lotsofkids

Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise with us. I really appreciated and enjoyed all your posts. Warm regards.

Thank you AGAIN.....I am living vicariously through you. I sail on the Encore on the 18th!

17 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Specialty dining promo for a 7 night cruise has gone from unlimited uses to 4 uses to 3 uses to the current 2 uses in the past 6 years or so.

yep....we had a 14 nt cruise with unlimited specialty dining for 14nts!! It was so tough....we had to skip a few nights and just grab something light at the buffet!

Then, for quite while, a 7nt cruise would get 3 meals and a 9nt or longer 4 meals....now it is 2 meals/7nts and 3 meals/9 nts or longer.
 

Thank you very much for sharing your cruise with us. I am loving all that you post. Your packing skills and organizing are absolutely top notch! I am on the Encore's 9/18 sailing and you just reminded me to take my portable charging brick! (tks!)

So sorry the shows are canceled....but I love your attitude, so I know you will continue to have a marvelous vacation.

I do have one question about that incredible Prime Rib.....was that offered on the first night/Saturday??
I would hate to miss that if I had a specialty restaurant booked. That deserves to book my dining AROUND that! LOL.

I consider entering a spa akin to being in a library setting. You may speak......but use your considerate quiet voice. 

I heard all the chatter prior to my 1st cruise (w/NCL) and avoided what might be pure sales pitches. As I came into my vacation expecting to have a lot of soliciting...I was surprised that it was not really as bad as expected and a lot more "soft" selling without pressure at multiple corners. Sort of what you might find at any popular tourist location on a land vacation! Just smile and move on!

Diane [emoji2]

We had a birthday cruiser and I bought all sorts of fun birthday (party) items at the dollar store. We had a surprise birthday breakfast to start off the day!

Diane [emoji2]

I love trying the specialty restaurants and wish to frequent them often (hey I'm on vacation) but I was not impressed with Moderno. I went last Fall on the DAWN and frankly...the salad buffet was nice...the seafood chowder was excellent (I filled up on the chowder more than the meats) and I felt some of the meats were overcooked, while others came undercooked. The atmosphere was rather uninspiring. To each his own.

I loved LeBistro, had the best pizza in the Italian restaurant (as an appetizer), enjoyed wonderful Asian and had a lot of fun (but not in love) with Teppanyaki (they nuked the lobster and shrimp, oversalted everything and they turn you out as soon as you take your final bite of dessert) Not their fault...they have fully booked reservations!

Funny, I did not eat dinner at Cagneys! So I can't really chime in. But I feel I would probably prefer it over Moderno. I did Cagney's for breakfast (wonderful) and did lunch a few times (suite perk) finding some lunch menu items great...while others only average.

Whatever you choose....you'll be fine...as ultimately, you will be on vacation and it's all good!

sorry I don't have an answer.....but I was wondering about them myself! I'll be keen to see any replies and/or pictures posted.

smiles....Diane

I upsold 2 balcony rooms for a lateral move to the 2-bedroom family suite on the Pearl to Alaska. I watched for the price drops closer to sailing and called NCL myself. When the 2-bedroom came down in price...it was a no brainer to swap our 2 balconies and enjoy the suite perks! We had an amazing trip.

About 3 days prior to sailing, I received a call offering the mega GARDEN VILLA but it was for an additional $3500. (considered a true bargain) but we declined as we were already maxed out with airfare and pricey land excursions. In retrospect.....it was the right call, as Alaska was very port intensive and we spent much of our time OFF the ship. It would be great on an itinerary that has a lot of sea days or a 10+ day cruise! It was a thrill just knowing we were that close to "almost" having the GV!

I sail Sat. out of Seattle, and booked through a 3rd party program so I won't be getting a call. I take it this means that I would not be offered when I arrive on board? We have a port-hole room and had hoped to maybe getting an upgraded to a balcony.

I did have my 3rd party note that it was our anniversary as well ... does Norwegian do anything for that doesn't require money?

Thank You for Information.

Most of the restaurants stock the 6" gratuity cakes. If you mention it to your waiter, he can bring you one at no-charge. They do this for anniversaries, birthdays etc....

Amazing post.....loved it! Thank you!

Yes, I too got $450. Mine was 300 for booking a suite & 150 latitudes bonus.

Yep.....just spoke with my NCL rep and she said each ship has different protocols in place. For the DAWN it is only the S1, SA and SB suites that get the unlimited soda perk.

oh well....at least we have one fridge stocked!

Demonyte wrote that the unlimited soda is NOT offered for the SJ suites. I am confused as we had a 2bedroom family suite on the Pearl and were offered unlimited sodas and many other perks.

We booked the SA (deluxe owners suite) and an SJ (family suite) for our upcoming cruise and just assumed that both would be getting the soda perk. My heart tells me Demonyte is probably right...but could a few more of you Cruise Critic members chime in before I mention to the "SJ" girls that they won't be having the soda option. Of course, I know it is definitely offered for our SA suite and they can always grab a soda from our room!

much appreciated....thanks

VA.Plumber..... sometimes it depends what promo is currently being offered at your time of booking. However, with that said, if you check the NCL site frequently and find a better offer they WILL apply that to your suite. You can always get the room rate and promo applied that is being offered (prior to final payment) Do note: if your see a better promo but the room price has increased....you must factor that in, as you will get it as if you are booking new!

I have an SA and SJ booked for the fall and BOTH have $300. Do call NCL directly. (also do a mock booking on their website for a totally new SJ and see if it is offering the $300 for that sailing in SJ's)

If you book your suite early on, then you'll get the $300 OBC's applied to your room. This makes your suite even more attractive and can make purchasing a suite (with multiple people) almost the same as an inside cabin! We have booked 5 young adults in an SJ for September and after dividing the overall costs, we are sailing VIP for about $834 total costs pp, when deducting the OBC's.

Currently, an inside cabin with taxes is running about $810pp! So for the price of a pizza, we each get a weeks worth of Cagney's for breakfast/lunch, special invitations to the Bridge, Captain's reception, early viewing of the Chocolate Extravaganza, priority boarding/disembarkation, flowers in the room, DVD library, unlimited soda in our mini fridge, champagne etc....

We booked a 2bedroom family suite a couple years ago to Alaska and had 6pp in that room. (it had 2 bathrooms) and loved it. However, the back room is probably better for kids than adults. We were spoiled by the suite life!

For this September cruise.....we actually booked BOTH the Deluxe DOS (SA) and the (SJ) family suite/no balcony. Us older women 50 & up are in the DOS and the younger ladies 30 & below will be in the family suite! Neither rooms have a balcony....(which I would prefer), but the view and the perks are a compelling tradeoff!

FYI: when we 1st booked our Alaska cruise in 2011, we had 2 adjoining balconies with 3pp in each cabin. Closer to the cruise, and sometime after final payment the unsold suites had a price drop. Trading in the 2 balconies for the 2-bedroom suite was almost a lateral swap (as it's price lowered) so it was a no-brainer to upsell ourselves. Sometimes the difference between traveling coach and traveling 1st class is only a matter of thinking outside the box!

-diane

Just WOW....hope Musicus is thoroughly enjoying his cruise and will eventually update us as Oct 2011 is nearing soon. My very best wishes and happy adventures to him! I imagine he is quite popular on his ship!!!

You can prepay $50 for a unit.

Note that introductory retail price of Capture will likely be $79.99 (as opposed to $70 as stated above). Approximate (not guaranteed) date of delivery for Bread and Butter pledging is August 1, pending manufacturing capabilities.

Oh and Shutterbug....you might want to check this out!

It is the THIRD most funded project in Kickstarter history! And might actually take second place.

They are now in the final 28 hour remaining stretch! I secured mine last week!

Yes, unfortunately the 4/3 systems are grossly overpriced as they are a niche market. You are really paying for the "portability". They haven't really caught on in North America, but they are very popular in Asia. SO much fun in a little camera that packs a punch!

There is a dedicated forum for 4/3 users called mu-43.com ... many many professional photographers sharing tips & touting how much they love their new freedom!

These are the most awsome pictures I've ever seen.

DITTO THOSE SENTIMENTS!

And, in less than 48 hrs.... My zoom lens arrived! It is the 75-300 which in the micro 4/3 world.... means it is equivalent to a 600mm zoom! And barely the size of a 12oz soda can. It is incredible. I was on the fence...till your blog just pushed me over the top! Today I was playing with it in my backyard and "wow". No regrets, I will really enjoy this!

You asked earlier, how I like my Pen, well... for me, I love it! I have the epl-1 and invested in some great micro lenses. Right now, they are now, Olympus is taking pre-sale orders for the EP3 (check it out on the Olympus site) Watching it, makes me want to upgrade....but after my lens purchase... I think I'll have to wait till they come out with an EP4.

My absolute favorite lens is the 14-150 (equivilent to 28-300mm) And they (Olympus) now have the epl-1 bundled w/ the 14-150 for $799 or at Adorama (w/no tax added!) That is amazing, considering I paid $675 for my 14-150 lens alone.

But....in the end YOUR pics will always be the BEST!

In fact, tonight I bit the bullet and purchased an expensive zoom lens for my olympus Pen (micro 3/4 system) for my Sept Alaska cruise w/NCL. You most certainly inspired me!

GREAT thread! Not only am I enjoying the pictures, but your blog has me completely engaged! A+