iloveislands24

23 hours ago, moosegrin said:

Hello responding to ILOVEISLANDS,    Yes to planning for extra time,  but even more so it is VERY difficult to take the airports shuttle bus with more than one small bag.  The shuttles are overloaded as everyone is trying to deal with the disruption.

 

 I assume that NCL will figure out how to get you to the ship without a lot of trouble for you.   On the return flight,  you  really should arrange your own taxi if the NCL transfer cannot get you to the right terminal.  

Thanks for sharing! That all makes sense. We will have to see how things go this week, and how the construction is going. Thanks for the heads up!

19 hours ago, moosegrin said:

We recently took the offer of free airfare for the 27 January 2019 Panama Cruise.  This was for two flights.   ORD to LAX and then LGA to ORD.  The flights where with AA and once we had the booking, then I went onto the AA website and was able to select seats together.  It was indeed a great deal.  

However,   be very careful about the transfers , which are also included in the offer.   LGA is under major construction, and apparently bus drop offs are not accepted at certain terminals on certain days.   My own experience on 16 Feb was that the bus service dropped off 15 passengers at terminal B,  (not C which is needed for AA passengers.   When the driver was advised it was the wrong terminal, we received a great deal of NY charm and an offer to call the police on the passengers.   NCL has refused to provide a refund for the transfer or explanation for why passengers were not told in advance that they would not get a transfer to the right terminal.  

 

If you have an NCL provided airport transfer,  be sure to ask guest services on board if the transfer will take you to the right terminal.  

Thanks for sharing. We will be flying from Columbus, Ohio to LGA in NYC a week from today for our cruise, and have flights (on Delta) and transfers with NCL. So just to clarify, the issue is that due to construction the bus may not be able to pick us up or drop us off at the correct terminal? So we may need to plan to spend extra time getting to/from the terminal, both on the way there and back?  Just want to make sure I understand and plan appropriately - thanks in advance for any advice!

On 2/21/2019 at 11:07 PM, mking8288 said:

WiFi coverage is good to excellent, bow to stern, starboard to port side - dual band supported, I always like to stay with 5 Ghz vs. congested 2.4 Ghz ... optimized our hardware on 802.11 ac protocols - use it inside our balcony stateroom and elsewhere, i.e. Waterfront, atrium lobby, etc. 

 

Since you are on the "free" 250 minutes plan, remember to logout each time after use, the usage meter begin counting once you login - the iCafe has the mini-guide or handouts printed, pick it up @embarkation.  Easy D.I.Y. 

 

Nothing to worry about - whatever you saw, updated & not current - see this for a more details

 

Thanks so much for sharing, I appreciate it! Good to hear.

Hello! We are taking our second cruise in just over a week - so excited! It will be on the Escape.  When we booked we got a free wifi promo for 250 minutes.  Where on the ship can we expect to have access and use the wifi?  I just saw something on NCL's website with a list of ships you can use the wifi from your stateroom, and Escape wasn't on the list... is this outdated?  Or will we have to go to public areas to access the wifi?

We don't want to be on our phones too much, but I'd like to know when/where it will be available to us. Thanks in advance for any input!

23 hours ago, tokidoki said:

seems like u got great flights!    Have a wonderful cruise!

 

Thanks so much! I'll try to remember to report back on how everything went for us.

I am using the free airfare perk for my cruise leaving in less than 2 weeks.  I booked less than 60 days out, so I got my air information within 3-4 days of booking.  The flights are both direct with Delta, from Columbus OH to NYC - getting there at 10:35 a.m. on the first day of the cruise, and leaving NYC on the last day of the cruise around 1:45.  Our flights were "free" since Ohio isn't too far from NYC - just paying the transfer fee of $35 per person, per direction. Seems like it'll all work well for us, but we'll see how it goes!

Love all the tips! Sailing on the Escape for the first time in about 2.5 weeks, cannot wait. 🙂

Is this list supposed to be the one all their bartenders know how to make? That's always my question - there are so many different cocktails out there, how do you know which of the different/not "standard" cocktails the bartenders will know how to make. I know you can always just ask and see what they know how to make. I love trying new drinks, especially with the UBP! Cruising with it in 2.5 weeks, so excited.

I love it, so glad I'm not the only one! I definitely do many of these things, love having a good itinerary and Amazon for all the cruise things! Hubby teases me for how much time I spend researching and planning for our trips. Next cruise is only a month away, getting so excited and going into overdrive planning mode. 🙂

3 hours ago, Adian80 said:

I called today for the exact same issue and 2 reps told me to book a table for 4 for the times I wanted and then to adjust the table size back down to 2 BEFORE my reservation once on board.  We also have free air and I know we won't be on board until 1, so I wanted to make sure we had our Cagney's reservation (must have shrimp cocktail!)  They both said as long as I adjust BEFORE my reservation time we won't be charged for the extra seats.

Thanks for sharing.  I checked and at this point, even a table for 4 doesn't have good times. So I'm planning to try to use the app while we wait to board the ship and see how that goes!  Good luck to you, hope it works out well.

7 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Download & install the new "Norwegian" App (iOS or Android) before getting to the pier, connect to ship's free WiFi INTRAnet (it might be easier switching on Airplane Mode first, then enable WiFi ... settings/how to varied by devices, it's time to learn the "how to") - and, you can book MDR as well as Specialty before stepping foot on the gangway.  We just got back from our 2 week Escape, there're PLENTY of availability and easy DIY, no need to stand in line for this - some prime days/time slots will be taken/blocked - go with what's shown as available.  

 

The App's function has improved & similar to a PDA, your booked items are listed by days & shown - you just cannot cancel it.  Dining no shows are released after a 15 minutes hold by the host/ess for walk-ups.  I remember checking Teppanyaki on Day 3, and it was still available for varied party sizes for the rest of our remaining 10 days, just be flexible on your "preferred" time slots. 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! So glad to have received this tip, I think it will be really helpful. Glad to hear the app has improved as well.

13 minutes ago, TexasCruiser84 said:

Sharing a tip I learned on these boards - try to book while you are waiting to board the ship!  I went on Escape out of NYC in September. While sitting in the terminal waiting to board (had a high boarding group number), my phone connected to the ship's WiFi and once logged in I was able to use the iConcierge app to make restaurant reservations!

That's an awesome tip! I will definitely make a reminder to give that a try. We are sailing out of NYC on the Escape so hopefully that will work for us too. Thanks so much!!

Thank you all so much for your responses!  Good tip on using the kiosks near the elevators, hopefully those would be a shorter line and more likely to get a decent time.  We will do this first thing after boarding!

We are taking a cruise on the Escape in early March - 35 days until we sail!  All the recommendations I have been reading suggest booking dining ahead of time.  We just booked 2 weeks ago, and for the first week or so there was an issue in the system where we couldn't book for a party larger than 1. That has been resolved, but unfortunately the options are extremely limited, and of course we were hoping to go to Cagney's which is so popular.  This is the first "mega-ship" we have been on, and our second cruise ever, with the first one on NCL Gem last year.

At this point the only options for 2 people are at 9 or 9:30.  We were really hoping for something in the 6-8pm range - I know this is more popular.  If I were to book with a larger size party, like 4 people, I could book for a better time - I saw someone recommend doing this and then lowering the number of people to 2 once onboard, but is it really a good idea?  If we wait until we board the ship, is there any chance of getting a Cagney's reservation?  Unfortunately we won't be boarding too early, we took the free air perk with NCL and our flight gets into LaGuardia at 10:35 a.m.  So it might be later until we get on board.  Is booking a larger party size, or taking a 9:30 reservation for 2 people, ahead online our only shot!?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

We booked our cruise two weeks ago for March 3rd on the Escape and chose free airfare as a perk. The flight from Columbus OH to NYC will be free, just paying for transfers. I didn't realize we could cancel the $35 pp each way transfer, however for LGA to Manhattan this charge probably isn't too bad... has anyone here used NCL transfers, was it a good experience?

Since we booked within 60 days of the cruise, we got our flight information within a couple days of booking. To my surprise the flights were both direct with Delta, my favorite airline. The flight there is for the morning of and arrives in NYC around 10:45 - I would have preferred for it to arrive earlier but hopefully we won't run into any issues. We did purchase trip insurance so if we were to miss our boat I guess we'd use that to fly to the next port to join the ship, worst case scenario. I guess this makes me feel better about paying for the NCL transfer - if we are running late, they should be able to help us communicate that to the ship and make us less likely to miss it - right? I was able to log into Delta and view our seats, they have already been assigned and are right next to each other. So far I've had a good experience with the free airfare perk, hope it goes smoothly for our trip!

I'm booked for the Escape leaving on March 3rd, and same here.  I figured it was due to the changes in entertainment I've been reading about. Right now the website says "Choir of Men: Main Theater" but there is a $15.99 charge with it (screenshot below). Also the Brat Pack was in the Entertainment section in the past, but has been removed.  I hope the charge is accidental and left over from when this was held in the Supper Club? Surely there wouldn't be a charge for a show in the main theater?  If there is we probably wouldn't go, even though I'm interested in this show...

One additional thought here - the increase in price to the UBP doesn't surprise me at all. Since for the free perk you still have the pay the gratuities, increasing the price of the package also increases the gratuity, making everyone who gets the UBP for "free" pay more for it in the end. By doing this NCL is still making more money on this "free" perk... seems crazy that they would do this, and still need to increase the price of individual drinks above the $15 limit and create a whole new premium beverage package to serve those who want those drinks/brands.

It is really sad that NCL didn't communicate this better, and is forcing the bartenders to do it for them... definitely not fair to their poor staff. They should have emailed everyone with a cruise booked about the change, and made the premium beverage package available at the exact same time for those who want the high end brands. This was definitely a poorly executed change on their part.  The fact that it doesn't appear to be available for upcoming cruises, even though the prices have already changed, is awful.  Doesn't affect me personally because I don't have a preference for specific brands of alcohol, but I feel bad for those that do. I'm also nervous about whether they will keep rising prices on drinks and if some of my favorites will end up outside of the $15 limit - as mentioned earlier I would be really upset about that, and would definitely give less value to the UBP, which is a big reason we prefer to cruise with NCL.  The way the package is currently structured still works for us personally, because the cocktails I like are under $15, and my husband only drinks beer, and we like the freedom to have as many as we'd like without worrying about the cost.

We are going on a 7 night cruise from NYC to Florida and the Bahamas in early March on the Escape. I've read that there is sometimes an 80s party at Spice H20 on the Escape. Is this a regular event, should we expect it for our cruise? Or does it vary, or maybe is only offered on longer sailings? I love 80s music and would absolutely love this! But I don't want to get my hopes up if it isn't likely to be offered for our cruise. Thanks in advance for any insight! 🙂

On 10/2/2018 at 7:27 AM, parkercat123 said:

 

 

 

 

 

We just did this yesterday!! AMAZINGGG!!!

 

If anyone has any questions just let me know!!!

 

PS—- hope everyone going loves RUM!!!!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! We are highly considering a Sandals day pass for our cruise in early March. Did you call Sandals before going to check if they had availability for the day pass? Or did you arrange it another way?  I've read that you're supposed to call the day before.  But I won't be able to make calls from the ship the day before, or even the morning of, without a ridiculous charge, so this seems difficult to do... Thanks for any insight!

7 hours ago, kneadsdough2cruise said:

We have checked all the day passes (wanted Sandals but when called said they suspend passes during HIGH season

Can you tell me when the high season is for Sandals? We are hoping to get a day pass to go there on March 7th.  Thanks in advance!

This is very concerning. Having the UBP is a big part of what makes the price of the cruise worth it to me, when included as a perk. I like mixed and frozen drinks - if they ever price those above the $15.00 price limit, I would seriously reconsider whether NCL is worth it, especially when the UBP does not include many of the beverage options that other cruise lines include in theirs.  This is a dangerous strategy on NCL's part.  They better keep the majority of alcoholic beverages under the $15 cap, or they very well may lose my business.  Their premium package sounds good, but is far too expensive for me to ever consider.  I would definitely want to go to an all inclusive resort over a cruise, if this gets any worse.  I'm not usually one who needs the more expensive liquor brands, but I completely agree that they are outrageously overpriced as well.

We booked a cruise out of NYC in early March and got free air from Columbus, OH to NYC. There is one charge they automatically add, even if your airfare is free, which is the cost of round trip transfers to and from the airport.  From LGA to the port this is $70 per person, $140 total for my husband and I.  I booked last week and within 2 days got my flight information because we were within 60 days of the cruise and were able to check in right after booking.  Our outbound flight goes out the morning of the cruise departure date, which is what we wanted for this cruise.  I was pleasantly surprised to find both flights were direct with Delta, I was afraid free airfare would mean they were using flights with layovers - but I'm sure this can vary, and OH to NYC isn't a long flight.  I did just get an email this weekend with a change in flight time on the day back, which surprisingly went from a late flight at 6pm to an earlier flight leaving around 2pm.

For us this was a great deal, and I feel confident that the amount we paid to get a room with both the beverage package and free air was well worth it.

Thanks so much for sharing your cruise in so much detail! We are taking a cruise on the Escape for the first time in early March, cannot wait!

We have booked our cruise for March 3-10, getting a balcony room for the first time! We are so excited for this cruise, absolutely cannot wait. 🙂 

11 hours ago, suometar said:

 

Forgive me -- I didn't realize that your reason was so personal, or I wouldn't have asked. I wish you all the luck in getting pregnant. And you can always cruise to the Caribbean when the little one is old enough! And we have made spring break our anniversary cruise (got married during spring break 36 years ago), mostly the FL/BAH run because, hey, we live in NYC, but have varied it a bit by doing the Western Caribbean, last year out of Tampa. Anyway, happy cruising and hope you the stork will visit you soon!

No problem, I don't mind giving more context. Thanks so much!  Yes, I'm sure we'll make a Caribbean cruise work out someday. 🙂 Glad you've enjoyed those cruises for so many years, happy early anniversary.