PATRLR

Agreed, if they are doing 1000s a day then that means they are giving away, potentially, $100,000 per day of revenue. I doubt NCL is doing anywhere near that. My guess would be if they do 100/week, that would be a busy week.

The food and such is just at certain times. Your post makes sense, Vibe isn't for you. Live and learn. The key I suggest is that you don't drink much so not likely to become part of the "community" that builds up there and you are OK sitting anywhere on the ship. You didn't mention hot tubs, but, I'll bet you don't spend much time in them so the Vibe's don't mean much to you. I'll bet you also don't care about kids. It's not for everyone and that's OK.

@triggerGood feedback, thank you. We've booked the NCL excursion, so, we'll go with it. Still good to know it can be done our own and perhaps if we return we'll do it that way. Again, thank you for taking the time to let us know.

We are on the Viva in December, 6 ports 6 days (7-night cruises have 6 days of ports) and we're getting Vibe. Barbados is only from like 6 AM till 1 PM (what a waste), St Thomas we also might stay on board, St Maarten we don't arrive until 10 AM so I can see us waiting till noon to leave the ship. Plus we really enjoy Vibe the most in the late afternoons, hanging around the bar and socializing. There is usually a consistent group of passengers that become quite friendly.

Pretty sure PM isn't allowed in CC. But you can certainly call Steve at TripInsuranceStore.

Thanks for your feedback. And I didn't think there was any CO section at Mullett, I suspect there was confusion between Mullet and Orient.

Stopping in St Maarten in late December. In port 10AM to 7:00PM. We are looking for a beach to go to. We would like to be able to rent a couple of loungers and an umbrella and get food/drinks either very nearby or better yet served to us on the beach. no need for fancy cuisine, burgers/sandwiches is fine. No need for water sports. Been reading many, many reviews and descriptions and I think I’ve narrowed it down to either Mullet, Divi Little Bay, or Captain Frenchy Grand Case. For various reasons, we've ruled out Orient, Maho, and Great Bay. Looking for feedback/thoughts on those three. Also, two questions: Divi – Is it really necessary to buy a Daypass? Many people saying buy a day pass but also seems like many people just walk up and are able to rent longers/umbrellas. Grand Case – I’ve seen some posts that make it seem like most of the beach is gone. Is that the case in front of areas like Frenchy’s?

@TTEllisGood grief, you are the one who wrote: To which I responded: You asked how bad and I answered. And then you have the nerve to write: Oh really? Are you calling me a liar now? As I wrote, I'm happy for you that you haven't had to deal with very bad seaweed situations. It's hard to believe that you could possibly be so simple-minded (closed-minded?) as to not recognize that it might be possible that you just haven't experienced the bad situations others have experienced. Especially after someone tells you directly that they have experienced it.

legit beef? No. I'd put it in the category of something to add to a comment card or survey as a request for future improvements.

I've seen seaweed so thick that it was a struggle to get into the water and not at all what I would call "fun". I've also been on beaches where the washed-up seaweed was causing an odor that made being near it unpleasant. I am happy for you that you are OK with seaweed, apparently regardless of quantity, odor, or other factors, but I can empathize with those who aren't.

A fine example of how to tell everyone you are commenting on a thread without actually reading the thread. Waste money? My TAs save me money. Lots of it.

@acrbag the above is exactly the advice I give people. Check daily. Things change, people cancel, passes become available. I think I have heard more stories of people getting them online, even after "sold out" than I have heard stories of people getting them on the ship. That being said, if I didn't get one before boarding, I would be heading there as early as I possibly could.

I haven't heard of that either. When I read this, my mind immediately went to "What kind of shenanigans are the CN people up to now?".

And back in February, no problem renting a couple loungers/umbrella?

First - you included mechanical issues for which you should get everything you paid for, plus compensation for hotels and meals. I've been put up and fed many times by airlines for mechanical (or crew) issues. The other issues, my understanding is the airline still has the obligation to get you to your destination. It may not be on time, but, for that they have the concept of "trip in vain" in which case you get your money back. (I admit, I don't know if trip in vain is an airline's concept, or, regulatory concept). I don't think cruise lines are under any similar obligations.

Encore last December, a group there in the Vibe managed to get them to track down a bottle of fireball that normally wouldn't be in the Vibe bar. If I were in your shoes, I'd introduce myself to the Vibe bartenders first thing, slip them a $20 or two, and then maybe later on that day or the next day ask if there is any chance of getting a bottle of what you want. Ther other thing to do is keep your eyes don't he name tags for various senior staff and if you find one from the beverage department, ask him/her.

@MJSailors Appreciate the comments. We were aware that we had options to avoid the formal dress. At some point, Cunard may be appropriate for us, we've just decided not now.

Wow - Has anyone else seen this "benefit"?

Wow. I thought for sure when I was on Encore last Dec there was an upcharge for the crabcake. My mistake, I stand corrected. Thank you Bird.

Better buy the company then.

Because they want to? Why do you care?

The above is, I think, a very accurate statement of how they got the rep. But it continues: I liked the crab cake in Cagneys. Used to be included, now it's an upcharge. I think I read where the filet in Le Bistro is now an upcharge (I may be misremembering). Bailys Irish Creme used to be included in Free At Sea package. Now a shot of Bailys costs you $1 (plus 20%) because it costs more than $15. You used to be able to get crepes every night in the buffet. Now, you need to buy them down in Cocos. (I understand that on some indeterminate evenings, they still have them in the buffet) As others stated, none of these things are required to be purchased.

Mrs. PATRLR put the nix on Cunard. She abhors the idea of dress up more than I do. So thank you to everyone for your input, but, ultimately we will be sailing some other line.

When/where did @9tee2Sea insist that everyone else where a jacket? Again, who, other than the curise line, is forcing anyone to dress up? We all know you have some sort of deep hatred for dressing up for dinner. The good news is you have the right to choose not to go on a cruise line that requires their passengers to dress for dinner. so what I don't understand is why you feel the need to attack people who like to dress up?

How did you work the return taxi? Were they available, did you arrange with the taxi who brought you?