NeutralNovice

1 hour ago, FiftyOnePlus said:

Yes....it is the same thing.

On the Sun it's called the Enclave.

 

There is a hydropool. (It is not Thalasotherapy).....so basically a giant Jacuzzi. There's a warm room, a sauna, a steamroom, some showers and hot stone beds.

 

I was in yesterday and couldn't get on a hot stone bed as they were all full and there were several other people in the pools and rooms.

It felt too busy to me.

 

The cost was $149 

 

 

Thank you!  That's a bit worrying for me.  Was the jacuzzi also kinda full when you went?

And have you visited during different times of the day?  I'm hoping there are some off hours.

Hello!

My partner and I were thinking of booking the Thermal Suite for the full week of our cruise.  This would be our first time ever using a spa (aside from me going to get a massage at a casino spa a long time ago) so we had a couple of questions...

1. * Is the Thermal Suite and Enclave the same thing?  Like does it include that pool with jets and heated loungers?
2. * For those who have booked the Thermal Suite/Enclave on the Sun, does it generally get pretty busy?  And if so, are there any specific times where it's less crowded?

Thanks!

Just to sorta hijack... I am on the Nov 9 sailing and I still can't book Spellbound or Love.  Hopefully I'll be able to book on board or better yet, bookings will open up soon.

After receiving the e-mail, I got all excited, thinking I could get a refund for the Premier Package but nope!   But I will say this.. the prices are insanely higher.

I cruised on PCL for the first time a several years ago and apparently I played a decent amount at the casino (I think overall, I lost $2k).  I haven't been since  but luckily, Princess continued sending me offers where I got up to a Balcony for "free."  I was looking through Sun Princess sailings and the suite upgrade prices were irresistible, showing $1600pp so I booked a Penthouse Suite for a November sailing for a whopping $3926 once taxes/misc were factored in.  I also booked the Premier Package for 2 so that was another $1150 or so.  Total I've paid so far is ust over $5k.

I just took a look at other cruses that I remember seeing the same price upgrade for and holy smokes... the upgrade cost has skyrocketed to $6857 PER PERSON!  And if I wanted a Sanctuary Mini-Suite, it's $3724 PER PERSON!

Luckily, on non-Sphere class ships, the Suite upgrade price is still similar to what I've gotten before but I am guessing that will all change in a matter of time if they ever convert the older ships to have something similar.

So yeah, I'm glad I booked these early as I will never pay that much for a suite.  Lucky me.

5 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

We LOVE our deck 17 aft Penthouse Suite except for one thing. The noise from the Suite Sanctuary above between 6:30 and 7:00am every morning. While they don’t take the loungers in at night, there is still some noise as they set up the area for the day. Little scrapes on the ceiling as they adjust the loungers is waking us up. We are able to fall back to sleep but it may be troublesome for many. When we booked this cabin, the images had a hot tub above us so we thought we would be okay. 
 

Just a warning. 
 

ps. The balcony is amazing!

Did you take pictures by any chance?  Particularly your balcony?  I currently have a booking that's on 17637, so all the way in aft, starboard side.

Also, how was your cruise, ship movement-wise?  Did you notice a lot of movement up that high and all the way back?

Thanks!!

16 hours ago, worldtraveller said:

From my understanding it depends on when you had booked the cruise but I don't know the cut off date. We were able to get it free on our trip last month but we had booked the cruise over a year ago. However I had to email them to get it for free (someone from promotions then called me about it).

14 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

From what has been shared here that benefit has been discontinued and is only available on your cruise if you made the booking prior to the end of December 2023.   
 

Not sure when you booked, but if it was after the beginning of this year, it will not be offered for free as a suite benefit. If it was prior to then end of year deadline, you should still get it as a perk, but may have to call ahead to get it worked out or have your concierge arrange it onboard.  
 

I can say based on our experience doing it on the Discovery on New Year’s Eve, it is well worth the price if you do end up having to pay for it. 

Thank you for the information.  This is a bit frustrating... I hope I'll be able to still get it comped.

I booked this cruise on 12/4/2023.  And Princess 360 was pretty much one of the main reasons I wanted to even book this short Alaska Sampler cruise and, from all that I was reading, it was supposed to be complimentary for suite guests.

I am on the phone right now hoping they can help me with it but the rep doesn't even seem to know that it was free for suite guests at any point.

I'll definitely pay for it but dang, that's another $300 I would need to spend when I was expecting it to come with the suite.

Sorry to piggyback off this thread but just wanted to clarify...

Is the 360 experience still free for suite guests?

I am trying to book through the app but it is showing that there will be an upcharge.

My cruise isn't until April 2025.

I'm really sorry you had to go through all of this. Hopefully this is just the growing pains of a brand new class of ship. I'm hoping that it will all be smoothed out come for my November 9 cruise on the Sun.

Best of luck on your future cruises!  Hopefully there's nowhere to go but up!

Hi all!

So I am getting an absolutely fantastic deal through the players club--so I decided to go big and just get a Penthouse Suite buuut I haven't booked yet.  Maybe someone can give me some insight!

The deal I am getting is $1050pp on the Nov 9 Magic Castle Conjurer's Cruise.  Never heard of this before and just from the basic research I've completed, I haven't really heard much about it except there will be a focus on magic shows and special food/drinks?

There are plenty of suites left on Deck 17, Aft; however, a public space is directly above it.  Based on other cruises, how bad should I expect the noise to be on this deck with the public space being directly above us?

And since this cruise is sailing in early November, what are the chances we'll hit rough waters?

Can't wait for them to reveal more about this ship!

I've been sooo torn on what I want to do... So many variables--if anyone can give me some advice, I would appreciate it!

A bit about me--I like being on the biggest and/or newest ships.  I've been on PCL, NCL, and RCCL.  I really liked my experience at all of them but mostly NCL and RCCL.  Now that I am centered on my career with a stable income, I want to get the best of the best and book the suite/concierge categories.  I have no kids.  I love to eat and gamble. I like activities like Escape Rooms, Mini-golf, Games, musicals, acrobatic arts (cirque du soleil).  I also love Disney and Disney Parks.  Here is what I've been mulling over for awhile now...

DCL

* Disney Treasure, 7-Nights, Concierge Family Cabin w/ Verandah - ~$12,000

* OR Disney Wish, 4-Nights, Concierge Family Cabin w/ Verandah - ~$8,000

    * PROS

        * I LOVE Disney, I've always wanted to go on DCL

        * Dining experience looks like a lot of fun

        * I will probably love all the Disney-themed shows

        * Port Canaveral is Embarkation so it's close to Disney and I can use DVC for pre and post stays.

    * CONS

        * There will probably be A LOT of kids.

        * No casino (though this may also be a good thing lol)

        * Based on videos I've seen, there don't seem to be too many on-ship activities like an escape room, mini golf, or other games

        * The most expensive, by far

     * QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

        * Since this would be my first cruise with them, I would have zero status and therefore lowest reservation "power."

        * I don't know if Concierge is worth the price.  Like how hard is it to get seats at a show without concierge? And how hard is it to get reservations at one of the              specialty restaurants?

NCL

* Prima - 7-Nights - Haven Owner's Suite w/ Large Balcony - ~$12,000

    * PROS

        * Their food options look really good.

        * They seem to have quite a bit of fun activities that I would like.

        * Casino

        * Go-Karts!

    * CONS

        * Everything seems to have an upcharge

        * The most expensive non-DCL cruise.

        * A YouTube Cruise reviewer I like gave NCL and the Haven some bad marks. (Cruise with Ben and David)

        * New York Embarkation

     * QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

        * The last time I cruised with them was on the Breakaway 10 years ago.  I don't know how much they have changed since then.

RCCL

* Utopia of the Seas - 4-Nights - Grand Suite 1-Bedroom - ~$5,000

    * PROS

        * Their food options look really good, especially that new "Immersive Train" experience

        * They seem to have quite a bit of fun activities that I would like.

        * Casino

        * Port Canaveral embarkation

    * CONS

        * For a ship this large, 4-Nights doesn't seem like enough.  I would probably want to add a 3-Nighter.

     * QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

        * The last time I cruised with them was on the Harmony in 2019.

        * Of the three cruises I've been on, RCCL is my favorite.

        * I remember getting something called "The Key" which actually worked out pretty well in terms of benefits--maybe I can save some $$ by just stepping down to non-suite cabin and buy into Key program.

VIRGIN

* Valiant Lady - 5-Nights - Brilliant Suite - ~$4,500

    * PROS

        * Their food options look really good.

        * Casino

        * Adults Only!

    * CONS

        * Miami Embarkation

        * Not many of the activities I would like - most stuff seems to be clubs/bars.  I am no fun and don't dance lol.

     * QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

        * Never been on Virgin and I am afraid I am not "hip" enough.

        * I wish the Korean BBQ Place had an option of party-only seating.

Sorry for so much text!

35 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

One of the major reasons for Booking Haven is the Haven isn't crowded even if the ship is at full capacity.

The hot tubs in the Haven are seldom crowded.

You can order from the menus of any onboard dining establishment.  Understand that if you order from a specialty restaurant  you'll use one of your specialty dining perks.

The Haven observation lounge on a Breakaway+ ship would be well worth booking the Haven.  Not all ships have this feature so check the deck plans on NCL.com.

 

Ok good to hear that it never really feels crowded!  The observation lounge will probably be really nice for Alaska. I'll look at all the deck plans though I am leaning toward the latest one, the Encore.

Thank you!

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The Prima and Viva are the “new toys” with all of the features of the Breakaway+ ships but with 25% fewer passengers. As you seem to indicate, the Prima and Viva do not have rooms “in the Haven”. 
 

We have sailed in the Prima twice (non-Haven) and have a Viva Haven cruise later this year. We sailed on the Breakaway in the Haven last fall. (We can only afford the Haven about once a year)
 

The Joy does not have a Spa. 
 

The Haven always make it feel less crowded. For us, the Haven is a room and we spend most of our time out with steerage. Yeah, maybe a dip in the Haven pool and jacuzzi, but the rest of the time in the main public areas for entertainment and activities. We don’t hold up in the Haven and never go out. 
 

During most of the summer, Alaska is shorts and t-shirts weather in ports. And having the private sun decks for glacier watching is a bonus (bundled up, but with a cup of hot wine). 

I had to look up what "steerage" meant!  If I do Alaska, I'm going to have to decide if I want early/late season where weather might be cooler or peak... I do like the prospect of long daylight hours.

Thank you for your input!  We'd probably do a mix of both Haven and regular activities.  Like if we want to just chill, we'll definitely stay in the Haven where it'll be less crowded.

I have only cruised with NCL once, way back in 2013 on the NCL Breakaway from NYC--I went solo and single at the time and was... younger lol!

It's time to come back and try NCL again!  After 2013, I've done 2 cruises, Ruby Princess (US West Coast) and Anthem of the Seas (Carribbean).

I am torn on what I should do for my next cruise!

Choice: Joy/Bliss/Encore OR Prima/Viva?

I always love being on the newest ships which would make Prima/Viva a + for this question but the Breakaway+ classes have a Haven Suite that has a jacuzzi in the room, which is actually quite nice.  My partner and I are kinda shy when it comes to using a pool or jacuzzi in a public area--and we're sort of introverts lol.  Only issue is that in B+ ships, those suites are on the opposite end where the Haven is BUT the proximity to the Spa to use the thermal suites sound kinda nice.

Choice 2: If Joy/Bliss/Encore, should we do Haven Spa Suite or pick a suite that's actually in the Haven area?

Haven Questions:

• Now that cruising seems to be back in full swing after COVID, how has the Haven experience been when the ship is near or at capacity? 
• Do things at the Haven feel as busy as non-Haven areas? 
• Are hot tubs and jacuzzies always crowded/occupied?
• For in-room dining, is it true that we can order stuff from the menus of other dining establishments?
• Lastly, for a colder climate itinerary (early season Alaska), is Haven still worth it?

Thank you in advance for the advice and guidance!

7 minutes ago, shof515 said:

40% sale banner been on the website for many many many months like over 4 months or so. its not new

Got it, thx.  First time looking for cruise on NCL in a loooong while.

But at least for some good news... I booked my Haven Room (their lowest tier room in that cat) on the Viva!  Worked with a direct NCL consultant and I was able to get an additional 10% off!!

Only 15 months to go 😞

Looking to book the NCL Viva from Miami in early December 2023 (I think it's the only Miami embarkation, the rest are from PR).

I also want to book the Haven but oof, those prices are super high but it might be worth it!

Yeah, I shouldn't have to be on hold for hours to get my refund when I have already been on hold or had to follow up more than once.  I just hope doing this won't ban me from cruising with them in the future but then again, they aren't the only game in town so maybe I should move on.

Thanks for your replies!

Note: I booked these cruises through Princess Players Club.  They were complimentary but I had to pay taxes, fees, and a $200/person  Deposit which would become Cruise Credit during the sailing.  Initially, the deposits were non-refundable but when I called the Players Club phone number to cancel, they said they would waive the non-refundable fee and refund me in full.  They said it would take 10-15 business days to get a refund.

Around Day 25, I still haven't received a refund so I contacted the PCL regular line but since I booked this through Princess Players Club, they said I had to contact them.  I did and they said that there are delays in sending refunds and that it might take up to 30-days.  I also sent an e-mail to which they replied, 3 days later, that the refund was still in process.

Now we are well past 30 Days and I still haven't yet received a refund.  I am thinking about disputing the charges with my credit card company (Chase) but I am unsure if they will even do it for me since the cruises were booked months ago and there's a 90-Day Dispute time limit.

Any ideas?

5 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

I just checked clubroyaleoffers.com and the Prime cruise is not listed yet. They told me last week to expect them to be available to book them starting April 8th. 

 

If you earned 2500 points between April 1st, 2018 & March 31st, 2019.. then you will be Prime status, and in addition to any certificates you earn on board, or any email offers you get, you will also be able to book any 8 day or less sailing, between now (when they open the offer) and March 31, 2020. It is for an inside cabin if you are Prime, but you are permitted to pay the difference to upgrade. 

 

I hope that helps. We are both Prime over here and waiting so we can book two more, plus I have to book the certificate we just got on the Symphony.  1st world problems right? LOL 

5 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

If you go to https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com/ and put in your last name and your Crown & Anchor number.. you will see ongoing offers that are updated monthly. You will also see any certificates you earn on board, and you will see your Prime cruise, once it is available to book.

 

 

Oh fantastic, thank you!  Right now, I only have two offers currently listed: The Summer Sizzle and a new one I haven't seen before (last time I checked was a few days ago): 

LOL 1st World Problems INDEED!  If only I had the ability to take more time off work but alas--I haven't built up enough vacation time yet.

Thank you so much for your responses!!  You've been of great help!  I was so disappointed initially but I have hope again!

On 3/30/2019 at 9:52 AM, Mikew0805 said:

You mentioned "annual" cruise. If you are referring to the Prime free cruise you can go on any cruise up to 8 days (excluding holidays) anytime between April 1st and March 31st of the following year. 

I think I'm a bit confused.  My last sailing was my first time on RCCL and I obtained Prime status tyen.  For that free annual cruise, I was under the impression that I would be receiving that offer in April so when I got the email about the offer I posted, I thought that was it.  How can I claim the annual cruise offered to Prime? 

Thank you! 

13 hours ago, BTHodgeman said:

It is an independent company that uses your rankings, play history, and offers at land casinos and on cruises to get you offers elsewhere. I've sent them a free interior certificate from Carnival a couple years back and also just recently sent them this new free balcony certificate from Royal. They haven't processed the Royal certificate yet, but I see hundreds of free cruises on Royal and MSC. They're all currently valid for free interiors, but I would imagine with my free balcony offer from Royal, the offers should go up.

 

Essentially, they source mid and high level gamblers, vet their history (through cruise certificates and confirmation of play on cruises/casinos they book for you), and provide comp offers (with the expectation that you have sufficient play during that comp offter). I have heard that once you get into a routine with them, the offers get better and better since they know how valuable of a player you will be to the cruiseline/casino and to them. They get some sort of kickback.

 

Brent

Wow, awesome! Thank you!  I will definitely be signing up right away!  I play a lot at my local casinos, Vegas, and whenever I find myself on a cruise!

17 minutes ago, BTHodgeman said:

Good to know. I just got off Navigator, and the ship is beautifully redone, but coming from Minnesota, it's not worth it to take a 3 or 4 night sailing.

 

@NeutralNovice - have you used URComped before? I have uploaded a couple certificates to them, but haven't had a chance to book anything through them. Either way, I can look at what they have available for comps, and I see a ton of sailings available on a wide variety of ships. (Even more than what was included on my instant issue certificate.)

I'm not familiar with URComped.  Please explain hehe. I would like to be comped! 

Man, I hate to be a complainer about free cruises, but since I had to gamble quite a bit to even qualify, I'd say my complaint is somewhat warranted.  On my first and only cruise with RCCL, I qualified for a Balcony Stateroom Instant Offer which had a rather large selection and variety of cruises and ships.  With the way my job works, it's difficult to plan out this far ahead for the cruise selection they had plus most of the dates were just too soon.  I was kibd of expecting and hoping that the abnual Comp Cruise would have a comparable selection but it does not-a far cry from what I would have been able to get.  After experiencing Oasis-class and thoroughly enjoying it, I feel like I wpuld prefer Oasis/Quantum only.  And what's worse is that the offers have no value toward another cruise of my choosing. 

Oh well, I guess I'll just be waiting for cruise offers from my land based casinos for now. 

So as a heads up to anyone who qualifies for the Instant Offer during a cruise, BOOK SOMETHING on there ASAP and don't wait it out like me! 

4 hours ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

Just curious,  What kind of play does it take to get 4900 points in one cruise? 

Did you play slots or table games?

Thanks for sharing you experience.

 

To me, it takes quite a bit to get to 4900pts, especially the way cruise ships pay out.

For slots at least, 1pt = $5 Played

If I lost every slot pull, that means I lost up to $24500 (obviously that wasn't the case) but essentially I put over 24k in play throughout the cruise.  Compared to land based casinos, you have to play a substantial amount more to get to that level.

I've kind of noticed that RCI is incredibly stingy with their payouts, table rules, poker house rakes, slot tournament prizes, and BINGO.

I stupidly paid $66 for a SINGLE game of BINGO, not researching the rules first.  And the prize payout, regardless of the number of participants, was $300.  I will never play BINGO on RCI again as long as the payouts are like that.

If I remember correctly, the house takes a certain percentage of each hand played during cash poker games, up to $15 per hand, which is insane.

Craps odds bet (the one behind pass line) had a 1x max odds. And I swear the dice are weighted.  I have never seen/personally hit so many damn sevens after the point in my life.

And the slots seem to be tighter than a wet-then-frozen lid on a JIF jar that was closed by the mighty Thor himself.

And good grief, that slot tournament is a rip off as well.  The payouts do not reflect the number of buy-ins.  Only the top player winds anything.  Either $500 for 25>x buy ins or a free cruise for x>25 buy ins.

At this point, I don't really want to gamble much on RCI anymore.  I'd rather just enjoy whatever free cruises I get now then just wait for my land based casinos to offer me free cruises.

4 minutes ago, fla gang said:

4900 points makes you a Prime member and will allow you to take any cruise up to 8 days excluding holidays. Not sure when the deadline is. I think you are responsible for taxes and fees only.

Awesome, thank you!  Do I actually have to wait until I receive some sort of offer to use that annual cruise or can I just book straight away?  Also, is it combinable with other offers?

Hi all!  So I just completed my first cruise on RCI.  We were on the Harmony and we had a great time!  I am a gambler so I did do quite a bit of gambling at the casino and was able to get enough points to earn a free cruise that they were offering right off the bat.  The only thing is that I am not sure if I will be able to take another vacation in the 1 year that I have to actually cruise--let alone figure out which cruise I want in the next 30 days.

I've cruised on Princess before and continuously receive casino-level offers.  Most of them are just large discounts but some are also complimentary special event cruises as well.

For other gamblers out there, do you receive many offers in the mail?  If so, how good are those offers?  I'm sure it depends on overall play so for reference, I earned about 4900 points during this cruise.

The next cruise I definitely want to be on is a cruising on the Ovation of the Seas in Alaska; however, in the "Instant Offer," an Ovation sailing isn't available.  My voucher has a value of $1,000 toward a cruise not listed but it's still rather expensive, in my opinion.

Any insight from seasoned cruisers who get offers would be appreciated!!

Thank you!  I didn't realize the one in Jamaica was that far.