CruisingSince1982

I’m considering booking the Best of Florence small group tour. We already have skip the line tickets to the Accedemia for 11am. Would i still be able to book this tour?

1 hour ago, Laszlo said:

If you are looking for the best food you need to sail Oceania

We are looking at Oceania and Regent for our next cruise! 

19 hours ago, david_sobe said:

This is a very common thread asking the same question. Everyone always justifies their position and experience.  I have stayed in both types of Haven cabins.  I said the same thing when I booked a forward penthouse on Getaway. "I wont mind walking.  The saving on money is worth it, etc"  While I enjoyed a larger cabin, the Haven experience was not the same IMHO.  I felt like an outsider in the Haven having to commute there since we were not part of the Haven compound.  While not terrible, it definitely impacted the Haven experience.  I love waking up in the Haven complex and just opening my door to the restaurant, pool, and concierge.  The concierge seems to know the people better that actually stay there.  I call the experience "Haven-lite."  Here is a good analogy.  Do you want to stay at an ocean front resort overlooking the pool and ocean and restaurant or stay at a hotel 3 blocks away and you are entitled to walk to and use the facilities.  IMHO its not the same experience. 

Totally agree with this!

Did you have a scheduled time to meet in the Haven lounge to be escorted off the ship in ports, or do you just show up when you are ready to go ashore? 

Hi - do most vendors accept credit cards? Taxis, bus, restaurants? 

On 1/16/2024 at 12:39 PM, mapleleaves said:

Our cruise on the Epic was scheduled to arrive at 5am to Barcelona.   I don't know when disembarking started but at 7am when I went to bfast there were 12-15 people in taxi line. The line moved quickly. There were also NCL transfers and independent busses to the airport.

You shouldn't have any problem with an 11:30 flight. But I would plan on arriving 2 1/2 - 3hrs prior; the airport was quite busy. 

We had a 1pm flight to Lisbon and left the port around 9:30am. 

We booked the NCL transfer. They will get us there on time 🙂

Oh that makes total sense, especially since this is the only review that I have read that mentioned! Thank you, I feel better now.

I just read a review on Shipmates about Cabin 11706, a forward facing haven suite on the Escape. It was a mediterranean /Greek isle cruise, and the poster said the wind coming off the front of the ship created such suction that it pulled at the balcony door all night, creating constant loud noises that sounding like screaming children. Think this was just a fluke? I can't imagine the ship was going fast. Those islands are so close together. That's the cabin we booked 😆

Thank you Josh. I wasn't sure because the Spa is right there too.

On 7/4/2017 at 4:57 PM, Hotspring said:

Ship - Escape

Deck - 16

Stateroom # - 16100

Stateroom Category – H8

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Quiet Stateroom? – Yes. End of passenger hallway. Only heard ship crew traffic for a few minutes when disembarkation luggage was picked up for the rest of the Haven Spa units.

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No, but the master bedroom was private from the living room except for lavatory access. Much larger than the 309 square feet NCL posts for the Spa units.

Balcony View - Great view

Balcony Size? Oversized. Could handle two loungers and 2 sitting chair, most in this Spa category could only handle two sitting chair or maybe a one lounger with no walking room on balcony.

Was wind a problem? - As anticipated and appreciated.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? - No

Any other comments? - Likely the greatest value available in the Haven Suites, particularly when traveling with 3. The Haven Spa units come with complimentary spa access yet offer all the other benefits of a Haven unit usually at the lowest price. One only needs to walk up a stairway or two to step into the Haven enclave. While the living room sofa was not much more than a day bed when made up at night (slightly narrower in width than a twin) the extra room throughout the cabin was enthralling. We were delighted to have a king size bed rather than the merger of two smaller beds we usually experience. There was even a pocket door between the master bedroom and closet area en route to the lavatory/shower to provide maximum privacy. Even a couple would appreciate this cabin should they manage to snag it. We are still scratching our heads as to how we lucked out for our party of 3, all other Haven Spa cabins could only accommodate a party of two on this ship. Top of the line Stateroom Steward and Butler provided.

I know this post was made a while ago, but NCL is stating this room accommodates 4 people. Did they put a larger sofa bed in the cabin with the refurbishment? 

I know the forward suites on Deck 16 aren't in the "Haven proper", but it looks like they are all Haven suites. Is this corridor keycard only access? 

20 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

No, the Haven sofa bed can sleep 1 or extend to sleep 2. 

Thank you

On 1/9/2024 at 8:50 PM, BirdTravels said:

The 3rd bed is really just sleeping on the hard sofa. Not a sofa bed. The very very firm sofa. You can try to request an egg crate pad, but it is still the sofa. 

Is it the same type of sofa that's in the Haven Forward Facing Suite? 

On 1/7/2024 at 1:41 PM, CruzinMel said:

Picking up where I left off - here's every possible detail about the cabin:  #8720, Club Balcony Suite, Deck 8 Forward. 

 

•   There is a smoking area somewhere near this balcony.  

I thought the smoking section was port side? 

Thanks all! 

19 hours ago, IAcruising said:

 

You didn't mention the relationships between the adults, or the length of the cruise. As you've been cruising since 1982, I assume you're not three 20-something best friends out to party. Three adults in a club balcony is going to be tight. No getting around it. 

 

Married adults and adult child. It's going to be tight. I doubt we will do it.

20 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

NCL asks for a lot when going from a Club Balcony Suite to a Haven 2BR on Escape. There are no non-Haven suites on that ship. 

It's a lot. The best I can do is a forward facing haven suite. Still only 1 bathroom, but at least 2 separate sleeping areas.

Just looking for opinions from folks who have had 3 adults in a club balcony suite on the Escape? Was it horrible? I'm so concerned with the lack of space. Only positive is it's a port-intensive cruise, and we would not be on the ship much. 

Our cruise docks at 5am in Barcelona. What time do they generally disembark in Barcelona? We have an 11:30am flight. Not sure if we should take the cruise transfer, or just a cab. Thank you.

1 minute ago, martyap said:

Couldn’t you self disembark and grab a taxi….it is only a short ride to BCN

I read that there was a long walk to get to the taxis? I'm not sure if that was NCL specific or not. 

Hi, we disembark in Barcelona and have to get the airport. I was going to pre-book a car service, but I cant find any that don't contain reviews about drivers not picking them up! Our flight is at 11:25am, and the ship docks pretty early - 5 am. Should we just do the NCL transfers? It's $37.50pp. 

On 12/25/2023 at 4:42 PM, david_sobe said:

Yes all of that makes sense.  I am am sailing in a Haven cabin with 3 others which makes it a different scenario for just 2 people.  The gratuities for 4 were $600.  No way we could drink that much alcohol and soda retail price.  When I last sailed in 2020, only me and my wife had it.  I made out a little bit on it but the in laws never drank or maybe once so that worked out.  With the change of everyone in the cabin having it is a waste of money this time.  I am not complaining, just pointing out the differences from last time.

I have 3 in a Haven cabin for a 10-night cruise, and our drink package gratuities are $654. It's $21.80 per person, per day. 

On 12/26/2023 at 10:25 AM, david_sobe said:

Just in case anyone missed it.  I hope they all got booted off the ship.

 

We were on this cruise. We watched them get escorted off in Puerto Rico! 

On 12/24/2023 at 8:59 AM, mjkacmom said:

The gratuities on the drink package is $21 pp pd, so two cocktails a day make it worth it. Plus you can bring on unlimited bottles of wine with no corkage if you have the package.

Thank you - I was scratching my head over that!! 

Another question regarding the internet. Did you notice how much they were charging for the unlimited internet once onboard? I think recall someone saying not to pre-purchase that because it was cheaper once you were onboard? 

How was your internet speed on the Escape?