DreamingBig1

I love that song. It's marketing genius. Very catchy on its own, without being on a cruise ship.

It's free on the NCL website. I am a Amazon junkie and it's also free with all the versions on Amazon music.

Anybody know which pier at Cozumel does NCL typically dock at?

We are considering a day pass to Park Royal, and supposedly it is within walking distance to one of the piers.

Assistance is appreciated!

Did you call NCL about the issue?

I feel bad for the April 12 cruisers as well, but I also think NCL is doing the right thing. If a problem arises, its not like they have had a great deal of time to plan for it, but only react to it.

Something must be really off with the azipods for the them to cancel a whole cruise.

I can't imagine being stuck on a cruise ship without the ability of it to move.

It seems like with the cancelation of a Panama Canal cruise there should be plenty of time to remedy the situation.

I sail the Star in December and I am glad NCL is taking care of this issue now. I don't want to be stuck on a cruise ship in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

Have fun on your cruise. I have a feeling everything should be fine by then. :)

The most extensive and nicely appointed cigar bar I’ve seen in all of our travels was in West End. They had individual walls from different areas (Cuba, DR, Nicaragua and Honduras) with many options from each area. What a magnificent place to find while on vacation!!! ;)

Unfortunately during our visit last year it was closed and being revamped, not sure if it will be reopened. It’s definitely worth taking the time to post this question to the experts/locals on the Roatan forum on tripadvisor to find out if it will be or not. If not there is a good cigar store (good humidor storage) in West End across the street (on the beach side of the road), I bought some nice Cubans there for a decent price. Also a couple of excellent Honduran cigars that I really liked. Beware smaller or less reputable shops in town, and never, never but from vendors on the beach as I’m sure you know…

AS an aside, West End is a great place to get dropped by your guide or taxi and take a $2pp water taxi over to West Bay.

Some other western Carib destinations have good options and some do not. I believe I saw this post for Costa Maya, there I would come prepared and bring a cigar with you to wherever you’re going.

Enjoy! :)

Thanks!!

DB, See my posts on your Cozumel and Roatan threads. Not sure your full itinerary, but Coz and Roatan are your best cigar bets. Grand Cayman has some places too. Forget Belize. That pretty much wraps up the Western ports for people who are stopping in Costa Maya.

Saw them... first time on a western itinerary. Thought it would be more appropriate to ask the question at each particular forum.

I will make sure to focus Cozumel and Roatan.

Nicaragua is so close, I am surprised that western Caribbean doesn't have more cigar options.

Thanks crewsweeper. First time doing a western itinerary, so I asked the same question on every port forum on my itinerary.

Thanks for your help.

Not in Costa Maya. You clearly haven't been there. There is not much of anything to buy at this port stop.

Have never been there. First time, hence the question.

Really, was this necessary?!

Part of it was a joke and part of it was completely serious. I don't use the in room coffee makers. I am not sure how clean they are.

You know if you have never snorkeled the reefs around St. Thomas, you may be missing out. I know you said you don't care for snorkeling. The reefs around the island are teeming with sea life, and usually the excursions include a nice boat trip with a colorful crew. They often include rum punch for the adults.

Just don't write that off completely. At least for St. Thomas. It was my kids best memory of their cruise to St. Thomas.

Recommendations for cigar shops on Costa Maya?

Recommendations for cigar stores in Cozumel?

Recommendations for cigar shops in Roatan?

I have never tried uber but I have heard good things.

The port of call section for the places inquired about has been a great resource for me. Try there as well.

I have only been snorkeling on St. Thomas. Nassau just walked around a little. Have never been to Tortola, but am excited to visit with the Escape.

Has anybody done an excursion through Sun Splash tours? We are thinking about doing the zip line and snorkel excursion through them and wondering if they do a good job.

Thanks

Only balconies and up have coffee pots. But some people like to order coffee regardless as a wake up call.

After hearing stories of how road warriors wash their underwear and socks, lets just say I would rather make the walk to get coffee than use the in room coffee maker. :-)

If there is no charge for coffee and continental breakfast items, then that is music to my ears!!

Money speaks louder than words. The only way to change is to not give a company your displeased with your money. Posting on CC can have an effect on a cruise company. If people don't spend their money with them then that speaks louder. They are a business.

So change lines. See if there is a better product out there.

I can't wait to try NCL out, however of I'm not impressed with their product I am definitely not afraid to try something else.

Royal and Carnival each have cruise directors that are sort of celebrities in their respective companies. Everybody who cruises with them knows who they are and their reputation.

Does NCL have any cruise directors like this?

I realize there are two sides on this issue. Some people think CD's don't make a difference and others do.

I fall in line that a good cruise director does set the tone for the cruise activities. Especially in the evening.

I feel really bad for the people who were on the sailing April 12.

NCL really is doing the right thing in this situation. If people are stuck on a ship with no ability to propel it's a safety issue and a loss of freedom for people stuck on a non moving ship.

The fun part is the only way your ever going to find out whether you like NCL is for you to give it a go.

It's always fun to try to new things.

I say go for it. We are trying NCL for the first time this December, and we are very excited!

"....Unreasonable demands?" Your kidding, right? Did you SEE the video? Pretty strong visual evidence I would say -- as my old Grandmother used to say-- "There are none so blind as them that will not see"

Read it again. I simply said that there are things we don't know by watching this gentleman's video. I didn't excuse the hotel director at all. I said that the hotel director did not handle this properly.

The guy said he wrote NCL a letter. Its after the cruise, so it begs the question what he was asking for? There had to be a point to needing a response.

Obviously saying this won't happen again wasn't enough.

I think the evidence was clear that the room wasn't in the shape that any cruiser would want.

Sounds like the Hotel Director needs a good case of common sense training. This could have been avoided.

How about switching their room? Doing a complete clean - top to bottom?

Sometimes the staff on ships get too caught up in trying to appease people with things like chocolate covered strawberries.

Just get the job done properly.

Now to be fair... we don't know the full story. Maybe the cruiser was making unreasonable demands. Who knows? Maybe they did respond, but he didn't get the answer he was looking for.

One thing is for sure... the matter could have been handled better. Obviously NCL needs to do a better job of oversight over their rooms.

I have been on cruises in 3 different cruise lines. Each time, I had to ask the room steward to clean something, or change something.

Each time after a respectful request a issue has been resolved.

I have two cruises booked with NCL. I hope this was a lapse, which I suspect it was. Things do happen. I just hope they don't happen to me. HAHA

The post you quoted is two years old, go ahead and forget you ever saw it. Check the current terms of the package on the NCL website. To answer your question, of course soda is included.

That's what I was thinking. Sorry if the questing came as dense.

Brianna - it looks like you had a blast! I am really enjoying your fabulous trip report and pictures.

Looking forward to reading more!