Zippeedee

After terrible experiences in the Spirit MDR years ago, I only do specialties now. I enjoy Cagney's, Le Bistro, and Teppanyaki. I can also find a decent dinner in the buffet if I don't want to make plans ahead on a port day. Other than the tiny portions, I really enjoyed the meal at the Cirque show on the Epic. Food is so subjective. I don't compare to restaurants at home, I'm on vacation and try to enjoy what is offered at that particular location. That being said, other than the delicious bread, I did not enjoy La Cucina on the Gem. I have a 12 night coming up next year and I'll buy an extra three nights SDP to go along with the four I got as a perk.

My usual warning... if making coffee in your cabin, use bottled water. It will taste so much better! That being said, I drink mainly iced coffee, and I am on vacation when I'm on a ship, so the Atrium cafe is worth the cost to me for that first delicious iced americano, latte or cappuccino of the day.

The humidity in warm climates can make chips soggy and stale very quickly. Avoid at the outdoor buffets!

I have had my NCL credit card for some time about as long as this thread and a warning for those who have one yesterday I received a email letting me know my pass code was changed on the account. Well I hadn't been on online or changed the code, so to be sure this wasn't a scammer I called the number on the back of the card and sure enough the pass code was changed and when they asked me to sign in my account I couldn't . After some time and verifying who I was a new sign in and pass code was done . When I checked my account I did not see any charges that were not mine, however my points were gone. THE ROTTEN RAT STOLE MY POINTS !!! . This person stole and transferred a bunch of points to my account then added my points to his and booked a flight and hotel . I was on the phone forever yesterday and they are investigating this newest scam so be aware of your points, hopefully I get mine back I almost had enough for a free 7 night cruise. I am so upset

I am so sorry this happened to you. I have had my NCL MasterCard for about 18 months and I am on my THIRD card due to hacking. They were spoofing my home phone number ( now changed) and calling BOA to report foreign travel, then to get duplicate cards sent to an address in Brooklyn. BOA has been very helpful so far. I'm hoping the third one is safe. Even with careful password management they find a way in!

I'm sure I have posted this before, but here is one opinion on why you may want to reconsider same day arrival. Family cruise on the Spirit out of NYC, 2006. Friend and I arrive 2 days early to play in the city. We are surprising his parents for their 50th anniversary, big family deal. The siblings and families book same day flights from Boston to JFK. What can go wrong? Both airports were absolutely socked in with fog and it was pouring rain. We're hanging out in a deli to stay dry when the first call arrives - flight delayed. To make a long story shorter, we waited for them on the pier until the boarding photo backdrops were dismantled. We found an officer and told him 8 passengers had "just landed" at JFK. Muster was going on as we boarded. I was not missing the ship for them! Many phone calls later, with guest services on one phone and family on the other, they held the ship for 20 minutes. Oldest brother tipped van driver $100 to run red lights, drive on sidewalks, whatever it took. Last niece had one foot still on the gangway as we started to move. And yes, we all had to go to the muster of shame at 9am the next day. Very surprised parents enjoyed watching muster and taunting us.

Thanks for the answers re: robes and drinks! I'm typically a water then alcohol then water again girl when drinking during the day especially. Contemplating getting my own robe or something similar to wear to the spa and back again. More comfortable that way for me.

I usually go to the spa after breakfast and stay until I'm ready for a late lunch. I wear shorts and a t-shirt over my bathing suit. That makes it much easier than having to wear a robe, go back to my cabin to change, etc.

Is this something new? My last NCL cruise (Breakaway) was nearly 4 years ago and I don't remember crepes. Was I missing them or are they a new addition? Do they have fruit flavored (strawberry) crepes too?

They are in different buffet areas on different ships. You have to check both sides of the buffet for them.

Thanks all for getting back to me. This makes me happy. I don't remember the Nutella but I do remember a chocolate crepe that was very good. What other kind do they serve? I will have to get to buffet at least once this trip just to get a crepe.:)

If you don't see the Nutella, ask for it. On the Epic it was behind the counter. They had blueberry, strawberry, cherry, and that addictive whipped cream. You can also take them over to the ice cream scooper and really get a treat.

Enjoy free style cursing in the MDR. Never have to rush to make an assigned dining time. You can go to a steak house or Japanese BBQ any time back home. No real reason to spend extra money on the ship.

Conversely, I have not eaten in an MDR since a terrible experience on the Spirit years ago. I get the specialties as a perk and enjoy them very much. I also do a few nights in the buffet or o'Sheehan's for lighter meals. Everyone has their own preference. I don't go on vacation to save money.

I'm on vacation. I like good coffee, iced. I don't mind paying for it if that is the only way I can get it. I'll drink the buffet coffee with breakfast, but not enjoyably. Most of the desserts are, well, disappointing. Crepes in the buffet, afternoon cookies all good. I'll pay for a cupcake or macaron if I'm in the mood for one. I save money at home. On vacation is not the time to scrimp on the little luxuries.

It seems a lot of the crew is being trained for the Joy. Do the Chinese expect a different type of service? More reserved and formal perhaps?

A few years ago I was on an RCCL Canada/New England cruise. I was with an art class group and had accumulated a ton of art supplies, projects, gifts, etc. I live near Boston. I wanted to drop off all of my extra stuff with my friend during our Boston port stop. I was stopped leaving the ship and told I was not allowed to take luggage off the ship as there was no customs agent there. I went back, divided the stuff up into a few plastic laundry bags from my closet and three of us carried the smaller bags off without a problem. They do check!

Am I missing something here? If I leave my points on my account, pay for all of my on-ship expenses with my NCL Mastercard, then move points to a cash credit on my account, I'll earn three points per $ on the charges. If I move my points to OBC, I come home without a bill, but no more points. Yes? It seems too good to be true. I know about the upgrades but don't think I'll hit $60,000 in time.

Ink 48 has the best location.

Yes! A quick walk around the corner and you are at the pier. Really nice hotel. It can be expensive but there are online deals where you get the difference back if the price drops. Nice restaurant onsite too. No parking though.

Someone in one of the previous "water battle" threads brought up the lack of minerals in the filtered ship water as the cause of swelling. As one who had horrible swelling on the Gem, I ordered the water package on the Epic. As we were the first cruise from FL, the ship was still stocked with mineral water from Italy. Sorry, I don't remember the brand. I did lots of walking, ate at the buffet, etc. no swelling at all.

Does it not occur to you that over worked and underpaid crew burn out faster and provide poor service? There is a point where you get what you pay for. I would prefer to pay a bit more, get good service and know the crew was not being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous employer.

Is the Spa run by that group that does the high pressure sales pitch at the end of every treatment?

Once you check in and get a locker key, you have no contact with staff unless someone is refilling lemon water or towels. Nothing to sell you in there, just pure relaxation (unless a rude group gets loud).

There is a non-smoking area of the Epic casino that was surprisingly smoke-free on my November cruise. I spent much more time (and $) playing slots because I could breathe and not feel sick.

I was worried about this too. We anchored right at the beach and just walked about four feet through shallow water to the sand. The deck hands were right at the bottom of the stairs to help. If it is really rough I don't know how far out they would anchor. I haven't heard of anyone reporting they had to swim very far. It is a great excursion!

I was on the first Epic cruise out of Port Canaveral. It was a long messy debarkation and a worse mess getting a pre- scheduled shuttle to the airport. See Mitsugirly's review here on cc. We had the same experiences. I finally got to the airport around 1:30 pm. I wouldn't take a chance on a flight before 3 pm.

Excursions appear at different times. Most of the ones I wanted for my November 2016 cruise didn't appear until September or October. They are always renegotiating with the vendors.

I have been on both the Gem and the Epic solo and have never been in an MDR. I happily enjoyed dinner alone in Cagney's, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki and others. La Cucina on the Gem was the only one the waitstaff was less than pleasant and rushed me a bit. My last waiter at Cagney's on the Epic got a Hero card because he was so wonderful. Just my long winded way of saying there are plenty of solo diners in the specialty restaurants but we don't have the bright spotlights on us that many imagine when thinking of solo dining.

I have been on the gem over 10 times and never saw steps in the adult pool-anyone have a picture?

The adult pool on the Gem has ladders only. The family pool has steps. I used that one because my knees can't do the ladders anymore. The steps are on the opposite side from where the slide empties into the pool.

I totally forgot about the eggs, they are terrible! Always runny and nasty!!!!

 

 

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I went to get coffee and left my breakfast plate uncovered at the Great Outdoors on the Epic while docked in port. A bird took some scrambled eggs and spit it out! So bad a scavenger won't eat it.

You should have a celebration greeting card in your cabin when you embark. The bottom of the card is a coupon to bring to a restaurant when you have your celebration dinner. They will bring the cake to your table.