I wouldn't even consider cruising during the first four months NCL starts sailing.

The longer cruise companies take to issue refunds, the longer the cash stays in their account. The longer the cash stays in their account, the more interest THEY earn. It's not about you, it's about their bank balance.

On 1/7/2020 at 1:36 PM, EllieinNJ said:

Hi.  We are also on your Bliss cruise.  We are also booked on the Getaway for Jan. 2021 NY to Miami.  What was so bad about the Getaway?  We did the Breakaway and liked it so thought the Getaway would be the same.

 

Now we decided to look for another cruise between them in Sept. NCL's prices are off the wall.  So started looking at Carnival and MSC because we wanted something out of NY and not too expensive.  Reviews of both lines are crummy. 

Carnival is a fun cruise, as long as it is not a short 3 day booze cruise. We have cruised Carnival 9 times and have another one booked. Carnival is not crummy. If you go to their CC sections, you will see that their cruisers are a lot happier and have a lot less complaints than the cruisers here in the NCL section.

Thanks everyone. Like GettotheSun, I plan on buying $500 Cruise next certs If I enjoy the cruise. This is my first one on NCL.

9 hours ago, hallux said:

What confuses a lot of people is the mention of the discount as being OBC.  What really happens is that you're billed the full price to your onboard account, then a rebate of $250 is issued in the form of onboard credit.  The net is $250 spent on cruise next and no real credit towards any other spending.

Say the only purchase we made was $500 future cruise cert. We would be given $250 OBC. Would this OBC offset the $500 purchase and make our onboard bill be only $250?

3 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

Most likely 0, especially on a sea day. Those are the days people that bought the passes will use it. 

 

I'm guessing Vibe would have to not sell out for them to offer day passes. 

Thanks, I was afraid of that. 

I am leaving on my first NCL cruise Sunday...YAY. I do not believe I will be able to make it to the ship in time to buy a Vibe pass for the week. But, I would like to buy a day pass for one of the sea days. How would I go about this, and what is the liklihood a day pass would be available.

Thanks.

1 hour ago, BostonGal35 said:

believe me, there was more that went on that was discussed both on board and that was in my detailed email to guest services.  we let many things go, for example, lunch service on embarkation day is typically always awful and even sometimes dinner service - but we get it, ship changeover day is extremely difficult for the crew, so they get a pass.  maybe a person is rude on occasion.  well, we understand that folks are away from family and maybe have a bad day or something happened at home.  we dont complain.

 

in all our cruises i believe we have only formally complained about 2 concierges (this sail being one of them), this butler, and one restaurant host at lebistros on i believe the Gem.  NCL staff usually corrects and issue right away as they truly do want you to have a good experience.  that is why situations like mine may appear "trivial" to you, and some may be, but when gathered in the aggregate and compared to prior experiences become more significant.  we talked with a few first time Haven guests on that sail.  they thought their service was great.  then we said "what have you gotten for snacks/room service?" and their answer was "we havent gotten snacks" or "we should be getting snacks?  we can get that?  no one told us?" its pretty telling.  im sure we would have been ok too, if we didnt know how good it could be and how good it SHOULD be.  

 

as for the shower door and maintenance?  that was 3 days of the doors sliding open, water on the floor, that our poor steward had to clean. he was frustrated, he reported it, we felt bad for him, absolutely the concierge should have taken care of making that call and elevating our issue.  could we have let it slide and forced our hard working steward, who gave us impeccable service all week, to have to mop up floods every day after 4 total showers per day?  Sure, but why would we?  Grossly unfair to him nor should we have to have a drenched floor every day.

One of the ways to be happy is to learn to go with the flow and to not let the bastards get you down. I am sure you had great moments on your cruise, but those seem not to be your focus.

13 minutes ago, cruisin from vegas said:

I have stayed in a studio on the Getaway and the lounge was on one deck with a staircase from the upper deck.  I’ll be in one on the Epic this summer and it appears to be the same.  The best part is the 24 hour ice water and a wonderful cappuccino machine.  They also have snacks, fruit and cold breakfast items.  The cabins are small but efficient.  Lots of storage space and the cappuccino machine is worth it to me!!

Thanks. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. 🙂

When I sailed. I put my gift cards on my acct, and then bought Cheers, so yes.

Brady won't be there this year. TITAN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Is Norwegian Cruise Line now charging for room service?

 

Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced an enhanced room service menu. The new menu offers an expanded selection for breakfast, in addition to a wider variety of options available 24 hours. Individual items on the menu remain available on a complimentary basis and a convenience charge of up to $9.95 USD will be added to each order placed (Morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests sailing in The Haven will not attract a charge)*. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added for non-complimentary beverages and special occasion items.

 

Continental items = no charge during breakfast hours

Hot items = service charge per order. 

From what I can see, the solo lounge has snacks, fruit, juice and most importantly...a water cooler. 

Are there different offerings at different times of day? I will be cruising in a solo in 5 days.

1 minute ago, Petoonya said:

My first time too. I was astonished. It seems more fair overall that it goes to all of the staff. But for some funny reason I sense that it doesn't.

I sense it doesn't either. 

I am excited about my upcoming NCL cruise, but man, extra charges are everywhere.

Customers unite, I found this interesting article....https://www.al.com/news/2019/01/carnival-cruise-delays-plans-to-charge-for-room-service.html

Miami-based Carnival said the decision to charge customers for room service was an effort to reduce food waste.

That didn’t sit well with customers, many of whom went online to complain, prompting a reversal – at least temporarily.

In a statement to USA Today, Carnival said it was “making some adjustments to that plan to balance the interests of our guests with our efforts to reduce food waste costs. For the time being, there will be no changes until we finalize a plan that will be communicated to guests and travel agency partners alike."

According to USA Today, Holland America, Disney Cruise Line and Princess Cruises are the only major cruise lines that offer free room service. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian both charge $7.95 per order with the exception of continental breakfasts.

I was interested to see how NCL defines service charge.

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-faq/what-is-onboard-service-charge

I have always tipped before, but have never been charged a service charge. This will be my first time on NCL.

Q: Is the “service charge” on my room-service bill the same as a gratuity?

A: Though the exact definition varies from hotel to hotel, service charge usually indicates a pooled tip, to be divided up by the entire room service department. If your specific attendant was particularly good, you may consider giving an extra gratuity—but are in no way obliged to do so. To be sure, ask what the hotel’s policy is when placing your order.

These answers explain how NCL gets away with nickle and diming.

What is the service fee for if the server still needs a tip?

5 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

It’s food for the kids. Along with hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Really? I guess I am just a kid at heart...I hope I stay so. It's much more fun.

2 minutes ago, shancan911 said:

We have a Specialty Dining package and $50 shore excursion promo

Call Norwegian and see if they will let you change to the Drink package. 

4 hours ago, GettotheSun said:

instant espresso, LOL

 

Also forgot to mention, I really don’t understand the bananas by the ketchup and mayo thing?  So multiple people complained because they had a bowl of bananas over by the condiments at the buffet?  I don’t get it.

Although it is a silly thing to get upset over, I think the point was he didn't find the bananas because he looked for them in the fruit area. I personally wouldn't look for fruit in the condiment area either, but I wouldn't get upset about it.

15 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

If you click on the daytime menu the right half is literally under a heading that says "A little $ a lot yummy". The ruebens, chips, and cheesecake are from the left side of the menu the "on the house" heading. If "a little $" in carnival doesn't mean having to pay for things under that heading that's a very weird world to be in. Otherwise it would mean that things on the right side of the menu cost a little $ and things on the left don't. Again, only going by what is on Carnival's website and their daytime room service menu that they link to that literally half of the menu is under the heading "a little $ a lot yummy". https://www.carnival.com/~/media/Images/explore/dining/menus/room-service-menu.pdf

Never said items on the right were free. Are you reading everything said? Fine, I guess you know more about it than I do. I was only there.. Don't want to argue. Have a great weekend.

2 minutes ago, VtMac said:

Idle curiosity.....why not spent three minutes to be sure?  Debate all you want about the why, contemplate the if, point to the “it hasn’t”, but a simple 3-5 minute call takes all that away.  I was standing in the security cue at Logan once upon a time not too long ago and watched someone lose it when denied access with a non real ID, while his wife kept saying I told you!  I guess my question for you is:  if NCL is telling you to do it this way, why not do it, more importantly, why do you seem to advise others to follow your lead?

Exactly, I called NCL yesterday and it took them all of 2 minutes to add my middle name. I checked my edocs as soon as I got off the call and it was done.

29 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

True, but not all of the menu is free. They don't show prices (probably so they can vary it by ship/sailing), but I wouldn't be surprised if ordering 2 or more items from the pay side adds up to what NCL charges. 

I was on the Nov 10, 2019 sailing of Carnival Glory. The following is EXACTLY what room service entailed. My husband and I both had Ruebens, Chips and Cheesecake for the price of a $2 tip.

Mass hysteria among Carnival fan recently developed when Carnival announced it would begin to charge for room service.  After a quick backtrack, Carnival announced that they were not going to charge for most room service after all.  Instead, if you order room service between the hours of 10PM and 6AM, you’ll pay between $2 – $6 for late night menu items.  And there are up-charge menu items to select during the day, too.  https://cruisemaven.com/cruise-ship-room-service-fee-2019/