Coastalbreezes

Pre-pandemic, CAS had quite a few special invitational slot tournaments scattered throughout the year some with top prizes of over $10,000. The still have a few listed for 2022:

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/special-events

For the regular on-board slot tournaments, held every cruise, the buy-in is $25 per round and the tournament is held over several days.  You sit and spin at your allotted time and can re-buy as many times as you like for $25 each time. Only the top 10 go to the final round, usually held on the last day of the cruise. The top prize on my last several cruises was $500.

Typically you are allowed one appetizer, one entree and one dessert per person. Some restaurants are a bit more flexible allowing an extra app or dessert; ask your server. At Food Republic, you are allowed four items (per FAQs, link below).

https://www.ncl.com/specialty-dining-package/faq

Because your group is so large you should call the pre-concierge desk to arrange for specialty dining reservations. The number to call is 855-625-4283.

In the past I have always received a call from someone at NCLH plus an email confirming that the credit was added to my account. For my upcoming cruises, it just appeared in my vacation summary.

7 hours ago, Named-Tawny said:

Yes.  When you buy a drink on the ship, they include a 20% tip  You can see it on the bill that you sign.

Correct but that 20% goes into a pool and is not given directly to the person who made or served you the drink.

I tip cash in all restaurants, free and specialty, in the casino for drink service and wherever else a tip might be warranted. As someone mentioned, crew work 12-16 hour days, seven days a week for months on end to make my vacation perfect. A few extra dollars here and there won't break me but will let someone know they are appreciated. After not working for a year and half, crew members could certainly use the extra dollars as cruising restarts.

Onda was by far my favorite restaurant on Encore. Easily my favorite of any specialty restaurant on any ship. We ate there five times during our cruise it was that good! I highly recommend at least one dinner there and book soon because it does sell out pretty much every night.

Only my cruise friends really understand my passion and excitement to get back on a ship. I got sick of listening to my non-cruise friends who believe all ships are "floating petri dishes".  If I hear that phrase one more time I will scream.

Just got this email. 

For about two months, my August cruise showed the same thing, us tendering in every port (Costa Maya, Cozumel, HC and Roatan). Now the words "tender port" are gone. Perhaps a computer glitch which happens frequently on the NCL site.

12 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Most cruise lines are vaccinating the crew themselves. Vaccines are not available in many places. Royal has been cycling their ships through FFL and Port Canaveral, getting new crew members vaccinated. There have been reports (that I have not been able to validate) that NCL has been getting their crew vaccinated in San Juan. 

 

When we sailed from Nassau a few weeks ago, the vaccination rate in the Bahamas was around 8%-9%,,, but Royal was able to get 100% of their employees on CocoCay vaccinated. 

Gem crew members are getting vaccinated in San Juan as did Encore crew. Unsure about others.  My crew friends in Mumbai, India can't even get their work visas/paperwork approved because the hiring office is open only sporadically and they have yet to hear from NCL. I don't understand why other cruise lines have been able to bring in crew from India and yet NCL has only brought in a few.

The big question is if NCL can get crew? I read somewhere that they need to re-hire/hire approximately 17,000 crew members and as of now they still can't get crew from India. Vaccinations are scarce in many other countries also so I hope these sailings actually go.

For me it's not where we go, but that we go!  Just being on a ship for two weeks next month is exciting.

When you arrive, you will be asked if you wish to use one of your specialty dining credits. Just let them know you will pay directly and no problem.

10 hours ago, Dgoddess61 said:

where did this information come from?

 

I am pretty sure this was sent out to travel agents. It is not on the NCL site yet.

Onda was my favorite restaurant. Every single thing we ordered from appetizers (burrata salad) to the mains (veal milanese and pasta bolognese) to a  luscious dessert of butterscotch pudding was out of this world. I could eat there every night!

Thanks for the alert. Just saw it on my August 15 reservation.

8 hours ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

I'm pretty sure the only place on the Encore to get sushi is at Food Republic. They have a small seating area for sushi in FR.

You can order sushi at the counter or any table in FR. The sushi rolls are delicious and of good size.

Food at District Brewhouse is not free but not super expensive either. It's mostly small plates (and a very small selection at that) for around $10. Across the hall is Food Republic if you are looking for something more substantial.

Additionally my rep told me that comped cruises no matter your tier status is now limited to five total. In the past as a Ruby level player I've had as many as seven or eight booked.

You also have to fill out a form from the NCLH website with your cruise information and reservation number. Along with proof of shares you email both and should have your OBC applied within a week.

Here is a link to the form:

https://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/static-files/43324b8a-1e18-43ab-9664-b05fe3b6d9e5

6 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

Don't panic yet.  My November Escape TA sailing has the same screen and my 2 Prima cruises have just white screens.  They are in the process of updating all of the Alaska bookings so I am being positive and saying it is a website 'glitch' while those changes are being made.  That was the case last time with my TA and everything went back to normal a few days later.  Hoping for all of you cruising soon that it is only Alaska that is being permanently affected.

Hope you're correct about it maybe being a glitch. My August 7 and 14 cruises from Jamaica are intact and I was able to make dinner reservations so fingers crossed.

7 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

So... it just had its paint freshened up or something?

 

 

Tom

Original drydock plans included enclosing a portion of the casino as a smoking section (a la Bliss, Encore etc.) and eliminating Moderna making it Lobos instead. Not sure if either/both happened.

3 hours ago, toyotaford said:

We are platinum plus and received the invitation.  I assumed it was because we travel frequently with NCL.  

I am Ambassador and did not receive an invitation so I'm curious if you are a travel blogger or agent? Pretty sure tier status has nothing to do with test cruises.

I have friends who are travel agents and received an invitation through their company. They had a choice of the week prior to the first sailings of Gem or Joy. I don't believe these "test" cruises are open to the general public.