Shhhh... Brand X cruiser looking at Pride for the March SFO Crossing to HNL

[Pat&Paul]

I'm a fixated cruiser on 'Brand X' but live in the SF bay area and am seriously thinking about cruising on the 'unique' 11 night SFO to HNL in March 2016. We cruised on Pride about 5 years ago for a charter and loved the ship. We were in one of those kinda funky SJ suites that had a boat in front of the window and a tiny second bedroom and bath, not a real suite as we didn't get any perks. Anyhow, I have a question, which is better, an SE or an SG? Not sure what the difference since we are generally familiar to *cough cough* 'Band X' with names for their different suite categories.

 

Pat

[punkincc]

I'm a fixated cruiser on 'Brand X' but live in the SF bay area and am seriously thinking about cruising on the 'unique' 11 night SFO to HNL in March 2016. We cruised on Pride about 5 years ago for a charter and loved the ship. We were in one of those kinda funky SJ suites that had a boat in front of the window and a tiny second bedroom and bath, not a real suite as we didn't get any perks. Anyhow, I have a question, which is better, an SE or an SG? Not sure what the difference since we are generally familiar to *cough cough* 'Band X' with names for their different suite categories.

 

Pat

 

I'm really confused as the POA sails roundtrip inter island Hawaii year round. No trips out of SFO unless I have really missed out on some big news. If this is true, sign me up!

[Jaco5NC]

Deleted.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Jaco5NC

[All-ready2cruise]

I believe it's b/c POA is going into dry dock on the mainland and while cruising to SF empty the cruise back to HI is to be full... hopefully, anyway.

 

Just what I've read/heard.

 

http://www.ncl.com/cruises/11-day-hawaii-from-san-francisco-PRIDE_AMER11SFOOGGITOKOANWKHNL?numberOfGuests=4294915774&state=null&ships=4294963223&sailmonths=4294925778&itineraryCode=PRIDE_AMER11SFOOGGITOKOANWKHNL

 

Great prices too, IMO

Edited July 25, 2015 by All-ready2cruise
Would love to do this cruise. :(

[Sauer-kraut]

I'm really confused as the POA sails roundtrip inter island Hawaii year round. No trips out of SFO unless I have really missed out on some big news. If this is true, sign me up!

 

She is coming out of dry dock and going back to Hawaii .... there was another thread about this. March 15-26

11-day from SFO --- nice little trans-Pacific cruise starting from $1,199

[SuiteTraveler]

SE = Forward Penthouse with large balcony. Just one large room really, the living room and bedroom only exist separately if the track curtain is pulled around the bed and one bathroom. (13520, 13522, 13022 and 13020) overlook the pool so I probably would avoid those.

 

SG = Identical to SE but side facing in all cases.

 

If I were you, I'd review the deck plans and pick the suite you want.

[Granny DI]

We booked this cruise two weeks ago. We got a screaming deal. If you want a suite I wouldn't think about it much longer. Last time I looked there was only one SE left. We booked a SE on deck 13. This cruise has never been done before...it's a one of a kind! Dry dock was to be done in Pearl Harbor but contract was cancelled so NCL scrambled to get SF.

[Granny DI]

Just checked the NCL website and the SE's are sold out. There are 5 SG's left. The availability seems to change by the hour! So glad we booked when I first heard about the cruise. We have our plane tickets so it's a go for us!

[punkincc]

Thank you for the heads up. Just booked an SG. SEs are apparently sold out. Now to reasearch and find out what I booked!:D

[theloo]

We cruised on Pride about 5 years ago for a charter and loved the ship. We were in one of those kinda funky SJ suites that had a boat in front of the window and a tiny second bedroom and bath, not a real suite as we didn't get any perks.

 

Can I ask what you mean that the SJ suite didn't get suite perks? No concierge & butler? No priority tender? Thanks for any info.

[Pat&Paul]

Can I ask what you mean that the SJ suite didn't get suite perks? No concierge & butler? No priority tender? Thanks for any info.

 

 

SJ got nothing...we were like steerage

[theloo]

SJ got nothing...we were like steerage

 

How strange! It is officially a suite. You sure pay the suite price for it.

[Pat&Paul]

What are the real perks of the SG suite is it decent??

[Granny DI]

What are the real perks of the SG suite is it decent??

 

Google it and see if there are reviews and YouTube videos. We booked the SE for the price. Not expecting a Haven suite but not paying Haven prices. I also read some of the cabins and restaurants were going to be updated in the dry dock. We chose deck 13 as that is as close to a Haven as we'll get on this ship. I think this ship is the sister ship of the Jade.

[Kingmaker_inc]

I'm a fixated cruiser on 'Brand X' but live in the SF bay area and am seriously thinking about cruising on the 'unique' 11 night SFO to HNL in March 2016. We cruised on Pride about 5 years ago for a charter and loved the ship. We were in one of those kinda funky SJ suites that had a boat in front of the window and a tiny second bedroom and bath, not a real suite as we didn't get any perks. Anyhow, I have a question, which is better, an SE or an SG? Not sure what the difference since we are generally familiar to *cough cough* 'Band X' with names for their different suite categories.

 

Pat

 

Yuo better hurry. They are almost sold-out!

[punkincc]

SJ got nothing...we were like steerage

 

Not sure how long ago this was. SJs get full suite perks. Butler and concierge, priority boarding and disembark.

[Pat&Paul]

2010 we were like an inside cabin.

[Sauer-kraut]

2010 we were like an inside cabin.

 

You got gypped!

[chengkp75]

I think this ship is the sister ship of the Jade.

 

Not even close to the Jade. The POA was originally being built for Hawaiian American Cruises in Pascagoula, MS, but when that company went bankrupt, NCL stepped in and took the unfinished hull off the US taxpayers' hands (US federal loan guarantees to the shipyard), completed it in Germany, and named it the POA. It is a design unique to itself (actually there was originally to be two ships, but the second one only got as far as steel cutting).

[StolidCruiser]

SJ got nothing...we were like steerage

 

2010 we were like an inside cabin.

 

Fascinating assessments. Brand X is likely the better fit for the entitlement you express is important to you. A mass market cruise line geared toward the "average" guest will likely disappoint you.

[punkincc]

Fascinating assessments. Brand X is likely the better fit for the entitlement you express is important to you. A mass market cruise line geared toward the "average" guest will likely disappoint you.

 

One might think that, but one might be wrong.;). Even among cruisers who do the lines generally considered more upscale, NCL is considered to have the best suite perks by far. Especially on those ship which have the exclusive Haven enclave. Perhaps someone can provide you with the extensive list of perks. These are some off the top of my head, for NCL in general, although the POA differs somewhat from the rest of the fleet.

 

Just booked an SG suite and looking forward to 11 days of private dining for breakfast and lunch, or breakfasts served in my cabin or balcony by my butler. Maybe even my specialty restaurant dinner served there several nights, white tablecloth. Canapés served in cabin every afternoon, special treats like cookies or popcorn brought on request. Private priority embarkation waiting area, escort to cabin by butler or concierge. Priority tendering, sometimes escorted off ship in ports to avoid all lines. Concierge will make all reservations. Some suites receive liquor or wine. Usually some hefty free perks with booking like liquor package, all specialty dining, gratuities, excursion credits. Currently I believe the offer for suites is all of these plus a $300 OBC, although the POA differs in booking perks because of Hawaii liquor laws and not sure what the offer is for this unique one of.

[dexddd]

Thank you for the heads up. Just booked an SG. SEs are apparently sold out. Now to reasearch and find out what I booked!:D

 

Sign up for the rollcall - we have a few folks already. This sailing came available about 1.5 months ago but studios and suites were not initially available. Studios never appeared to be available and suites came online 7/2 or 7/3 which is when we booked.

[dexddd]

Not even close to the Jade. The POA was originally being built for Hawaiian American Cruises in Pascagoula, MS, but when that company went bankrupt, NCL stepped in and took the unfinished hull off the US taxpayers' hands (US federal loan guarantees to the shipyard), completed it in Germany, and named it the POA. It is a design unique to itself (actually there was originally to be two ships, but the second one only got as far as steel cutting).

 

Have you heard why the drydock and what is going to happen?

[dexddd]

One might think that, but one might be wrong.;). Even among cruisers who do the lines generally considered more upscale, NCL is considered to have the best suite perks by far. Especially on those ship which have the exclusive Haven enclave. Perhaps someone can provide you with the extensive list of perks. These are some off the top of my head, for NCL in general, although the POA differs somewhat from the rest of the fleet.

 

Just booked an SG suite and looking forward to 11 days of private dining for breakfast and lunch, or breakfasts served in my cabin or balcony by my butler. Maybe even my specialty restaurant dinner served there several nights, white tablecloth. Canapés served in cabin every afternoon, special treats like cookies or popcorn brought on request. Private priority embarkation waiting area, escort to cabin by butler or concierge. Priority tendering, sometimes escorted off ship in ports to avoid all lines. Concierge will make all reservations. Some suites receive liquor or wine. Usually some hefty free perks with booking like liquor package, all specialty dining, gratuities, excursion credits. Currently I believe the offer for suites is all of these plus a $300 OBC, although the POA differs in booking perks because of Hawaii liquor laws and not sure what the offer is for this unique one of.

 

Did you get any promos? None for PoA at beginning of July as PoA was excluded. For this sailing they did introduce some upgrades from Inside to OV and OV to Balcony. Only other promos I've seen lately for any PoA sailing have been $300 obc for suites but very limited dates.

[chengkp75]

Have you heard why the drydock and what is going to happen?

 

They try to schedule the dockings for POA in Honolulu, using the US Navy's Pearl Harbor drydock, when the Navy isn't using it. It gets sublet to San Francisco Shipyard. She was scheduled for her regulatory docking later this year (the last one in 2013 was for addition of the cabins), but the Navy preempted them. So, they scrambled and found the first available slot in SF. A friend at NCL says that there will be quite a lot of changes to the hotel (its about 3 weeks in shipyard) due to the changes in management at the top. I don't know if this is cabin changes or changes or new motifs for the public venues.