[Nfbf-l] First time Cruisers Information

Sat Nov 17 19:57:05 UTC 2012

For a one week cruise if things do no fit into a single suitcase you do not need it. We are sailing a weekend same thing applies.
You do not need to bring hair dryers, they are supplied, and no irons, if you need on the your stewart will get you one.
Always be prepared, we are going in Feb, it is about 10 to 20 degrees warmer on the cruise to the Bahamas, but a few days before I leave for Floriday myself I will get a weather report. 
You also should do the same.
Do not bring the whole house for the kids either.  They will have plenty to play and do.
Norwegian is freestyle, which means no formal nights, no tuxedos needed unless you want to wear a ball gown and tuxedo.
There will be a time on the ship when they will be taking pictures in formal wear if you want to do that, but they will take your pictures if you are not in formal wear.
Also, in the evenings in the dining rooms, they do not allow men in shorts, but it can be jeans.
Also remember this is also a convention, but you don't have to be in  suits and ties, etc.
But I would wait to hear what the board recommends on this though.
The basic cruise fare includes your room, meals in the regular dining rooms and buffets, room service, shows, and most ship facilities. Many ships also have free pizza, ice cream at various times. sushi, and hot dogs and hamburgers.
Your Gratuities for the restaurants have been included in the price of your cruise fare, as well as the taxes and fees.
I would wait until the end of the cruise to tip your Stewart, I would recommend at least $10-20 per day, up to you though.
There are to main dining rooms, which serves similar things every night and also every night there are specials for that night, which rotate, like on some of the ships you get lobster tail and meat, surf and turf, they are small portions they give you, so if you want more or want to try something else please order it, you will not be charged more for it.
There is also with Norwegian White Hot Party Night, which is the famous party on all Norwegian Ships, it is fun and dancing etc, remember to bring something white for that night to wear, like t-shirts and white pants, etc. Something you are not going to worry about to have fun in.
You can bring wine with you on board, but you must drink it in your room, if you bring it to the main dining rooms or restaurants there is a $25 corking fee.
There is a soda and wine packages you can purchase once onboard the ship.
There is a charge for any personal service such as laundry, salons, private trainers, etc. Spa treatments are very expensive, $50-$100. But you can use your on board credit to eliviate the price on any of these services. I always get a spa treatment or get just the time to use the Jacuzzi and hot tubs, this is totally quiet from the kids just adults in the spa.
There is also gambling which includes the casino, bingo ($10-$20 per session), and sometime deck games such as horse racing. A ship photographer will be taking pictures all over the ship and at special occasions. They cost over $10 each. Phone calls in the room are about $8 a minute. 
Your cell phones will not work, you are in international waters, if you need wifi, you can pay to use the access on the ship, and there is an internet cafe, but at this time they do not have window eyes and jaws on them, working on this.
Braille Menus will be in place at the restaurants and main dining rooms, the buffet is opened breakfast lunch and dinner and sometimes late night as well.
Also there is a chocolate buffet one night.
>From someone who is blind herself, the buffet gets very crowded, if someone from the staff asks to help you, I would take it, let them walk around with you, and they are eager to do this, there are 3 to four areas of the buffet, so there is a lot.
Off ship excursions are expensive. They start at about $30 and can be in the hundreds. You can book them on the ship or go on your own. The ship will not leave without you if a cruise excursion is late. With one you did on your own they will not wait.
When we get close to the cruise, I will be working with Dwight and Dan to get us a few group excursions.
Great Stirrup Cay, which is pronounced key, is the beach day, this is free to use, we tender here, which means there are boats that come from the island to the ship, and takes you to the island, for those that have some sight, Royal Caribbean's private island is near us and on nice clear days you can see the ship in the distance.
They have lounge chairs, and some wheelchair sand chairs (these are limited), but we can also rent some for you for the trip.
They have food which is free, if you purchased the soda and alcohol package you can use it on the island if not, they you will be charged on your key to your room.
Other things will be coming so stayed tuned.

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.
Thank you.

From: danjhicks at yahoo.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com; nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: RE: Cruise video
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:20:35 -0500

Cool. These make me want to go even more! Dan  "It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."                                                                                —Garrison Keillor  From: cheryl echevarria [mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 2:08 PM
To: Dan Hicks; nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: RE: Cruise video I have similar videos on angeldn3 my youtube page to other Norwegian Cruise Ships, which are very similar, to the rooms especially the accessible staterooms. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3JziItMYls This is one of the balcony rooms we had on the Epic. Also, here is the video from Great Stirrup Cay from our trip to the Bahamas in April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQo3KUnOL5k

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State Leading the Way in Independent Travel! SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate! Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com 2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member. Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us. Thank you. From: danjhicks at yahoo.com
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
CC: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Subject: Cruise video
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:50:20 -0500Fellow Federation members I hope everyone is excited about our NFBF 2014 Cruisevention. Here is a short video showing the Norwegian Sky, the ship we will be sailing on for our 2014 State Convention in February 7 – 10, 2014.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahNpVVnPZXg What I like about this video is that there is some narration, and the video is quite well done. I also like the idea that it is an amateur production, just some guy making a little movie about the ship, without trying to sell the ship or anything else.  It shows the theater, and it sure looks like it will definitely meet our needs. Also, a lot of the bars would do for smaller meetings, when the bars are not in use. Maybe we could even use the premium restaurants when they are not in use.  Dan "It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."                                                                                —Garrison Keillor   		 	   		  