purplecow15

I agree with the advice but question the op’s 5-10 minutes. I can think of numerous reasons I may be away from my lounge for more than 10 minutes. Bathroom break and grab something from buffet, running down to my cabin because I forgot my sunglasses. It sometimes takes time getting a drink from pool bar. 

The latitude cocktail parties have been held in the early afternoon on the last several cruises we've been on.

It’s any of the specialty restaurants but you have to use vouchers at 2 different restaurants. 

It’s a package  for 2 extra meals for each of you . I agree the wording is vague. 

We have been to Rome numerous times and just want to spend one night in Civitavecchia before our cruise in September. Can anyone recommend a clean, comfortable hotel not far from port with restaurants nearby. We may go to Tarquinia for a half day while there. Would that be feasible? TIA

Does she need airplane mode on or off?

Should the roaming setting be on or off?

Does the Escape have a “free” Wi-Fi service she can hook up to without logging in over the web or having to pay for internet service?

If I tell her to go to the Internet cafe, will they have someone who can help her with this without talking her into buying an internet package?

Keep airplane mode on

roaming should be off

she just needs to go to settings, click on WiFi, the ships WiFi will come up and she can accept it. She does not need to log into her minutes

she should now be able to text anyone on or off ship as long as they also have iPhone. No pictures, text only.

2 hours ago, Popsy_cruises said:

 

Cookies

 

I’m very disappointed, I didn’t find a single cookie! So unfortunately it looks like NCL have scrapped these. I don’t understand why, the desserts they now have on the buffet surely cost more than the cookies. 

 

Hopefully they haven’t done away with them. We were on the Dawn in March. There were several kinds of cookies in the afternoon on Great Outdoors deck.

Not sure if the kayaks would be considered an excursion. I know that at Great Stirrup Cay rentals of umbrellas etc not considered excursions. 

Thank you so much.Will be booking them today!

We will be docked in Cannes in September. I know many on Cruise Critic recommend Italytours.eu as an alternative to NCL-sponsored excursions. Their website doesn't explain much about what the Cannes excursion includes. Is a walking tour of Nice etc included?  Has anyone done the French Riviera tour with them and can give me some insight before we book it? We have been to the area before but have not been to Eze so want to make sure we will have a little time there. TIA

We were on 2 different cruises since September 2023. On the Dawn and the Gem. On the Dawn, we were told we could get on anytime, just show our cards with Sapphire status. On the Gem, we needed to go to the cruise next desk to get a ticket allowing us to board the tender with the second calling. There was no separate line for those getting tickets, so we had to wait until those folks buying cruise next vouchers were done which often takes a while. Not the most efficient process.  Seems each ship has its way of handling things. 

44 minutes ago, hallux said:

But won't you have the opportunity to book those for the days after they leave?  Each cruise booked as a 10 night with their respective embarkation/debarkation ports.  That means you'll have 4 days (20th-24th) without that group of passengers.

Yes,  but we will have a whole new set of passengers that embark on the 20th. I plan to reserve our specialty restaurants as soon as I can and hope for the best.

We signed up for it on the ID site and then with NCL when it first became available  The discount has automatically been taken off every cruise since.

On 6/26/2023 at 8:45 AM, hrt4girls said:

But aren't the Platinum Latitudes coupons different names for the same one?  How are they different from the Free at Sea coupons?  The Platinum Latitude ones include the 4 courses and the Free at Sea include 3?

We just used the Platinum coupons last week. Each coupon is good for 3 courses.The coupons must be used in 2 different restaurants. The FAS meal includes 4 courses and will automatically be on your key card. No coupon. When you arrive at a restaurant they will ask you if you are using fas or platinum.

Just starting my research. We plan to get private transport from Civitavecchia port to FCO. From some of my readings, it seems that some have permission to pick up passengers right at the dock while others do not have the license to enter the port itself and we would have to make our way to exit for pick-up. Is this correct? If so how do I figure out which transportation service is best to book? TIA

5 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

Lol 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 

I need video proof of this!

And, if this really happened, I hope you said said something. 

My adult son had some words with him😐 

Another thing I’ve noticed numerous times is people blowing their noses with the cloth napkins . Saw a visibly ill coughing,  sneezing , sniffling guy give it a good blow in O’Sheann’s . Disgusting 🙄 

Last week a woman at the dessert station took a piece of pie from behind the glass partition, brought it up to her nose. Gave it a noisy sniff, and then put it back. A man stuck his finger in the potato salad to check temperature. People sat on stairway steps 3 across eating and on their phones. People seem to be in their own little self centered world. 

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

if you're going direct from the ship to the airport, you're doing yourself a major disservice. rome is an absolutely beautiful and amazing city. i would book a hotel and stay for at least 2 days, you wont be sorry

We are staying in Rome for 3 days before the cruise. Have also been there twice before. I agree it is a wonderful place to spend some time.

Thank you all so much for your information. We haven't booked our flights yet. Right now they're a lot more expensive than the actual cruise. It will most likely be the 12:55 flight so we should be alright with either NCL or private transfers.

Has anyone used NCL transfers from Civitavecchia cruise port to FCO? Our cruise in September docks at 6:30 am. When is the first transfer likely to be? Also, I can't find the cost of transfers without flight information which I don't have yet.TIA

2 hours ago, UKstages said:

 

so, the lack of cookies on the gem seems to me to be a legit and credible complaint

We were on the Gem last week. There were several kinds of cookies on offer in the Great Outdoors every afternoon.

We just got off the Gem last week. Never saw any dirty areas. Staff was constantly cleaning common areas. 
There were very good cookies on back deck every day. There was Lox for breakfast in MDR . We had eggs Benedict on back deck in morning. Never waited more than a few minutes for a drink.

As for no turn down in evenings and towel animals we never felt we needed them. Did not interfere with enjoyment of cruise. 
I guess everyone has a different experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. 

I am very surprised that you were asked to leave District Brew House. We spent many hours playing cards and just enjoying the District on the Bliss. Our teen  granddaughter was always with us. 

We have a cruise booked that arrives back to Cittavechia at 6:30 am. I'm in the process of booking a flight out of FCO for that day. I'm finding a flight leaving at 11:00 am and one at 12:55 pm which is much more expensive. Would we be making a big mistake booking 11:00 am.? We would be getting a private transfer. Would appreciate any experiences we should be aware of.TIA