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My initial question is will this ship show Princess in a positive light or is it a tired ship that a first timer should avoid? The oldest ships I have cruised on are Disney Wonder (loved it) and NCL Epic (liked it but was in Haven). Next up is a couple questions about Princess: For dinner is there an upgraded menu on this ship for Suites? (site says it on general info about Suites) Is there a suite lounge on this ship? The kids club looks good for our 5 and 4 year old but if you have feedback happy to hear it. The pizza good? 🙂 Is Titos included in the Plus drink package? Anything else you want to throw my way happy to hear it. Interested in possibly giving Princess a try. Want to add we are laid back, don't typically do the nightly entertainment when we take the kids with us, and a standard pool is fine still (not need to fancy slides or anything at the kids ages).

So I have had ones in the past randomly show up with no email stating that I had gotten a discount code to use. I have found this in the past but for the life of me can not figure out where it would be at on the account. Possibly I dont have one which is why I can even find the area that might list it? Thanks for any help pointing me in the right direction.

With Alaska its super easy to dress up with a sweater over the top of a button up shirt. In the Caribbean I have a lightweight button up that I roll the sleeves up, dress shorts, and sandals. If I end up booking MSC will double check the requirements but can't see myself bringing a suit or dress pants/shoes because of a single night over a week. We always eat right when the dining room opens though.

Actually not necessarily. Sandals we were in Ocho Rios at their Royal Plantation/Ochi resorts staying at RP. We were allowed anywhere while those in Ochi rooms could not visit RP. Now you could talk to someone at RP possibly and get someone a specific allowance to come over but it wasn't just allowed and likely would be rejected. This is no different really from Yacht Club being restricted for anyone else. There are plenty of places you will likely find restrictions on who can enter areas. I personally don't care but if you do then take up with the company and in the meantime book through a company that holds your viewpoint with how they operate. Its easy for us though as our group wouldn't be split. I would simply go to a cruiseline or hotel that I am fine with staying in the non-premium area.

NCL doesn't allow people in the lounge for a drink unless approved which is unlikely in the Haven. So I wouldn't use that as an example. You having done it does not mean its actually allowed. NCL does however allow you to take guests directly to your room inside the Haven locked area but they should be escorted by you both in and out of the area. No clue how MSC handles it but its really not your cabin you are just renting it. Its similar if you were to possibly get a suite at a sporting event, a booth at a night club, or any other elevated place. Those venues all have different rules and restrictions. Now for a stateroom I wouldn't see any issue with it but no clue how MSC views it.

Sorry not right info

Wondering what are the normal hours at Sea and in Port? I tried looking at recent dailies but didn't see to really mention hours just when a specific activity might occur. Anyone have information on this? Kids would be 4 and 5 at time of sailing. Looking at possibly booking but would like to know if its open all day like Royal or closes like NCL on port days. Primary ship I am looking at is Celebrity Millennium.

This was our breakdown of Epic vs Encore for the Haven Epic we loved the outdoor bar and grill area: great for having a relaxing afternoon having a drink and maybe something to eat Posh was always empty and great option because there was an actually a bar where as Encore there is no bar for drinks while laying out Liked all the views from the lounge, outdoor bar grill, restaurant Didn't use but having the sauna and steam room (mens and womens versions) were a nice add Encore we loved the observation lounge for Alaska (wouldn't have used it as much in Caribbean) Liked the hot tubs on the sun deck (they were empty though in Alaska which made them so great) Liked the covered pool area for cool weather (not issue on Epic in Caribbean and the Epic pool was WARM which was great) Overall I think both ships do exactly what they are supposed to do. Epic has better outdoor areas but its a warm weather cruise ship while the Encore has better indoor areas but its a cold weather cruise ship. I would say though Encore I dislike there is a premium cost to the gokarts and laser tag taking up a ton of space in the general areas. Doubt they ever do it but would be nice if they included things like the premium charged things in the Haven cost.

You will love it just a couple tips as just did Haven on Epic. Traffic in port is a mess, I would just go early and use the lounge area (heard some people stuck in traffic like 2 hours coming from airport way around 10am-12pm) When getting dropped off do not go to the main door to drop your luggage there is a specific Haven luggage bag drop Try the Sail and Sustain Drinks (they are great drinks and never noticed them on our past NCL cruise but offered just in the Haven outdoor lounge area) Do no eat at Moderno if you have specialty and want to use them use them somewhere else With apps you can order a 2x helping on the same plate (I did a 2x of the Ahi Tuna nightly and just said do it on the same plate) Enjoy the cruise we had a great time inside the Haven area itself and the ports.

Coming back to provide some follow up. Aruba/Curacao/St Kitts - Easy car rental, easy to drive around, ample parking everywhere we went Bonaire - Golf Kart rental (you do not want to do a car rental here and they have 4 person golf carts) St Lucia - DO NOT RENT A CAR Just to further outline St Lucia I am so thankful that it was the only port we decided to not rent a car. The port area is a mess, massive backups, no great options for car rentals right in port area (have to go to airport), the roads are fairly hairpin everywhere (which is fine if you are comfortable but means you are not getting anywhere anytime soon). If you have questions I don't get on Cruise Critic a ton except when planning a last minute cruise vacation but I will try to respond if I see you ask a question.

Butler asked if we had water included and I said I believe we did. He came back with 6 liters per person (2 boxes full) to leave in our room. So we got it but it was after they asked it was not just in the room.

Maybe poor is an overstatement so mediocre then is more accurate as it is edible and you might find 1 thing you like at places. You have a few different issues that add up (with examples I saw): ingredient quality - nachos with the cheapest cheese sauce to be found reciepe choice - Buffalo wings with a lack of a flavor profile of any Buffalo sauce cook quality - food essentially cooked an extra 5-10 mins leading to tough and overtemp food (possibly from being understaffed and not being able to watch all the food as things like fried foods which would likely have a timer on them were fine) food choices at times - heard this from others outside the haven that at times the only option is o'sheehan's, leading to very repetitve food choice. One of these individuals bemoaned the reduction of options on the menu in this location comparatively to years ago as well (they were Sapphire or Diamond always cruising to balcony rooms) can say I agree with the former can't speak to the later as never experienced it. specialty resturant degration by seemingly cost cutting - moderno had a salad bar on par with your local pizza hut with two choice of greens (chopped romain or very poor mixed greens) and approximately 10 toppings along with meat quality/cook so poor that cuts like flank or picahna that would start to shread instead of cut (not a good sign for beef steak cuts) I have traveled a ton (precovid 25 weeks a year) and would eat a variety of food ($ to $$$$). I have personal tastes but I can also tell when something is cooked properly or ingredients are skimped on. Just note I never had the MDR which potentially is much better than other options on the ship as I normally find ship buffets on NCL, Royal, and Disney to be lacking as a whole. I will leave it at that though as don't want to get this thread too far off topic. I only brought it up to reinforce the value I saw in Haven if cruising on NCL.

Just got off the NCL Epic Yesterday in a 2BR and I have more thoughts I might share later but a couple things quick: The priority service is great and a major benefit (we had 5 ports on a 7 night) Epic outdoor grill is great (nice to sit in, close to pool, good to have food outside of a indoor bar lounge for afternoon) Butlers are not very useful its essentially (unavailable at times because they prepare the nightly leave behind which we never really want, unable to do simple things like get us something for the room when we come back to the room from off the ship around lunch time, informing us to just use room service for things) they are stretched way to thin it would seem Food is great and you can make plenty of meals out of their fixed menu if you are open to a variety of food and mix and match aspects of dishes as well (had a appetizers for a side, surf and different turf) NCL as a whole reinforced I would never cruise with them outside the Haven (line everywhere, crowded ship, poor food) NCL needs to move everything on the schedule up 1-2 hours on the ship (people come back from being off the ship at 4pm no food options open, breakfast options open 1 hour or less from port arrival, no earlier entertainment, kids club close until 7pm on port days) It was still a great trip but we could just see the mismanagement of NCL higher ups on the cruise and left with the same thoughts. We really liked the trip, really liked the Haven, but when comparing options NCL's balcony rooms are not an option like on other lines.

Boom worked Google drive fixed it. I knew I could look on past trips forgot the work around.

Anyone had this issue before? I choose Acrobat, which open with nothing, then goes back to the app and gives nonrelated apps. Figured I would ask here first before trying on the ship.

They also charge more in the dailies for a haven room as well. We always tip them extra regardless of room types but just pointing out there is already extra taken out.

I would just say you are not really comparing apples to apples. If all you want is a bigger room than there are other options out there for sure that will be cheaper. The Haven though is about the locked off area of the ship, the priority everywhere, the dining area, bar area, pool area, sun deck area. NCL, Celebrity, MSC, and Royal (sort of) are the ones that compete in the ship within a ship category. When I look at Princess and HAL I essentially comparing connecting stateroom options to connecting balconies on other lines.

Its every single sailing out of San Juan so far. The advice is to get there super early or late. NCL just hasn't properly spaced the boarding groups. What makes matters worse is the low capacity terminal (sounds like 300-600 people or something like that) in addition to the ship not being cleared to board until 10-11am while people start arriving at 9am.

Than you I might look farther out then. I have only booked 1 cruise further than 3 months out in my life and it was 5 months out. I will take a look at what is out there that far ahead.

Teach me hahahaha Haven I gotten 2 people to Alaska for $6k and 6 people to the southern Caribbean for $6.5k I have not come across that for Royal for a Star Suite.

Sorry didn't mean you specifically did anything. It was more so how NCL was trying to pit the paying customer with preset expectations against the hard working steward they just upended their working schedule. Sorry 100% didnt want to call you or anyone else out as the change in service level is not acceptable and 100% on the cruise company as a whole.

Neither of you are in the wrong for wanting more but NCL put you against the worker.

By the way I know there was jokes about "why would someone remove their tips". Well having to take out or put up a bed in your room would be one of them. If you have to deal with that I don't fault people for removing a portion of the tips that NCL expects you to give. Another reason NCL should pay a livable wage and we should stop the tip culture as a whole where consumers have to tip to pay someones wage.

Don't sell me though on this cruise where everything is covered though. When I travel in hotels I put the DND on the door and don't want a knock the whole time. I am fine with that but then I expect the tips to be dropped and the service fees to be dropped.

Bingo but people around here will say "its in the cruise contract" Well guess what people get sued for what in contracts and win all the time. Eh I dont thing they attract the same class of people and thats partly because Carnival is just cheaper. If NCL was just cheaper they would get those people. For the 1 time a day service? RCL is no better then. I just had not come across them cutting the service and not doing the bed put up and down for the couch/pullman. 100% wouldnt step foot on their ships then either unless multiple rooms or if they gave suites a 2 time a day service.