brookie848

Thanks. I'll study this and figure out what is going to be the most logical depending on where we are and where we want to go. Even thought the sun has been out the past couple of days, I'm ready to go somewhere sunny AND warm. And that's not Upstate NY in February.

Have fun picking those little tags off your clothes. I'm glad you're enjoying your cruise even with your mishap. When we were on the Epic last year I was recovering from foot surgery and still in a decent amount of pain. We didn't spend a lot of time wandering around the ship (so grateful for the Epic's awesome Haven). I found out when we returned that one of the screws in my foot didn't like where it had been placed and was floating around my foot -- I literally had a screw loose. We are in the Viva Haven at the end of the month. Can you let me know where the "secret" Haven staircases are? We're on Deck 15 and if we just want to go up to the restaurant there might be times when we don't want to use the elevator. Enjoy the rest of the cruise!

The second bedrooms on the Prima and Viva are actual Queen-sized beds. We've had no complaints from the people who stay in the second bedrooms. Our friend who sleeps there usually asks for a mattress topper, but other than that she loves it.

I'm happy about this as well. Our upcoming cruise on the Viva has zero sea days. We only have plans for three ports, so we plan on doing lunch a couple (or all) of the days we don't have plans in Indulge.

Then you will be fine. Just resign yourself to drinking rum for breakfast. 😁

Are there two time options? If you choose the first one, you will have your pick of chairs. If you chose the second, it may be a bit dicey until the first group of people leave.

This is the only cruise line excursion we've ever done and we're doing it for the third time this month!

Last year on our Epic Haven cruise, some Karen was complaining to the assistant concierge that they didn't get a personal tour of the Haven when they arrived. Really complaining. Loudly. We have them the side eye the rest of the cruise.

JimZim (he doesnt' seem to be cruising on NCL right now) was forthright in saying he paid for his cruises from his YouTube money. I think his videos were split between cruises and model trains. And let's be honest, if you've ever watched any of his videos, you keep watching because of his voice.

I think cab rides from both places were around 15-20 minutes. We have a tendency to arrive early at the port if possible. Last year they were still disembarking when we arrived (probably around 10-10:30) and we did have to wait awhile before embarkation started. Our goal, however, is to get on the ship and start vacation as soon as possible.

People do walk it from the hotels closest to the pier, but I wouldn't suggest it. There are no sidewalks on part of that road and the traffic can get really interesting. Plus, I don't want to start my vacation by being hot and sweaty. As I mentioned, Sheraton Old San Juan was an okay place to stay. If you do it, book the breakfast package -- it was pretty decent. We also liked it because there was a Walgreens on the first level and we are really good at forgetting things. We walked up the hill the night before for dinner. We didn't do any other exploring because I was between foot surgeries and didn't want to spend any more time on my feet that day. We're staying in Condado this year (we stayed there back in 2019 as well). Our hotel is the Condado Palm Inn -- it's a Hilton property. We stayed there is 2019 when it was a Best Western. Nothing really special about the hotel then, but the location was great. A lot of restaurants/shopping close by (CVS across one street and Walgreens across the other) and we walked over to the beach for a few minutes on embarkation day. I'll try to remember to report back on what the hotel is like now that it has been renovated.

Sorry...but numerous people mentioned this and you kept insisting being across the street. That's where it came from. Sheraton Old San Juan is definitely okay place to stay. Traffic at the pier can be bad. I would not make the trip twice. The Sheraton should be able to hold your luggage for you -- they did for us when our room was not ready when we arrived after check-in last year.

Hahahaha...no. Look up Pan American Pier. That is where you will embark the Viva. I stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan last year. I could easily walk to the pier where ships dock for the day. I could walk to the pier where Carnival boards. Yes...it was right across the street. However, that is NOT where the Viva docks to start cruises. It docks at the Pan American Pier, which is a good 15-minute, 3-mile taxi ride. That's a bit farther. Do some more research and then make your plans. I have sailed out of San Juan on NCL three times. PAN AMERICAN PIER.

There is NO hotel across the street. There is an airport across the street. And there are no sidewalks on the road to the port. You are not embarking in Old San Juan, you are embarking at the San Juan pier. And as @BirdTravels says the traffic can be really, really interesting. We've sailed out of this port three times and have two more planned.

Both are available. Sprite Zero should also be available.

I'm be really upset if I was changed from Ocho Rios to Falmouth. Like others, I prefer that last day to be a sea day -- or a port I hate. 😀

Oh cripes...I hope they don't re-use my photo from last year. I had a couple "decent" ones ready to go, but it kept getting rejected. So I ended up re-taking it at midnight as I was checking in -- nothing done with my hair or makeup. I was really hoping to have it re-taken at the pier, but that didn't happen. I was hoping for something better this year.

I knew that one. When we were doing this last year, the one photo my husband makes him look exactly like a cartoon villain. One eyebrow up, the other eyebrow down and a diabolical smile. I told him if we tried to use that one we would be banned forever.

I have seen those, but they aren't the most recent ones that are the same (or close) to our sailing.

Do you happen to have the Dailies for your sailing? I'm really curious when shows and other events are going to be with no sea days (things like tastings, Latitudes gatherings, etc.).

The Breakaway was designed as a NY ship -- there is a roof over the Haven. That's why I don't understand why they put the Getaway out of NYC. I mean, I do realize that people want to see different shows and that might be one reason for the switch, but this just doesn't make sense to me. I don't want to pay Haven prices to sail out of NYC in the winter and not have a roof over the Haven. Plus, I greatly disliked the Getaway's Haven. We're on the Viva next month. I'm really curious what we think of this ship. We have a port-heavy itinerary (no sea days and really good port times), so that in and of itself will make passenger flow interesting. We only have plans for three ports and plan on exploring the ship on those other days. I'm hoping we like her because we already have 2025 booked.

This is perfect -- thank you! She's just tied to our credit card since we always have a ton of OBC to go through before we even think about paying anything. Plus, it just keeps things simple.

Since we generally only cruise once a year, that means I only do check-in once a year and I can never remember what information I need. We cruise with a third person in our cabin and I'm the person who will check all of us in. I know I'll need her picture and emergency contact information. Do I need her passport number (I'm thinking no)? Anything else weird that I might not be thinking of? One reason this matters more this time is I'm pretty sure she'll be on another cruise during our check-in, so I won't be able to get in touch with her to ask for anything. Thanks!

We've sailed out of San Juan on NCL three times and are about to do our fourth. The first time was 2017 and we went straight from the airport -- it was NCL's first cruise out of San Juan that season and this was after the island go slammed with hurricanes. Our hotel was canceled because it was only housing relief workers. At that point, there was no AC in the port. We waited outside to get through security and then pretty much went directly on the ship. The other two sailings we got to the port pretty early -- 10:30ish. We had to wait awhile, but we starting boarding (Haven) around 11:00-11:30. I plan on getting there early this year, too. We had zero issues with the AC this past February -- I don't remember being hot at all. I do know that if the initial waiting area fills up, they won't let anyone else into it, so you would be stuck waiting outside. Traffic can also be a bit of a nightmare, which is one reason we arrive early. I wouldn't suggest walking to the port. The sidewalks end and then you are stuck dragging your luggage on the side of a very busy road. Plus, it can get hot and this is not the way I'd prefer to begin my vacation. We like getting on the ship as soon as possible to start our vacation. Enjoy your cruise!

Vibe is now sold before you board. There might be some passes left to buy at boarding, but if this is something you want, buy it before you get on board.