dmwnc1959

1 hour ago, trivimp said:

 

In my experience, 5:30 is a pretty easy reservation to get at any of the dining venues.  7:00-ish tends to book up fast, and those are the hard slots to get if you wait too long.  (We also like to eat early to free up the evening for shows & stuff.)

Thanks! Not sure why, but I’ve always been an early eater, not just breakfast but for every meal. I’m also an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ kind of guy, so I don’t like to go to bed with the full stomach. Pretty much looking forward to trying out all of the specialty restaurants! 

1 hour ago, ricksurf said:

You can make all your dining reservations online without any charges.  When you check in for your dinner at the individual restaurant, then they will ask you how you want to pay for the meal. You just tell them to use your meal plan.

Very nice tip! THANK YOU! 👍🏻

2 hours ago, JillK said:

Hubby and I did a 14 night cruise on the Jade this past November. Overall we loved the ship and found it to be very fresh and clean - not showing her age at all.

 

The two things we disliked...

 

1/ no seating on the promenade deck which on past ships has always been a favourite place to spend some quality time outside but not in the sun. 

2/ the coffee bar being in the atrium. The net effect was that whereas usually the atrium is the heartbeat of the ship, in the evenings the atrium was a ghost town. We sailed on the the Jade's sister ship the Gem in 2019 and spent some time every night at the atrium bar. Really missed doing this on the Jade. 

 

Otherwise a great ship which I wouldn't hesitate to book again. 

The lack of promenade seating is a huge check mark in my ‘Negatives’ column. There are vast stretches of recessed areas along the Promenade Deck where NCL could put dozens of seating options along this sheltered area. Even if it were just large benches, which could also store life vests or other safety equipment. I do wonder if they consider it a safety issue? Coral Princess has replaced their padded steamer loungers with wooden slat chairs with a table in between, but at least it’s something. 

Other than the atrium coffee bar, are there other areas on Norwegian Jade to get specialty coffees, i.e. somewhere in the Garden Cafe buffet? 

19 minutes ago, mcmomny said:

I hope you enjoy The Jade as much as we did!

This is a fairly big leap for me - 25 nights - and definitely the longest single (non-B2B) cruise I’ve ever taken. I think that I’ve done enough research to choke a mule. 🤣 But my research is the biggest investment I can make so there aren’t any crazy surprises. So far I really, really like what I see in Norwegian Jade, and it checks off a lot of boxes for what I want in a cruise. I do think that this is going to be rather amazing. 

😁

So if I order these in advance and have them delivered to the room on embarkation day, just out of curiosity are these baked fresh on board or are they from packaged cookies?

25 minutes ago, mcmomny said:

Yes, your account will know this and not charge you.. Now about the app, I have only booked via online and have not booked via the app. 

I’ll make sure to use my iPad and the online website. 👍

47 minutes ago, mcmomny said:

Loved La Cucina, we had the place to ourselves and the staff were amazing! And for the first time I convinced my husband to try Le Bristro and he loved it!

 

Jasmines along with the MDR's are included but there was always a wait for Jasmines but it was worth it!

 

Our favorite place on The Jewel class ships is "The Great Outdoors" for all sail aways!

 

I’d love to be able to eat at La Cucina several nights! Found sample menus from there and Jasmine’s and it looked amazing. And eating outdoors while grabbing some fresh air breakfast and hearing the sound of the wake….perfection. 

😎

@ricksurf @mcmomny  

Another question if I may regarding reserving specialty dining.

When I make online reservations via the app, and I’ve purchased a 7-9 night specialty dining plan, will my reservation ‘know’ this and debit one night each per reservation, or is it charging me and I’ll get the credit of my dining plan deducted from my onboard account? I’m assuming this all shows up on my encoded cruise card? 
 

Hope that’s not too confusing! 
 

6 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

Remember if you spend it on NCL you get triple points.  And if you take the OBC, yu leave money onthe table.  You will get no points for your onboard sending.  If you use your NCL card to pay your onboard bill, yu get triple points and once home you can get a statement credit to pay off the OB charges.

all very good points! Thank you very much!!! 

On 10/5/2023 at 4:02 PM, mrfeeto said:

…Then getting lied to repeatedly - saying it had to be NCL purchases in order get any sign up bonus, etc. 

Just signed up for the card and got approved. Was wondering if anyone could tell me does the initial $1000 spend specifically have to be in NCL purchases or can it be anything? I guess I would have no problems using it and paying off $1000 of the current invoice, or maybe buying an onboard dining package and paying for the tips in advance.

I did read back several pages but most of the conversations seem to be about upgrades, and I want to use it for the $250 OBC. 

3 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

On the Gem and the Jewel, the access to the bow is directly from Deck 8 forward. (The Promenade Deck is Deck 7, which is lower.) I can’t make out what you are seeing in that photo that you believe to be stairs, but on the Gem and the Jewel there’s a very high step that you must climb over just before you get outside.  There are always crew members there to help. 
 

This is the Gem. 
 

I used the same picture but cropped it tighter, and do see the large lip to step over a lot better in your picture. What I thought I was seeing in my attachment looks like a metal staircase going up. I had been looking at the deck plans and Deck 8 forward just appears to be passenger cabins, which is why I thought maybe it was from Deck 7. 
 

Map received today! Time to lay out some Panama Canal tracks to keep me inspired, you know, just in case. 😁
 

As for the bow being open for the approach to the Panama Canal, does anyone remember when (or if) they announce how it’s accessed? I’ve seen some pictures of the bow that look like interior stairs coming down from the forward (enclosed portion) of the Promenade Deck at the bow? Appears they may open it at 6am-ish?

@ricksurf @Captain k  @mcmomny  

I also wanted to ask about how difficult it was to make restaurant reservations, especially for extended cruises. I usually eat around 5:30pm and wanted to buy the 7-meal Specialty Dining Package (will have a total of 9) to try out some of the restaurants. Having never cruised NCL before, can you make dining reservations before embarkation on the app? Is this only available after final payment is made? Thanks again! 

19 hours ago, memoak said:

Two things to note. The Coral can go through the old Panama Canal locks unlike most ships. That is a huge draw for us. We also like the Ruby but again that is an extra 1,000 passengers and cannot go through the old locks 

I cruised the Ruby Princess back in 2012 as part of a B2B with Allure of the Seas. It was crazy how Ruby Princess just always felt crowded and claustrophobic. Many years earlier I’d also cruised Dawn Princess and her sister Sun Princess in the Caribbean and Alaska, and never really noticed them being congested. That extra 1000 people really make a difference! 

Still hemming and hawing between two ships doing a long (16-25 nights) Panama Canal cruise: Coral Princess and/or Norwegian Jade.

For those that have done extended cruises (3-4 weeks) on the Norwegian Jade in the past year, using the Free at Sea promotions with drinks and dining, what were some of the things you DIDN'T like or thought could be better? What were some of the features and amenities of the ship that just didn’t work with crowds and onboard reservations (restaurants, atrium, shows, bars, promenade decks, etc.). 
 

I’m hoping to get some insight as to how the ship handles the onboard passenger experience when operating on longer repositioning  cruises. 
 

THANK YOU! 

PAGE 10!!!!

🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉
WE DID IT!

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

It’s not just about pretty pictures…it’s illustrating a point, or telling a story.  EM

Well, I am VERY grateful for the 6 pages of pretty pictures on this thread! 

38 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

A two-fer today, Sea Cloud Spirit and Emerald Azzurra.  Small enough that they can fit in the same lock.  What a gift for us!  And just imagine the view from the cargo ship in the neighboring lock at Gatun.  What a view you would have from your port side balcony if it was a cruise ship.  And what you would be missing if you stayed on your starboard or aft facing balcony

…

What a truly remarkable image with the two of them at Miraflores, just magnificent! It must have truly been a sight. And you’re exactly right, it’s incredibly important to move all around and see things from as many viewpoints as possible when transiting the locks and canal. I can’t imagine being bored for a single second. 

53 minutes ago, arxcards said:

IF the pop-up was in a designated area of the buffet, at least it could serve both lunch & dinner - but that isn't currently done.

I’m guessing the only reason it’s done in the specialty dining venue itself and not in the buffet is to retain some resemblance of ambiance and being ‘special’? I remember doing the Crab Shack on Royal Princess when it first came out and it just seemed like an extension of the buffet with brown paper table covers. There wasn’t anything really special about the atmosphere. 

PAGE 9!!! 
 

🤣
 

49 minutes ago, JohnnyG7 said:

Just spent 7 days on the Coral in  Mini Suite and had  Reserve Class which was a bonus with dining in the Bordeaux Dining room and no need queue up, just walk in. Only dined in the Horizon when Breakfast & Lunch not available in the Bordeaux. She is a bit tired. Most of the lounge chairs in public areas are hard and uncomfortable as the padding has had its day. Even the lounge in our Mini Suite had worn out cushioning.

Finding somewhere to sit and read etc anytime was no problem at all as she only holds 2000 passengers. Food in the Bordeaux was magnificent and staff (Godfrey & Sarah) were wonderful. Didn't do the Sanctuary as you have to pay, which is ridiculous. Has a large Library and lots of seating in it if you just want to relax. All of the shows and entertainers were quite good.

The information talks about each Port of call were a total waste of time, hardly any relevant information given. didn't even get told about the availability of a shuttle into own at Airlie Beach, found that out ourselves. All in all, I think you will enjoy the Coral.

THANK YOU for the update! My guess is that during the three week drydock coming up this fall all of the furniture will be completely replaced, especially in the public areas. 
 

Her space/passenger ratio seems to be one of the single biggest draws. I’ve never read a review saying the ship felt crowded. And the videos I’ve seen make her feel very intimate and elegant. 

7 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

The loungers were replaced in June last year during the world cruise when the ship called into Singapore.

That’s a real shame, too. It would be nice to see them come back, but having been replaced that recently sounds like a more permanent setting. 

3 hours ago, arxcards said:

I am not aware of any changes to the layout of the public areas. I can't think of a ship I would rather do a Panama Canal cruise on than Coral Princess, but her & Island don't fit with this concocted "casual restaurant" idea. The unfortunate part is that you can't have a "casual" dinner as a pop-up in a specialty restaurant. There is also no gelato as a "casual" option like many of the newer ships, so that would be a nice addition if they chose to do something about it. 

 

Coral is a bit tired, and a bit overdue for some TLC, which as far as I can tell is mostly engineering and a refresh of existing hotel areas. Grand Princess aside, it isn't normally part of Princess' MO to make major hotel changes during drydock. The other Princess exception is the addition of more cabins - lets hope they aren't turning Coral's deckplan to match Island's.

I would think the uproar received and PR disaster Princess Cruises went through from that disaster would be enough to kill the idea of turning her into another Island Princess. 
 

I’m curious as to what makes you say “The unfortunate part is that you can't have a "casual" dinner as a pop-up in a specialty restaurant.” Is it that awkward for the venue and staff? 
 

Coral Princess was my first choice for going through the Panama Canal, that is until I found a superb itinerary on Norwegian Jewel that goes from Tampa, Florida to Whittier, Alaska. It’s turning out that the lack of casual dining options on the former is pushing me toward the latter. 
 

🙂

24 minutes ago, joejoe 59 said:

Hi we got off Coral last Monday.  The chairs in your photo are definitely no longer there. They had upright slat chairs with a matching coffee table between, I found them quite comfortable. 

That’s making me sad. However, the alternative sounds nice, and a place to put a drink instead of laying it on the deck. But those loungers, how nice would that have been. 😎

45 minutes ago, valantine80 said:

On Coral in January Salty Dog was in Bayou restaurant.

Now I’m going to have to find a menu. Your confirmations have peaked my interest @OzKiwiJJ