happy cruzer

Do you book it in the app? Is it in the calendar? Thanks

Anyone else? in particular lunch options on port days?

For the med a smaller ship may give significantly more time in port and different ports. They can go to smaller ports and disembark process is usually much quicker. Seaborne would be my choice based on your list.

Well, the suggestion that RCCL may go to only the buffet included could be right. However, the other lines seem to be adding included casual dining spots as well as keeping their Mdr menus. Each line will do what they think their target market will support.

The dining will not be apples to apples. i think the older rccl has only two specialty restaurants so unlimited dining has little choice. Also in general ncl will have more choices in the buffet and on the mdr menus. as well ncl has an included pub diner. Ncl may be significantly better dining wise.

Thanks for the report. Was the charge $5 even or did they add gratuity?

Still don ‘t see a report of an actual charge? Anyone have first hand experience of being charged?

Perhaps you expected too much from a main stream line? All the main stream lines except celebrity allow smoking in the casino. Also they all tend to have inferior beef in complimentary restaurants. Smaller ships have fewer choices for entertainment; some would prefer the options you had. ncl tends to be favoured by cruisers who like the casual/freestyle environment including the many specialty restaurants.

Here's our report from the Breakaway Dec 24. We had 4 SDP credits - Used the 1st one in Cagney's by stating we wanted to use 1 and have the second dinner do a la cart. Shared all courses of the SDP order and a la cart appetizer. Waiter brought check and pointed out he had only charged the SDP. Perfect for us, still left some of the ribeye. Went to Cucino; was seated. Then told the rules. Asked to share one credit. They checked; it was ok. Shared one app, one pasta, and steak (was way too salty), one dessert. Plenty of food. Got receipt showing one credit charged. Le Bistro at front desk told we only had one credit that two had been used in Cucino. Told him that was not correct. He checked the details and corrected. We used 2 credits in Le Bistro. Left some food but not enough to worry about. Best dining experience for us - had the duck and the lamb. So we made the credits work, don't really like the fine print. It is what it is.

Yes, we know what the policies are. Any actual experience were it was charged/enforced? Thanks.

Anyone actually see a charge for the third entree? Is it $5, $5 plus grat, $5 plus tax??? Is this just a policy that does not get enforced? Thanks.

True, I had forgotten that point. However, at some point, all cruise reservations have cancellation costs (like the non refundable deposits). So booking when you are not sure about what you will receive can have a cost for anyone, any where. If you are more flexible about cabin, dates, itineraries, ships, etc. then you can book later with less exposure. Might help mitigate the risk of unwelcome changes. The cancellation terms and conditions have always made a cruise riskier than many travel options. Insurance helps but at a cost.

One solution: Be flexible and do not book with non refundable deposits.

We tried Valiant Lady in Nov. and really enjoyed the cruise but then we typically enjoy all the different cruise lines. The biggest difference to Celebrity is the ship and entertainment. The spaces on Virgin are smaller and starker. The entertainment is louder and more modern. That's a generalization; this thread has more detail:

Yes, and for many years when they added the buffet it did not have many choices and had very limited hours.

In the good old days, there was smoking allowed in the cabins and balconies. The formal dress code was enforced as well as the informal dress code. The cabins were smaller. The pools and decks were simpler. There was the buffet and the dining room with assigned seating and they had limited hours. No drink packages. The entertainment was the big shows twice per night, some strings or big band music, and the disco at night. Don't think a cruise line can exist that has not changed in some way from the very traditional model.

Thanks for the report. Well a pizza or the second choice is good to know, I would have thought pasta or pizza. Now I know, thanks.

The terms and conditions do not mention the sides. Anyone care to share their experience on ordering sides? one, two, or more allowed? Also the terms and conditions list Italian as one of the Specialty restaurants which could be La Cucina. Anyone use the SDP there? The menu is not organized into apps, soup, salads, entrees, deserts instead antipasta/suppa/insalate, pasta, pizza, secundo, and dolci. The NCL website also states which seems to disagree with the T&C about sharing: Definitely come to La Cucina with a hearty appetite. Our classic Italian dishes come in large portions, which are perfect for sharing. Yes, can ask at the restaurant before ordering, put would like to know what people have recently experienced there? Thanks.

Good points. Addition of tips to the Unlimited Dining Package caused reexamination. Still trying to figure out what makes sense.

What if you never download a photo? And the checkin is stuck at 72%? Can you just go to the port and checkin? We probably will show up at NOLA at 11:30 or 12. All information appreciated.

Here's report. We carried on 5 bottles. Took 4 to restaurants. Was charged the $25 corkage fee each night except one night when we ordered a bottle of white wine to go with appetizers then switched to the bottle we carried on for the main course. They did save our white wine for the next night and retrieved it for us from a different restaurant. The $75 came out of bar loot.

We agreed with the main points of this review. We were on Valiant Lady. Agree that seating is low in most places. Only sea views for non rockstars are limited - no forward viewing. Did love the Dock and area behind the Galley. There is a bit of a promenade deck with shuffleboard. Additionally, The APP is OK when it works. The daily sheet is OK. Neither really lists/described all that was going on in an attractive format; some of the other lines do a better job of getting you interested in a particular activity. Crew is friendly and interactive. Actual service is the same standard that we have enjoyed on other lines. Bimini is the best "private" beach day compared to other lines. Yes, we really enjoyed our cruise and look forward to another sometime but did not become total converts to Virgin Voyages "only". Great that there are so many options.

Your report helped set our expectations. We were on the week after you. Thank you. Agree that "on the rocks" was crowded. Lots of folks standing and sitting on the floor. They need more seating. The restaurants seemed to accommodate changes well, we only did one. Shows booked up but seemed to have enough to handle most of the waitlist at the door. Exercise classes all booked up early ( our APP and many other's was down until about 4pm) then had to be reloaded twice more on the first night. All classes stayed sold out the entire cruise. Did not try to walk up. Not interested in getting dressed and excited about a class to only possibly get in. Also the weight area was crowded most mornings from 8 to 11. One day every machine was in use with people waiting. That happens on other lines the first sea day but later not so much. Outdoor areas for working out and the running trail were used but not crowed. Just a small snapshot.

We were on the same cruise. Agree no verbal communication about the Galley or really about anything - just read on the APP or signs which works if your APP is working (ours was very hit or miss the first day) or if you are in front of signage :). One of us likes cereal and fruit for breakfast. That took going to the cereal/milk area then the fruit area then the salad area for walnuts. That was similar to other cruise lines buffet. One of us like other things and table service was nice just had to adjust to the process - figure out what to order by viewing the items including specials, place order, wait about 10 minutes, enjoy... All employees wanted to please and were friendly in our experience.

Hello, We received what seems to be a generic important information email for our cruise in one month on the Breakaway. It has alot of links to the NCL website. Is this normal? Doesn't seem to be anything but a CYA about covid and need to have travel docs like a passport. Is there anything else needed besides a passport? Thanks.