laurabegorrah

We accidentally did this in Ketchikan, ironically, it was too misty to do Misty Fjords and they gave us the option of flying the Fjords and probably not seeing much, or seeing bears. We chose bears. It was a great excursion! There was a flight out to the viewing platform, then a short van ride, then a little hike, and then bears for a few hours. While we were there we saw at least 7 or 8 black bears, including two babies. It was peaceful and beautiful! Definitely worth a bit of a splurge.

We technically were with Mountain Air Service, but he partners with Michelle at Island Wings and both companies use the same dock, transport van, bear guide, reservation system, and offer the same exact tours (we even got to play with Michelle's dogs while we waited for everyone to finish their paperwork lol).

Seriously?

Poster is European....not uncommon at all for kids to sample wine/beer at a young age.

It is very easy to drive yourself around Iceland - if you rent a car you can take it at your own pace and try to avoid the crowds a bit!

One of our highlights was taking the train from Seward to Anchorage (or in your case vise versa). If you do the Goldstar class you have amazing views from the floor to over the ceiling windows and from an open air balcony type thing in the back. THen we picked up our car in Anchorage and toured around. Not sure where you were planning to pick up and drop off the car, but doing it this way might save you some $$.....or it might not. The goldstar tickets are not cheap, but sooo worth it!

I was on an NCL transatlantic over Halloween a few years ago, and they definitely went all in. They closed the night club dinner venue and turned it into a mini haunted house. They had a big costume contest with a handful of kids, but it was about 90% adults. We dressed up and had a blast!

I think a lot has to do with the ship you are on. The Away/Away+ ships have the concierge desk located in the haven itself, so unless you are in haven, it's next to impossible to just drop in to see them. On the Jewel class and earlier, the concierge desk is outside the haven, so you can try and catch them face to face. Also, the larger ships have a lot more haven rooms, so I think the concierge is stretched thin just taking care of haven,

I always ask to have to emptied, but only once have I found where they stash it. It was on the Escape, and it was in the drawer beside the bed. It was very unexpected when trying to unpack to find the stash lol

I'm the OP and I just wanted to make known a fact I just found out. I won the bid and was assigned a spa cabin but I do not get the complimentary Thermal Spa Suite pass. I had to call NCL about another issue with my new docs and I asked about that, and the rep I spoke to took it all the way to her supervisor. I keep all my perks that I had on the balcony, but I do not get any perks associated with the upgrade cabin. The Thermal Spa Suite pass is a perk of the spa mini, so no go!

You keep your booking perks from the balcony/original room, but the spa access goes with the room, not the booking. It's considered a room amenity (like the larger shower) not a booking perk (like SDP, UBP, Wifi, etc). You will definitely have access to the spa with your room key.

As another posted mentioned, you need to at least visit the spa, just to see what's there. The heated tile loungers are to die for and a wonderful place to nap on a sea day! :)

I wouldn't worry. If you are cruising to Alaska and have that much spare room in your carryon that your binocs will jostle around, you're not doing something right, LOL!

yeah, I change my answer to this! lol

And, I actually ended up with a full sized pair from amazon (that will be going into my checked bag), so I can't really speak to any of the smaller, travel sized ones - but I did see more than a few when I searched "binoculars". It's all about finding some with good reviews, and better yet pictures!

Hello - Anyone have tips on packing binoculars for carry on luggage travel?

 

Thanks in advance for advice...

Amazon has some nice small options that would prob be a good choice for space saving.

i was already booked in a 3 bedroom garden villa on the dawn and at 80 days out i received an upgrade email. I wasn't sure where we could possibly upgrade to so i called the 800 number. I asked why i received an upgrade offer if i'm in the highest cabin. The rep looked at our reservation and thanked me for booking the 3 bedroom garden villa, she said that she noticed i have a boating license on file and for $500 additional the captain would let me steer the ship while he was on his dinner break!!! Lol

 

best,

mark

:'):'):'):'):') :')

NCL has a "Dress Up or Not" night where you will see a handful of people in cocktail attire (rarely a gown or two). But overall, NCL is a very casual line. On the Dress Up night, you will probably see a lot more shorts and polos or sun dresses than semi formal or formal attire.

we have been upgraded to spa mini suite through the bidding process' date=' we may not be entitled to spa access.[/b']

 

That is the crux of the matter - the upgrade - if you did not have the spa access before the upgrade you

DO NOT get it with the upgrade.

You do take any amenities perks promos with you from the original booking but do not get the amenities

from the upgraded cabin. - SORRY NCL rules.

Spa access is not a booking perk (like SDP, UBP, excursion credit, etc) it's an amenity of the room (like a balcony, upgraded bathroom, etc). The spa access is linked to the room, not the reservation. Not matter if you got the room via direct booking or bid, you get spa access.

Are you really locked in? I have avoided land based ones for this very reason. Thanks.

FYI - None of the land based ones I've been to have literally locked you in either.....they are tons of fun!

Thanks goldman, hope you're right. We will find out tomorrow.

 

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No ifs, ands or buts about it. With a Jewel class suite category S or higher (no matter how you got there) you have butler, concierge, breakfast and lunch in special location, priority boarding and tendering. Anything that is room specific. Those things automatically come with the room. Enjoy!!!!!

Price you bis is per person (1st 2 guests only). So the if the 1,375 bid quoted by OP was accepted, they would be charged 2,750

You'll have to keep us posted on this one! I feel like the Spa Minis would be considered a completely different category, and would show up as their own line option for bidding (like you don't have one line for all haven, but a line for each of the room levels)

I remember a tasting we did on the Escape TA that had 1 or 2 martinis that weren't on any menu, that only one bartender (Bong) knew how to make it, and the ingredients were only located at one bar on the entire boat..... SO, while if I found Bong, at that 1 specific bar, I prob could've ordered if off menu, but Bong was never scheduled at that bar, so I never got to try lol

Now, a caveat our tasting was one of the M&G events, and we might've requested some special stuff in advance. It seems rather stupid for NCL to have a ship sponsored event that didn't include things that you could get on, you know, the ship....

I saw the opposite posted recently - it was over $1M for a 7 day in the haven. The upside - all haven rooms were the same price.... lol

I only bring cash for tipping. I usually assume $50-$100 for the room steward, $50-$100 for concierge, and $100-$200 for the butler. This is based on 2 people for 7 days ish.

WARNING! Zombie thread! lol

If your asking if the jetted tub will be too small for the both of you then more than likely, yes.

I'm imagining a romantic Mother/daughter soak in the bathtub.....lol

The room itself is a good size, even with the tub taking up one corner. However, all of those other rooms have the added benefit of a 2nd bathroom, which is a huge help with 2 people trying to get ready at the same time.

You can always buy spa passes if you decide you want to hang out there, but the Escape haven is huge, and there is normally plenty of space for quietly lounging. As for the in room tub - I'm not sure if your mom has thought through the logistics - there is no privacy curtain or anything, and the bed is like 2 feet away from the tub. So there will be no privacy for the soaking person, unless the other person is not in the room. Not sure how important privacy would be for the soaker, but something to think about.

If you're a person using all kinds of health/beauty products like I do, it's a very crazy limit! Can never just take a carry on to go anywhere due to these limits. Sunscreen alone exceeds the whole thing. Not to get sidetracked here, sorry.

semi solution to the sidetrack . . . take more than one 1 qt bag, and put them in different bins. If I need sunblock (which I tend to slather on like a crazy lady) I have 1 bag with just sunblock, and one bag with the toiletries. One bag will go in with my coat and shoes, and one back in with my purse or something like that. Now, it might backfire someday, but has yet to! lol

The only thing you might run into is independent excursions or smaller hotels booking up - but I'm sure if you are flexible you can still find tons of stuff to do that would interest you.....

Yep have done the Crab fest. Nope. no interest in adding anything, I've just gone here direct with walk up using their shuttle service. Last season, I noted, the "time" has gotten shorter than what it was several years ago, and it remains so. It is of benefit to just focus on the crab then fill in with the extras at the end perhaps..

Did you have to book any type of reservation or their food only "tour", or was it a true walk in?

(BTW - you have been such a big help with all of my trip planning!!! :hearteyes:)