AlmiranteChurruca

Guess we should be allowed to the cabins as soon as we board. No departing guests today. 😅

The lady is here 😍

2 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Ooooo....(they weren't good anyway), but no more potatoes au gratin at Cagney's either! It'll be interesting to see the other changes as I peruse the menus.

No more Crab Cake at Ocean Blue, but oddly still at Cagney's. 😄

On to another subject (but somehow connected to the recent NCL's/Getaway's string of "unfortunate events"), neither the webpage nor the app will let me do restaurant reservations. However, there is a link now (do not remember having seen it before) to updated menus for the specialty restaurants. The date on these menus is June 2024, so I guess we will probably be a bit of feedback lab critters for the company after this cruise.

Gone are the Oysters Rockefeller, the Tuna Tartar and the Porterhouse at Cagney's. Replacement for the two gone starters is Thick Cut Bacon. 🙄

At Le Bistro no more foie on top of the Rossini Filet Mignon and also no more Scallops.

I get it. Cutbacks. But...where is the thin red line between a great and an average offering? We will see...

9 minutes ago, Matahari47 said:

Oooh I’ve not had that email either - kinda hoping it is La Coruna as the weather will be better. But no biggie. 
I have been told that the OBC is applied at embarkation. So I’ll be keeping an eye on that! 

Thank you! 🤩

At last! This is the pic so many of us embarking tomorrow did want to see! 🤩👏🏻

Two questions regarding this "somewhat convoluted" (to put it mildly) itinerary.

1. Anybody has had the reservation updated to include the promised US$100,00 OBC? As of today it does not show up on mine.

2. Is it 100% confirmed that Le Havre has been replaced by La Coruna? I have seen reports of guests having received a mail about this but I have not received it.

Thank you! 😀

37 minutes ago, Matahari47 said:

NCL have updated their site now…. Just need to see if ship leaves dry dock in time now!!! 

Exactly! Dry dock is the next issue to be concerned about. Besides, still no sign of the 100,00$ OBC on either app or website...

9 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

This explains a lot.

It does! 😬

20 minutes ago, Auntie Rox said:

So this is ever more strange…..

Now showing two days at sea in the main area but the tabs across the top still show the original itinerary. 😳

 

 

Also, several inconsistencies between app and website. New excursions offered on the former but not on the latter. As much as I like NCL all this stress before the cruise is unacceptable. And still hoping the lady gets out of dry dock on time...

57 minutes ago, Matahari47 said:

Not any more it doesn’t. Quite a big change to itinerary - no Lisbon or Gibraltar - which is disappointing. Also getting a bit twitchy about the dry dock and if it’s going to be able to ‘Getaway’ for 6th June 😩🤣

Not Porto. As of today, Lisbon still listed. Tomorrow...we will see...

2 hours ago, realnice46 said:

Was May 25 the original scheduled date for Getaway to enter dry dock?

 

59 minutes ago, realnice46 said:

Was May 25 the original scheduled date for Getaway to enter dry dock?

 

Correct! Was and has been indeed! Check the vessel's webcam on the NCL website. 😉

Once again, thank you so much for your posts. Been a pleasure following along. The Getaway is right now on her way to Brest (France) for dry dock before her next itinerary starting June 6th. Hopefully they get the dry dock schedule right and the originally planned itinerary is not affected in any way...

The thing with the laundry bag should not be an issue at all. Being Platinum you can send the bag you are entitled to on your very first day if you wish to do so. Later on into the cruise, they will make a "bundle offer" (additional charge) for an extra bag. On my last cruise I sent two laundry bags expecting to be charged for the second one (one was complimentary and there was just one Latitudes member in the cabin) but was not charged at all. Not saying this the normal thing, but this is what happened to me on the Gem last September.

Welcome to Aarhus! Following along. 😃

After a very quick review I feel heartbroken. Karaoke only on one night! Shattered dreams right now! 😜🤪😅

Thank you SO MUCH. Now I have something to read for the weekend! 😅

Enjoy your Oslo day! One of the Scandinavian ports still on my bucket list.

Following this thread with interest since I will be on the Getaway as a solo traveller in less than three weeks and I can already relate to your experience so far. Not my first solo trip, but for sure the first one on which I intend not to mingle so much as on previous ones. Becoming kind of a loner with age, I guess. 😅

Is there any chance you could post the freestyle dailies? Always helpful to know in advance what to expect regarding activities onboard.

Also, any chance of digging into what changes are coming with the dry dock next week? I will be on the first itinerary after it (never a good idea but did not know about it when I booked months ago) and anxiety is growing as the date approaches. 😅

In any case, thanks for your efforts and enjoy the rest of your trip! 😊

10 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Dawn has left to begin Her Summer Seasons travels.  Prayers for all who sail on Her this Summer Seasons (passengers and crew).

Appreciate it! I am one of those! 😆

10 hours ago, marrashadow said:

There is a Tube video of cabins they did get Starlink it went live today.

Thanks for the information! Been watching the video and still wondering what the changes are. Nothing much seems to have improved in the cabins, at least nothing I could easily notice. Same lamps, same furniture, same sockets (still no USBs)...maybe changes have happened in other areas...

Is it an ordinary kind of thing for a cruise line NOT to inform about a vessel's dry dock? I guess it would be in the best of the company's interests to create some anticipation among potential future cruisers. Really curious about this and wondering what changes I will discover on my future cruise on the Dawn. 😅

OK. Apologies everyone. Right after posting I did some additonal research and found a post from last February in which it was indeed confirmed that the vessel would be undegoing some TLC!

Been researching prior to posting but have not managed to find anything, so finally posting here and wondering if anybody can help.

The Dawn was in dry dock back in 2016 and then underwent additional refurbishment in 2021. No dry dock or refurbishment planned for 2024 as far as I know and nothing announced (officially by NCL or otherwise).

However, after the infamous 21 day cruise from Cape Town to Barcelona (March 20th to April 11th) the ship has been repositioned to Marseille and has been sitting there for the last three days. Next scheduled cruise will start from Civitavecchia on April 26th. Quite a gap, isn't it?

So, anybody aware of the real reason for this two-week gap? NCL usually announces scheduled dry docks / refurbishments well in advance, thus creating some awareness and expectations as to the changes onboard by the time the vessels are back to service, so I wonder what the actual reason could be for this (apparent) secrecy.

Have booked on this vessel for next Summer, so really interested in knowing what is going on "behind the scenes". If anything at all, that is. 😉

30 minutes ago, Dididi said:

Sthrncrusr,

 

We're on the MSC World Europa's Christmas (Dec 20-27, 2024) cruise too. Our plan for Malta is to take one of the ship's tours in the morning as finding independent tours on Christmas Day or relying on local transportation are not good options on that day.  As Alserrod points out, everything will be closed, at least until mid afternoon.  We'll walk around Valetta after the tour.

 

Years ago we spent Christmas in Rome. We got tickets for Midnight Mass with the Pope, which was a wonderful communal experience.  We visited a lot of churches on the days leading to Christmas to look at the decorations, in particular the Nativity scenes (presepe). Baby Jesus is not placed in the manger until after Midnight Mass.  We look forward to visiting the churches and Christmas markets in all of the ports.

 

We had a bad experience on Princess in the Mediterranean two years ago re smoking.  The passengers in the cabin next to ours would smoke in their balcony.  We had to call the floor supervisor.  He spoke to the passengers and gave them a warning.  Didn't work, not even after they were fined.  We got $100 OBC for the inconvenience but have decided that from now on, no balcony cabins in the Mediterranean for us.  We've booked an infinity oceanview on the MSC World Europa.  It has a sliding glass panel so we could open it and get fresh air in the room if we wish.

 

I'm a bit concerned about the size of the ship and the number of passengers as we have never been on a ship that big.  But it's a port-intensive cruise in December (pool deck won't be a sea of people) and I've learned tips from a thread re WE's Christmas 2023 cruise (can't recall the member's name but look it up, lots of photos) such as not to go to the dining room early, to wait 5-10 minutes after it opens in order to avoid the huge crowd.  I'm aware this is not an issue in YC.

 

We were in an infinity oceanview cabin too. We loved it!

True, pool should not be crowded, but all those folks will be wandering around the inside of the vessel.

Again, ship is beautiful to look at, but my main complaint is how many of the public areas have been put to (bad) use, thus causing overcrowding in the rest of the vessel. So much wasted space (specially, but not just, the open air aft promenade) full of venues very few people use because they are extra charge. Only time will tell, but my bet is that MSC will end up reconsidering those areas if they continue to be so unsuccessful among passengers.

Other inside venues (Raj Polo Tea House, Champagne Bar and others) were mostly deserted (at least whenever we checked) most of the time, while the "all-inclusive" venues were extremely packed thus rendering them not comfy places to be in.

As I said to the OP, do not let my complaints deter you from enjoying your experience. You will find your way as we found ours, but I have seen better on other MSC cruises, just that.

28 minutes ago, Sthrncrusr said:

thank you!

we’ve been on the Seaside, Seascape and Seashore. Some of those have received horrific reviews too so I hear you and take your advice! Those ships didn’t have walking tracks so I’m hoping I’ll use this giant ship as a canvas to get my walks in each day. Does this ship have a true walking track or do I have to get creative again?!

Planning to spend most time in port in the cooler weather so hopefully I won’t notice the insane crowds onboard or at least too tired too care. 
What was your typical weather like? We start in Barcelona but imagine it’ll get a bi sunnier and warmer as we head south…

Cannot answer your question about the walking track since I am not the walking type and did not even bother to check. Sorry!

About the weather, it will depend on that specific winter period being a cold or a mild one, who knows...

We had mostly mild and sunny / part cloudy weather throughout the itinerary. Only in Genoa did we have a really miserable rainy day, but it was the exception during that week. As a general rule, very cold weather along European coastal areas is not be expected, but winter is winter and you should pack some warm clothes and a raincoat just in case.

As to the sea condition, it was really good as well. Also as a general rule, the last sea day/night (Malta to Barcelona) tends to be the most shaky one (was told once it has do to with the currents and winds on Gulf of Leon), but nothing to worry about. Only ONCE in 14 years have I had a very rocking vessel while on that itinerary and even then I managed to sleep. 😆