JaysMom2

On 4/29/2019 at 10:33 AM, JamieLogical said:

I am obsessively following your live review, because we are considering the Breakaway in September. Sorry you had such a disappointing experience at O'sheehan's. I was on the Escape a couple of weeks ago and the wings were HUGE, but maybe the two ships have a different supplier since they are sailing out of different ports?

 

The breakfast buffet in Moderno looks like an excellent alternative to the crowds in the Garden Cafe. Do the also have a mini-buffet set up in Margaritaville in the mornings like in the Escape and Bliss?

This is a really late post, but since I'm now recently retired, I'm catching up on things that I didn't have time to do before.The breakfast buffet in Moderno isn't well-publicized so, although it's a quieter place to have breakfast and you can eat on the waterfront, it also means, since there are less people, that the buffet food isn't being replenished as often. I had pancakes that could double as shot puts and the scrambled eggs were like rubber! My parents had a farm in Ohio and as children we were taught to respect any amount of food and shelter we were given. When the MaitreD (sp?) came to our table and asked how was everything,  I said, " it's good".

And here it is!

ClevelandCruisin and I are following along...thanks in advance!

2 minutes ago, Jerseygich said:

Yes you can bring food into Spice H20 and you can also bring it into Vibe

Thank you! All the photos I saw of Spice H2O showed people at tables and at the bar, but I didn't see them with any plates of food or snacks.

The reason I'm asking if I am allowed to take a plate of food from the buffet into Spice H2O is because, on embarkation day, my DIL wants to go there and use the hot tub before things get crowded, and I really wanted to do lunch instead, so I'm trying to see if there is a possibility of a compromise here.

Can I bring food into Spice H2O (a plate from the buffet), or is it only drinks?

When I was on the on the Dawn this past January, the $50 per port shore excursion credits ended up being enough to cover all of my daily gratuities. The customer service desk called me the morning of disembarkation and told me to come down and collect the $42 they still owed me! From what I'm reading here, I'm guessing that shore excursion credits are "refundable onboard credits", and will cover the gratuities if you go on enough excursions and have that as one of your promos.

10 hours ago, pattymchugh1212 said:

Thank you!   Happy to see the crepe station lol.  One of my favorite things. Lol.   We have only been 2x on the gem.   I’m looking forward to margaritaville and five o’clock somewhere bar.  Did you go there at all?  Thanks again!  Let’s see, only 11weeks to go.  🍺🍻🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹

We went to Margaritaville for lunch on embarkation day. WAY too much food! Pictures of the conch fritters, pretzel sticks, and key lime pie are on page 1. I can't remember specifics about the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar, except that may have been the one that also has bar seating on the waterfront.

8 hours ago, TheAntebella said:

 Supposedly the wait staff and loungers are all non-existent. Instead of having normal lounge chairs they are the plastic weird white ones? It’s been five years since we last went. When did you go? We always tip so I’m wondering if the lack Of service is from people who stiff? Did you do catamaran or jet boat?

We were there last in March 2018. There were loungers then, and tables. We took the catamaran, that's what NCL offered with the excursion. It was an enjoyable ride.

On 8/12/2019 at 3:34 PM, TheAntebella said:

Favorite all inclusive beach day. I’ve heard Isla Pasion has changed (for the negative.) Thoughts? Thank you! 

I did the Passion Island all-inclusive beach day excursion twice and loved it both times. The beach was clean of seaweed, the unlimited drinks were free, and the buffet lunch was very good. A waiter ran back and forth getting us drinks, too (we tipped each time). I liked it so much that I signed up to do it again when we go to Cozumel in December. What have you heard about it that has changed?

20 hours ago, robnmo said:

Exactly. My wife and I are cruising with our children, 16 and 13 and my 75 yr old mother-in-law.

One cabin for us and the other cabin for our children and their grandmother.

They booked our return trip at different airports. I may have had this issue taken care of. We just need to check the edocs.

Not a great experience.

I know, I'm biting my nails over this issue. It's totally ruining the anticipation I have for the cruise.

39 minutes ago, robnmo said:

I just went through an ordeal with NCL on the "free airfair" also. I will think very hard about using it again. The reps from the "premium" air group are nice, but can't do anything. The supervisors are rude.

 

I had the same experience. The "free air" is good for 2 people reserving one room. Add one more room for a family member, and you're out of luck.

Now we're thinking of going 1 day ahead of the cruise. Even if they put us together and gave us either one of the present flights, we wouldn't get to Tampa until 12:30 pm on one, and 3 pm on the other. Sonya in the air dept told me that if we request a "deviation" to arrive 1-2 days early, it's $25 per person and we'll be on the same flight, but I have to do it through reservations. I'm thinking I might go that route. We were first in line on one cruise, and boy, was that nice, exploring the near-empty ship!

46 minutes ago, Peachypooh said:

Call back and ask for a supervisor. If she won't help you is it possible for you to just forget about the free air

and book flights with your son and DIL yourself? I know it is an expensive alternative and I wouldn't be too happy doing it

but if forced to I would.

Unfortunately, supervisors are no help in this matter. Of course we can all book our own air. But, since NCL is offering free/reduced air in order to lure customers, it should work for everyone who chooses a cruise offering it. We're not a huge group asking to fly together. We're 3 people in 2 connecting rooms.

53 minutes ago, DeBlonde1 said:

 

The website says all guests on the same reservation, from the same airport, will be on the same flight.   Is it considered a different reservation since they are different cabins?  

I was told that a reservation is one cabin, and doesn't include connecting rooms. "On the same reservation" means you're all in the same room. I'm in a connecting cabin with my son and DIL, and we have the "travel with air" clause entered into our combined reservation. My son & DIL are on a flight together and I have a different one. I asked if I could swap flights with one of them since I can't travel alone, and was told by Pam in reservations, "No you can't, you would have to switch rooms with one of them and that would be a cancellation and then a new reservation." I asked what if teens have a connecting room with their parents, are you going to give them a separate flight? She said, "Of course we wouldn't separate teens from their parents." My question then: why is NCL discriminating against disabled, elderly, and any other guests who are also in a connecting room? Any connecting room should apply to all.

I have a linked reservation with my son and DIL, and we have connecting rooms. When we booked the reservation with reduced air, NCL gave us separate flights. I need to travel with my son & DIL due to hearing problems and mobility issues. NCL would not change it. I asked what about teens who are connected to their parent's room, are they given a separate flight? Pam in reservations told me, "No, not for teens."  So, it is at their discretion who gets put together and who doesn't, which is discrimination. The air program is a lure, and it's not worth the gamble of finding out so close to your cruise that you can't travel together, and that it's too late for a refund. They really need to work on this "promo". A travel agent just did an NCL Webinar that said you can add "travel with" to your air request, and Pam in NCL reservations told me there is no such thing, although it's clearly stated on the Webinar (see below).  And please don't tell me I can book my own air.... I'm doing this now.

See next post, this posted twice.

It's only gotten worse, and I think it is just a lure to draw people in. Now everyone at NCL is saying that no reservations can be changed or guaranteed. They're not even trying to work with their customers. I booked a connecting cabin with my son and DIL and also have a combined reservation. I informed them that I have mobility and hearing issues and can't travel alone and still, we were put on different flights. The flights are computer-generated and appeared on my summary page within a minute. A travel agent told me that she viewed an NCL Webinar 3 days ago and it said there is a "Travel With" option that can be put on your booking. I called Pam in the reservation department and was told, "no, we don't have that"! And if you happen to be together on, say, the return flight only, you cannot opt for keeping that one flight. She said, "it's all or none; you have to take both flights or none of them." On the NCL vacation summary it says "For customized air arrangements, call 1-866-625-1163. When I called them,  I was told nothing can be changed.

When I called, I was told that the air is a computer-generated booking, and not done by an actual person. OK, fine...but why it can't then be changed by an "actual person" is my issue. If NCL wants to offer free and reduced air to entice customers, then they need to expand their air department to make it work.

Good luck with NCL managing your flight. They gave me a different flight from my son and DIL, even though our reservation is linked, and we have connecting rooms. I wear hearing aids and have mobility problems, and need their help. No way can I do the airport by myself! According to NCL's "terms and conditions", teens can occupy a cabin by themselves, as long as it's a connecting cabin to their parents. Does that mean that children are separated from their parents on flights? I called NCL's air dept and it has yet to be resolved. I'll probably end up cancelling the cruise.

11 hours ago, smilz said:

Was the port talk in the theater televised?

I don't know. We only turned on the TV to check our onboard accounts.

On 6/19/2019 at 2:22 PM, BiancaV said:

How was the famous houses tour? Was thinking about booking it.

It was very informative and a nice relaxing boat ride. Learning who lived in the mansions was intriguing. Get a seat on the left side of the boat. That's the side all the houses were on.

4 minutes ago, First_Time_Cruiser85 said:

Lol at all the people complaining about how there won’t be enough space for everyone to sunbathe.

I’m sorry but if your sole purpose to cruise is to sunbathe and complain about lack of Space to do so on this ship then I suggest cancelling your cruise and go book a 2 week beach vacation where you can sunbathe 10 hours a day with no distractions!

All cruise ship pools and sun loungers are always crazy busy, just like hotels, it’s a first come first serve basis when reserving your lounger.

There are over 4000 people on Encore, did you seriously expect sea days to be quiet around the pool area?

 

 

 

 

I agree. I can lounge on my patio or at the HOA pool and sunbathe for free. I cruise for the entertainment, awesome food, camaraderie, and seeing new locations. The chair hogs can keep their loungers...I'll be somewhere else!

42 minutes ago, Jenner9 said:

Does the casino stay open while in Bermuda overnight?

It is open from 9 pm - 5 am during the overnight stays.

On 1/22/2019 at 10:59 PM, ferg42995 said:

Thank you for the updates! We are going soon on this ship -- first time on NCL. When you return, will you PLEASE consider posting a copy or photo of the dailies from your trip? I am desperately trying to find them and haven't been able to. 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise!! We will keep following along enjoying it along with you!

Gatorj is posting them on Spring BreakawayLive! 3/10/19.   https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2642626-spring-breakaway-live-31019/