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GlamorousGirl

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    What’s up with horrible Epic reviews

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    8 hours ago, itf said:

    The reviews for the Breakaway are giving me similar concerns, but we've been on the Jade and the Getaway and enjoyed them - how bad can it be?

    I’m sailing on Breakaway for the second time tomorrow. If it were “bad” I wouldn’t sail on it again. Not my absolute favorite but it’s a great ship!

    What’s up with horrible Epic reviews

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    13 hours ago, DinaS said:

    We've not been on the Epic, and likely will never be on the Epic - simply for the cabin bathroom design.

     

    I wonder if many of the reviewers didn't know of the cabin design before their cruise?

     

    Even if they did know, perhaps they weren't thrilled with it, and it clouded the rest of their experience?

     

    We love the Gem.  I cannot tell you how many bad reviews I have seen, and wonder if these people were actually on the same ship.   

     

    Just go with an open mind, and plan to have a great time - and you will!!!!!

     

     

     

    I’m in agreement with you. The bathroom design is something I couldn’t tolerate unless I was sailing alone and needed no privacy (rare!) There’s only a few NCL ships I haven’t been on and that’s one of them, and my hope is that it ends up being the one ship I never go on. Don’t understand why they didn’t sell it. Epic is an Epic FAIL!

    • Like 1

    Cruise Stocks and ownership benefits

    in Saving Money on Your Cruise - Tips & Advice

    Posted

    I purchased 100 shares of NCL. I was disappointed with the "perks," and have since sold them. The shipboard credit is not given in addition to any other credit you are already entitled to, based on tier level with NCL or otherwise. There is no dividend paid. And I was not acknowledged in any other way when I cruised as a shareholder. I heard stories of people being invited to the Captain's Table and such, but never happened to me.

     

    At some point when I can better afford it I will probably buy the stocks again even though I was getting very little out of it, but they are very expensive for something that gives you so little back and can't be "stacked" on top of your other benefits, like tier level shipboard credits.

    • Like 1

    Third Party Cruise Excursion to Save Money

    in Saving Money on Your Cruise - Tips & Advice

    Posted

    I found what appears to be the exact same excursion the cruise line is offering for $99 on another (reputable) site for $16. I really want to take it, but am nervous that the excursion time is "estimated" at 5 hours, and if they returned us right on schedule it would only give us a one hour "buffer" to make the time to board deadline. I have always booked excursions through the cruise ship in the past because I"m nervous about missing the ship, but this has turned into a really expensive cruise (21 days Rome to Dubai) and I need to save every penny I can.

     

    To those who've taken third party tours (not through the cruise line), in your experience is a one-hour buffer for the tour to get back late enough? Or is it risky and we should cancel? The port is at Safaga, Egypt. Thanks for your help!

    "Best of Berlin" Cruise Ship Excursion, Berlin, Germany

    in Cruise Videos

    Posted

    I hope you will enjoy this video of the "Best of Berlin" cruise ship excursion, which I took while sailing on a Norwegian Breakaway Baltic Sea cruise. Be aware - Berlin is actually a 2-hour train ride from the port where the ship docks and by the end of the day, including the 4 hours of travel time, you've experienced about a 12 hour excursion! Needless to say, I got a great night's sleep that night!

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    Norwegian Breakaway Review: Baltic Sea Cruise

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I think there were a lot of solos on board because there are a lot of studio cabins, which you have to be sailing solo to book. But not many attended the first meet up set up by the solo concierge (yes - there is one!) and I didn't see people in the studio lounge often when I went in there. I didn't attend any of the other solo events after that first one so not sure if more people attended the activities after the first day. About 8 people showed up for the first meeting - 7 women and 1 man! There was a whole schedule of meet ups, entertainment, and dinners for solos to participate in.

     

    I did sign up for the cruise line's excursions. For the Baltic itinerary they have a package deal where you get every port except Tallinn for one discounted rate at a big savings over booking them individually. Some of the ports on this itinerary it would be difficult or impossible to do independently. St. Petersburg, Russia you either need a Russian visa or an authorized excursion - the cruise ship's excursions qualify. If you want to go to Berlin it's 2 hours from the port - so the logistics of doing that would be complex and risky. I got the package deal and then booked separate Tallinn and St. Petersburg evening excursions through the cruise line separately. Most of the excursions in the package deal are "best of" tours.

     

    I'm sorry that I don't have copies of any menus. The Asian place was mostly noodle and fried rice dishes, and appetizers like spring rolls and potstickers. The line started forming to get a table half an hour before it opened and many people were turned away, so get there early if you want to try it. The pub had sandwiches, burgers, fajitas, and typical pub fare like shepherd's pie, fish & chips, and a variety of wings. The offerings in the main dining room were very typical of the other cruise ships I've been on - an assortment of Italian, chicken, fish, and always a vegetarian option, etc. Sorry I can't be more helpful with that question.

    Norwegian Breakaway Review: Baltic Sea Cruise

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Thanks for the positive feedback! I actually got up at 4:00am to film most of it! Because of the "white nights" phenomenon in the Baltic, it was light outside even at that time. I like to get up early to do this out of courtesy more than anything else - I know a lot of people don't like being caught on film. And something like the casino would be impossible to film during the day. Places where the door was locked and not open that I wanted to capture (like the Ice Bar, Le Bistro, and the retail shops) I had to wait until daytime.

    Norwegian Breakaway Review: Baltic Sea Cruise

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I recently finished touring the Baltic Sea on Norwegian Breakaway. Ports of call included Copenhagen, Berlin, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm. The Breakaway is a huge ship, with a capacity of 3,963. On the upside, there was a lot of room on board for a wide variety of restaurants, bars, lounges, clubs, entertainment venues, shops, and different kinds of deck areas. On the downside, the size gave the ship a less personal, less intimate feel than some of the other ships I'd sailed on.

     

    I booked a studio cabin. It was cramped, but with trendy decor in both the cabin and hallway, a locked door for studio guests only (think "velvet rope," gave the studio cabins more of a VIP feel), and studio lounge with complimentary specialty coffee (lattes and cappuccinos - from a machine but still very good and far better than the "default" NCL coffee or paying a premium at the cafe), I greatly enjoyed my stay.

     

    There were a dizzying variety of restaurants to choose from, both complimentary and specialty. The specialty restaurants are excellent, and the complimentary ones hit-or-miss, but once you figure out what you like they will keep you well satisfied. The complimentary options include a few different "main" dining rooms, an Irish pub open 24 hours, the buffet, and an Asian restaurant (arrive VERY early for the last option!) The drinks were great except for the fact that no straws were provided - and there was no warning ahead of time. Had I known, I would have brought a straw of some kind. It's nearly impossible to drink a frozen beverage effectively with no straw. It was an embarrassing slurp-fest!

     

    The thermal suite was outstanding! It had regular loungers, a therapy pool with a waterfall and different types of jets, a hot tub, heated loungers, a sauna, a sanarium, a steam room, a salt bath, rain showers, and complimentary tea and flavored water. Went there every single day.

     

    Customer service was extremely courteous and friendly. I was always greeted with a smile, and any issues I had were resolved promptly and completely to my satisfaction.

     

    The entertainment was outstanding. Some are free, and others come at a cost. I found the paid shows to be well worth every penny. Get there early to get a good seat! I can't stress that enough! All in all the Cirque Dreams show was my favorite, full of spectacular acrobatic feats. The shows in the Spiegel Tent come with a meal. I didn't know this and ate beforehand! That goes for the Cirque show and the Wine Musical. The Burn the Floor ballroom dancing show was spectacular as well (that one is in the main theater and does not come with a meal.)

     

    As many people as were on this ship, I still managed to find some nice quiet areas out on deck. This is one of the things I find critical to a great cruise. Of course if you're into a more lively vibe, there are plenty areas of the ship like that too. Because we were in Northern Europe the weather wasn't as sunny and warm as some other destinations, so there weren't so many people out on the Lido, but depending when and where you go it could be very busy. The water park is very impressive, and a rock climbing wall, mini golf, basketball court, and rope course are available too.

     

    I enjoyed the shore excursions, but in many cases they felt rushed. Luckily there were 2 days in St. Petersburg, Russia - you really need it! Berlin is actually a 2 hour train ride from the port - so you have 4 hours of travel and not nearly enough time to see Berlin. I felt as though I'd only gotten a brief introduction to it, but was still glad to have had the experience. The excursions on the Baltic cruise were very expensive compared to excursions in, say, the Caribbean.

     

    If you're wondering about customs in Russia - it was a breeze! Just head out early. I found immigration and customs in Russia more expeditious than immigration and customs in the U.S.! And no, you don't need a visa, as long as you book an excursion through the cruise line. Since there is an overnight stay, you are able to book 2 daytime excursions plus one evening excursion. St. Petersburg was, without any doubt, the most exciting place I have ever visited!

     

    If you can get over the impersonal feel of being aboard a huge cruise ship, I highly recommend the Breakaway and the Baltic Sea itinerary in particular.

     

    I filmed a complete tour of the ship here, that hopefully can better illustrate what it's like to be aboard the Breakaway:

     

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    Freeport, Bahamas Port and ATV+Botanical Gardens Excursion Tour!

    in Cruise Videos

    Posted

    There isn't a lot to do at port in Freeport, Bahamas, but I had a blast on the ATV Ride and Botanical Gardens excursion! I was nervous about trying the ATV for the first time, but it was great fun and I had no problems. The gardens were breathtaking, with exotic birds, flowers, and trees everywhere you look. I hope this video will help you decide if Freeport, and-or this excursion, is right for you!

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