NCL Tips & Secrets

[Zambini]

I just finished a trip around South America on the Sun on the Sun Feb 14th. There was a behind the scenes tour on that one.

 

I saw a sign about a "behind the scenes" tour at the desk on deck 5, asked about it and was given a choice of two times. When I picked my time, the NCL staff member said "just a minute" walked into the office behind the desk for a minute and came back with a charge slip for $55.00 for me to sign. Needless to say, I decided to not pay $55.00 for something that has been free on other cruiselines.

 

You were wise, I however was not!

 

I paid the $55 on the Jewel, and I was not at all pleased with the "Tour", I saw more and got more info on the free HAL tour that I had taken on an earlier cruise.

[Tiffany1203]

Hi! I was just thinking about my first cruise on NCL and there were some things I wish I had found sooner.

 

1 The gift shop sells lanyards & will hole punch your ship key so you can wear it around your neck.

 

2 You can order the drinks without the souvenir glass for about $3 cheaper.

 

3 There is a behind the scenes ship tour available (for a charge) on the first sea day.

 

4 Don't sit in the front 10 rows at the Cirque show on the Jewel (you will miss half of the show that happens behind and above the your seat)

 

Anyway, are there any other behind-the-scenes secrets they often don't tell you about... or you wish you knew beforehand?

 

So the casino does NOT give these lanyards out for free? (My 1st NCL is in Sept that's why I do not know this)

[pcreek]

MMMMMMMMMMMM Those are wonderful... I miss them :-(

 

 

Our local grocery chain (Wegman's) has the pretzel rolls! I was excited!

:D

[chisto]

To view the bridge on the Spirit:

 

Take the spiral staircase next to the stage in the Starlight lounge. It goes down into a small area that you can view the bridge from.

[chloeposy]

If you have a teenager, the teen passport is a great deal. $34.50 for a coupon book for 20 drinks including smoothies, virgin drinks (pina colada, daquires)...that makes them $1.73 each..and because they are not like a soda card (unlimited...should be just for 1 person and not shared IMO)...but actually coupons...they can be shared by the kids.

 

Do all NCL Ships have this? Do you buy it ahead of time or on the ship.

 

Thanks!!

[alrose251]

To view the bridge on the Spirit:

 

Take the spiral staircase next to the stage in the Starlight lounge. It goes down into a small area that you can view the bridge from.

 

Thanks!

[luddite]

How do I find the bridge viewing on the Spirit?

 

It's in the forward top-side lounge. A spiral staircase takes you to the bridge-view and some interesting info on the ship.

[geegee1]

Any more tips or secrets about the ship? That don't deal with looking at the bridge.

[mew1]

Not a secret but they amazing pretzel rolls.

[mrdrdoso]

Any more tips or secrets about the ship? That don't deal with looking at the bridge.

 

I found that on sailing day, when everyone piles to the buffet for lunch while waiting for cabins to be ready, you can go to the main dining room instead. We did that on the sun and there was only like 5 tables in there, it was wonderful. Looking forward to doing that on the jewel. Food was great and had dining room to ourselves.

[STARFISH*4]

it really isnt a secret, but never really saw people doing until i decided i could make my own milkshake or float with soft ice cream in a cup-add milk or pepsi~

dont miss eating @ BLUE LAGOON specially chicken strips and chef salad~

dont be afraid to ask for a different potato-baked/mashed/fries with your meal in MDR~

you can get chocolate milk in the MDR

POPCORN each day in RED LION on the STAR

go to the CC M&G specially on the JEWEL...the Hotel Director JOHN is FABULOUS--he wants to do what he can to make your cruise BETTER--the crew want to hear about probs when you are on board--not when you get home and post on CC!!

YOU ARE ON A CRUISE~~IT'S FREESTYLE~~ENJOY!!!

[DMAB]

In the MDR, the always available Ceaser salad with the dressing of your choice instead of Ceaser dressing makes a better green salad than the standard green salad.

 

NCL tries to make their MDR dinners one less course than the competition. You can order an appetizer and a salad from the Appetizer and Salads section of the menu and get the missing course back.

 

If you buy a bottle of wine in one dining room, you can have it brought to another dining room on another night.(The person that gets the bottle for you deserves a tip).

 

On my recent trip on the Sun, there was never a line at the MDRs at opening time. Sometimes the line got pretty long later. Lunch lines were worse then dinner lines.

 

On my recent trip on the Sun, 4 Seasons was open for breakfast same hours as 7 seas, but 4 seasons was only available for balcony and better cabin occupants. They had a nice fruit, cheese, meat buffet in addition to full table service.

[pmpro]

Cruising on 3/6 (next Sat)!!! Bought the passport for my daughter via my CC on the phone. Couldn't find it listed in Bon Voyage gifts. Hope this helps!

[cmyers]

Cruising on 3/6 (next Sat)!!! Bought the passport for my daughter via my CC on the phone. Couldn't find it listed in Bon Voyage gifts. Hope this helps!

 

I'm cruising on 3/6 as well and the NCL web site is closed to us sailing now for this cruise so can't pre-order anymore. Can I ask how much you pre-paid for this and does anyone know where you order this once on board? I like this better then the soda card if it includes smoothies and non alcholic grown up drinks.

[IWORK2CRUISE]

To view the bridge on the Spirit:

 

Take the spiral staircase next to the stage in the Starlight lounge. It goes down into a small area that you can view the bridge from.

Did they change the name?

I could swear that the stairway to the bridge view on the Spirit was from the Galaxy of the Stars. A great lounge by the way.

[bob brown]

I enjoyed the bridge viewing rooms on the Spirit and the Jewel. While it was mentioned previously that there is none on the Dawn, there is a nice stairway from the Spinnaker down similar to the Spirit, but it is blocked off and as far as I could tell, not used. Perhaps it was intended to be the same and for whatever reason, never came about.

 

My favorite tip for Filet Mignon lovers.... you can get the exact same cut in the Bistro as is served in Cagney's, and at least when I cruised last, at a much lower surcharge.

[tinker]

Read a good tip before we sailed on the Gem last year.

 

The carpet in the cabin hallways is a colorful print with dolphins on it and the dolphins are swimming towards the front of the ship. This way when disoriented (I do that a lot on the larger ships) you can tell if you are heading forward or aft.

[tinker]

Read a good tip before we sailed on the Gem last year.

 

The carpet in the cabin hallways is a colorful print with dolphins on it and the dolphins are swimming towards the front of the ship. This way when disoriented getting back to your cabin (I do that a lot on the larger ships) you can tell if you are heading forward or aft.

 

Anyone know if the Jewel has the same carpet design?

[Lisa63]

Anyone know if the Jewel has the same carpet design?

 

Yes, it has a similar design with fish swimming forward. Enjoy your cruise!

[numberguy]

Read a good tip before we sailed on the Gem last year.

 

The carpet in the cabin hallways is a colorful print with dolphins on it and the dolphins are swimming towards the front of the ship. This way when disoriented getting back to your cabin (I do that a lot on the larger ships) you can tell if you are heading forward or aft.

 

Anyone know if the Jewel has the same carpet design?

 

I think it might be on all ships. We've had it on the Pearl, the Gem, and the Sky (back when it was the Pride of Aloha). I remember it being mentioned in the "welcome aboard" video on the TV when we were on the Pride of Aloha, and I was happy to see it on the other two ships, too.

 

--Michael

[cruizinrican]

Yes, it has a similar design with fish swimming forward. Enjoy your cruise!

 

Do you know if it is the same on the Dawn? We leave in 4 weeks!

[MrLee]

Do you know if it is the same on the Dawn? We leave in 4 weeks!

 

Yes, it's the same on the Dawn.

 

Have a great cruise! :D

[kutty77]

Can someone please help me with something. I know that the teen passport is for teens but how can I order one for my 11 years old. He really doesnt like soda and when we go out to eat he loves ordering a virgin drinks like pina colada, daquires. or and shirley temples. When I called they old me that he has to be a teen Does anyone know why? If I am willing to pay why can't I order it?

[vespagirl]

You can buy the teen passport onboard for anyone. They sell them during the sailaway party on the pool deck (and probably in any bar on the ship as well). Frankly the year I bought one for my daughter I ended up using most of the coupons for myself as she typically drank ice tea, which is free.

[Darthdaddy]

Just noticed that pmpro and cmyers are sailing next Sat, 3/6.

 

Anyone sailing on the Pearl that day is welcome to join us at the meet & greet scheduled for Sunday, 3/7 at 11:00am in the Indigo Dining Room.

 

There is a 3/6 roll call set up...appropriately enough in the Roll Call section of CC.

 

Folks with similar excursion plans are meeting. Others want to speak with ship's officers. Some might want to share dinner plans. If you're on the Pearl, please join us.