tel2

At least as of last year, you were permitted to bring on flowers in Seattle and we did, and the butler got us a vase within minutes of us asking.

Terry

Hi! You will likely have better luck if you post this on your roll call. Go to the bar across the top that says "roll Call Tool", and put in your ship and date.

Terry

I personally have never had a problem w/ kids in the Haven. Kids will be kids. Most of us had them at some point in our lives and we all know that sometimes they are hyper, and sometimes they have meltdowns.

What I have found appalling is parents who seem to think that paying for the Haven entitles them to ignore their children and allow them to behave badly without consequences. You know, mom and dad sitting reading with a drink in their hand completely ignoring child while kid is canonballing into the pool and getting sunbathers wet; screaming, running, running into people, swimming underwater in the hottubs between people, turning the volume on their iphone to screech level (still amazing to me that parents buy iphones for 7-9 year olds,....), etc. Or parents sitting in the Haven restaurant conversing with each other while their child is screaming at the top of her lungs, and the parents casually continuing their dinner and conversation without a glance at or word to their screaming child.

Last year on Breakaway, a small child, maybe 5, dropped a handful of cookies. Once dropped, he crushed them up with his foot, and was sitting on the floor in the pool area making a design out of the crumbs. Mom thought it was so cute she went to get her camera to take a picture of his artwork.... while the rest of the adults, some with children of their own present, just shook their heads. Then she and the child got up and left the area, leaving the big mess on the floor.

Terry

No they shouldn't refuse all services. People pay a premium for the Haven. Included in the Haven is a butler. They advertise the butler as an included service when purchasing the Haven.

A waiter is an "included service" in a restaurant -- you certainly aren't expected (or permitted) to go into the kitchen and pick up your own meal. A Bartender is an "included service" at a bar, right? You cannot go behind the bar and make your own drinks. Housekeeping is an included service in a hotel, right? But you tip a waiter and a bartender and the maid staff, right? (or at least I hope you do). How is that different?

Terry

Yes. I also would take the H6 in a heartbeat. You likely will already get a few perks for putting together your meet and greet (like maybe a few treats delivered), but the H6 aft balconies are enormous; the Haven restaurant is very very good, you get a butler, who will bring treats every day, and concierge, who will deal with reservations etc., and room service charged is waived for those in suites. The Haven has a nice uncrowded open pool, and a steam room and sauna as I recall (someone will correct me if I am mis-remembering .... Other side of coin is that butler and concierge are not in tip pool, so need to be tipped if they provide you service, and also, DSC is higher in suites. I would not pay to upgrade to a mini-suite - there is basically no real difference between a balcony and a mini-suite.

We have an H4 for just the two of us -- I am on your roll call but not boarding until 4/27 in civi.

Surprise your wife. She will love it! My husband has no idea we are in a two bedroom suite. And he pays zero attention to planning, so I cannot wait to see his reaction when he realizes we have a two bedroom suite. We have been in penthouse suites before, but never in a suite this large. Cannot wait!

Terry

I agree that being outdoors in the fresh air helps that first day. But I am often too tired to walk long-distances. I'm not that athletic to begin with. But driving around in a car to get oriented is not appealing to us. The last time we were in rome we did a 4 hour golf cart tour. It was great. He stopped wherever we wanted to take photos, get a gelato etc. We are leaving in two weeks to go back to Rome and this time we're doing a evening golf cart tour. Just thought I'd throw it out there is possibility – –

The email I got today said I get $125 in spa credit, so I can confirm that change. It also says $100 Food & Beverage Credit and Premium Drink Card. I am not seeing anything else in the email. Makes me wonder about the convenience fee for charging against my room....I sail at the end of May, so I guess worst case I figure out then.....

I sail at the end of April and havent gotten any email. Was your email related to your specific cruise, or did it appear to be a more general mailing?

Terry

We just came back from an amazing cruise on the Norwegian Jewel. Everything about the cruise was perfect - except the CruiseNext program. While onboard, we purchased the CruiseNext deposit and had some issues.

 

We bought 1 deposit for $250. There were 2 promotions going on:

 

1) Buy 1 deposit, get one free.

2) For the $250 deposit I purchased, I should have received a $100 onboard credit

 

My onboard account was charged as follows:

* CruiseNext Deposit - $250

* CruiseNext Deposit - $250

* Non-Refundable Deposit +$100

* Non-Refundable Deposit +$150

 

As you can see from the charges, I got charged twice...I'm pretty sure this was the "buy one get one free" charge.However, the Non-Refundable deposit pretty much cancelled out the 2nd charge of $250...and I never actually got my $100 credit. Our concierge indicated he would take care of it, but never did.

 

I ended up contacting CruiseNext when we returned as they were not able to resolve my issue.

 

For those interested in CruiseNext while onboard, be sure to check your onboard account charges and make sure you get credited properly.

So, if I am understanding this correctly, you wanted to purchase one (for 250) and get the 100 on board credit. Instead, you they "sold" you two, for the total price of 250. So, if you really only wanted one, sell the second one on here or on ebay. What would have been a nonrefundable credit onboard had they done it correctly will then be transformed into actual cash in whatever amount you can sell it for. They are fully transferable.

Terry

I have taken that risk a few times over the years when 1) I have some flexibility in the week I want to go; and 2) I am leaving from a port that doesn't require flying, or if I haven't booked a flight and am confident I can get one at the last minute at a reasonable price, i.e., a city where there are multiple daily flights and it isn't in high season. Sometimes it has worked out spectacularly and I have gotten a cabin for next to nothing, and certainly far less than I was originally going to pay. A couple of times I waited too long and couldn't get a cabin at all, but had the flexibility to move to a different week. I would never risk it if I had non-refundable airfare...

Terry

It seems clear you are leaning the other way, but for me Bermuda would win hands down. For at least these reasons: 1) I don't do the Caribbean in August because it is prime hurricane season; 2) I don't do the Carib. in August because the humidity is intolerable; 3) hurricanes rarely hit bermuda and those few that have had caused relatively little damage - not sure why that is, but perhaps because it is so close to the coast it creates a buffer; 4) there is less humidity in Bermuda; 5) I love having 3 days on the island without having to worry about what time we get back to ship --- last time we rented a pontoon boat for the day, took a picnic and boated around to a bunch of little islands.... 6) I love being able to go to night stuff in Bermuda, especially Calico Jack's Pirate ship floating bar right at the port; 7) I love that NCL has negotiated a deal w/ Bermuda where the casino can be open at night while docked in Bermuda 8) Hated both Belize and Honduras. Did not feel safe in either place. Mosquitos were awful in Belize.

So, while I also hate New York (sorry NYers, but for me, NY is a place I have to go for work, not a place I choose to go to for vacation), I still would choose Breakaway to Bermuda 100 times out of 100. A couple of reasonably interesting things to do in NY if you haven't been there in awhile is to go see the 9/11 monument, and the Intrepid, which is right next to where Breakaway docks. And of course, there is always the theatre....and shopping....and Canal street fake shopping....

Terry

Terry

Yes. You don't mention the ages of your children, but if they are young, they can eat in the specialty restaurants for free if they order only from the shipwide childrens menu.

Terry

Here's the deal. According the credit card companies using the casino withdrawl services is technically a cash advance and subject to different rules and much higher fees and interest. The cruise lines are obligated to report it as such. Now, since OBC is not real time, there is nothing technically stopping you from charging to the room then cashing out OBC before it posts denying them higher fees. So, officially, to keep the credit card companies happy, the policy on paper is no cashouts and that's what <script id="gpt-impl-0.17509742793395228" src="http://partner.googleadservices.com/gpt/pubads_impl_81.js"></script>the rep has to say.

 

Now, in practice, the cashier will look at the balance, look at transactions, realize the OBC will be there, cash it out, and the line gets its 3 percent cut.

Unless something has changed very recently, cash advances with the 3% NCL fee taken at the casino cage are NOT put thru your credit card account as cash advances. They are posted to your onboard account just like any other onboard purchase, and they are charged at the end to your CC as purchases, not as cash advances.

Terry

I had the same experience on both Breakaway and Gem. As long as I had both cards, they would allow me to get two drinks. I assume they just require both cards, even if they dont scan them, to make sure you arent getting a drink for someone who doesnt have the package.

Terry

Hi!

Yes, you do. I wasnt sure either, but I just got mine yesterday for a late April cruise.

Terry

I have stayed twice in an apartment on campo de fiori with a balcony. With the balcony doors open, one can certainly hear the music and activity both at night and during the market hours. Maybe this apartment just has good soundproofing, but with the air on and the doors closed, we didnt hear a thing, and we are staying in the same apartment again in late April.

Terry

This is not the fault of NCL...it is the fault of you and your TA, which I'm sure you do realize.

 

However, if someone at NCL was rude to you on the phone and made insulting remarks, you have a right to be upset.

 

ALL cruise lines have the same policy regarding changing cabins after final payment and downgrading is never allowed.

 

Try to forget about it and enjoy your cruise.

Similar thing happened to me last year -- I wanted a large or aft balcony and none were available -- all showing sold out -- so I paid in full for mini at a higher price. About 20 days out, cabin I wanted became available. I didn't want new price, just the cabin I wanted and once they understood that I wasn't looking for a refund or a credit (which, admittedly, took some work), they had no problem allowing me to downgrade category to the room I wanted without a refund or credit, which I did. So, if the cabin is what is important to you for personal health reasons, as you said above, you might be able to get it.

Terry

Thanks. What I was really trying to find out is whether lobster is available in the haven restaurant on epic. It was on escape, but others have reported on other ships that have gone to the new menus that it was not. My husband goes to specialties and orders lobster every night. I was trying to figure out if we could just go to the haven restaurant and get it. It isn't an issue of cost because we have the old UDP.

Terry

Because the promos, like the type of cabin comped, depend on how CAS evaluates your previous play.

I do not believe that is precisely correct, at least, that is not what I was told on my last 3 booked CAS cruises. I was told each time that I was entitled to all promos for the level of room that I was comped, regardless of the level to which I upgraded. So, when I was comped a balcony and upgraded to a suite, I got the balcony level promos. Same when I was comped a mini and upgraded to a suite. But when I was comped a full suite (penthouse) and upgraded to a better suite (two bedroom), I got the suite level promos.

Terry

I believe the new menus went into effect on Epic in early March, but I havent seen them posted yet. Anyone have them?

Terry

How do you know when the tickets blocks are going on sale? We are looking forward to a tour in November.

It will tell you on the coop culture (official) website. Generally, tickets go on sale about 15 days before the end of the quarter. So, for example, Jan, Feb and march went on sale mid-December. April May and June went on sale last Sunday 3/13. So, for November, the block of October, Nov and December will likely be released sometime in September. I'd start checking in early September. The website itself usually has a notice on the right hand side of the Colosseum page under "News" telling you when the next quarter's tickets will go on sale. They don't put up that notice til near the end of the current quarter. It is an annoying system.

HEINER -- same thing for September. July, Aug, Sept will likely go on sale mid-June.

JADE CRUISE -- definitely worth it to do it with audio and no guide. Download Rick Steves audio tours to your smart phone -- I thought they were better than the official audio. They are free.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy

Terry

I am still totally confused by ocean blue too.

 

Say we have the UDP, we choose one day to eat at Ocean blue, we pay a la carte pricing for anything we order. OR do if using the UDP at ocean blue we get an appetizer, entree & dessert included with no extra charges?

 

We booked teppanyaki & moderno already. Considering Ocean Blue, but just so confused on the pricing on that one!

For ocean blue, you use one UDP credit and pay an additional 15.00 up charge, and you do not pay al a carte pricing. Or, if you don't use one of your UDP credits there, you pay al a carte for every item you order.

i wonder if you could use postie notes and put guest 1. eggs/bacon toast guest 2. steak , toast, scrapple

 

etc etc.

When I read your post I knew you must be from PA without even looking. I LOVE scrapple, but can never find anyone who even knows what it is outside of PA. LOL

terry

Me again -- but are you sure you set the search correctly? If you put in a time and there is nothing available for that time, it will not show other available times for that same date. Set time to 00:00 and it will give you all availability for that day. I ask only because I just perused through June and there are very few dates not available for at least a few time slots in the day (unless you have a big group...)

Hi, I was trying to buy tickets for the Colosseum underground and 3rd tier tour on the official site. Even though they seem to have only gone on sale yesterday this tour seems to be already sold out for the date I want in June. Entrance tickets are available. Can I just buy the entrance tickets and join a guide afterwards when we get there?

 

thanks

No, you cannot join a tour when you get there if there isn't room available. You can buy entrance tickets, and get in, and also you can hire a tour guide for the site that does NOT include underground and 3rd tier, but there are only two choices for the Underground / 3rd tier tour - book it yourself thru the official site, or if it is fully booked and you cannot get the date you want, book through a tour provider who gets blocks of tickets. Tickets went on sale Sunday for April May and June, and I tried to book Sunday night for a date in late April, and the morning was completely sold out already and afternoon had only a few time choices left. Ugh

Terry

I think this is terrific. I have a relative that doesn't drink, doesn't gamble, doesn't eat in specialties, doesn't buy photos, doesn't use the internet.... and she HATED that she felt she was paying for perks she really did not get value from.

We, on the other hand, often stay in suites, drink, gamble, get the unlimited internet package, and eat in specialties nearly every night.

I LOVE that people now have the choice to pick and choose where they want to spend their money. You want the whole ball of wax, buy it. You don't, take the cheapest room available and pick and choose where you want to spend your money. I suspect this is viewed as a positive development for those that love to cruise, but are doing it on a strict budget...

Terry