The Our Journey to the NCL $100,000.00 Winner Takes All Slot Tournament

[Sthrngary]

Just now, Travelicious said:

I meant can a person who hasn't upgraded before boarding do so onboard.  I was wanting you to add it to your list of things to find out, if you can.  Sorry for the confusion!

I will attempt to ask. 

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

December 2, 2022: Well two days before our trip.  All packed and leaving from Birmingham, AL for the 6 hour drive in the morning.  Some would say, why drive 6 hours.  I did the math, it would take 8 hours if I did a flight.  I love the freedom of stopping on the way and no pressure when I leave New Orleans after the cruise.  Just a little less pressure on my wife and I.

 

The People of CruiseCritic.com have asked me to find out some things.  I will do my best.  Here are a couple of questions/requests:

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

One more.  Did Breakaway continue with the emuster or return to the old stand at the life boats muster?  There's been some speculation on that.  What kind of muster did you do?

[Sthrngary]

5 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

One more.  Did Breakaway continue with the emuster or return to the old stand at the life boats muster?  There's been some speculation on that.  What kind of muster did you do?

@RocketMan275 Here is where you will find this information.  I will describe in great detail how embarkment goes.  From when I get there, to what happens after you board.  That should handle the Emuster.  My understand at this time is we all have to watch the video again.  NCL has sent it to me 4 times so far.  When we get on board, they send you to an area to check your name.  No long presentation anymore.  I will confirm.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[vacation44]

Have an wonderful and safe sailing and good luck to your wife!

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Gary, have a fabulous cruise!  Give your wife a kiss and hug before she starts her tourney!  Best of luck to her!  Win or lose, enjoy!  See you on a future cruise!  (I am interested to see how you like O....have been looking at them.  Did a Regent's TA and loved it.)

[fstuff1]

17 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

I already did Free At Sea PLUS. I really like that program.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

 

+$49/day x 2 (if 2nd person)?! 😮

i think it's only worth it if you have a port intensive itinerary.

($100 off shorex instead of $50).

 

else paying the slight upcharge over the normal beverage package is more economical, especially if the 2nd person in the room doesnt drink as heavily.

and when i was on the Breakaway 2 weeks ago, they did not have Don Julio at the casino bar.

the best was patron anejo and cazadores anejo.

 

edit:

you can trade in your 150 free internet minutes for $100 credit to upgrade to non-streaming unlimited ($30/day).

upgrade on day 2:

30 x 6 days = 180 - 100 = 80

80/6 = $13.33/day to upgrade  

 

and if you have obc, it's better to upgrade on onboard.

you cant use obc if you buy pre-cruise

Edited December 3, 2022 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

16 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

One more.  Did Breakaway continue with the emuster or return to the old stand at the life boats muster?  There's been some speculation on that.  What kind of muster did you do?

i was on the breakaway 2 weeks ago.

it's e-muster.

you have to watch the safety video on your room tv then go to the muster station.

they'll just scan your card.

 

if you dont watch the video on your room tv, they'll go through the lifejacket presentation then they'll scan your card.

(the couple in front of me couldnt turn on their tv thus had to go though the short live presentation)

[Sthrngary]

10 hours ago, Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin said:

Gary, have a fabulous cruise!  Give your wife a kiss and hug before she starts her tourney!  Best of luck to her!  Win or lose, enjoy!  See you on a future cruise!  (I am interested to see how you like O....have been looking at them.  Did a Regent's TA and loved it.)

Thank you so much.  My dream was to do Regent on one of their new ships.  Our friends can't do that in their budgets.  Also, this will be their first cruise.  I love watching folks enjoy their first cruise.  Thanks again for the wishes.  We are realistic. I say, it is better odds than the lottery. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

8 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

+$49/day x 2 (if 2nd person)?! 😮

i think it's only worth it if you have a port intensive itinerary.

($100 off shorex instead of $50).

Here is the story.  I ALWAYS do the Premium Plus Beverage Package and upgrade my internet from the normal Free at Sea promotion.  My NCL Haven contact said, for just a few more dollars I should do the Free At Sea Plus.  For me it is the right decision. 

 

8 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

lse paying the slight upcharge over the normal beverage package is more economical, especially if the 2nd person in the room doesnt drink as heavily.

Neither my wife or I drink that heavily.  EDIT: I don't drink that heavily. EDIT: We both are not shy of drinking on our cruises.  If one of use did not drink or did not like to drink, it is a bad deal for sure. 

 

8 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

and when i was on the Breakaway 2 weeks ago, they did not have Don Julio at the casino bar.

the best was patron anejo and cazadores anejo.

This is my quest, to follow that BAR (Man of LA Mancha) If a bottle exists on this cruise, I will find it.  I am good at only one thing.  Finding Don Julio.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[psac]

I just stumbled onto this thread, and read through the whole thing. 😁. I’m awaiting to see how everything goes!!  Enjoy the cruise!  We were on the Breakaway last year right after re-launch and it was great. Six is one of the most unique, and super-fun, shows we’ve seen on a cruise ship. Basically just a six woman concert with no set and just a boatload (pun intended) of talent.  Bon voyage!!  

[Sthrngary]

I will start posting “LIVE” from the NCL Breakaway this afternoon.  Currently in normal waiting area outside. Port Haven Lounge.  
 

Cruise Well and enjoy every moment

[cruisebeachgirl703]

Gary,

Did you win a move-up bid to Haven?

[Sthrngary]

4 minutes ago, cruisebeachgirl703 said:

Gary,

Did you win a move-up bid to Haven?

No, that is why I am outside the Haven port lounge. 

[Sand and Seas]

43 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

No, that is why I am outside the Haven port lounge. 

Does NOLA have a Platinum/Diamond/Ambassador waiting area for boarding?    

 

Enjoying following along-   Hope your 'Haven-lite' cruise is enjoyable, and of course BEST OF LUCK to your wife in the Tourney.    We will all share the excitement if someone in our CruiseCritic 'family' takes that prize🤞

Edited December 4, 2022 by Sand and Seas

[psac]

44 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

No, that is why I am outside the Haven port lounge. 

if it makes you feel any better, the one problem we had last year was the Haven restaurant on the Breakaway was super slow, and a little sub-par, as confirmed by our recent amazing experience in the Joy Haven restaurant last month. It was a year ago, but you can tell yourself it’s still not very good, so you don’t miss being in the Haven. 😜. Teppanyaki on the Breakaway was amazing, by the way.  Enjoy! 

Edited December 4, 2022 by psac

[cruisebeachgirl703]

enjoy your haven lite! any info on casino personnel would be great to know. thanks

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

I will start posting “LIVE” from the NCL Breakaway this afternoon.  Currently in normal waiting area outside. Port Haven Lounge.  
 

Cruise Well and enjoy every moment

What time did you get to the port?

Everyone still in one long line for security?

No special line for Haven?

[Sthrngary]

36 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

What time did you get to the port?

Everyone still in one long line for security?

No special line for Haven?

I am not in Haven but , no special line for Haven for security. Only when you pass security.

 

we got to the port at 9:00 am. Got right through security in 5 min or less. 

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

I am not in Haven but , no special line for Haven for security. Only when you pass security.

 

we got to the port at 9:00 am. Got right through security in 5 min or less. 

Thank you.  What time did  you board?

When is the slot tournament?

[Sthrngary]

18 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Thank you.  What time did  you board?

When is the slot tournament?

 

11:15 AM, Tommorrow is the first round just after the CruiseCritic.com M&G. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

2 hours ago, psac said:

if it makes you feel any better, the one problem we had last year was the Haven restaurant on the Breakaway was super slow, and a little sub-par, as confirmed by our recent amazing experience in the Joy Haven restaurant last month. It was a year ago, but you can tell yourself it’s still not very good, so you don’t miss being in the Haven. 😜. Teppanyaki on the Breakaway was amazing, by the way.  Enjoy! 

We always do the Teppanyaki on the last night.  We also love it. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Juncti]

Hopefully you all are starting down the river by now. I know for me vacation doesn't really start until I feel that ship moving

 

Not sure if your live posts will be in here or a new thread, looking forward to seeing what you find along your journey. Would it be possible to post snaps of the daily schedules? Those seem super difficult to find and I'm sure the older ones I've found are probably out of date in our wild covid world of changes and alterations to schedules. 

 

Enjoy your trip, I'm pulling for your wife to have great luck in the slots and hopefully you'll not only have haven-lite to discuss, but 100k other things to talk about as well. 

[Sthrngary]

I am having a hard time posting. Internet issues. I will keep trying.

[Juncti]

Not sure how many times you've cruised from NOLA, but I do find the internet to be a mess in the river. I can usually still use cellular until maybe 2-3 hours after sailaway. Then it's kind of a dead zone until we get into the gulf on Day 2. 

 

I've seen pictures that they have starlink terminals now and are testing the new internet, so some days you might get better service than others.

 

Have fun, enjoy the vibe, keep a chair warm for us. We'll be there next week! 

[RocketMan275]

12 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

I am having a hard time posting. Internet issues. I will keep trying.

Internet issues?  You found the the Tequila 1942, didn't  you?

Edited December 5, 2022 by RocketMan275