ChiefMateJRK

Thanks. I'm too cheap to use my buddy @complawyer's strategy. Do that ten times and I'm down around a hundred bucks.🤣

Interesting. This is what had me confused:

I just make a reservation and pocket the ten bucks.😎

Yes. I know. That is why I asked:

I was just curious. Why do you care about my question?

Yep. I've done that.

Good for you! I don't either. But, if they ask how they should spend their money, I'll generally toss my two cents in. So accruing charges while on board and paying them at the end is "financing them?" How so. I don't pay any interest. If I can't afford the bill at the end (I can), I won't cruise.

I don't believe that Food Republic takes reservations.

Why do you people give NCL money before you have to? Do you make your house payments two months in advance?

I don't know. But he said: I asked a question. You seem to be trying to ask or answer a different question. I guess it's great for the rest of us when some of you want to loan money interest free to NCL. Helps the debt situation. Helps keep my fares low. Not exactly sure what you're getting out of it.

Does FAS+ or dining package really sell out?

There are no sales. There is always a sale. When you wrap your head around the above, then you will understand.

Several cruises ago, the Teppanyaki chefs put on a morning program to show off a little and have some audience participation. They promised a free dinner to those who volunteered. After they did, they told them they could claim their free dinner at the buffet.🤣 I'm guessing you could score that same free dinner for an itinerary change.😎

There really is no pattern to when they release the itineraries. I'm waiting for the 2026 AK itineraries. I asked the CN reps on the Spirit last month, and they don't know anything more than we do. Just "soon."

Amen brother/sister!!!

Yikes!! Sounds like life is easier just to eat something down the food chain like God intended. 😎

Yeah. That's what I thought. You're a fun person hiding behind a grumpy persona. 😎 My prescription: stop looking for ways to "kill time." Focus more on enjoying the time God gives you. That's what I do. Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the heck is this risotto? (somebody had to ask)

True story. I thought I had the lyrics correct, but did my homework with about five minutes of precious on board internet prior to disembark. On the bus, on the way to the lumberjacks and while waiting after getting off the bus, I quietly sang at a low level "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay...." Was hoping to get a crowd movement going. It didn't work.😒 Will I try it again next time? Heck yes!!! 🥳 These people just don't start drinking early enough. Or, has the world just lost it?😒

I really wasn't talking about food....🤣

You might be happier going to Disneyland instead of an NCL cruise.😎 No worries, we'll fill your spot.

Is Disney really the model of what we should strive for? Yikes!!!

I doubt any of us need to make new friends. I certainly don't. If it happens, it happens and it is fun. On my cruise last month, we were reacquainted with a nice couple we spent time with on the Encore in 2021. Our only common ground was that we drank and enjoyed listening to Alexa work her magic on the piano (Encore OL). We gathered each night for the privilege. Imagine my surprise when DW spotted them on the Spirit on the 16 day HI-AK itinerary. We saw them later and chatted a bit. Reminisced. It was fun, but certainly not something any of us "needed." Sure. I can chill just about anywhere on the ship. I'm not a "totally unsociable grumpy old man." Well, I am old. I'm also not "sociable" if anybody really knows what that means. Grumpy? Never on a cruise ship unless they run out of Guinness or the band sucks (not really then, I just find another venue). Why would you be grumpy on a cruise ship? Why would you want to "waste a half hour." You really need my coaching friend. Hopefully we'll meet up on a ship before it's too late!

Thanks for clearing that up. 🤣

That's a great pro tip. It looks like I failed to respond to a few questions last year (I think I was still on the ship and generally not spending time on the internet). The only reason I found out my Shorex was cancelled is because I tried to do the cancel/rebook thing at the Shorex desk to utilize non-refundable OBC. They told me my initial cruise was cancelled. Then they told me I wasn't entitled to a refund because it was "pre-paid." What?! It was a minor cluster. I was on a B2B and the Shorex guy was looking at the wrong week when he told me there was no evidence of my buying and paying for the Shorex in advance. I asked him, "then why do I have tickets that were left in my room?" He spent about a half hour on the phone with HQ back in Miami and still couldn't figure it out. Eventually, he gave up with HQ and called up the correct week's invoice. At the end of the day, I got refunded.....twice. I initiated a case to report the over-refund once back home, but they just gave up and said don't worry about it.