tiger-91

I just rode with cocoa beach shuttle solo for $10 round trip from Americas best value inn.

On the return, I was the only passenger in the van. Excellent service.

The spreadsheet was missing many new ships.

They're added.

NCL Sun is updated too.

Ship List.xls

I recently booked an interior. Closer to sail date, ocean views prices went way below what I'd already final paid for the interior. I begged my travel agent to get me an upgrade, for free, and he did. But NCL chose the cabin. I got one that has two exterior walls. The one with the window and another against the lifeboats. It took me a while to figure out why I could here laughter and why people were shouting. It was people on the outdoor deck below that serves the lifeboats.

Once I figured it out, embarrassingly day 5 of 21, I could easily ignore it.

But even so, to me, the cabin is undesirable.

I lost my husband 3 years ago, and we were long-time travelers on Oceania. I still love the line BUT, I don't believe their policies are fair )to solos. On those trips where there is not a discount and I am paying a full double fare, they do not give you all the excursions (if you chose that package) that they say you are entitled to with that selection.

In an upcoming trip, the options were the beverage package, a $$$ amount, or the excursions. I chose the 6 six excursions.

 

When I went to book them I was told since I was alone in the stateroom I would only be entitled to 3 (EVEN THO I WAS PAYING DOUBLE). I'm going to enjoy this cruise, but this was the push I needed to leave them and shop other lines. It is disappointing.

 

So beware of what you think you might be getting.

You can change your perk still. I would call them again though, and talk to a different representative. I'm assuming it's a six port cruise? then each stateroom gets six $50 off excursions. It's not per person, it's per stateroom. A family of four would only get one $50 off per port.

An update:

At the last Japanese port, the ship bought paper straws. Sometimes we get served frozen drinks with plastic straws (using them up?) And sometimes with the paper ones, which surprisingly do not get mushy.

I even left a paper straw overnight in a bedside glass of water and no issues using it the next morning.

Guess what?

I ordered a Bushwhacker just now and got a straw without asking.

I remarked, "Oh, we get straws again!"

The bartender shook his head and said, "Don't ask me. It changes every two days!"

I'll keep the hundred plastic straws that I bought in port today for 100yen in my cabin as backup.

...The OP didn't make this post to give others a heads up. The entire purpose of this post is to complain and figure out how he can keep complaining...

Actually, if you'd read my post again, I did think this is news. Two days ago I could get a straw and suddenly I was told no way. I came to cruisecritic to research if this was truly a company policy or if I misunderstood the bartender. I found nothing after multiple searches for drinking straws, plastic straws, or just straw, which brought up results, but nothing relevant. (Must be my Tapatalk app failing me.)

Now that I have confirmation, I won't complain to anyone until the post Cruise survey. I agree it's corporate's fault and nobody's on the ship.

I hope that clears up why I posted while on a trip.

YESSS, another straw thread!!

I'm on the NCL Jewel and just ordered a frozen Bushwhacker at the pool bar. The bartender brought it to me and apologized that there is no straw.

I thought at first he meant they ran out or just didn't have any, but he went on to explain that the company said to no longer give out straws.

It's not easy to drink a frozen drink without a straw.

And this is the third day. I had no issues in earlier days of getting a straw. I had to ask for one each time, but I got one.

So I'm not sure if it's just a pool bar thing or a shipwide policy.

To whom do I complain?

watching some of your films I notice you had activities/entertainment around the pool ? was this everyday?

 

Im asking because on our cruise we had no activities or entertainment around the pool area it was very relaxing and quiet,

Yes. I recall stuff happening most days. If people didn't want to play the game or learn the dance, they stopped yelling about it. haha. Loved the DJ sets in the evening before dinner when weather was OK.

I checked the dailies. The videos of pool deck entertainment was for the two White Party evenings. (Remember i sailed B2B)

I realized today that I hadn't uploaded the videos I took on the cruise. (I went to look if I could find any martini glasses...no luck Langman!)

They're mostly of the entertainment and cruise staff. I used a camera phone, so don't expect greatness.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jlWn98TtLBxKNf8n1

Glad you had a good time Glittergal. AnOnymously hope yours is great too!

No western night.

On my sailing there was a "country night". The cruise staff dressed up and did a show in the atrium on the multiple levels. Not a big deal....and I didn't see any cruisers' dressed up.

Yes, it is for the solo cruise cabins....you know the closets...LOL

I thought Royal was doing what Norweigen did with there solo cabins. I have a BIG problem booking a solo cabin, 98 sq ft, for almost $3000. It is actually paying for 3. If I recall the rate is 890/person, which I know would be around 1800. Something cant be right. :eek: .....

Be Careful. Often NCL Studios cost more than solo inside staterooms. All depends on demand and timing. Some people go into a reservation "I want a studio" and don't pay attention to other prices,. They end up paying more because they just don't know.

I also heard about a Gatsby night? Any idea if that's correct? We've NCL cruises and this is our first time with any other line

I saw more people dress for the 70s with flowers and afros and tiedye.

but I agree that most people just dressed for white night..

or black night for the rebellious. Some people dressed all black! Probably because they had no knowledge beforehand to bring white.

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Through 2/28/18 the offer is 10% cash back.

Every now and then the 5% is increased to 10% for some cruiselines. But usually with limits of a certain duration or almost always just balcony or higher class cabin.

But so far almost always 5% for insides.

Here's a pic from inside one of the booths. Some booths only hold two people...

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The Vibe bar is split into paid/free sections. So it's just as easy to grab a lounger on the free side, which also has a hot tub and [a mister zone--EScape only] , or belly up to the free side of the Vibe bar for superior service. Sometimes from the same Vibe bartender. But, it's not adult only or have padded loungers. BUT it's free and not hectic start to the cruise. AND you don't have to feel bad if you choose to spend the day at adults only Spice H2O and its hot tubs or inside because of rain.....

Final edit...not applicable to Epic, whose "VIBE" is called "POSH".

Use cruiseplum.com to search for 1 passenger and filter for Galveston as the departure port.

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The latest and greatest have been uploaded.

Is this benefiting anyone?

Forgot to ask what toiletries do they provide in the room, do we need to bring shampoo etc.

See post 44 for pics of the cabin. From what I see, there is shampoo in the shower and bar soap at the sink. No body lotion.

We saw the Pullmantur Horizon in Tenerife when we were there on QE in December. We were only a few days after you were there. I looked it up when we were home and found such amazing prices and so began researching. There really isn't much info. out there so I was really glad to see your review and found it very helpful. I was worrying about language issues, but you have sorted that for me. I have a couple of questions if you can answer please.

 

What time was the emergency drill on the first day? I couldn't find it on the daily newspapers. Once a few years ago when we were in Gran Canaria on a cruise stop and had a late departure, there was another ship in that was embarking passengers that day, and as we left at about 10.15pm, their passengers were standing outside doing their emergency drill:o

 

Coffees. Do they have speciality coffees and if so can you remember costs of cappuccinos? We don't drink much alcohol so coffee is what we enjoy.

 

Special diets. You might not have any idea about this, but do you know if they are catered for over much?

 

Thank you very much. It sounded like you enjoyed your cruises.

I don't drink coffee. Maybe the earlier link has menus for the coffee? Or maybe I posted pictures?

The only menu specialty I researched for another member is vegetarian. I would have for you on the ship if I'd known. There are other posters here who are cruising soon and could answer. They should have been notified of your post but you could go to their roll call and ask.

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Could you just summarise the dress codes and how much people took notice of them, please.

I assume you mean in the dining room.

I wore a suit on formal night and did the theme night dressing the other nights, except Arabian. I noticed that on formal night most everyone in the dining room looked very nice. Did not see any tuxedos, but also didn't really look closely. Those at my table who didn't want to dress up went to the buffet.

Many people didn't know about the theme nights so didn't participate. I would say the most popular was White Night.

You can read on the dailies that most nightly recommendations for dress were casual. I didn't see any shorts or t-shirts in the dining room, but again I don't really pay that much attention to such things.

Very interesting review,I just booked the Dubai to Athens cruise March,2019...your info is a big help.

 

How did you find the Wi-Fi....Slow or not to bad.

I didn't purchase the wifi and don't know the answer.

some extra info.

above the pool bar on most cruise ships is yet another bar. However on the horizon it is a waffle station. (the picture looks like waffles, but they call them crepes.)

Yes out in the cold air they will make waffles for you. For a fee.

The coffee bar sells food too. Tapas are wrapped in cellophane and on display in a hutch.

Because there are no specialty restaurants, you can upgrade your dinner any night with these options. Some nights they are on special for a different price.

The indoor Buffet tables have these chips that you are to put on your table when you leave. I, a solo, tested one time by using the red disk and unfortunately, sure enough my used silverware and used plate were taken away but my table remained empty. I had to get up again to retrieve more silverware.

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What is the smoking policy?

 

Roy

Most of the smokers seemed to be British.

There are permanent ashtrays in the hallways though! A remnant of times gone by.....

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