LovetheCubs

How far in advance are you able to book shore excursions for a cruise?

How far in advance will you know what the entertainment/shows will be on your cruise?

Just booked a cruise and declined trip insurance from the cruise line. It's not until next may but I know we need to get trip insurance asap. The policies we have looked at have a lot of fine print!! What are things you look for when going for a policy? I know it varies from person to person but what's important to you???

Looking for anyone that has done any MSC cruises with kids. We are looking at the Seaside so I know no one has traveled on it yet. However, is there enough on the cruise to keep a 6 and 10 year old entertained? MSC seems like a classier line than say Royal or Norwegian. Just didn't know if they embraced kids or if they were an afterthought? Thanks!!

A few cruises we are looking at offer onboard credit as a perk. Crazy question....if you are getting unlimited drinks, free speciality dinning, and wifi what would you use this on? That's a lot of tshirts!:loudcry:

Obviously water temperatures are a personal issue. However, if you must know the actual expected water temperatures, there are lots of sites on the internet where you can find out the actual values. Use them.

 

DON

Most people tend to be very helpful on here. Some are rude.

Obviosuly I already checked websites I was asking for personal experiences. Especially since I said "has anyone taken kids"! If you need to be a rude troll move on...don't comment!!!!

My husband and I went on our first cruise on the Escape last May. We were able to do a last min upgrade to the Haven. This totally spoiled us!! What is Royals version of the Haven? We are mainly looking for priority boarding, its own restaurant, and the concierge services. We see suites but don't understand the levels. Are there differences in services provided besides the room size and balconies?

We spend a few weeks in SWFL (I assume you mean Southwest Florida) every March - and find the unheated pool, as well as the Gulf of Mexico water ideal for swimming - much like that along the south shore of Long Island (NY) in August: high 70's to about 80- which is about what the water temp at St. Maarten is in January - and probably much like the Virgin Islands.

 

What is your ideal water temp?

Yes, I meant southwest Florida!! That was a great comparrison thanks. I find the gulf water right now cool but not cold. I am not sure what an ideal temp would be! We went to Nassau in May of last year and found the water there perfect then! (If that helps with comparrison!)

Where do you live? We have northerners in unheated pools in Orlando in March.

 

This is what I found when I Googled your question:

"Water temperatures in the Virgin Islands do not change greatly from summer to winter, however the 4 or 5 degree change is noticeable to those acclimated to consistently warm tropical weather. In the summer months the water temperature is about 83 degrees and in the winter about 79 degrees."

Don

I figured some will swim is really cold water. We live in SWFL and like warmer water. Doesn't have to be a hot tub but I don't think an unheated pool in March would be our cup of tea!

Looking at a cruise to the Caribbean in march of next year. Has anyone taken kids (10 and 6) and had a problem getting in the water in any of the Virgin Islands? I know it's a personal preference but will we need wet suits to snorkel? Will it be miserable?

Does anyone have any advice or been on the enchantment latley?? We are looking to take our kids on a short cruise (it will be their first!) my husband and I went on the Escape in the Haven last summer alone. We know it's not a huge ship and we know it's not a new ship. But we are looking at a grand suite room for the concierge service and priority boarding and tendering. When looking at "perks" it's listed as "on some ships". Does anyone know the specific suite perks for the enchantment? Is their a lounge? Any other perks we should know? Anything horrible we should know? Not looking for knit picking....again we realize this isn't the new Oasis class of ships just want some insight on what to expect and what exactly is offered!!

We have always found private coverage to cost a lot less than thru DCL. Hurricane--check the specific parameters of the coverage and what you are looking for. Do you care if you go to different ports? We've been on a couple of cruises with hurricane "alterations." When we visited different ports' date=' the cruise lines made no adjustments (nor did we expect them to). When the cruise was shortened, the cruise line gave us compensation based on the time missed; Princess also covered our hotel for the night. In each case we were also given the option of canceling the cruise and getting a full refund from the line. That was before any insurance. Some insurance policies require at least a 24 hour delay before their coverage kicks in; others less.

 

DCL insurance will only cover those things you buy thru DCL (like air). So if you do air on your own, you insurance thru DCL will not cover it AND DCL will not help you with alternate air arrangements. Most private insurances give a complimentary child's policy with each adult policy; DCL does not. Many private policies cover pre-existing conditions if the policy is purchased within 14 or 21 days of booking the cruise. DCL does not cover pre-existing conditions.

 

The one thing that DCL offers you that no one else does is that IF the insurance company rejects your claim, a portion of the cruise cost will be offered to you as partial payment toward a future cruise. There are time restrictions and it is only good for the same person.

 

My suggestion--ask your TA about insurances that they may recommend. That's how I got to the two that we use. In addition, if going privately, most companies offer a "bare bones" coverage and one or two higher. We always go one notch up--it offers a lot more coverage with very little premium increase. We use Travel Guard International or Worldwide Trip Protector. Be sure when you enter the cost of the trip to get a quote, you are correctly noting whether that is "per person" or total cost of the trip.

 

Your specific concerns--hurricane, I addressed above. Hospitalization of one of the cruisers right before the cruise--they will look to see if this is a pre-existing condition. Death in the family will depend on who died--the policy will specify "First degree relative" or something else. A first degree relative is basically a parent, child, or sibling of one of the cruisers. You won't be covered for the death of a second cousin!

 

I don't know what to say other than to try it on line again and see what you get. I've never seen DCL insurance to be less costly than private unless all cruisers are elderly. In that case, DCL coverage does not consider age of anyone over 17 while private coverage does.[/quote']

 

Thanks this is helpful! Yes we would not need to cancel for a second cousin! Just thinking parents as they are getting older!

We (33 and 38) are traveling with 2 kids 10 and under so I will have to see about the child policy. We don't use travel agents because we like the control! But will have to make sure trip cost was total not per person! Maybe that was the difference!

No I am not sure that's why I posted on here! Haha I am clueless as we always have just got insurance offered from whoever we booked with!!

I need any advice or tips!!

Booking a cruise for September. We are looking at options for trip insurance. Our main concerns would be hurricane, death in our family right before trip, or one of us is in the hospital when we should be on the cruise. We have read many people say to use insure my trip but they are much higher than the Disney insurance during a brief look at options. Would Disney insurance cover our top three concerns? Anything we should look for in a private policy?

We are trying to figure out best kids club for our girls age 5 and 10. Looking for the best cruise line for this age frame. Worried a 7 night cruise may bore them after a while. (My husband and I did a 7 night Escape cruise alone this summer and LOVED every minute of it. But it wasn't what I thought would be kid friendly. Been obviously didn't check out kids stuff but to us it didn't seem like a lot for them on board. Most of the shows were geared to older people.. like older than my husband and I.)

We were in the Haven in May and the hot tub was closed at 10 too. All 3 of them.

We used Jiffy Jeff from FLL to port....great all around and 30 bucks for 2. Clean, safe and on time....and I have very high standards. Used cab from Port to MIA (yes we used both airports on our trip) and thought we were going to die....and it was almost 30 bucks for 2 of us and a much shorter ride. Would recommend Jiffy Jeff anyday!

Looking at booking another trip on the Escape with our kids this time though. Our daughter has a milk and gluten allergy. She is only 4 so she isn't going to eat adult type food. Anyone have any experience with food allergies onboard? We are planning on booking a Haven room so most of our meals will probably be in the Haven restaurant but will branch out especially if it will make her eating better! Thanks in advance!

12 days just 12 days and our first Haven experience. Thank You so much for helping me not get work done while I dreamed of vacation :-) The menus and food porn have been great too.

 

Sorry to hear Marc the mixologist will be gone but I am sure whomever takes his place will be good.

 

Do you know how early Haven guest can depart (out the garbage elevator)? Not that we want to leave just planning since we have to grab a cab to FLL

If you carry off your luggage they say meet at 7:15 in the Haven Lounge. We got there at 7:15 and they were already taking people out! We were off the ship, through customs and to a call and at Miami airport before 8 am!

12 days just 12 days and our first Haven experience. Thank You so much for helping me not get work done while I dreamed of vacation :-) The menus and food porn have been great too.

 

Sorry to hear Marc the mixologist will be gone but I am sure whomever takes his place will be good.

 

Do you know how early Haven guest can depart (out the garbage elevator)? Not that we want to leave just planning since we have to grab a cab to FLL

If you carry off your luggage they say meet at 7:15 in the Haven Lounge. We got there at 7:15 and they were already taking people out! We were off the ship, through customs and to a call and at Miami airport before 8 am!

I would do it!! My recommendation is forward cabins on deck 17 or 18. That way you super close to all the Haven amenities!

We upgraded the day before we borded from balcony to haven. The only problem we add was we didn't get our shore excursion tickets. We went to the concierge desk and they took care of it. I assume you could go to the shore excursion desk for the same thing. But besides that no issues at all!

A private sun deck area that overlooks the pool. Has its own bar, water feature (that doesn't always work) loungers, etc. There are numerous levels you can ascend to from the main Posh area, all with loungers and cabanas.

 

This area is accessible by keycard only, and is included as part of any Haven booking on Epic. Passes to Posh can also be purchased the first day onboard, if you're fast enough. ;)

So the Haven shares this space with the Epic equivilant of the vibe from the escape? Is there guarenteed enough chairs?

Andy Stuart, COO of NCL.:cool:

Ok another stupid question but how do you all know the COO?? How cool...I want to know him thats awesome!

Newbie here....who is Andy?

My husband wore shorts, tshirts and flip flops many of nights in the Haven restaurant. In fact the only closed shoes he had with him were sneakers for the ropes course! No one ever said anything!! Be comfy....enjoy!