AandBmom

I was on the Star a few weeks ago and I couldn't find any record of my reservations on the iConcierge app, not even the ones I made on the app itself. I obviously can't use it right now, but do you remember how you looked them up?

I couldn't either. Reservations weren't displayed on the app or tv. I assumed they would be do i didn't write them down.

Pardon me for asking, but how do you function in your everyday life? How do you remember which restaurant and time you made a reservation at for Friday night? What about doctor's appointments? School conferences? Appointments to have the HVAC guy come to service your system? What you need to get from the grocery store or Target?

 

Do you write anything down, or do you just make appointments and then rely on your memory or wait for them to call you to remind you?

 

I have never forgotten to go to anything on a cruise. It's extremely easy to go to MyNCL, print out your listing of booked dining reservations and show times and bring the papers with you onboard.

 

I do agree that the specialty restaurants tend to book up. But even then, on the first day, you could just go to the guy taking reservations in the Atrium and see what is available. Or even just show up at the restaurant. With the fairly newish a la carte system and not needing to pay in advance, plenty of people make reservations and then just change their minds and not show up.

Ironically I'm quite type A and very organized. I have 4 kids and a very demanding job so on vacation I pack away all phoned, agendas, etc.

I get why people are frustrated with my post.

I'm happy to read others have felt this way too. I think ppl are correct that this feeling is more apparent on the larger ships. Something I hadn't considered.

Thanks for the input folks.

We were in Harvest Caye last week.

It is beautiful. The pool is gorgeous. The beach is nice (sand rough though). The bars are nice. The splash pad is great.

Does it feel like an authentic Belize experience - no....But can it be a beautiful day on a nice clean island for sun and fun without being bugged to buy stuff and tip people and "come look beautiful lady"...absolutely.

I recommend making this a relaxing, inexpensive day.

We've sailed on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and NCL.

While NCL talks all about being Freestyle, I found it more difficult to book specialty restaurants, especially for a group of 6, book shows, get turned away for not having reservations, etc. If you want to get everyone in to the things you want it's helpful to book in advance, like before your vacation starts....but you often forget what you booked for when once you're aboard. Also, you may feel like 5:30 dinner reservations are great 2 months in advance but that day you nap at 5pm and oops, missed it.

Anyway, just curious if anyone else actually found figuring out what's included, what costs more money, what needs prebooked, etc more annoying than just being able to show up at any show or restaurant when you want???

Also NCL talks like you can't dine on other ships whenever you want. Well we haven't had a fixed MDR time on any ship in years, all seem to offer some sort of "my time" dining.

Just my 2 cents.

We were there last week.

I tried to book something more local to do and "Belize-y". I learned from a private company that they are not allowed to the island to get people for tours. So your only way is to book through NCL. Interesting looking tours but very expensive and lots of time in transit.

So we decided to make this our beach day. It's beautiful. The pool is gorgeous, the beach is pretty but the sand is rough. The butterfly exhibit is nice. The shop are minimal. The bars are fun and prices are average. The chairs are plentiful. Although getting off earlier or later in the day will help get you chairs together for your group in an area of your choosing.

If you've been to Grand Turk it feels very similar except you can't walk down the beach and find local establishments. NCL puts out water and your key card works for charging stuff (your drink packages do not work there).

This was a really inexpensive enjoyable day for us. We purchased a drink each and shared some nachos, then had a late lunch on the ship. Otherwise didn't spend any money there.

We also didn't feel the need for a cabana. The lounge chairs with umbrellas were fine for us plus then we were close to everything, bars, food, beach, splash pad, pool, etc.

"When those free minutes (or, MB data if allocated as such) are used up or expired - there's no prompt or pop-up to buy, it will just stop working. But, you can log-in and follow the directions to buy or go see the ship's Internet Cafe manager during her/his "office" hours for help with initial setup, simple tech advice or buy/add more minutes. "

I think that part might be iffy.....I had the 250 min promo thing last week on Getaway and I had 1 min left as per the app that monitors it. I went on expecting it to kick me out. Well 5 or 6 minutes passed and I was still messaging through facebook. I checked the app and it said "your complimentary wifi is done and you are now pay per use per minute" or something like that. So just take note when you're near the end. I don't know if I got charged as I didn't see my final stateroom bill.

Also yes....always log out.

As for ways to message people. I made sure I had my important people on either facebook or I downloaded BBM messenger to message other friends. You can also use whatsapp. They're all good for sending texts and pictures through the wifi and not your phone.

Put phone in airplane mode to avoid other charges.

We decided to try RCCL and NCL after wanting a change from our much loved but starting to get redundant Carnival.

We tried loved RCCL the Freedom of the Seas, but overall found it wasn't entirely different than our Carnival experiences. Some things better, some worse.

Then we tried the Epic . We disliked the cabins, found the ship layout annoying and found the staff overworked and generally disinterested. But we liked the food, love O'Sheehans, loved the shows and overall had a great time. Again found more similarities than differences.

We decided to try the Getaway just last week and again, some great things, some not so great.

While the many specialty restaurants are fun for dinner, we missed having the consistent waiter and dining room experience. Further, we found we missed having different lunch choices that Carnival offers.

My advice would be to definitely try a new line just to enjoy some new food, new ways of doing things, etc.

I love that we have 4 cruise lines we've sampled and loved so we have lots of choice!

I'm not an Epic fan but hey it wasn't terrible. Make the most of it and enjoy. Take pics of the weird bathrooms. enjoy the booze. Shows are good.

Eat lots of mozza sticks in the pub!

I see pool cabanas on the NCL website but no beach ones.

Anyone?

I'm confused. I see pics on here of nice wooden cabana things. People say they are $100 an hour. Heard max 6 ppl. Saw list of what's included....

comes with the cabana:

The price includes:

*Air Conditioning in the cabana

*Golf cart too/from

*Cheese and fruit plates

*Bottled waters

*Sound system

*Bathroom with shower

*Outdoor showers

*Butler/concierge

On my NCL excursions booking page I see other cabanas. Look like white canvas? and say $330 for the day.

Can someone help me understand?

We're looking for ideas other than beaching it as we will be on a beach the day prior. Kids range from 6-13. Ideas?

It's more costly but my kids all really enjoyed Playa Mia.

I was hoping the cirque type show would be on the ship like our last NCL cruise but it looks like it's Illsionarium this time.

How is it? what is is like? What's the food like? Seating advice?

The information about this port has been available for a few years now.

No doubt. Just frustrated with myself for not noticing. I assumed it would be the same port I attended last time in Belize. It will surely be okay. Just put a wrench in my planning. Kids really wanted to cave tube. We could still through NCL but the cost just went from around $600 through private company to now around $1100 for our group. Yikes.

Actually just did an estimate. Looks like for our family of 6 would be between $61 and $80. I'm thinking we'll just do SAS for$78 given the amazing experience we've had with them in the past and the fact they can for sure fit all of our luggage.

Does anyone recall how much the trip from FLL to POM was with Uber?

Also has anyone used Uber for a group of 6?

Yes if you book in Canadian all future transactions you book on line will be in Canadian. When you get on board it will all in US so anything charged will be converted to Canadian by the charge card company at around 30% or more :(

That's basically what I learned so it appears to make most sense to buy credit ahead in Canadian dollars. The rate is similar to the bank rate right now but then we avoid the processing fee credit cards add.

For the boys: if they have any interest in the ropes course, go there and enjoy while the crowds are low.

Girls can't do this? :p

Just learned today you can't book your own excursions through private companies :(

Can someone please advise what's supplied in the way of toiletries?

Shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer?

I bring as little as possible...

Can you please help with a few questions?

Is there a splash are for kids or just pool?

Is the water swimable for little ones?

I heard cabanas are for 6ppl only, can one family book one and the other family visit them?

Any other advice? I heard bring lots of drinking water. Anything else?

dollar store for us

I just learned that the new NLC port in Belize is off the mainland and you can't do anything through private companies. I'm feeling a little frustrated that I didn't understand this when I booked. I was so looking forward to going to Belize mainland and showing my extended family the culture, the cave tubing, etc.

I know we'll go and make the best of it. In fact, I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised by this new port. But right now I'm feeling pretty frustrated.

If anyone is just back from there I'd love to hear what you thought. Especially if you were there with kids.

Thanks so much.

I'm so frustrated that we just got this email.

Thank you for contacting us.

I'm sorry, NCL Is not allowing independent tour operators to pic up guests at Harvest Caye.

Regards,

Yhony

This is not what I was expecting for Belize. :(

Basically sounds like Grand Turk there with no chance of visiting ma and pa local establishments.

I just tried to book butts up cave tubing. Got this email back....

Thank you for contacting us.

I'm sorry, NCL Is not allowing independent tour operators to pic up guests at Harvest Caye.

Regards,

Yhony

Has anyone else heard of this? Is there a way around it. I'm very frustrated with NCL right now....