MisterFidgetpants

I would make sure that those family members with diabetes, either bring a note from their doctor or bring down their medications when they go to guest services, asking for an exception.

Thankfully neither my wife or myself take medications for diabetes, but if we did I certainly would not bring it to NCL guest services for any sort of determination on anything by them, let alone allowing them to handle it so I can get a food pass from the buffet. That's really absurd. It's plain stupid. I almost can't believe that's even a thing.

I almost cancelled my dining plan because I didn't want to have to "get into it" with a manager on my vacation about receiving what we had paid for. I decided to ride that out and wait and see what happens because I can cancel it still. But this is a whole other level of silly.

Really; is this the sort of stuff people go through with NCL? I hope not. I don't like vacations where I need to challenge the staff or be met with a roadblock on simple enjoyment every 10 seconds and 10 feet along the way. I just want to kick back, relax, use the ships services freely and not be hassled. This sounds like a big HASSLE!

Do they care if you bring your own, or has anybody here brought their own? I forgot we have one of those little quick setup ones that we use for outdoor concerts and for the baby to play in the shade. It's not as big as the NCL ones but should do the trick.

The least crowded beach is the lagoon area, the farthest away from the tender dock. Well worth taking the time to get there, though. Immediately after getting off the tender, turn left (away from the beach and water) and cross a small bridge. Sign there says "tram". Get on the tram and ride to the lagoon beach. No crowds, some natural shade, Bobo link bar and food area, bathrooms with outdoor showers.

Does the Lagoon tend to get a breeze?

Can we book a Clamshell once we are ON the island? In other words, can we find a mesh vented one that is unclaimed and claim it right there? I know it sounds picky, but if we got a solid one and it was hot inside my DW would be very uncomfortable and not want to stay. I'd prefer breezy and airy, but I can suffer with about anything.

Do we need bug spray for GSC?

I don't want to put cash down as a deposit on my account. I want to prebuy with a credit card. If I prebuy with the credit card far enough in advance I'll hit a rewards tier and we can stay at a hotel 1 night pre-cruise for free. I don't love the idea of a check back, I'd prefer cash, but as long as there is no deduction or fee I'd take the check.

Just wanting to make sure that what I want to do is doable and won't cost me more in the long run.

Thanks for starting this topic, very helpful!

Which beach is the best for a breeze and not as packed?

So for discussion sake

If I bought $300 of OBC on my Visa card

Then used $100 worth onboard the ship

NCL would send me a check for $200; no other penalties or fees or deductions? That check can take a few weeks to arrive I take it.

Has anyone ever purchased OBC and had NCL refuse to refund it after the cruise?

Just a few weeks ago NCL was getting blasted for raising its DSC. Now NCL is in line with RCCL and Celebrity on the standard cabins at $12.95 per person per day and $1.00 (RCCL) or $1.50 (Celebrity) more on their suites. Those people who complained have no where to go now.

 

Welcome back.

I think the amount charged is reasonable and much less than many resorts on land we go to, and the resorts on land do not provide the types of services found on a cruise.

I hope I am never so hard up to complain about 95 cents per day, but I do see people complain that services are getting worse while prices rise. I hope that service quality remains consistent or improves for the increased charges; I think that is a fair request. A steward on our last cruise told us all the money goes into the pool and they only get some of it. I think that causes complaints from people too.

I was thinking of pre-purchasing some OBC so we can go to the ship without carrying a lot of cash.

When I board the ship is there a way for me to get back some or all of the OBC (if we don't use it all) as cash?

Is there a penalty or charge for getting back the cash?

Can we only get it back on the last day?

Will they refund it only to the credit card used to purchase the OBC or can we get cash, or do we have a choice?

Thanks in advance for any help on this topic.

Another good Sky review, getting me excited for our trip :)

Do you happen to have the daily sheet from Freeport day? Just wanting to see what is open and going on on the ship morning and early afternoon.

It would have been nice to bring my wife back a nice breakfast of her favorites when she sleeps in on her birthday.

I'll be honest, I'm still going to find a way to take back a plate of sliced fruits, yogurt, and some hot food too.

Hi - do you happen to have the daily sheet from Freeport day? I think we may stay on board and sleep in late; want to see what venues are open and if anything is going on anywhere for early afternoon.

Misterfigitpants: I did get a confirmation back from them after making all 7 days dining reservations (for 8 people). It has on it $0.00 costs next to all of the reservations (Cagney's on twice), so I would consider that in writing since I got an actual .pdf note from them with each nights reservation.

How did you make your reservations? Through a PCC or a different method? I'm willing to give it a shot.

Thanks for link. Using the Forum App so search is mostly useless.

Well, this is odd.

I called my PCC to ask to cancel our dining plan. I began to feel that whatever ultimately happened with Cagneys, or any other restaurant for that matter, would be different than when I had booked and like I said, I really am in no mood to have a "discussion" on vacation or fight with a manager or stand in line at guest services, or do any of the stuff I have to do in every day "real life" when a company doesn't do what it has initially promised to do.

My PCC told me not to worry, that everything would be grandfathered and I'd have no problems. I asked him to put that on a letter to me so that I had a reassurance that what I've paid for is what I will get; not more, not less. He said he can no do that. I found that sort of odd. That puts me into the exact position I was in previously; not wanting to deal with it on the ship if it changes again.

So, for now, again, I have not cancelled the plan. I think depending on who you speak with you will get different answers. I do not think the company representatives know what is going on. I still have time to cancel my plan if depending how this develops and the amount of mental energy I want to involve with it.

Sure glad I read this forum; if I got on the ship and found out it was all changed it would definitely put a negative mood on.

Wanting to know what variety of beers are available on the Sky ship. Can anyone list them or have a picture of a bar menu? Much appreciated.

Are there any shady places to sit at GSC without paying additional for a Cabana

Every cruise we have been on they are so fast to leave the order and run out sometimes it is hard to even give them the tip if you don't have it ready, let alone have time to verify the order while they are present. If the order was not right and I had tipped I would not feel inclined to tip additionally to have the order corrected. Whoever puts the order together / delivery person can hash it out. Why pay twice to get something right once?

Do you happen to have the daily paper from your Freeport day? Trying to decide if we make that our "sea day" or go explore Freeport.

Is there any deal on pre-paying parking for Port of Miami or any deals offered through booking parking through NCL?

If anyone has a scan or picture of a Freeport day from a Sky cruise please link me to it; would be most helpful. Thanks in advance (insert beer icon; all other forums seem to have a beer icon)

I completely agree with you that from a programming aspect it would not be difficult to identify who had placed a deposit prior to any formal announcement. I was thinking about the practicality of having multiple parties in the same dining group with some grandfathered and others who are not, or just to educate people who were not grandfathered in why they have to pay a la carte while others do not.

 

The vast majority of passengers never visit any kind of cruise forum or keep up to date with policy changes and would be completely befuddled by this causing restaurant staff and guest services having to deal with informing them where if everyone was a la carte it would be a lot simpler to explain.

I didn't read a cruise forum before this weekend but even I can understand a waiter saying "If you booked before such and such date it was a flat cover charge; if you booked after the date it is a la carte".

Seems pretty easy to get for me. No complete befuddlement here.

I've dealt with some pretty basic software databases that could sort it out PDQ.

Waiting for an official announcement, but if Cagneys is out of UDP / a la carte I'll cancel our plan.

We will probably get off to walk the immediate port area for a few minutes just so we can say "Been there, done that." Have the Ultimate Beverage Plan, so not interested to go to a bar off the ship.

We don't do many short cruises, so we miss having a sea day. Freeport seems like the best day to "make a sea day".

Does anyone have the Daily Newsletter, whatever NCL calls their version, for a Freeport day just so I can get an idea of open venues and activities?

Bought the UDP in anticipation of going to Cagneys 2 or 3 times on our 4 night Sky cruise. Figured we would go one other night to Le Bistro. So what is the point of UDP on a ship it is only good for two restaurants? I will wait and see for more information but if true I will cancel our UDP.

I'm on vacation - I am in no mood to fight with any restaurant manager waving printouts in their face, go finnagle with the gratuities, or otherwise get my blood pressure up or waste my time. That all sounds like real world stuff. Depending on the a la carte pricing we may go once, but a la carte pricing sort of turns me off. Its like fighting with any company in the real world. Cruising isn't supposed to be like the real world. It's supposed to be relaxing and carefree. Not a huge fan of cover charges but at least once the cover was paid I didn't have to make further choices or accounting.

We live right near the beach, and GSC will be a beach day, so not in a rush to pay for a beach day at Freeport. Nature tours are interesting. Will look more into some suggestions here. Also have found the Bahamian Brewery looks nearby to the ship, short tour, pretty inexpensive and we could have the ship to "ourselves" most of the day. Have never been to Freeport but didn't look too exciting. Seems like a good day to chill out and be lazy onboard. Plenty of time to decide. Am up for hearing other ideas in Freeport. NCL excursions don't offer much.

Contemplating staying on the ship (Sky) in Freeport.

What is open or going on on the ship while in Freeport?