1stTIMECRUZER

Does anyone have an update on this topic?  DH and I have some friends we'll be cruising with in 2025 and they are super nervous because they all sleep with fans.  They are first time cruisers.

3 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:

I was on the Escape last week and got a Thermal Suite pass for a day.  Masking was expected and was the the only COVID change that I was aware of.  Most people were abiding by that while walking around and perhaps a bit less so in the loungers.  I'm not sure what was expected in the rooms like the sauna.

How much is the day pass?  Thanks!

Thank you all!  I tried to find the fine print without any luck.  Much appreciated!

Shore Excursion Promotional Credits is one of the perks when we booked our cruise.  The website says "$50 Shore Excursion Credit per tour for first Guest on cruise reservation".    I have a couple questions for those that know how this works.  (1) If you happen to book two excursions in one port (rare I know), would you get two $50 credits?  (2) Do you get a $50 credit for every port?  (3) What if we miss a port?  Do we still get a $50 OBC?  What has your experience been with this perk?  Thank you! 😌

Yea, I knew there was a fee for the proctoring but didn't know if it was separate from the testing materials.  Thanks @JamieLogicalfor the barcode/QR code explanation.  Much appreciated!

Can you register for a proctored test using these tests or other tests you purchase on your own or do you need to purchase the tests through the testing service website?

7 hours ago, Serengeti228 said:

Yes, you can stack as many as you have.

 

I book a future cruise departing Nov 2021 and I apply all coupons I have (except one for some reason) on this booking. Coupons include

1. FCC in fixed amount;

2. 10% discount received from one previous cruise;

3. 25% discount received from another previous cruise; and

4. CNCs expiring Feb 2021 , but I got approval for extension (before its expiry) till the last day of the Nov 2021 cruise;

 

FCCs and discount coupons are applied for the cruise fare, and CNCs are for the payment, including deposit. 

Thank you so much!

4 hours ago, desherry said:

We booked a TA on the DAWN for April 2022 using both the 10% off and cruise next certificates.

Thanks, very helpful!

We had our February 2021 cruise canceled so re-booked for February 2022 using two cruise next certificates.  Should we have been able to use the 10% off as well?  I booked through a TA and didn't think about that.  What has your experience been?  Will NCL only allow one or the other and not both (CN certs vs 10% off)?

I've been reading the Disney review as well.  I think I was able to read pages 1-7 but nothing loads for day 8 besides the title.  I'm assuming that's how far you've gotten, Kim.  I've been to Disney many times but it's great to get a current perspective for our upcoming trip.  Thanks so much for sharing all of the details! I enjoyed the St. Thomas review as well and hope to visit there on a cruise in 2022. 🤞

Enjoying your review.  Thanks for sharing.  We were lucky enough to cruise in February on the Breakaway and enjoyed GSC (no cabana or villa) as well.  

@AlohaLivin I would love a copy as well.  Thank you so much for sharing!    sherrycummings1989@gmail.com

Enjoying your pictures. Thank you for sharing.   We took the northbound cruise on the Jewel the summer of 2018.  Ready to go back! 

Following!  So glad you were able to take this cruise!😎

I can't recall if I've posted anything yet but I've been following along and thinking and praying  for you.  Holy cow you've been through the wringer!   The gas hose has always made me nervous and I'd rarely step over one.  But now I look at it in horror and think......oh helllllllllllllllllllllll NO!  Glad you are making progress.  Hang in there.  Thanks for all the info you've shared over the years on Cruise Critic.  Like many, I've benefited from it.  Here's hoping you get to cruise in December!  😎

Thanks for the great review, Sid.  We haven't cruised Carnival for a while but once all of our NCL Cruise Next certificates are used, may need to give it another try.  We've loved all of our cruises, regardless of the line.  Just wish we could cruise more than once a year.  Thanks again!

10 hours ago, FL-Cruzer said:

Yes    FYI they are now requiring reservation due to the popularity.  There is still no extra fee.  If you want to see how they make the food sit at the bar top in front of the chefs.

Can you make reservations before you are on the ship?  How far in advance?  Thanks!

We'll be on the Breakaway in February 2020.  Can't wait.  Great review!  We are fellow Iowan's as well so looking forward to getting away in the winter!

Here's another thought for those trying to cruise on a budget.  First, I am no longer a 1stTIMECRUZER, but only cruise once a year or every other year so am not an expert as many of you are.  The last two cruises we've had the "FREE AT SEA" with the beverage and dining plan.  As a recent early retiree, I'm more budget conscious and am looking for ways to continue to cruise at a lesser cost.  I didn't notice this when booking our last couple cruises (maybe there was no Sail Away rate available??)...but, there is a huge difference (huge for us) with the Sail Away rate and the rate that includes the "FREE AT SEA".  For us, the rate difference was about $450 each so $900 and that did not include gratuities that would have been tacked on as well for the beverage or specialty dining plan.  Wow, that's big when you are trying to budget.  We do appreciate a balcony cabin but went with the Sail Away balcony rate.  We appreciate the specialty dining options but can certainly work with the complimentary options.  We like a beverage here and there but I'm certain there were days when we were in port that we didn't have two drinks on board.  I do understand that with the Sail Away rate we can't pick our cabin and there are "risks" associated with that which we were willing to take.  FREE AT SEA is not really free.  Weigh the difference and make sure you get what you pay for.

16 minutes ago, razor7_us said:

 

 

DSC is not refundable onboard and must be requested to be refunded via a form submission to NCL post cruise, so the original post is a bit confusing. 

I've never asked to have it removed so wouldn't know how to go about it.  I simply shared the encounter we had with our steward.  

BirdTravels you just read my mind.  I've made it to GSC once.  Have it on a 2020 itinerary.  I wondered if they might substitute Nassau if they couldn't do GSC.

2 hours ago, Von & John said:

 

So were we...

Did the stewards name begin w/ an "M"?

I can't recall here name but I'm guessing we had the same steward.

11 hours ago, Von & John said:

 

What ship were you on? 

 

We had a similar situation with our steward (also female) the night prior to disembarkation.  We had an add'l tip already planned for her.  She asked to speak to us privately in our room & mentioned that a number of the EE's had been talking & they didn't think the service charge distribution was fair.  Ultimately it was very awkward for us!  We were so taken aback at the time, we didn't know what to say (a first for me 🙂).  We let her know we were expected elsewhere & needed to depart.  Up until that point, she had been an amazing steward!  We debated over eliminating her additional tip.  In the end - we still gave her the full planned additional tip & kept the service charge in place.  Plus we had already provided a couple of Cruise Hero cards in her name.

 

However, it left a very sour note on our cruise for us - which I still struggle with today.  We decided against mentioning anything to the Hotel Director.  I would have preferred to mention it - so they could do retraining with the team.  However, I fully appreciate that instead - it most likely would have ended with disciplinary process &/or employment termination.   We were also asked not to tell anyone!

I have decided if this were to happen again, I would simply express the impact the conversation was having on my cruise satisfaction & that if it persisted no additional tip would be forthcoming.  We would possibly report it this time, dependent upon how the conversation went.

We were on the NCL Jewel.

17 hours ago, OBSESSIVEWORLDTRAVELER said:

So your cabin steward confirmed they do get a portion of the funds from the Daily Service Charges. There have been conversations on CC about stewards and dining staff stating they don’t get anything and NCL is keeping 100% of it. I heard it myself when a guest asked a dining staff personnel cleaning tables about it and he said he gets nothing. Maybe your cabin steward has sinked to this level to make up for the guests who line up at the end of the cruise complaining about bad service and want their DSC refunded. It’s economics. The less money there is in the pot, the less each individual will potentially receive. 

Yes, as I recall she confirmed they got a little of it but very little.   I was so stunned by the conversation that I did not ask for detail.

19 hours ago, Love my butler said:

 

If the service your steward provided was average at best,  why did you feel the need to shower her with money throughout the week and give her even more money at the end?  Just curious.

We didn't shower her with money but rather left a bit here and there for service appreciated.  Definitely no "shower" of money.