graphicguy

Now you're just being modest!!!!! (j/k)!

I thought about doing that, but had a brain snafu and thought they were not combinable with my other certs (20%-50% off fares for EU and Alaska). Found out after the fact they were combinable. But, I had already done my booking. Lesson learned (one I should have learned a long time ago)...."if you don't know...or are unsure, ASK!!!!!"

I remember talking to the head chef on one of my NCL cruises during a "Meet and Greet". He said that the steaks, poultry and sundries like burgers were all sourced from fresh only supply houses. The only proteins frozen were seafood, as they had to be transported from non-local sources. When someone asked specifically asked about burgers, he said it's 80-20 beef to fat ratio. So, if you like really lean burgers, you're out of luck on their cruise ships. He said there was no reason for them to freeze any of the beef since they went through all of it very quickly and the only time it would be frozen was on longer cruises. Since it was a 7 day cruise I was on, I'll assume he meant 9+ day cruises. I would also imagine they restock at the ports they dock. Probably some difference in suppliers from port to port, too.

May as well jump in here since I’m perusing CC. Regardless of ship, if you get a burger in the Garden Buffet, be sure to see if the crew put out fresh burgers as they usually cook them on a griddle right by where you get them in the Buffet. If the burgers have been sitting under a heat lamp, they’ll dry out. American Diner burgers are cooked to order to your preference. So, they’re always fresh. The down side, unless you’re having lunch there, on the 1st day of the cruise, and you’re staying in the Haven, you’re either coming out of pocket or using a Specialty Dining credit. And, it’s not worth either. Best burger I ever had on any cruise line and/or ship is in the Haven. Pricy way to get a good burger, though.

Have sailed in both the YC and Haven. I think pricing is dependent on ship, sailing date and itinerary. Sometimes Haven is cheaper. Sometimes YC is cheaper. I wish I could do a YC inside cabin as the prices are attractive. I can’t (well, I could but have varying degrees of claustrophobia). I can’t do inside anything on any cruise ship. I have read where the YC insides are fairly claustrophobic, so those are a “no go” for me. If you can do it, great deal, however. The Haven Concierges seemed to be able to do a lot more than the Concierges in the YC. For example, there was not a show I couldn’t get into, or a sold out restaurant time they couldn’t get me in to. YC Concierges were nice, but politely told me they couldn’t help with either situation the times I’ve cruised them. Butlers on MSC were more accommodating than those in the Haven. I’ve had middling success with my Haven Butlers. Sometimes they were helpful, sometimes they disappeared for the entire cruise until the last day of the cruise when tips were typically doled out. YC Butlers actually hauled my luggage to my cabin for me. Unnecessary, but they did it nonetheless. No way a Butler in the Haven would do that. Without question, the entertainment on NCL is heads and shoulders better than on MSC. YC had a pianist in the Top Sail Lounge, but that was more background music. NCL has great entertainment for everyone in the Observation Lounge (which is open to anyone). Food is subjective, but I enjoyed the Specialty Dinners and Haven restaurant more than the YC restaurant and specialty dining venues. The down side is the Haven restaurant’s menu is static. That said, they will bring you anything you want within reason. MSC’s new ships are beautiful. I haven’t been on the Prima, but have sailed the Breakaway Plus class on NCL. They are beautiful, too. I just think MSC’s new ships are more interesting with things like the deck sized curved video panels above. YC Interior cabin trumps Haven price wise. If you can do it, that’s the way to go. Price being equal in a Balcony and above cabin between Haven and YC. I’d pick Haven. MSC really left a bad taste in my mouth by booking me, sending confirmation and then trying to raise the price of my fare. Had the paperwork to show my booking, my reservation number and the fare. They didn’t care. They were bound and determined to raise the price, regardless (it wasn’t insignificant, either). They really didn’t care that they screwed up no matter how much evidence I gave them showing them their errors. That was a first for me…and I cruise a lot. Still smart for that as I had to get AMEX involved to get my refund. I don’t see the big price deltas between Balcony and above YC vs Haven cabins. Matter of fact, I’m sailing in OCT in the Mediterranean. 11 day cruise, similar itinerary…YC was nearly 2X for a balcony vs a Spa BAlcony in the Haven (which also included access to the thermal spa). Like anything, shop, check, verify then make a decision.

Coffee makers by request. I do concur there is scant room for those “pod” coffee makers. And, those pods aren’t to my liking. I do get the coffee maker set up in my cabin for hot water. I bring my own packets, although “instant” is way better than the coffee maker packets or urn coffee NCL provides. https://maxpressocoffee.com I also bring a carton/glass of milk from the Garden Cafe to keep in my fridge for my coffee. https://www.starbucks.com/menu/at-home-coffee/via-instant

Rarely (if ever) use a robe outside of being in the Spa). So, I guess I’ve never looked or noticed. Slippers, on the other hand, I use when I go out on the balcony. I do not wear any of those outside the cabin other than in the spa as mentioned previously. Soap? Soap is soap…liquid, bar…any configuration. It gets me clean. That’s all that matters. And, it keeps me from having to make room in my luggage to pack my own.

Wasn’t NCL but a Carnival cruise. Had the dreaded “sewage smell” in my balcony cabin. After 2X they came and dumped some sort of chemical in the toilet that was supposed to make it disappear. It didn’t. Then, the toilet finally quit flushing. They ended up moving me to another cabin, but instead of a balcony, it was an oceanview because that’s the only thing they had available. I asked for a partial refund, which they refused. I finally got some drink vouchers (don’t remember it being more than about 3) loaded onto my card. Fair? Not hardly. But, cruise lines are way more rigid than hotels and other types of resorts when dealing with some of these situations. Just a general observation! The good news is, you didn’t lose any money and you have the original cabin you booked.

I don’t think there’s any major differences in perks except for the diamond and ambassador tiers. They just label them differently depending on your Latitudes level. Bronze up until Platinum have similar perks. Platinum to Diamond have similar perks. Ambassador has the one big difference….a free cruise.

I’m on this cruise, too. I have FAS as I know for a fact it’s a good deal for my drinking habits. I am not going to be staying anywhere else overnight but on the ship for those “overnight” ports. That means, I’m dining at night and I’m drinking at night. And, if I so choose, I might get off and come back aboard during the day for lunch and/or a cocktail or two. It’s been a long time since I sailed the Epic (10+ years). So, I’m sure lots has changed. But, I don’t recall them having nothing but “bad” beers on board. I’m not picky about beer, however. Bourbon? Different matter! I like what I like. Just a different perspective, if I’m on a cruise and constantly worried about whether it’s more costly with or without the FAS with tips being charged, I’m taking the FAS and ordering what I want, when and where I want, without worry. That said, if you’re going to bring wine on board and don’t plan on drinking anything else, it might work. The question I’d have…how much will you save by doing so? And, would that preclude you from ordering something else because of cost or unavailability? What’s the magic number for your tips that would make you want the FAS? $50? $100? Not saying there’s a right answer in your case. Just throwing out some things to consider.

I wouldn’t plan on NCL offering anything once you board. By that time all the cabins will have been filled (if they aren’t already). And, the few (if any) they set aside to move guests as a result of a cabin mechanical issue that’s unsolvable, will have been reserved. I get it. They told you one thing (the upgrade) but ended up giving you exactly what you booked. Tough to see where compensation would be in order for that. However, maybe a dinner at a Specialty Restaurant would make up for the mistake? Tell them what you want as compensation. The worst they can say is “no”!

I think you have to put a filter through some of the posts here at CC. Invariably, someone will state they did something we know NCL won’t/wouldn’t do, just to be a contrarian. Either way, if your other couple has a dining package, they can certainly join you and pay their own way….or, just dine a la cart.

Related a while ago that a drunk guy bought those of us sitting at the Haven Bar a shot of the Louis. I was one of 3 (4 including our generous, but inebriated benefactor. Bartender put on white gloves to serve it. Long and short of it, he paid for the story, not the drink, which to my unsophisticated taste, could have been any number of dark liquors sitting in the well.

So, does it actually taste like peanut butter? Trying to figure out how they flavor a barrel aged liquor!

FAS Specialty Dining stipulate each dining credit is good for 2 people who are dining with each other at the same time. So, if 2 are dining (regardless of what Specialty Dining venue) that would be one of the credits. If 1 is dining on a credit, you have used up the entire credit. You can't order one dinner and claim you only used ½ the credit. Once it's used, it's used, no matter if one or two dine on the credit.

IIRC, room service fee on Royal was somewhere around $9-$10 once the required tip is added in. Trying to recall, but I think NCL’s room service charge was similar. Not sure about Carnival.

Great list. BTW….I was really surprised about the pizza in the Garden Cafe. Boutique style pizza? Nope. But, it’s really good, nonetheless. Generally speaking, using the excursion credit and the discount you get if you’re latitudes, the excursions aren’t a bad deal.

Sailed SS Norway right before she blew up. I remember everything being a la carte….no drink packages. Ash trays were everywhere and smoking was permitted everywhere…including MDR. Entertainment, while not bad, was nowhere near as good as it is on today’s ships. Go back? No thanks!

Agree…bad move on NCL’s part. I have to believe NCL personnel are new? They seem to be making quite a few questionable decisions that make little business and/or customer service sense!

Hmmmmmmmm……!!!!!!!!

I'm with you. I'll take crab legs over lobster, every time, all the time. Although, I did have surf and turf (fillet plus lobster tail) on my last Bliss cruise to Alaska a few months ago. It was actually quite good. Still prefer crab legs, however.

Is that the peanut butter stuff?

I can’t stomach the coffee they have in the urns in the Garden Cafe. I request a coffee maker. If in a Balcony, it looks like the one @BirdTravels showed a pic of. I bring Maxpresso or Starbucks Packets of instant. And, I use the hot water from the coffee maker to use the packets. I also bring a carton of milk from the buffet to keep in the cabin fridge. So, while not ideal, certainly better than the “standard” cruise coffee. Short of that, the Starbucks on board is another option. Same stuff you get on any street corner in the U.S.

I had heard that. And, it explains a lot. Truth is, I think I can count on two fingers when I’ve had good lobster……anywhere.

No disagreement. I've NEVER had good lobster on ANY cruise line. They are either puny and flavorless. Or, drenched in so much sauce that you'd be hard pressed to taste any lobster.