SpainAlien

I was lucky enough to get a heavily discounted cruise from CAS but I am coming up to final payment now and the website won't accept payment, do I call CAS or just the regular NCL call centre to sort it out?

MTIA

19 minutes ago, Beach Life 1 said:

 There are no cruises showing for the Getaway from February thru May,  2024.  We have a cruise booked for February 2024.   Still showing in my account,  but when I try to book an excursion ,  it says an error has occurred,  try again later.  I called NCL,  and the agent told me all Getaway cruises are still showing able to book. She doesn't have any idea what's going on.   I hope it's a glitch,  but it's been over a week.  

 

If it's any consolation I can't book any excursions for my Star cruise in November, on the app the guests don't load and on the website it says there is an error. I think that is a problem with the excursions screen rather than a problem with the cruise.

I was lucky enough to get $500 FCC as a result of a price drop on my last cruise, it's now sitting on my account and it says it can't be used against taxes and fees associated with the booking so what can I spend it on? Can I used it for the DSC, excursions, room decorations, gifts, etc?

I am happy to call CAS to spend it but I'd like to have a shopping list in mind before I call.

As far as I know only Epic has this layout. Escape is a standard layout

11 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

Was it traditional or with cream? Pancetta or bacon?

Not really traditional it's served with ham and peas with a  cream/parmesan sauce, but I thoroughly enjoyed it

3 hours ago, T_Bone2012 said:

This is very port intensive, with only 1 day out of 11 at sea.  I think we'll choose the extra cabin room over the balcony.

It's about the same cabin size the only area that is bigger is the section allotted to the bathroom setup. Some of the club cabins have a tub instead of a large shower so make sure you select the cabin layout you want

I am on NCL Dawn currently and the food generally has been very good but the fettuccine carbonara in O'Sheehans is fabulous. I routinely avoid ordering pasta because it is often either undercooked or mushy but this was cooked perfectly (al dente) and the flavour was right on point although I know this is subjective.

I was nervous going into this cruise having read so frequently that the food quality has gone down but that has not been my experience this week.  Well done NCL!

24 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

I'm sure we've been guilty of that, too, at times. Often I will leave the cabin early and my wife is still sleeping, which leads to confused looks by the steward who sees me leave but the "do not disturb" is still there. 🤦‍♂️😂

EDIT: I am not suggesting the OP did that, BTW. But some of the comments here seem to suggest that the cabin steward is always at fault when pax come back to an unclean cabin, and I'm merely suggesting the possibility that isn't necessarily the case.

I agree, I have seen many cabins on the same section as mine with the DND sign on all week but the steward has still gone in a couple of times. I routinely leave it on Welcome with the result that the poor guy walked in on my coming out of the shower on one occasion lol

14 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

  there's a difference between letting people know something as part of "full disclosure" in a review after the fact, and having a whine fest literally while the cruise is still going on and you haven't even given the crew the opportunity to resolve things.

How long would you suggest that you should give the crew to rectify the issue? I left it until after I got back from the following day's excursion and tried to get hold of the steward before going to guest services.  I simply wanted my room to be clean at the start of my cruise, I don't think that was unreasonable. 

I would also say that at no point did I say or imply that the sheets had not been changed. The sheets and towels were fresh.  Similarly though it was more than half a bottle of water in the fridge, the bathroom had not been cleaned. If it were only the water in the fridge and the daily planners from the last cruise I wouldn't have cared.  

Incidentally, my room steward is lovely but obviously over worked, he has only managed to get back to my room twice in the last 4 days and then just straightened the top sheets. I have the same sheets and towels 7 days after boarding but I don't care. I'm sure if I asked him he would change them.  I am not complaining I just think other guests should be aware that if this is important to you mustn't be frightened to talk to your room steward.  

FWIW apart from the cleanliness of the room (now resolved) the NCL Dawn is great. She is sailing at full capacity but doesn't feel crowded. The food is generally good, certainly on a par to my previous NCL cruises.

My room is an oceanview on deck 4 which is a perfect size and has all the amenities that I need.  Located where I am I am one of the first off the ship when we dock and have easy access to the staircases and lifts mid ship.

The entertainment is to a good standard, the first couple of days were soul music which isn't really my thing but we are now moving on to rock all of which has been well sung/played.

The weather at the ports so far has been incredible: glorious blue skies and sunshine. This morning we are in Dublin.

I am not a serial complainer, in fact, being British I hate to complain.  This is my first cruise as a Platinum guest and the first time I have had to complain.

8 hours ago, insidecabin said:

Went back to check, OP said

 

Clearly my steward was running late for some reason and ran out of time before actually finishing the job, hopefully when he makes up the room today he will catch up.

 

I read into that the issues were not raised with anyone on embarkation day.

 

Which is a shame as our issues were sorted immediately even though we were happy for them to be done later as we were going out anyway.

 

Our cabins were "ready" at 3pm with the steward on top of greeting people and delivering bags.

 

The bigger issue here is overrunning by 2 hours and then still not acceptable standard.

 

The 3pm rooms ready which seems to be the new norm has knock on

 

These Southampton departures are quite early so everyone has boarded by 3pm place like the buffet get rammed, with the old 1pm cabins ready the later boarders get space as  the early ones have moved on. 

My room steward vanished and did not answer the phone, I finally managed to catch up with him at about 3pm on Day 2.

12 hours ago, nimbex1970 said:

I've had no issues on my 20 previous cruises.  Why not just call for the room steward, get this corrected and post the result? Why the internet first?  Of course, the situation was unsatisfactory to walk into.  Just clarify the issue and allow a fix to happen.

Fyi, I did talk to the steward, then guest services and then finally cleaned the shower myself but don't worry I won't be reducing the tip, I understand that the stewards are struggling.  I also did not solicit or receive any obc.

I thought Cruise Critic was all about posting experiences both good and bad, but clearly you only want good experiences to appear in your feed.

25 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Seems like very very very very very minor issues. But it is your right to make it a big deal.. Better taken up with your room steward. 

I know what you are saying but what it means is that my room was not cleaned after the previous guests. 

I have just got back onboard at 13.30 and my room still isn't made up and my room service tray is still here.

I boarded yesterday and duly waited for the 3pm announcement that my cabin was ready.  Unfortunately mine wasn't actually ready until 5pm and even then there was 1/2 a bottle of water from the last guest in the fridge, all the daily print outs from the last cruise were in the rack with the room service menu, the sink hadn't been cleaned and there was some sort of foam dried on to the shower head.

Clearly my steward was running late for some reason and ran out of time before actually finishing the job, hopefully when he makes up the room today he will catch up.

There is a free shuttle from the port to either Portland Castle or Weymouth but the Portland castle doesn't open until 10am, neither does the WWII museum and the first Coastliner bus doesn't leave the castle until 10.12am.  If your plan was to just mooch around Portland or get the bus around the island on your own do yourself a favour and stay onboard awhile.

4 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I’ve never heard of anyone tipping for laundry.  If you want tip, it will be your room steward or butler who delivers your laundry back to your room.  

I normally leave a couple of bucks with my laundry when I'm paying for it on the basis that the fee includes a tip anyway but for the platinum award since there is no fee i assumed a bigger tip might be in order.

My upcoming cruise will be my first one as Platinum so I will be sending out my bag of laundry, how much should I tip, is $5 enough?

3 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

The problem is we are getting sold a package they won't deliver.

 

Any costs are for the cruise line to sort out and stop bothering the passenger.

 

 

 

 

But it's done this way in the US all the time for example in New York there is a local tax which is applied at the perceived value of the drink you ordered even if you have a drinks package, therefore they have an existing business model for it. Since not all ports on the itinerary (and certainly not time at sea in International waters) incur VAT on the drinks it would make the FAS price different on a per cruise basis which would simply be unworkable.

1 minute ago, roxette said:

According to the EU I am not wrong.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/pricing-payments/indexamp_en.htm

 

When you buy goods or services in the EU, you have to be clearly informed about the total price, including all taxes and additional charges.

 

It just doesn't happen in Spain. Typically a set price menu is say 15€ plus IVA. Of course that maybe because we have three different rates of IVA and eating in or taking away makes a difference on the IVA rate

On 5/25/2023 at 6:51 PM, roxette said:

The European costumer laws are very strict. The price you see, should be the price you pay. No hidden fees. 

 

Like it or not. 

 

I like it.

I'm sorry but you are wrong regarding the EU laws. I live in Spain and most restaurant prices are plus tax. You can also get many things quoted nett and then tax shown separately 

On 5/25/2023 at 12:01 AM, Greener123 said:

since the other UK alcohol issue thread got closed 🙄

Seeing reports from those who boarded Dawn today (24th May) in Southampton that they were charged an additional tax when buying drinks even with a package.

 

not even sure this is legal in the UK since our laws are that the advertised price has to be inclusive of taxes. Also NCL would again be the only line with such policy.

 

why are they just making things up as they go 

So your objection isn't the increased price it's the price shown on the menu?  What's the difference, you would still have to pay the tax whether it's included in the price or shown as an extra!  You seriously are kicking up a fuss because you want the menus printed for while they are in port then replaced when entering international waters?

I apologise if this has been asked before but this is my first cruise as Platinum. I checked in weeks ago online and got the 9.30-10am slot.   This week I won my upgrade bid and my cabin changed but so did my check in status. The app made me check in again only now the earliest slot I can get is 11.30-12 noon.  My question is can I just turn up at my first booked check in time or do I have to go for the new slot I have been allocated? This is my first time as Platinum so do I get to just go whenever I like?

Many thanks

I have been advised by NCL that once I return from my next cruise I will receive a $500 FCC because if a price drop. Does anyone know what I can use it for?  For example can I apply it to an existing booking, can it be used to cover the port fees and taxes or can I use it towards gratuities? 

8 hours ago, yankprintster said:

Wouldn't be a charter, but maybe this could be a 77-day NCL world cruise?

I was talking to my husband and we were taking about it being chartered for a world cruise for some billionaire and 1000 of his closest friends