ggTexasGal

I would hazard a guess that 3/4 days cruises (mostly on the SKY) were not netting NCL the profits that some of the longer itineraries are seeing.

I agree! But, who knows? Maybe they'll try opening it sometime soon.

Some ships that have Food Republic do open for Lunch. It seems that PRIMA does not.

Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, and VIVA.

For "your convenience"! 🙃

I do hope that it is helpful. We were there last December, so some things might be different. Also, things might be handled differently from one ship to another, so keep that in mind... Hoping you have a grand day!

1) We received our unit number onboard the ship (printed on our Shore Excursion Ticket.) We had booked an Ocean Front Studio Villa (VERY EARLY) pre-cruise. Our Shore Ex Ticket placed us in #101 (putting us furthest away from the the "Lagoon Villas." We had no problem walking anywhere we wanted to go (including the the first beach where the Underwater Snorkel Garden is! NOTE: you can request a ride if you are not able to walk to other areas. No drawbacks for us!!! 2) Yes, the area is gated and monitored! The only others who have legitimate access to the Villa area are those who booked SPA Services at Mandera Spa. Anyone in Villas area should have been registered prior to arrival at Silver Cove! 3) You will receive service at your villa. We were checked upon often. 4.) I can't answer, since we had no issues with what was already there. 5.) The view from our villa was awesome! Zipline is in the distance!!! You might hear it. 6.) Your Tender Ticket gives you a certain amount of Priority, but you will need to be aware that the crew goes first, with needed supplies, to get things set-up and operating on the island! We were in a suite on the ship, so our butler escorted us to the front of the tender line. (If we had been in a standard room, we would have been behind others with Silver Cove Villa Tickets!) 7) I honestly don't know if they had breakfast on the island (see note #6 about crew going over just ahead of passengers). We got up early enough to have breakfast onboard. 😎 Your experience with the water level, the water's clarity (or not), etc. will depend on quite a few factors: temperatures, recent storms, wind (HIGH winds likely will cause cancellation of the day at the island!) Mother Nature rules the day. Areas on the beaches can be rocky, but we had no problems. 9) I do not recall being charged taxes on our drinks. Possibly those on the rest of the island did get taxed, but Silver Cove is "covered."

Use the "+ Quote" feature near the bottom left.

You can try to make adjustments once onboard the ship, if needed. Perhaps review posted dailies from recent Breakaway posts.

Breakfast Room Service is $4.95 for the entire order. All other times, the fee is $9.95 for the entire order. Times for all restaurants will be listed daily on the Freestyle Daily. Or you can check the hours daily on your television.

If you can't find it among the categories within this link, I imagine you would need to call. https://www.ncl.com/about/contact-us

I loved reading your review! Because your group was a different mix than typical, it's wonderful to know that everyone had a good time.

Prayers for her to have a speedy recovery and peace of mind for both of you!

Unless you are in the Haven, or have some status priority, or plan to utilize Easy Walk Off (get in line with all of your luggage EARLY), you probably want to book closer to noon.

The perks for Aft suites on the Pearl depend on which suite category and which deck, which means that a butler and concierge service might not be included (some on deck 9 do not receive those services). There is no special dinner restaurant for any suites (nor the Haven) on the Jewel class ships. You will need to reserve whichever restaurant suites you each evening.

Each of those ports are good to great. You just don't know, if you never go!

Did you book on your own, or book through NCL? NCL won't let you book their excursions without a reasonable time gap between them. Just be sure you are following the ship's time!

Sorry for my mistaken posts. I stupidly read your VIBE as Viva and was using the Viva's itinerary! Leaving New Orleans could be hit or miss for certain! On the first sea day, it typically warms up significantly, and the temperatures on the Western Itinerary can be significantly "warm". However, we were on one January trip when the staff at Harvest Caye were bundled up with jackets because a front made it's way down that far south.

With year-round, or, home schooling being so popular, as well as some schools not returning as early, plenty of families will still likely be able to take that cruise. As for weather and "cooler" daytime temperatures, I think you might be very surprised. Have you searched for average temps in the lesser Antilles in January? January is during the peak tourist season (for exactly this reason). Here's one example: Barbados weather in January Daytime high: 29°C / 84°F Nighttime low: 23°C / 73°F Hours of Sunshine 9 hours daily Rainfall Low (70mm) Relative Humidity Low (77%).

Only port hours (or storms) are likely to make H2O and pool decks less crowded.

I just measured a paper laundry bag that came home with us in the past. It measures 21" long by 14" wide. (It's definitely not the size of a standard pillow case.) Unfortunately, I don't recall how old this bag is, but it might be the "OLD one", which was a larger bag than the new ones!

Truly enjoying your posts and photos! Thank You!!!

It is very difficult to predict what packages might included from one cruise to another. Brand availability has been changing on a regular basis, from cruise to cruise and ship to ship. The package price has increased, and possibly will again by 2025. With all that said, if I were you, I would go ahead and book the upgrade now, if you see what you like. Then, closer to the cruise, recheck what is happening to determine if keeping that package fits your needs.

@UnbridledEnthusiasm A post that is four months old isn't so bad to resurrect, since the cost and the T&Cs are still the same. Posts that are quite a bit older, when the costs or T&C's being discussed have changed, are often a problem because it's more likely for readers to confuse the relevant facts.

Although it is not currently more expensive at $34.80 per person per day to upgrade, it is certainly possible that NCL might increase the per day cost before your cruise. If you are particular about your selection, perhaps taking a few bottles (that you know you like) onboard at no extra charge with FAS, could be an option for you to consider.