bedfordmom

Yes some excursions fail to meet minimum numbers. On my recent cruise we were thrilled to learn st Martin replaced St Lucia. Even happier to see the America’s Cup being offered. We were supposed to do that years ago but the port was cancelled due to Hurricane Maria. Only 3 signed up so it was cancelled. I thought the same with 4K passengers only 3 so only one other person including us signed up

My first cruise was also on my honeymoon on the Starward. We were in an outside with a tiny port hole and the entire room was metal and felt we were on a Navy ship. I also remembered if pulling right into town for both St Thomas St Martin. You can still see those ports today - very tiny and unused. I remember having to dress up for every dinner and didn’t have the right clothes.

Thoroughly enjoying your review. What did you do in St Thomas?

Agree if you really want a particular excursion book it before It seems that you can book most while on the ship, making sure to ask for your latitudes discount. I also agree that if the ship does not make port, you could potentially lose your deposit or full money. Thats why when I book w/ a private vendor, I make sure that I have them verify that if we don't make port that they will refund our money. One vendor even stated that if we catch covid on the ship they would refund which is new to me. Yes the ship excursion will wait for you. I fondly remember coming back from a long Cayman Island excursion w/ 50 other folks to cheers. But if something goes horribly wrong like the lady that broke her leg on the St. Kitts volcano ship excursion who had to stay in port for the hospital, they won't wait. I always weigh out the advantages vs disadvantages of private vs ship sponsored. With the $50 credit, prices tends to be similar but advantage to the private is that there are often times less participants making a more pleasant excursion.

It went straight to our onboard account when we missed DR last week

Wow now I want to sail on the Sky.

I know I am too loyal but I am in patient care in a VA hospital and hate to take too much time away from my Vets. Plus we are down by two clinicians and my leave put a big stress on my coverage. By my next trip, we should be fully staff or maybe I will be retired lol

Syd Normans had two other different shows which we did not get a chance to see

If I remember right, smoked salmon has been off the breakfast buffet for years (since at least 2015) except for the main dining room. One of the perks of the family suite on the Dawn is that I was able to eat suite breakfast and have my smoked salmon. I was able to coerce my DH into the dining room for breakfast for this cruise when he figured out that they had much better OJ than the buffet (though that changed near the end of the cruise . I actually would order only order two smoked salmon (each half bagel) for my breakfast. Now on my recent Royal Caribbean cruise they not only had unlimited smoked salmon on the buffet, they had premade smoked salmon bagels and even mini avocado toast!! Thats enough to make me sail them again.

Sadly we are not going to be on that TA. We were ambivalent and wanted to take the 2/26 cruise instead. While gone both the balcony prices and airfares rose considerably. In addition, I still work and it would be unfair to my colleagues if I was to take another 2.5 weeks though I had the time. Plus I felt a little cruised out. I hope to do the TA either West in the fall or more realistically East next spring (though the prices are really high now). I did not see pool towels in the stateroom. It was easy to pick them up at the pool. If the towel stand was not open you could still take towels. What I did not understand was that in the beginning they gave out towels and then started to account for them. On my informal books, I was over 4 towels lol In terms of the tiny main meal, it was inconsistent so I never thought to order more than two appetizers (only once) and never did more than one entre. We brought our usual tradition of bugels and fritos (only on a cruise mind you) plus they had the buffet. Mind you we never were hungry. I do wish that they had more water filling stations. We had to go up to the 15th floor to refill our water bottles for the morning pills. Wouldn't it be a treat to have a water bottle filling station on each floor. I will also check out MSC. I like to go for the itinerary/price and then the cruise company. Though I love the loyalty perks that NCL gives (I think best in of all), I really like RCL and would consider any other company for the right combination.

And how could I forget the cancellation of Dominican Republic and the addition of a sea day. Lesson learned: don’t wait until the last port to buy gifts ( especially booze) Ship prices were high compared to my MA packie so bought rum at home for a gift.

Hi all: We recently returned from the Getaway. A little about us. We are from the Greater Boston area. . I am 62 still working and DH is 65 and retired on year. We are both Platinum, almost Saphire with other cruises on Royal Caribbean and Carnival. We drove from home on the day of the cruise. We left at 6am, with two pit stops and gas up, we arrived at the Pier garage a little after 9:30am. While almost to the port I saw that the itinerary was changed from St. Lucia to St Martin with St. Kitts one day later. I tried to make independent excursions but we were almost at the port at that point. We breezed through security at my designated 930-10am time and was seated in Platinum. The girl who checked me in tried to give me a boarding number but I knew better and went immediately to the platinum seating area. We were on the ship by 11am. While seated I tried to book the America Cup race something I tried to do years ago but the port was cancelled due to Hurricane Maria. That was full and I suspected Norwegian had taken those slots so I waited to book it on the ship, When we got on, I went to LeBistro and booked my second specialty at Cagneys and they confirmed my first booking at Cagneys (more about that later). I also visited the Cruise Next desk to get my tour the next day and Latitudes gathering. Shore excursions were really busy so I decided to go later. Our first meal was at Shanghi. It was not busy but suspect that later it would be. I definately over ordered but we really enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to the comedian show which was not particularly funny. The next day, the first sea day was quite busy. I wake up at do my 1/2 hour on the bike and 1/2 hour on the elipticle. Then I do the stretch class which was one of the best I've ever did. I met my DH at O'Sheehans for a truly hot breakfast. We then went for our 9am behind the scenes tour; when that ended we had our cruise critic party. I then spent time in line to register for the St. Martin America Cup. Unfortunately that eventually got cancelled due to lack of participation as only three registered. We ended up signing up for the Phillipsburg bike tour. LESSON LEARNED: I had to return to the Shore Desk and stand in line for my platinum 10% credit so ask for it up front. We ate in the buffet which was crowded. Relaxed in the afternoon. Supper was at Taste and I had Bourbon Chicken. While at supper we talked with a very nice couple who said that their Cagneys (for the same day as ours was cancelled) As a result they were cancelling their additional specialties. Well I said that we still had ours, and that I had checked it and had documentation. Famous last words as when I checked my app, it said that we now had a reservation at 6:15 on day 4. Wait What, we will be in San Juan. After getting no where with the reservations staff, we went to Cagneys the next day where after standing firm with the lady at the desk, they finally agreed that they screwed up; would not give me my documented reservation but did say we could come after 7:30 on San Juan Day. What was irritating was that they never called me for the cancellation: The dinner; however at Cagneys was excellent. Here are my excursions: San Juan: Lucky nonship bus tour $25. Basically these guys stand outside of the port and ask if anyone needs a store, fills a bus and out they go. After going to San Juan 10X, I have never done a tour. We thoroughly enjoyed the two hours and was brought back to the port (we also had the option to go shopping but we wanted to make our 7:30am reservations. You pay when you finish the tour. Highly recommend Saint Martin: Bike Tour. Nice new bikes stationed at the port. We biked about 6-7 miles around the dutch side stopping often for narration. We were given one water bottle. At the end, we ended up at the beach for a quick dip and rum punch. Then we rode back to the port Highly recommend St Kitts: We always go to Palm Court Gardens, 15 minute walk from the port following the water. Most people take a taxi there. Admission is 20$ gives you access to a beautiful infinity pool, whirlpool, gardens, changing room, loungers and umbrellas. There is a nice restaurant onsite where we always get their pressed coffee. Also a beautiful shell gift shop all hand made by locals. We had to leave by 12:30 as our ship sailed at 130pm. (highly recommend) Barbados: Calabassa 12 person catamaran. This was our second time there. They pick you up at the port. Feed you breakfast of coffee, fruit, quiche and banana bread. Then two standard snorkle stops: turtles and the wreck. Then we park for lunch and swim. fritters, lasagna, fish chicken three salads and much more plus desert. Also the drinks were flowing, I had the rum punch. HIghly Highly recommend at 150 pp. Antigua We took a shared taxi to Dickinson Beach for 5$pp. I guess you get what you pay for as I was not impressed with the beach. We did not rent chairs (10) or umbrellas (more) as we agreed upon a short amount of time. As a result the chair guys chased us away from the beach. Next time we will try another one (DO NOT recommend) St. Thomas: We used our "free Paradise Point voucher and then bought another one for $25 on site. I had the Bushwacker which was excellent. Following an hour there, we walked to the synagogue for a free tour. I've always wanted to go there but have always been there on a Sat/Sun which they are closed. (Recommend) Shows: Million Dollar Quarter (excellent); Rumours (highly excellent ). Unplugged (pretty good). and Burn the Floor (ok, not for me). I enjoyed Mike the comedian way more in the Headliners. The last night was Abba by Zenhitt. Although it is an amazing pool band, I didn't think the theater was the venue for this group, another example of cutbacks. For Rumours, we happened to walk by 45 mins before showtime, saw only one table with two seats and waited. We had no idea of the treat that was in store for us. I don't understand why they don't use a bigger venue like the Theater for this amazing show. Speaking of cutbacks, the most disappointing was the once a day cleaning. Now I am not a fussy person but do expect my bed to be made, new towels and floor vacuumed. In the beginning we noticed that our room was done by noon but never vacuumed. By the end of the week it was 4-5pm. When I asked the steward, he said that we fell to the end of the time because everyone wanted early. So imagine coming back from the beach around2pm, no clean towels and wanting to take a shower and your room is not done. So we leave and eat lunch still craving that shower come back at three and still not done. We go out again and come back and he is now making up the bunk bed for the next people, no vacuuming no cleaning off smudges NOTHING. So we had to wait for him to prepare the cabin for the next people in three days. Obviously he got no additional tip and if I could have would have cancelled on my prepaid tips. . Another cutback is on the food. I never saw salmon in the dining room as we must have missed it during our two specialities. The portions (except for desert) were painfully small, lukewarm to cold. For example, I ordered the tilapia, (portion the size of my iphone); yellow carrots which was the size of three fingernails and fingering potations (one tiny potato the size of my thumb). The appetizer was muscles and saffron rice. I got four shells no muscles but at least the saffron rice was good. I know people say to order a couple of appetizers but when they are painfully small, its not alot. Also don't always remember that the main dish will be so small. I also had the carrot/ginger soup that was not edible. Most other meals were OK but overall not great. We loved the salads at O'sheehand and would go there just for the salad. The buffet was OK, the same food would be there lunch and dinner, and I mean the same food. I did like teatime snacks but it always didn't coincide if we planned for an early dinner. As a result of these cutbacks, we decided to not do the TA which I was going to book when I returned and to look into other lines. That is not to say that I won't return but will do so with my eyes wide open. I still think that Norwegian still has the best itineraries and prices.

Just off of the 2/26 Getaway. Upon embarkation we learned that St. Lucia was dropped, St Kitts moved and St Martin added. Now I absolutely love St. Martin but come on, telling us as we are arriving at the port. Obviously they knew prior as they had already had 50+ excursions set up. Luckily my other site had people reporting in the changes. I was able to change my day pass at a St. Kitt pool and was desparately looking for a St. Martin non ship excursion. I wanted the America Cup, privately it was sold out (guess what Norwegian had all the spaces) I booked it w/NCL and they ended up cancelling us as they only had 3 participants. One silver lining is when I was checking the rest of my private excursions I noticed that I booked the wrong date for the Barbadps catamaran (the day after-totally my fault) . A quick call to Barbados (I can't wait to see that cost) and they switched me to the correct date. Now I have an issue with the dropping of Dominican Republic. Although I was just there six months ago and I had a request for Mamajuana (their spiced rum). Guess what, I had nothing to bring this person back as I had waited for the last port to buy it. . A trip to the liquor shop on board showed 2x prices in MA/NH (yes I had taken pictures prior to departure of the main liquors). So the day after disembarkation, we went to the local liquor store to buy some gifts The ship announced 15 minutes after departure that we were dropping DR and having a sea day. Now they knew that hours prior because the new information was on the dailies that were delivered immediately upon sailing. . Not sure why they waited to let us know, perhaps afraid people would take their time boarding.

Just got off the 2/26 Getaway. My DH and myself wandered into Syd Normans at 8.15 for the 9pm Rumours Show having no idea and boy it knocked our sox off. 45 mins prior there were only 2 tables of 2 up front. Don’t remember a Haven section. Best show of the trip and wished we saw the other two shows

Did it day 5 and 8 of a 12 day cruise actually put 1 pr. jeans first followed by 9 total all rolled sox and underwear about six shirts and workout gear and a couple of shorts. Once got it back next day. The second one was done in a day

Spectacular review and pictures. Wish I got to meet you on the cruise.

Agree but we were so shocked we did not know what to say.

We asked but said too many people wanted early. So we got stuck with late . One day we had to wait while he prepared the bunk for the incoming cruise. Not fair. And forget about towel animas. We are platinum so it’s not our first rodeo.

Ice what is that. No one got ice even once a day

Yes so that means some people end up with cleaning at supper time. The poor stewards are exhausted and overworked

Not going well on the Feb 26 Getaway. I originally thought no big deal but didn’t realize that the stewards have double the rooms than before. That means that you may get your morning service at 5pm.Imagine coming back to your cabin after a long day and wanting to take a shower. No dry towels and the room steward is trying to get in the room. When asked why do late he said everyone requested early.

Is anyone having trouble getting their room cleaned before 5 pm? That is the most frustrating part of the once a day cleaning. Yesterday was staff muster do they were super late.

Boarding plat now

Actually going to St Martin and St Kitts. I rushed to change my Palm Court Garden reservation to another day plus read up on trip advisor as I haven’t been to St Martin in a while. I i went to book America Cup on their website maunjng the cruise company may have them. Will be going to Shoreex immediately upon boarding to get that excursion if available

Looking forward to seeing everyone on board but need to make the 3 hour drive first so leaving soon