snorklinbarb

What hotel does NCL use in Trieste? Couldn't find anything on the website but will call them. Also the port of call forums here are a great help. Or was this a hotel you found on your own? Heard that if you stay at an NCL hotel you can "deviate" up to 3 days instead of the normal 2.

Can't find anything on the website or T & C that points to an extension of the triple pt (total of 4) promo that ended 3/31/23. Where are folks finding this and what extra cruises have been added? No email here. We're booked on a Eur. cruise that was booked during the qualifying period but might add on another cruise and promo has ended, AFAIK. The current T & C ends with CN Double Up and nothing about extra Lat. pts?

Thanks so much! Maybe she will be back by our sailing date but nonetheless great to hear your praise for the current cast. I'm sure it will be excellent! As for Captain Roger, if you go to the Latitudes party you might be lucky enough to hear him play bass guitar!

Great to read your review as we'll be on Prima end of April. I was on last fall for a 5 nighter so it will be fun to go now with DH! As for the "mature" Donna, do you happen to know if it is Kimberly Locke? She was fabulous in the role and I'm hoping she might be on when we're on. I wonder if any of the CD staff might know? She performed and did very well on "American Idol". Look forward to the rest of your review. On Prima (even last year) "The Price is Right" was considered a feature show. I missed it (thinking just another game show) but guests who went said it was "the real deal" with prizes. I did see one vlogger who said the "Newlywed and Not so Newlywed" show was one of the nights in the theater. Will be interesting to see if your cruise has the same....that one hardly seems like a substitute for good entertainment for the whole theater....when I was on they had "Noise Boys". Very different but also very interesting. Read here that it was canceled. Since we're cruising soon, I'm wondering if there will be an alternative by then?

Had no idea they allowed 3 days early (or presumably post-cruise as well) if you stay at NCL's hotel. I'm looking at a cruise that starts in Venice (Trieste). Is their hotel there or in Venice itself and then they transfer you? Or transfer first from airport to a hotel in Trieste? Thanks and have a wonderful cruise!

Loved your review! Glad to see Cagney's 2.0 was up to speed and to your satisfaction! It's a great team on Prima and they really do want feedback! How was the shrimp, lol. Can't wait to get on again with DH end of April. He's not been on yet but I scouted it for 5 nights (so hope I don't get as lost this time). Thanks for putting such effort into a great review. BTW,, do I detect just a little smile on your husband's face during the Salsa class?! Looked like a fun time! Looks like NCL took very good care of you all around the ship (not just the Haven). Enjoy your next cruise, wherever it is and with whomever!!

I didn't get one, either!

Under the T & C does it say anything about the longer CruiseTours w/land portion (like on Jewel, for ex). The quote is for the whole shebang so can they separate out the "cruise part" only?

Hi Judith, Despite some of the shortcomings you mention, I sure wish I could have made that trip with you and your wife! Thanks for taking time to put up a thorough review - I love when guests give details of why they didn't have a good experience or the reason they wouldn't return to a particular restaurant. You do that so eloquently. I noticed also that the filet in my favorite Tepp. combo w/shrimp had been changed to NY strip. We've never found any great NY strips aboard, period, often too tough as you noted. With that many days onboard you had a chance to not only sample everything but go back to Cagney's 4x! I remember the last Gem cruise pre-covid when you didn't have a very good experience there. Nice that you mentioned the steelhead trout and fisherman's platter. I've tried the latter and agree it was really tasty and a large quantity. Hopefully the delicious double lamb chops are still good! Sounds like the entertainment in the theater fell short. They do bring back entertainers for a 2nd show but it's of no interest if they weren't that good in the first place! Very strange to have one dark night in the theater - like you, I've never seen that! Good to hear they are doing the Broadway cabarets. On Joy last year they had 8 performers and between the group numbers and their solos, it was a really great show! So much so that it was SRO and guests stayed till the end! How was the CD? That can play a big part in how the entertainment plays out. Did you do any trivia? Anxious to read more and hear about what you did in ports, etc! I heard there were only about 1600 guests on the 1st leg. How about your return trip? As a directionally challenged cruiser, no matter how many times I've walked the halls of NCL ships, I loved the fish, lol. On Prima they've replaced the fish carpeting with a geometric pattern that has a yellow triangle every so often....I had to read it on CC that the "triangle faces forward." Who knew?! How is the construction coming along in Panama?

That has certainly not been the case. Great show! Where did you hear there was a charge?

Never noticed the "free" movies listed month the pay ones. Bird, do you happen to know if they give the schedule as well? Someone recently suggested asking at Guest Svcs for the schedule. Otherwise catching a free movie TV from the start is really hit or miss. Thanks!

I haven't had them check my name recently but actually have been on several tours where a clipboard was passed row by row asking for full name and cabin number. On Escape shorex noticed that my husband was taking the excursions despite my being primary guest. Previous to sailing I had requested that we be switched but apparently that was never done because I remained guest #1. They decided to let it be. When I took a shorex I paid full amount less Lat. discount because only the primary guest has the $50 credit. So in that case, they certainly did notice and I guess could have made an issue out of it. Did not use TV to book so can't comment. Good to know.

I also was thinking revisiting the shorex offerings - even if you've been to the port more than once, you can often find something else of interest. In Sydney, NS I was going to skip anything since I'd been there a few times before. Ended up booking a music concert that featured their local music and it was actually really really good! You have the $50 shorex credit plus your high level Lat. discount but the excess can at least be put towards the $1000. Tech is a good suggestion as it's more expensive and can eat up some of your OBC. If you're on a ship that offers an extra "pay" dinner/show (like "Velvet" or "Prohibition", you could use OBC for that. Could always buy a gift of jewelry for a loved one. Valentine's Day coming soon! Good luck and have fun spending!

Do they also apply a Lat. tier discount to the unlimited upgrade under FAS? That could help some.

Since I'll be on B2B next month, the comments on subpar food and service are concerning. Could you tell us a little bit more about that? Any particular venues you would avoid or is this across the board? For reference of comparison, it seems we were on the same 4/25/22 Escape TA together. I thought the food and service were outstanding. Should we considerably lower expectations on Gem? I really like Gem and am looking forward to the refurb. How did you find common areas and cabin? Thanks. Hope you enjoy the rest of the cruise.

On. Oct./Nov. B2B Escape they had Dinner with the Officers both weeks. First time back. Now they were 11 and 16 nights, respectively, so possibly only doing them on longer cruises. I did see that notice from NCL and thought the same as you did. What Chefs Table are you talking about? The other item mentioned was Behind the Scenes which ASAIK has not returned. At the recent Q & A on Escape a guest specifically asked the GM and he was not aware of any plans to have it return. Nor did Cruise Next desk have any further info. Dinner with the Officers may be a ship by ship thing at this point and possibly depends on duration as I haven't read any reports here about it happening on a 7 nighter.

Thanks for this because today I booked a B2B and for the first time NCL air. Didn’t realize no FCC if price drops due to air add on. Are you considering dropping your air to qualify for the large price drop in cabin? Or is there a “locked in” date?

Have seen it twice on Broadway! Great show. Weird but in a good way! Loved the opening number It's a Song About Death or whatever it's called. Great way to start off a cruise!😉

Croissants should be on the menu but bear in mind they are "minis" so 3 would equal a normal one. If not there, definitely write them in! Write in butter and check off strawberry jam, if so inclined but I haven't seen cream cheese listed. Write it in - worth a try. I've added a few "notes' and had them honored in the past such as toasted English muffin.

I wasn't unpacked on Joy in Sept. but had indeed checked into the inside cabin only to get a knock on the door at nearly 2 pm telling me my upgrade bid to balcony had been accepted. The Guest Svcs Coordinator who came to the cabin had quite a stack of such letters with her. NCL had emailed me about my winning bid at 1:37 pm. So yes, it can happen right up to the end! Good luck!

Did B2B Escape in Nov. and, like you, it was billed as one long cruise. Internet minutes carries over as did OBC. I don't get nearly as much as you but would be in the same situation, if this report from Epic is true. Same for the shorex - would have to even it out for the 2 legs or have an expensive massage on one of them.😉

Home from B2B Escape, so just catching up on your wonderful posts, Gary! Remember when you shared the news of your wife's win and so it was fun to be taken along through that process. Commend you for putting her "loss" right behind you and enjoying everyday to the fullest. Very kind of you to take your time and wifi to answer all the questions asked. Great job! Have never been on Oceania so will look forward to a blog perhaps? (*hint hint). Good chuckle about the internet manager's preferred libation! Happy sails!

Thanks for the photos! No matter how many times I go on NCL, I always rely on the "fish swim forward" motto. One time upgraded to a "mini suite" and we got that tub/shower. I was much younger then and found that tub too high a step! Never got a mini suite again after that. (Later ships have regular showers in some of the categories). Later met a British woman who raved that her cabin had a tub and how it's hard to find that on ships, lol. She also liked the "proper wash rags." Those tubs are not fun in bad weather, either!