kahcarre

I got this offer too - sailing on the Getaway next April in a balcony. Free upgrade to a Minisuite offered. Dates given were Sep, Oct, Nov, and Dec (including Nov. 22 and Dec. 20 - aren't those peak time?)

The rep said some select high end cuts will be added to the menu for a upcharge. Being from the Midwest that makes me think that they might be adding Kobe cuts or some Black Angus cuts to the menu which typically go for $40-50 on land for a upcharge of $10. The Rib eye, NY Strip and Filet Mignon will probably remain free and also be joined by prime rib.

I don't doubt that's what the rep said. I'm just saying, in my opinion, that doesn't match the current FAQs. They say everything on the menu is included, which to me, would include the upcharge items. I guess we'll know more after implementation. Luckily I'm not cruising until April, so I have time to see how it actually plays out before purchasing!

The NCL rep also said there will be changes to the Cagney's menu. It is still included in the UDP, however there will be "higher" cuts of meat on the menu that are offered at a upcharge. I'm suspecting that's where the rumor of a la carte Cagney's was coming from.

Based on the FAQ on the website, everything should be included... I guess we'll see how this pans out.

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ARE ANY MENU ITEMS EXCLUDED FROM SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGES?

No, all items listed on the menus are included in the package. Additional entrée charges also apply for dining at Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro.

Does the champagne catamaran to St John leave right from the port or do you have to take a bus first ? Also, was it a small 20-30 people group or those large 60-80 people tours ? Thx

When I did this excrusion, there was a ~20 min ride to the marina in an open-air van taxi thing. There were 20-30 people on the cat - there was plenty of space. I loved this excursion and would highly recommend it :)

I'm looking at booking a first Princess cruise after cruising the Freedom of the Seas last June. I currently have the NCL Getaway booked, but if Princess has the right price/bonuses, I could definitely be convinced to switch.

I'm a little worried about demographics/nightlife, though. My husband and I are 27, no kids, and while we aren't in college anymore, there will probably be a night or two where we'll want to stay out late to drink and dance. We also like meeting (and drinking with!) people on vacation. Given the time of year, ship, and itinerary (Western Caribbean), would you expect there to be a decent number of mid-twenties to early-thirties folks? I'm assuming that NCL will have a busier nightlife scene, but is it a large difference? Any thoughts or experiences with the Regal would be appreciated :)

I have more information . The offer is good only for bookings made Saturday, June 13 and for cruises from May 2016 through April 2017. This may be an offering through certain travel agents, and of course I have no way of knowing this. Just check with yours.

Pia, I asked my TA and he didn't know anything about this offer and said that they didn't have any upcoming beverage package offers to his knowledge. Could you send me the information on yours? My email is kahcarre at gmail dot com. Thanks in advance :)

yes, details please!

anyone know the price of Patron? Royal had it included under the Premium package (at least the bartenders gave it to us, no problem, several times) and it was a fun way to celebrate :D All the NCL menus I've seen list it under the "Ultra-Premium" category and say "ask for prices". I'm hoping they have a decent silver/blanco tequila for shooting that would be included under the UBP!

To the best of my knowledge, if it is normal coffee (aka, the free stuff) with alcohol added, it will be included under premium. We got Bailey's or Kahlua with coffee almost every night in the MDR. If it is a specialty (espresso) coffee (cappuccino, latte, what have you) with alcohol added, then I don't think it is. But YMMV!

Delta changed out flight from 12:45 to 10:45 on Oasis for July 4th. Not much I can do about that. I booked a good time and they changed it on me. Going to go with it I guess and hope for the best. I'm kinda in the same boat as you.:(

When Delta changes your flight times by more than an hour, you can typically change flights for free, so feel free to call with your ideal flights in mind and they'll put you on it!

Sorry for an off-topic post, but is a small section of the Garden Cafe open between lunch and dinner for snacks - cheese, fruit, etc? The dailies show it as closed between 3:30 and 5:30 or something like that.

If I get the complimentary continental breakfast, will they have a slip for me to sign so I can tip? or do I need to have some one dollar bills?

bump... also interested to the answer to this question! If I pre-purchase, can I cancel later ? What if I cancel the cruise?

I did miss the salmon they used to serve.

Are you saying they don't have smoked salmon in the Windjammer anymore for breakfast?? :(:eek:

I booked my first NCL cruise for next April, but am thinking about cancelling it :( I'm really disappointed with all this nickel-and-dime-ing! It will be my first balcony, and one of the things I was really looking forwards to was room service coffee and a pastry out there, before getting up for "real" breakfast. But not for $7.95 :( This is definitely taking some of the "magic" out of cruising for me.

I might jump back to RCI or try Princess, though prices are higher, or even Celebrity, where the prices are comparable (!), but I'm afraid there won't be any young people (DH & I are 26 and 27). NCL is probably losing me for good.

I know I already posted about this excursion on this thread, but I can't emphasize enough how great this excursion was.

Another vote for Champagne Cat from me! I had a fabulous time, the beach was stunning, the crew was great (in fact we were disappointed because we didn't bring enough to buy t-shirts & tip the crew what we thought they deserved - so we didn't buy t-shirts - I guess we're going again!), the rum punch & beer was exactly as advertised - all around great!

Also another vote for Bernard's at St. Maarten :) Great time there too!! An awesome way to see a lot of the island if you're a first-timer.

With Verizon, data and texting are included per terms of your regular plan for no extra charge at St. Thomas. Voice calls are $1.99/minute. Nothing special has to be done to phone or plan in order for this to happen.

I know this is what the website says, but unfortunately they don't have any towers for you to connect to. Only AT&T has towers on St. Thomas - this was confirmed by the locals on the catamaran we sailed on. Discovered this first-hand (and disappointed) last June!

What about VERIZON? Will it work in ST.THOMAS??

 

TOM

Unfortunately, no :( Verizon doesn't have any cell towers in St. Thomas.

Thanks for all this information - I have this room on the Getaway next year :) Can't wait!!

RCI carries Fireball now? They didn't have it on Freedom last June and that was a bummer for me/miss for them! It makes me happy they have it now though :)

I've seen on some recent Freestyle Dailies that the buffet closes in the afternoon, normally like 3:30-5:30 or something like that, between lunch and dinner. In that time, is the buffet totally closed, or is it just that they only have a small snack-y section open? 4:30 is normally my snack time and it doesn't seem like much is open for free except room service & O'Sheehan's!

Anyone have any recent information on the availability of a cheese plate on the Getaway, at restaurants, the buffet, or room service (not extra $)? That was one of my favorite things to do on the last RCI cruise I was on - my next cruise will be my first NCL cruise!

Also interested to know if it will fit a lounger and if so, if the steward will get one for us. Snagged 10276 for next year on the Getaway :)

So are fares without sales actually LESS expensive than the so-called bogos? In your opinion?

I'm just referencing the sale they had that ended yesterday - it was BOGO with $200 OBC if you booked a balcony. For a 7 night cruise, that promo is effectively identical to the one that starts today, unless they change the base fares, except this is even more in their favor, since only the people who want a beverage package get the $200 off (as opposed to $200 OBC, which almost everyone can use somehow).

So the whole 50% off Beverage Package thing... if you go on a 7 night cruise, that ends up being $202 off, which is almost exactly the same as the previous $200 OBC offer if you get a balcony :rolleyes: I would love to go on another RCI cruise but the prices are so much higher than NCL!