Nolanoel

This is why I hate to post on site like this..... Honestly Cruise Critic was made to HELP other cruisers. Vibe passes were mentioned, do we really care that someone asked about day vs. week? I get the "idea" of hijacked threads and yes, they can be annoying but if this was a "discussion" in life, would you really say...that's extremely rude? Or would you just say, oh, I think day passes are like $20 and move on....

Almost every thread on this site has "extra comments" that have nothing to do with the original thread, take a deep breath and scroll by....isn't that easier? If all else fails...Keep calm and cruise on.....

 

And yes, I realize I am not following my own advice and scrolling by, which I normally do but I felt kinda bad for Andysgirl, your question was not rude.

I can't agree with you more!!! It was far from rude!

That is more of a Le Bistro outfit if you ask me.

A gift from $hip$hape...

 

 

Maybe I’ll wear it to La Cucina tonight.

I was actually kinda wondering if you guys had the Bliss all to yourself. Is the boat full?

Bliss pool deck alive for the first time!

 

 

Heading to meet Scott & Aled in Vibe...

 

 

Thanks all!! Great information! I have decided to stay with my guy - he came through for me and I was jumping the gun....big time. I think these are great suggestions for people looking!!

Usually if you use a TA you will get good service OR great OBC. If a TA is cutting the amount of commission (money) they are making so that they can provide you with OBC (you do realize this OBC does not come from the cruise line) then how much service do you really expect to get from them?

LOL!! Of course I know that the OBC doesn't come from the cruise line! How much service do I expect? I picked the booking, the cabin, the free at sea, referred 4 other bookings and am asking for my TA to make a phone call to fix one issue - as I didn't book it directly. I don't see that as a lot.

Another good question is how large is the agency? Some have more pull than others so if there is a problem, it is harder for the cruise line to ignore.

Thanks!!! That's a good one!!

Using a TA solely for OBC leads to issues like this. The questions above are a great list.

 

Have you already booked with the TA? If so you’re going to have a difficult time getting your reservation moved to a different agency.

You can move from one agency to another at any time prior to making the final payment. It would be so lengthy to go into the "issues" but using a TA for OBC in no way plays into the issues that I am having. I have spent years doing my own bookings and even when using a TA tell them exactly what room I want, etc. I feel like the TA should be on your side and be your advocate - I simply feel that I am not getting that service. I agree - above questions are great.

How much $$$ are you giving me back as an OBC?

 

That is about the only criteria I use, the information is out there and I don't need my hand held when booking. I already know when and exactly what I want before I even contact them.

I don't either and this is my first experience using one - was doing it for the OBC Just becoming difficult to communicate with the TA

I would ask the following:

 

How long they have been a TA?

Familiarity with NCL and for that matter what other cruise lines they do a lot of bookings with?

How do they differentiate themselves from other agents?

What amenities can they offer?

Are there any penalties with them fi you cancel the cruise?

Are they available five days a week or more?

If they are on vacation, etc do they have a backup?

 

Keith

Thank you! Great questions!!

I am looking for a NCL TA - having issues with mine. Without references of folks you know...what are the questions that I should be asking to know I am making a good choice?

I always wear my card on a lanyard! It's so easy. I will take being seen as a newbie vs. carrying a purse or forgetting to take it out of my pocket. LOL

The thing I like the least about the Dawn is that they turned the Spinnaker Lounge into family suites. The forward Spinnaker Lounge, still on the Pearl, is a great place for sitting and relaxing with your friends and sightseeing at the same time, especially during bad weather when you don't want to go on deck.

 

Other things I like about the Pearl are the Tennis Court, Rock climbing wall, Golf driving net and Bowling alley. It also has a Chapel and 13 bars/lounges instead of 9 on the Dawn. The Pearl also has the Great Outdoors in the Buffet which is quite enjoyable at times. The Pearl also still has a "Freestyle Sun Deck" if you are into that type of thing. The Bliss Ultra Lounge Night Club is also very unique. The Pearl is also 4 years newer.

 

Despite the fact that I like the Pearl more than the Dawn, the Dawn is still a great ship and I have cruises booked on both the Dawn and Pearl for next year.

Thanks for the review! Sounds like a nice ship. Funny that the part I love the most on the Dawn is what you like the least. But I understand your point. I suppose I never missed that place you could enjoy a protected sea view as that's what I had in the suite - the Dawn and the Star are the only two NCLs with that level of suite....although they are now pricing them closer to other suites originally they were a pretty good deal. So, it's hard to tell from the pictures but how does the bowling alley accommodate so many passengers? Pictures just show two lanes...what has your experience been using the tennis court, rock wall and bowling alley been like?

The Pearl is my favorite Norwegian ship. I am thrilled to hear it is coming to New Orleans for at least one season. I can't wait to find out what repositioning cruises it will have coming and leaving here.

I am glad to hear you say that you like the Pearl. I have been very bummed that the Dawn is leaving - especially right after being refurbished. As it seems you have sailed them both, what did you like more about the Pearl? I am going to miss the family suites on the Dawn!

We soaked the gummy bears in Captain Morgan's Rum and had "rummy gummies" that we shared at the pool, LOL!!

 

I didn't ask Dominic for the cream, he saw me walking back from the buffet with a cup full of cream and told me he would get it for me for the rest of the cruise, and he did!!

Love it!! Rummy gummies! I am so excited...68 days til my cruise and about to book the re-positioning cruise in April. Gummies, M&M's and cream! LOL

I wonder if there is more than one Dominic? We were in the DOS, he wrote down everything, brought me cream everyday (I hate the little coffee creamers), arranged to have our steward decorate the suite for our anniversary, kept the water and soda stocked, set up breakfast for us once (we never ate lunch or dinner in the suite). He exchanged out one of our bottles of alcohol. It was our 5th time in a suite on the DAWN and he was by far our best butler.

Great idea about the creamer!! I hate those little creamers too! Thanks! I am finding out about sooooo many things that I missed out on - I may not need the M & M's but I want them..lol

{Snipped}

OK, this gets complicated! In the U.K. all wait staff should be on a minimum wage so I tend to tip 10% rounded up for most meals out -

 

Interesting figure!! From what I have found a tip of only 10% in North America is almost looked on as an insult. I don't think that 10% is even an option as a suggested tip on restaurant bills any more.

A few years ago in Las Vegas we did a bus tour and there was a notice above the driver indicating that the company expected a tip of 15%. There were 50 people on the bus and the fare had been USD80. You work it out but I can tell you that it worked out to more than I get a month in NZ National Super. :mad:

 

So, if I am understanding this tipping thing here...In NZ the bus tour would have cost 88.50 and no tipping - here the driver would have gotten 8.50 per person. The thing is that while 15% is considered normal we go higher or lower depending on the service. If my waiter gives poor service I don't tip 15%. Most wait staff will work their butts off to make you happy because their tips are a huge part of their salary. All that being said...I rarely tip on tours and have never seen a sign like you did. Most say you can tip...not it's expected. So, working out your bus tour - if everybody tipped the driver 15% it's 450.00 - that doesn't seem extreme to me. The company gets 4K for the tour...that's a good business!! Think about how much NCL gets per excursion! Packing all those people on a catamaran! LOL Again, though - and I think most Americans would agree with me...tipping is earned not mandatory (unless you have a very large party in a restaurant) so don't feel obligated here to tip if the service is not up to par! Edit to say don't feel obligated to tip 15 percent...the service has to be awful to stiff the waiter - and I have only ever done it once but I involved the manager so it came as no surprise.

You pay more as the tip is built in.

 

 

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I would rather tip then have it built in...that way you can reward good service!

I don't know about "rude" but it is just not done. Probably done in the top class (most expensive) hotels with lots of foreign staff and many North American visitors.

Well I know where I wanna go next to vacation! LOL

As in New Zealand tipping is rare in much of Europe. We certainly don't tip at home and extremely rarely in Europe. But we do in North America, "When in Rome ..."; but not to the same extent as North Americans.

So, would it be considered rude to tip when in your country? Very interesting to hear about this difference.

I'm from the uk and find all this tipping annoying but tend to tip the butler according to how often I get breakfast and how well the coffee machine is stocked up. Apart from that do not use them much.On my last cruise in The Haven on the Epic saw the steward more often than the butler and found him more helpful so did tip him well.

Personally I do not find the concierge very useful, especially as I will book all speciality dining on line once I am 100 days out but will tip if I ask them to modify the bookings once on board.

So, I have never been to Europe - sadly! Is tipping not done there? Just curious.

Wow, Only $100 for the butler and concierge when you stayed in the garden villa? Were you not treated like royalty in the GV? We sure were and tipped a LOT more. We tipped the butler $750, the concierge $600 and the room steward $200. There were 4 of us in the villa, and one who slept in another cabin, but got all GV privileges (he booked th4 room for sleeping only as we needed one more bedroom).

 

We even thought maybe we didn't tip enough. I guess tipping really is subjective.

 

Note - when we have stayed in other suites with just the 2 of us, we have tipped only $150-$200 for the butler and $0 to $200 for the concierge. Our experience was very bad one time with the concierge, which is where the $0 comes from.

I would think that if you were in the Garden Villa you should be expected to be treated like royalty! I agree that tipping is subjective and that 100 is probably low for the Garden Villa; however, considering what you pay to stay there I think 200 would be fair. I believe I overtipped my butler because he didn't treat us like royalty. Our room stewards have always been the best! And they work harder as well! I would rather tip them more than the guy who shows me how to use my coffee machine and brings me snacks. JMHO

We sailed on the Dawn last week. They had shuffled the butlers and we ended up with Dominic. Having sailed in a lot of suites, we thought that Dominic was the WORST butler we ever had. Yeah, he kept the gummy bears and M&M bowls full,,,, but didn't meet the mark in many respects.

 

In general

 

Butler $10 per person per day

Concierge $5 per person per day

Steward $5 per person per day

Our butler was defiantly worse than Dominic! I didn't even know you could get M&M's or gummy bears! I saw someone else state on another thread that you could also have them have cold beers on ice in the room...would that be something that you pay for if you have the UBP?

$100 per day split between the two depending on services rendered.

Are you a butler? LOL I gave the concierge 100 because she got us on an excursion that was sold out. Gave the butler 200 which I regret as he was not that great. Our room steward was awesome so I gave him 200 also.

I would love to do something like this!. was it a good itinary? Did you manage to do any tours?

Yes great time and the suites are awesome. In terms of the itinerary I suppose it depends on which cruise you take...there are many different ones.

Honestly makes my life a bit easier! Hubby and daughter love buffet so now I can give them that...lol