PATRLR

That's what we like - taking one for the team! Way to go Gary 😉

Interesting. Was that zero alcohol policy typical or unusual in your experience?

You are correct, I missed the title. @Yesimapirate - my mistake.

Rather snarky comment, especially considering @groundloop wasn't asking to be convinced. Just asking what people liked/disliked. If the shows are important to you, and it sounds like they are, the production shows on NCL's bigger ships is the best we've seen at sea. Way, way better than anything we'd seen on Carnival. Some are Broadway quality. I think generally speaking the entertainment quality across the board is better with NCL. NCL's newer ships do have decent TVs and do offer movies (I think they have on demand that you pay for, but not positive). I think every cruise lines internet stinks - they are all relying on satellites and that just has too many inherent issues compared to land based fiber optics. Free food on NCL isn't great. It's been a while since I was on Carnival but my recollection is the free food is better on Carnival, but neither is all that good. Carnival's chocolate lava cake is far superior to NCLs (I had to toss this in, I love Carnival's version and I've not found anyone on land or sea who does it quite as well). Our last four cruises have been on NCL, we too are looking to switch things up. A CCL cruise on one of their new ships is a possibility, but, also looking hard at Celebrity.

You're right. And I'm not new here, you'd think I'd know better. 😉

Wow, I just looked closer at that itinerary. A couple of those are real head scratchers. 3PM to 9PM in St Thomas? Really? Why bother. I agree with others, there will be more excursions added. I strongly urge you to get over to the port call boards and spend time there researching each island: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2-ports-of-call/ - you may find that there are private excursions available now at some of those islands that you can book and save yourself some money and get peace of mind that you've got what you want.

I think this how now been answered in your other thread:

I agree with julig22 that your travel agent is booking a balcony stateroom and has given you the cost if you accept all the perks and another cost if you do no accept the dining and beverage perks. The 477.93 only gets added one time. So allow me to correct what you wrote: For a bit of background, there is also what's called the "Sail Away" rate. That is the rate that truly comes with NO perks (no drinks, no dining, no internet, no excursion credit). As was stated (and I checked myself) that rate is not available for your cruise in November 2023. I went through this exercise myself trying to decide if I would accept the drink package. The gratuities on the drink package are roughly equal to about 2 drinks per person, per day. So, if you think you will not drink 2 drinks per person, per day over the 15 day cruise (or 4 drinks per person if one of you does not drink alcohol), then don't take the drink package. Lastly, you might want to look around on these boards for experiences with NCL air. NCL is going to put you on the cheapest routing they can find which isn't always the nicest. At the very least I recommend you request to come to NY a day early. By the way, that sounds like a great itinerary on a great ship. I'm seriously thinking about that myself, now that I've seen it. Enjoy!

My November 2022 cruise on Encore, I had 2 excursions that I booked in advance and paid for with credit card cancelled. My on board account was credited with refundable on board credit. At the end of the cruise I still had a credit balance and that balance was refunded to me in cash on the last morning (had to go to guest services).

You will hear the anchor noise pretty loud. Might want to check if you have early arrival tender ports and be prepared to get woken up before arrival. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it, I frequently end up all the way forward.

I believe Miami does it similarly to NY described above. I did see all sorts of boarding group numbers during the elite boarding window and also the "those who need assistance" group. But both of those boarding windows are well defined and not what I was referring to. In fact, that boarding seemed orderly except for the gate lice blocking access for the wheel cheer folks to get through. I was referring specifically to the group 1/2 window.

I agree with others that NCL's crews seem much more outgoing and friendlier to the passengers.

I already answered that question. They gave it to me, they never asked for it back. Had they asked, I'd have gladly handed it to them.

I would like to see the DSC included but I've never said nor would I expect the fare to not increase.

I'd say hundreds did on November 13.

"jack" is such an unpleasant term. I prefer "kept a souvenir".

You apparently were selectively reading what @chengkp75 was writing above. PATRLR out.

I am a first responder for over 25 years now, and a trainer for over 15 years. I agree 100% with what is written above. As an example, back when backboards were commonly used for spinal immobilization, we trained the very complex process of getting an injured patient on the board, constantly. When the time came to use one, as a team we could do it very efficiently and effectively - we could focus on the patient and not on the process of using the equipment. In an emergency, you don't want the responders thinking about the process, they need to be able to execute the process while thinking and focusing on the situation.

You apparently have no experience or understanding of how best to train for things like this. As a first responder, we constantly train on many topics, repetitively. And I am damn glad that we do: The muscle memory is the obvious benefit, but, we always improve, even if just a bit, each time we do it.

That "Escape" discount was mentioned in another thread, but most who saw it appear also so it disappear. This all in the last few days. Regarding your CNs, I think I had what looked like extras, but, 1/2 of them were used for a Covid cancelled cruise, replaced by new ones. So, I really only had 1/2 as many as I could see in my account. Or something like that - sorry I don't remember the exact details. Bottom line- if you had a Covid cancelled cruise that you had used CNs on, it might be related.

next they'll be stringing ropes across the water to claim their section of the pool.

Nov 13, 2022 Encore: Witnessed when Group 1/2 called at least 100, people, probably a couple hundred people proceed to board. Then I started paying attention to the group numbers presented to the NCL staff, saw many other than 1 or 2. Saw NCL staff look right at the numbers and not say a word. When I saw a Group 39 presented and NCL person did nothing to stop them, I realized it was a free-for-all and I proceeded to board. I wasn't even asked for my group number (I still have it - group 6).

giving me $100 worth of stuff I can buy myself doesn't inspire loyalty. Hence, my consideration of it being a joke. As for the boarding early, that is something I can't buy and IMO a legitimate perk. But the fact that boarding isn't enforced devalues it tremendously. I have no problem finding my way to the front of the masses so I'll board within the first 100 or so of the masses (at least in Miami). My airline loyalty gets me early access to board the plane. Airlines are good about enforcing their boarding groups, so, that perk has significant value to me. Upgrades are the other legit airline perk. If NCL Latitudes included something that prioritized Latitude levels in the upgrade process, that might inspire loyalty. The other perk that Latitudes has, the 125 day reservation window, is a legit perk but I've not had a problem getting reservations at 120 days so no value to me.

Why do you always put words into people's mouths? And then proceed to dismiss the made up statements you attribute to them? That is not what MSUohn said at all. We're talking about gratuities paid by the guest. There is nothing wrong with wanting to know where that money goes.

Obviously you and I value those "perks" much differently. Not really.