark after sleeping in and having a leisurely breakfast, then one can expect long lines to exit, find your luggage and clear customs.

 

I have also observed Breakaway staff turning away people attempting to disembark during self assist times who were not hauling luggage (a dead give away) and had a chuckle at their expense.

Not sure how to take your review. You say you want others to know your experience, yet you didn't state facts. I have been on several NCL cruises with my young grandchildren, and all restaurants have a children's menu and fruit and veggies was on them. Straws? I order water with every meal and I always receive a straw. How hard would it have been to ask for an extra glass and portion your children's drinks? As many times as I've read it, I have never taken 2-3 hours in a restaurant unless it was by choice, and we have frequently dined at tables serving 8. The Splash Academy has always been awesome with the kids, no exceptions. I think the problems are with you and your children. From your description, they sound a bit undisciplined for 4 YO and you kept making excuses for them. You are on vacation but it is not a vacation from your kids. Your children were asked to leave the SA because they were rambunctious and interfering with the safe entertainment of the other children. Another disgruntled passenger review that doesn't depict reality. Maybe you should try to be more gruntled. I feel sorry for the other members of your group. Not sure why, but I do.

Some casinos will deny you a jackpot payout if the person whose card is in the machine is not playing that machine.

The Win, the Money and the W2G go to the person playing the machine. The Player's Card has nothing to do with it. Some slot attendants would like to think so, but not true. Absolutely no chance of a denial of payment.

What if the prior player had left their card in the machine and you didn't notice it before you started to play and then won?

Going on the Escape in 4 weeks. I know it has the new power saver room switches.

 

I have read mixed things. Will any all smooth card like a gas station rewards card keep things running?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Anything sturdy enough of the same size will work. I have used a business card in the past. In case you weren't aware, by leaving the card in the slot, it leaves an indicator light illuminated outside your door that will lead your steward to believe the room is occupied. Don't be disappointed if your room is not refreshed in a timely manner because of it.

I was hoping that someone used a birth certificate recently had no issues with boarding.. I don't understand why threads have to turn into sarcasm ?

My wife and I always travel with passport, but took or 11 yo granddaughter on that same cruise just this past April and we used her certified birth certificate. No issues going or coming.

..I’m never cruising with NCL again

..NCL just lost a customer

..Canceling my cruise and re-booking with RCI

And the complaints go on and on. Plenty of the complainers on this board probably have never been on a cruise or they have embellished their “cruiser resume.” Get over it please. If you don’t like it, pay more elsewhere and just go. Why must you openly bitch, whine, moan, groan and/or complain on a public forum? How many of you go on a cruise to “eat in their room?” I go on cruises to unwind, relax and to have a great time. I used to be a smoker, but ever changing rules concerning smoking didn’t deter me, I just adjusted and continued to enjoy myself. You can ‘what if’ a policy to death , just like the airline baggage policies, but guess what, the same people that complain here complained there, and I bet each and every one of them still fly.

And to all those chest puffers that state they will continue to do as they please and dare an NCL employee to stop them…..I’m laughing out loud, literally.

Personally, I hope I never encounter the likes of some of you on my future cruises. I don’t want you to ruin my vacation buzz. Stay away and stay home please.

Can’t wait for the hostile responses and more “what if” comments from the naysayers.

417 previous cruises.....too numerous to state

11,798 days at sea

See what I mean?:rolleyes:

Do not bring. As several have previously stated, you will probably blow the cabin fuse. The fuse panel is not in your stateroom and you have to call to get it reset. My wife said the supplied dryer is just fine. She did bring her hair straightener and used it with no problem.