expectthebest

I feel like the RCL brand is in a better position then NCL on the basis of NCL for the last 4 years or so offering the Free At Sea promo where you get the booze pkg along with everything else that they could ala carte charge you for. I know it’s all Built in to NCL cruise pricing but at what point do they end the promo? And what backlash would come from it. RCL will let you purchase the add ons separately and then you can pick and choose what extras are worth your money. i feel this is why RCL stack has gone through the roof and NCL stock has sat stagnant for last few years.

Was just on a sailing a few months back out of the same pier as you. here is the skinny: the time assigned does not matter at all.. what matters is you getting to the pier and getting checked in… once you meet with the desk agent and get all checked in you will be handed a paddle with a number on it.. ours was in the 40’s like 47 or something.. my in-laws were at the desk agent down from us and were handed a paddle with 45 on it.. we got to pier around 9:30 and no one was boarding so they usher you to an area to get a seat and wait.. I think it was 10:30 when they anounce boarding numbers 1-5… so I hear this and I walk up to the area with my 47 and there was a agent standing g in middle of aisle guarding the enterance.. he saw my 47 and sent me back.. there were people in haven or different level status and they were allowed through.. but they did enforce the number system. The time it took to get from 1-5 being called to our group which was 45-50 was prob 35 to 40 mins… it wasn’t that bad.. enjoy your trip!!!

Sorry for the long delay I have been on the last leg of a land vacation with another family so had no time to get back to my favorite cruise site and see what was suggested. I have to say.. most of you on here had me in stitches laughing until my eyes were tearing.. I can see how one may assume this was a funny question. I will request an espresso machine from the concierge.. yes.. the concierge even though I am only in a balcony. I feel like if the concierge receives my request he/she may be left without words and may think I have simply forgotten the pecking order. I believe that if I ask with bold confidence in my voice the concierge will accept my request and grant it as a warm gesture to a kind past passenger. My father always told us as kids that you will catch more flies with the doors open. I’ll be sure to report back what the outcome of this seemingly outlandish request.

Hello Cruisers.. We are booked on Symphony of the Seas next June 2025 R/T from NJ to Bahamas. We normally book suites but this time we are doing 2 adjoining boardwalk balcony’s as a compromise to keep the cost down. I didn’t realize that apparently balcony staterooms do not offer a coffee machine in the room. Here is the problem/ question, myself and our 14 year old son have been enjoying espresso’s (he would get decaf) when cruising in our typical suites there is one in the stateroom. I did not see one offered in the balcony class room description when looking at amenities. Can we bring our Nespresso machine from home to use in our stateroom with us if we sail out of NJ ( we would drive to the pier and not need to fly) would the room steward allow this if we unplugged it when not in use? We would clean up after ourselves once we borrowed a few cups and some cream/ sugar from the buffet the night before so it would be ready come first light. We could always make sure the stateroom tv would be on while we are brewing our favorite flavors as to not have our neighbors hear the coffee machine brewing. For those who regularly bring a coffee machine on board.. what advice would you offer? we would also be ok just using it in the morning hours and maybe unplugging it and placing it under the bed or even putting it on the floor in one of the closets covering it with a in room robe that we normally don’t use. Any thought would be helpful..

On our last cruise my extended family and I were enjoying a wonderful dinner in one of the main dining rooms. We witnessed an older gentleman at the table next to us ( they were a party of 6) take a Pringle’s can out of a very wrinkled and worn dollar general plastic bag. Our 6 year old was the first to notice and said “look dad, he brought potato chips to dinner”..to me that seemed a bit odd but to each his own.. then the gentleman proceeded to sneakily open the top of the pringles can while slowly looking to his left and then to his right. It immediately became apparent that the can of Pringles was empty..he then reached for the warm basket of bread and proceeded to load about 6 rolls methodically one at a time in said Pringle’s can. We watched in awe at this well oiled operation that was done with such precision he also filled the remaining space in the can with at least 5 butter packets. He secured the top on the can.. placed it back in the well traveled plastic bag and continued conversation and dinner with his family. We have never seen anything quite like it. Upon leaving the restaurant our 6 year old turned to me and said.. “dad, do you think the butter packets are gonna melt in the pringles can??? We still laugh about what happened but also have so many questions!!!

We are goi g to explore the margarita and mojito menus starting on Sunday afternoon… by the time we get to Bermuda I think our group will have the bars figured out 🤣

Thank you Bird!!! You always offer the best advice and I value your feedback always.

Hello Critics: Sailing this Sunday on JOY R/T NYC Bermuda.. it will be our first time on the JOY.. We have the standard booze package up to $15 I believe. Is there a particular bar / area to get a good classic margarita? Or is it hit or miss when we belly up to the assortment of bars on the ship. We are in an inside suite with virtual balcony if that matters. Anyone just off in the last couple months that may have had a terrific margarita while onboard? In my head that’s all I’m thinking about to be able to relax and unplug from life for the week. I’m also partial to good mojitos as well.. thanks in advance!!!! Best, Mark

Great info!! Thank you all the cruise is on Joy 5/26-6/02 NYC Bermuda

Do they direct you to the other 2 piers (90/ 92) when you pull up? If they are numeric I would imagine the other 2 piers right next to pier 88? If I park at the other 2 piers is it an easy walk back to pier 88? sorry for all the questions

I was just on the parking site trying to prepay for cruise pier 88 parking in NYC.. I realize it’s $45 per day and parking tends to fill up. The site said no availability but other dates it gave me the option to purchase. Does that mean when we drive up we will be turned away or do they usually hold a bunch of spots for day of to be sold? I will be traveling with my in-laws in the same vehicle and my MIL does not do good with travel stress. Is there other parking close or an overflow lot that is still part of NCL? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I am not familiar with searching a parking topic on this site so please forgive me if this has been asked to nausea sailing date is 3 weeks away 🚢 Bird? Any experience with this if you have sailed from pier 88 -Mark

Speaking of elevators.. this happened to me and my DW on a 15 day Princess cruise to Hawaii. Now at the time we were in our early 30’s and it was our first time on a 15 day voyage. Median age on this cruise had to be upper 70’s so come 9pm we would have almost the entire ship to ourselves. Anyway.. it was the first of the two formal nights on the cruise and yes you had to dress up and yes it was just divine having an entire ship looking their best. We were getting on the elevator when the doors open and a couple was exiting the elevator leaving one couple still in the elevator with us. Well there stood a man and woman in a tux and a cocktail dress. They had to be in their late 70’s he strongly resembled Paul Newman and she Diane Keaton. We step in with them and say good evening.. they smile and he turns to his wife and says..go ahead.. tell this nice young couple how the two passengers who just got out of the elevator insulted me. My wife and I said oh my god, what happened ?? The wife proceeds to tell us that the couple got on the elevator and took one look at her husband and said.. wow.. great tux.. you look like a million bucks!! She paused.. and her husband says.. can you believe it??? So I said to his wife.. I don’t get it.. (looking at the husband) I said, you do look like a million bucks. She looked at us deadpan and replies “He’s worth seven !!’ You can’t make this stuff up. My wife and I still laugh when we relive some of our best times we have had at sea.

This. Exactly!!! Its a race to the bottom!!! I did hear through a reliable NCL Insider (and by insider I mean they always book an inside cabin) that NCL was going to offer as part of their free at sea program a “manners at sea” where most of the ships officers will teach you how to act in public spaces on your current cruise. Expect to see the rollout in the beginning of September 2024.

I think COVID has put us back as a society where it forces the individual now to put themselves (toilet paper famine) and their families (social gatherings) first. We created a me first and a “got mine” way of life that unfortunately is not pretty. Since over half the country is still work from home and has been for a few years now we have lost the ability to be nice and cordial to each other because we are all behind a computer screen and when we are in public together we really forget how to act and pick up on social cues..which gives way to a rise in misunderstandings which inevitably turns into a fight for all of the public to see.. then these scuffles make the news and people on the cruises think this is acceptable behavior.

We are in a family suite JOY with virtual balcony in 60 days from now. 5/26-6/2/24 Bermuda RT NYC yes you have access to concierge if you need it. The room I hear is enormous and a 2nd bedroom and bathroom will help our family of 4 quite nicely. i will write a review of our trip upon our return. I am a very detailed writer with a slight slant towards the sarcastic/ funny side.(search some of my posts lol) I can promise you will be amused at our family’s take on this upcoming trip

Thank you both for your quick response!!

Hello fellow critics: I recall while cruising from NYC few years back on sailaway day we were charged a small additional tax per drink while we were docked in NYC. We have a Bermuda cruise on Joy 5/26-6/02/24 Joy RT NYC my question is while we are in Bermuda for 3 days will we be charged a tax per drink there as well. I ask bc the says in port are almost half of the days we are cruising. Does anyone know how much per drink.. hoping my shareholder benefit ($100 credit) will cover the charges Thanks- Mark

The only reason we packed it in our carry on is because we wanted to get drone footage in and around NYC. It worked out great I even sent the footage to NCL with a release that they can use any footage the deem fit at will. They asked we only use while ship is in port so the drone does not malfunction due to high winds bc the ship can travel up to 23 knots at times.

This is a serious question.. I love cruising.. I love getting great service.. but not once has the ships officers or any higher ups ever even entered my mind. Please enlighten me on what I am missing.. do people cruise so much that they develop a kinship with the officers? thank you in advance

This is correct.. I had my drone in my carry on that I brought onboard to fly off the back of the ship on port days and the security guard at the port said wow I can’t believe you got that through.. I asked him what was the craziest thing he ever let through the X-ray machine and onboard and he said.. you probably won’t believe this but a set of Cutco knives in a gorgeous natural wood block!!

We usually do 5 nights in the MDR. we always request the same servers in the same section around the same time. The servers are a large part of our nightly enjoyment when eating.. by the second night your drink of choice is usually presented to you as you arrive at the table.. and the usual special requests are often granted.. like room temp butter that easily spreads on the rolls. (2) shrimp cocktail for me as an app most nights.. water with lemon.. etc. so at the end of the cruise (last dinner) we give both of or children $50 each and they get a kick out of handing it to our table servers who are always so wonderful. We have always tipped our MDR staff for the last 20 years of cruising..

Agreed. I can’t believe years ago they would ring your door bell and ask you if you wanted to buy cookies. Seems like doing that today would be a real gamble. Although I have to say in our town schools still collect at intersections for funding for sports and also emergency/ first responders. That’s why I always keep small bills in my car just in case

She said that the security officer was more interested in the stunning natural wood block. Sandy said she could not break up the set. That is Cutco policy.

I knew this question would come up so here is how we managed to score such a good deal. On cruises I always cary onboard (2) $500 face value series EE US savings bonds that have long since matured on 1/1/1995 we also had $550 in cash I usually keep in an ultra safe saddle brown money belt that I always wear when traveling. Sandy happened to take a liking to my wife’s beautiful Tanzanite pendant delicately strung on a 14 ct white gold necklace that she gave to her which we bought on a carnival cruise years ago. The necklace is valued at $750 which my wife still happened to carry in her purse the certificate of authenticity that she received from tanzanite international where we were lucky enough to find at a bargain price of $695 so another $55 in saving wasn’t bad 3 years ago. So yes in total $2300 but as you can see Sandy was nice enough to accept some of the value in trade.

Also.. yes we paid $2300 for the knife set with a stunning natural wood block. The retail on the set was $2,449 that was the selling point for my wife.. she kept saying don’t think of it as spending $2300 we need to think of it as we are saving $149!! Also having Sandy there knowing she has been in Cutco sales for over 13 months also put me at ease.