GreenValleyDogWalker

Finally decided on the perfect itinerary - happens to be on the Celebrity Millennium -

haven't sailed Celebrity in years -

We have decided that a Sky Suite is what we want -

have spent hours looking at reviews and u-tubes of those on Deck 6

(something about life boats near balcony ?)

Deck 8 and Deck 9 just have a few (Deck 9 - question about noise from pool above ?)

Looks like some people like the angled suites 6131 and 6132 - what about wind ?

Others like 6145 and 6146 - more plush bathrooms - but a small door to the balcony and darker inside the room

Please help - Which Sky Suite do you consider to be the "Best" ? (We love to spend time on balconies)

THANK YOU !!!

We have just booked our very first River Cruise (after 40 or so "ocean" cruises) - We finally decided on Viking -

We prefer to dine at a table for 2 (not snobs - just don't enjoy dining with people we don't know of have just met)

Anyway - can someone advise how you are seated for dinner on a Viking Riverboat ? - Do you just tell them you prefer a table for 2 ? - Or is that not possible ?

Thanks

We've had wonderful service from the pre-cruise concierge - I usually call - 40 or so days in advance of sail date - and they have made all of our Specialty Restaurant reservations for us (we have never dined in any of the Main dining rooms - love the NCL ships because of specialty dining choices)

We have sailed on NCL for years - I think a total of 10 or 12 cruise by now - we don't book directly with the Cruise line - but through and "on-line discount" broker TA

We just receive an email from NCL - asking if we want to bid on an upgrade (we are currently booked in an Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite - Category SF) and were asked if we wanted to bid on the Owners Suite with 2 balconies or the Family Suite (NCL Star)...

Because we have used this travel agent for so many years - we have the UBP included, and well as Specialty Dining, Inter-Net, etc. perks already included.

My question is: IF we do, in fact receive the upgrade that we bid on - our Reservation # remains the same - right ? - So - all of our Perks would stay the same ?????? (we don't want to loose any of them !)

THANK YOU !

We are sailing on the NCL Star on March 2 - just got the bid offer - we are currently in a Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite - were asked if we wanted to bid on: Owners Suite with 2 balconies ($1,500 max) or the Family Suite ($2,000 max)

We put in a bid for the Owners Suite - will try to remember to post here if we do, in fact, get the upgrade

THANK YOU

There is a brand new TJ Maxx being built at the shopping center down the street !

Will check them out

I want to be able to wear "flats" or sandals - to dinner - on all nights of cruise (including "formal" night) :D

Also prefer to have long sleeves (jacket with pants) or long sleeved blouse or dress

I would love to find a web-site that offers pretty, dressy pant-suits - or - long dresses with long sleeves

I am 72 years old - wear size 8 or 10

THANKS for any suggestions !!

Good point if the Club Dining is viewed as just Anything Dining without a wait. I view it has a separate restaurant option (not yet with the walls) that is part of the included benefits of the suites and certain mini suites. It is open to anyone that wants to pay the price just like the Specialty Restaurants and Sanctuary. Of course it is tied into the premium cabin choice.

 

Part of the trend in cruising today where you pay more and get more.

 

I do agree that Princess should fix the situation where so many seats in TD are not occupied, but yet some people have to wait to be seated in Anytime dining. All passengers should be able to dine without having to wait a long time. I suspect most people actually do not have to wait, but it is the long lines that lead to cruisers complaining. (As they should complain)

 

I am not 100% sure, but I thought this sailing in suites have always had priority in Anytime dining. Is that not true?

Yes - suite passengers have a separate line at the entrance to the Anytime Dining Restaurant

We are in a suite on the Golden Princess next Spring. I know that the Golden doesn't have the Thermal Spa :(

"just" the Lotus Spa -

So - do we have "unlimited" access to the steam rooms, sauna or whatever there is available (?) as Suite Passengers in the Lotus Spa ?

Thanks !!

Hi - We are looking a some of the great itineraries offered by Oceania - thinking of trying them - but - have become very spoiled with some of the "suite perks" offered on Princess and NCL (which we've been sailing on lately) - especially the breakfast services offered to suite only guests - in a private, separate dining area -

Can anyone comment on the type of suite perks offered on Oceania ?

Thank You !!

Does it matter which ship ? (Golden)

Not about a 3rd Person - Just a husband that weighs 280 pounds and snores very loudly - and me -

We have separate bedrooms at home.......(we are both in our early 70's) - so that's not as awful as it sounds -

married for 48 years now....

Just wondering if anyone has routinely used the couch in a Vista Suite - this would be for a 28 day trip - so need to know the "comfort level" ! Does the room steward make it up for you if you leave a note ?

Thanks

Wondering if anyone has booked the Pre-Cruise hotel package in NEW YORK offered by NCL.

(Sorry - screwed up with the title of the new thread - should say NEW YORK Hotel - not Miami !)

Currently, the hotel offered is the Holiday Inn-Financial District - which looks nice, and has the St. George Tavern attached to it.

The "package" includes transfers from the Hotel to the Ship (which, I realize is not very far, but the convenience

is tempting)

Comments ?

THANKS

If you want a better chance of getting an answer from someone who has taken the NCL transfers, I suggest you post your question on the NCL board. The last thing that most of the regular posters here would have actually done is take the NCL transfer.

 

The airport transfer buses depart from parking stalls adjacent to the street level exit from the cruise pier and are easy to find. Plus there should be NCL representatives there to direct you.

THANKS !! - Will do

Are you going to LGA or JFK? The first sentence I've highlighted says LGA, the second JFK.

 

My recollection is that transportation to both LGA and JFK is available, but I've never used their transfers so I can't guarantee it. Why not call NCL to find out? You can book transfers through NCL reservations. If you booked through a travel agent ask your TA to call.

We have not booked our air transportation yet - that's why I mention both LGA and JFK - we can fly home out of either - wanted to see about timing of transportation from the port to the airport.

I have already called NCL - and yes - I know that they provide transportation - my question was to anyone who might have actually taken the bus transfer offered by the cruise line - and was it easy to find in that mess of traffic at the Manhattan Cruise port -

I should have mentioned also that my husband is somewhat mobility challenged (plus really short of patience if he has to walk all around searching for our driver (which happened to up the last time !)

Thanks !

We have experienced the difficulty in finding our transportation vehicle when disembarking in Manhattan

(had to walk several blocks - contact driver by phone - (Carmel Car Service) still never found him) -

For our next cruise that ends in NY - we are now wondering if the best way to be sure we can find our transport from the cruise port to LGA is to just sign up for the "NCL BUS"

(assuming that the bus will be allowed in to pick up passengers right where we exit the building)

Has anyone used this transfer service ? - Will the "NCL BUS" take us to JFK (on the NCL web-site it only shows to LGA)

Comments, suggestions welcome THANKS !

Looking forward to our cruise on NCL Sky in September - overnight in Havana - really want to tour the city in

one of those "classic cars"

Wondering if we should book the ship's shore excursion - where you drive a classic car - or book independently via OLDCAR Tours (great reviews on TripAdvisor)

Pros in booking via cruise ship - no problem with exchange of money - even though total cost is more and you can't select which car

Pros in booking on our own - choice of cars and time of tour - but you must pay in Cuban money

Any comments/suggestions ?

THANKS !

Most bars are open except venue bars like Vista Lounge. Explorer's Lounge may not open until 5pm. If you want to meet up for a sail away, the action and live music will be around the Neptune's Reef Pool and the Tradewinds Bar one deck above it. If you want a more quiet sail away then select the Outrigger Bar all the way aft on deck 14, there will not be a lot of crowds there, but there aren't many seats either.

 

If you want a pre-dinner drink, then select Crooner's on Deck 7, there will probably be some music on deck 5 that you can hear in Crooner's. Another option is Vines Wine Bar on Deck 5. There is no bar named Windjammer on the Star Princess.

Thanks - I meant to say the Wheelhouse Bar !!

Thanks for the suggestions - no sail away party - sounds like the Outrigger could be pretty crowded - if that is where all the sail away parties usually are - any other suggestions ?

Looking for suggestions for a place to meet up with friends on day on embarkation - which bars are open before dinner on embarkation day ? - Is the Windjammer Bar open early ? - Is the Crooners Bar open early ?

(trying to avoid the crowd in the atrium, but want to have a drink before dinner)

Thanks

This must be the 6th or 7th NCL ship we've been on....wow we love the Sun!

Very polite,friendly crew...never crowded anywhere..great (different) layout

We always stay in aft suites...usually ones labeled "penthouse suites"

Here, on the Sun we have another aft suite (same category as usual..can't remember the letters)...anyway it is cabin 9076...I think called a "family suite" absolutely awesome...

No smells to report anywhere aft...

Cold and rainy everywhere so far

Any questions I can answer?

tnr, check out this link:

https://www.re.is/flybus/flybusplus

 

No bus goes directly to your hotel. Everyone takes a large bus to the bus terminal then you are divided into groups in vans, usually 2-3 hotels per van.

 

I'llcruiseanywhere, consider avoiding the Golden Circle. I'll admit I haven't been to that part of Iceland yet (despite 2 separate trips), exactly due to everything I've read about crowds. The south coast is significantly less crowded. You would have time if you were quick about it. There are very few animals in Iceland, but most tour providers have a connection that lets them stop at a horse pasture for time with the famous Icelandic horses. You could also dive/snorkel at Silfra, or hike to the Secret Lagoon.

Thank you - I have begun to talk to guides about heading down the south coast - it looks we will be able to see enough country-side and waterfalls if we go that way - (and - avoid the crowds !)

Thank you !!!

I've done a few searches - looks like it is fairly easy to take the train from the Waterloo Station in London to Southampton (??)

Am I correct - once you get off the train in Southampton - you need to take a taxi to the cruise ship (NCL) ?

What about luggage ? - How is it handled when you board the train in London ?

(do you "check it")

Thanks for any helpful hints or clarification on the train trip !

(we plan on arriving into London a day or 2 prior to boarding the cruise ship - sounds like it would be best to find a hotel within waking distance to the Waterloo Station (avoiding transfers) ??