laurabegorrah

I think I might be in the minority. While I agree the Haven can't be beat for breakfast and lunch, I found it kind of meh/hit or miss for dinner (at least the last 2 times I was on the Escape - but I was so in love with Food Republic and Tapas, that might've colored my decision lol)

If you pre-pay your DSC, you have a better than decent change for a $0 on board balance (minus any cash tips you might want to pay out)

One is also more formal in its dress code that the other, I believe. I don't remember which one though.

Grand Pacific is the more 'formal' of the 2. No shorts, flip flops, etc allowed in theory - they don't always enforce. As others have said, they have the exact same menu

I've never tried bidding - but in theory, as people get their bids accepted and move up categories, that can/should/will open up rooms in sold out categories

Not sure if anyone can answer this- I booked a guarantee Balcony, but now that I have been assigned my room, it says "Spa Balcony"-- do I get the spa perks?

So spa access with a spa category room isn't really a perk (like UBP or SDP). It comes with the room regardless of any promo or or special from NCL. Much like haven access comes with the haven rooms whether you get the room on an upgrade bid or book it directly. It's as much a part of the room as the bed or the toilet hehe

I'm in my early 40s, and had a blast on both the Star and the Breakaway. But I was in a haven spa room on the BA, so I had 2 places to escape the crowds (I don't like people and the BA public spaces can get a bit crowded lol). I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on NCL - no need to dress up if you don't want to. Both the BA and the Star have similar food options and quality (the BA has a few more pay restaurants). BA would prob beat out the Star for evening shows.

I think the choice should come down to itinerary, and which one interests you more. I would sail on either ship again in a heartbeat.

The butlers are assigned rooms in close proximity - so the butler for your room will not also be assigned rooms in the courtyard. I can't think of anything that the butler would bring you directly from the courtyard area, so no matter where your room is, the butler experience should be the same. Now, from butler to butler, your experience can vary!

I would check myself on NCL.com.....find a specific open room on deck 9 that you would be interested in and clue in your TA.

One thing that has not been mentioned is in Alaska, weather can turn on a dime. It is very possible that the weather will not permit a lot of the (outdoor) onboard activities on either of the newer mega ships. Just something to consider. Might be worth setting kids expectations before they board, so they aren't disappointed if they can't try all of the stated activities

If Bong was still on the Dawn, he always puts on a show when he's bartending. But I believe he's on the Escape now. Love that man! But he's really the only NCL bartender that I've seen that really tries to be entertaining and draw in a crowd.

I have stayed in Spa Haven suites on both the Breakaway and the Escape. I feel they are the best value for your money - they are the cheapest Haven category, you get spa access, and you are only 1 floor away from the Haven proper. On the Breakaway, there is a key card accessible staircase that you can take to go directly from the spa into the haven, which was nice, but we didn't feel like we missed not having it on the Escape.

Featherdale looks like the place to check out. If anyone can let me know of any excursions on the cruise that would have this same opportunity, please feel free. Thanks.

We got in a few days early to adjust pre cruise and explore Sydney. The tour we took was a very long day that included a trip up into the blue mountains (see link below). We picked this particular tour because we wanted a small group and not a big bus tour.

http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour/52705-blue-mountains-in-style?sb=l105-a438

In New South Wales where Sydney is located you are not allowed to handle Koala bears. You can have your photo taken along side one at Featherdale Wildlife Park just outside Sydney but to hold one you would have to go to Queensland.

...they do let you put one hand on bum area as well lol You get some good, up close interactions at Featherdale, but it seemed a bit depressing as far as animal enrichment went...but that could've been because we were there during a record heat wave (over 110 degrees with very high humidity) and the animals were lazing around to try to stay cool and not because they where bored

Just wanted to know if Norwegian cruise line jewel put singles together.I haven' got a studio cabin as there isn' any on the jewel.

are you asking if you will get randomly paired someone in a room if you are a solo cruiser? No, for all ships without studios (or if you book a non studio room as a solo cruiser) you will have to pay the solo supplement. Which I believe is basically like a 1 for 2 type deal - the room is billed like there are 2 passengers, but you pay the whole thing. I've never sailed solo before, but I know many here do and can give more details on pricing.

How much "better" is the Haven restaurant than the best gourmet premium restuarant on the ship?

I wouldn't say it's any better than any of the other for fee dinning options for dinner. I like the lunch there, but always check out the MDR menu for the day before I commit. The breakfast is my favorite in the Haven- I think it's the best meal the offer.

Anyone ever have something made to order which wasn't on the menu?

I think it would depend on what you are asking for - if it's within reason, I think they would make every attempt to accommodate you.

I think for lunch and dinner, the Haven is only ok. And with the static menu, i'd rather get out to enjoy other options. But I feel they excel at breakfast - I get the french toast or the frittata almost every morning.....combined with the mini buffet and the pastry girls makes for a very yummie morning

Thanks to all for the suggestions!!! It sounds like the consensus is train and then rent a car.

So I'm planning my post cruise time in Alaska this coming August. We are going northbound from Vancouver to Seward. We want to do a train trip, and I can't decide if I want to do the train from Seward to Anchorage and then drive to Denali. Or drive Seward to Anchorage and then train to Denali. I guess there is also the option of doing both trains, but we are only planning 5 days for the post cruise, and we can get more done driving at least one of these routes lol

Which is the more scenic route, Denali or Seward? I know the Seward train leaves at 6pm, but I'm pretty sure we will have good day light all the way through to Anchorage at 10pm.

So I'm trying to plan my post cruise time in Alaska this coming August. We are doing a northbound trip from Vancouver to Seward. We want to do a train trip, and I can't decide if I want to do the train from Seward to Anchorage and then drive to Denali. Or drive Seward to Anchorage and then train to Denali.

Which is the more scenic route, Denali or Seward? I know the Seward train leaves at 6pm, but I'm pretty sure we will have good day light all the way through to Anchorage at 10pm.

The haven on the Jewel class ships is much much much smaller than on the -away and -away+ ships. No bar, lounge, concierge desk, restaurant. You get a small courtyard area with hot tub and a pool. There is a butler assigned to the courtyard, so you can get a drink or food delivered there, but there is not dedicated space for non pool type lounging.

Today, I spoke to my CC again and he forwarded me to a res supervisor who assures me this is accurate info. I asked him when this went into effect and he said "it's always been this way"... person to whom I spoke assured me that a regular suite guest is most definitely entitled to the private dining option.

It's almost funny . . . almost. I know there are customer service type reps in every industry that have differing levels of knowledge and understanding of company policy. But I am totally amazed by the amount of seeming stupidity and wrong-ness NCL reps spout on a regular basis.

I think I'm going to trust that if this were true, that non Haven suite guests are being turned away from the private dining, these boards would've exploded and been lousy with threads complaining lol Crossing my fingers for my Jewel SF in August....

That can definitely be changed. We book through a TA, and she switched around the order after booking. I would assume it would be just as easy to do it directly through NCL if you didn't use a TA

Normally there are 3 or 4 news stations (both global and US), a few sports channels, a 'movies we love' type thing that has 4 or 5 different newish movies, 'TV shows we love' same idea as the movies, and a handful of ship channels. I believe these are fleet wide options, I don't think there are any ship specific channel line ups.

For me the Haven is more about having a quite place to relax than the 'pampering'....I am not a fan of people. lol I like that I can lounge and read in peace (and easily find shade) any time of the day and not have to fight the crowds searching endlessly for an open lounger. So I'm paying for the extra space outside of my room - which is why on the newer ships, the spa haven rooms are always my first choice. They are the cheapest haven category, and you get both the haven and the spa. While I do enjoy butler, concierge, and private dinning, those alone wouldn't be worth it for me.

Did you have the H8 cabin? Do you know if they give all 4 adults in the cabin the SPA pass?

I think most ppl saying only the first 2 ppl have spa access are basing that because only adults can get access, and normally passengers 3 and up tends to be kids...? Maybe? I would assume that, like the haven benefits, all (adult) passengers in a spa room would get spa access. Also, since the haven spa rooms have a back entrancement to the thermal suite that you don't need a key card to access, they couldn't really stop passenger 3+ from getting in if they wanted too....