April42749

14 hours ago, erdoran said:

Can’t you get these free with the UBP anyway?  And can people mix different booze like that and not get sick?

We don't have the UBP because we are basically "a couple of glasses of wine a week" people (and that's only for good heart health).   And I know about getting sick from mixing.

The problem....DH would like the show (all the sexy women) and I wouldn't drink at all.  DH wouldn't let what he paid for go to waste....so he'd drink mine and his.  He doesn't hold his liquor well.  This happened with "Wine Lovers the Musical", "Choir of Men" and an excursion we did once in Cozumel.  Then you add "the getting sick" factor to the drunk factor!

Thanks for the feedback....I'm gonna skip this one

I was looking at a 3/1 Bliss sailing.  The price went way up overnight...and then way down in 2 days.  I grabbed it on 11/26 as part of the BF promotion.  I was going to wait until "a week or 2 before" the cruise.  Since I booked it, it's gone up over 25%.  I'm talking about Sailaway rates (and they gave me a BA cabin the day I booked).  Usually, I'm not this lucky.

2 hours ago, researchfreak90 said:

I would say that MSC is nice for the value but some of our favorite things are the public areas and the fact that the ships themselves dont feel as gimmicky as Royal or Carnival. We still Love Royal but MSC is Elegant but relaxed at the same time

Yes...elegant but relaxed puts it very well.  Most of the passengers are not American; they have a better sense of style and take pride in how they look.

Has anyone seen this show?

It comes with 5 cocktails.  Do they let you substitute wine? (I'm thinking everything is pre-mixed and poured....but maybe I'm wrong.)

Other than wine, I don't drink so it may be a waste of money.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

56 minutes ago, BNBR said:

Choir Of Man was ok.  After Midnight absolutely dismal.  We were not the only people running out of the theater during that one...  I'd say go for it, can always leave early.

 

If Wine Lovers the Musical is still there, we really enjoyed it and thought it was worth the small fee (good food and wine).

"Wine Lovers" was another one I could have lived without.   Again....it's all about your taste.

The best entertainment at sea!

The best pizza at sea!

The multicultural aspect!

The Swarovski staircases!

Was on the Meraviglia in Oct.  Loved everything about the cruise except the food.  I didn't go hungry (how could I with such good pizza?) but there were some really inedible things.  Take "the grill" in the buffet: one bite of a hamburger (which I later found out was a turkey/beef burger) and into the garbage it went.  They also ran out of things during the meal...for example, the omelet station closed early and some days omelets weren't available at all.

The good part is I didn't overindulge in desserts as I do at the NCL buffet because there wasn't very much to overindulge in.

A true gourmet wouldn't be happy.  A gourmand would do just fine.

I saw "Choir Of Men" when we had to pay for it on the Escape.  I wasn't wowed.  I saw it again when it was "included".  I still wasn't wowed.  It have have to do with that I'm not a beer drinker.

I liked "After Midnight" both times that I saw it.

Bottom line....both shows are included with your fare.  Go in...and if you don't like it....walk out.  Everyone's taste is different.  I saw "Ford vs Ferrari" with a friend; I loved it, she hated it.

So, maybe someone without an economic background can explain (I have a the background, I know the answer) how NCL (or any cruiseline) can keep the rates so low but raise the quality of the food?

If someone can, they're a financial genius!

The buffet on NCL wins.  The pizza on MSC wins.  I'm not a fan of MDR....only once per cruise at most....and I'd say they were equal.  On MSC you have a set table (for 2) but they were so close to the other tables there was no privacy.

As far as "dressing up"...the majority of passengers aren't American.  They have a better sense of style and personal appearance.  So, while it might not be "formal night" many people will be looking good.

We were on the Meraviglia last month and I liked it so much the first thing I did when I got home was book a cruise for next Oct.

ETA....desserts are much better on NCL.  As a "non-foodie" person I found MSC weak on food, even in the buffet, except for pizza and salads.  You won't starve, but don't expect an "out of this world" experience.

25 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

Living in the NYC metro area, restaurants here have MUCH better food than mainstream cruise lines. I expect nothing more than what you get at chain restaurants (which we never eat at, well, except chipotle, kids like it).

I live in Manhattan and eat out about 6 times a week (not fancy, not chain...just casual places)....I eat a lot of fish.

I have never had fish in the MDR that approached "good".....not on any ship or cruise line that I sailed. (In fairness to fish...I don't recall any MDR food that I liked except for soups and desserts.)

36 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

We r doing this trip😍  it’s confusing cause the NCL buses seemed to be for the 2 groups cause Disney Springs actual time is 3/ 1/2 hrs.  The actual trip is 7, so looks like the parks r dropped off first/last.  We would prefer to exit at transportation center and ride around from there.  We would then take a bus from Polynesian hotel back to Springs! 

Sorry....I was confused.  It sounds like you want Disney....not Disney Springs.

When we did it our bus only went to Disney Springs.  Therefore, I assume those who went to the parks had a separate bus.

20 hours ago, tokidoki said:

was wondering if the Disney parks and Disney springs are the same trip?   I have read the the same bus is used?   thx

We did this last Feb.  At the time I thought that we would be on the same bus...and dropped off last.  But, happily, we had a dedicated bus and plenty of time at Disney Springs.  I liked it so much we'll probably do it again on the March cruise.  It's either that or stay on the ship....we've been to that port so many times and did just about every other excursion.

I booked a cruise thru a TA and used a card that does charge foreign to US dollar conversion fees....there were no fees

I booked a few spa services with this card before the cruise...again....no foreign conversion fees

My on board account was with this same card....no foreign conversion fees

8 minutes ago, Mike_DeA said:

 

Unlikely that anyone playing that little in the casino gets free cruises, especially now that NCL has tighten up on the casino dept.

 

Do you call Casinos-At-Sea to inquire about what they will offer you?  It's good to have a few dates/ships in mind when calling?  They don't typically send out emails/mailers with offers so you need to call CAS.

 

Also, how many point do you typically accumulate?  I'm basing this on the assumption that you do use your card to allow them to track your play.

Thanks for the response.  I really meant that "casino comparison" as tongue-in-cheek.   And, I'm assuming these self-proclaimed low rollers who get these free cruises are telling the truth. 

I assume I would still be entitled to eat in the Haven restaurant.

If one has a winning bid to upgrade to the Haven, what would be included?

I wouldn't want the "free promotions"....so can you accept with just the wifi and excursion credits?

Would any drinks (even in room) be included...or "pay as you go"?

Thank you.........

I know how you feel...but it's probably entirely random.

It upsets me when people play $20 in the casino and then they get "free cruises" when I play $20 a minute and never got an offer.

Yes it is.....and bad for independent tour operators (while I actually don't think it mattered). 

This is how it works:

Current cost with VC discount: $1700

Cost with promo:$2500

VC discount on promo price:$2200

Do they think we are that stupid?

Has anyone combined the Voyagers Club discount with the Black Friday sale?

I have a cruise booked for 10/20 with VC.  I'm wondering if anyone successfully combined these.

We were on the Escape for 14 days last Feb.  There were only 2 shows in the theatre ("Choir of Men" and "After Midnight").  There were a few cabaret style events (DH not a big fan; I was neutral).  As I recall, there wasn't even a "Welcome Aboard" show on that trip.  The "theatre entertainment" is important to us so it was really disappointing.

Booked balcony sail-away gty for 3/1 at 9am today.  Checked back in the afternoon and we were already assigned a BA cabin.

Great location...cabins above and below.  I never had one assigned so soon and I never had one the was what I consider "the best category".

Very happy with this guarantee!

2 hours ago, mitsugirly said:

We just discovered this option. We have always booked using our NCL credit card to build points then just paid it off when the bill came.

 

For those saying why not just make payments to NCL, there are those that book last minute....like we just did (only 3 weeks to go).

 

We have good credit, with mine being in the 800's and hubby in mid 700's. However, he wants to boost his more and at this point, all he has on his credit is credit cards and wants to get a variety going.

 

So, we decided to finance this next cruise in 3 weeks and it's only costing a little over $100 to do so. It will help boost his scores over time AND....the best part, being on automatic payments using the NCL credit card. I will still get points!

 

Winning

Not too sure you're winning.  When you take "a loan" they do a credit check and this lowers your credit score.

And to make my day even happier.....they already assigned a cabin.  BA on deck 11.  Cabins above...cabins below.  This is the best cabin that I've been assigned with the guarantee.