IAcruising

At first. 🙃

That is all Mrs. IA needs to know. She loves a filet but will not eat any other steak (too much "fat", guess). So, she would love to get a decent filet without having to go to Cagney's. She could get one at Le Bistro, but there are too many other options she doesn't want to give up. On a side note, it has always amazed me how she hasn't mastered a knife to cut around the "fat". A mystery of the universe, I guess. 😆

Bird does have a tendency to use a little poetic license in their posts: "pounded on" likely be punished tragedy for the crew, etc. But it's all good information. For an admitted newbie, you should learn about this stuff.

A quick question. Is this included with P+, or do you pay the difference between the menu price, and the top limit of the package? I assume you can't slam free shots of Johnnie Blue all week just because you have the P+ package.

We have not experienced the "deck by deck" scenario, but given NCL's consistent inconsistency, I would not be surprised to experience it on our next cruise.

If Syd's is your priority, then dining needs to take a back seat, and you may need to cancel a reservation. Unless things have changed since February, you won't know the exact days and times for the shows until you board the ship. You need to be in line for Syd's at least an hour before the show to get a decent seat -- a bit longer for the Rumour shows. Your dining will need to work around the days and times of the shows.

So, out with-it Bird! 😄 Is the Cagney's 8 oz. filet worth getting for a very reasonable $15 in the MDR? Curious minds need to know!

Where did they go?

We very much enjoyed our cruise on the Joy last September to Canada. We prefer the Encore, but the differences (today) are minimal. I liked SpiceH20 on the Joy, I did not like Maltings compared to the Encore. Everything else was nearly identical. If we lose nearly 1/2 of the OL on the Joy, we will probably not sail her again.

I see your point. It's not a taxi, you're not talking directly to the driver. How about this, just type in "Pier 66"?

We've seen this discussed as a side issue in other threads, but let's get it down to the brass tacks. The MDR menu offers some of Cagney's best steaks at a very, very reasonable upcharge. Why would you "waste" (a very subjective term) a specialty dining option for something you can get in the MDR? Convince us that the appetizers, sides, desserts make it worth it. We've got 5 specialty meals coming up in April. I see 5 restaurants I'd choose before Cagney's.

Heh. If your Uber driver doesn't know where Pier 66 is, you need a different driver. 😆

Yes, I'm really only talking about last minute Haven upgrades. We haven't bid "thousands" (well, maybe). You got that HG cabin from your guy who moved to the DOS, right? So, you know, sometimes s happens. 🙂

Ok, you are nearly always technically correct, UK. But damn, man. Is this all you do all day? Look for minute technical errors in other's posts? It gets a bit tedious, in my humble opinion.

For sure. A mock booking will tell you if the rooms you've bid on are sold out. But then, a last-minute cancellation is not unheard of. You can always hold out hope, even while you're in line to board the ship.

Or it could be that. 😆

I think if you choose to cruise Holland America, you know to wear pants and a collared shirt in the MDR. I mean, seriously, this isn't freaking Carnival. (yes, that's an ironic joke)

Ok. But I can't believe someone booked a "guaranteed" cabin but isn't getting what they really want. Am I missing something here?

This is a joke, so please take as such. If you're from California, any trip you take will include a "cultural difference". You guys live in a world the rest of us don't understand. 😄

Bird, I look forward to hearing your honest opinion of the Joy after the change. I don't know your cruising future, but I want to take the 10-day Joy cruise in Sept. 2025. I won't do it if the changes are as dramatic as I think they will be.

My first booking of a Club Balcony was for the double sink, and a full shower. Only on my second booking did I realize that I could book dining at 125 days instead of 120. I will stick with my opinion that this is the least known thing about the Club Balcony.

All good advice. My only inclusion would be to reiterate not to send newer clothes that could shrink. We've had no problem with older, well used, well washed clothes. But I have had new t-shirts shrink to the point I can't wear them.

Really? You don't understand why a random cruiser booking a Club Balcony doesn't read all the details of their cabin? Ok.

Can Bird promise the Joy will have a complete OL? No. That will be just for us to remember...

Lol. My biggest memory from 40-years ago was the "specialty" Carnival Holiday glasses of Pina Coladas. It was only after my 4th one that I realized they contained nearly zero alcohol. 🤣