auntierobin

Add us to the ranks of people who like to buy OBC before the cruise. My rule of thumb is to buy about $100 per day: with a minimum of $1,000.

On our next cruise which is a 21 day I have purchased $2000 and have $300 already from NCL, it is just comforting to know that no matter what happens (identity theft, loss of credit cards, etc) at least your onboard expenses are taken care of and already paid for.

Example: if you had your wallet stolen in a port (I know you shouldn't carry everything with you, we don't but some people do) you immediately cancel your cards, right? Probably including the one you have used for your onboard expenses, which means that you are essentially cut off from onboard spending until you get a new card in the next port (if you're lucky), if you have OBC it doesn't affect your shipboard spending at least.

As was stated before, always bring your amenity receipts with you. Usually as soon as we board, we check at the credit desk and make sure everything is in place, get a copy of our bill showing the credits and we are on our merry way. Mojitos here we come!

Like you I always buy OBC before the cruise. I prepay my service charge and exursions then I figure about how much a day I will need add a little extra and then buy how much OBC I need. My PCC says you can buy up to about 3 days ahead, but she recommends at least a week - 10 days. I still give them a credit card, because you never can tell when you will feel like splurging on on something (some jewelry maybe) that will put you over your OBC.

Like you I always buy OBC before the cruise. I figure about how much a day I will need add a little extra and then buy how much OBC I need. My PCC says you can buy up to about 3 days ahead, but she recommends at least a week - 10 days.

Got one for the Jewel today.

Last summer we took our 14 year old niece on a cruise, I had $1,000 OBC (it was in my name and my husbands name), when we checked in we used our CC's for us and cash for our niece. We went right to the service desk and put $150 on her account. When we checked the accounts, the OBC only showed up on our account, her account only had the balance of the cash.

If the OBC had been available on all accounts then when she ran out of money on day 6 in theory it would have just rolled over to the OBC ($300 left of that) and kept her card alive, but it did not - they cut off her credit.

It was in addition to buying the photos. There were six of us, so what I did while still on board was download the pictures to my computer and burned disks for everyone before we disembarked, a lot cheaper than buying 6 sets of photos and worrying about whether the various people would be able to open the downloads. Some were not real savvy and rather technophobes. So it worked out for us. Probably best when there is a big group.

Last June we paid $39.95 for a flashdrive with our pictures on it. I don't know if it was so cheap because we had purchased pictures or not.

This intrigued me so I did a dummy booking on United and I came up with:

Tulsa to NYC - $179pp

NYC - London - $1054pp

Miami - Tulsa - $178pp

Total $1411 per person or $2822 for two, a little more than half of $4000.

You don't mention if you are sailing in a suite. If you are you will need cocktail attire for the Captain's cocktail party. Dress (just a nice summer dress with fancy sandals works) and definitely not jeans for men.

I find the suite very valuable and worth the price. I want as much comfort and relaxation as possible.

 

I loved the extra room on the balcony for just hanging out and relaxing. I loved the butler to bring breakfast, drinks, or snacks if I didn't feel like making the trek outside. I loved going to Cagneys, knowing I didn't have to fight crowds in the buffet (although I admit, it's probably not THAT different than a main dining room breakfast). And I enjoyed being able to make a call to the concierge and get reservations when I was ready rather than feeling like I needed to plan the meals more.

Ditto

Plus, sitting on the balcony watching the wake or a magical sunset with a mojito in your hand - priceless. We usually get aft or forward penthouses. On Caribbean cruises (warmer climes of course) - we have sometimes hauled our pillows out there and slept under the stars on the chaises. Or dinner from LeBistro on your balcony under the stars, breakfast on the balcony watching the dolphins follow in the wake. All good reasons to sail in a suite. When we first started cruising we sailed in mini-suites, but once we stayed in a suite - they are right, you never go back.

If you are in a suite, you can have the concierge make reservations for you. Speak to your concierge when you meet him/her upon embarkation.

If you have the funds you could book them on a b2b, and do half the ports one trip, the other half on the second leg.

I make all our bookings and to date I am the only one that gets the good stuff. Woo Hoo! It might have to do with who the lead passenger is, and they figure you will share it with your spouse. (I let him look but not touch the precious papers :rolleyes:) Those at a different address probably get their own copy.

What is meant by an OP post? Sorry, in the past I've monitor cruise critic site as cruise approached, but I haven't been a contributor.

Original Poster (the person who started the thread)

Wow, I feel like dancing now It perfectly illustrates how I feel when I get to the dock.

Did you notice, Kevin Sheehan's got some moves there.

Come on April 15th - Auntie's booking South America!

Latitudes members can book April 15th, general population April 16th.

We always stay at least one night, usually more, kind of depends on the port city. Seattle, we usually stay 5-8 nights, NY, 3-4 nights, Port Canaveral, 1 - 8 nights in Orlando. Going straight from the cruise to the airport to home, is just too abrupt of a change. We like to ease into home and work mode.

Hi Craig, we're doing the opposite of you, looking to fly to Copenhagen in September 2015 do the Baltic and take the transatlantic home to the US. In researching flights, the cheapest business class that I have found so far is Aer Lingus from NYC with a stopover in Dublin. We will fly on our own from Chicago to NY, then hop on Aer Lingus for the rest. The other alternative that we are looking at is cruising across. A balcony cabin on QM2 is less expensive than airfare, I am going to hold that in reserve as a back up. While we are on our Panama Canal cruise I am going to firm up our transportation, since that's when the flight will open up.

I posted the link to the Getaway Freestyle dailies, which have the specialty restaurant prices listed on them. Don't think it can get more definitive than that.

The upgraded cost might have only been for Valentines day with a special menu.

You're going south, then you are going to want the port side.

I compared that to an old menu that I had, and it matches the old menu, the giveaway for me was the 10 oz filet. I wouldn't get too excited yet.

At one time I remember the site said "scenic cruising" I can also see the dilemma here Glacier Bay is not really a port and technically you leave Skagway on Wed PM and you arrive at Ketchikan Fri AM so you must spend the nights somewhere. The truth is that you enter the bay early in the morning - have the rangers board - slowly sail to the upper end of the bay, spin around at a glacier for an hour or so, then slowly make your way back out - the process takes around 8 hrs and is wonderful. The rangers also give a slide show and talk in the auditorium on the way out.

That's how I remembered it when we did in on the Pearl, I thought there was some new and exciting changes. Oh, well. Still going to go again, love Alaska no matter the itinerary.

I would be interested in the answer to that too. Which ship and what dates are you talking about? I missed that itinerary, and would very much love to take it.

I usually tip the day before disembarkation. I take thank you notes with me and place the tip in that along with a small note. I never felt the need to tip in the beginning assuring myself good service the butlers bend over backwards for you from the start of your cruise. The concierge helps you get on and off the ship without waiting in line also makes reservations for you for shows and restaurants. I find this very helpful because if a place is full they still get you into the show or restaurant. Tips are personal. Without saying what I tip or what "people" think is right I say the average seems to be 5-10a day per person and use. If you don't use them for 2 days of your cruise then no need to tip them for it. I know this is a touchy subject which gets people riled up. But if you have room service even after regular hours butler service takes care of it. They have night butlers when your regular one is off. Also if yu get sick it's great they bring food to you. If you let them know your snack preference early they will make note of it. Also if you have a party in your suite they can prepare it for your guests. I love my butler and concierge to me they are an incredible asset to my cruise. Enjoy your suite. Also dont overthink your tips, and wonder how much they make per cruise some people surprisingly don't tip at all

Ditto on everything Cabin Cop said so well (took the words right out of my mouth) We love our butlers (so far) and usually tip $10pp for each day, same for concierge, and our steward usually $50+ extra depending on the size of the suite.