big al

Thanks for the review...we are sailing the Escape in December...we share some similarities..we were on the Encore Jan '22 and we also loved dining outside in Ocean Blue..it was sunset, gorgeous night and DW & I had a table right near the water..magical! Just before , we went to the District Brew House ( close by ), where I could have one of 26 beers on draft..I am an admitted beer snob..I love good craft & draft beers..NO ONE beats NCL at this..we 've done 43 cruises on 7 cruise lines, the NCL's District Brew House is the best ( most cruise ships have 2-3 beers on draft, and they suck..)...Glad you liked Choir Of Man...did you notice some of what NCL announced a few weeks ago..that they were "cutting back" on entertainment? Did you eat at O'Sheehan's Pub? Love their Reuben, fish & chips..great place for a late night snack..Thanks again for your great review!! Big Al

Clearly food is subjective..I have a totally different opinion on the food..especially my 4 favs: steak, lobster, shrimp cocktail & desserts...all suck in the MDR IMO...especially shrimp cocktail, which on every one of my 43 cruise on 7 cruise lines has sucked ( except Celebrity recently..), but all the shrimp cocktail in the specialty venues were big, tasty , NOT wet and 10x better than the MDR cocktail..the Tiger Shrimp in Ocean Blue was the best ever, and RCI's Chops was right behind..the Key Lime Pie in Ocean Blue, again, best ever & Chops is 2nd..also I find the potatoes a ton better & grilled veggies much better...but that's me..I was on Princess for 10 nights last March on the new Enchanted Princess and TWICE had to order a burger at dinner because there was nothing on the MDR menu I Iiked..first time in 41 cruises I couldn't find something on the MDR menu..really sad..but the 3 specialty venues all were very good to excellent...I know people who only dine in the MDR, and I know some who only dine specialty, and even know people who only dine in the buffet...different strokes for different folks...we are sailing the NCL Joy in April and can't wait to dine in Ocean Blue, Cagney's, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki's & The Food Republic..the main dining room is what it is ..it will be OK..loud & busy and that's it..nothing special for me...

Understood about service..but service for me is #4 on the list of why I like specialty dining a lot more...#1 is the food is so much better IMO...#2 is the ambiance...# 3 is the menu..and # 4 is the service..for us service is pretty good on most ships...#5 is the price & value...JMHO...

Thanks, DCGuy64..this is what I don't think people get..it's not just the better food, it's the whole experience which we love..we rarely love the experience in the MDR- even if the meal was good, and our waiters were good..you are still dining in like a wedding hall or like a Friday's ( not even that, really..)..EVERYBODY that has cruised with us and I asked them if they preferred the specialty dining ( on all cruise lines..) over the MDR ( would NEVER eat in the buffet..we want to be served & feel special..), ALL have said, "yes, huge difference"..it's a no brainer to us, but to each his/her own...I don't think $25-45 for a 3-5 course meal in a romantic setting is a lot..you can't even eat at Denny's for that, and they won't seat you outside over looking the sea & sunset, will they? 😉

It's a personal choice..we LOVE specialty dining on any cruise ship or cruise lines...the difference between the MDR & specialty dining is night & day IMO...a steak in the MDR is 99% of the time small, dry & tasteless..Cagney's on the other hand has great steaks...our dinner in Ocean Blue on the NCL Encore is still ranked #1 in my book for THEE best meal at sea ever..we dined outside over looking the sunset right at the water's edge..started with Tiger Shrimp, which was the best shrimp cocktail I've ever had, followed by Lobster Thermador ( 1 & 1/2 lbs..), also great, then a Key Lime Pie for dessert..I almost called the 911 medics it was so good..none of this experience can be had in the MDR...Cagney's was great, as was Le Bistro & Teppanyaki's ( Japanese hibachi..)..also I notice many of you are forgetting the intimate ambiance is special- so much more romantic..the ambiance in a specialty venue is SOOO much better than in those loud, very bright & busy MDR's..sometimes so noisy, we have found it hard to talk..not in specialty venue, though..always nice & quiet & often romantic...you don't have 1000 people talking loudly with 200 waiters running back & forth..it's just so much nicer IMO...in general, 90% of my MDR meals on my 43 cruises on 7 cruise lines have been somewhere between fair & OK...almost NEVER do I leave the MDR saying ,"that was great- can't wait to come tomorrow!"...BUT 95 % of my specialty dining experiences have been between "very good & amazing"...also, my wife works very hard and I feel she deserves some special dining adventures..and the MDR, IMO is never a "special dining adventure"..sitting in a quiet venue with 35-75 people with the lights low & soft music...now we're talkin'!! Big Al

I am very surprised HAL has not yet posted the 2024 Fall Caribbean & Mexico itineraries yet..along with Princess, they are the only 2 major cruise lines still without dates for Fall 2024...anybody have any ideas or knowledge about when these might be released? Thanks.. Big Al

Remember food is totally subjective..I am almost Diamond Plus on RCI, and I will be taking my 8th & 9th cruises on NCL this year...I have food in the MDR pretty much "fair" to "mediocre" on 90% of all cruises ( I have been on 43 on RCI, NCL, Celebrity, Disney, HAL, Carnival & Princess..)..kinda similar to wedding food IMO..where NCL outshines RCI, especially on the newer & bigger ships ( Breakaway Class, Breakaway Plus & new Prima class) is their magnificent outdoor dining on deck 8 ( The Waterfront ) and their specialty dining options...also RCI gives you nothing in perks or "included" in your fare..RCI has NEVER given me ANYTHING in our 19 cruises with them..not one free specialty dining restaurant, not one free beer, nothing..and no outdoor dining over looking the sunset while eating Tiger Shrimp, lobster & Key Lime Pie ( Ocean Blue on NCL- SUPER!! )... We go on RCI because we love their Oasis class ships & entertainment- not because of their dining...we love Chops and a few other specialty restaurants, but you always must pay for these..don't get me started on the beer- RCI has the worst draft beers ( only 4 and Stella was the only one I liked..) on the seven seas and 80% of the time on my 19 RCI cruises, they were broken...NCL has the District Brew House has 26 beers on tap & another 70 in bottles..a beer lover's dream ( YES, I am a beer snob & proud of it, lol..)..this venue is found on the Escape, Joy, Bliss & Encore..and we love Teppanyaki ( Japanese Hibachi ), Le Bistro ( French ) Cagney's ( Steakhouse ), Ocean Blue ( seafood..amazing!) and the Food Republic is awesome for Asian cuisine..don't forget The Local or O'Sheehan's where you can 24 hour food & drinks in an Irish Pub setting..the Reuben there is awesome, as are the wings & fish & chips..again food is subjective..these are my opinions & thoughts from my experiences on RCI & NCL so far..our last cruise on RCI was on The Mariner Of The Seas to Bermuda in August..food in the MDR was pretty bad..specialty was very good...conversely, we were on the NCL Encore last Jan and all 7 nights ( 4 specialty & 3 MDR) were very good to outstanding IMO...

Was there any food or drinks available, like beer, burgers, etc.? Thanks..we go in April.. Big Al

We go early all the time...if the cruise line says "you're early" I say, "there was no traffic, and I thought there would be more..sorry"...we tend to get there 11 am- 12 noon ( the latest) no matter what time they say...I have been on 43 cruises and never had a problem on 7 cruise lines...and always do your check in as early as possible..if you booked late, this is what happens...if the cruise line says 1 pm, get there at noon, and tell them "there was no traffic and we got a parking spot right away"...always works for us..good luck & enjoy the cruise.. Big Al

The Tiger Shrimp at Ocean Blue was THEE best shrimp cocktail I have ever had on the 7 seas and 43 cruises on 7 cruise lines...then I had the lobster thermador dining outside over looking the sunset..magical!!..then Key Lime Pie for dessert..I almost called the medics it was so good...Le Bistro the escargots are the best at sea I've had for an appetizer..Filet Mignon was great too...these pics are killing me, lol.. Big Al

I was on the Encore last January and I remember Presidente on tap, BUT that was a year ago..best beer place on the seven seas IMO..26 beers on tap, another 70 in bottles...I would go every night before dinner, get my tap beer, then go to dinner..remember- the dining venues ( except The Local/ O'Sheehan's ) only carry bottled beer...just got off Celebrity over New Year's and was on RCI in August to Bermuda, both had AWFUL beers on tap...NCL blows away the others ( been on all except MSC & Costa) when it comes to beer..I am a beer snob ( I admit it! ), so I like craft beers, Amber Ales, IPA's, etc..not Heineken , which 80 % of cruise lines carry...I don't mind Stella , Yuengling, or Newcastle, all fairly common on cruise ships..Dos Equis Amber I like too, along with Presidente...don't forget to eat dinner outside on deck 8 if you can..there are 6 or 7 specialty restaurants where you can dine outside..magical on a nice night!! Big Al

Look at a post # 8..they say there are "beach chairs & umbrellas all set up "...unless any of the beach clubs open ( and one post said there are no plans for that..) , we are going there in April...

Thanks for the info..which "Public Beach" are you referring to? There's about 5 "public" beaches in GC....any name for it, or just say "public beach"? Thanks..going in April...maybe some of the beach clubs will be open by then... Big Al

Thanks for the info..and yes headphones it is...BUT if the live music is a Caribbean band, that's ok..makes it feel like we're on a cruise!! 😆

Hi all..DW & I are going on a 5 night Silhouette NYE cruise next Thursday...we have never been on her before...2 questions about the pools: 1) Is there an "adults" only pool area? I see there is an indoor pool it looks like.. 2) Is there any music at these pools, be it a live band or a DJ? Trying to determine if I should bring my own music...thanks! Big Al

The ship leaves out of Miami, and goes to Colon 4/20/23...

Hi all- Four of us will be arriving in Colon at 6 am, leaving at 4 pm on the NCL Joy...we are NOT going thru the Panama Canal...does anybody know a way of going thru the canal on an excursion? I 've read Roberto E. Whitaker H does some tours...any suggestions? I'm calling NCL to see what excursions possibly do a separate tour of going thru the locks...thanks! Big Al

$79.00 plus taxes...like I said, a bit $$, but it's very nice..you get lounge chairs & towels..

You must book thru Day Pass..read posts # 16 & 17...you can eat there, but if you want to use their pool & beach facilities, you must pay..

Correct-..go outside at the pool area and find the place where you get the towels..NOT the front desk...

Thanks..BTW, my ex wife id from Brechin!!

Hi guys & gals..DW & I are doing the 5 night NYE Silhouette cruise to Cozumel & Key West..we are probably going to do 2 specialty dining venues..Le Petit Chef sounds like fun, even though most say the food is only "OK"..question is about one of the other 3 I want to book: Tuscan Grill, The Porch, and the Club Grill..FYI my wife & I love steaks, she likes fish, while I also like lobster, shrimp...I know food is very subjective, but we never been on the Silhouette , and actually it's been 25 years since we cruised on Celebrity..any advice, opinions, thoughts would be great! Thanks! Big Al P.S.- is there a lobster tail night usually?

Just got back from our cruise..Margaritaville was super nice..lazy river was very cool...4-5 waterfalls as you swim or go in a doughnut raft..beach nice..didn't eat or drink, but prices were normal for a hotel..yes, a bit $$, but all hotel food & drinks are pricey..would go again in a heartbeat... Big Al

I am going Aug. 26th...will let you know here...

The new ships are much better..those older, smaller ships stunk, I agree...new ones are fabulous..and the Freestyle service is not poor, it is superb IMO...have you dined outside on deck 8 with a table over looking the sunset at sea eating steak & lobster on the new ships?? It is something only a recent NCL cruiser will know and an RCI cruiser cannot understand..I keep telling RCI to put some venues outside but they want you inside where you can spend more $$..the new trend is outside dining with MSC also now following NCL and so is Disney..the Local where you can 24 hour free food in an Irish Pub setting also is fantastic..Reuben sandwich killer along with wings..all free...