Moby0215

I was able to use a cert of a cruise that I had also already paid in full. They just refunded me $250.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

On our last cruise on the Gem, we were never able to order a second glass, so I started ordering 2 at once.

What do you mean you were never able to order a second glass? Do you mean they wouldn’t let you?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The random number generator that controls the machine is not supposed to caer about your bet size.

 

If t does, the machine's ben goosed and you shouldn't play it anyway.

The reason to play max bet is because in machines that have a jackpot, usually max bet is required to qualify for the jackpot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can basically wear whatever you want. Very little of a dress code. Only Le Bistro and one of the MDRs no shorts. I wear jeans and a T-shirt.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i would suggest you go to target and purchase collard shirts, slacks and shoes for your sons. you can also get inexpensive dress clothes for your daughter. It will make for great family pictures. Enjoy your cruise

No need for collared shirts or slacks. Even adults can wear T-shirt’s and shorts to the MDR. I dress up every day for work, I’m for sure not dressing up while on vacation.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Our post office was not so helpful. They would not even talk to us with out an appointment. And the only way we could set up an appointment was to go online. So if you did not have a computer, you were out of luck.

I had a little chuckle at the “so if you don’t have a computer”. Virtually everyone has a computer or a phone. And the percentage of people that don’t....most likely aren’t trying to get a passport.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No. Sail away rates are "guarantee" cabins.

Yes, I know this but the question was posed to Perditax because they made it seam like the only reason the sail away rates are cheaper is because of the perks. The point being that most people want to choose their own cabin and the only way to do that is to pick a non-sail away rate. Hence the perks are free.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NCL bumped up their base fares to cover the "free" perks too. That's why some TAs can offer "no frills" pricing, and why there are cheaper "sail-away" rates that don't include the "free" perks.

 

So yes, it's a marketing shell game.

But can you get a “sail-away” rate and still pick your cabin?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just off the Jade and one favorite happy hour drink a chocolate martini. Only $17.95. Yikes.

I don’t think that’s happy hour. I believe that’s regular price.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There should nto be any issue using it to pay prior to boarding, it is the same as cash. BTW, you can't set up your on board account with it, but you can use one to pay your account off at the end of the week.

That is incorrect saying that it cannot be used for onboard account. I have used my pre-paid Amex multiple times. They are however just like bank account debit cards so many people will say not to use a debit card.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s always happy hour with the UBP.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Totally disagree. Reality will prove otherwise.

 

Sent from my SM-N950U using Forums mobile app

Ships change ports all the time. This is not news. And I doubt reality will prove otherwise. People will welcome the change to have something different to try. How boring would it be sailing the same ship over and over again?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have always done this. Take say $200 off the slot machine to play with and play a little and go to cashier to cash out. The $200 is charged to your sign and sail account and I have never been charged a fee. I do this on the ship a couple of times when I need cash for the Island. I didn’t think anything is wrong with that. With the ton of money people are using in the casino, they probably don’t worry about the small fish.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Unless you have a certain tier status then there is absolutely a 3% fee for adding money from your onboard account on NCL.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First of all, $50 is only 200 tokens, which would not fill one of their plastic bucket, much less multiples.

 

Secondly, using tokens to get cash from your onboard account without fees can be used for anything. Tips, food and drink in the ports, souvenirs, whatever. It doesn’t have to be spent in the casino.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Have you actually cashed out $50 in tokens? Let alone $100? That’s 200 or 400 tokens. No one is ever Going to win that much on the coin pusher so I am sure they would know exactly what you are doing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is no such thing as a casino account on any of the ten ships I have been on. You pull your card and walk away it is liek doing the same thing at a land based casino.

Incorrect. The casino account I am referring to is CAS. Certainly when you put your card in it tracks points correct? These points then can be utilized for free play. Additionally when using your room card at the machines, if you remove your card while still having money on the machine, the funds will be added to this “casino account” allowing you to use those funds on another machine. This is my experience on the breakaway while others have pointed out it works the same on other ships.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am surprised that fellow cruisers are so presumptuous and hostile. To quote precisely from the NCL brochure 'CruiseNext UP TO US $ 500 FREE' If you don't believe me I suggest you pick up and read the Brochure. And 'No I did not receive any credit on my bill' and yes I did pay $500 and received only the equivalent (£382) as a deposit on my future cruise. I have had no response from NCL to my Emails. I can't make it any clearer

The cruise next works like this: each certificate is worth $250. Two of them would be $500. Then they give you $250 as onboard credit to use on the cruise when you bought the certificates. In reality it is just a credit to your onboard account which makes the $500 you spent actually only cost $250. This is the main benefit to the cruise next certificates. You are saving money. That being said, if you are 100% sure that you did not get this $250, I would look over your onboard account final bill if you have it or try and get a copy and if you truly never received it then I would contact NCL. I’m going to guess that you did get it but just missed seeing it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm thinking that is true in Carnival casinos, but on NCL, I've never even put my room key in a slot machine. So you are saying that you can put your card in the slot, set up an account, then pull from that account the whole cruise? Is it separate from you on board credit charges? Casino money separate from your charge accounts?

Your room key works just like the CAS card. It will track your gambling and give you points. As well as give you the opportunity to charge money to your onboard account for a 3% fee.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

100% ABSOLUTELY WRONG! If you walk away with $75 on the machine, removing your card does NOTHING with that $75. It remains on the machine and whoever sees it can sit down and start playing it. VERY VERY VERY BAD advice. Last cruise I was on, I went o the casino an hour before it was open and circled the slots. I found a total of eight machines that had money left on them and printed out tickets for all of them. Grand total was only about $10 but it was free money!

This is wrong, at least on the breakaway. If you use your room key and remove it with money on the machine, the money will be added to you casino account. I cannot speak for other ships but the scenario you describe could certainly still happen if the people gambling were not using a card in the machine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It works just like a regular casino. Put cash in, cash ticket out. If you opt to add money from your onboard account there will be a 3% fee.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We recently returned from the Breakaway 14 (or was it 13?) day cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Thirteen or fourteen days, depending on your perspective, is a long time for me to remember details at my age. Also, I like to travel light and I don’t take notes or save daily schedules. Therefore, this will not be a review in the traditional sense. It will be more of a series of semi random musings and observations. Some are serious, some will be a bit tongue in cheek, some may even seem like an actual review. If that happens, it is through coincidence and not by design. However, you are welcome to test my memory by asking questions. I will try to answer them the best that I can.

 

 

 

In short, it was a very good cruise with 12 days of good weather sandwiched between a bad day first day and last day. Again, it was a very good cruise overall. Please remember this because a few observations may sound like complaints. I point them out as areas for potential improvement that did not spoil anything.

 

 

 

I should start by addressing my perspective and view on the itinerary changes caused by catastrophic hurricanes and less catastrophic storms that were grossly exaggerated by the Weather Channel in pursuit of viewership. Sorry all, but I consider rough seas and a foot of snow to be temporary inconveniences, particularly when compared to devastation from the two hurricanes. In short, I can’t control the weather and it can affect any cruise from any port, at any time during the year. If you book a cruise from NYC in January, you must fully expect that you will be inside for the first and last sea day.

 

 

 

Background for context: We booked an OV cabin for the original 8 port itinerary 9 months in advance. The hurricanes whacked 5 of the 8 original ports, forcing the itinerary change to a 5 port more Southern plan. We were OK with the itinerary change. In fact, we liked it because we had never visited any of the 5 ports. Also, we really didn’t want to tie up precious resources in those ports when they are needed for recovery. We will go back when things are better.

 

 

 

That said, NCL justly deserves boos for choosing to hold off announcing the itinerary change until 2 days after final payment. That’s just poor customer service and a tacky cash grab from those who would have cancelled because of the changes. We would have gone anyway, but others may have not and have been quite vocal about it.

 

 

 

We were able to snag a nice upgrade from a deck 5 OV to a mini suite through the bid process. Our MS bid was $25pp more than our balcony bid. It was our first experience in a mini suite. We enjoyed it, but would not pay standard prices for a MS over a balcony. The MS is just a standard balcony cabin with an upgraded bathroom. The upgraded bathroom has a double sink and a car wash shower. I will admit that it was the most fun that I ever had while alone in a shower. I probably wouldn’t pay more than $25 pp to upgrade from a balcony to an MS in the future.

 

 

 

The precruise weather delays had minimal effect on us. NCL did a good job communicating the changes and we had the advantage of flexibility. There is frequent scheduled bus service from out town to NYC. The announcement said that you could board between 8 and 10 PM on Friday. We took a 5PM bus to Port Authority and arrived at the pier at 7:20. We snaked through the various lines and boarded around 8:30 PM. Our bus flexibility also made the late arrival at the end of the cruise quite relaxing. Having the morning to sleep in and have a relaxing breakfast before packing is really nice. We caught a 2PM bus home and arrived home at 4.

 

 

 

Observation: The storm and really cold temperatures made gave parts of the outside of the ship a nice iceberg effect. Tons of ice on deck 7 under, and on, the lifeboats.

 

 

 

Observation: The ship has a very crowded feeling when the outside decks are closed.

 

 

 

Observation: An order of Thai sweet chili wings, a Reuben, and a beer make a good embarkation meal. (We had the UDP. More on that later)

 

 

 

Observation: The blues guitarist at Fat Cats is VERY good.

 

 

 

Have to go now. More to come. Feel free to ask questions.

You mentioned UDP. Did you mean SDP?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

was I eating an imaginary breakfast there? ....was those eggs fake eggs ......? It was definitely not in accurate. But it might not be available anymore. :cool:

 

Please don’t spread fake news !

Maybe he was referring to the fact that they called it secret as being inaccurate.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can (obviously) think what you want, but as I've (repeatedly) stated, it's more with the requirement of creating a shipboard account by either handing over either the card or $450, and being unfamiliar with Norwegians "required" daily service fee.

For what it’s worth... you don’t have to put down $450. You can put down whatever you want (although if it is less than what the DSC will amount to be then expect your card to stop working once it reaches that amount).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The "Service Charge" is not mentioned in the cruise contract. How would they charge that if I don't have a shipboard credit card or cash again???

You might need to read the contract again. Here is one sentence except: “Fares do not include certain taxes, fees, port expenses and charges imposed by governmental or quasi- governmental authorities, including port authorities, service charges or the cost of the fuel supplement”

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks - I don't mind tipping, truly. (but the "Service Charge" is indeed another matter) I guess it's my combative way of opposing all the nickel and dime intrusions.

The service charge is not nickel and dime. It’s a known charge that everyone has to pay. You are welcome to request a removal of the DSC but YMMV if they will do it onboard or send you a refund 6-8 weeks later.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok, I just signed nearly all of my rights away while registering for an upcoming NCL cruise. I paid special attention to all the subsections. Saw not one place where I agreed to being required to either hand over a credit card OR a required $ figure in cash with which to create an On-board Account. It is implied in the FAQ's but not REQUIRED in the contract.

 

 

 

So, here's where I admittedly get a little weird. Then I'll get to my question. Hate me if needed, but I don't like the ship board "for pay" products, and, would prefer to pay my gratuities myself. So... (and I don't drink)... so... will I be FORCED to hand over a set amount of cash in lieu of a credit card?

 

 

 

I don't see it in anything I agreed to. Hypothetically, what if I were show up with $1.00 in my wallet and no credit cards? Cruise contract does not say.... could they deny my boarding? What if I simply refuse to create an account at all?

 

 

 

Thanks. Happy Sailing!

When at the embarkation counter they will ask for a card and you will say that you will be using a cash account. They will allow you to board and will tell you to go to guest services to put down your cash. Now that is up to you if you actually go and hand cash over but your ship card will be useless. I’m not even sure if you will be able to order a drink.

And then there is the issue of the DSC. Of which that will be charged to your onboard account daily. So I’m sure they will track you down and at least make you put that much on your account.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk