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sdmike

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Posts posted by sdmike

    How much discretion do butlers have?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Any other experiences with pre-paying versus post-paying tips for the butler?

     

    I would think that if you're getting a lousy butler, he would just pocket the tips up front and still be a lousy butler, assuming that he's already made his money off of you and there is no incentive for him to "work hard". If you have a good butler, then he/she would be a good butler no matter whether you pre-paid the tips or not.

     

    I agree. I don't prepay. However, I may tip as I go for things I ask for and not necessarily wait until the end of the trip

    Breakaway formal nights?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    There will be a night (at least on 7 day cruises) that NCL calls either "Norwegian Night Out" or "Dress up or Not Night" where there are photographers available if you want to dress up for that. More people dress that night, but it's not required at all. You will see people in Jeans next to people in suits on that night. I'll be the one in jeans. :)

    Hope the NonSmokers are happy-Price Jumps on every cruise

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Serious, non-judgmental question...

     

    There are a lot of people threatening to cancel their cruises due to the policy change (like they did with Carnival). In its simplest form, what's happened here is that NCL has made smoking less convenient (no longer on balcony, but designated areas outside), but not banned it. Is this inconvenience so great that a cruise is no longer an enjoyable option? The value is still there - shows, food, destinations, etc., so it must mean that the inconvenience is so painful that the value isn't there anymore. Is this the case, or are we mostly seeing knee-jerk reactions from people angry at the change?

    NCL Smoking Ban

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I am a smoker.

     

    About 10 years ago, my state banned smoking everywhere, except private clubs. I belonged to a private club, and the city banned us too. We fought hard. We all put in lots of money for lawyers and lawsuits and stays and penalties and on and on. Needless to say, the Board of Health won. The state won.

     

    Smoking was now banned. We went outside. Yes, we had to walk an additional 50 feet every so often. But it wasn't so bad. I could still smoke. I could still drink.

     

    5 years later I took a trip out of state and went to a bar. You could smoke there. I was in there for 3 minutes and my eyes were watering. And I'm a smoker!:eek:

     

    The casinos I can drive to have big giant smoke eaters, so it's not too bad. Plus, about 2 years ago, they made it 75% smoke free as opposed to the former 5%. The ships should put in some smoke eaters in the casino as well, but due to space limitations, I'm assuming that's a long way away.

     

    Aside from those with mobility issues, which is another discussion altogether, its not so bad to go to a designated smoking area. That's how I met some good friends. I got some "fresh" air.

     

    The point of this story is that if its not happening today, its happening tomorrow. There are really just 2 choices you can make. Abide by the rules that are better for the majority and make the best of a situation that isn't the best for you (we do it all the time for other areas too) or piss and moan about it/don't cruise. If you don't cruise and think that your money is going to hurt them, then guess again. They will find a new cruiser who stayed away due to smoking a lot easier than one who does smoke in 2014 and beyond (in USA at least).

     

    Thanks for your perspective, Jethro. It makes sense that as smoking is restricted to certain areas, those areas may become so smoky that they're unbearable even to smokers. I live in California and I'm not a smoker. I didn't really realize how smoker non-friendly my state was until I went into a club in another state with some co-workers. We had to leave it was so bad.

    Angry Orchard on Epic

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    looks like they still exclude premium brands

     

    The Ultimate Beverage Package does not include room service, package sales, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks, vending machines, wine stations or spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer and glasses of wine over $10.

    LEAST favorite NCL hull art

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I think you're right but have to wonder if most feel that the dislike is not the fact that it's all about NYC, but that it's the artist's name where most feel it should be the name of the ship... to me, the Breakaway, as the name of the ship, should be the main, first thing we should notice when we see the ship.

     

    Thoughts?

     

    cheers.

     

    I think a NY theme is fine. I don't even really mind his name being prominent (although it's a bit much). I just think it's ugly :)

    Favorite NCL Hull Art

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted · Edited by sdmike

    cc member Marco posted a great thread asking whether or not members like NCL's hull art (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2070499). Most seem to like it, but others prefer the clean look of a solid color ship. Some of the opinions led me to wonder which hull art do people like the best, hence this poll.

     

    The question is, which NCL ship hull art do you like the MOST

     

    Please also visit the other poll on which hull art you like the LEAST: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2070605

     

    You can see most of the ships clearly on Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Cruise_Line

    Hull art..do you like it or not?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Like any art, I like some and not others. I think the BA is terrible, and the GA barely tolerable. I like what I see for Escape, except that sailfish looks like a big dark square unless you're up close. I think the more subtle abstracts are my favorites, like the Epic and Dawn. The Jewel class and the Spirit are a bit too busy for my liking, however.

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