newbe dave

For me, free drinks definitely. I add dining too since we are platinum so we get some WiFi. If we have three people in a cabin, I always get the third person free deal instead of the meals. Much better deal!

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Ok another question. I see on NCL website in the terms and conditions that it is 2 per transaction. So you can get 2 at a time?

 

 

 

(2) beverages per transaction. Package can be used in all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay. Any items over $15 USD will receive a $15 USD discount and the guest will be charged the difference to their account. Ultimate Beverage Package i

The answer is Yes. I typically get a double bourbon or two wine servings in one glass. Easier for me and the server.

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I like the look of it. I hope I can get some shade there occasionally. Otherwise, I have to stay at the bar, [emoji41]

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Thanks for the quick answers. And that video is amazing!!

I looked at many of the videos going to and from NYC. But missed this one from Miami. Can’t wait for our cruise on the Bliss in January.

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I loved the cave, waterfall area in Spice H2O on the Escape. I heard it called a grotto also.

Does anyone know if there is a similar area in Spice H2O on the Bliss? I loved this area to escape the sun and cool down. But pictures and videos of the Bliss do not show it. I figured a quick question was better than assuming. Thanks!

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Please understand that it is the third person as listed on the reservation that does not get the drinkie package. Reorder the names on your reservation if needed to make sure the right person is dry.

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Good bye!

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If you are using a Free Meal coupon at a local restaurant, I just assumed all people in the US were smart enough to know to tip their server appropriately and properly.

The same situation is with the UDP and UBP. Judging from the millions of threads, I guess I was wrong.

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Quoting Major Frank Burns in a discussion about bullies? Good one.

I love irony! These blogs get too serious sometimes.

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I have no experience with this topic. As a 6’4” 260 lb man, I can get off an elevator as I wish. If after announcing a couple times that I need off at this floor, someone doesn’t understand, I simply leave the elevator making sure not to care about any personal space for the person that rudely blocked my exit.

And if I am at the door of a full elevator where someone wants to force themselves on, I am very nice while being an immovable object that fills most of the door opening. On the other hand, If they ask or are obviously in need on the ride more than I am, I will gladly exit ensuring they get on.

Basically, as said on MASH, it is nice to be nice to the nice.

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I always carry a glass of wine into dinner. Wine service does take a little longer in the dining rooms than at a bar. Personally, I get two glasses for myself and consolidate into one glass. That ensures I don’t spend any time waiting for a drink.

I just don’t get the consternation that some have over the UBP and the cost...it’s cut and dried...either you buy it and pay the gratuities or you get it as a perk and pay the gratuities only...yet, some folks continue to rail about it.

Agree. People either CHOOSE to pay for UBP or they CHOOSE to select UBP as a bonus option when they book. Either way, they are CHOOSING to accept something that has very clear terms and conditions. I think people that voluntarily CHOOSE UBP should also CHOOSE to stop whining about documented, established terms and costs. I have yet to hear of anyone that has been forced to take UBP and then had their precious gratuity money ripped from their hands against their will.

If you do not like UBP, don't CHOOSE it.

If you don’t like the total cost of sailing on NCL, don’t sail them. If you don’t like their revenue creation process, don’t sail them. But whining on this board is a huge waste of your time.

I sail when the overall cost of a cruise is acceptable to me. I don’t care if they get my money with a higher initial fare or many incremental side charges. I always look at the total cost and judge from there.

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I say we allow drones only if they are used to hunt down and document chair hogs!!!! [emoji3]

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And who gets to define large? If I am sailing with a group of 20 and 8 of us decide to go to a show, that is not large. Whats worse than the people who save seats are the ones who leave just ONE empty seat between them and the person/group next to them or (for example) a group of four who see six empty seats together and they sit in the middle four.

I have traveled in groups of 20+. I tell the chair hogs in our group (and there are some) to NEVER save me a chair in the theater or deck. When I go to the theater, I find chairs for my wife and I and we sit in them. The group may have a block of chairs cordoned off but I will sit in my found seat. Later, if they ask why I would not sit with the group for the performance, I explain that saving seats is against the rules and I chose to follow the rules. I also strongly suggest that they stop being rude people and follow the rules on future nights. Let the people that decide to arrive together, sit together. The others that did not make it a priority to arrive together can find other, excellent seats. This is not Kindergarten.

Easy fix NCL. RENT THE CHAIRS. NCL seems to think it is OK that someone with an Unlimited Beverage Plan should pay $3 for water or coffee. I believe NCL would really like the idea that pool chairs cost $3 per hour.

If implemented, that would stop the rude, rule-breaking, self-centered, thoughtless people placing towels on a dozen chairs at 6AM. And if the rude Chair hogs are gone. it would also stop the rude people, like me, that remove abandoned towels and crap from unused chairs so that I can enjoy some relax time.

Have a chair rental station just like they do for towels. When someone rents chairs, they get them placed on the deck for them. Install some type if timer on the chairs and viola. When the timers expire, tell the users to either pay again or get out so that the chairs can be remvoed. Problem solved with existing workforce and increased revenue to NCL.

I always treat people as they treat me. If they want to be rude and disrespectful to me (and by definition chair hogs are), I respond in kind. If you don't like or agree with that, frankly Scarlet ... If you think I am rude, correct. I love being rude to rude people. Likewise, I love being happy, friendly and considerate to people. Thank God on NCL cruises, I find that 99% of the time people are happy, friendly and considerate when I am.

For us, it only matters if we are forced to take an extra charge "freebie" on our cruise. I would never choose the $105 per day beverage plan because there's no way I would drink enough to make it worthwhile. But I also don't drink $16.02 per day in alcoholic beverages so the "free" plan would also cost me money. So far, NCL has always provided a way to avoid paying for it.

Forced? Did you really say you were Forced to buy UBP?

Hint: pick another bonus if you don’t want to pay the service charge that you knew about before you selected UBP. Or just decline the “Freebies “.

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Your comment saying "if you don't like it book with another cruiseline" is about as helpful as trying to skydive with a small garbage bag instead of a parachute. Next time just skip over the thread...

Thanks for your “helpful” comment.

Actually, if more people would respond to the price increases like I did, it would help. We have cruised NCL at least once every year for about 10 years. I looked at booking my next cruise recently and did not like the prices. So we booked a land vacation instead. I didn’t come to the site to whine about NCL having prices I did not like. I figured NCL can set their prices hoe they wish and I can make my choice where to spend MY money. The whining infers that we are either required or entitled to cruise NCL. We aren’t!

The more people do this, the better. Maybe NCL’s assessment of their pricing model will be adjusted if they have problems filling ships at their current pricing model. If not, then my cruise budget may be what needs adjusted.

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I do not understand all of this whining. If you do not like their current pricing, book your vacation using another cruise line. We have exclusively sailed NCL for the last 12+ years. If we get to a point (and we may be there, I don't know yet) where I do not feel that NCL provides the service and value that I require for my vacation dollars, I will not hesitate one second to go on another cabin category, cruise line or vacation type.

Factual information about the price and features of UBP that are found in this blog are extremely helpful (lets hope $18 per drink rumor actually is the new price point). But the incessant comments that NCL is "now" too pricey (as if it wasn't on NCL's previous price increase when you still booked a cruise) just clutters up an otherwise useful thread.

I would walk out of a restaurant without leaving a tip if I had not had good service.

 

Go On : bring it on !

But would you not tip your server if the restaurant ‘s bathroom sink leaked?

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I think the title is appropriate. If you want to know the status of a future vacation somewhere in Florida or the Caribbean right now, the answer is: No one knows and No one can answer your questions. So asking status questions seems illogical to me.

We have a family vacation to Disney middle of next week. I would love to know if this will happen or what status WDW will be in on Sept. 14. Will the Epcot Wine Festival still be going on. Or will Epcot even exist? But right now, the only truthful answer is: No one knows. I may not like that answer but it is the only honest answer today.

Wait a couple days for your status questions. Let the storm move through and let essential services get restored. To think that an island with no power, water or internet will be able to answer a status question about your Fall cruise is not logical. Monitor reliable sources and pray for all of those involved. Then next week, ask all of the status questions you want. Good luck to all in the path of Irma.

Regarding WIFI, The prices you see are most likely what you get on the ship. Look for an promos like Latitudes member or something like that.

I have my first Alaskan cruise booked on the Sun for August so I do not have experience on this. But I can get WIFI from my cellular carrier in the US and, even in the worst signal, it will be as fast or faster than the ship. And I have already paid for it. So I not planning on using internet my two days at sea and then check Email and other things while in port. I get some minutes free for being Platinum but I figure that is only for emergency and to print boarding passes the last day.

I consider ship-board WIFI to be less important on a cruise that hits US ports (versus Caribbean or Europe cruises). It looks like your other questions are well answered. Enjoy your cruise.

Just curious you said your hubby likes top shelf scotch, with the UBP it pays the first $15 of that scotch. So lets say its $20 a glass it will now only be $5. Plus .90 gratuity. Just having 1 a day and 1 beer will make the package pay for itself. No extra tipping needed, unless you are so inclined.

 

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Great point. On the Escape, I got Macallan 12 at a bar and it cost me about $3 including the tip since I had UBP. Now don't tell anyone but when I asked about Macallan 18, the bartender told me the same price. I will leave it to you what I drank the rest of the cruise. UBP was a great deal for me. I am not sure what scotch the husband drinks but I bet Macallan 18 is top shelf enough.

Regarding the clueless title of this thread, "Free isn't always Free". I hope the OP understands that those lucky people on the Price is Right that win a year's supply of RIce-o-Roni get to pay taxes on it. So it is not technically free. Same with lottery winnings and your bingo/casino winnings too.

Most of the time in the US, Free is never really Free. You are paying for it somehow. Get over it. Run the numbers and if a sale saves you money, Great. If not, wait for the next sale and be happy for those targeted by the current sale. I suggest you do what I do, book early. Keep checking prices and if a new "sale" reduces you cost prior to final payment, jump on it. If not, be happy with your original price that must have been a good, acceptable price or you would not have booked the cruise to begin with.

Ummmmm crazy loud white space at 4 am??????

 

 

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Relax. The Escape is a great ship and is an amazing ship for your honeymoon. We stay in inside rooms all the time and we were on the Escape in Feb. you will love the cabin you have booked. We were on deck 14 I think and the motion was not bad. It was nice to be close to the pool decl and buffet deck. And if you change your cabin, you will love it too.

Please remember. There is no such thing as a bad cruise. You don't have to cook, clean or fret. Just enjoy you honeymoon. Good luck!

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I bought a hat and shirt from Coolibar. Best purchase ever. I can stand in the gulf in full sun all day with no sunscreen wearing my hat and shirt. Amazing!

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