SMerritt

Which NCL ship are you sailing on?

First off, I apologize if this doesn't belong in this section. Mods, please move if necessary.

 

Will someone please tell me the earliest time that you would book a flight for after returning from the Breakaway in NYC? I'm looking at a 1:15pm flight out of JFK. Is that cutting it close?

 

Thanks!

1:15 should be fine if there are no docking issues

Thanks to Cruise Critic, we always use Dial7 car service to get to and from JFK - faster, reliable, and cheaper than a cab.

And I have been going there since 1959 when my parents took me to Hawaii for the very first time. Very different then, you could see the beach from any of the stores on the Kalakawa street.

 

So sad, that they closed the one last place that really reminded us that this is Hawaii.

We booked a "last minute" cruise on the POA and decided to fly in a day early, I booked a hotel close, so I could go to the Int'l Market Place - Special first Hawaii visit Memory from 1960 *sigh*........

Saw the Coco Palms on Kauai sitting in ruins last year, now this......

If you can afford it, try to get a balcony cabin for this trip. I know it is extra money, but it really makes a difference. Hawaii is such a great destination that you want to be able to see as much as possible. Also, it is great to be able to sleep with the sea breeze coming in!

Agree - this is a very Scenery-Intensive cruise, I am excited to go back in a few weeks and see it with my new eyes (cateract surgery), I am prepared to park myself on our balcony for many hours on this cruise.

This is possible at Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikiloa Village near Kona. There is also a Dolphin Quest at the Kahala Hotel on Oahu. I have done both and recommend them.

We have done Dolphin Quest at Waikiloa Village - small groups, was very nice and fun. Took a cab from the ship. I recommend booking in advance on the Dolphin Quest Website

All of our NCL cruises in the Haven have had a "pistol grip" hair dryer with various heat and air speed settings.

The hair dryers are kept in the vanity drawers, you can use them anywhere there is an outlet :)

When we have a guest bathroom - I use it, due to the mirror is very well lit, and the sink is small so I can get really close. All of the bathrooms (and sometimes extra mirror/vanities) are surrounded with lights.

My daughter and I just returned from a 9 day cruise on Explorer of the Seas. While we enjoyed ourselves it was just missing something. I am not complaining we did enjoy ourselves. The best way to describe it is this cruise was missing the easy rhythm of an NCL Cruise. Good thing I brought my books with me because we often found ourselves with nothing of interest to do.

Pros on EOS: nice cabins, beautiful large pool areas, funky soda machines Cons| limited choices for dinning, buffet had no variety, shopping was rediculous with overkill tactics in the promenade nightly, debarkation and embarkation madness at Port Liberty.

 

We missed: Freestyle Dinning, Specialty Dining and O'Sheehans, quality of musicians, friendliness of staff, nightly parties and overall quality of Cruise Director and Staff.

 

For the right deal I would not exclude RCI from possibilities. However, I will look first to NCL.

Sounds like our Oasis cruise and then some.......

And YES!!! "shopping was rediculous with overkill tactics in the promenade nightl"

We had a Loft Suite - Embarcation at FLL was a miserable Zoo

Last year I printed them on full sheet labels I purchased from Staples.

I used the adhesive to stick them together at certain points and was able to staple them as well.

I ended up sticking them on my luggage as well. I found they were more durable than the paper ones.

I do the same thing, then "Laminate" with tape

Also now, have the CC Luggage Tag holders.....

Thank you SO MUCH Bullies! Whew! And glad for the positive comments

Hmmm? Do you Have Bull Doggies? We have 2 OEB's:)

Whew, thanks!

Maybe I was viewing some promo picture or rendering, or?

The white "Motel6" coffee pot really depressed me :D

On a whim, we just booked a sort of, last minute cruise on the POA

Booked Suite 12500 - Browsing some photos of the suite, I am seeing a Coffee POT!

I sail for my Lavazza Machine - Do the POA suites no longer have Lavazza Machines? :(

I was in the Haven aft suite last year and also had Juan. I didn't see him at all throughout the entire cruise. He introduced himself to my husband on the SECOND day of the cruise. Perhaps we were never in the room when he came by, but if I were him, I would have made sure my guests saw me at least a couple of times. We did see the night butler several times.

 

 

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About the same on our cruise - we still talk about how we never actually "met" or even saw our Butler on the Breakaway - We did see a lot of our favorite butler Chris (from another cruise) - so wished he had been ours.

We RARELY take a ship tour - feel comfortable on most all islands.......

I was so happy for Cruise Critic - we took a ship tour to Dunn's River falls, sight-seeing, and a short shopping stop. Our tour guide even warned all of us of the very aggressive vendors.

Seeing the falls was great! Viewing some of the island and the short shopping stop, everyone on the bus agreed - we will be happy to get back on the ship ASAP.

Also, if you have children staying in the kids program they aren't included in the DSC either.

 

Harriet

We are sailing with family on the Getaway soon, our 3.5 year old grandson loves environments like the kids programs - who do we tip and how much?

It seems that our room attendants deserve an extra cash tip at the end of our cruises, many times our concierge, butlers lately have not been very impressive......

We have repeated several itineraries on the same ship -- but in different cabins.

Done the same as above -

Three cruises on the Epic - Love the ship, know the beaches we like, knew what to expect and easy to pack, and plan

We will miss the Epic, but the Breakaway was amazing, and the Getaway will be a BLAST! (taking grandson and his femily)

When someone makes such statements, I would ask "Really? Please tell me what cruise line and ship you have sailed and all about your bad experiences."

I love this!

A cruise is a great Honeymoon IMO.....you have absolutely NOTHING TO DO, no scheduled place to be...just enjoy each others company

I have never had pickled herring. Do you eat it with something?

I am Scandanavian - I eat it right out of the bowl, but on crackers is nice also

Carlo's Bakery is habit forming:D

Pretzel Rolls - Yum! If you are in the Haven, you can ask your Butler to bring them instead of the little toast appetizers :eek:, also, add some butter or cheese;)

Check out the App tripit.com

Travel organizer that is also GREAT when you are "Herding Cats" (travelling with a group) :)

36 people are sick.....:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: I hate when this becomes news. This only tells me one thing. These are the 36 people who didnt wash their hands enough.

I have been saying the same thing since I saw the "NEWS"

They have the Flu......just like in schools, offices, etc

As above, for luggage check the weight and quality of the wheels. Some of the "5-piece" on ebay etc. will "crash" after one trip. I have a 30" that weighs only 7 pounds. Irv's luggage has served us well

As for shopping - I have a Ross & Marshall's next door to each other, In the same location where I grocery shop *sigh*...

I do buy Tennis Skorts on ebay! Addidas etc - comfy, no wrinkles, fast-dry, and look a little "dressy", also lightweight in the suitcase

The open air "bus" to Magen's Bay is a tour in itself, they leave from the Port.

On the way back we have found a driver that dropped us off at the top of Blackbeard's Castle/Home. You walk down 99 steps (easy) into downtown, viewing Blackbeard's estate, wandering through the houses, grounds, etc. (some buildings are now shops).

We then take the water taxi back to the ship.

In Nassau, if it is a "short day", we take the water taxi (right by the ship) over to Atlantis, the $4.00 boat ride is a fun and informative little "tour" in itself. Check out the yachts of the rich and famous and have conch fritters etc. sitting outside at the Bimini Road Restaurant in the Marina. Then water tax or cab back to town to shop, all shopping is right by the port. Caution: many stores close at 5:00 pm, the indoor straw market at the end of the street is overwhelming!

Have you checked out the Getaway?

Agree - Rock Of Ages was not what we expected - not the "norm" for NCL

Imaginarium show on the Getaway

How about this?????????? :D

In the early evening when LeBistro is open, go and ask for the MaitreD and talk to him/her

Possibly instead of "springing" it on the LeBistro Staff, and see if they can accommodate you, if they have advance warning. We have had some unexpected food requests served.

My DH used to be a "picky eater" but now is much more adventurous but I can not get him to find anything he would like at LeBistro.

We get our stickers UBP and Soda at one of the bars - we stay in the Haven, so I do not know which bars issue stickers, just stop at the first open bar you see when boarding, which I don't think will be that hard to find ;o)

They can look up your purchase with your seapass - quick & easy

Wow, thanks for the replies! We will just plan to bring pre packages snacks then...will leave the banana behind!

 

 

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Freeze dried banana chips & Lunchables? they even have PB&J!