happilytorn

Thanks! I had a feeling it's still there - they just didn't mention it. I don't think they could have applied just the OBC and not the dinner so I think we'll be OK. 

Does anyone know if American Express has done away with the Le Bistro dinner offer? I can't seem to find any information on American Express's website about it. I can still find the OBC that's offered but no mention of the free dinner. We cruised in late September and the dinner was offered to us, but with our next two bookings, the only thing showing up is the OBC. Although I know in the past, the dinner never showed on the confirmation. Our travel agent said when he called American Express, they only told him about the OBC, but if I can find somewhere online mentioning the dinner, then he will call them back and ask for it.

I also wanted to add, for the daily activities, I used google translate app's camera function to translate everything. Worked very well. The interactive screens by the elevators I think has an English option for certain functions. I think all of the restaurants had English menus.

Hi! We cruised on AIDAcosma at the end of February. It was just my husband and I, and we do not speak any German. We used Google Translator to translate all of the emails we received. We booked through AIDA's website, using Google translator along the way. The only way I could get the booking to go through was by paying with American Express. When we had issues (before sailing), I was able to call their 1-800 number and get help. The telephone menu was in German, so I had to guess what numbers to push, then there was often long holds, but if I was able to get anyone on the phone, their English was better than mine. I also similarly emailed AIDA a few times with questions. Since my emails were in English, they always responded in English. We had the drink package, the Premium All Inclusive. It was very cheap, like maybe $25 a day for the two of us? It included everything at the buffet and specialty restaurants but we didn't try the a-la-carte so I don't know about them. Each specialty dining restaurant's menu has a page on what drink is included with which package. (For example, click on the Ocean's menu 

https://www.aida.de/v10/fileadmin/user_upload_v8/An_Bord/Essen_und_Trinken/Restaurants/Oceans-Das_Fischrestaurant/restaurant_menuekarte_oceansrestaurant_co_220224.pdf and you'll see the first few pages showing you the different drink packages and symbols of which is included in which. The link is in German but you can run it through google translate.) The room attendants and the waiters all seem to speak better English than German. The nightly entertainment was mostly in English. (One of the shows was called London Calling!) 

We had sit down breakfast at French Kiss every morning. 

We did it on the Epic in July. It was definitely cold but we had a blast. 

We were on the Norwegian Epic 6/22/23 to 7/2/23. I didn't try to collect any names (didn't know about this thread) but these are the names we happen to notice:

Captain: Idar Hoydal

General Manager: Amir Tikvesa

1st Engineer of Hotel: Alfio Virzi

Haven Concierge: Roel Gonzales

Our butler: Dennis

We stayed in one of these rooms recently. The slide was a nice novelty of the deck. Never heard anyone in it - including my kids who slid it many times. The room was really not bad, although a piece of the door frame fell and hit my head, but that can happen at any room with a bedroom door. I know a few people that had rooms in Haven during our sailing had closet rod falling down and almost hitting one of them too. 

Is there a reason you are trying to avoid dining in the main dining room? I'm new to Prima (going in two weeks). Is the MDR that bad?

We are booked for our first AIDA trip, and departing in less than 10 days. We don't speak any German and honestly we are pretty confused with everything right now but I've decided to just try to figure it all out once I'm on the ship. We booked some kind of all inclusive package that includes drinks and internet. I hope we'll be able to figure out exactly how all that works, especially considering I'll have to be working from my phone/laptop on the ship. We are arriving one day early to get on the ship but we'll also need to get a COVID test in order to board (I believe it's required even though we are vaccinated). We are traveling with our two children too, and I plan on leaving them in the childrens' club on sea days. Fingers crossed everything will go well. LOL!

11 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Here are the Daily planners .  Shows vary each night and there is no guarantee that what was scheduled on this cruise will be repeated next week. 
 

We did not go to any shows. We rather enjoyed certain entertainment in the Ensemble lounge, grand foyer, and other areas around the ship. 

 

 

Wow thank you so much for uploading the Dailies. I know my week will have some differences because there will be a holiday show but if the rest of the week is similar it doesn't look like I'll be missing much, which is OK - just happy to be cruising. We usually love the acrobatic shows, so this is great to know and set the right expectations. Thank you!

13 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

 

Solstice, Dec 2019

 

My family of 4 have been on two Christmas cruises so far. Both times we brought our stockings.  If you buy some magnetic hooks, you can easily hang your stockings on the cabin wall.  If your kids open their stocking gifts on Christmas morning in your cabin, I don't think it will cause the problems with the rest of the kids on the ship that you are worried about.  Everyone on the ship is in a terrific mood on Christmas Day.  You and your family will enjoy it.

 

Here are the Christmas Eve and Christmas issues of the Celebrity Today that we got in 2019 during our Solstice cruise.

 

Christmas stockings, Infinity, Dec 2016

 

 

Table top Christmas tree and a fireplace app on an iPad on Christmas morning 2016

Wow this is amazing and I love your beautiful stockings!! Too late for us to buy the hooks online.. I wonder if I can find them somewhere in store. That's such a great idea. 

Thank you so much for the pictures and the Dailies. We are getting SO EXCITED!!

Love reading about your journey - thank you so much for taking the time to share. We will be boarding this Saturday and we are so excited. Can you tell me what shows are at the theater each night? Thank you so much!!

1 minute ago, LGW59 said:

Ahhh, OK I get it now.  Though I'd not worry about it, but I'd also guess if it comes up one of the other kids will spill the Santa beans

Won’t be the first lol. I just tell my kids that those kids must have been bad all year lol. I think this may be the last year my kids are “believing” in Santa… 

4 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Curious as to why you think your kids getting stockings would create issues in the kids camp?  Give yours their stockings and let them enjoy it, if the others kids parents don't do the same, oh well

My kids think the stockings are filled by Santa, so they would assume all kids would have gotten them. Although I guess I can tell them the kids that didn’t get it didn’t lay out their stockings to be filled up… 

We have never cruised on a holiday cruise before and wonder what it’s like to celebrate Christmas on the ship. Maybe I’m overthinking this but it’s been stressing me out. My kids are 9 and 10 and still believe in Santa (it hasn’t been easy to keep it going..). I’ve heard Santa comes to the ship, but what about stockings? I plan on bringing our stockings and fill them up after they go to sleep but is that going to create issues when they go to the kids camp? I plan on them spending a lot of time at kids camp. If other kids didn’t get stockings, then what? Gosh I feel so silly for posting this… We will be on the Reflection.