Jump to content

gotscrapz

Members
  • Posts

    588
  • Joined

Posts posted by gotscrapz

  1. I have done a 10-day cruise on the Escape combined with land stay and we went all over Italy, Malta, and 3 Greek islands. It was awesome and exhausting! 9 ports! We are going back to Italy for 2 weeks in October and then hopping on the Prima for TA back stopping in Livorno, 5 -6 places in Italy, France, Portugal, and the Azores. We found we just have to go back, so much to see!

     

    Originally we were going to the Epic back as a TA from Rome because it was cheap and relaxing but my mom hated the bathroom and our cruise was cancelled so we rebooked on the Prima. I will say that the Epic cruise was going to be 1/3 of the Prima and had 2 ports...so now our relaxing TA just got pricer and more exciting! 

     

    I think you'll love whatever you choose!

    • Like 1
  2. You were the my last cruise in Italy 1 1/2 years ago and we are also sailing the Prima TA to NYC in October. I'm no actual help but I thought that was interesting. We are staying 2 nights in NYC when we arrive and this is one of the reasons - arrival / weather / flights and bcus we on the west coast and want to enjoy NYC a bit. Hope it works out for you.

  3. 4 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

    I decide to try their pizza.

     

     

    IMG_3710.jpeg

    IMG_3711.jpeg

    I love NCL but Carnival has way better pizza hands down! However I have the room service to be really pretty good, I get the veggie but my family has gotten other pizzas and they liked them. The pizza in the Italian used to be amazing wood fired pizza but now it is more like what you are showing. Let's be clear, I am still going to eat the pizza lol!

    • Like 4
    • Haha 3
  4. On 8/29/2023 at 7:10 PM, xkritter said:

    If you google Prof Cruise NCL menus they have the MDR menus and they look pretty recent. If they are prime rib is Day 7.

    Prime usually day way and then again the last day. It is normally offered even in Osheehan's and the MDR and other restaurants. My dd likes to go to Osheehan's for it because its usually so much faster - unless we're in the Haven!

  5. On 8/29/2023 at 4:46 PM, sid_9169 said:

    There's no lobster in the mdr at all on NCL... You've got three specialty dining credits that will go to waste if you don't use them... I suggest Cagney's just so you can compare it to the Carnival steakhouse. The teppanyaki restaurant is good, and comparable to the Bonsai teppanyaki on CCL. I would also throw out Le Bistro for a nice dinner too... 

     

    Also, remember you can get all the free bottled water you want, and can load up for the cabin and excursions. Since you can get more than one drink at a time, order a drink and a bottle of water at the same time and take the water back to the cabin... Starbucks is also all you can drink as well, and don't forget there's no 15 drink limit, so go for 30 if you're so inclined...

    You can order 2 alcoholic drinks plus a water / soda / Gatorade or coffee or whatever

  6. Happy to jump aboard! I am not sure how I missed this since I am stalking CC for Mardi Gras and port info for the Bahamas, DR, and Grand Turk!

     

    I have gone back through your Mardi Gras review just this week - we sail 9/10. 

     

    We switched to NCL a few years ago and have been so happy! But I had booked the Mardi Gras with friends who only sail Carnival - so here we go!

     

    But like many, I compare all these when picking a cruise line for a cruise. For us, NCL has us- especially when upgrading to the Haven.

     

    I am following along as I want to sail NCL to Alaska in 2025. 2024 going back to Europe - NCL cruise plus land. Jewel is an old ship so I hope you try a newer ship as well to see some of the nice upgrades.

     

    I know you'll have a great time on any ship - as will I!

    • Like 6
  7. 2 hours ago, RLM77 said:

    We definitely prefer the Excel-class ships but prefer them for an unusual reason that won’t impact you.  My wife has a disability and requires an ADA cabin.  We also strongly prefer balconies.  Carnival’s older ships (pre-Vista) have very few ADA balconies; there are more of them on the Vista and Excel classes.

     

    For that reason we are late coming to Carnival and only attained Platinum status last year.  But we really enjoy both the attitude of the crew and the entertainment options.  Mardi Gras in particular has great music on board.  They also mix a great drink😁.  The MDR food is only okay and the long lines can sometimes get annoying, but overall the Excel ships are our current favorite.  Decent value too, compared to RCL and NCL.

     

    Hope that helps some.

    Rich

    I am so glad to hear that there are more accessible cabins!  We recently made my workplace more accessible as well. We had an employee who was able to really help us see what we needed. Legal ADA accommodations are present of course but  I think there are so many things you don't realize would be helpful unless you are in those shoes.  I am fortunate that I don't need one for our family, but someday we might! Good news for you and your wife!

  8. I want to add, I think if you add up the car rental and park costs and compare with Iguana Mama, I haven't looked that far into, might be better to go with some sort of company because it might be cheaper and less hassle. But that is just me - and I would never try to drive in the DR after being there a few times lol.

     

    At the time the price made sense for us to with Iguana Mama. I know we did get a discount as well because someone in our cruise group set us up as a group. They provided transportation, falls entry, and lunch. I didn't eat the lunch - I am very picky but my daughter and most of the group did and liked it. I am in no way affiliated with them, just a happy customer. Also, at the time, on that cruise - the cruise line did not offer it - looks like they do now. Our small group - under 20 was nice. And a guide was always last following the slowest person to make sure no one was left behind. They provided bottled water (you need bottled water in the DR!!!) at various points during the hike up to the falls and made everyone drink it to prevent dehydration. 

     

    I hope you find what works for you and enjoy the falls!

     

     

  9. We chose Iguana Mama and they were awesome. Check reviews for them on this board or anywhere. It was a while ago was awhile ago for us.

     

    Just a note- they have photographers at the falls and will sell you a thumb drive of photos after, it was $35 cash when we went. It has been almost 2 years though so pricing may be different. Just a heads up because I don't remember if they took cards.

     

    https://www.iguanamama.com/

  10. I am so loving your review! Looks like it was great family time!

     

    So I always go to the craft time on Carnival - and to be honest, I have made some pretty cool things. Not cheesy, but cool stuff. My daughter wasn't normally up in time but they let me take a kit to her on the days she missed. We made pretty beaded lanyard holders, tied nautical rope bracelets, picture frames.. cool kits with quality supplies that were "Michael's" branded. My daughter laughed at me at first but in downtime she'd get to work on her crafts too lol.

     

    I love that your daughters let you take their pics for their insta and snaps... my dd prefers to take her selfie and then I have to beg her into sharing them with me lol. She's a little older now so it's better...but still! She has 3 older brothers and all I can say is, it's just different with a daughter lol.

  11. 2 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

     

    Yep, but when they "give me" two nights of specialty dining each sailing (based on our loyalty status - and one of those dinners includes wine), I can forgive them for that. Plus, we always have a beverage package as part of our booking, so I'll just mosey over to the Haven bar and get a couple of glasses to bring back to our cabin.

     

    One way or another, all cruise lines will pick your pocket... 😉

     

    Tom

    I totally agree.

  12. 2 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

    I know you didn’t ask me and I’ve never sailed NCL, but when I heard they charged a corkage fee for your bottle of wine AT EMBARKATION, I decided I will never sail them.  Now this is not like if you bring the bottle to a restaurant and they open it and pour it and provide the stemware.  This has to be paid in advance, even if you intend to open it yourself and consume it in your cabin! 
     

    In my opinion, that is just outrageous!  What are they going to charge for next?  Bringing your own TOOTHPASTE aboard?!?!  It’s a matter of principle more than the money.  I can’t support such crooks!

    If you have the drink package they do not. They give you the drink package free and if you accept it you pay gratuity on it when you accept it.  I have never seen them charge anyone on embarkation but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. To me this is a great deal, even if they charged me corkage for something I brought on board (they haven't). YMMV. That's why it's great that we have so many cruise lines to choose from.

×
×
  • Create New...