Portia!

I tried the Indian restaurant in Indulge on Prima several times in February and found it excellent. There are different items at lunch and dinner, all of them really good. Highlight was the naan bread made fresh in their tandoori oven at dinner. A crowd gathers to watch the performance! If you only want Indian you can grab a barstool right at the restaurant and watch them make the naan and deliver it directly to you, piping hot, along with the other Indian dishes you ordered. Very fast service. This is also a good way to find a seat in a very busy/crowded venue, but you are restricted to that restaurant's menu. If you want Indian as well as other dishes, you need to sit at a table where the menu tablets include all of the restaurants. Enjoy!

Generally it is considered a 'rinse bucket' not a 'spit bucket'. Rinsing the glass before, say, switching from a red to a white or a sweet to a dry, improves the tasting experience. None of the wine is nasty. They are all wines served on the ship and served to people who are willing to pay for them. Some people don't want to finish the sample they were poured. People have their own preferences - a wine might be sweeter or drier than their preferences etc. Perhaps someone doesn't normally drink red, but tried it because it was free, then realized that they really don't like red. They shouldn't be forced to finish it if they don't care for it. The wines are generally more expensive than the basic FAS wines, so an encouragement to try things outside of the FAS range. Good for NCL, good for the customer.

One more thing, you need to register for the event at the CruiseNext desk the first day of your cruise. It sometimes sells out - at the event people check in with an NCL representative who has a list provided by CruiseNext. Cheers!

Hi, I've participated in this event on the Escape, Bliss, Joy and Prima. It varies a little bit on each ship and also depending on what is going on that day (like available venues). Typically there are four tasting stations set up, each from a different wine growing region, with a sommelier pouring samples of wines available on board. Usually they each have a white and a red to sample. You are given a glass and allowed to roam between stations. They pretty much just pour a swallow or two of each wine. There are breadsticks available as palate cleaners, water for rinsing glasses, a small pad and pencil for note taking. On the Escape it is sometimes in the Brew House, sometimes in the space between Moderna and Cagney's. Usually you are allowed to roam between stations, chatting a bit with other passengers and the sommeliers. Very pleasant. Once when I did it we were assigned to four groups and had to stick together. Which meant slower groups help up faster groups etc. Not the best experience since there was a bit of friction between groups. On the Prima, it was held in Onda and we sat at tables. Two tasting stations were in the back of the restaurant and two in the front. We formed lines to get wine then returned to our tables to sip. As with many Prima experiences, the venue was too small for the activity. It was OK, but more time in line than tasting wine. On the Joy, it was held in the Mondavi wine cellar. Sounds like a great idea, but on that very crowded ship they held two events and both were super crowded. So we stood in a large group and the sommeliers went around pouring samples. It was a bit difficult to know what you were drinking and impossible to talk. On the Bliss, it was held in the Cavern Club and the least busy event I've attended. Four stations, friendly sommeliers and fewer than 20 participants. Met some nice people comparing thoughts on the sips of wine. Overall, I enjoy it. Sometimes more than others. Overall, a nice chance to try wines you might not otherwise, which can improve your total experience as you order new wines with dinner etc. Nice chance to talk to the experts and meet other wine loving guests. For those on the drinks package it might not seem worth it, of course.

Hi, Every now and then, NCL will allow you to apply a double up CruiseNext promo to any cabin category, including studio, inside and ocean view. It has nothing to do with whether you are traveling solo or sharing a cabin. Keep an eye out for holiday promotions, often with a very short time window. I have successfully applied double up promos for studio cabins when it opens to all categories.

It is best to ask before you order since NCL is not consistent, not even on the same ship. On the Bliss in April/May this year, Cagney's allowed four courses, La Cucina, Le Bistro, and Ocean Blue allowed three. On the Escape for the last dozen cruises I've taken in the last year, four courses were allowed everywhere. On Prima in February it was inconsistent, etc. It seems NCL is transitioning to the three course standard for Platinum vouchers, but it isn't fully implemented across the fleet or across each ship. There is still some discretion in play. As for the use of vouchers by solo travelers, I've had no problem on any ship using each voucher for two people, me and a dining partner. My understanding is that some solo travelers thought they could use each voucher twice just for themselves - so four solo dinners, rather than bringing a dining partner for two dinners. Upset people brought the issue to the Loyalty team repeatedly. I believe that is what the confusing T&C language is trying to address. So, for solo travelers, the vouchers are for either two solo dinners, or two dinners with a dining partner. It's a generous thing NCL does to try to encourage solo travelers to find friends. Some people with vouchers try to find other people with vouchers as a way to get four dinners. My inclination is to befriend someone with no vouchers, so they can experience a specialty restaurant. One final bit of experience to pass on. I stopped putting platinum laundry vouchers in the laundry bag awhile ago, just filling out the laundry form and writing "sapphire" on the form and on the bag. Sometimes that works without issue. However, on both the Bliss and the Escape, my cabin steward dug out the laundry voucher from my voucher set (left by me on the shelf by the mirror) and placed it in the bag.

As with so much of NCL, it depends on the ship and who's in charge and what entertainment is available. On the Bliss in April/May '23 in the Observation Lounge there was a piano player both weeks. On the Prima in February '23 there was a piano player the first week in the Observation Lounge as well as dancing, the 2nd week the Observation Lounge wasn't available so it was held in Syd Normans - really crowded and no music. On multiple cruises on Escape in 2022/2023 it was held in the Supper Club, with a variety of music and sometimes dancing depending on who the entertainers were that week.

There is usually a notice for the party posted at the CruiseNext desk. If you speak to someone at CN, they will usually have a printout they can give you. Sometimes I receive an invitation as cabin voicemail. It is also listed in the Freestyle Daily.

Depends on the ship of course, but usually there is music. Sometimes there is dancing. And if you're not on the drinks package, great chance to get a couple of free glasses of wine or prosecco or a cocktail or mocktail, etc. It's usually held in a nice venue like the Supper Club or the Observation Lounge. Mostly it's a great chance to meet other cruisers.

Check Epic Roll Call listing again. One was opened for this cruise on June 4.

On the Escape the wine machine in the Studio Lounge is for wine that is not included the standard FAS drinks package, hence will be charged to your account - there is signage on the machine to explain. I believe a similar machine is in the buffet. On the Prima there was a soft drink machine and a drinks machine in the Lounge that included some wine and some mixed drinks. I believe the Prima drinks were included in FAS drinks packages, but both machines were generally out of order the two weeks I was on board.

The Studio complex is locked - you need a keycard to enter from the ship hallway. The lounge itself is not locked and does not require a keycard to open the lounge door. In addition, the lounge has stairways leading to studios on the other decks of the studio complex (one or two, depending on the ship). There are sometimes emergency doors by the stairways for fire/flooding but those doors are kept open except in an emergency (or perhaps an emergency drill).

Less obvious reasons: 1. You will have the same cabin steward. They know your habits and preferences. 2. Better chance that loyalty amenities will be applied for the second week. I have had the experience (three times) where amenities stayed with the old cabin and some one else benefited. One was a friend of mine who was a first time NCL cruiser. She not only received my Sapphire Loyalty benefits but also the VIP status they were giving at the time to reward B2B! I had to visit the Loyalty desk to get dinner vouchers, and my dining/theatre reservations were missing and had to be re-booked.

Hi, I've experienced the Studio Lounges on Epic, Bliss, Getaway, Escape and Prima. Bliss Studio Lounge has seating for about 50 (tables and chairs and some bench seating by walls) in a large squarish space. There is decent spacing between the tables. It is generally fairly busy the first day as people are exploring the Studio environment and making new friends. It is very busy (sometimes full and very loud) from 5-6 pm when the solo group meets in the Lounge. Mornings have a steady stream of people getting their morning caffeine dose, but most take it with them. During the day/evening, it is usually not very busy. Often completely empty. Card players sometimes. Studio guests sometimes give tours to family/friends staying outside the Lounge. They may sneak a cappuccino or a snack. Other non-studio guests sometimes take advantage of someone leaving the complex to slip in and hang out. I haven't seen many kids. Most Lounges do not have a bar with bartenders, just a wine machine that is not on the drinks package. However, during the Solo gathering the NCL team member assigned to coordinate activities sometimes requests a bar waiter to take drink orders. There are staff that replenish snacks, keep the Lounge clean and check on the coffee machine throughout the day and into the evening, but not late night. It's all a little different every time, of course, but overall a great amenity for Studio guests.

Hi. The 2019 Supper Club show referenced by DuckTollerFans is no longer performed. I agree it was a great and funny show, great food and terrific (and plentiful) wine. There was a charge. I haven't seen that show listed since the post-pandemic restart. You can also book on the interactive screens on most decks in the lobby area near each elevator bank. You can also book on your TV. Shows sell out early, usually on the first day. The Box Office location will usually have availability before the interactive screens are updated with shows for the week.

Hi. For the Supper Club shows with dinner, they generally have two shows. The same show both times on the same night. The first with dinner is at about 6 or 6.30 and the second show at 8 or 8.30. This show will generally not be repeated on a second night. There will be other shows with dinner, performed twice, on other nights. These shows require reservations, or take your chance in standby. For Supper Club shows without dinner, there are sometimes two shows (repeated on the same night), but more often only one without dinner and generally do not need reservations.. Shows typically last 45 minutes to an hour. Salad is served and cleared before show starts. They try to serve all of the main course plates before the show starts so you can eat during the show. They clear and serve dessert as the show is ending. You can get drinks throughout. There are different shows (some with, some without dinner) for about 4-5 nights on a seven day cruise. They do not always have the shows I mentioned, but I have found all worth seeing - depends on who is on the ship and the entertainment schedule for the week. Check early, book often!

I was last on the Escape in April (as well as earlier in the year and last year) and have attended many Supper Club performances. All of them are free of charge (no doubt that could change, but doesn't seem likely). Some shows are offered without dinner but with bar service. So a nice place for a show and a drink before (or after) dinner. The shows without dinner did not need reservations. The shows that include dinner require reservations. They are not available to book until you are on board and generally sell out within a day. There is a standby line as well, and usually everyone in standby ends up seated, but not always, so good to have a backup plan. If you don't want the dinner, you can request to be seated for the show only - still good to have a reservation. Tables are shared - generally six to a table, with some larger booths near the back. If you do not do dinner, you will be seated at the very back, still a good view and the sound is terrific. The menu is a set menu, and has changed a bit. Most recently it is chicken parmesan, with veggies, a salad and bread rolls to start and carrot cake for desert. In the past (last year), they sometimes had a steak, everything else was the same as the chicken dinner. People didn't care for the steak, so my last few visits it was chicken parmesan for all shows. There is a veggie option, which was eggplant parmesan - with everything else the same. The shows are generally either an appearance from the guest entertainers for the week, usually performing something quite different (usually more casual) from the show they offer in the Theatre, or else special shows from some of the regular entertainers on the ship. For example, the Barricade Boys did Les Misérables and other opera music in the Theatre, and pop music in the Supper Club. An individual from the Choir of Man performed a one man show of Michael Bublé and Sinatra. One of the house bands you see in the Atrium or other venues may have a unique show (Beatles was one, ABBA was one). There are several different shows per week, with either one or two seatings for that day. I haven't seen repeats of individual shows on multiple days, but it could happen. It's a great and unique experience. Give it a try. See you there on that Dec 9 cruise!

It's rare, but it happens: On the Getaway last summer my laundry was returned with several items missing. I took a photo before sending laundry so I knew what was missing. There was a voicemail on my cabin phone that asked me to visit Guest Services. It didn't say why, but I had a hunch. They brought out my missing laundry - covered in black specks. Turns out, they forgot to check pockets and some of my clothes (about five pieces) were washed with somebody's black pen (not mine!). They apologized. They offered 50% of the value of the clothing as compensation and took my word on the value. They kept the clothes to discard - If I wanted to keep them they wouldn't have paid. I was glad I hadn't packed too light, so still had sufficient clothing to finish the cruise. Now, I bear this in mind when I pack and when I send clothes to the laundry, to ensure I won't launder something I would be sad to lose and that I have a few things left to wear.

Hi. I've been on both the Epic (most recent Jan 22) and Prima (B2B Feb 23). I like them both. If money is not an issue, I would choose Prima. The Observation lounge is smaller than on Bliss/Joy but it would be great for watching port sail-in, sail-away and looking out at Europe as you cruise past. Coffee/snacks/bar provided as on the others. The Ocean Walk (their exterior wraparound deck on 8 - a version of the Waterfront) would also be great to give you more places to be outdoors while watching the passing scene and escape crowds. Cabins are larger and beautiful. Indulge Food Hall on deck 8 is a great no-charge dining venue to complement the very good but small buffet on the pool deck. Food in the two main dining rooms is excellent, different menus than other NCL ships. There is a single menu for lunch and another for dinner, but the options are very good. Ship is beautiful. Specialty dining and entertainment venues are elegant, but can get crowded. Prima will feel like a upscale cruise experience. Of course, if my focus were more on ports than the ship experience itself - which for me is what European cruises are all about, the Epic is a wonderful way to see Europe at a better price. Been there, done that, would do it again!

The link to the same Ts&Cs is provided by most of the items on the cruise-deals menu, in the same tiny print... All part of the adventure.

Hi, Bird's link sent you directly to the Ts&Cs. One way to get there on your own: On the website select the Cruise Deals menu, then select Free at Sea: https://www.ncl.com/cruise-deals/free-at-sea On the Free at Sea page that comes up, select the link *view for full terms and conditions. Below is an image of the link - go to the website for the actual link

Hi, Indulge has a self-serve coffee station similar to the buffet, plus a Starbucks.

Hi, On the Prima in February there was once-a-day cabin service. Since the cabin steward was responsible for nearly double the number of cabins than prior to the change, they were working most of the day for that first service. (yes, they reduced the number of staff responsible for cabin service). In the evening Freestyle Daily was placed on door handle outside of the cabin.

Hi Sid, Your excellent live review was part of my prep for a B2B in a Prima Studio Feb 12-26. My trip was better because of you. I thought of you when I saw the Sex Pistols/Sid poster in Syd Normans and include a photo as thanks and homage to both Sids. Portia!

See you in the Studio Lounge.