EleventyBangBang

Did an interior guarantee on Anthem a few years back.  They gave us 13631 - a larger interior, kind of in a weird spot off by itself.  We were worried about noise because it was directly underneath the kids pool, but we didn't hear a thing.

The "virtual balcony" was neat.

Semi-tangent, how does the on-board internet cafe work?  Say, for example, all I want to do is log in for 5 minutes and keep my Duolingo streak alive, but beyond that I have no desire to have wireless internet or anything.

I just had an idea.  The cruise line could zip-tie little 30 minute kitchen timers to every lounger - you know, the mechanical ones where all you do is twist the knob and they start counting down.  (For this purpose, though, they should probably be silent, like those hot tub safety control things.)

Anyway, so if you have a lounger, and you need to get up, turn the timer to start a 30 minute countdown.  If you are looking for a lounger, and the timer is running, then you know they really were just here and just got up to go re-beverage, or de-beverage, or whatever.  And if the timer is off, then you know that person isn't coming back any time soon and you can move their stuff. 

On Grandeur next week.  We just wanted to do something small and cheap that we could drive to.

This is our first "small" ship, and the first time we've gone without a drink package (which would have been more than the cruise itself!).  And it's our first oceanview, after having just done NCL Haven a few months ago.

I'm kinda scared.  😶

We went to Victoria in May, the ship told us to have our ArriveCan apps out, and then when we actually got off the ship, nobody even looked at them, we just walked straight into town.

I see the beverage package just went from 70/day to 65...  For a 5 day sailing with 2 port days, I'm thinking this might be the first time ever we go without a beverage package.  I'm kinda scared.  

We are in Seattle for the Encore today, but we happened to walk by the pier while the Bliss was docked yesterday, and there were NCL reps on the sidewalk handing out letters to anybody that walked by, basically saying something about more than 2% of guests reported "acute gastroenteritis symptoms" , we reported it to the CDC, we disinfected the whole ship, it's safe but you can cancel for FCC if you want, etc.  Does not say norovirus specifically. 

I'm not sure how that would even work, since you book the cruise first, and then contact them and say "hey, here's my reservation number, gimme my 100$."

We did it a week ago and they were ready the next day.  We did not receive any notification - I just went in and looked, and they were ready.

5 hours ago, lx200gps said:

https://www.amazon.ca/NCL-Luggage-Tag-Holders-Cruise/dp/B07XKWFMR7

We have a set of holders we've used for Royal in the past, that are long and skinny.  We bought a set of holders like this for NCL - then we got our NCL tags in the mail, and they look like they will fit the Royal holders better than these. 

We're in the Haven this time - could those tags be different somehow?  I seem to recall not getting non-Haven tags in the mail from NCL in the past, and just having to print them ourselves.

17 minutes ago, abugarcia1 said:

Thank you for sharing your information. I'm wondering when you get to Victoria if it takes longer to disembark due to the information required for the ArriveCan App? Thank you again.

Curious on this as well.  They've adjusted our upcoming itinerary from 7 pm to 7:30, which I assume is because of that.

How full is the ship?

I saw this article:

https://www.ktoo.org/2022/04/23/juneau-first-cruise-ship-2022/

The first large cruise ship of the 2022 season arrives in Juneau on Monday afternoon. The Norwegian Bliss, which can accommodate 4,000 passengers, docks at 1:30 p.m. However, it’s unknown how many people will actually be on board. Predictions range from as low as 30% to 75% occupancy. 

Like...  that ship has already sailed - literally.  How do they not know?

On 4/16/2022 at 2:45 PM, EleventyBangBang said:

 

Sailing NCL in May to Alaska/Victoria.  Just got an email from NCL - strangely it mentions additional EU requirements but does not mention Canada at all.

 

OK, just got an update from NCL today.  Yes, all passengers required to do it, must show receipt at embarkation.  

5 hours ago, disneylover89 said:

It has been reported that passengers who are sailing NCL in May have gotten emails that the document needs to be filled out. It does not matter if you are not getting off the ship, it needs to be completed before embarkment

Sailing NCL in May to Alaska/Victoria.  Just got an email from NCL - strangely it mentions additional EU requirements but does not mention Canada at all.

Do we still need to do this ArriveCan thing if we don't plan to get off the ship in Canada?

Cardio and weight machines will be on par with most commercial gyms. 

Free weight users will be disappointed.  Don't expect anything beyond a rack of dumbbells and a Smith machine.

Took me about a week.  Showed up as two 50$ credits.

On 3/2/2022 at 11:27 AM, Bakedzd81 said:

Just sailed on the 2/20 - 7 days -  and spent a LOT of time at the casino. Everything is open; all slots, all tables. For the first half of the trip especially, the place really was a ghost town. Which was great...there were a few regulars at the craps table and plenty of room and time to shmooze the dealers. A lot of the cards dealers were stuck with empty tables for much of their shifts. It was kinda tough to watch but yes, cruising and the crowds will be back. Anyway, the crews were INCREDIBLY friendly. We're not high rollers so we were not hanging with the hosts but you can call NCL and ask. Best of luck and safe, fun sailing!

 

What did the table minimums look like?  

Is there an option that does all three that is doable within this 2:30-11:00 NCL itinerary?  The ones I've found for this disappear once you put in the cruise itinerary, which suggests it's not doable in that time frame.

If we have to leave one out, I'd say Mendenhall, as we'll be doing Glacier Bay later on anyway.  So, also looking for recommendations for just whales + gold creek salmon bake tours.  I'm seeing prices from 180 to 220 but I suspect, based on the fact that the description is word-for-word identical on all of them I've seen so far, they all end up being the same tour company in the end anyway?

I was leaning towards Marriott Waterfront - catty corner across the street from the pier.  Is that bad?

6 hours ago, shof515 said:

When i was on the getaway a few weeks ago, they was always a strong odor in the aft part of the ship

I remember this from 2016.  The fumes, and enough vibration to knock bottles of water off the table.  My first, and last, aft balcony.  I assumed all ships were like this - is it really just the Getaway?

They specifically say on there you can bid on multiple categories, but they will only let you win one bid (whichever one makes them the most money, presumably.) 

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

These numbers are terrifying from a financial standpoint. If you love NCL you want to see these numbers doubled in the VERY  near future.

I suppose so, yes - hopefully right after my May sailing.  😁

I don't expect it will stay like this for long, but it would be nice to do one sailing on a relative ghost ship.  

Has NCL given any sort of timeline on ramping capacity back up to 100%?

I think the main reason to get there before 9 AM is if you want to get Vibe passes.  You still won't board for a couple hours but at least you'll be in Boarding Group 1, meaning you'll be among the first on the ship.