ElaineKeagy

Hi: To the cruiser who is thinking of cancelling his cruise on Bliss in 2019, I would do so asap. I am about to post my critique about the ship based on my recent cruise on it from July 14-21. There are many more criticisms than the many about the go carts. After several other cruises on other ships, I would never cruise on any NCL ship ever again. The Bliss's main goal was not to have happy passengers and great food and experiences.

 

 

 

It was to try and gouge you for everything (specialty restaurants, excursions,).We encountered sold out reservations before we had even

 

stepped on the ship. The thing they did best was make animals out of the towels after evening turndown. Of course we were all so aggravated (eg. people smoking on nearby balconies) that we barely slept. Try a better line--like Oceania. They attract a crowd who knows it is not an effort to put on a pair of chinos and a polo shirt for eating in the dining room. We had people wearing tank tops, short shorts, ripped jeans and hats--on. It is disgusting to eat in a beautiful room beside some guy's hairy legs and fat belly. And the drink packages encourage people to be drunk and loud all the time. Such a sickening example of the worst of behavior for my grandchildren. They may have a go cart track (dangerous) and a gigantic water slide (scary and dangerous,) but I want to cruise without the stress of running to make reservations the instant you get on board, or seeing both my son and grandson getting injured by some jerk on the go carts ride. Please change to another ship, another line. You won't regret it.

Thanks for your review.

You get what you pay for and NCL is not an all-inclusive line. It’s free style and it’s informal. You get the basics and you can add on extras as you like. Or not.

You appear not to be in the NCL demographic. So why did you choose NCL? I’m genuinely curious.

NCL fits my needs perfectly for a casual cruise experience, but I am looking at Oceania for a future planned cruise to mark a momentous life event.

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I’m not using a reusable straw on a cruise. I use them at home and have been since the 80s when i bought a couple of dozen from Crate and Barrel. But at home I can keep them clean and sterile.

I’ll bring my own plastic straws and I won’t toss them overboard. When my supply is gone I’ll buy a box of paper straws, although I don’t think I will outlive my current supply.

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So sorry to read about your broken foot. I just emailed a friend that had a big boot on his foot when we cruised with them on Regent. He is a CC member and will likely visit this thread with words of advice.

 

 

 

I admire anyone who takes their Mother on a cruise!

I’ve taken my mother on 8. I hope I’ve earned my place in heaven.

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I disagree immensely, every little bit helps.

 

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I disagree with you.

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Publix will be getting more of my business

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my wife raved about the chicken salad too, thought I didn't try it. I'm curious, could it have been made with turkey breast? I know a country club that used to make it like that and it was really good.

Might have been turkey breast but I don’t think so. But it was was almost solid meat, nicely chopped and seasoned. (I suspect it was coarse ground, it was so perfect). Some chicken salads are 50% celery. Ugh.

Egg salad which I normally avoid was also very very good. Looked liked they used a medium blade ricer to do the eggs.

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I bought a large large box of plastic straws at Sams Club. Seriously, they should last me the rest of my life. Storing them with the 300+ incandescent 100 watt bulbs I bought before they took them off the shelves.

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For some reason, I'm not getting notified when this thread has new postings :(. Anyone have an idea how to fix that?

 

I've been spreadsheeting prices like a mad woman. I'm tracking 2019 and 2020 right now so that I can attempt to identify the sweet spot for booking in 2021. So far, not much changing in prices at all. Even the last minute pries for 2018 weren't skewed that much.

 

I've also been reading some world cruise blogs. Gets me so excited!! Does anyone have favorite blogs they would care to share?

 

Thanks again for all those along the ride :)

I get notifications for every thread I’m subscribed to, participated in, and I swear I get notifications every time someone posts to any of the six cruise lines forums I follow. Plus I get emails.

I wish I remembered how I did that so 1. I could share with you, and 2. I could turn them off!!! This is such a busy website. My phone “dings” all day long. It’s kinda embarrassing at work. Muting my phone doesn’t stop them.

I know. First world problems.

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Isn't complaining about complainers the same thing as complaining which the complainers about complainers are complaining about?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes most of us know, the "Free" at sea offers are not free. Its a marketing gimmick that seems to be working fine. Its the gift the keeps giving to NCL. Either the cruise price goes up or the service fees added keep the profit margin high. Honestly, the only one that irks me is the "free" excursions. Nothing could be further from the truth. That one gets 5 Pinocchios IMHO. The "free" internet minutes are truly free though.

The last I looked it said “free excursion credits.”And on my Panama Canal cruise in April I doubled my excursion credit to $50 per person per port because it was a Distinctive Voyage.

I took three HOHO excursions and a boat ride in Cabo. All were $50 or less. My fifth excursion in Victoria was $129. I paid $79 which was total I spent. $79 for 5 excursions. Works for me just fine!

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I need to take a for forensic approach to the 2 pic’s.

1- the grand suite would have granite countertops. So why is the phone on a cream colored surface? I also doubt all the dust could accumulate shortly after a complete multimillion dollar refurbishment.

 

2- sinks in the GS. Are white porcelain, they appear to pinkish hue to them.

 

If I am wrong, Please accept my apology in advance. However, we had friend in a GS right after its refurb. So 8m going by their photos.

 

 

 

 

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WOW.

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I'm sorry you had a less than stellar cruise, but I think some of your expectations were too high.

 

 

 

I'm speaking from experience -- we have 2 children and have been cruising with them since the oldest was only 7 months old. You have to realize, even if you are in a suite, that you still have to "adult" while on vacation, moreso when they are that young. We've recently hit the "sweet spot" where ours are old enough to toilet themselves, bathe themselves, feed themselves, go to kids' camp for extended periods, and still want to spend time with us. Cruising with children is a completely different experience compared to cruising as a couple. It's not going to be a quiet time with romantic dinners and moonlight strolls. Even now, with a 9 year old and a 7 year old, my wife and I rarely get time alone. I do have to give it to Royal, though -- with Family Time Dining, they serve the kids first and the kids' camp counselors pick them up from the dining room 45 minutes into dinner service so the adults can enjoy a longer, quieter dinner.

I think that’s an unfair statement. It does not sound like the OP was trying to avoid “adulting” or parenting while on the cruise. They had been told babysitting services were available as a service when they are not available at all times. There is nothing unreasonable about wanting to hire a babysitter for a few evenings after the kiddles are in bed.

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Victoria?? Where does it say Victoria?

I read this in one of the links earlier in the thread. I assumed if they were going to Victoria they’d be finishing up in the dry dock there. That was an assumption about dry docking.

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You seem to be in a distinct minority. And you needed to resurrect a 12 year old thread? Hmmmm

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And yet the most “difficult” pax we’ve ever encountered were those on a world cruise segment who seemed to regard the whole ship as their personal domain and woe betide anyone foolish enough to sit on “their” barstool or poolside lounger. They formed an airtight, usually hostile little clique and even a friendly “good morning” was met with icy (aka rude) distain. It pretty much ruined the whole trip.

Was that on Seabourn or another line?? Just curious.

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Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on what they can do in transit before they hit dry-dock in Victoria. Will be interesting to see how they do this.

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It's one of the sailings with "Past Guest Offer", which is an extra point per night and an extra $100 OBC.

 

https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/insider-offer

Also watch for cruises that are classified as Distinctive Voyages. They sometimes offer double latitude points.

And they always seem to offer shore excursion credits and WiFi so you can double up on your regular perks to $100 per cabin and 500 minutes.

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They're going to spend $50mllion for refurb on Joy.

Here is an article about the reposition.... http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/ncl-pulls-joy-from-china-adds-europe-australia-ships.html

 

 

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I hope everyone has noted that the $50M transformation of the Joy will begin in Shanghai but WILL BE COMPLETED ON THE REPOSITIONING CRUISE to Victoria. So no one can complain about construction on this cruise. I wonder if fares on this TP will be discounted to reflect this? Might make it a great deal.

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Classy folks on NCL.

Classy trolls on the forum.

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What’s the real issue here?? The OP asked a question. She was answered. No one has seen changing tables in restrooms on Celebrity. Maybe it wasn’t the answer she wanted but it is what is is. Celebrity has no changing tables in the public restrooms. Now the OP wants to argue every comment. It’s not relevant what they do on MSC or in Sweden. WHAT is the point???

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It's unreal. People pay thousands for a cruise, then complain about pennies on sales tax.

The only reason some people come here to CC is to complain. It gives their life purpose, in their minds. We all know who they are.

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Older does not mean awful. These ships are updated and refurbed. I’d take 14 days with a wonderful itinerary in a heartbeat over a 7 day less exciting itinerary with character breakfasts.

And remember, more people will post about things they perceive as bad, than will post about the good and normal and pleasant. Those things just tend to get overlooked. Human nature.

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They have lunch there, but its not considered Mederno...its just a different lunch buffet than the main buffet. That attracted me the most because it had excellent chicken, tuna and egg salad, pasta salad that was fantastic, some other salads, yellow beets, fruit selection and breads plus make your own salad. Was perfect for a nice ligt lunch.

YES. That chicken salad. It. Was. The. Best. I’ve. Ever. Had. !!!!! [emoji79]

And the egg salad too!!!

Those cold salads and pretzels rolls were my lunch for 18 days.

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I believe there is a limit, but it's sneaky. Like only 2 drinks an hour or something similar to that. I vaguely recall a waiter by the pool telling my friend about it when she wanted to get another drink or 2 drinks at once, but she had already had one drink that hour. It not only regulates how much you drink, but keeps you from "buying" drinks for others who may not have UBP. It's the kind of limit most wouldn't notice. This was over a year ago and my memory of the details are a bit hazy.

Could it be the memory is hazy because you’d had too many drinks by the pool? [emoji6]

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I love when people get on here, all huffy about something that NCL does and vow they will never cruise again on NCL. Do they think we care?

To me it’s just one less whiny, obnoxious , pretentious passenger to have to listen to on the ship.

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You’ll have to forgive me. NCL has offered no Norwegian Fjords cruises for May/June of 2019 so I have committed an adulterous act and booked a cruise on Cruise and Maritime. 302 days to go!!! YES I’m ashamed but I’ll get over It.

I did recite 10 Hail Marys so I should be cleansed by now from this sin. [emoji6]

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