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RPCVcruiser

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Posts posted by RPCVcruiser

    Bermuda for a 1st Cruise?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Bermuda is great first cruise destination, especially if it’s on a mega ship like the Escape.

     

    We started cruising out of Boston to Bermuda back on the Majesty. Floating hotel and restaurant for a multi-day visit to Bermuda. If you want to be “surprised” feel free to book a visit to Bermuda without the cruise ship. It will make the cruise cost next to nothing.

     

    As for why the mega ship will be a good choice is that mega ships on port days feel empty. You can do whatever without a wait. Last port day on Escape over the summer had my daughter and I using the slides with no lines until her heart was content. Bermuda will give you 3 or so days of this.

     

    Third part is at sea days. They are the best and get better with back to back sea days, which this cruise should provide.

     

     

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    Why do you cruise?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Normal days are leading my team, coming home, splitting home stuff with dw, rinse, repeat.

     

    Cruise vacations have everything right there and the where changes every day or so. Our family can go at each of our own speeds, be able to spend time together and alone. Some days it’s nice to sit and watch the world go by with a drink in your hand. Other days it’s fun to enjoy the mayhem of a port day. Food, is there really any other comparison for ease, access and choice? Nothing short of a private chef, which sounds nice btw (never know when dw will read this and say “great idea,,,, let’s do it”).

     

    Fun of cruising starts early with the planning. That’s usually me, but everyone can be involved with excursion, dining, room choice and activity selection. With the advent of YouTube, we can involve the teen daughter on exploring choices and bond over the epic cruise fails. Yelling “run Forrest run” has new meaning when the ships horns blow and the pier moves away.

     

    And then there is the cruise butler. This makes leading teams of the millennial generation worth it. I have never had such a relaxing vacation than the last cruise with a butler. I haven’t found another vacation yet that can come with one of those as a choice.

     

     

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    Haven on a Escape

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Food republic will be 50% off first night for Haven guests. Don’t waste SDP there if you go then. Also, Margaritaville is free for lunch Haven guests on first day. There is a private outdoor deck off the Haven restaurant. It will be mostly empty except for the few groups that find it or know about it. Fantastic spot for breakfast, little louder at lunch as it overlooks the main pool.

     

    At the Haven pool they will deliver food to your chair, just need to ask for the menu. It’s not limited to just on the menu since you are in the Haven.

     

    Check out other threads on what does my butler do” and pay attention to the comments that if you help them understand your wants, they can be amazing in meeting them.

     

    Enjoy the Haven

     

     

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    Room stewards and beach towels

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Here is a strategy to not lose beach towels. Don’t leave them on the floor. For the past decade hoteliers have a simple “green” system. Rehang towels you are keeping, put the others on the floor. Pile them up anywhere but the floor and take them up to the pool towel hut and exchange them. If you have an early excursion, do it the afternoon/ night before and you won’t even need to put them on the floor. Always have a clean and dry towel.

     

     

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    I'm curious - when do you get to the port and why?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    We have evolved on arrival timing and planning as we grow wiser through the years. First cruises were out of nearby city and didn’t have a clue or a care, but it was the grand dame of NCL,,, the Majesty. That ship could be boarded in about 10 minutes from curb to bar seat.

     

    Second to last cruise we had Acela seats from Baltimore to NYC. Of course a storm called a derecho leveled power to the eastern coast. So that became a frantic ride into the big Apple where we somehow found ourselves in every borough. Obviously before Waze.

     

    Last cruise flew in day before and took Uber to port. Was in the front of the wave [emoji305] boarding when the gates open. Had Haven, so lines super short and was the first in for lunch in Margaritaville.

     

    Next time is big Apple next July, will be driving in from Philly and getting to port early.

     

    So early is our preference.

     

     

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    Breakfast ideas for very early excursions?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Room service would be my bet. DW and DD have no idea that there is early breakfast as they sleep way later then I do. If you have an early riser and want something beyond continental, send the riser for the buffet and have room service bring the pot of coffee and things that are the continental. Last cruise (Haven) I had Oliver the butler extraordinaire deliver coffee at 6 am and continental plus coffee and hot chocolate two hours late for the rest of the room. Key to getting this done is get room service setup the night before even if you are outside the Haven.

     

     

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    Table charge

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Table charge? Not sure what MSC does but NCL has a few free dining rooms, buffet, and a couple free restaurants (Noodles and O’Sheehans). There would be no charges at those restaurants and eateries outside of any drinks you may add. With the Specialty Dining Perk you would pay services charges when you sign up for the perk. Tipping for meals is done through a service charge that covers bar staff, hotel staff and wait staff.

     

    There are some items in free dining spaces that may be an upcharge like the good ole days of lobster and such. Did that help? If it didn’t please expand on your question so we can help

     

     

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    Compulsive cruise prep

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    After you run out of excursions, dinners and shows to plan,,,, go onto “Drinks I Need to Try”, cost of Uber transfers, list for the Butler (I.e likes, dislikes, allergies, when to deliver the first pot of coffee, and pillow choices for a few), what meals we want in the room, list of documents and medications to pack, and of course, packing list that dear wife will violate the maximum shoes allowable to pack per the list causing the difficult decision of what stuff I really don’t “need” (her list not mine) like my socks, my shirts and my shoes. Not OCD, just prepared like a Boy Scout.

     

     

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    Compulsive cruise prep

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I use Tripit too, but sometimes its linear layout is not useful. I like to see an overview of the whole cruise too.

    This is my simple spreadsheet.[ATTACH]426527[/ATTACH]

     

     

     

    Love the spreadsheet, it looks kinda like mine but days go across the top!

     

     

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    Haven Butler

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    How did you lose gold status? Also did it take days to get the laundry back?

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

     

     

     

    Got the laundry back next day. “Lost” gold by becoming platinum. Was right when they changed the latitudes program so we were grandfathered in the old points structure at 21 points for that cruise (Haven, seven day cruise and booked 9 months prior), good thing too as we would have been short by two points to new program platinum.

     

     

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    Haven Butler

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Mrs RPCVCRUISER did quite frequently. The butler kept us full of her preferred coffee pods and skim milk as she is lactose intolerant. Let the butler know early what your wants are and they are usually taken care of. That cruise was our first at latitudes gold (and last somehow) so we had a laundry discount, the laundry bags in the Haven on the escape are cloth bags that hold a ton of clothes (roll don’t ball you fit more). The butler returned the laundry pressed and in a wicker basket which was rather nice touch.

     

     

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