Hotspring

Actually I thought only one scene in a filthy bathroom was raunchy and made me uncomfortable watching with my mature 

(Last Week with John Oliver fan) 13YO daughter.    Some of the dancing may be considered inappropriate but it is nothing more

than what one typically sees on TV anytime.   Great dancing, decent story, pseudo music while live do not come close the original cuts.   We do not use the foul language used throughout the show, but it always good to be exposed to how other exist.

When discussing the show with my daughter she indicated she enjoyed but revealed she has no desire to see the Adult comedy shows on the ship---had taken her to one at 9:30 not realizing it was an adult audience.  

Bottom line , kids younger than 13 - 14 should not be exposed to the show, IMO as a progressive.

Fantastic review!  

Yes, it was odd reading how a wine drinker was allergic to grapes.   But agree is pitiful that the butler did not honor your needs.

Hopefully you did not leave her the $15/day/person tip to the butler that Birdtravels likes to recommend.   Our butler did an excellent job,  but we three only tipped him one third  that including the additional 2 days (we did not make any unusual special requests).   If all 14 of the cabins he was assigned were as value minded  as we where he would still be hauling in at least $1,900 for nine days of work, or close to $98,000 annually for a goosed up waiter job.

On Roatan, we took the Nature Preserve tour to see the sloths, monkeys, and birds without them being in cages.   What is interesting is that they stated that it has been illegal to kill or eat iguanas for the last five years.   Made sense and can be confirmed by Google.   Now one needs to question the integrity of the outfit that took you someplace to eat endangered creatures.

While you mentioned that the passengers were told to return to the ship by early morning Saturday to move to a new pier,

you apparently did not hear from our deck mates and eventually the captain that some folks took one of those independent excursions that would not get them back to the ship until 10:30PM Friday.   That is why we left so late.    One has to wonder if we could have made it back to Miami before it was closed if we left at the scheduled 5:30PM departure time.   After all we were only 89 nautical miles away from Miami when the Captain announced at 10PM Saturday that the Coast Guard closed the port again.  At 21 knots we likely would have been there in under 4 hours, an over an hour shy of the departure delay Friday night.  The ship did not even slow down or change course until after the announcement as observed on the navigation channel 21.

The 'Ask the Captain' meeting in the theater Monday was meaningful, the captain and his officers were quite forthright with what was going on.   He made it abundantly clear that it was the Coast Guard driving the decisions.  IMO the cruises line were only working around their idiocy.

While we did not RSVP to the Sea Day mingle, we were turned off when we saw the huge numbers that appeared to be attending.   I guess we should have gone when we saw on the other site that anyone just show up.   We only saw your family once, but perhaps that was because we existing more on West Coast time rather than East Coast.

Thank you so much for sharing your family and well done trip report.  You are absolutely the best!

On 8/31/2019 at 5:02 PM, BirdTravels said:

Nothing to do with NCL. They only left Cozumel because the US Coast Guard thought the port would be open tomorrow. Then, at noon today, promptly raised hurricane condition from WHISKY to YANKEE (no inbound).

So you are saying that NCL was likely advise by noon 8.31.19 that POM was closed?  

The passengers were not advised until 10:00PM.   Many had scrambled to check in their flights or rearrange flights after being told previously to cancel them because of the extended stay in Cozumel.

The ship left Cozumel at 11ish on 8.30.19 because they chose to wait to pick up 25 passengers that took a independent shore excursion that would return them to the ship at 10:30PM.   They had been advise they only needed to be back to the ship by 4AM Saturday for pier change.    I have been assuming that only if NCL just left those folks in Cozumal  it could have left at 5:30 as originally scheduled and docked in Miami by 9PM 8.31.19 and overnighted.   We were only 89 nautical miles away when the announcement was made at that 10PM address.

What a waste of passenger and airline time if they really knew by noon they were not going to Miami!

2 hours ago, Ozzieru1e said:

 

I heard someone staying on deck 11 had a problem on NCL Bliss Alaska Cruise.  I was reviewing Cruising on Wheels NCL Bliss Alaska Cruise review on YouTube. They mentioned someone not staying in the Haven complex were told they could not dine in the Haven restaurant.  It didn’t sound right but I wanted to check with others experiences.  Thank you for your response.

 

That was clearly a case where a Haven guest was trying to bring a non-Haven guest into the Haven Restaurant.   Any one in a Haven room is subject to the same privileges regardless as to where their Haven room in situated on the deck.  If you really are looking for space, consider the Haven Aft cabins with double baths and larger rooms and bigger balconies.    The walk is good for you anyway regardless as to your health---you know it can only improve it.    Even when we stayed in a forward facing Haven, we still got in over 13,000 steps a day on seas day because we had to go to things at the other end of the ship and prefer stairs to taking packed elevators and know the health benefits.    Enjoy.

39 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said:

DURN - I believe that TAs usually purchase the OBC from NCL and therefore it is Refundable

I have heard from my part time TA SIL that the cruise lines offer extra OBC credits to motivate the TA to push their cruises over others.  They do this separate from what they offer their direct customers who already appear to be in their pocket rather than considering other cruise lines.   Therefore, the outrageous but nice OBC that Costco and private TA offer are likely non-refundable but spendable for Spa treatments, pedicures, specialty dining, shore excursions.

In these days of internet booking the TA commissions are razor thin, they are certainly not enough to wily nily pay purchase $1,000 OBC from a cruise line to to earn a few bucks.

18 minutes ago, Beaureguarde said:

Just curious, can you use the steam room and sauna if you do not purchase the Thermal Pass?  

No, pass must be presented to enter the Thermal Spa area on NCL ships.

4 hours ago, DLynnFunCruise said:

No you can't. The first device you login with is the one the counts and they can tell when you login from different devices even with the same credentials. You buy separate minutes for each device.

Yes, you can buy separate minutes or unlimited for each device, but it is more economical just share credentials among the devices.  You use the credentials to sign on to the internet, then use the typical user credential to log in to email, Facebook, banking, etc.   Not knowing about the ability to upgrade the 250 minute package we easily shared the log in credential among 3 smart phones and android tablet, a Fire, and a IPad (six devices 3 different users) through the week.   Just be sure to log off if you do not have the unlimited plan.    Next time ask someone else to work through sharing your minutes with others.   Heck, they do not even need to be in the same cabin.

Interesting conjecture.  I would like to believe that this is what happens, but maybe it is just partially correct.  Perhaps our daughter will only earn the points at a rate of one point  for each night she had sailed.    We are getting to platinum level mostly because we stayed in suites or because of Latitude promotions giving us double or triple points on top of the extra points with a suite.  After, on nearly all of our cruises she was in the "additional passengers are free" category.  She did not really enjoy the suite as we just shoved her on to the sofa bed and up to her teenage years shoved her into the Splash Academy on every voyage we took.

All the more reason to prepay at booking.   DSC can go up anytime but they never retroactively increase the DSC if it has already been paid.     Almost makes necessary to book several iffy cruises couple years in advance with the prepaid DSC (even before final payment) to ensure that we are not paying more.

14 minutes ago, casofilia said:

@Hotspring

 

... but unfortunately the TA we use will not go back to renegotiate with NCL ....

 

Looks like time for a new TA!!

We cannot, we use timeshare points.   But otherwise a great suggestion!  🙂

I agree, do a mock booking to do the comparison and make sure they are offering the same perks and benefits.  The base fare may not include the service charges that accompany the drink and dinner packages.

But for your August cruise it is likely not much you can do about it.  If you went through a TA, maybe they can negotiate more OBC.    I know that our suite price with the same benefits has dropped $800 this month since we booked last December, but unfortunately the TA we use will not go back to renegotiate with NCL and NCL will only deal with TA unless you booked directly with NCL.   

On 7/23/2019 at 6:15 PM, mertziek said:

We have done the upgrade on 3 prior cruises.  They gave me$125 credit for the 250 minute promo but upgrade to unlimited must be done onboard.  One device, one person on the internet at a time though so two internet plans would work.  One upgraded onboard and the other purchased precruise and save 15%.

Hey,  it looks like you can purchase the unlimited upgrade or unlimited upgrade steaming package before you board now.  I was able to do it for the first time on 8/1/19.     This will aid it keeping your end of cruise charges down by pre-paying for this upgrade still receive the credit for the Free At Sea 250 minutes..

6 hours ago, Shoppie124 said:

I cross the border all the time with my daughter's friends with only their passport.

Slightly off topic, but, really odd that the border guards on both sides are so different on the other side of the country.

My spouse and her sister with their daughters where held up going through the Peace Arch crossing because they did not have paperwork from me or my SIL ex-husband that it was ok to take the kids to BC.   They had to call us and get faxed permissions before they could proceed (slowing them down a couple hours in the boring border station).    They used the same faxes to return to the USA later in that night.  While I have not been asked for the approval paperwork when I have taken our now 13 YO daughter to Vancouver, I did have to present it to come back into the USA.  This despite my daughter has a current passport and did not joke about not being my daughter.   So it is better to be prepared with all the approvals to travel across borders and provide medical attention to kids that are not yours or you share responsibility.   (If the NY/Canadian border is as porous as you are suggesting with only needing a passport to cross, it is no wonder the current administration thinks we have are a border problem.)

Thank goodness NCL is watching out for us for those that have not experienced some of the medical authorization and border crossing hassles sometimes thrown at us unexpectedly. 

Sent July 1, Sent again July 22, received credit on August 1 for our cruise at the end of August,  all perks and existing OBC remained.    Did have to spend 25 minutes on the phone (mostly on hold) to expedite the process to our liking, for our piece of mind and get it out of the way.  The additional OBC credit showed up real time on the app.  

Really appreciate that Executive Office phone number being presented in this thread.

On 7/31/2019 at 3:47 PM, Shoppie124 said:

Is it normal to get an email from NCL notifying you that you will be traveling with a minor under the age of 18?

As suggested, the key point of that email is to ensure parental approval is obtained and the documentation is available.

While the passport requirement is a given, for the reasons listed plus medical authorization should an emergency arise,

the cruise lines require this document to be filled out appropriately.   Even if the kids have the same last name as you, like they are cousins, it is too risky to not have the parental approval document on hand when boarding.   Something may slip out and everyone in the cabin may be removed from the ship.

NCL is well aware that with the declining birthrates, there are a lot of single child families that travel with friend or family kids to give their kid a traveling companion.     With the 3rd and 4th passenger cruise free promotions there are lot of folks that do not mind incurring the extra port and DSC to bring friends for their kid.

Also the same requirement is made when traveling to and from Canada with kids that are not yours, regardless as to whether they have their passport.

The other big question besides how much to tip but how to tip.   Some folks suggest that they actually use something called cash to pay the tips (as filthy as it is).   Most people prefer to earn airline or other rewards on their credit cards and tip via their shipboard accounts by purchasing a voucher for the steward, butler, and concierge.   This also ensures that appropriate taxes are taken out and notifies NCL management how pleased we are with their employee's service---seeing that we are voluntarily tipping.    Problem is that some posts have suggested that the vouchers are not desirable?  Why not, are they hiding their earnings from their national governments?

On 7/24/2019 at 8:04 AM, 2kruzers said:

So probably a silly question, but the on board credit will just be linked to her card - not separate certificate or gift card that she would have to have with her?  Also, if she doesn't use it all, can it be applied to her DSC?  Thanks again.

Yes, they would be linked to her key card.  If purchased, the OBC can be applied to tips, the DSC (if somehow not prepaid), or refunded.   Remember, we can monitor all charges on all cabin members cards real time throughout the day on the in room monitors.

14 hours ago, Dreams42Day said:

This will be my 13yo son's first cruise. We want him to be able to participate in the teen programs and have some freedoms on the ship. He does not have/own a cell phone (shocking, I know). What is a good way to stay in communication with him? 

Yes, shocking in country that has more cell phones than population.   How do you punish him?   Threatening to take the phone away for a period of time really is more motivating to get our 13YO do her chores or checking in than grounding.  It is really easy to monitor usage these days as well.   🙂

Anyway, requiring routine check ins at the cabin to read or leave updated notes should work well.  We are too frugal to spend the $9.95 a week to set up texting on our daughter's phone.   The walk from Entourage to your cabin will burn of steam.   On the Bliss last year, our daughter got in at least 4 miles a day wandering the ship and she was checked into Splash Academy for some of that time.   For his sake and your piece of mind for his safety, realize that there are literally hundreds of cameras throughout the ships. 

15 minutes ago, krisdamom said:

Hello, We are looking at a Europe cruise for next fall & would like a Haven. I'm wondering where you saw the 20% off promo. ??

Sign into your NCL.Com account, click into your Past Guest link for perks they are offering, inclusive of a list of cruises that are eligible.   Some call it the Latitude link, it may have been that once, but they currently call it Past Guest

While there are benefits to knowing exactly where you are going to end up from the get go,  now that we are going to be Platinum we likely will be pulling back to the mini-suite level or at worst (in price) lower level Haven and hope for the bidding process.   Between the partial embarkation/disembarkation priority, free specialty meals, NCL's typical other Free at Sea promotions and Latitude benefits we do not think we are going to be missing much beyond the Butler and free newly released movies should our bid into Haven or an Haven upgrade fail.    I do omit it perturbs us that we are going to have free loading bidder next door to our OS next month since we are within the bidding 45 day interval with no reservations on it yet, but there is not much we can so.   We shopping around ships and weeks and believe we go a hummer of deal with what we got, just strange that other's did not spot what we found.

All good ideas.  But remember to pack everything you set out to pack in addition to these.   I once set out seven pairs of underwear only to leave them under a bed blanket that inadvertently covered them up.   Only found out once on the Alaskan cruise, ended up spending 4 times as much as we would from an outlet store to get through the week---after we found them.

Another time, spouse left medicine in the refrigerator so we ended up spending a considerable amount of time tracking a pharmacy in Mexico to give her an emergency refill.

3 hours ago, gizfish said:

They call that cabin a deluxe spa suite and charge more for it. Also since it is the only one of its kind, it is not eligible for bidding on.  It's an h8.  The other spas are h9.

Actually it probably depends on what cruise you are one.  We found the H8 to be slightly less expensive than than the H9.    We queried this board and FB to determine if were getting a dud suite, maybe noisy, too small, too much traffic, with no conclusive results.   We were pleased when we finally were able to drop our carry on luggage off to observe the expansive size and found that except for the last night when they were picking up luggage the outside passageway was near silent.   Unfortunately, we became addicted to Haven and have reserved rooms that split for privacy or even have an extra half bath.

On ‎7‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 5:08 AM, drvmywifecrzy said:

For those of you who have sailed in these cabins on the Away class or specifically Escape.  Tell me about these rooms.  Does it get all Haven perks including Butler?  What made you book this type of cabin?

In addition to the above, if you have a party larger than 2, you can get 3 or 4 (with two kids) in Escape Spa Suite 16100.   It is

much larger than the other Haven Spa cabins on the Escape but they do not publish that fact.    It is almost as if was supposed to be two suites but they ran out of space, so it just ended up with a larger bathroom and a separate living/dining/sofa bed room.

Sounds like they need to running the noisiest Roomba constantly in the observation decks.   The new chair hogs except they are actually in them.