Jennyyl

Thanks for the info, I was just curious how things were going. If everything was back to normal. We sail on her April 11th.

We also were on this cruise. Restrictions were lifted the last night for dinner. We were told they have to go 72 hours without a noro case before restrictions are lifted....so we obviously had cases this cruise.

The virus has to play itself out. I believe that it is a contact virus, not an airborne one... but I don't know that for sure. And I don't think the incubation is anywhere near as long as two weeks.

 

The measures on the ship are to minimize the possibility of contact with the virus. So washing hands and sanitizing reduces the chance of it being on your skin and then you touching your mouth, eyes, nose.

 

Also at this point on the ship, only staff in gloves are permitted to touch any serving spoons, tongs, pie lifters, etc. There is zero passenger contact with anything other than their individual plate and cutlery.

Its not just a contact virus....its also airborne if you are close to someone who vomits or using a pubic bathroom.

You are correct the incubation period generally is 24-48 hours after ingestion, ( such as licking fingers/inhailing vomit particles)...i was talking about how long someone can transmit it via their stool/not washing hands thoroughly after leaving bathrooms, then touching handrails, elevators, tongs etc.

In addition, should you enter your cabin after the previous occupant had the stomach virus and you stewart didnt clean every square inch (and im not too confident there is any cleaning product that kills noro germs that can last up to 7 days on surfaces).

Most of this info can be found on the cdc website http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/transmission.html

If so, they should remain in quarantine to the end of the cruise, or leave at the next port if they'd rather....

I think you are missing the point...no one said to quarantine for the duration of the cruise....im saying its impossible to get ahead of the situation when they are infiltrating these people back into the cruise population and everyone thinks the washy washy lady at the buffet is the answer to the problem.

Uhhh...doncha think if it was the water we would have heard about outbreaks on other cruise ships that were docked at the same time?

Also people seem to have a false sense of security....i understand washing your hands is a way to reduce your risk.....however the vomit/diarrhea particles are still in the air from public restrooms or someone vomining near you. Also from what i understand hand sanitizers dont work on stomach virus, so im not sure why people think the washy washy people are so important. Washy washy also doesn't help when people cough into their hands/lick their fingers etc then touch tongs.

Also quarantining people for 24-48 hours isnt a way to stop the spread since you still can transmit the virus for 2 weeks after sympoms end.

If people booked a cruise, bought Inurance and then purposely canceled just to get points… I would consider that Insurance fraud.

 

Harriet

Ummm...who in their right mind would go to all that trouble and pay for insurance just to get points???? No chocolate on my pillow or ship pin would be worth the costs of insurance.

Does anyone have the Gem 10 day menus. Also what night is the prime rib in the main dining room. Thanks in advance!!

I have promo UDP for an upcoming cruise. The booking was made April 2015.

 

I just called.

 

There are no additional charges for UDP.

You would think they would all go to the same training class and have the same information. It's very frustrating to cruisers to be given different info every time they call.

You were given incorrect information. You can have every meal, including dinner served by your butler in your suite from the MDR and/or specialties. Cagney is offered to suite guests for breakfast and lunch unless you are on a ship with an exclusive Haven restaurant.

 

I bet if you call back and talk to someone else, you will get different incorrect information.;)

She seemed pretty sure, has anyone asked about this since the start of the new year b/c that seems to be when these changes took place.

I'm not suggesting that you were mistaken.

 

However, plenty of people before you have posted on here about something they have been told by NCL staff, and suggesting that we could all phone to confirm it ourselves.

 

Very often the final conclusion is that they were given incorrect information.

 

I may be wrong, but this looks like one of those cases.

Let's hope this is the case...however she seemed quite sure and was very detailed that this is not the $10 up charge for an extra meal or upgraded entree. She said it was something that was just started and was understanding that it's unfair however my cruise docs say things can change. Hopefully others will call and get further clarification.

I'm not sure how the restaurants can charge a cover AND have an al a carte menu (which all ships will have for most restaurants shortly). I mean I'm sure they could...they can do what they want, right? :) The T&Cs are what I'm going by. As far as room service for suites, it says right on NCL's site that it's available 24 hours a day. That includes dinner, no? ;) Thanks for sharing. I'm very skeptical of what you've been told, but now my eyes are perked to see if any changes in writing occur.

....

I deff wasn't mistaken, take it for what it's worth....you can call and find out the same information if you please.

I have a cruise booked in March, that i booked last year and got the UDP as a promotion... I just went online and tried to book LeBistro and it's not charging me $10.... says I can book it free.....

I was told it was done on board. I just wanted to pass the info I received so no one is surprised.

Just imagine how it feels for those of us cruisers who don't qualify for any of the package plans and have to buy drinks individually at newer, exorbitant costs (hiked over 30% in the last year) to now paying a la carte for specialty restaurants when we just want to celebrate one special occasion. Not sure when the hikes are going to stop but soon I may find myself with another cruise line all together. It's really sad as the crew on Norwegian are second to none but FDR seems to be working on getting rid of them too. :(

That's not the point, nor my problem for those cruises whom didn't book with perks. However if you did, wouldn't you be upset if what you thought you were getting, isn't what you are getting any longer?

Even though my 2 cruises have been booked since May 2015, when I called this week to apply a payment to one of them, I decided to ask some questions about the specialty dining plan.

I asked about the difference between getting the free meal plan as a chosen amenity and also by purchasing the specialty restaurant meal plan... I was told in both instances you have to add $10 per person per dinner. That is not what I was originally supposed to receive when I booked these cruises.

The only 2 restaurants that are excluded from the new $10 cover charge are Mederno and Teppanyaki. The other three are not. That means my 10 day cruise will cost $600 more for my party of 6. I was told you can't have dinner served by your butler in a suite, only breakfast or lunch. Cagneys is also not guaranteed to be your restaurant for breakfast or lunch if you are sailing in a suite, it depends on what sailing you are on.

I understand things are subject to change, but what cruise line doesn't honor your original reservation. I would have never known about these new changes that started this week had I not asked. Also on our cruise last year we could only get Teppanyaki once, imagine how hard it will be now since everyone that wants to avoid a $10 cover charge will be clammering to get that small restaurant.

NCL seems to have difficulty (stupid) in their marketing. They are constantly referring to all suites as Haven Suites. For example, you can find information on Jewel class non-haven suites at thehaven.ncl.com

 

Consider the term "non-Haven Suites" means all staterooms except suites.

 

Also, a number of people have posted in the BIG thread clarifications from various sources which explain that non-Haven Jewel-class suites would not incur the fee.

 

Having been a suite guest a number of times, I just cannot believe the fee would apply. But, who knows what NCL will ultimately do. Personally, I have stated that if they charge any additional fee for any type of butler room service, I will reduce the DSC to $0.

hmm, I sure hope that's the case bc I certainly wouldn't be using a butler if I was charged $8, on top of the tip I give.

I sure understood it as, only haven guests get it at no charge. I've asked on the ncl fb pages, but they never respond much to questions like that. they only respond to people's questions in regards to how much laundry service is, etc.

if I'm in a suite, not the haven, what is the point of having a butler of I'm going to be charged every time he delivers food? I planned on having dinner served in my cabin, but not if I'm going to be charged $8 each time. is there something I'm missing? bc I heard the fee applies to any food delivered to any room except the haven and above

I'm not so sure they would open themselves up to a lawsuit like that by lying in writing on a public message board.

maybe that's just why they aren't answering that question which I've seen asked on here several times as well as their Facebook, silence speaks volumes.

Just curious, but for everyone asking NCL to confirm if the waiters in specialty restaurants are included in the DSC, would you believe NCL with their answer? I wouldn't after how underhanded they have been, I think if they ever do answer that question they will lie and say "no", even though we know that's not the case, for as long as I can remember I've always been told they were included.

What about cruisers, such as myself that never dine in a MDR? I dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a specialty restaurant, sine I cruise in a suite, rightfully those cruisers shouldn't have to pay the $14.95 a day since we are now being charged 18 percent in specialty restaurants on top of the $14.95!!.

I think the next step will be gratuities will be mandatory and won't be allowed to be removed, as several people have suggested.

But thanks so much for looking out for your cruisers NCL, I appreciate the convenience . how about next time you come up with a convenience that would actually benefit your cruisers and not your pockets.

Last summer, I did buy the UDP for my 6 year old daughter on the Breakaway. If I recall correctly, after deducting the price of the dinner show, the balance for the other 6 nights was roughly $80. She ate with us every night at a specialty restaurant and ate anything she wanted. She did eat off of the kids menu once (maybe twice) but she always had an adult dessert and had appetizers from the adult menu most nights. She enjoyed herself (especially the chocolate fondue at Le Bistro) and I did not need to be concerned with a full surcharge for just a dessert or an appetizer (if she did not get a full entrée). The dinner show inclusion was important.

great to know!!! thanks for the info!

The kids will only be charged 1/2 price if they order an entree from the main menu. On our last cruise on the Getaway, I was planning on getting my kids UDP as well because we had the UDP and i was going to be charged $40 for the kids' Illusionarium anyway. But then i just did a pay as you go and worked out so much better because there were times when the kids just wanted some pizza and other stuff from the kids menu and that was free. Also since there is no limit to the apps and dessert you can order, the kids can just order off the apps and dessert from the main menu without any extra charge .. so even if you go on multiple specially restaurants every day ( as long as as the kids only order once from the main adult menu) , you still come out ahead.

This is very helpful!! thank you! do you recall if the complimentary kids menu was the same in each specialty restaurant each night.

Check again. Get back to me when you figure it out, if you ever do. JUST SAYIN

If you assume the tip is built into the price, you are correct that you are paying 15 percent gratuity, however, if the tip is not included in the price, you will pay 18 percent. I guess it's how you interpret it. I interpret it as the latter of the two.

For example: cost of meal is $100. 18 percent would be $18. If the cost of the meal and tip is $100, that would make the meal cost $85 and the 18 percent tip $15. Is it the cost of the meal, or the cost of the meal plus tip??

So far, it has not been confirmed either way if you will be charged this additional 18% for meals included in the UDP. My guess is that you will not be, but we'll have to wait for first-hand reports.

 

Even if they do charge you the 18%, that means that instead of getting a 100% discount with the free UDP, you are getting an 85% discount on specialty dining. That doesn't sound too bad to me, but if you are concerned about this free perk "costing you money", just don't use it. Eat somewhere else. Have another look at your booking, and if it no longer looks like a good deal without the free UDP that you will not be using, cancel it.

last time I checked, that would be an 82 percent discount, just sayin.... ;) maybe your math is so bad that's why you always end up tipping extra. :rolleyes:

Call back and ask the supervisor if they are doing this.

what good would it do? everyone gets different answers every time they call. not to mention I would rather just give you my bill since you like to pay extra for everything;)

I called again today after being assured last night that this wasn't true....I again was assured this wasn't true and asked to speak to a supervisor who also assured me, but the supervisor called the ship anyway to put my mind at ease.....and it's true, they are now charging 18 percent. so for those of you who believe the waiters deserve more, thank you, you got your wish....can I give you my reservation number so you can prepay mine since you are so free with your money (and mine). by no means am I cheap, I've stayed in the most expensive suites on most cruise lines, however I like to reward deserving employees at my own discretion, furthermore I don't want to find out when I get on a cruise that I could be paying a surcharge for toilet paper or pool towels.