chiapet

Anyone been to the Shirokiya Beer Garden in the Ala Moana shopping center?

Read good things and we were thinking about trying it while staying pre- and post- cruise for some inexpensive beer and Asian food :p

You can also dine in the bar area at the hi-tops ... there may be some differences in the menu ... but they said we could also order off the *other* menu as well :p

Agreed. And to the OP- look into the Cirque Jungle Dinner- it is reduced to 29.99 pp only on Sunday and is FABULOUS!!!! We had the 8:30 seating and it lasts 1hr 30 min.

Yes ... I would also recommend Cirque the first night ... when it's least crowded and at a discount ;)

If the ship sails on time at 4pm (and it has the last few weeks), you'll be into open waters and past the Verazano Bridge around 5pm, so dinner at any of the restaurants after 5:30 should be fine.

One of our favorite dinners was dining outdoors at Cagney's ... sailing under the Verrazano ... but it might not work with a 4pm sailing. However, we've also very much enjoyed sailaway on the Waterfront ... going under the bridge too :)

And don't forget ... as a CAS guest ... you'll also be getting free drinks in the casino with the *card* they give you ... so you'll also be saving on your bar bill :p

Skip the mini- it's just a glorified balcony.

 

What a lot of folks have failed to mention is the Wave balcony rooms. NCL was going for a more modern/sleek looking cabin. What resulted was a cabin that is rather awkward to navigate.

 

We didn't mind the *wave* cabins ... but the bathroom *area* right next to entrance door was very *awkward*. And some very *interesting* situations happened because of this:

1) I was able to see and speak to my friend thru a cracked open door WHILE I was in the shower :p

2) I had a conversation with my cousin's DH while he was *ON THE THRONE* doing his business because the toilet *slider* was impossible to close due to his 6'5" stature :eek:

Yes and you will love the location :)

ABSOLUTELY ... we loved being on Deck 8 ... so close to the Waterfront and Fat Cats!!

Booking our 1st NCL cruise on the 11/16 Epic sailing. Avid cruisers having been on RCCL, Carnival and Celebrity. Those who have sailed Epic before...what would you compare to? Also, have balcony guarantee and mini-suite on hold. Mini-suite $300 total more than regular balcony...worth it?

We've been on Epic twice and love it ... it's even my BIL's favorite ... above Allure of the Seas ... my DH's fave :)

However ... don't think I can compare it to another ship on other cruise lines. Love the entertainment and dining venues ... but most hate the bathrooms inside the cabin :p

It's more like a larger *first* iteration of Breakaway/Getaway ... before the *kinks* were worked out ;)

And no ... I personally would not pay $300 more for a mini-suite ... since it's pretty much the same cabin/balcony ... except the bathroom *area* near the entrance door is just slightly larger and has a tub (instead of shower) ... but still no separate bath*room* :rolleyes:

We also do not tip by percentage ... and *usually* just tip between $5-10 per person for my family of 4 (2 adults & 2 kids) ... depending on the length and quality of the tour + tour guide ;)

However ... we have tipped in excess if the owner/guide goes well *above and beyond* our requests and expectations ... to give us the *best* shore excursion we've ever had ... as Levi did in Dominica for us :)

Ditto ... to get a window with daylight and a view ... I would also pay the ~$11 per day extra ... it's only about the price of a drink :p

I'm booked in 8138 for thanksgiving cruise November 23rd on the breakaway. Booked that because I saw it is a larger Angled balcony. It is right????

Yes ... 8138 and 8738 are both angled and larger ...

Yes ... we can also confirm that 8#40 is slightly angled ... while 8#38 is significantly larger and angled too ... BOTH being category BD ... and just as the OP posted about slide #21 ;)

The laundry special wasn't offered on our sailing. We just asked the room steward about it and she brought us a bag on the day we wanted. For the Latitudes perk, write Platinum on the laundry slip and outside the bag.

Clarification please - I would assume there's always a bag for laundry (or should be). When you requested it, did it come with a flat rate, or did you pay the usual piece rate? Thanks

I believe the OP is saying that the usual *flat rate special* for the bag was NOT offered on their sailing ... so you'd have to pay the per piece price.

However ... if you're a *Platinum* Latitudes member ... you always get 1 bag FREE per sailing. Thus ... it's still possible to get the Platinum perk by just asking for the bag (if it's not already in the cabin) ... and just writing *Platinum* on the bag (and slip) ... to get it for FREE.

Try MX cabins 8114 or 8714. Similar if not identical to the M6 but cheaper for some reason

Probably because these cabins are really forward ... more wind, more noise, more movement, more walking ;)

Also look at cat. BX cabins (next to MX) ... 8110, 8112, 8710, 8712 ... these are the same size interior as the BA-BF cabins ... with a balcony about the same size as the M6-MX ... but the balconies are just set back a little :)

Hi Deb!!

Yes ... just like you ... I've also been doing my *research* on the boards before our POA cruise this summer ;)

Have a great trip leaving this Saturday ... and please share all the details when you get back :)

My wife informed me, two weeks before we leave, that we have tooo much planned and just wants to chill out while we are in Kauai. One idea we came up with is to see if we can go to a hotel around Lihue and use their facilitities on a day pass. Is this idea too unusual or has anyone tried this before . Of course please provide any recommendations

 

 

TIA

You may also want to post this on the HAWAII boards ...

The laundry special wasn't offered on our sailing. We just asked the room steward about it and she brought us a bag on the day we wanted. For the Latitudes perk, write Platinum on the laundry slip and outside the bag.

Thanks so much for the info ... we'll definitely need to have some clothes washed while onboard :)

Also ... here's a link to another CC post ... where an OP gave some very detailed info on Breakaway/Getaway cabins with some pics too!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...55&postcount=2

Thank you!!! Did u get a chance to see any other regular balcony cabins? If so was the balcony itself the only difference in size?

 

 

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BTW ... the video is not mine ... I just found it online ;)

But yes ... I've been in a *regular* balcony twice ... and the only difference (minus the pole in the middle of the one in the video :p) ... is the balcony size and location of the cabin :)

Also ... the balconies on Breakaway/Getaway (even in the same cabin categories) really range in size ... from very tiny (knees hitting glass while seated) ... to large enough for a lounger (and possibly other furniture). So you'll need to research it well :D

No video attached

 

 

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So sorry ... here it is:

There was just a *3rd/4th FREE* promo a few months ago ... don't know if there will be another one before October ... but you never know :p

Here's a video tour of 10314 on Getaway ... which should be identical ;)

We rented a small cabana during our visit.

1) yes, the beach in front of the cabanas is open to all.

 

2) your friends may visit and I doubt anyone would say anything if they used the cabana.

 

3) I don't think this is enforced but others may have more experience.

Thanks so much!!

BTW ... the NCL website says that the *Small* cabanas are on Fiesta Beach. Is that further out away from the general area and past the (Large) Cabanas on the Cay?

We're trying to decide if we should get a Small or Large cabana ... or if it's not even worth it?

I also found it odd that POA did not offer its laundry special for a particular sailing ... especially since Platinum members get a bag for FREE ... and there's no info on the Latitudes page saying otherwise either :)

And we're hoping to be able to get a bag (or two) of laundry done on our upcoming POA sailing in August ... so I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who has recently cruised ;)

Thanks so much!!

Very nice! What category is this room?

I'm not quite sure ... since I didn't post the pic ... but it looks like it's in the AFT.

But the OP who posted that pic ... also posted some other info about Breakaway ... with pics and even a cabin spreadsheet with info broken down by category, interior sizes, location, balcony sizes, etc...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=43096855&postcount=2

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/946009_10201028889861806_945804221_n.jpg

 

:D

That's the *SUITE* life ... don't think that would be a step *down* ;)