c breeze

Has anyone taken this shore excursion, and if so can you provide feedback on your experience?  Also how far is it from the pier in Puerto Plata? Thank you!

Thank you! Yes I  am looking at cruise line shore excursions, and originally accidentally posted this on the Barbados forum 🤪  then copied and pasted it on the Tortola Forum and forgot to edit 🤪🤪. I am trying to decide between these two, as according to excursion description, Baths is a level 3 (strenuous) probably due to path. 

Can anyone provide input on Long Bay Beach, Beef Island Barbados vs Spring Hiil Bay on Virgin Gorda. We have never been to either Island. Thanks!

I am wondering if there are any shaded areas,  other than the cabanas, at the Vibe Beach Club on the Getaway. Also, do they serve any other food besides the fruit skewers?

On 9/30/2023 at 12:09 PM, princeton123211 said:

There's a nice coffee shop called Aficionado about a block from the terminal if you walk up 52nd St and make a left on 11th. About a 5 minute walk from the terminal depending on where you exit.

 

Haven't been here post a cruise but did spend a some time there while a buddy waited for his car be ready at one of the nearby dealerships. Pleasant place to spend an hour or two. 

Appreciate your info, but prefer not to leave the pier with luggage. Thanks,though!

On 9/30/2023 at 9:15 AM, mjkacmom said:

Maybe get off early, taxi to a nice nearby hotel for breakfast/brunch, check your bags with a bellman, and then taxi back to the cruise terminal?

Thanks, but I think ww will remain on ship/at terminal, since I do not want to risk missing the bus.

3 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I just recalled something. I think as you're exiting Pier 88 there's a small room on the right adjacent to an escalator that goes up to the check in level. I could be mistaken. 

In any event what I would do is get the luggage tags for the latest available disembarkation time and disembark with the last group.

Thanks! I believe last disembarkation time is 9:30 am, but we will try to stretch that out as long as we can. I will look for that room as well, and see if that is an option.  Thanks again!

11 hours ago, njhorseman said:

They're definitely going to want you off the ship by 10 to 10:30, although I've often see passengers disembarking later so if I were you I'd stall as long as possible until they literally throw you off the ship. 

 

You're hustled out of the terminal by security and the police as soon as you get through customs and immigration so there's really no place to hang out. It's possible you could go back upstairs to the check in level, but that will be jammed with arriving passengers waiting to go through security so it would be unpleasant and your presence would be unwelcome.

Thanks. We have been through that terminal many times, and that was the answer I suspected I might get, but thought there might be an indoor spot that I didn't know about.  I appreciate your quick response.  I suppose we will use the stall tactic, but wonder if it is best to keep all luggage with us (which would be cumbersome) or check it the evening before arrival, and then have it be literally the last pieces of luggage to claim after disembarkation. 

Our ship is scheduled to dock at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at 7am, and I expect that debarcation will be finished no later than 10am. Our bus transportation home from the pier will not arrive and begin boarding until 11:30am 🙄 with a 12:30pm departure.  Is there anyplace inside the cruise terminal where we could wait with our luggage?  It will likely be cold and we do not relish the idea of standing outside with our luggage for several hours. I am not sure how long we can stay on our ship before debarkingvand proceeding through customs.  Any help or ideas would be appreciated.  Thanks! 🛳

Can anyone provide input on Long Bay Beach, Beef Island Barbados vs Spring Hiil Bay on Virgin Gorda. Ship docks at 3pm, these would be late afternoon 3 - 4 1/2 hour tour options. We have never been to either Island. Thanks!

Has anyone taken NCL's Fun Beach Express Shore Excursion?  If so, what was your experience.  Thanks!

Make sure you started the process on the site by going to the "arriving by cruise ship" link and not the "marine arrival" link.  The marine link is for any boat, while the cruise ship link is specific to cruise ships, and I believe the available ports are different as well.  Good luck!

Does anyone have experience with Rapid Test & Travel? https://rapidtestandtrace.com/product/observed-test-for-travel/

NCL Peace of Mind - This is by far the best policy of any of the cruise lines I have checked.  We have sailed NCL many times in the past, and will be loyal to them for future booking because of their being proactive and generous with the length of time to use the credit, as well as the window of previously booked cruises that the policy will apply to.  Kudos to NCL! This is an incredibly difficult time for the cruise industry, and they are to be commended for this.

Has anyone been to either of these beaches (Dickenson Bay Beach or Runaway Beach) and if so can you share your thoughts?  Is one preferable to another, and if so for what reason(s)?  Thanks!

Has anyone taken the NCL Hop On Hop Off Sea Taxi?  If so, any thoughts? 

Thanks to both of you!

Has anyone been to Bay Gardens Beach Resort for the day?  What was your experience? Thanks!

Has anyone gone to the Hilton Barbados for the day?  What was your experience there?  Thanks!

Would love some feedback on this Resort for a Day..

18 hours ago, Derbie said:

I have 39,000 points.  Thinking about a last minute cruise on the Gem in December. What would you try to do with this amount of points?  This is probably all I will accrue, as I have moved to another card, that I can use across the board on travel, etc.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  

I booked through an NCL Personal Cruise Consultant, who was able to get someone from Worldpoints Benefits (credit card) rep on a conference call so it was all pretty seamless.  However since you are sailing so soon, you might have trouble getting an upgrade.  If you cannot get an upgrade, and do not want to get cash, make sure that your points don't expire before you can use them and  if you are close to expiration, make sure to use the NCL card to book cruise and for all onboard charges, and then just take cash for the points that will expire soon.  You can call MC to find out when your first points will expire.

22 hours ago, jon46 said:

This might have been answered But i need to cancel my cruise as my wife has come down with cancel. I have paid 10,000 points for a 2 cat. upgrade. Can i get those points back. If so what do i need to do? The cruise is January 6.

I booked a cruise recently, and was told by both the MC agent on the line and also Personal Cruise Consultant, that as long as cruise is canceled before final payment, points used for upgrade would go back to account.  I am not sure if this applies once final payment has been made, which based on your cruise date, is the case.

16 hours ago, Biker19 said:

None that I know of - GPS doesn't work well inside anyway.

Thanks!

If you do not give the app permission to your location, what functionality or features, if any, will you lose?

You are welcome!  Have a great cruise! 🚢🥤