AFT_LOVER

Park West is on NCL. I won a $650 piece of art and they wanted us to spend $210 on framing it.

Global Fine Arts on Princess, I bought one & won one. Got the one that I won that was $20 shipping to arrive FedEx. The one we bought turned out to be lost. The guy brought it to us at our seats as I filled out the paperwork. Saw the $20 shipping added in since we were not interested in $200+ to frame it. Then I walk up to the gal at the computer with the paperwork & I asked why we are being charged shipping when I have it to take home. She freaks out & tells me that it belongs on the stage to sell. She runs over to get it & put it on the easel. Then 3 weeks later we get our art delivered but only 1 piece. I phoned to inquire about the missing print & they called me back to say it is missing. Not on the Crown but it was when we left the auction. Then a week later they call to tell me that they will credit my VISA account for the shipping & the purchase price. They did that night. Then i the mail we got 12-8" prints of the visiting artist who my husband bought me a necklace of 2 martinis that he had made learning how I love martinis. $40 was a deal for the beautiful piece of work that was made right in front of me. EVEN CUTER THAT A WAITER BRINGS ME A MARTINI TO ENJOY WHILE HE WORKED.

Contact info:

(954) 923-3362

Princess Global Fine Arts

24 SW 12th Ave

Dania, FL 33004

No - Park West does not run the Princess art auctions, thank goodness. Princess owns and sells the art - so the above advise about contacting Princess Customer Service is correct.

We bought a painting in April on Crown. We were told we would have it in 3 weeks max for the $20 we paid for the tube with the painting in it. A month later we still have no painting. SO I phoned Global and spoke with 4 people before I get someone who knows we bought ours on Crown, it was charged to our bill that was paid for before we left. Problem was it disappeared from the ship & we do not have it. The guy on the ship brought it over to me with the paperwork to fill out with name address & phone #. It stated $20 shipping charge but we have the painting. The woman at the computer on Crown's painting area in the bar, was freaking out at how we got it when it should be on stage. So it was taken & put on an easel on stage & we got a copy of the paperwork.

A week later I get a call from Princess' Accounting Dept telling me that a credit for the full amount was going on our VISA and it was there the next day. Guess they never found it since they just refunded our money, instead of calling all ship to locate it. No problem with us.

The 2nd painting showed in 2 weeks and was framed at Michael's for 50% off ($79) and we enjoy it.

drumline13,

 

Is your Godard printed on paper? Ours is a giclee' on canvas. I checked it again this morning in the early light and do not see any cracking, thankfully. I will continue to follow this as I am curious to what Princess will do. We have purchased many pieces of art from them (about 16) and a few did arrive in not so perfect condition. I will say Princess was wonderful to work with, but you do need to stay on top of them. All in all, we have always had a positive outcome with them. Good luck.

Not on Crown if you are on a 1 week cruise. Per the Purser desk.

If it exists on your next sailing, there will be an invitation to it in your cabin listing the days, hours, location, and special menu item as well as the drink of the day.

the loungers are either in the full sun for tanners or under palm trees and folks were very happy with them.

Check with your cell carrier. I have AT&T and spoke with them last night. They told me that Princess Cays may or may not have a cell tower, but I would be able to pick it up from the ship while at Princess Cays. Hope this helps!

The Cream of the Crop, over 10 cruises should get rewarded. $5 drink special aka Drink of the Day is for everyone. Not just Elite & Platinum. If that is all we get, that is cheapest of the cruise industry. We have bottles to enjoy in our Caribe balcony, so we will stay there if a show is not interesting or the movie is G rated.

I am, Latose Intolerant so I call you Gluten Intolerant. I stay away from milk, cheese & other dairy products since I blow up from my rear sending gallons in seconds.

I can be very painful in my stomach to throat but I do not puke. If I have a cheeseburger I will fart for hours, so I go for a walk around my home, so I am close to a toilet just in case.

So they make me yogurt based Italian noodles on Princess & NCL. I am told to mix yogurt with dairy to help tolerate it.

I see GF on packages more & more, so people are coming out talking about it as normal event since other are allergic to peanuts, fish, just about anything.

I applaud Budweiser for creating a GF Beer. Now wait for others to join in. But ships have to purchase it for you. So keep calling & writing.

He made large print Daily for my husband who is legally blind. Then I met a Celiac disease person who brought some food just in case. He got the Hotel Director who then got the Exec Chef who came & brought her to his area. He has a list of GF foods in stock. So she can order what she wants with every meal. He made what she wanted with everything in it that was safe. He even check with a bartender if he had Budweiser GF beer. When told no at every port they were out looking for it.

She saw me next day & was so greatful. I told her to join us here to talk to others just like her.

May I ask what is GF? Since others may not know that they could be too.

where the chef hanged his wife or girlfriend, don't remember the specifics. But she haunts the place thowing stuff at the chef & workers and many quit after meeting her.

We were taken there in the morning to see if she was showing by the Manager when she heard me talking about 9560 & 10528. We even ate there hoping for a show. But nope, guess she wasn't a show person.

that my 300 points didn't get $300 off a cruise since the card was dead, but 3 upgrade certs which are totally useless when you book BA and you cannot be upgraded to a Deluxe Balcony aka Mini Suite or a uite since we also go another cert for our sailing last year, so that is 4 upgrades to nowhere.

A poster previouly talked about 5% cashback on Discover, but not all cards. The new MORE card has 5% cashback on cruises, hotels, airlines & movies either rental or theatre in Oct-Dec. I changed to this last month to get all it it giving from the Road card that was to give 5% for all car purchases: gas, maintenance, tires, anything for the car. Last year they changed it to $100 charge a month for $5 cashack a month. Now 1/1 it goes to 1% cashback. So bye bye for More.

4 months ago Bank of America supervisor called me about a new card that had good rewards. Carlson, who has TGIFridays & Radisson hotel & Country Inn & Suites. They sold Radisson 7 Seas to Apollo so it was renamed Regent 7 Seas. But they have a credit card called GoldPointsPlus and gives 4 points per dollar spent on all charges, 20 points per dollar spent on hotels they own and it includes restaurants. You can exchange 34000 points for a $50 VISA card to use for cruises or annywhere. I got $500 off my December cruise with the points from this card. Charged NCL to the card & used the 10 cards to pay for it.

So I said forget the Worldpoints card, which I had with Celebrity & RCCL and it was very bad rewards.

I haven't a clue what you are talking about, Aft-Lover.

 

Dianne

is the More card for Jan, Feb & March 2010. It also includes Hotels, Airlines & Car Rentals. We switched our Road card to More last month to get 5% off groceries, restaurants, movie rentals or theatres Oct-Dec.

Here they are changing the 5% for auto service, gas, to 1% starting 1/1/10. I was ticked when the 5% was on $100 a month and gas was $4 a gallon. But we will not be using them Jan-March since our cruise is Dec and it is paid for and air also. But we may do some weekenders at a hotel or at least dinners at one.

Any word on when the annual fee will start? I'll have to make sure I spend enough money onboard to get to my next level in Nov. Then I will need to book next cruise to apply OB credit. :( January starts with 5% for cruises on Discover. Had planned to max that out and then pay balance on NCL. But not if it has an annual fee!

 

Never got any bonus points when new card was issued but it was my existing NCL card and they just changed my account number. :mad: Then there was the fraud issue and they changed the number again. :eek: This time I switched my electric bill payment to a different credit card. :D

That is my number. My license plate we got, parking pass I was given, my ATM card last number, even winning lottery number, not when I play it tho & my late mother's birthdate.

So I was sitting here enjoying this thread and wondering if I should post one of the many stories about my deceased sister and the time she "visited" me after her death.

 

I do believe in angels/ghosts/spirit guides and my userid is homage to that. 444cruiser - 444 is the number my angels(?) have used for years to give me message. Look for yourself and you will see it everywhere - licenses plates, time, etc. When you see it, "listen" to your inner voice to see if there is meaning there. Anyway...

 

So I was reading the posts (thinking of my sister)and happen to look up at the posters name and it was AUNTIE BARB - the name my son called my sister.

OMG I got chills! Our loved ones are with us always!

yesterday morning at 5AM my cousin's wife was dead in bed. He phoned me to tell me. She told me at my mom's funeral that she did not want to lie with worms & bugs for life. So he is having her creamated. I told him to bury her at sea on a cruise to enjoy, relax & be with us. So he is going with us & he met with the people doing her & told them she will be buried at sea. She has a beautiful white "sock" that contains her ashes, as required by NCL. THe Captain will do the service for us. His 2 sons are going also one with his future wife. So the memorial is her photo atop a coffin at the funeral home. Then the church will do a service, tho she is not catholic but the family is. She loved to cruise, see new worlds & people. She worked for American Greetings for 35 years and they are wonderful making this memoriable.

is a great party for CC members on a cruise. Any member of the roll call board can be the head to contact the coordinator of the ship and get a location & date for the party. The Captain & Officer attend also, which they find CC a very important area to promote NCL to new cruisers & others from other lines that are unhappy with that line. That person can also provide more fun for members like the $20 PP slot machine game where everyone puts $20 into a $5 machine for 2 pulls & they split the winnings. Or others that I have booked was a gift exchange for $10 made in your city items but many times we are given a hour in the bar we get so the gift exchange doesn't work ut great for TA's which has long times given to us.

So this way you meet everyone you type with and gain new friends for life. Future cruises will be more fun also with the same people on them.

Hi Gypsea,

 

The Roll Calls here on Cruise Critic are provided so that you can find other folks sailing on the same ship and date as you, get to know them pre-sailing, and then meet on board.

 

As far as I know, but Ive been wrong before (maybe once:-), there is no other sign up for NCL.

 

Ann aka Host Mama

when they give more respect to illegal aliens than good customers. AMEX & Citi seem to be the best.

Then we get another dose of Delta Airlines as I try to use the rest of our 200,000 Skymiles to Hawaii to cruise in an $800 AFT BA. But no dice on a good selling flight. CASH ONLY THEY SAY.

Book directly with NCL to use the $1000, plus if you have a $250 deposit purchased on a cruise they know that too so no proof needed to be mailed. Then if any upgrade certs laying around use them to get even better stateroom within the category you are in.

I used BPC for my Oct. cruise. I have 2 upgrades and $1000 in compass awards I had hoped to use.

 

What should I do? I will not lose 20%?

 

Any tips?

as B of A stated "That is the reward, no $100 value for 100 points"

"Of course I then thanked her and asked her extension number at NCL and promised I would post on the boards in case anyone else kept those "worthless" upgrade certificates. I know it's not much, but it was a nice gesture on NCL's part. Thanks again for all the input."

 

Aft,

I tried to be clear that it was the $100 upgrade certificates that a lot of people got who did not have enough compass rewards points for another $500 certificate. I just wanted to let cc know that they could be worth a little bit. We are also retired and over 55 and on a fixed income. I usually do not post much because I know I can ramble on but I have very much enjoyed reading all the posts and especially yours as you led us to our first (and probably last) aft cabin. Thanks again.

 

Pat

Never knew NCL Compass Rewards had $100 certificates. $500 with the minimum for money off a cruise. 100 POINTS are the other certs which are upgrades within the category you booked. These are NOT worth money ($100).

Glad I closed the new account with Worldpoints since it was a waste as is the B of A Signature Visa since that is Worldpoints also. NCL was MBNA who was bought by B of A who slowly wrecked our great card til they killed it.

NCL called asking why I am not booking with them. I said I have lost the $500 off a cruise with B of A killing our great Compass Rewards card for the very cheap Worldpoints. Spend $50K for a $500 reward? NO! So we are saving for a cruise & have have $250 deposit which is good til November & we expect to cruise well before then. No big sales by NCL. My PCC was promoted & her replacement isn't listening to what new retirees without a retirement check for 3 years need. We are living off our Money Market account til we get checks. $1000 is our monthly allowance which includes insurance, taxes, hospitalization, etc with food & gas. Any money left over goes into a free checking account for cruises. Then I laughed at the lady who tells me that she had $900 balcony in Hawaii & I told her she didn't call me. A great deal on an April TA but the air was too much.

There are plenty like us who are over 55 & out of work with this bad economy. No one wants to hire & we have worked over 40 years and want to relax. So NCL should get their act together for us to enjoy them & tell folks about them as I do after every cruise with my 3 page reviews.

As far as credit cards we have is AMEX BLUE (free with great rewards as air, cruises booked with them and many gift cards, etc; HiltonHHonors Signature Visa (free with great hotel deals with points and Silver membership as a starter). I still have my Discover Road, new card they talked me into from the card I have had for 20 years that sat in a safe instead of closing. 5% cashback for gas purchases and car maintenance or parts purchases. But then they have a $100 a month ceiling for $5 cashback total a month. So forget that! Hilton is 2,3,5 & 10 points per $1 spent for various stuff.

Jackie,

I did send them in with the $500 certificates with a letter saying I would appreciate any monetary value they might have. I did not make copies of the $100 so cannot remember whether one or two were sent. It has been almost a month since the $2000 credit and phone call came this morning. Since posting I have been reading cc boards that others are receiving small credits from NCL...so I am not positive it was a credit for the certificates or something else. Still, it is worth a try. Good luck. Spoke to Annette at 7675.

 

Pat

has their MALL, where you get 5 times the points on average for purchases. We love it. If there is a sale, you goto the mall, purchase & pick up at the store. We have gotten gift cards from stores when their 25 minute service time isn't met.

We have BLUE and it is Membership Rewards.

I was wondering the same thing. Thought it was just me.

Financial folks talking about the massive drop of of the Dow today & then they were talking about what credit cards are doing to poor Americans who are making minimum payments. So read this & see what is happening:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/personal-finance/credit-card-companies-raising-rates-consumers/

Then they had via phonecall from American Express that their cashback cardholders are to get $300 to send their cards back in. AMEX has too many cardholders that are not paying their balances off & they cannot afford them, so they are paying them to return their cards. Not sure if the good folks will send theirs in also for the money?

who pay hundreds into thousands for airfare, arriving day of cruise to save on hotel stay. It is only 10% towards air miles, but with 100K of points in a month it is worth it. Amex is 1 point per $1 and that is miles for BLUE on any airline. We get BOGO on domesic air for this year & hope it stay permanent.

Cruising is great if you live near a port, but Midwest has no ships. Driving is too far and so air eats the money.

http://hhonorscard.com/us/cards/cardserv/hhilton/home.jsp

I think this is the card that Aft Lover likes. It is good if you want air travel or hotel stays. Not good if you want to use rewards for cruising or credit/cash back.

we have the Road card for 3 years since they phoned us to change from the regular card for 20 years to a 5% cashback for gas purchases or maintenance to the car. So we change, spent $1800 on the car & get $50 cashback. They tell me it is $100 max a month. Then the cashback is 1% after you have spent $3000 on the card, same with AMEX cashback.

Too bad stores take them as their charge card, so we are not cancelling the, but we love the free Blockbuster movies but it akes 6 months to get $20 cashback to get 7 of them. So gas went to Visa Signature for 3 points per dollar.

So we have international roundtrip ticket for a cruise & hotel for the night before all for FREE. That is the major money for a TA cruise

Yes.... but if you don't use hotels or air very much and want to be able to use the "points" for cruises only, or cash back, this is not the best card. We have air miles for years that we have yet to use. Almost all of our vacations are cruises out of ports within 100 miles of our home. If you fly frequently or stay at hotels frequently, then this may be a better card.

No annual fee, 3 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, drugstore or pharmacy, 5 for Hilton stays (10 for longtime members) for each $1 spent with hotel stays at any Hilton property, restaurants or site purchases. 1 point for all else.

Then exchange points for airline miles, or any other listed exchange if not for free nights at a resort or freeway hotel during a trip. You are a SILVER members so cheap rates freebies for you. Justs for the free night give them your Silver card & they call to exchange points for the free night. Hilton is great with that. We have shown unexpected during bad weather, with a missed flight or cruise.

So for free we love it! They also have free companion air for the first year, but rumor has it that is may stay for members.

I know, I don't like to pay a fee for a card. They have another one that is identical with no fee, but pays 1.25%. If you use the card frequently, it is well worth the $39/year for the addtional earnings. We don't want to set up another brokerage account, just for a cc.

 

http://www.cardratings.com/frequentflyercreditcards.html

so as many as you have in 2's for a couple can be used. Per my TA who took all 4 we got and upgraded us to a BA AFT from a BC.

As NCL shows 100 is for one person to be upgraded

200 is for 2 folks

300 is for one upgraded twice & one just regular upgrade

400 both upgraded twice

So send that to your TA so he/she can learn. We learned that they are NOT useless.

UPGRADE POINTS ARE USELESS!

 

We were told by our travel agent that we could not use the "$500 cruise certificate" and the "100 upgrade point certificate" on the same cruise. We could only use one 100upgrade certificate on each cruise. That is why I say the upgrade points are useless.