ChiefMateJRK

Good point. I wasn't thinking about that because I never prepay them. If I can wait until two days prior and save some money, I probably will.

The good: Choir of Men, Company Men, Elements, Jersey Boys The bad: Footloose, Kinky Boots The ugly: Priscilla

I disagree. Why should I prepay hundreds of dollars of DSC at booking when I can pay the exact same amount two days prior to the cruise. I'm in the book early-book often crowd. We can actually earn interest on our savings now! 😎

Yep. $40 pp for a ten day cruise will likely encourage me to prepay two days prior.

I was convinced three cruises ago that NCL had screwed this up. I had them send me the final invoice, and they had everything correct.

Laugh?!? This is a tragedy! (jk) That said, I would not be happy. Do you not tip an occasional glass?

That's funny. "Double Black Label neat please" Wash, rinse, repeat.....

Yep, that would work! 😎

Maybe you need to look at different itineraries? Some folks are happier than pigs in 💩 just to be on the ship, regardless of whether or not their bedroom has a fancy view. "Claustrophobic" is just a lousy excuse for needing to have a fancier room about 80% of the time. I've sailed both steerage and balcony. I would pay (and have paid) about $100 more to have that crappy balcony. Aft balcony? Sure, that works if it's dirt cheap. It was on my last cruise and I enjoyed several afternoon naps on the lounger. Regular balcony? I think they're a crappy joke on folks with more dollars than sense. But, to each their own. 😎

Does somebody need to go to college to have a "real job?"

I just mock booked a balcony for two on that cruise. The 10% off reduces the $2600 fare by $176. Likely not a meaningful enough figure to sway anybody's trip planning (I could be wrong).

I avoid having a refundable OBC remainder by not pre-paying DSCs. I should have some non-refundable on my next cruise, that I'll just have to spend on stuff that qualifies. Probably a minor excursion or two booked on board or taxes charged on beverages while in port. Somebody recently stated that those can be charged to non-refundable. If true, OP may wish to add this to the list.

On many NCL cruises, two inside cabins will be less than a balcony. Have you checked this?

I believe that you are mistaken. Your on-line trip summary should give you the option to book transfers well before check in.

Are these those big vans where if you're not in the second row you have to do acrobatic things to squeeze into the other rows?

That's funny. I did the opposite. I scheduled a time to meet with the local Kohler installer, and I provided him with a complete list of what I wanted with Kohler list prices. Shower components, faucets, etc. He refused to give me a bid because I knew too much (i.e. I knew that their free installation offer was bogus, as it would have been thousand and thousands - and thousands - more than the sum total of the material list prices). Nice guy, but we were both wasting our time. That said, working with him was the most enjoyable of our remodeling attempts. Don't get me started on the $36K bathroom remodel quote that didn't even include the floor coverings and towel racks.... "I rent and I cruise." That's my mantra from here on out (and actually brings us back towards on topic.)😎 Too bad we didn't get together for a drink on that October NE Joy cruise. I think we would have had some fun!

I'll save you the search. Doing such a thing is either a) a harmless, innocent way to have fun or b) an awful thing for somebody to do (it leaves a mess for the crew to clean up, it creates a slipping safety hazard, it annoys every balcony around you because those awful bubbles might float into their "space," it pollutes the ocean and kills the whales - okay, that last one may not have actually been posted....😎)

🤣Yeah, @ChiefMateJRK and everybody else on the ship. IOW, stick him in an aft balcony and lock the door. Does LA actually now install cameras in your bathrooms to see how you're using water? I try to avoid all "news", so I really don't know.

Yeah, I once attempted that for our 23 year old house. Eventually, I gave up, sold the house, and downsized to a rental. Life is good and easy when you rent. 😎

I would recommend test driving it. The website is very user friendly, and you can search/sort based upon whatever you're looking for. Once I found a good fit, I tended to purchase the same or similar policies on future trips. I prefer strong medevac and medical, a reasonable amount of trip interruption and cancellation for medical reasons without concern for a lengthy pre-existing condition look back. I don't buy any insurance that requires I purchase it within "x" days of my first cruise payment. I book early and often and very often wind up cancelling prior to final payment due to change in plans.

I'm guessing that you haven't visited Squaremouth?

Yeah, like you're the only fat-fingered CC poster. 🤣😎(jk)

I strongly prefer ships with excellent observation lounges, so Encore/Bliss/Joy are my first choices. On Encore/Bliss, DD can save a few $$ by booking a studio. The Jewel class ships (Jewel, Pearl, Jade, Gem) are a close second. I really like the aft facing great outdoors on those. I haven't yet sailed Sun/Sky but have both scheduled and expect them to be similar to the Jewel class. I don't like Epic, but that has nothing to do with the nice bathroom arrangement that is just too "different" for many. POA is a POS, but fine for seeing HI.

I honestly thought (was hoping? 🤣) that this was another thread about bringing bottled-bubbles on the ship to blow off of the balcony. That was a really fun thread....

We were on Joy NE in October. Great ship. Fantastic observation lounge. Nice roomy forward facing buffet. The Elements show was really good, as was Ryan in the District Brewhouse (hopefully he's still there for your cruise). Crew was excellent as always. What's not to like? Footloose was well done, but shows like that tend to bore me. I was glad when it finally ended.