Pattilabelle73

Someone from the November 16th sailing posted a link to daillies here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2127937&page=2

 

post #25

Thank you sooo much! I have been stalking the boards waiting for someone to post daillies! :)

 

Tee

The over the door hangers come in very handy when you have more than 2 people in a cabin. I once shared a cabin with 3 other ladies on a last minute cruise. This was a 1st for me and I was terrified that I would be miserable with everyone's crap all over the place. I packed a shoe hanger with clear pockets and it was a life saver! We used the pockets for sunglasses, chargers, flat irons/curlers, everyone had their own makeup pocket, jewelry etc... I was very surprised at how neat our cabin stayed. Even our cabin steward commented on it.

 

I even used it on my solo cruise because it made things much easier to find for me.

Congrats to you!!! I know that feeling! It's what I love about cruising. I don't know of many other vacation options that allow you the flexible payment that cruises do. You can pay some months, skip others etc... as long as you are paid off approximately 90 days out, they don't care! :)

 

Have fun!!

No, right would had been letting NCL remake the meal or comping something, like they originally tried to do but the OP refused the offers. Like I said, I would had made NCL refund the $40 in cash /credit or a free bottle wine for the whole mess. That would be doing right.

 

If the OP was looking for sympathies, she should had rewrote that opening post without that information (NCL chain of command tried to make it up to the OP and refusal). Plus the timeline of how long it took (1-2 hours for a 3 course meal for 2 people is normal even at a land-based restaurant like Applebees) , most people's reactions and responses would be completely different.

 

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First, my comment about what was "too much like right" had nothing to with NCL, it was in response to what I bolded in the quote I was responding to. So...:confused:

 

Second, If the OP was looking for YOUR sympathies, then I guess the OP will need to re-write their post to your strict specifications quoted above. The OP has mine and quite a few other sympathies without all of that. I personally am more of a go with the flow person and in most instances what the OP experienced might not have been much of a big deal for ME. However, it does not mean that I cannot sympathize and empathize with how the OP felt or still feels about their disappointing anniversary celebration. It sucks when much anticipated events don't go as planned. Some people are able to deal with and accept this better than others.

 

What is really ironic to me is how majority of this thread is comprised of overly dramatic posts about how the OP is overreacting and being overly dramatic. :rolleyes:

These people are celebrating their 35th anniversary!! So obviously they doing something right and the people cooking at this restaurant are NOT cooking for the whole ship so better service should be expected!! Why can't she complain? And who are you to say what can be complained about. You people should have just read the comment and kept it moving. You make people not want to share their experiences, telling them what they can complain about! This is just crazy.

 

ALL of THIS^^^^! That is too much like right, for this place. ;)

Thanks for your reply! I think I am going to purchase it.. I will be pre-purchasing almost everything else I could possibly want before I board anyway (UDP, Spa balcony/certificates and excursions. So worse case, I can't throw away $$ on bingo. I'll live. Lol

So, how come you not prepaying the drink package before going on the ship? That would make the situation much easier ~or~ just bring a minimum of $600-700 since the cash account mininum is $300 and the Corks &Cap (pretty much everything drink package) is total of $354.30 not counting tips for the whole week plus use the remaining money to buy whatever(souvenirs , dinner, etc).

 

Yes, I read the review, s/he didn't plan or budget very well or even so-so. Sorry it happen to them but that's what happens when don't read the fine print and do the 3rd grade math.....

 

 

Edit: Meant the Ultimate Drink package is a total of $434.70 on MYNCL for the week.

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If I were to get the UBP, I would be buying it now/before I get onboard. I am seeking an answer to my question in a effort to make an informed decision. Hence the "Pre-purchase" part of my title. I don't think the problem described in the review has anything to do with budgeting or his problems with math. :confused:

 

What he is saying is that he had pre-purchased the UBP and used cash to set up his onboard account. As he ordered drinks, the price of the drinks were being deducted from his account despite his having purchased UBP. He was called to guest services and told that he would need to put more $$ on his card because they were deducting the cost of his pre-paid drinks from his account. The $$ was credited back at the END of the cruise, but DURING the cruise his onboard spending $$ were affected, so he had to in essence put DOUBLE the cash on his account to cover drinks and other activities even though the drinks were already paid for.

 

Since his review is rather dated, my question was, is what he described STILL happening in 2014? I don't need budgeting tips, just an answer from someone who has pre-purchased a UBP and opened an onboard account with cash. Simple as that. Thanks!

We just returned from the BA and had the UBP. I checked nightly our TV account and it never showed any drink purchases or credits. Though it did show any extra gratuity I may have put on in a venue when I signed my ticket.

 

Did you have a cash onboard spending account or was it linked to a Credit Card? I am trying to figure out if the experience is different with a cash account.

Thanks for the quick response, the way the review made it sound was we would have to

have a minimum of $394 x 2 = $ 788 plus Spanish tax $867 plus an almost equal

amount that would be refunded at the end of the cruise.

 

A member has posted that if you phone you can prepay for the UBP. I will have to phone

in the morning to find out if we can, it should avoid the Spanish tax as they do not apply

this tax to the prepayed soda package

 

Thanks again

 

Damon

 

 

Hi Nomad098,

 

I am trying to find out the same info that you were looking for in this post. Did you wind up using cash Onboard and re-purchasing the UBP? If so, did you have any problems described in the review? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Tee

No one has purchased the Beverage Package and used cash for their onboard spending account?

 

Wow, didn't think this one would stump the CC board! :p

 

Not getting a clear answer from the Reps. So, unless I hear from a past passenger, I think I will just go with a drink budget. I hate budgeting on cruises and was really trying to avoid it this time.

I'm not sure how this is going to work if they continue to make some services (ie Vibe/Posh passes, Spa passes) available on a "first come, first served" basis. I hear that people show up early so that they can be in the 1st group to get them.

Has anyone pre-purchased their UBP and opened a cash account for other expenses onboard? If so, have you had any problems like the one this guy had on his Epic cruise last May?

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=219646

 

I would really like to have my drinks paid for before boarding, but I do not want my onboard spending $$ tied up in drink charges that will be dropped at the end of the cruise.

 

Please tell me what your UBP with "CASH" account experience has been. Preferably in the last 6-12 months. Thanks!

It does ! Thank you. We've not been on a ship with this in the cabin. I'm impressed!

 

This will be my 1st time having this too. I love my tea, so it will be nice to be able to make some in my cabin.

42 and I am doing the happy dance!!!! :D

 

Since I am 6 wks out, I just made sure made sure to lay hands on my passport and check the expiration date. I didn't really need to do the latter because last year around this time, I read a post that stated many ports require you to have at least 6 months (from port entry date) left on your passport. I looked at mine and was shocked to find that I would only have 5 months left! :eek:

 

I did an EXPENSIVE expedited renewal just to be safe. Le$$on learned! ;)

[quote name='tj&3littlecuties']It is a game that THEY play, so why not play it too! I am glad that I benefitted and hope that someone else may too. I had been told nothing would drop for this Thanksgiving week cruise and it looks like they have lots of open cabins. So, check it out. I am happy to post my results and hope someone else may benefit too.


Sent from my iPhone using Forums[/QUOTE]

Ditto! I really don't understand the passive/active aggression expressed by those on the board who have chosen not to "ask" for an uprade after final payment. Folks are quoting "NCL regulations" and such like they own the company!

This is my 1st NCL cruise and my NCL rep told me to call back if the price dropped more than $100. Another rep told me 2 days ago that they have "regulations" about what they are allowed to offer AFTER final payment. In my case it was $43 or a Mini-suite, both of which I turned down and paid $25 to get a spa balcony. Does that math make any sense? Not to me! Do I care? NO! Im going to the spa!

No cruise line is "giving away" anything. I don't care how much a customer complains or sweet talks. It either fits into their business plan or not.

A closed mouth does not get fed. Don't get upset that the rest of us are eating what you refused.

[quote name='rvsullivan']I kinda hate to see this kind of post on here! Of course there will always be some that get a good deal, especially if your willing to take a less desirable cabin. However, for every one of you that gets a good deal there are others that have just the opposite experience. For the last four years, our cabin, reserved a year in advance has skyrocketed in price near the end. This year is a prime example, we booked 13 months ago, today's price for the same room is $2000 more, last year $1800 more, etc for the first week in December.
And this is not a prime week.
Similar to another thread running right now, people tell the board, always wait till the end and you will save a ton of money. If this were how it works, why would anyone book in advance? If it is guaranteed that you will save hundreds or even thousands, wouldn't everyone wait till the end? Folks will now pull up this post for the next couple of years and say, "everyone on this post saved hundreds of dollars waiting until the end to book". The reality is, if you want a good room in a good location, book early. If you don't care that you are over the bandstand in the bow of the ship, wait and see what happens. Sometimes you can save money and other times you can't even get a room. TA's could make millions if they could guarantee their customers they would get them good rooms at hundreds/thousands less than everyone else pays.[/QUOTE]


My post assumes (rightly so) that most people have common sense and will apply my suggestion appropriately to THEIR situation. It offers no guaranteed results of any kind. Just a suggestion based on my experience. If my post is of no use to you, disregard it. No worries.

[quote name='dna529']Not willing to pay the price when others on here have been allowed to keep their promotion and we were not. Would you??! I doubt it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry that you were not able to get an upgrade with KSF promo. I know for a fact that it is possible because my friends on my cruise are 3 in a cabin booked under the KSF. When I told her to call and see what happens, she was upgraded from a BX standard balcony to a M3 Family mini-suite. It really is a crap shoot that I am convinced depends on when you call and who you get. I don't know the circumstances of your situation (how much you paid etc...) but it might be worth a 2nd try?

About 3 wks before final payment I called to have my price adjusted due to a promotion and price drop. I wanted the rep to make sure that she kept my cabin the same. She starts to go on about how she could not make any guarantees and it would be extremely difficult etc... I had done this a few times before and although I know that there are no guarantees, it IS possible if the rep is experienced. So, I politely thanked the rep and told her that I had changed my mind because I did not want to take the risk. I promptly called back, got a different rep who did not bring up the "risk" at all and all was well.

Thank you so much for this information! :D

After 20 plus years of traveling on cruises and to all inclusive resorts, we have found that the best deals by far are to be found after Thanksgiving into the first 2 weeks of december. Most folks either just got done with their Thanksgiving vacation, or are concentrating on their upcoming Christmas plans. We have managed to get great deals and avoid the crowds. Perfect!

 

I so agree! I have yet to sail on my exact birthday because its November 28th, which normally falls during a Thanksgiving cruise (on the holiday every 5 yrs), so I have been doing land/sea combo vacations with the sea part starting the 1st week of December in the past. I love that there are less kids and a less rowdy/older crowd around that time.

One thing to consider with this suggestion those is that it does not apply to "Jersey Week" Many Jersey schools are off the first full week of November. .

 

Good to know!

Every year for the past 5 years I've said I'm just going to wait and buy last minute because it's cheaper. Then I become concerned that the room type I want in the location I want might not be available or the prices might actually go up instead of down. Then every year I convince myself to just go ahead and book it now. Every year I kick myself. When will I learn? :rolleyes:

 

For our October cruise this year coming up in just 9 days...(smiling so big my face is about to crack)...the prices before the mini sold out were still 20 higher than what we paid for it so I'm not complaining (this year). I guess it's a gamble. We have traveled in November every year except this year. As long as you don't book a Thanksgiving cruise, I think it's pretty safe to wait until after the PIF date for a sailing at the very least.

 

You just described EXACTLY what I go through each and every time! hahaha I'm determined to get it right next year. lol

So . . .when you see a price drop for these November cruises and it's already after final payment, are you suggesting to call and ask for either an upgrade or obc?

 

And will they really give you one or the other? Or does it depend on who answers the phone?

 

I'm not suggesting anything about calling NCL after final payment. That's up to you. On that subject, I was just sharing my experience.

 

My suggestion is to wait until after final payment to purchase November and I would add, December cruises.

 

When I made my final payment, the rep suggested that I call back if I saw a significant drop. He said that I would not get a refund, but I would "most likely" get an OBC or upgrade. I heard that as, "no guarantees, but it would not hurt to ask".

which NCL ship are you going on?

 

The Epic November 30th

I found the same exact thing as well for next week on the BA. I booked a Studio at a decent rate in February, then upgraded last week for $240 for a mid-11th balcony- then prices dropped even more; obviously it is hit or miss but if I waited 3 days more I would have only paid $35 more. - Which is fine because I was spending too much time on it.

Now for $13 I could get a spa balcony or mini-suite but am staying put.

 

I am considering going the same week next year (when it does Bermuda in October for the first time) but won't book until Columbus day. I'll reserve the week off at work in advance and book later on. Plus, if weather would be bad I wouldn't have a committment as of then.

 

So, when I called NCL earlier today I was actually not at my computer or able to access the site. Now, I see why I was offered a mini-suite. It was pretty much only $12 more than the current/lower rate of the balcony I already have. After looking things over, I decided to get my $$'s worth and switch to a Spa Balcony for $24. Seeing as a spa pass is $199, I could not pass it up. lol

 

Now that I know the November trends, I will get my Aft facing for a better rate next year. :) You are right in that it is definitely hit or miss and I may be spending a bit too much time on this too! hehe