mking8288

Friends on the Getaway NY-Bermuda last month, NCL's ferry was running fine per posted schedule. Island is on winter schedule (thru mid/late April) and there isn't a whole lot to do after sunset, research & plan accordingly, then re-verify again. Sadly, some of the shops at St. George (and downtown Hamilton) aren't returning, driven out-of-business as casualty of the global pandemic/shutdown ... new ones, signs posted "coming soon".

None of us here works for NCL and/or acting as their agent(s) ... I believe, however The most often official storyline cited is - and I quote As part of our global sustainability program, Sail & Sustain, we are continually seeking opportunities to reduce our overall carbon footprint, and recently committed to pursuing net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and value chain by 2050. To support this mission, we have optimized our arrival and departure times. We appreciate your understanding and support on this important sustainability initiative. The revised itinerary is as follows Whether you choose to believe and accept is most certainly open for friendly debate & disagreement .. perhaps, a mix of maritime safety with billion dollars invested in these vessels, fuel AND money savings, and not just sustaining ... (Footnote #1) Folks impacted directly onboard had tried, without success, to ask the questions of the GM ... Feel free to ask if you are attending the CC Meet & Greet gathering on your upcoming Escape, or ask for a "private meeting" as they do prefer not to be on the spot with a diverse audience.

We booked 2 of these unique ones last May on the Joy, the 2nd. full bath comes in handy for other members of our traveling party ... and that 2nd. (smaller) bedroom is very spacious, better than comparable Insides on the Joy. You should have the balcony perks - there's an outdated spreadsheet floating around here, but it's no longer accurate entirely about extra "suite" amenities. There is the expresso/coffee maker, stocked with capsules, sugar & creamer, etc. (but not complimentary bottled water to fill) You can request bath robes & slippers from your steward - bath amenities are upgraded, as are pillows/sheets, linens & comforters. See this semi-live review, good # of pictures about it ... should offer you a very good idea on what to expect ... when we sailed the Joy again last September, it was "on sale" with lowest bid starting at 50% below the normal bidding amount. It's actually 2 oversized HDTV screen, stacked together top & bottom, with live images while at sea (resolution was 720p and not so great at night) and while at Dockyard, it was pointed toward Clocktower Mall & the pier, etc. but does not pan ... streaming live, yes. It did freeze or gone offline 2 or 3 times midweek, a call down to Guest Services & they had their I.T. people onboard reset it shortly thereafter. Good luck bidding for it and if you won later on, congrats and perhaps bring some extra decorations yourself - you'll see that the "big" living room isn't fancy, rather plain & some rich colors & personal touch would most definitely make it feel like your "home away from home" for the week. Grab some plated fresh & whole fruits and goodies from the buffet, candies for kiddies - be your own butler, LOL. What they delivered via Room Service as complimentary, twice for our week onboard, was just ... laughable and a joke. At 520 to 560 sq.ft. - it's as spacious as the Haven family suites and bigger than those penthouses in square footage ... and it's priced accordingly & lower, best suited for 4 adults, the LR's convertible sofabed is smallish for 2 grown-up to share, and upper Pullman is ...

From the email, click the link and let the safety video on Youtube run from start to finish ... since you've watched it already before, do something else - have a sip of water/juice/drink, take a restroom break, play with the pet, etc. - then 2 or 3 minutes later when it's done/stopped (ours 1 min 36 sec long) ... close YT. Done, until next time (yeah, NCL tracking you w "cookies" ... don't ignore it.) You should be fine until embarkation onboard - probably after you checked in to the muster station & get your card(s) swiped - found the video again being shown on the interactive stateroom TV again, each time you power on the TV, until you watch its entire length once. Then, you are left alone & can do whatever with that remote control - like watch the few TV info-tainment channels, check your onboard charges, see the CruiseNext & ShorEx promo videos, etc. Oh, there is a long version of the emergency, safety & muster station video, etc. on its own dedicated channel. It's mandatory by federal laws and governed by international regulations - like those pre-flight, once the aircraft begin its push back from the gate, that FA come on with the inflatable vest, emergency exits, seat buckles and drop-down O2 mask, etc.

It depends, you really need to check, ask & decide while onboard ... whether it's worth spending more if you do not see the need to buy more CruiseNext Certificates - unless they are running extraordinary promotional specials, not the "everyday values-added specials" that's continuously extended, week after week, month after month. Those onboard deals that you are referring to - were just discussed here this week - link There might be unadvertised specials that the CruiseNext onboard team have access to, i.e. Double Up or the recently (expired, limited time) Triple Up offers for Latitude points, which not everyone cares for. Could be their option to over-ride their systems to apply 2 CruiseNext Deposits for any categories that's sailing less than 6 months, etc. May, could be, possibly - you just need to ask & get the promises in writing, as in the form of a confirmed booking/reservation that they help you made - and with the correct "Amenity" coded on the summary sheet. Deal or No Deal, that's up to you - you can always politely thank them and walk. Assuming that the reservation or cruise that you have in mind & know you wanted to book, is still within full cancellation timeframe and not beyond final payment & cancellation deadline - you can come home, change your mind & call to cancel ... the "extra" CND that you brought will be returned to your account, and you'll still have nearly 4 years to book & use them. I probably missed a few points, but fellow CC'er will cheerfully jump in and correct things up in no time - besides, it's Friday night and the regulars are hanging out virtually here as usual.

It's always nice to alert them ahead and at least as soon as you are onboard. Speak to the host/ess and/or manager on duty (even if you are going there on embarkation "evening") so that they can come up with something. Meanwhile, have your vegan friend look at the latest (or recent) Cagney's Menu ... the word "vegetarian" has different meanings to different folks, better to be clear than to assume.

@fstuff1 Hi there ... Bliss, we aren't going to run into you on the Getaway this time around, LOL. NCL doesn't sell iPhones or Androids onboard ... and if they do, it would be at full MSRP or above with the markup. Checkout the onboard Photo Center, they always have digital cameras & gadgets to sell, already marked up. Then, you can re-sell those on eBay, Swapper, etc. at a discount as brand new, unopened & let Paypal take their cuts & shipping carrier on fees, etc.

Show this to DW as we get ready to finalize our packing for the 20th. It is what it is, tailored expectations going forward. Hopefully, the upper echelon at Miami HQ is reading some of these live reports or at least getting them in bullet points. Doubtful that HD in command, let alone the spa manager, is in a position to "fix" some of the issues, especially if they are 100 to 300 staff short for unplanned & worst, planned reasons. NCL can cut all 4 corners and trim the legs, but once the balanced scale is titled beyond, uprighting it again isn't as simple as just floating the tabletop above it. Our friends that came back from their 12 days GEM T/A were not entirely satisfied but ... in spite of it all, just booked another repo - 16 nights TA this Spring on NCL. Perhaps, our passion to cruise isn't easily extinguished despite being soured at times. BTW, lovely pictures of sunset on the Atlantic sailing homeward bound - seas were bad at all & looks fine thru tomorrow afternoon, spotted the GA way off Savannah, GA now on a northerly heading, ride should be smooth but tomorrow evening as you cross VA/DE toward NJ coastline, brace & hold railings as you walk around as wind gust will be up ... If the bridge can chart a course closer to shore, won't be all that bad. Had she gone to Bermuda & sail from northwest toward NY, things would be a lot choppy & bumpy all of tomorrow ... gotta appreciate the Windy App's forecast. Isn't that Shanghai Noodles comfort food great - if you haven't try out the seafood udon (noodles) soup and the thinly sliced pork (loin) noodles broth, you "must" & get your butler to fetch it - as lunch tomorrow or late evening snack later - petite portions (to us) and you can still do a full meal .. worry about the diet next week. As for the long line & wait ... now that half of the ship heard & learn about it ... I've suggested that they incorporate the selections into O'Sheehan's and The Local. Have a great evening & enjoy the last 2 days ... Sunday morning, it's going to be low/mid 30's and dry, no worries about snow or blizzard, etc. Erie & Monroe Counties west of Utica, looking fine thru the weekend.

NCL ships sailing out of NYC (Royal Caribbeans do the same) also do 5 and 6 days Bermuda round-trips, and even 4 days to Bermuda & back, as long as they sail on time, sea state and waves, and maritime weather conditions are favorable based on the chartered course/headings. Nautical distance between NYC and Bermuda is about 670 n.m. (shortest #'s seen, not a mariner ...) and with ships capable of running 21 to 22 knots under favorable conditions, wind & waves, etc. - can make the trip in about 35 hours or less. When the ship is taking 2 days to sail eastbound to Bermuda, she's often cruising at 12 or 13 knots, running 2 or 3 engines at most. Coming back, going westbound - the bridge always tell the engine room to go "full speed", 18 to 19, 20 knots are common. During seasonal whale migration time, USCG enforced maritime regulations that ships slow down and proceed with cautions to protect marine lives as whales are sometimes sighted in the area up & down the coastal Atlantic water, sometimes coming into the Lower NY Bay to play & feed.

For newbies to using NCL's satellite WiFi internet access, stop by the iCafe desk and pickup one of the printed mini-guide of how to's - it explain how to login and logout via the mobile browser, connecting to ship's WiFi, and Chrome & Firefox browsers are supported. iCafe manager has posted office hours in the morning, afternoon & early evening if extra help is needed - it's fairly easy DIY. The "Norwegian" App (iOS/Android) be sure to run the newest/updated version - is the main portal to access your account, login and passwords can be set to use your NCL username or email address and password - gateway to viewing your Onboard account charges, upgrades and bookings, etc. without necessary establishing another userID and password or 2FA, etc. There are screenshot samples as FYI, not intended as a tutorial or detailed instructions. To maximize online access, disable and/or turnoff all background cloud updates, backup or playstore patches, etc. as those will vastly slow down the device, worsen the latency with the narrow bandwidth, and easily result in unresponsive apps ... crashing / FC your device, etc.

Although, we certainly don't want ships to get stranded on the sandbar at low tide while trying to leave the Bay. We have the option of not booking or planning anything and to just wing it later this month, our stop in DR is short, almost as bad as the recently announced changes for Old San Juan, PR. If the Escape and the Encore are going elsewhere next week, then we'll know a little better, regardless of the official stories told by NCL. Our stop is on Sunday, 1/29 and no ships listed at all at Amber Cove - kind of odd & strange, as being a Carnival owned facility, local vendors & shore-based local folks aren't just going to show up to sell when they see nothing for that calendar day.

Ding Ding Ding (hint, hint) - using the other credit at La Cucina, as you can get 1-1-1-1 there (based on the latest NCL rules) and share the meals, although in the fine prints, "no sharing ... permitted"

Thank you for those menu uploads. Another subtle substitution/change is Jumbo Tiger Shrimp Trio is out, replaced with just Jumbo Shrimp Trio, which typically retailed locally with a $2 to $3 price difference per pound ... typically #8-12 extra jumbo/per pound count. Although, they looked closer to jumbo #16-20 count ("smaller" but still using black tiger shrimp, which you can taste the difference) in the past year vs. pre-Covid. Give them a pass for the cuts to trim their food costs, I get it & why not tell it like it is. The pricing logics used and the dining supplement or amount up-charge, also, IMHO, doesn't make sense. Among the more "pricey" entree items like the 8 oz. Filet Mignon at $41, Aussie Lamp Chops at $43 - "free" but by going over just a few bucks to the 20 oz. Porterhouse at $47 - we get dinged now for $20 more, ha-huh. Surf & Turf at $55 - ding extra $25 more. $10 and $15 upcharge, it seems, would be more "reasonable" when the Grilled Fisherman's Platter at $45 has zero, no surcharge or upcharge.

GSC looking pretty with sunset approaching and the RC ship docked next island over. Forecast - seas might be a bit rocky in the early morning hours as GA flip all 4 engines to bring her home, tomorrow, I see small white caps ahead for ya all ... (sorry, just calling out what the charts are saying) Hopefully, they aren't going to close the outdoors for safety reasons as Saturday will be more chilly. A quickie question for CruiseNext, as they should know - whether those Platinum BTS tour are resuming soon and/or doing Dine With Officers again (Sapphires & up) as the Jewel, reporting that they resumed last week. TIA

@Birdnutty give them another day or 2 ... ours were submitted on Dec. 19 and ... finally processed & received an updated Amenity Statement on Mon. Jan 2nd ( ... someone at that Miami HQ department WFH ??? as we're surprised) more details here while answering someone else w a question of e-signing the form, see post #7 and #9 - https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2904124-e-sign-shareholder-benefit-form/#comment-64574856 Last minute submission of less than 15 days could now possibly be categorically denied and/or not processed in time, that's a bummer. Worst, I am beginning to wonder - will they "temporary" suspend the shareholders benefits until such time ... Some of our best high yield dividends-paying stocks in our portfolio had drastically cut the payouts and/or suspended them entirely. Frankie is no stranger to these kinds of slick moves.

Everyone just might to chill out, take 3 steps back & slowly exhale and meditate for a moment. It's no laughing matter for any travelers from/transiting or happened to get "trapped" with these latest enhanced protocol. Reading the fineprints - each passport holder are subject to 2 rounds of testing, 1 before boarding their flights to the embarkation port, at least 1 more supervised rapid test within 8 hours of embarkation day (that's like no early than 8 am for a 7 pm sailing ... thus, most likely at the cruise-terminal before being allowed to complete check-in). Rest of the rules of getting tested once every 48 hours until day 10 ... translate into 4 more round of testing. 2 travelers are subject to paying extra, out of pocket, 6 tests each at $99 USD x 2 - that's roughly, what - $1,200, ouch. Unlike many USA cruisers, their healthcare system do not cover/reimburse for these expenses for traveling abroad. Otherwise, if they meet & satisfy the written requirements set forth, there are no further requirements that should / must be masked onboard - thus, a big loophole - risk asymptomatically spreading the virus(es) around others where social distancing isn't practical and/or doable, i.e. If they are carrying the highly evasive subvariants, it's quite possible that by the time the results turned positive or 2 lines on the test strips - hundreds could already be sharing those airborne devils. Nice ... NOT a foolproof way to handle infection control. Might as well cancel their booking, issue them a (partial ??) FCC as goodwill and tell them to stay home or go back. This has nothing (or, at least, very little) to do with unknowingly lying and misleading but rather - shortcoming of this approach on airborne infection control measures. My two cents, strictly, feel free to disagree & digress.

Photos of the sides from Sept's Joy dinner at Cagney's using our Platinum voucher with the bottle of wine. We had 3 sides, 3 pieces of Zucchini. Sauteed sliced mushrooms and spinach were better, priced then $8 each if not covered. Each of us have our own definitions and expectations ... you decide, YMMV. Warm bread with butter are still unlimited, for your convenience and complimentary ... for now. P.S. NCL should just forget "wasting" all those fancy side dish plates/bowls and spoon them skillfully in the open kitchen directly onto the entree's plate. There was plenty of space for 2 or more sides, definitely with just one with that 8 oz. filet mignon. Far fewer items going into the dishwashers using less hot water & generated electricity to dry them, and lightened the server's carried tray's weight - align with the latest eco-green friendly vision & commitment.

@HBCcruiser emailed Mon 12/19 - acknowledged same day. Follow-up Wed 12/28 - acknowledged receipt. Amenity Confirmation - Mon 1/2/2023

@22KristenB There is no minimum charger per person dining at FR, bring your teenager along - and if he is a big eater, and if 8 items aren't enough, just add 1 or 2 items ... a la carte prices aren't bad at all. Better yet, for desserts - stop by the buffet (or O'Sheehan's / The Local) afterward & it's complimentary, AYCE ... plus all the fresh fruits as available, etc.

This is almost certain to be new, AFAIK. We're on the Joy and had both Platinum & SD vouchers, Cagney waiter carefully explained the difference & choices ... told him, whatever isn't covered, just put it thru the room charges. The sides are truly small or petite for its listed price. Starters for Teppanyaki's set dinner was pathetic ... consistent with the latest "waste management" theme. No chance that we'll pay 120% pricing as add-ons for sides and some of the starters in SD.

@Laszlo - psssst 😉 Did you accidentally wanted all the CC addicts to know your cabin # next week ? Redacted the eDocs but your eLuggage tags ?? If not, maybe message a MOD and see if they can "fix" that up for ya. Did that once myself on the roll call replying to upgrade bidding, LOL. Have a wonderful cruise ... will be following along, our packing will become real soon.

We used Adobe Reader's draw function to "sign" the signature after filling out the rest of the form - skipping the old flatbed scanner entirely, attach the brokerage statement redacted and email it. Besides, they aren't matching the signature against anything. P.S. on a side note, lately ... the submitted request is taking longer to process, for whatever reasons (9% workforce reductions ??) and it took a 2nd email with the assigned Case Number, then ... posted eventually & the Amenity Statement generated, etc.

Epic is one of the NCL ships that we haven't been on at all, perhaps, we will down the road. Do you know or kindly ask & find out, if they resumed the Behind The Scene tours for Platinum members onboard, and also the Dine With Officers (Sapphires & up) already ... or plan to do it soon. Thanks in advance. Enjoy your cruise and thank you for taking the time to answer questions at sea for us.

Back in Sept 2022, we use one of the Joy's dining voucher in Teppanyaki, and the beef of choice on the menu and served to us was filet mignon. DW asked, honey - how about beef stew for dinner ... 😄 😄 😄

Years ago, I believe that would add something like OBC of xxx amount to the booking (which is rare to none these days from NCL) and/or a 2+ sub-category upgrade, i.e. from BD to BB or BA balcony as the price difference can be worth it) You really have to ask onboard to see what they are offering and book it thru them ...