QueenOfZoom

40 minutes ago, jeb137 said:

Just got off the Norwegian Joy.  They've closed the smoking area by Spice H20 and built a glassed in area on Deck 16 Starboard Side right across from the hot tubs by the kids pool area.   It state's "Smoking Lounge" on the glass, but there are no chairs or tables.   They moved the stand up ashtrays from the Spice H20 and built two small L shaped shelve areas one for each end.   Most people walked past the starboard side outdoor seating of the Garden Cafe and grabbed a chair to bring in.   That area would have anywhere from 5 to 20 people in it at the same time most of the bars onboard were close to empty.   Rumor had it that they plan on doing this on all of their ships.    Shame really.  Meet some of the nicest people in the smoking area.   

NCL is very inconsistent unfortunately. Getaway already has the pool deck smoking room and still allows smoking at Spike. 

4 minutes ago, WillCruiseForMoney said:

Post #213 in this topic was the last time I posted the Master list.

 

Other than the power outage we had a great time on the 20 day Sun cruise.  Staff was top notch! 

Spirit hitting both Alaska and Hawaii is a great itinerary.  We sure enjoyed it.

 

 

Excellent, thanks so much!

On 10/2/2023 at 9:25 AM, WillCruiseForMoney said:

Thanks for following up. Will add it to the master list.

Just found this thread! Is there a link to the master list?

Btw was on the Sun 20 day this past April as well. Booked on Spirit Hawaii to Alaska for February.

6 minutes ago, RB9643 said:

 

Some updates:

 

Encore - Apr, 2022 - There was an additional smoking area next to the Waves Bar on Deck 16

 

Joy - Sept, 2022 - No change, but there are now a good number of chairs and tables at H2O

 

Prima - Feb, 2023 - Casino smoking room Deck 6, Forward Sun Deck 18, Humidor

 

The Prima is terrible. Deck 18 is not accessible by elevator, so you need to walk up a long flight of stairs to the Sun Deck. Elder smokers were struggling big time, and if you had a walker or scooter -- forget it.

 

The Prima crewmembers told us we could smoke cigarettes in the Humidor, but that only lasted a couple of days. If there is a Humidor attendant you will be kicked out, if not, go for it.

 

The casino smoking room is not monitored.

 

 

The whole design of Prima is crazy! Did you notice that the kids splash pool is also on deck 18 forward? I was on the inaugural TA so no one was using it but can you imagine parents trying to haul kids/gear/stroller/whatever up those stairs?

6 minutes ago, rtkenmore said:

They allowed you to use the platinum voucher in Ondo?? The platinum voucher on Encore is supposed to be good only for Q or Los Lobos for one voucher and Cagney’s or Le Bistro for the other voucher. 

I used the Platinum voucher in Onda, no problem at all!

3 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

Encore coming into Miami.  Time to watch the Port of Miami webcam!

Can't compare to our arrival in NYC, that was a once in a lifetime experience!!!

6 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Is that "Captain Niklas, From!The!Bridge!"? I always loved the way he says that whenever he comes on the intercom.

I like Captain Dan 'the voice from the ceiling' 😀

4 minutes ago, CazV said:

Well her horn is sounding fine... 😁

I heard that, was so excited!!!!!

It's live:

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/oldenburg_ostfriesland/Live-Norwegian-Encore-startet-Richtung-Nordsee,norwegianencore112.html

3 minutes ago, fallujahkid said:

Not remotely alike.  Smokers are in a league of their own.  

Not really on cruises, have to deal with the perfume/cologne/aftershave people in the hallways, elevators, shops, theater, MDRs, specialty restaurants, etc etc. 

34 minutes ago, JCDCA said:

Given you are a smoker, I'd say you're a bit biased on this topic.

I'd rather have the smokers who tend to stay in designated areas rather than the overly done perfume/cologne/aftershave people....

1 hour ago, Cruisercl said:

I believe last time I saw a sign on a NCL ship the chair hog time was 30 minutes. When did it change? The big issue, IMHO, lots of passengers make up their own rules or actual time gone from the chairs and NCL never enforces anything.

(Sorry for the OT post, now back to the regular discussion.) ☺

ETA-just read further down the thread. IMHO, 60 minutes seems a long time to prevent others from enjoying something because others are doing something else. 30 minutes not unreasonable at all.

Signs on Sun earlier this month were still 60 minutes. 

16 minutes ago, First_Time_Cruiser85 said:

Queenofzoom I don’t care about lack of deck space, having to pay for a Vibe Pass, Go Kart, Laser tag or speciality dining or any other options that I may have to pay for.

I am not going on a cruise to sunbathe like 90 percent of people who comment in here do.

I am going on a cruise for the awesome entertainment, food and dining options, to meet new people from around the world and visit spectacular new places and beaches on the port shore excursions.

If I want to sunbathe I’ll do it on my excursions when I visit private beaches and islands.

Yes this is my first cruise but I know what I want and have no issue paying for it.

Also If I want to chill and watch the sea I can do that from my balcony with no issues.

Maybe come back to share your opinions after you've actually been on a cruise or two.

2 minutes ago, Cruise Mama said:

There are so many other cruise options out there - why take this one - the carpeting won’t all be laid, cabins won’t all be complete, entertainment will still be in “rehearsal”, not only will the weather keep the pools from being filled - but there’s rough seas in the Atlantic in November, there’s no port to take on fresh provisions (9 days of “fresh” fruit and veggies?), no shore excursions, shopping, for what? 

 

I don’t think so, definitely not!

💯👍👏

Yes, have heard a lot of rumors about this one, both the ship & crowd sailing....would definitely stay away.

9 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

Oh for goodness sake stop worrying about trolls will ya. All is welcomed here.

 

I too will miss H2O so I switched my 2021 Encore in Caribbean to Bliss in Alaska. Did the first P Canal in 2018 and I will be happier.

Wish all ships had the H2O that Escape has. The BEST ship.

I actually think Epic's H20 is best with the pool!

3 minutes ago, First_Time_Cruiser85 said:

There will be a laser tag at the end of the Encore so you better get used to it.

The laser tag with augmented reality will make NCL money, putting sun loungers there will not.

The laser tag is still on NCL website under Encore activities.😂

 

 

Hope this works 🤞

7 minutes ago, coriemarie said:

 

those are on every cruise ship. 🙄

 

They definitely are, believe it's satellite or similar?

16 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

This ship is disgusting. 

Well that was specific and helpful 🙄

3 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

I'm guessing no but who the heck knows.

I'm actually thinking about getting vibe passes with the reduced outside free deck space on Encore.

I enjoyed the area outside of vibe on the Escape on deck 19. It had a bar and whirlpools. Very nice spot.

I have to decide whether it's worth it for me, my wife and daughter. I'd have to convince my aunt and uncle to join us in getting passes and then we'd actually have to go and get them when we board and take the chance of being disappointed.

We're cruising Encore January, 2020 and will be on board every day except for our stops in St. Thomas and Tortola.

We'd have 5 days to enjoy Vibe and that might be worth it.

I'll be paying attention once the sailings begin to see if Vibe gets sold out every week.

 

How old is your daughter? Vibe is 18+

3 minutes ago, coriemarie said:

Is there usually a video of the float out we can watch?

Can't remember how I found it but I watched the last RC float out on live stream.

2 minutes ago, jplovestocruise said:

Hey there, my family and I are booked on the Encore for this December. Second time in the Haven Family Villa...woohoo! I'm curious, a lot of the mega ships seem to be leaving Miami in 2020, anyone know the reason? 

Eastbound transatlantics are repositioning in the spring and westbound happen in Oct & Nov.

21 minutes ago, UFMOM said:

 

Go to your cruise planner and prebook shows and any specialty dining you are doing. Without reservations you will be in standby for shows and good times for specialty restaurants book up quickly. You may have a little more leeway since you are on a longer cruise, but I wouldn’t take that chance. When you get on the ship book your comedy shows and any other activities that can only be booked on board, as soon as possible as those book up quickly too. All those reservations can sometimes be modified later in the cruise, depending on availability if things change for you. But at least get something in place. Then enjoy your cruise knowing you won’t be shut out of anything you want to do.

 

Mary Ann

Specialty dining, shows, thermal spa pass, etc still can't be booked online yet for the inaugural TA, only by phone, 

5 minutes ago, Bootman4U said:

I'd go to any pool earlier rather than later. Are you wiling to remove someone else's junk from their "reserved" lounger. I do it all the time

If it's just a towel yes, won't touch/move anything else.

Was on Gem last month, very happy with the smoking areas. Besides casino, port side of deck 7 and all of Bali Hai bar on 13.

Anyone know about smoking on Joy? Sailing in October...also have the Encore inaugural booked in Nov.