david_sobe

Thanks for the trip report. I have never take one but know the winter sailings from New York to Bermuda are brutal with weather and seas. NCL closed the MDRs on port days for at least 10 years now. That was an expensive cruise you took in 1992. But cruise prices plummeted during the meltdown of 2008. Around 2010 and 2013 you could sail in a balcony on a new ship on Epic for $800 for 7 nights and went as low as $699 at one point. Haven prices in 2012 were $2300 per person in a 2 bedroom suite on Epic which was NCL's newest ship at that time. Prices surged and continue to surge because demand is so high. I take cruises for the ship and not the itinerary. I sailed Getaway when she was brand new. I felt the ship was meh.... a total over correction from the Epic. They went overboard in developing a sterile and traditional ship. The waterfront is very nice though. The use of space on Getaway seemed crammed. The restaurants got smaller but the tables got closer together. IMHO the Breakaway class is the first NCL design to cram as much as possible in smaller spaces. Everything open to the walkways and casino compared to ships where restaurants have their own 4 walls and separate from the common areas.

That's old. It was a new NCL policy that they reversed almost as soon as it was issued. It was a debate of maybe 9 years ago.

What privilege? I think people who run to the corner to defend NCL at every turn is a bit much. While I think its reasonable to charge money for more lobster, I dont believe for a second that top shelf liquor and lobster charges have anything to do with customers trying to bilk NCL. Its all a way to make bigger profits. Sort of reminds me of when NCL announced no more towel animals because of "environmental reasons" or not bringing food to the cabin for "safety reasons." But many believe that. Its all enhancing the guest experience of course!

From the Captain: For your travel convenience, we wont be going to Paradise Bay but we will be having lobster in the main dining room and buffet. (Stampede from the customer service desk to the buffet) Captain ***sighs**** relief, it worked

Dear cookie brigade. Thank you for your search and discovery. If you have any remaining resources, please locate any hash browns or towel animals and report back in code language. Over and out

I think its only 2 bathrooms. But there is one cruise site that does show a third bathroom. I could be wrong but does not the NCL site say 2 bathrooms? I think the bedrooms upstairs share a bathroom. I like the use of space. Many RCCL suites have a similar layout but its loft style which takes up space for a high ceiling in the living room. I wish they were aft. I always like to sail port side but this time I picked starboard because no slides on that side.

Me too. I will be excited to see it. They are less expensive than an owners suite. Its either going to be out of this world or meh.

The beach the taxis drop you off at has chairs for rent and a bar and grill. Its not affiliated with any cruise line. I think we paid $15 for a chair which was insanely a great deal plus the cost of the cab fare. The drinks were so affordable and was floored they allowed people to drink from beer bottles on the beach. I sat in this beach chair at a secluded beach with a bucket of Corona. I was in a dream.

If you do go to Long Beach Bay, stay away from the cruise line touristy excursion. It costs money and they have the chairs stacked on top of each other. The taxis take you to a much more secluded part and its free. They will charge you for a chair and it includes wi-fi. They have a bar and grill there. There must have only been about 20 people around us. It was heaven.

New ships under construction a price drop will never happen. Its one of the few times that booking early saves you money. Once Aqua debuts many of the premier cabins and especially Haven cabins will go up in price. Its almost not worth checking. My cruise is 2 years away and my Haven class of cabins is already sold out.

I board one month before you so be sure to come back for the review 😉

I have done the Long Bay Beach on my own. There are numerous cabs that will take you there. One of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Gorda is over rated IMHO. Big rocks on a beach. The beach day at Long Bay Beach was probably my all time favorite beach excursion. Not touristy, not crowded, friendly and affordable chairs and accommodations, and beautiful.

Antarctica always has them. But this is distraction and is not logical because other cruise lines continue to sail there. This is also probably why NCL did not list it as a reason to their passengers because it was not true. Logic tells you that if NCL was going to bound itself to a go slow order, passengers would be notified of this reason. None of this is logical or makes sense. This is the last comment I will make on this thread because too many are using fake reasons to explain a non-explanation. In Public Relations you never put something in writing that is NOT true. NCL would only say this change was to "enhance their guest experience." They will not lie or tell fairy tales because that is dishonest and would come back to bit them. Clearly there was a reason for this change.

I used to cruise twice a year then once per year. With prices and other priorities its not as much anymore. When I retire it could be much more again.

Then why are other lines still going there? Why would NCL not put that in their statement to the guests instead of "enhancing the experience" For the love of God, if a hurricane is churning out there, there is clear explanation why the itinerary changed. We can agree to disagree but I still vote bull. People bend themselves into pretzels defending such a laughable statement. That's the only part of this story that annoys me. I don't think anyone is entitled to compensation. I'm a big boy and can accept unfortunate facts in front of me. Sadly so many others cant which is why we get these fairy tales.

Yes. That makes it even worse. That go slow order had been in effect for years. NCL still advertised and sailed there for years. If it was in effect and NCL was going to honor it then why advertise a cruise and then when your passengers board tell them that is the reason they cant to. Also other lines continue to sail there. We are smarter than that.

Thank you for sharing that. I would not expect anything else to be said. Their lack of honesty here tells me (IMHO) that something in the ship changed. While still safe to sail, it cant make the longer itineraries in that time frame. Other ships from other lines continue to go there and the go slow order existed for 3 years yet NCL still booked cruises there. The process of elimination tells you what the issue may be. IMHO this is part of cruising. I may be in the minority but I would be defending NCL all the way on this thread if they honestly explained the change. We all realize a cruise can change any itinerary or ports. But there is always an explanation for good reason. When the highlight of the trip is cancelled to "enhance the guest experience" tells you everything you need to know. NCL's defense would be if they offered compensation to your cruise then all the other cruises would be entitled to the same. I suppose its the sad reality in the cruise business. We all have different opinions on this. I may not be for offering compensation to guests. But a little truth goes a long way to the customers. But sadly I think I am in the minority on that and NCL is in a defensive posture. They can still do 80% of the trip and give a few hours more in ports. It works. I hate being lied to no matter how small. That is my only issue with this.

My Encore cruise was booked about 1.6 years before my cruise while the ship was still under construction. My Epic cruise was booked about 9 months before sailing but it was under construction. I will never forget when NCL let cruise critic board the Epic when it was leaving France for its first mini cruise and had all these reports from the ship. I love the unknown aspect of a new ship especially since Aqua is a Prima-plus ship. I booked it during Xmas so its really 2.2 years prior to sailing.

Guess what? Only 2 more years till my next NCL cruise on the Aqua. God willing I will boarding today February 22, 2026! Please feel to check back for my semi-live report. Will I be able to find cookies or hash browns? Stay tuned! Has anyone ever booked a cruise this far out?

Did it really serve breakfast such as hot or grill items? Was it not a continental style breakfast with muffins, fruit, juice, and coffee? That's in the Haven Observation lounge. Just trying to clarify because I dont remember hot cakes, French toast or eggs there. Or was it there? No snacks even in the afternoon or evening either? Someone reported there were cookies in the Observation lounge recently. I suppose they are gone too. NCL continues their war on cookies. It must be stopped!

No cookies No Antarctica Now this 🙈

That's true. But with only 2 users at a time the line is going to be HUGE. We remember things like Margaritaville being free until it was overwhelmed and a fee was then added. NCL charges to play darts so it would not be surprising to me to have a fee for the roller coaster slide. The Go Kart tracks kept getting bigger and bigger with each ship. Its a huge revenue maker for NCL. How will the Aqua make up for that shortfall? I agree that if NCL charges for a waterslide they will get flamed.

Since this thread has gone full circle everything about cookies now, who remembers the Nieman Marcus $250 chocolate chip cookie urban legend? I remember the chain letter being circulated in high school in the late 1980s. The internet and email made it reappear in the mid 1990s. From what I remember the recipe was fake and had wrong ingredients and amounts. For the record my favorite chocolate chip cookie is from Double Tree Hotels.

The Go Karts are a big revenue stream for NCL so my hunch there would be a charge for the waterslide roller coaster.