NCL board like DIS?

[keaster]

We're doing this cruise also. I haven't researched at all. I never do ship excursions, but with the 50 dollar per port credit I might make an exception.

I did a quick search on NCL of the types of shore excursions in this ports. The Berlin ones are crazy expensive! We might just take the train ourselves from the port to the city and do our own day of sight seeing for that day!

 

[cruiser21]

I did a quick search on NCL of the types of shore excursions in this ports. The Berlin ones are crazy expensive! We might just take the train ourselves from the port to the city and do our own day of sight seeing for that day!

It a 3 hour train ride I believe. I'm not sure we'll go into Berlin or not.

 

[KashasMom]

There is an active Breakaway/Gem Fan group on Face Book. They are mostly New York/New England area people and discussions center on the east coast itineraries that the Breakaway currently does. It is a very friendly group, doesn't tolerate anything mean-spirited. I was on the Breakaway last October - it is a very big ship with some fun activities and shows. There is a "waterfront" deck area that is a fantastic place to relax.

Right...forgot about Facebook. Try the group...Friendly Norwegian Freestyle Cruisers too. When I was on there they didn't tolerate any nastiness.

 

[RedSox68]

I've never seen a negative DCl review on here. I think you would get attacked for writing it.

I've seen many negative reviews on here about DCL -- including whole trip reports about their experience and how they would never do DCL again.

 

[KashasMom]

I've seen many negative reviews on here about DCL -- including whole trip reports about their experience and how they would never do DCL again.

Wow, I haven't seen any either. I bet they didn't go over well on here! Will have to track some down.

 

[KashasMom]

And I have found you have to be so careful about the rating. It may say only 59% would sail, but when you read some of the reviews the criticisms are so picky and miniscule -- things that seem to have really upset them but not things that would ever keep me from considering a cruise.

I think sometimes the low ratings are because people are more likely to write a review if they had a bad cruise or something to complain about.

 

[RedSox68]

Wow, I haven't seen any either. I bet they didn't go over well on here! Will have to track some down.

Over time there have been a few here and there -- some stated they liked the Disney branding but were disappointed that it wasn't what they thought they would get. Each one had their own reasoning. I only read one that truly dissed the whole cruise and said they'd never go on another. Now forgive me if I may have mixed that particularly cutting one with maybe being on Cruise Critic and not here.

 

[RedSox68]

I think sometimes the low ratings are because people are more likely to write a review if the had a bad cruise or something to complain about.

And that is the frustrating part -- there are more reviews by those who wanted to complain than want to give the positives. I'd prefer to write my review if I had a great experience so others will know to try it.

 

[amberwc]

We're doing this cruise also. I haven't researched at all. I never do ship excursions, but with the 50 dollar per port credit I might make an exception.

Exactly, I hate the idea of not using that credit.

 

[jrabbit]

I did a quick search on NCL of the types of shore excursions in this ports. The Berlin ones are crazy expensive! We might just take the train ourselves from the port to the city and do our own day of sight seeing for that day!

is that an option.?

We were on the Disney Magic a couple of summers ago and the train appeared to be fully booked by the tour operator / ship. Our port was Warnemunde / Rostock. Train took us to one station where we boarded the buses, toured the day, and then the SAME Train met us at a different Berlin train station for the trip back. We were in the same carriage each direction. Half to three quarters of the ship went into Berlin that day.

and yes it is about 3 hours each way. The tour operator provided water and snacks to Berlin and a box dinner back (sandwich, chips, cookie)

 

[jrabbit]

Regarding the OP - "Is there a board ...." with NCL they would charge you a nickle for each vowel and a dime for every C-M-D-S-T and L used in your post.

 

[cruiser21]

Wow, I haven't seen any either. I bet they didn't go over well on here! Will have to track some down.

I would never write a negative one. Not worth the headache. I get enough grief here just writing something positive about other cruiselines. I've had little things go wrong on pretty much every cruise I've been on. Nothing that has impacted my vacation enough that I need to write about it. I prefer to stick to the positives.

 

[cruiser21]

Regarding the OP - "Is there a board ...." with NCL they would charge you a nickle for each vowel and a dime for every C-M-D-S-T and L used in your post.

Since the cruise I booked is 6k less than DCL they can nickel and dime me all they want. Lol

 

[Pens Fan]

We were looking at the Breakaway cruise very seriously for 2018, but decided against it as our son probably won't be available during that summer. When I was researching it one thing I really liked was that NCL would let you choose Warnemunde / Rostock or Copenhagen as your beginning and end point. We were trying to decide how badly we really wanted to see Berlin, and were considering choosing Warnemunde / Rostock as our embarkation port. That way you could split up the train ride into two days vs one and enjoy Berlin at your leisure either before or after the cruise. Of course that would mean giving up the extra time in Copenhagen (which we love!), so it would have been a tough choice. A six hour train ride eats up a lot of time on a port day.

 

[Pens Fan]

Since the cruise I booked is 6k less than DCL they can nickel and dime me all they want. Lol

And since alcohol, specialty dining, internet, $300 OBC and shore excursion credits (which I won't use as we are going private), are included in the cruise fare, I anticipate this being the smallest end of the cruise bill we have ever had, by far!!!! Darn that mouse and all his nickel and dime charges all these years!

 

[mcd2745]

If NCL nickle and dimes you....DCL Grant & Franklins you.

 

[KashasMom]

We are doing the Breakaway as well August 2018, but the itinerary out of Copenhagen! I've also joined CC to see if I can get some insight.

We're doing this cruise also. I haven't researched at all. I never do ship excursions, but with the 50 dollar per port credit I might make an exception.

This is an amazing cruise! Here's some info about what we did - everything was terrific! We didn't do any tours through the cruise line.

In St. Petersburg we went with TJ Travel. They were excellent. I think there were 12 of us in a nice Mercedes van. We were so fortunate to have 3 days in St. Petersburg. In addition to going with them during the day, they arranged for us to have a home-cooked dinner with a Russian family. We were able to bring our daughter (7 yr old) with us and the family had a teenage daughter who hung out with her. We had a fantastic time and I would highly recommend doing that if you have the chance. We booked early and there were so many people from our roll call going with TJ that we got a super price. Great local lunches included. You can tweak the tour if you want (we added in a stop at a fascinating subway station). Just a reminder...you must book with a tour company OR get your own visa for Russia.

TJ offers discounts if you book multiple cities with them. It wasn't why we booked with them for a second city but we loved our time in Warnemunde-Rostock-Schwerin. Berlin was just too long of a day for us so we went to Rostock/Schwerin by train. We loved exploring both cities including the castle, had another great lunch, and had some time to explore Warnemunde before we walked back to the ship.

In Tallinn we did a walking tour. http://www.traveller.ee/tour/best-tallinn-walking

In Helsinki we wanted to do the Happy Guide Helsinki walking tour but the times didn't work out with our time in port (which wasn't too long). We ended up taking a local bus into town - going to a couple of cathedrals, market, riding the subway, having something to eat.

We started our trip in Stockholm so we had some time to explore. We did a "free" city walking tour which was a great way to get aquainted with the city. Love the old town. We also went to the Vasa Museum and took the Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour. I really wish we had more time to spend since there was so much to do.

We disembarked in Copenhagen so we stayed overnight. I highly recommend spending at least a day pre-cruise and a day post-cruise in whatever city you embark/disembark from. In Copenhagen we stayed at the Scandic Front which was in a fantastic location. We did a private walking tour with a group from our roll call. On our own we did a lot of walking and exploring and a boat ride.

We were in a couple other ports but I don't think you'll be going there. If you need any other info, let me know.

It's definitely going to be hard to top this cruise but I am SO looking forward to our Jade cruise...lots of new ports for us! Have fun planning!

 

[KashasMom]

Exactly, I hate the idea of not using that credit.

We took the internet and the specialty dining. Can you choose something else so you don't feel bad about not using it?

 

[Dug720]

And since alcohol, specialty dining, internet, $300 OBC and shore excursion credits (which I won't use as we are going private), are included in the cruise fare, I anticipate this being the smallest end of the cruise bill we have ever had, by far!!!! Darn that mouse and all his nickel and dime charges all these years!

But you get hit with the gratuities for the drinks and dining packages. So they're not truly "free".

 

[KashasMom]

I would never write a negative one. Not worth the headache. I get enough grief here just writing something positive about other cruiselines. I've had little things go wrong on pretty much every cruise I've been on. Nothing that has impacted my vacation enough that I need to write about it. I prefer to stick to the positives.

I agree. It has to be something pretty awful to write a bad review and I've never had anything ruin a cruise! I can't believe some of the things people complain about!