Da-Painter

IMHO, for WIW:

Mitsugirly does the best reviews, amazing.:p

Triptolemus has the best response to comments, and the "real stupid questions and comments". ;):D

rvsullivan and David Sobe are the most accurate with information.:cool:

And thanks to all the folks who pass along your experience and information, for us. :)

The SE designation also indicates its a Suite. ;)

The lowest price we found was at neworleansparking.com which will give you a few options for the Fulton Garage, we did this last year. If you do the Roof Top parking and pay in advance, a week would be $67.72, includes all taxes & fees. Its a safe and secure garage.

When you pull up to the entry, just show them your self printed reciept which shows its pre-paid, and you are all set to enter and park.

This includes a free shuttle to and from the port. It goes very quickly.

When you return to get your car, you will need the entry ticket they gave you when you entered, to exit the garage at the automated machine. You will forget this a week later, so keep it with your car keys.

;)

I purchased a cocktail dress 6 months ago for a wedding in May. Today, I see the same dress has been reduced. Can I get a refund? Nope

 

I purchased a new car last week but today the dealer is having a sale on that car or a promotion if one buys the same car I have. Can I take it back and ask for an upgraded car? Can I ask for a partial refund? Can I ask for the free promotion item they are giving away now? Nope

 

I purchased airfare to Rome 3 months ago for a trip. Today I see the price has gone down on the same airfare I purchased. Will the airline give me a refund? Will the airline bump me up to first class? Nope

 

Whenever anyone purchases something they must be happy with what they purchased for the price they purchased it at. Otherwise, it shouldn't be purchased.

 

NCL has, at times, and depending on the circumstances, gone out of their way to offer an upgraded cabin or an OBC. if the buyer chooses not to accept what was offered, even though it didn't need to be offered.....oh well.

 

Sorry, but that's just the way it is. No, that's just the way life is.

 

Take your cruise and enjoy your cruise. Don't cry over spilt milk.

 

Harriet

Nicely said, I agree with your response 1000%.

If you would post this, about once a week, to this question that gets answered all the time, many of us would appreciate it. :cool:

Genting issued very little, maybe 5% of the total ownership of NCL, in stock.

They sell this and pocket the cash. They still have 95% ownership of the company, and more cash to do with what they want.

Just like Facebook stock, they issue stock, the big shots of the company sell their stock, and take advantage of the high prices they sell their stock for.

They want to sell when the prices are high, of course. So you have the brokerage firms 'pump' up the price by issuing 'Buy' recommendations, with glorious forecasts for the future of the company, getting the public to come in and buy the stock, moving the price up higher.

The brokerage firms sell the stocks for their clients, charging commissions, and make their money, the executives sell their stock out at high prices, and everyone is happy.

NCL stock has ranged from 24 to 37 in the last 1+ years. So one can not blame Genting for selling off their holdings while the prices are high.

And in the future, Genting may issue new holdings of the stock, and continue this process forever, pocketing the cash.

Nothing illegal with this, this has been going on forever.

Sometimes its discouraging to the folks that buy the stock, but thats not their worries. :eek:

You can book Le Bistro anytime on the ship, its never fully booked. ;)

I recall it was $5 for a liter of water on the ship. :eek:

We have done guarantees before, always happy with our final cabins. Our rooms were usually assigned at least 3 weeks prior to sailing. They never changed them after that.

NCL can change your cabin right up to the check-in. But at this late date, I would guess that to be unlikely, unless they have a prior obligation to fulfill. And if they did move you, it may be to a higher category room, which may not be too bad.

I consider my cruise a UDP. ;)

We tip them at the end of the cruise, based upon how much we used them, and how helpful they were. The butlers are the ones we use the most.

Some cruises we have never seen the concierge after the first day, and never needed their services. Consequently, we would not tip them.

Usually you can find them easily on the last day, to tip them, or you can leave a tip for them at the pursers desk.

For us, its easier to tip them at the end of the cruise, rather then carry a wad of cash around, and pass out cash to folks all the time.

Its good if you are booking a suite less then 9 months out.

We inquired about this also, as we have 2 suites booked for the future, but no luck.

You can see this under the SPECIALS banner, on the NCL home page, and then under Preferred Partners. ;)

I see the lowest price balcony, both BX & BD, both guarantee's are right around $2000 pp. It is a little cheaper then the 12 day Grand Med's, similar cruise, but not dirt cheap. Competitively priced.

Also part of the reason for these dining packages, are the speciality restaurants are mostly empty.

DW and I are each Platinum, on our last cruise in November, we ate at Le Bistro and Chin-Chins. We were about the only folks in Chin Chins.

There were other folks in Le Bistro, but towards the end of our meal, it was pretty empty.

So they are trying to generate interest in them.

All of our other meals in the MDR were fine.

So 'what ever floats your boat'. :cool:

Yes, they are still good. Also the wings. They are covered in some secret sauce, I thinks its a 'crack' derived sauce, you cant stop eating them.

I feel like Fish & Chips tonite.

Wish I was on board now. It would be easy to go get. (I would get the wings w/sauce also. Two orders).

I have to go to the deli, its my dinner time, and DW is out of town, so I can't send her out to go get me some......:eek:

Correct, if you are booking a suite less then 9 months, you can get the $300 credit.

We booked a suite 9 months out, and got the $300 obc, but these are not combinable. :mad: I called and asked. No problemo....

Yes, they are available, SE category.:eek:

Since NCL laughed it off, and were not of much help, I would wander the ship, til I found the biggest, meanest looking guy, and have him pay a visit to their door, to politely request them to stop.

Hopefully someone big enough to send them airborne with a good view of the back of the ship before they hit the water.....make sure they take their camera with them, you would hate to have them miss a good shot of the ship.;)

Pretty much, we haven't been fortunate enough to be entertained by our neighbors so far.

Lets try harder folks....:cool:;)

You are going to get many varied opinions on food quality aboard NCL ships. Personally I believe the food in the diningrooms and the specialty restaurants is very similar with the exception of being genre specific in the specialty restaurants.

This really sums up the most concise answer to your question. You can ask this, and everyone will give you a variety of answers as to why, but try each meal, and judge for yourself. Enjoy your cruise.;)

So, if you wait to book excursions until you board the ship, do it immediately once you get on the ship.

Last time, we waited til the 2nd day, and the excursions we wanted were full. So we ended up with the less popular excursions. :o

Theres a current thread on that subject now.

We also do AI in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Mexico once a year, usually in Jan/Feb. We find we sit by the pool, doing nothing, and thats just fine.

But don't bother with the time-share folks, they are all over, high pressure sales pitches with just as many lies as they can expel in a few hours. Sadly lots of folks fall for these, thats why they keep selling them.

But the AI can be relaxing, like the cruise ships, with just one port. :cool:

If you see any strange person laying flat out on the floor at any point during a Spirit cruise, don't get medical help, I'll just be sniffing the new carpet!! And if I have new carpet in my cabin, you may not see me at all!!!

Whats your address, I have a buddy in the carpet business, we'll send you a remnant to keep you happy, til you arrive on the Spirit! :cool:

If you are booking directly with NCL, and have a good PCC, they can call you when any type of specials you are interested in, may pop up.

And when you call to book a cruise, or make any changes, they have your info, and you do not have to recreate your info with someone new. You are on and off the call in a minute. Thats what I find worthwhile. ;)

We did a Med cruise last year, about a month out, I was watching for any drop on remaining suite prices, when another cruise ship leaving from the same port, around the same time, cancelled their sailing. All remaining cabins on our ship sold out immediately, as folks from the other cruise line booked what they could. The cruise line was not about to discount any prices.

Sure, your idea can work, but it could back fire big time.

Have you considered booking 1-2 years out, we find very competitive prices, and get the cabins and locations we want. Especially suites with a $300 obc booked 9 or more months out.

If your schedule is flexible, see when the lowest prices for the sailing dates are, and try to coincide with the low prices for the airfares. Holidays/main vacation periods are always going to be higher, and fully booked. We try to travel during the off season, lower prices, and less people traveling.

Good luck. ;)