sjbdtz

Thanks Ernie, for a great review. We've just booked our first YC..... as a result. :)

Will we see you on Bliss Panama?

Stephen & Daniel

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Wow...information overload. Yet, I'm still left with questions.

1. We're both Black Status due to SM.

2. We're in YC.

Q. Which food venues carry surcharges / a la carte, which would apply to us? The pub? Specialty? Where can I find prices for the specialty restaurants? I've seen Trio mentioned, but can't find it in the extras for my cruise. I see the Butcher's Block Prix Fixe, but just looking for a regular meal.

Q. There seem to be dozens of drink menus & all-inclusive plans of varying types. How hard will it be to get a drink throughout the ship? With dinner? What if we're dining specialty? Or if we've made arrangements for MDR with new friends?

I have the $12.50 / pp / pd SC in hand.... in YC are there others not included in that? (Butler, Concierge for example)

Thanks,

Stephen

This thread just led me to book a cruise on Carnival! No, seriously had been considering Horizon or Vista for some time. That's a leap of faith for me. But I hear great things about Vista and the 8 day sailing we chose. Anyway, I posted this in the Carnival thread which can be summed up as, if you act like an idiot, don't expect you will always be treated fairly. And if you're in authority, don't treat people unfairly and if if you are abiding by that rule, feel free to grab that cell phone and throw it into the ocean. Also, our 8 day Vista cruise (in a balcony room) is going to cost about $1,000 more than our 7 day cruise on Seaside (Yacht Club) when you figure in the Cheers package on Carnival. I doubt that means we'll encounter rowdier cruisers on MSC because its cheaper.

 

This is a confusing post. The fight happened on Carnival, so you've decided to book there as a result?

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You missed one important piece in this particular case. Customers who have been lured in by the status match and convinced to book Seaside based in part by the offer of two free speciality dinners. Those customers can easily just go back to the line where they already had status and say "one and done" for MSC, in part because of nonsense like this.

 

Loyal MSC customers are the ones who will have to put up with it.

Agree with this absolutely. This is truly perplexing: even though we are both Platinum Plus on NCL, and therefore Black on MSC through SM, we are only entitled to one meal (per cabin). Okay...not great, but I guess I can wrap my head around it.

But the idea that I can only have 1 guest AT that meal, and they must be from my cabin....but they cannot have Black card, really means I'm getting ZERO meals....not the 2 I was expecting, nor the 1 I'm resigned to.

Or have I missed something, completely?

Stephen

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Seems like an odd request....I mean once you've eaten in a MDR....they are virtually the same experience on each ship. Also more crowded...chance of poor service, etc. I could understand maybe shaking it up with one of the Specialty Restaurants though....

One reason for wanting access to the MDR, is if you make new friends and they are not IN the YC. Or can you bring them in? I would think not. So we might want to dine with them elsewhere.

You're saying we need to arrange this with the concierge?

Thanks,

Stephen

Remember ... You never get a Second chance to make a First Impression ... :cool:

 

 

C'mon...it's all-inclusive. Just get them another drink, and eventually they'll forget you met. Then you get a mulligan then next day. :)

Stephen

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The Sheraton in Santiago was quite nice, with a beautiful pool area.

The day we were there, Iron Maiden was also there - the drummer taking selfies with people at the bar, and

at one point it was just us, and Bruce Dickinson swimming in the pool.

Hence the name of my book: "Swimming With Iron Maiden" (I haven't written it yet, have no idea what kind of book it will be - might be a travelogue, cookbook, how to, pop-up... but I do know the title!)

Stephen & Daniel

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Didn't declare ourself here yet... but yes, we'll be there ! Another cruise with you Stephen & Daniel ;)

:) Can't wait!

Stephen

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Wow, that's a review. And I still won't say hi to you when I see you.

Because i STILL don't know what you look like.

Otherwise, I'm pretty friendly. I'll start it off. This is me (and Daniel). Say hi if you see us! :)

DSC_0127 by sjbdtz, on Flickr"][/url]

Stephen & Daniel

What's really sad is the OP did not ask anyone for ANY advice NOR did she say she didn't believe NCL had a right to bill her for medical services. THAT is the problem, no one really read her post and understood what she was trying to say. She did not post "Do you think I should have taken the insurance?", "Does anyone want to pay my bills?", "How dare NCL for billing me!!" "Why didn't the other passengers chip in and pay my bill?!!" THIS is what I took from her post:

 

1) My husband tragically and suddenly passed away on our vacation. (Not sure about anyone else, but I would be shocked, extremely emotional and scared if this happened to me.)

2) I was not offered any OPTION of how to handle his remains (stay on the ship, return to Bermuda.) Regardless of the "better' choice, she wasn't given ANY choice.

3) The enormous bill was not delivered to her in person (with sensitivity), but instead was left outside her door (as if she just ran the bill up in the casino or gift shop and it was no biggie.)

4) Her things were packed with such disregard, that she is missing items.

4) She is posting this on a public forum because she is feeling powerless, and wants other people (including maybe NCL) to know what she experienced. And even if NCL doesn't acknowledge her, she'll perhaps have some satisfaction that she shared her story about the way this terrible tragedy was handled.

 

So based on what I took from her post, I am appalled at some of the responses to her in this thread and it is no wonder she hasn't been back!

So despite the fact that it is not irregular for somebody to pass away on a cruise (demographics, etc.), this one lady should have been given the "option" to dictate the plans of 3,000+ other people, and to decide whether to cause NCL to incur thousands of dollars in Pilot, Docking, Fuel fees, so that she could decide whether or not to stay in Bermuda?

No, they had already left Bermuda and were at sea. Next port, was the US.

Could NCL have gone over & above, and withheld the invoice until it could be presented to her.... yes. Would the medical center have likely given her a detailed chart of their costs, also yes (I had over $2000 in charges one sailing - yes, I have insurance - and the chart of expenses was laughably detailed: $54 for latex gloves, etc.).

I submit there was probably also more to the story. I'd wager that somebody was assigned to grief counselling / checking-in on her, that she had the attention of the HD for anything she might have needed (phone calls home, free internet, etc.) because that's the NCL behavior described by other people who have experienced something similar.

As for the lost items, why on earth would somebody 'steal' her deceased husband's D/L? It MAY have gotten attached to a file in the on-board morgue, for identification purposes - and perhaps she was told to collect it, but didn't recall that fact, in her disorientation.

There are many details absent, and I will not convict NCL without hearing their side.

Stephen

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Great review. Looks like you had a blast.

Thanks for sharing.

Stephen

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The Baltics or northern European Capitals is a wonderful trip....but I agree with others:

If you had been planning on taking the kids to Alaska, then it was presumably something you were all looking forward to experiencing together.

So go and experience it, while you're all together.

And the added benefit is knowing that in the US & Canada you can get emergency care if it's needed. Moreso than some of the other ports.

Then again, our South American cruise was very memorable - mountains + food + culture + penguins! We added on a day in Brazil too.

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I thought you were thinking epic thoughts of breaking some of it away, and then needed a getaway ship to escape.

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Here's a photo the says it all about Carlos.

"The Four Pharaohs"

Good to finally put a face to the name.

Stephen

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One thing worth remembering however, is that they make a LOT of money from cruise passengers, and the last thing the store wants to do is upset one.

I bought a "white & blue diamond" white gold ring ON BOARD the ship. I didn't want to travel with the receipt, so they agreed to mail it to me at home, along with the appraisal which they didn't have at the time (red flag!).

When the appraisal finally arrived, some 6 - 7 months later, it described the "blue diamonds" as rare white diamonds which were subsequently tinted. I seethed and seethed for another couple of months, thinking I'd been ripped off. Then I decided to do something about it.

I wrote a calm letter, discussed what the salesperson had "sold" me, and explained how disappointed I was in the difference with what I seemed to have ACTUALLY purchased.

Long story short (oops...too late!), returned the ring, and received a full refund - even though I'd had & worn it for nearly 9 months.

Stephen

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Cuba is awesome. People are poor but friendly. Do not take pictures of the security ladies at the metal detectors and dont flirt with them either. Do a ship excursion for comfort of filling out required documentation

Based on your username, I'm wondering if this counsel is due to the reactions of the security personnel, or your wife???

Stephen

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The salient detail is that if you had made ANY confirmed actions to book your trip before the change, then the change doesn't apply to you & you're under the old rules.

Booked a flight? old rules

Booked a cruise past final payment? old rules.

Stephen

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There's a 3 prong American-style outlet, and also a 2 pin UK style outlet.

Adapters are like $25 (this is the one I use) https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-global-travel-adapter-kit-black/5010112.p?skuId=5010112

Or bring an extension power bar (but NOT one which is a surge protector!!! Those can be a fire risk).

Stephen

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Peachypooh, how did the sender even KNOW you had BEEN on a cruise? And don't you wonder how they got YOUR email address?

Seriously? You should read up on phishing techniques, because you sound primed to be a victim of one.

They spam MILLIONS of email addresses. SOME will have BEEN on a cruise. SOME of those might want their prior photos. SOME of that subset might be gullible enough to click through, and pay the deposit or search fee, or whatever the scammers come up with.

If they hit 1% of 1% of 100 million email addresses, for $150 each that's $1.5M in profit.

Stephen

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3) On GSC it sounds like they are building a new lagoon area that will be reserved for Haven guests. I've read a few news articles on it, some saying complete in Summer 2017, some saying by January 2018. Is there anyone who has been on the island recently who can give a status update? Also I saw in some videos that the area just in the main "gates" had some ongoing construction. Do we know what is being built in that area?

 

 

 

Jon

Not finished yet. Given the state of them this past week (was there on Thursday), I'd say January is optimistic. The structures are in place, but not the landscaping & finishes (or interiors).

Stephen

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We were part of a group of 7 couples who cruise frequently and we chose the Sky because of the opportunity to visit Havana. The Sky is the oldest ship in the Norwegian fleet and is now used as a training ship for new crew members. We had a similar experience 10 years ago on the Majesty sailing from Charleston to Bermuda, also just a few days trip. The Sky is in pretty good shape, especially the public areas. We had a balcony stateroom on Deck 10 and it was pretty out-dated and tiny. The bathroom was miniscule. Overall the young crew members aboard were pleasant, nice-looking and professional in demeanor so Norwegian must use a very good selection process when hiring. The most obvious problem area lies in the kitchen. The food was quite poor in quality and taste. Food is a matter of personal preference but we found no one with nice things to say on this topic. As an example, we dined the last evening in LeBistro, having given up on the main dining rooms. I ordered the roasted shrimp with artichokes, it came with no artichokes and no flavor. The waiter did bring me a side dish of tiny diced artichoke which was hard as rocks. At $25 for this entree it was an awful failure. The pizza on deck 11 is good.

The bathroom water pressure was low, the water temperature varied during the course of a shower, and there were other faults. BUT we had the opportunity to see Havana and that was the eye-opener that made it worth the trip. There in Cuba time seems to have stopped in 1959 and I really recommend taking this cruise or some other means to go to Cuba and take a look for yourself.

Thanks. We leave in 2 days, and are looking forward to the pizza on deck 11, and of course, Havana.

Stephen

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He? I think you're confused - it's a unicorn.

Unicorns can be male too (specifically NOT referencing the phallic element), but his rainbow is missing.

I have no clue who this man is but Germans do like their stuffed pets... ( ;) )

www.facebook.com/felix.urlaubaer

I'm not sure who this is either, but note that his name is Bernard MEYER, and he's at MEYERwerft....I'm guessing he's the owner of the whole shebang.

Stephen

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'

Well, since it isn't really a "gratuity" or a "tip", you don't really have an objection, do you?

 

The daily service charge replaces the old system of tips completely, and NCL does not call it a tip or gratuity. The industry does have a long history of tipping, so when people ask about tips they say the service charge replaces it. And their marketing department uses that language sometimes, but I believe it is simply shorthand for what people are used to.

 

Here's what NCL actually says:

 

From https://www.ncl.com/faq#tipping

 

Quotes are fine. But does not answer my question to where "gratuities" actually go. We may never get the answer to that. We all have the right to dispute "gratuities".

 

Solo travelers also take HUGE hit from cruise lines. It can be up to 300%! That is discriminatory and Cruise Lines are working to remedy this. No matter what they do, Solo travelers will be screwed and unfair. Solo travelers are basically discriminated against and have to pay higher fair. I priced out cruise to Alaska. It was 3 times the price for solo! Discrimination for solo cruisers has got to end. Also pre-paid gratuities which I did not authorize (since I have no idea where my "Tips" went).is another issue.

 

JMO. Safe travels to all :)

Eventually, the crew need to be paid a sustainable wage, or they'll go elsewhere. NCL breaks that wage into the portion buried in the fare, and a separate portion which can be modified if their performance is sub-par.

As for the solo 'penalty', I've never heard of more than a 100% penalty (that is, 2x the fare), but if you consider this 'discriminatory' (hint: being alone is not a definable class for discrimination), then bring a friend. It'll cost you the same, you just have to share your space. Don't want that? Then it's a CHOICE you've made. Not discrimination.

Stephen

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We have cruised a decent amount over the years and have tried specialty dinning on many NCL ships. Overall, I must admit to being underwhelmed. There have been a few really nice experiences, but not really worth the extra price.

 

To make it worse, it seems like NCL is pushing more and more in that direction. For example the Margaritaville experience on the Getaway and Breakaway.

 

So, I suggest we stop getting caught up in the hype of Specialty dining and demand that the cruise lines provide their best dining options at all dining rooms to all guests. No more paying extra for dining!

 

Crazy idea???

Probably not the responses you were anticipating, but yes, I think it's a crazy idea. Or at least, one I don't support.

I have an idea. You don't think they are worth the added cost. Stop going.

 

I happen to disagree. I see the extra cost is attributable to 3 areas: food, ambience and service. Therefore, I find value in it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

^ this is why.

Stephen

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Just booked this, anybody else along for the ride?

 

 

 

Stephen & Daniel

Anybody? See you on board.

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