oreilln

Thank you!

Would appreciate any insights.  We booked a Fantasica balcony, from Ireland just recently for a few weeks time  Its a med cruise, dont see any mention of either a drinks package or vouchers included.  Does anyone know?  We will need to book something if we dont have anything included.  Many thanks.

Thank you Hank!  We have never done a b2b before so very useful

Many thanks to both of you for the feedback, sounds relatively painless.  Does seem like a good idea to involve YC concierge!

Anyone any idea of how this works in the Med?  We are doing a b2b with the change in Genoa.  And the move is from a regular balcony to yacht club so not sure how this will work?  Any advice appreciated.

Not sure of the cost but cheap, somewhere between 10 - 20 euro for both trips per person. For the train station, its the main (Centro I think) in Genoa, when you leave the port, you walk through a troundabout, and head to the right, I think there are some steps too. Its about 7 minutes walk; Be careful on the way back since there are more than one stop in Genoa but just ask, people are very helpful even if you dont speak Italian.

We did Genoa last year and went to Santa Margherita Liguria and Portofino on public transport without speaking any Italian! Its very easy, the train station is easy walking from the port, you take the train to Santa Margherita, its about 30 minutes, when you get off, you walk down the hill to the town where theres numerous little buses to Portofino. Even if you think you dont want to go there, the journey is stunningly beautiful and if you go early, you will arrive in Portofino before the tourists arrive. We had coffee there and then took the bus back to Santa Margherita, its a beautiful destination in itself, a lovely harbour with beautiful walks, cafes etc. After time spent there, we took the train back to Genoa. This is all very easy and very cheap, if you have an elderly person, then it is a bit uphill back to the train station, maybe take a taxi to there. And check the return train times when you are leaving the train station, they are about every 30 minutes. We found there was plenty of time to do this journey, and Santa Margherita was just as interesting as Portofino. The beauty of this coastline is truly spectacular.

We are interested in advice on this topic too, not because we are just arriving on the day of departure but because we would prefer to spend some of the day in our departure port, Singapore. Our cruise is departing 8pm from Singapore on February 19, any advice on how late we can board?

(Bearing in mind that my husband will not want to cut it tight, hes always too early for everything!)

Actually heard this one from a CD. A passenger asked if the crew slept on board the ship. The CD jokingly said no, they are taken by helicopter to an island at night where they have living accommodations and flown back in the morning before everyone gets up. On the passenger's post cruise survey they complained they were woken up every morning by the noise from the helicopters returning the crew to the ship and were upset they couldn't sleep in because of it.

I can add to this...At a ship information meeting, we also heard a guest ask if the crew slept on board...just like yours...except we were on a transatlantic and hadnt seen land for at least two days!!

I want a refund of the extra for a balcony cabin, all I could see was a boring sea view!

(this one is also genuine!)

Still doing well on the Escape! The MDRs are fine, not spectacular but good enough and the atmosphere in the Manhattan is great. Devotees of prime rib might be annoyed that theres now a $15 charge for it in the MDRs. O'Sheehans is fine too if you like the atmosphere, its too noisy for us, they had a pork ribs night last night but no sign of the prime rib night! The weather is not great on a TA so its hard to fully appreciate Margaritaville, food is what you'd expect and I think the location will be good in sunny weather!

We think the buffet is a good standard, had excellent Indian lunch there. We really miss the Great Outdoors though, the small outdoor area will be boiling hot in the Carribbean! Breakfast in the buffet is excellent, everything there you could possibly want and good service.

As you might expect, the Speciality restaurants are a higher standard, Teppanyaki was great fun and good food. Cagneys last night was very good, service a little slow. If you are going to Cagneys or Le Bistro without a dining plan, be prepared for higher prices, hard to have a 3 course meal in either for less than $35 or $40.

Funnily, the two speciality restaurants we have enjoyed the most so far are Food Republic and Pinchos (havent been to Bayamo yet). Food in both is original and inventive and prices are low, you will get lunch or dinner for two for around $20 - $25 if you dont eat too much! Chorizo prawns in Pinchos are delicious as is the rock shrimp sushi in Food Republic. If these two were on land, I would be going regularly!

Some great bars on board too....the atmosphere in Sugarcane is fun, outdoors in the wine cellar is beautiful....

All in all, this is a wonderful ship, elegant and really quite luxurious. Off now for a walk to justify eating another lunch!

Good luck to all who sail in her...

Welcome to a wet mid Atlantic! The quality of the food was my main concern coming on this TA so I thought I would provide an update so far, with the usual provisos that everyone is different on food, blah, blah, blah...

First the context. We were on the Norway many moons ago and were on a few other NCL ships since, we always found the food fine, not brilliant but fine and better than Royal Carribean. After a gap of a few years, we went on the Sky last summer to find the food more than disappointing. The speciality restaurants were just ok, we thought most of the food in the MDR was inedible and so didnt eat it, very disappointing, much worse than years ago...

We thought we would not cruise NCL again but then along came a great offer on the TA, it was a new ship, we decided to give it a try, and thought if the food in the MDRs was awful, we would just eat in the speciality restaurants...

So here we are...day 4....and heres my thoughts.

Lunch in the MDR on departure day confirmed our concerns, my meal was ok but not great, my husbands fish and chips was poor...

But then came dinner....and the surprises began...We ate in the MDR and my crab souffle was very good, everything else was good, just fine for a cruise ship, what a surprise!

Day 2 and breakfast in the buffet was great, who could complain with such a great choice, beautifully presented. Lunch in Margaritaville was goodish, not super but the location is great, I predict it will be popular in hot weather!

Dinner was in Le Bistro, really very good again, the pastry fish starter is to be recommended as is the Cote de Boeuf, creme brulee is excellent.

Day 3 and it was lunch in the Food Republic, the best food we had since we came on board, and well worth the upcharge, very popular. Dinner was again in the MDR, not brilliant but fine and again much better than the Sky. BTW, both MDR dinners were in the Manhattan and for those who havent been on Breakaway or Getaway, its an excellent venue, great atmopshere and music.

Day 4 and its lunch in O'Sheehans, again it was fine, the venue doesnt appeal to me, too much noise from the screen, the slot machines, the music etc etc!

Its off to Teppanyaki tonight, I will let you know how we get on if I can get the internet to work, its beyond slow, most of the time it doesnt work at all....

In summary, I would now see food as a positive for NCL, something that would bring me back, service is great, and if they get this level across the fleet, it will be a big positive!

This is really about food but a few things about the ship...its stunningly beautiful, very clean and new...the cantilevered hottubs are awesome, those wider balconies a real plus.

Dont like the fact that you end up walking through the casino and or shops to get anywhere but you cant have everything. The Waterfront is truly amazing and a wonderful plus for those who feel they want to actually be on the ocean.

We are very pleased, you will be too...PS - very impressed by the huge turnout for the CC M&G!

Anyone any ideas when we might see menus etc? Saw the one for Bayamo posted here but since we are on the Escape TA Oct 29, cant wait to see what the new menus are like!

I have just bought the new five night package for our Escape TA in October. And I have booked restaurants for 5 nights, Cagneys twice, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki and Bayamo. It recognised I had the package and I was not charge anything for Cagneys, Le Bistro or Tepannyaki. I was charged the extra $15 pp (+ gratuity!) for Bayamo which makes sense.

So it does seem to me that the new package is covering the full cost of Cagneys and Le Bistro even though they are going a la carte. You then pay an upcharge + one of your nights for Bayamo, Pinchos, supper club etc

Do you think those who are staying at Melia LaDefense could identify themselves? (whether 12 or 13 day - no matter)

 

It seems the sights of Paris are going to be completely different based on where we are staying. Just wondering how many are pre-planning and who's just taking it as it comes.

 

I'm a bit overwhelmed - happening a lot for me these days.

 

You can also reach me at nclcruisemama at gmail dot com

Just to say, you can easily reach all Paris has to offer by metro from La Defense. I have stayed a number of times in Novotel in La Defense and you can get in to heart of Paris by metro no problem. Its about 20 - 25 minutes and very efficient so you can really decide where you want to go and get there by metro. La Defense itself is a modern area, people do come to visist it because of its starkly modern architecture but if you want to visit traditional Paris, hop on that metro! A taxi from there would be quite expensive.

OMG Noelle, this is fantastic....thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

I totally agree with CPTech you definitely deserve 2 thumbs up.:)

 

Donna

Thank you, Donna! Flunch is part of a chain, I think, probably reasonable. Since you are in Montmartre, you should consider dining there in the evening. You may not want to come back to your hotel to shower etc and then go back into the city to dine. There are numerous bistros with character around Rue des Abbesses etc, dont dine in Place de Tertre, maybe nice for a drink. Miroir is a great atmospheric bistro near Abbesses metro, I think walkable from your hotel. It has great food, menus about 26 - 40 euro. (Menus are nearly always better value than a la carte)

And a funicular is a kind of lift that takes you up to Sacre Couer and avoids walking all those steps!!

Noelle,

 

Thanks so much for posting that document. It's already helping us plan on what we are going to do.

 

Wish CC had a "like" or thumbs up thing. :)

You're welcome, I love Paris so happy to pass on any info. I sometimes think people are rushing around so much seeing the sights that they forget to simply enjoy Paris itself!

Oreilln:

 

Norwegian currently has us booked at Mercure Montmartre. I have us planned for a walk to the Sacre Coeur and have printed out a map to do this. I just wasn't sure how to get to the Eiffel Tower via Metro to catch the Batobus or what the cost would be. With your help I will plan on purchasing the carnet and not worry. If I purchase 1 carnet, can I use it for the 2 of us?

 

Thanks,

 

Donna

Sorry Donna, I meant to say in my last post that the Carnet of Metro tickets is NOT linked to one person so you can both use them.

I have found the little piece I did for a photographer friend of mine, will try and attach it now, never did this before on CC so hopefully it works.

Best, Noelle.

Paris.docx

Oreilln:

 

Norwegian currently has us booked at Mercure Montmartre. I have us planned for a walk to the Sacre Coeur and have printed out a map to do this. I just wasn't sure how to get to the Eiffel Tower via Metro to catch the Batobus or what the cost would be. With your help I will plan on purchasing the carnet and not worry. If I purchase 1 carnet, can I use it for the 2 of us?

 

Thanks,

 

Donna

Hi Donna, thats a better location since there are places of interest in Montmartre itself. Montmartre is on top of a hill overlooking Paris so there can be quite a few steps, there is a train and funicular I think. You will want to visit Sacre Couer, amazing views and most visitors also end up in the famous, if overtouristy, Place de Tertre. But Montmartre also has lovely little streets for wandering in, with a great village atmosphere, around Metro Abbesses, Rue Des Abbesses, Rue Lepic etc. And this area is within walking distance of your hotel. You are also just beside the famous Montmartre cemetery, if that interests you!

And again, you are near a few metro stops to get to the center of Paris, it will be easy. The carnet will work for both of you, they are for named people, its just 10 tickets at a cheaper rate and handier since you dont have to buy each time. One ticket works for each journey, so distance etc doesnt matter.

Watch where you eat in Paris, try and use a good guidebook, there are some great restaurants at great value but some are poor, just for tourists. So avoid big tourist spots for eating, such as the above Place de Tertre, or the streets in the Latin Quarter. I did a little guide to Paris for a US friend of mine, I will see if I can dig it out for you.

Noelle.

I contacted my bank yesterday and found out I can purchase Euros before we leave. Just have to go to the bank, order them and will have them in 2 business days. Trying to get out how much I will need for 3 days.

 

What does it cost to take the Metro? I have been looking for a map that I can print out and so far not much luck. This being our first time in Paris we were just going to do some easy things. I would like to do the Batobus that allows you to get on and off at 9 stops, but am having a hard time trying to figure out how to get there from our hotel at Mercure. I've seen there is a location near the Eiffel Tower to pick up the boat and I figured this would be a good starting point.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Happy to help if I can! A carnet (pronounced kar-nay) of 10 metro tickets will cost around 14 euro, each ticket will get you to your final destination, ie you dont pay extra for changing internally. The maps at the stations can help you get almost anywhere in Paris. The batobus is a good idea, a very reasonable way to see a lot of Paris. It is slow so when you want to get somewhere fast, you are better on the metro. But it will give you a fantastic view of Paris from the Seine. You can join the batobus at numerous stops along the river, your hotel will probably have a map. They do have a stop at the Eiffel tower, though there are more central stops. (By the way, if you want to go to the top of the Eiffel tower, get there early, queues can be horrendous!)

I think your hotel is in La Defense? La Defense is a very modern area on the outskirts of Paris, quite attractive in a way. It is a bit far out but the good news is there is a metro stop that will bring you right into the heart of Paris, the only way you should travel in.

As well as the obvious sights, one of the great pleasures of Paris is wandering the different neighborhoods. Theres St Germain, walking in the footsteps of writers and philosophers, theres the Latin Quarter with its student feel, theres Le Marais, the old Jewish quarter, very fashionable and busy on a Sunday when everywhere else is quiet. Or go up to Montmartre, where you will probably visit Sacre Coeur but there are wonderful streets too such as Rue Lepic. And remember the parks, right in the heart of Paris and good for a rest. There are markets everyday in different parts of Paris, give a real flavor of the city. And whereever you go, you will find a metro stop nearby that will bring you back to your hotel via the superb connections. Have a coffee or a drink in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by!

Paris isnt famous for nothing so go with the flow and you will have a wonderful time in this most beautiful of cities!

Months ago I was working through questions about flights, transportation and hotels...

Then we switched to the NCL "Paris Package".

 

Recently, following the main thread and seeing other pax dealing with the same issues,

I feel a little sheepish about being lazy just and booking this "bundle".

Everything seems to be going well.

When we get down to under 60 days, we'll have more information.

Then, maybe, we'll have something to be concerned about ?:confused::D

 

Here's some nice info about the Paris Metro:

"Don't be shy about using the subway (Metro) in Paris.

It is incredibly easy to navigate. If I can do it; anyone can do it.

They have set it up so you can go anyplace and not get lost."

 

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/21f4d7/

 

Paris is always a good idea.

 

Michael

I know Paris quite well and would strongly advise using the Metro, its fantastic and you can easily get anywhere you want to go. Just establish your final destination on the station map and it will show you the route and any change of metro. Even if you go wrong, you can just get another route. Be sure to buy either a "carnet de dix", thats a bundle of 10 tickets that you can use as you wish.

I dont wish to sit in the sun, thats the point, I need shade. Of course like anyone else if theres no loungers available, I simply come back later. If there is one available, then I see no problem with attaching what is a small umbrella to enable me to sit there. I doubt you would object to accomodating someone else with a disability, I always have a letter from my dermatologist in case of explanation needed.

I got involved in this discussion because there seemed to be a total lack of understanding that for a certain number of people, shade is not simply pleasant or a choice, its an absolute necessity. I have never contributed to a discussion on cruise critic before so am shocked at the aggressive response I have got when I tried to explain that some people need shade for serious medical conditions.

You obviously do not understand the condition, many people dont, but that is no reason to dismiss it or treat it trivially. I will retreat to my usual silence on cruisecritic, it seems I was right to fear that some people rush to judgement or abuse.

This is an extraordinary post, I put your original comments down to lack of information so tried to explain. But to suggest that someone who is photosensitive should not cruise at all and to talk of vampires is insensitive and ignorant beyond belief. I doubt you would suggest that people with other disabilities should not go on cruises?

And yes, life with photosensitivity and rosecea is an everyday battle, I cannot leave my home without sunscreen, hat etc. And there are increasing numbers like me, ironically mainly due to too much sun exposure. (I am actually quite dark skined and sunbathed a lot in my youth.)

I carry documentation from my dermatologist in case of necessity or explanation. But I try to lead as normal a life as possible and can assure you that were you to at all understand the nature of the condition, you would not so easily mock someone who suffers from it.

I don't want to sound rude but........... There's plenty of shade onboard without bringing your own. If a person has the type of problem you're indicating, they shouldn't be putting themselves in direct sunlight when it's avoidable which it is on most, if not all, cruise ships.

 

When you have problem being in the sun, it's generally a smart move to not sunbathe!

I think you are being rude, not deliberately but through lack of knowledge. Sometimes the shade available is sufficient for me, often it isnt, so I always need my own portable umbrella just in case. I also use SPF 70, one I am not allergic to, and wear a hat. I certainly do not sunbathe, I am completely covered, but I like to sit outside and read a book. I hope you are not suggesting I just stay inside.

I am sorry but you dont understand photosensitivity, it is not at all the same as someone who is light skinned and prone to burning. It is a serious medical condition and involves an allergic reaction to sun and/or heat, and causes swelling and pain. Indeed a sufferer who cannot even be out in daylight has just written a book describing her disability.

I dont think you would tell someone with another disability to "lighten up' so please do not dismiss something you have no knowledge of. The lack of knowledge and understanding is something that we who suffer from it have to deal with.