mrsderitis

Just booked on the Scarlet Lady for this July, after having to postpone last year's trip. I've since been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and need to eat a strict gluten free diet (it's a bummer). 

How is the selection of GF foods and safety/attention from the staff? I've seen a few blog posts, but most seem a little old or from Virgin's launch. Anyone cruise recently with this dietary restriction? 

Thanks in advance!

4 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

If you are sailing in the immediate future I think you have a good shot at it :). 

 

Happy travels!

Thank you 🙂 We sail on 7/31! Just booked our cruise on Breakaway this morning. 😎

5 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

This is not entirely accurate. Virgin will allow a vaccine exemption for only 10% of it's cruisers. This is no different than Princess (who just made getting an exemption even easier). I believe RCL and CCL also allows unvaccinated with an approved exemption. It will not surprise me if NCL ends up with the exact same requirements as Virgin.

 You're absolutely right with the 90/10 breakdown.Thank you for clarifying.  I'm hopeful that if NCL drops to 90% they keep their testing; to remove both is too much for me! Hah! 

Hi all, 

Curious if anyone has any recent suggestions for what to do with baggage after a cruise / before a late departure. Long story short, we had to change our return flight and now it doesn't leave until 8:30pm when our NCL ship docks early. 

Last time I cruise out of New Orleans there was a great service that took your bags at the port and transferred them to the airport, and we picked them up later that day. Doesn't seem like there's anything like that for MIA, but curious what others do. Thanks in advance! 

13 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

NCL's corporate sibling, Oceania, announced they were keeping testing for US-based cruises in place so it's conceivable that NCL will do the same.

 I spoke to a rep today from NCL and they confirmed that US based cruises will continue to require testing and vaccination. Looks like something changes perhaps on 8/1 but the rep said that is NOT for US based departures. 

4 hours ago, knitdiva said:

Virgin cruise lines dropping all testing https://porthole.com/virgin-voyages-removes-pre-cruise-covid-testing/

We were scheduled on Virgin for 7/31...we canceled that trip and booked with NCL because they are continuing with vaccination and testing requirements. We were excited to try Virgin, but they're throwing away the peace of mind/risk mitigation protocols so we we weren't comfortable. No testing AND no vaccination requirement in these times with surges? Yikes. To get rid of both is wild to me. 

Thank you, everyone!

Hi,

My husband is bringing a CPAP machine with us next week on Breakaway. Do we have to notify NCL that we're bringing this device? He does not need the distilled water, and will likely bring his own extension cord to use the machine. 

Anyone with experience, can you help me out? Just want to make sure all details are handled. Thanks!

Hi, 

We are sailing on the Breakaway next weekend (yay!).

After the cruise, we plan to take an Uber/Lyft. Is there a designated pickup spot for these services that we can look for in the post-cruise chaos? Or, would you recommend walking a bit and catching a car a bit further away from the port? 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

2 hours ago, beaucajun said:

When you board the ship.  You can do it on your television or any of the screens located near the elevators.

Oh awesome. Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Cruisinmimi321 said:

When can you make reservations for the headliners and comedy shows. Have made reservations for the other shows, but did not see comedy show listed. 

Great question!! I’m not sure, but would be interested to know. We love the comedy shows!

Hi, all! 

We reserved tickets for some of the shows on Breakaway for next month (Rock of Ages etc). How exactly does this work? Obviously, you gain entrance to the show but do they assign you a seat? How does it work for people who are "walk ins" as opposed to those who pre-booked? 

This isn't our first time on NCL, but it is our first time pre-booking these evening shows. We're mostly just curious about the logistics! ;)

Thanks. 

4 minutes ago, Visigoth said:

Uber will charge $8 (accommodate up to 4) for an X or $12 for an XL (accommodate up to 6).  Their drivers will have the most current info on the best location to drop you off.  You will probably drive right to the terminal to drop you off but if there is a traffic problem, they will be the best informed folks to advise you on where to go.  Since their fare cannot change after being quoted, they have no incentive to take you on a longer or slower route.

This has been our experience with Uber/Lyft here in the Bay Area...we just weren't sure if the fact that we'd be using it to enter a port would affect the "flat rate fare." Thank you!

5 hours ago, Chuckabobo said:

It also appears Lyft/Uber have forced minimum fares of $32-35 to/from the airport - give or take $5 the same cost as a taxi ride, and may be easier to quick jump in a cab than navigate special uber/lyft pickup locations allowed by some airports.

We also find lyft/taxi far preferable in most instances, though in this case it may be a toss up - I'd guess to be allowed to have service in louisianna they were forced to have these airport minimum fairs out of some "fairness" to the taxi companies, or perhaps they are having airport minimums in other cities as well - in any case - unfortunately it won't be 1/2 the price it usually is to take lyft/uber in this case.

Thanks - we are heading to the port from the French Quarter, not the airport, but it's good to know there's a minimum fare for the future! 

12 hours ago, beaucajun said:

I would say if you're going to get dropped off close by, then it would be the corner of Julia and Convention Center.  Have them go down Convention and take a right on Julia and drop you off at that corner in front of Mulate's.  Nice easy walk for you to get to the port.

Thank you! 

Hi everyone, 

We are staying in the French Quarter before our cruise on the Breakaway next month. We're planning to use Lyft or Uber for arrival to the port. Would you suggest navigating right to the port, or to somewhere close by and walk? 

I've read some horror stories about traffic build up and wonder if it makes more sense to just walk a bit. We've never been to the Port of New Orleans before, so any help is appreciated! 

Thank you in advance!