Zippeedee

I would love to know how many people will pay $42 for a glass of champagne? It was always a special so not included in the UBP. That was always my first night treat to toast my cruise. Not anymore!

When I called to book my transfer they counted from 9AM, my flight is at 5pm and I'll just make security if the line isn't too long. Your experience may be different but I would call them to be sure.

When the Breakaway docked last April the taxi line had hundreds of people in it. My porter gave me a phone number for a taxi company that I could "pre-book" and would pick me up. They arrived in about 15 minutes. I'm sure you can google to find a taxi you can pre-book. There are very few Uber drivers there so their surge prices were outrageous.

46 minutes ago, wetcoast said:

Its really crazy that the Spellbound Petite Sirah is $20 a glass. A whole bottle is only $12 in a wine store

I looked up the new Romani prosecco, $10.95 a glass so still included, but $10ish for a bottle locally. I am still reeling from the increase to $36 for the Veuve. I'm not a big drinker but champagne is my cruise treat. Probably not anymore.

For those able it won't matter, but International Friends doesn't make it clear (at least not to me) that you must be able to carry your luggage off the ship to meet their departure time. I ended up with a $260 cab ride to my London hotel because I physically could not carry my luggage out and they left me behind. Had I known I never would have booked with them. Expensive lesson and not covered by my travel insurance or the insurance I purchased from them.

I like the pear and gorgonzola salad. They have changed the menu so much there is nothing else left of the things I liked on the Breakaway last spring.

I just looked at the listings for the Getaway TA in April. Both are now $36 but the 20% gratuity is included.

40 minutes ago, jmsnyc said:

To each their own I guess.   I think it would be a plus for Norwegian to at least offer the dinner sign up option daily in the Studio lounge or if there were set tables but I get that it does not always work out.  So for example every night at 8pm table numbers 12 & 14 in the so and so dining room////

That is a nice idea. I was referring to the "old days" when you were assigned a time and a table and didn't get much choice.  That is the part I didn't like.

For me "awkward" is being assigned a table full of strangers I'm supposed to eat dinner with. I love NCL for giving me a table for one and excellent service. Not awkward at all.

No thermal spa either. That rules me out.

1 hour ago, ziggyuk said:

 

NCL say otherwise.

 

As I said, it was sent to me by NCL today.

The bottom is clearly cropped by them and they say it is a full list of what is included FOC on my upcoming cruise.

It has everything to do with this thread as according to NCL, it lists everything still available after the price hike.

Isn't the All-Inclusive package sold in the UK completely different than the package offered in the US? I don't think you are comparing the same items.

9 hours ago, pamrose228 said:

 

So what do I need to buy in those 20 minutes, no mini Eiffel Towers  or Tshirts for me.  Give me suggestions TIA

How many Euros do I need for this Land an Sea trip aprrox.  Lunch and wine are part of the deal, so its basically for a few small items.

If it is similar to our experience, the Breakaway didn't plan for an early breakfast. The rest stop was at a roadside gas station/convenience store. The lines for coffee and croissants were LONG. I paid for a packaged waffle and an Orangina there. I tipped the driver and guide, and that was about it. Along the river there were vendors with some interesting art from their native countries, some pretty scarves, and the expected t-shirts and tchochkes.  There is a small store in the terminal as you re-board. There was some glitch with the gangways and only one was open. We were in line about 90 minutes, packed in, no way to do much shopping there, but others who arrived earlier found some nice local products there. Hopefully they have learned something and this year will be easier for all.

On 1/28/2019 at 6:40 PM, pinklucky61 said:

thought i read somewhere that they televise shows, did they televise rock of ages? we already have burn the floor reservations

On the Epic they show the original Priscilla movie and a documentary on the history of how Burn The Floor was created. I loved the show but loved it more after seeing the history.

20 hours ago, pamrose228 said:

I will be in Le Havre port with the  Pearl on May 9, 2019.   It is a national holiday in France and the Yellow Vests should be out in abundance.  

 

I really want to see Paris even if it's only for 4-5 hours.  I chose the Seine River and Land Tpur.  Shorex told me they make stops not many but some and I believe they give you some shopping time at the end.   I would not chance missing the bus back so I chose this fully escorted tour.  

Your shopping time at the end of the river cruise will be about 20 minutes  to walk along the row of souvenir vendors between the dock area and the bus parking. It is a very nice excursion but there is really no free time.  The Getaway is in port at Le Harve on the same day so expect many busses and long waits at the morning rest stop. Just for the Breakaway last April there were 12 busses headed to Paris for the three excursions.

Am I the only one who thinks this whole thing is going to lead to very unhappy bartenders? First they have to break the news of all the extra charges, which doesn't create a happy interaction, then their cash tips will probably be way down both from people reusing to tip extra and from people drinking less. It really puts a damper on the party when the bartenders are unhappy.

On the Breakaway TA last April my steward did not leave the pages about disembarking. If I hadn't seen the tags when walking through the Atrium I would have been the last one off the ship.

4 hours ago, snowcamper said:

If the shops and restaurants etc closer to Le Havre may be closed, maybe the bus trip with lunch cruise on the Seine is not such a bad idea!  Though it certainly would be a tease to see such a tiny glimpse of the city.

I personally would not take a chance of missing my ship's departure with such a long drive on my own, too many things could go wrong.  I feel safer taking a ship tour when it's a location so far from the port.  I've seen people left standing on the pier.... 

The seine cruise was a bit of a tease but we saw all the main sites around the city, then the River tour and an excellent lunch with multiple bottles of wine. It was a fun day.

On ‎1‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 6:35 AM, Bob++ said:

Victory in Europe Day is celebrated all over Europe. In France, it is a day of celebration and remembrance with church services, ceremonies and parades. French flags fly from the tops of poles everywhere and the air force thunders overhead in dramatic flyovers. Wreaths are laid during the ceremonies at monument aux morts in each village, town and city.

Being a national holiday, schools, post offices, banks, businesses, shops and many restaurants are closed. The streets are full of people attending parades and the red, white and blue of the French flag is everywhere.

 

https://publicholidays.fr/victory-day/

Thanks for posting this. I just realized the Getaway is docked in Le Havre that same day as the Pearl. Guess I'll have to rethink my shopping day. It will be fun to join the celebration though!

I'm going on the NCL Getaway TA to Southampton in late April. Our Le Havre excursions have been posted for months. The usual bus to Paris, lunch on the Seine, Giverny and Rouen, etc.  They may be finalizing contracts for May. I may just take a cab into Le Havre, I went to Paris last year. The lunch on the Seine tour was lovely.

6 hours ago, Mike_DeA said:

If you wanted to check out the new casino resort, Baha Mar, taxi's are in the $25+ range as it's about a 20 minute ride.  The resort is beautiful btw.

You can walk up to West Bay Street and get a local jitney bus out to Cable Beach for about $2 each. They stop right in front of the hotel. Just tell the driver that's where you're going. The #10 bus has fewer stops than the 10A which is more for locals. CABLE BEACH  ROUTE #10    Starting Point:  East Hill Street Depot 
 George Street/Duke Street/Cumberland Street/West Bay Street/Cable Beach/Delaporte/Orange Hill/Compass Point/return via Bay Street/to George Street

Champagne drinkers are just getting killed. That's a $10 bottle of prosecco, for $11 a glass.

They are consistent in their inconsistency. I didn't enjoy anything I had for lunch on the Gem, thought it was much better on the Epic.  On the Breakaway, I had the most amazing caramel marshmallow brownie for dessert one day. It was so good I was craving it so went back later in the cruise and it was horrible! Dry, dried up sauce, like it was prepared and left out overnight. So disappointing.  I had many late breakfasts there and the food was always good but the service ranged from great to non-existent. Go with low expectations and you might be pleasantly surprised.

The readers and posters here are a very small percentage of the NCL cruising population. We are now forewarned and expecting to see the crazy new prices. I can't imagine what the unenlightened will think when they first board and order something they think will be free because they took the UBP and paid the 20%. Not a happy crowd! I'm still stunned at $34.95 for the Veuve in Le Bistro. I need a new first night tradition I guess.  

2 hours ago, tomservo said:

How close is it to real afternoon tea? Is it just Lipton and scones? Will there be clotted cream?! 🙂 

Well, it isn't tea at Fortnum's, they always have a selection of tea bags out but nothing super fancy. I don't remember clotted cream but the scones and jam were good. 

Compared to some of the new premium drink prices, those prices don't look too outrageous. They will probably be changing soon!  Also beware that some of that beer and soda has been chilled and then stuck in the storage cube that doubles as a stool many times. Even if it hasn't expired it could be pretty worn out.