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Cruise Time (UPDATE)

L

LouTam

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
356
So the wife talked me into a little go away for the Christmas holidays. We are taking our 1st cruise this weekend. I have heard the horror/loveded it stories about cruise's so I am going in with an open mind. We booked on the NCL Jewel out of Miami this Sunday and we return Friday. The Jewel has the Corona Cigar Club and a casino so I think I should be okay. Question for the brothers / sisters of the forum. Anybody ever cruised NCL? What should I expect from the casino, food, overall cruise experience? We have a private balcony but it appears that you are not allowed to smoke cigars (WTF).

We are driving to Miami from Atlanta then driving back. We are going to take our time and wander thru Florida on our way back to Atlanta. We have no set itenery so any suggestions as must see's or cigar shops that shouldn't be missed would be greatly appreciated.

p.s. No warning needed on the faux ISOM offerings of the islands. :cool:

Lou

UPDATE

1st leg of the vacation has begun. Left ATL at 9AM and we have stopped at west palm beach for the night. ( Radisson...I am a sleep # bed whore )

80 miles to Miami in the morning, board the boat at 1 PM. :cool:

Now I need to decide on my bon voyage cigar....HMmmm Opus/Anejo/Padron/VSG What do the BOTL/SOTL recommend? I brought 2 of each. :D
 
I went on an Alaskan NCL (on the Pearl) in Aug. and although you can't smoke cigars on your balcony (you will be happy to have this to enjoy the scenery and avoid the crowds), the ship I was on had a great cigar lounge room where I met a lot of great people and spent a lot of time. Bring your own stash of sticks...their selection was poor and way overpriced IMO.

Overall we had a great time...be warned you will see a lot of newlywed, overfed, and almost dead people. Food was good if you stick to the more specialty geared places that you can choose from without paying extra. I had better luck in the casino at the beginning of the trip then the end...from talking with some people it seems others had the same experience...maybe they change their odds on the machines near the end of the cruise? The wife and I really enjoyed the one day that we spent in the spa...our ship had a sauna that had windows looking out over the bow and port side of the ship. If you are on a budget like we were filling a listeren container with a good single malt will save you a lot of $$$. Drinks are overpriced as you probably know. Also book your on on-shore trips on-line before the cruise or as soon as you get on the boat...the good ones fill up fast.

Otherwise enjoy your trip! If you have any specific questions shoot me a PM.
 
LouTam said:
p.s. No warning needed on the faux ISOM offerings of the islands. :cool:

Lou
Click to expand...

Did I tell you not buy any glass top Cohibas?

Enjoy the cruise. I did my first this year for my brother's 60th Birthday. I enjoyed the company and the food but felt hurried from port to port.
 
tone-ny said:
LouTam said:
p.s. No warning needed on the faux ISOM offerings of the islands. :cool:

Lou
Click to expand...

Did I tell you not buy any glass top Cohibas?

Enjoy the cruise. I did my first this year for my brother's 60th Birthday. I enjoyed the company and the food but felt hurried from port to port.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I love vacations, but going on a cruise, I always feel "locked up". I need to move around, play golf, get rid of the parents for awhile..things I couldn't really do on the cruise ship.. Also, i HATED having a scheduled dinner time and then a 'dress up' night...screw that! I also love being able to go to many restaurants, even if that 'many' might be 3 or 4 that the resort has. All that being said, you are one lucky dude being able to go on vacation...I would take a trip to Texas right now and call it a vacation, thats how bad I need one!

Be safe, have a blast, and enjoy seeing your wife smile :)...you guys should have a wonderful vacation it sounds like :). Let us know how it goes when you get back! Oh, and take some cigar smokin pictures!!
 
Thanks for the feedback Tone-ny and Aaron.

We have 2 port stops. They are both at 7:30 AM. Not sure I am going to want to roll out of bed to visit some version of a third world Wal-mart. I will probably do 1 who knows. This trip is all about R&R so I am going to try and stay away from cat herding scenerios.

Hopefully we won't experience the cramped up feeling due to the fact the wife popped for a penthouse room. :D

Apparently it comes with our own on-call butler. I'm interested in seeing how responsive this butler is. How's this:

2 AM dial him up, " Jeeves can you come here and flip my pillow?" :sign:
 
Lou if you get a chance, stop by and have a smoke on me.

Sabor Havana Cigars
9891 Sunset Drive
Miami, FL 33173

:rolleyes:
 
I enjoy cruising. I like the live show every night for entertainment. Good variety of food, and plenty of things to do on the ship. Most cruises nowadays have more food options than just the main dining room. I did not like that you had to get up early if you wanted the main breakfast. We never made that, I like to sleep in on vacation not get up early to make a breakfast. I always scuba dive while the wife shops in port, that's our alone time.

I've never felt to crowded. I like to smoke cigars at one of the bars on deck in the evening. Usually pretty empty because everyone is in the nightclubs and casio. Super relaxing.

Have fun.

Keith
 
LouTam said:
Thanks for the feedback Tone-ny and Aaron.

We have 2 port stops. They are both at 7:30 AM. Not sure I am going to want to roll out of bed to visit some version of a third world Wal-mart. I will probably do 1 who knows. This trip is all about R&R so I am going to try and stay away from cat herding scenerios.

Hopefully we won't experience the cramped up feeling due to the fact the wife popped for a penthouse room. :D

Apparently it comes with our own on-call butler. I'm interested in seeing how responsive this butler is. How's this:

2 AM dial him up, " Jeeves can you come here and flip my pillow?" :sign:
Click to expand...


It's been quite a long time since I cruised on behemoth cruise ship like that. But, NCL is nice, for what it is. You don't have the "forced" dinner times, and you have your choice of restaurants.

I've had the penthouse and the so-called "owner's suites" which are called something along the lines the Matisse Room, the Degas Room, etc. They are exquisite - plasmas, huge baths, living rooms, etc. Plus, the conceirge and butler service is great. Remember, when staying in those rooms, you can use those guys and the conceirge to get quick boarding/departing shore excursions, dinner reservations, show reservations, and ingress/egress off the ship. Those save TONS of time you would otherwise wait amongst the commoners. :laugh:

The cigar lounge is marginal at best, but it is the only place on the ship you can smoke and the comraderie is what counts anyway - and I've found that when I used to cruise like that, it was amongst the best parts of the evenings - HERFing with the other BOTLS from all corners of the world.

Enjoy your trip.
 
Enjoy the hell out of the trip bro... I'm envious, and overdue for a vacation!!! :thumbs:

Have a blast, and bring out the "good stuff" to smoke!!!
I'll fire up one of the amazing smokes you bombed my ass with... In your honor!!! ;)
 
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