Irene7

Ah, nuts!:( I was so looking forward to the new her for our cruise next May. Oh well.

Was the Gem's Nov refurb cancelled? I see they added a new sailing in Nov. Anyone know?

Thank you so much for the review and I'm happy that it is a positive one. Our cruise is in 3 weeks and our first time on EOS and to Bermuda. We are really looking forward to it.:D

I heard through the grapevine that the breakaway switches the side it docks on each cruise, is this true? Does anyone know if the port side or starboard side is scheduled to dock toward land on Sept 21st cruise? Thanks to all who reply

 

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They do rotate, and if it is on a set schedule, I would go on the port Bermuda wecam and she how she is docked the cruise before yours.

I'm currently onboard the Norwegian Getaway and just came back from the fireworks show up on deck 16 at the Spice H2O area. The open deck was jammed full with hundreds and hundreds of people all crowding in to this area to get a view of the fireworks show, which was scheduled to start at 10:45 PM.

 

We arrived at 10:15 in order to find a decent place to sit or stand to see the fireworks. All the seats were taken by that time, and so it was standing room only throughout the entire area. However, over in the far corner I spotted what looked like two empty seats... which I assumed someone was saving for a friend or relative who hadn't arrived yet.

 

My wife and I walked over to that corner to verify that the seats were indeed being saved. Someone had placed a shawl or sweatshirt or something on the chair to indicate that it was taken. I decided to move those two seats forward just a tiny bit so that there would be enough room for my wife and I to stand behind them. As soon as I touched the chairs, a woman snarled at me that those seats were taken. I didn't respond or even look towards the woman... I simply maneuvered in to the space behind those two saved chairs and stood there for the rest of the lead-in to the fireworks show.

 

The chairs remained empty the entire time, and the woman waved off anyone that dare come anywhere near them. Finally, when an announcement was made that the fireworks show was about two minutes from starting... and the chairs were still empty... the woman did the most outrageous act of chair hogging I've ever seen on a cruise ship! It was incredible!

 

With the show two minutes away from starting, and the chairs having sat empty for at least a half an hour, the woman must have started to realize that whoever she was saving them for wasn't going to show up after all. So, rather than apologize to the people around her and to offer the chairs to any of the elderly people standing in the area, here's what the woman decided to do: she took the two chairs that she and her husband were sitting on and stacked them on top of the two empty chairs... and then she and her husband sat on them so that NO ONE could have the two unused chairs!

 

I snapped a photo... because I wanted all my friends on CruiseCritic to be able to see what I think must have been one of the most outrageous chair hogging incidents in the history of cruising! If we had a chair hogging wall of shame, this picture would surely go on it!

 

 

I hereby nominate these two fine folks to be the King and Queen of the Chair Hogs!

I have a much more fitting name for them, but I don't want to get banned so I won't say it.

For me it is a simple food. I just love their hamburgers! Yum :D

Sounds like they just stole Disney's MagicBand and changed the name to WOWband.

__________________

UCF_Knight

That was my first thought as well! Virtual technology and now this.

Make sure to pay attention when lunch is served on Castaway Cays, so you do not miss out.

People are upset because they booked based upon Royal's ability to deliver an innovative experience. They have consistently raised the bar on each new class of ship. In the early stages, there was the hype regarding Two 70, North Star, Bumper Cars, etc.

The last reveal was for Dynamic Dining which was months ago.

Passengers that booked the first day, ( myself included) based our booking on faith that Royal would pattern the reveal similar to the launch of Oasis.

Now that many are close to final payment, it is only fair to reveal what they have in store for their paying guests.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect cruisers to know what they are buying before final payment.

Very well said!

Great review, looking forward to part 2 :).

Have you looked into Amtrak?

Maybe because mid ship is a better/smoother ride than forward/aft cabins so they go first?

That would be my guess. Mid-ship balconies were the first to go on our Bermuda Cruise which is this Oct.

Serious, non-judgmental question...

 

There are a lot of people threatening to cancel their cruises due to the policy change (like they did with Carnival). In its simplest form, what's happened here is that NCL has made smoking less convenient (no longer on balcony, but designated areas outside), but not banned it. Is this inconvenience so great that a cruise is no longer an enjoyable option? The value is still there - shows, food, destinations, etc., so it must mean that the inconvenience is so painful that the value isn't there anymore. Is this the case, or are we mostly seeing knee-jerk reactions from people angry at the change?

Speaking as a smoker, I have to agree with you. Besides, where are these people going to go?? NCL is the last mass market cruise line to ban the smoking on balconies. I can see, however, changing cabins to a non-balcony if it was only booked to smoke.

Any thoughts on how Arthur will impact cruises going out of NY on Saturday? We are leaving on the Gem and wondering if it will be very rocky? Do I stock up on Dramamine??

I wouldn't worry about the storm itself at this point. As the other posters have said, just watch the NCL website. However, I would take precautions in case of seasickness. I would expect the sea to be pretty choppy at the least.

We just got back from a fabulous cruise on the Breakaway to Bermuda. This was a graduation cruise for my son and 3 of his best friends. I hope you enjoy the memories that were captured on video of their cruise experience.

 

Vimeo Link for best quality - https://vimeo.com/99728946

Youtube link -

 

I hope you enjoy - Cheers!! :)

Thank you for sharing. I watched the Vimeo Link and the quality is amazing. Great job!

I've sailed 4 different cruise lines (Royal, Disney, Celebrity and Carnival). They all have their plusses and minuses.

 

There are a number of areas where you need to compare what the ships have and then what appeals more to you:

 

Entertainment - which evening shows? movie theatre? trivia? daytime activities?

Dining - Main dining rooms only? Specialty dining? Room service? Casual dining?

Ports - Private islands - Castaway Cay versus Labadee; other ports - what's happening on the ship if I decide NOT to go ashore?

Pools - are water activities important?

Adult only areas - do you want more adult only areas or family oriented areas?

 

If all you want to do is soak up the sun while laying back on a lounger and then enjoy a casual meal for dinner - I wouldn't pay DCL's price tag.

 

If you plan to do character meets, movies, disney shows, disney trivia and activities, then DCL is a no brainer.

 

Do you want a zip line, a rock climbing wall, an ice skating rink - only on RCL.

 

The Oasis is a huge ship - are you up for that (lots of walking, maybe being at opposite ends of the ship for different events and having to walk all the way forward from all the way aft); Are you okay booking shows and meals? Or would you prefer to just show up and go with the flow?

 

I like both lines for different reasons (actually I like all lines I've sailed on for different reasons). Take a look at the features of each ship, take a look at the extra expenses of each ship (and try to be realistic with what you'd spend) and then compare. You might find your cruise costs closer together or really far apart (i.e. your Royal cruise may or may not get more expensive - same as your DCL cruise - if you add Palo, Remy, alcohol tastings, etc to your DCL cruise but are okay with the included restaurants on the Oasis, you might find there's a bigger than $1000 gap between the two lines).

 

Really, the only advice I'd give you is look at both ships, do the math, feel it out with your heart, and then make a decision. Once the decision is made, embrace it and research and fall in love with the cruise you've decided on - regardless of which ship / which line.

Very good advice!

I find those who gamble moaning about those who smoke very hypocritical.

 

Gambling addiction has massive repercussions for that person and others. I'm surprised it hasn't been banned altogether on cruise ships.

The cruise lines make way too much money to ban it. Everyone is just part of the bottom line.

Hi! We didn't find the caves claustrophobic at all. They weren't small at all, meaning as far as the top to bottom. They were well lit and there were fairly long walkways. There was plenty of air as well. The Fantasy Cave has a much higher humidity level, so it's a bit muggy in there. If that would contribute to feeling claustrophobic, as far as maybe being hotter, than choose the Crystal Cave if you only do one.

Thank you for the information. I believe the excursion we have planned is the Crystal Cave.

I've never heard of Dolphin rape!?!? But i took when I took my wife on her first cruise we did the dolphin excursion in Tortola and it was amazing!! I've actually done it twice, but since my wife loves dolphins, but never saw one up close I knew she'd never forget it!

I watched a few you tube videos of dolphin encounter and dolphin swimming excursions and it looks like so much fun. I think we will give it a try.

We are doing this excursion this Oct. Did you feel claustrophobic down in the cave?

I'm glad you started this thread. I love going to the beaches and shopping.

On our next cruise my grown daughters would like to take the Swimming with the Dolphins excursion. At first I was like, that sounds fun. Then someone told me about dolphin rape. I thought he was just joking but then I googled it and read of some people that claim that they were attacked and humped by them.:eek:

Has anyone taken this excursion and is this a bunch of bs or is it valid. :confused:

Hello everyone. Like everyone here I am so anxious for more information about the Escape. There should be a sub forum for this ship, the way the RC board has for Quantum. A thread for new info about the ship and other topics.

We are booked for April 2016. Is it just me or does it seem NCL is taking it slower in giving info about this ship. Seems that the info on the Breakaway was constant.

some people would say my head is harder, and could have taken the hit. :d

lololol

When I was down in the medical center, I overheard conversations between the nurse and an aide, that I probably wasn't supposed to hear, but I WAS sitting right there.....they were talking badly about the passengers, and being annoyed that they'd been "bothered" by a little boy who'd hit his head by the pool.

 

If I'd been smart, I would have run then....but I needed painkillers! LOL

They were lucky that the boy's parent's were not there to hear that.

I know what you mean about painkillers. I have a bad back and sometimes it really acts up. You know how when you drop something, the 5 second rule applies? We'll when my back is in pain and I drop a painkiller, I use a 2 minute rule because thats how long it takes for me to pick it up. lol

Long story short, I was stepping out of my stateroom on the day we boarded the ship, and a CM had left a bag right in the middle of the doorway. I was far aft, where there's almost enough room for a lobby area, so no excuse for putting the bag right there. Even if I had looked down (why would I?) I can't see my feet without bending over (two somethings get in my way, if you get my drift) and boy....did I fly! Across the hall, landed on my side with my left arm tucked under me. I sprained that wrist, too.

 

They accepted responsibility, and paid for my medical care and a small compensation....that I didn't ask for. I did get mad later, when I contacted their shoreside people (as I was instructed to do) to get further medical bills paid for, and that person told me to go jump. But I didn't go any further with it. I just needed to heal.

 

So I suppose that incident plays into my problem of not being able to see the Pixie Dust all the time. They broke their promises and lied to me. I've cruised with them since, and I'm going again, so obviously I don't hate them.....I find it sad and disappointing now, more than anything.

I think that would tarnish the Pixie Dust for me too if that had happened to me and to be treated that way later. Thank God you didn't hit your head.