www3traveler

The Freestyle Daily will tell you what time a where the solo meet-ups are.  Usually about 5:30 P.M. either in the Solo Lounge or near one of the bars.

Also go on the Roll Call section of this forum and look for your specific cruise.  There may be other solo cruisers posting there.

Enjoy the city of Seattle and your cruise.

In a posting from the 2022 thread, JohnBosw is reporting that Bowen is currently the Haven Concierge on The Encore.

47 minutes ago, BunnyHutt said:

What do you mean you doubt spa passes would go on sale? Or maybe I just worded it wrong? Last year on Encore we were able to advance purchase week-long access to the Thermal Suite. Less than 130 days out now and I’ve yet to see the same available for our sailing on Prima. 

Yes, you were able to buy Spa Passes but were they at a discounted price?  I have never seen Spa passes discounted unless it was a Port Day special.

3 hours ago, BunnyHutt said:

Cruising Greece/Italy at the end of Oct/beginning of Nov of this year. Vibe cost is $329/pp for 10-day cruise. 
 

I’ve heard great things about Vibe but am not sure if it’s worth the cost this time of year. We were planning on getting the spa pass but have yet to see them go

on sale, or maybe they’re already sold out. 🤔
 

Thoughts/experiences?

I doubt that Spa passes would go on sale.  Given a choice between a Spa pass or a Vibe pass, in this case the Spa would win.

Thank you to mking8288, I got the Prima list posted.  Nice to see that Kiran is moving up the ladder.  Always nice to see when hard work pays off to advance in a career.

PRIMA SENIOR STAFF OFFICERS (23 June- 4 July 2024) as posted by Sea2mountains and Mking8288:

Captain:  Rodger Gustavsen

General Manager:  Zafer Dal

Food and Beverage Director:  Adrian Domitru

Assistant Food and Beverage Director:  Kiran Aguiar

Restaurant Manager:  Rochelle Dayrit

Beverage Manager:  Marjan Stamenkovic

Cruise Director:  Alvin Oliva

Guest Services Manager:  Sarah Mittlelstaedt

Executive Housekeeper:  Rodrigo Rodriguez

CruiseNext Manager:  Taarun Shorey

NOTE:  Change of title:  Internet Cafe Manager to COMMUNICATION SERVICES MANAGER:

                                                                              Alavaro Marin

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks.  I’ll be fine.  Came back from last week, had MRIs before I left.  They want to do a hip replacement.  Juggling surgery and recovery dates.

 

I’ll be fine.  Ain’t keeping me down for long!

Prayers and Best Wishes from the Pacific Northwest

I have sailed on a couple of Christmas cruises.  They are extremely crowded.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditional turkey dinner is served in the Main Dining Room.

The entertainment schedule is set by the Cruise Director not very far in advance.  On the cruises I have been on, Senior Officers went through the ship on Christmas Eve singing Christmas carols followed by carols in the lobby.  There will probably be a special program in the Theater on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning Santa Claus arrives with gifts for the "Little Ones" in the lobby.  Lots of families arrive in the lobby in matching pajamas (Multi-generational Grandparents on down to the little little ones.

Somewhere on the ship, the Executive Chef and his Team will built an elaborate Gingerbread Village.  It is a lot of fun to watch how they put it all together.  Five gallon buckets are filled with white frosting to use as snow and glue to put the buildings together>  It is amazing.

Enjoy your cruise and most importantly enjoy your time as a family.  Teenagers seem to grow very quickly into young people with families of their own.

Mandy

My first question would be-- are you going to have issue getting into a tender boat??  Very steep metal staircase down the side of a ship to board a tender boat.  I have very minor mobility issues and I choose not to tender and stay on the ship.  

8 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Loving the pictures ... not quite, a bit fuzzy and I tried to zoom in, etc.  What worked for me snapping those same displayed images is to take half a screen full at a time, vertically - split that image into halves, depending on camera resolution - came out sharp enough to see.  

 

What are your plans for Norway & Iceland ?? 

 

BTW, the question came up on a thread about Prima's library (online) - can you see what the FSD say about it (if any) and whether the Libby app used to access the Prima's collection has been restored, fixed or connected again - couldn't get it to work, and it was beyond internet manager's pay grade to resolve the connectivity & related issues.  We've too busy during the 2nd half of the TA with port-intensive scheduling to bother to give it another try.  Just another nice-to-know, first world problem at sea. Thanks.  

I am glad that you could figure out staff members-- I could not.  Knew a couple of names but that was it.

Congratulations on being "Cancer Free".  What a wonderful milestone.  I am 39 years "Cancer Free" and counting-- 40 years the middle of November.

3 minutes ago, luv2kroooz said:

https://www.nclhltd.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/608/norwegian-cruise-line-holdings-ltd-transforms-shore-side

Thank You  Sounds like as they try to get the transitional bugs out, things might work a little better and faster.

10 hours ago, Ericaleighjackson said:

Hi. We are thinking of booking a cruise in the Jewel next February. I know the rescue tugs are very important for our safety, but am just wondering if I should book a balcony room further forward or back. I like to look down at the water & waves & often on cruise ships, the tug boats stick out & I can’t look straight down to the water. Anyone know how it is on NCL Jewel? If I’ll look down at the rug, I’ll just move further forward or backwards, but the middle is ideal if not obstructed. Thank you!!! 

Go up a few threads to a posting from Texas Tech.  He is on The Pearl and has just posted picture on Page 95 of the Promenade Deck and you can see how the lifeboats are stored. 

Life boats on Jewel Class ships are stored on the ceiling of Deck 7 along the Promenade Deck and you can literally walk under them safely.  They do not obstruct views as on the newer ships.

According to reports, in house production shows are in rehearsal.  The plan was to roll out new production shows in the 3rd Quarter which i s a couple of weeks away.  There is a Broadway type show being discussed for the Aqua. 

44 minutes ago, latebuyer said:

Thanks all. I’m wondering about deck 4. Deck 5 has a weird large empty space on it though. Anyone know what it is?

Some "white spaces" on Deck 4 and 5 are crew cabins, very quiet most of the time.

Deck 4 have the gangways which can be very noisy and congested.

I try not to book on Deck 4 and 5 anymore.

My suggestions would be to study the decks and book a cabin that has cabins above and below you.  I try to book as close to the center of the ship as possible.  You do not want to book a cabin that has public spaces (theater, restaurants, bars or the pool) either above or below you.

Book your cruise and enjoy.  The Gem is a great ship.

On Embarkation Day, you can tour the Spa.  I would make a decision depending on whether or not this particular Spa appeals to me or not.

28 minutes ago, condorchristi said:

I'm sure its a good option.  I like Starbucks and I think I may need a “taste of home” so to speak.  Sailing alone is going to be something new for me and I’m looking for as many “security blankets” as I can find.

Check the Freestyle Daily for Solo Meet-Ups each evening.  Great way to share meals or just get to know other solo passengers.  Also sign-up for the Roll Call of your particular cruise-- another way to meet others.

I hope you have a chance to see a little of Seattle before or after your cruise.

Relax and enjoy

For all the baseball history buffs on your cruise, the announcers doing the Seattle Mariners/Cleveland Guardians have just announced that San Francisco great Willie Mays has died at the age of 93.  

3 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I saw her get on, press her button, and immediately try to “climb on” the railing before the elevator doors even closed.  

 

Before I could get the words “that’s probably not a good idea”, I heard the poor railing give a “oh no” sound and then crash under her ummmm…posterior!  An embarrassing demise,  to be certain!

 

I tried to help her up.  She swatted me away and got, ran out (OK, waddled out) when the elevator doors opened again!  

 

I went to Customer Service to tell them what happened!  The Service person made me repeat myself.  Not sure if they didn’t believe me or misunderstood.  

 

I showed them the picture.  Pointed to the elevator bank and felt I did my civic duty.

 

Will have to check on it later!

 

There are some colorful guests on this sailing!  🙃

WOW!!!  Another very stupid person!!

Question for you:  Can you ask someone what positions qualify as an "Officer"??  I have a couple of friends on NCL ships who are "Head Mixologists (Head Bartenders" and they are considered "Officers".  Blew my mind at that-  but good for them-- better pay (benefits, I hope) and schedule rotation (six months on two off rather than eight and two).

Thank You for all the wonderful pictures and descriptions.

I hope that the rest of your cruise goes well and without drama from stupid people.

7 minutes ago, Sayuil said:

Mind sharing how did you book this? It doesnt show up on list of excursion on NCL app. Can it only be booked once onboard?

 

Also how much is the ticket?

You book the BTS tour through the CruiseNext Desk.  For some there is a charge but it is also a Higher Level Latitude Status perk.  It is very interesting to see but it requires a lot of walking and you must wear closed toed shoes, no flip flops or sandals.

1 hour ago, DrUrsula said:

I wouldn't count on this ever. Our past 2 cruises from European ports with NCL had multiple people miss the ship ( per the social media groups) due to late planes booked through the promo.

 

The Encore was held Sunday and The Sun was held today.  I have done several European cruises with late flights and the ships were held.

11 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Another CODE ALPHA just now.  Cabin 103555!

OH WOW!!!  That is not good.

Very sad news for New York Yankee fans this evening, it is being reporting by MLB.com the First Baseman Anthony Rizzo will be out 6 to 8 weeks with a broken arm.  Broke it yesterday in a game against Boston.