graphicguy

But, I recall racking up hundreds of dollars in drinks without FAS. And, tips were handed out like Halloween Candy, to every one. not defending any cruise line. It's just this constant barrage of "cruises have gone sky high" just doesn't seem to hold water with what I'm seeing. Sure, you can find a new ship that's nearly sold out where the fares may be high. But, those willing to shop a little (say like they do when it comes to comparing prices of grocery stores), you can find good fares.

I have mentioned, I shop a lot. I keep coming back to this one (Sept 7 nites on the Joy Canada cruise). Balcony with FAS, all taxes, etc. It's even cheaper than 5 years ago. PRICE SUMMARY STATEROOM Balcony $3,676 50% Off All Cruises $1,838 FREE AT SEA Open Bar Selected Specialty Dining Selected Shore Excursions Included WiFi Included +MORE OFFERS 50% Off All Cruises Included 2-For-1 Deposits Included Gov. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses $245.40 Open Bar Gratuities $152.60 Specialty Dining Gratuities $19.80 Total Due Incl. Taxes $2,255.80

I'd be so ticked off......

I was a Boy Scout, too. Albeit a few decades ago. I don't recall us being forced to sell anything. Our Den Mother showed us how to make crafts (like a little wooden race cars we'd enter into tournaments) and gave us "home baked" cookies. But, aside from the uniforms (which my Father complained about buying for me), I don't recall any particular fund raising at all. Even today, I haven't heard nor seen any sort of Fund raising for Boy Scouts that even remotely approach Girl Scout cookies.

I'm on a quest to find out why selling the most Girl Scout cookies is such a big deal... This may be behind a pay wall.... https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-02-12/editorial-the-problem-with-girl-scouts-as-cookie-bosses In essence, parents are "guilted" into buying unsold cookies. Girls get stuffed animals for selling so many and are shamed if they don't. Girl Scouts say they are teaching entrepreneur ship. Funny....AMWAY says the same thing. I think the only people benefiting from this are the cookie makers and corporate Girl Scouts, who sell 200 million packages of cookies for $800 million in revenue. All the while, employing girls and their parents, for no money, to do their selling for them. Maybe I'm going to catch heck for this, but this smells to high heaven.

I had quoted balcony cabin fares earlier in this thread. I was curious about what I was paying 5 years ago (based on quotes I received). I've had to redact portions of the quotes below because it shows who my TA is, which CC does not allow. But, fares 5 years ago are about on par to what they are today. This was a quote from February 2019....so, almost exactly 5 years ago. Balcony cabin. Note...BX category does not include FAS. BF does include FAS. This was for a Bermuda sailing on what was, at the time, one of NCL's new ships. Hi xxxxxxxx, My name is xxxxxxx and I am a Travel Consultant with xxxxxxxxxxx and I am responding to your request for a quote on the Norwegian Escape 7-night cruise departing New York on February 24, 2019. The prices below include the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses based on double occupancy. There are two options for a balcony room. The least expensive one is NCL’s Sail Away Rate. This does not include any of NCL’s Free at Sea amenities. The next option is the Free at Sea promotion, in which you would receive the Beverage package, Dining package, shore excursion credit and 250 internet minutes. NCL has a service charge for the beverage and dining packages. These are included in the pricing for the BF category. Category BX, balcony “guarantee” at the Sail Away rate $2,056.20 grand total for this room. You will receive $105.00 shipboard credit from our agency for this room. Category BF, balcony “guarantee” with the Free at Sea promotion $2,765.10 grand total for this room. You will receive $190.00 shipboard credit for this category. NCL requires full payment in order to book this cruise. Please let me know if you need any additional information or if you have any questions. My contact information and schedule are listed below. Thanks for contacting us once again and I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day. xxxxxx Cruise & Travel Consultant xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx This week’s schedule- Monday 2-6 Tuesday 9-5 Wednesday Off Thursday 12-8 Friday 9-5 Eastern U.S. time

RE: Scooters. Understand, Hamiton Bermuda is like any other mid-sized city. Paved with sidewalks. However....much of the island is only accessible by water taxi. There might be an issue there. Plus, the implementation for accessibility in Bermuda isn't nearly as widespread as it is in the U.S.

Alaska is a great itinerary. You are going to be amazed. Enjoy!

Shocked they let "Cutco knife" lady on board with a cache of knives. That should have set off alarms left and right as the luggage passed through security. Girl Scout cookies....help me understand. Why is it so imperative for the individual Girl Scouts to sell so many cookies? I didn't mind it when my neighbors girls would come to the door to take an order from me. But, at the Mall? At my church? At restaurant entrances. At Walmart entrances? At Community Center entrances? At public parks? I just think it's bordering on the same nuisance type of selling as Kirby Vacuum sales. Hate to sound like the guy who yells "get off my lawn", but Girl Scout cookie sales have reached the point I used to order $100 worth. Now, I buy none because they've been such a pain. Wish the Girl Scouts the best, but why or why would someone on a cruise want to sell them? Will the Girl Scouts somehow be punitive if you don't sell their cookies?

Unfortunately, you're likely the last group to board. Alaska cruise? SEA has been kind of an anomaly for me. Sometimes, no lines....walk right on. Others, big lines. I'd say maybe noon, or 12:30 boarding time?

Thank you! You’ve said what most of us thought! BTW....will probably get in trouble for stating this, but your cookie business went from revered support of a great organization to some sort of marketing juggernaught that employs free labor of girls and their parents. I am inundated nearly every time I go to a grocery store, to church, neighbors, or in my burg's public areas! Last thing I'd want is to be on a cruise and to get another marketing effort for Girl Scout Cookies!

Thanks. Like yours as well. Service is as good ( better in some instances). I think food has improved. I said before, I found INDULGE better than anything in Garden Cafe. The ships I’ve been on have been maintained impeccably! Go Carts, Laser Tag, Galaxy Pavilion are not my cup of tea (actually, I really like the race track), but they seem quite popular in addition to the slides, kiddie pools, and way better than the former climbing walls! I could go on, but you catch the drift. There are some things worseZ. Cagney’s steaks have become smaller. There has been a shift of some liquors from included on FAS over to FAS Plus! LeBistro did used to be much better in both taste and presentation!

I don’t think the odds are that advantageous. Too many things can go wrong in this. Ship takes a while to clear immigration. Immigration for the guests gets delayed. Lines through security are long. I’d look for a flight mid afternoon, at the very soonest.

In summation (if I can be so bold)... OP states NCL has cut "quality across the board". That's false. They have not. I have been on their sailings as recently as a few weeks ago, on one of their newest ships. I have a lot of first hand experience with NCL. That's not a brag. It just "is". I think most, just by the nature of posting here, like NCL. Now, they may not like some of the entertainment (me included), they may not like some of the new ship(s)(I do), they may not like this or that, but you're here. That means, overall, it's worth it for them to take a look at NCL, be they new cruisers or grizzled vets. Some of us have sailed other lines, a lot....both pre and post COVID. Again, I stalk those other cruise lines' threads, too (although I may not comment as much as I do here). You see the same types of posts and arguments. The only constant is change. If you want the NCL cruise, or the Carnival cruise, or the Royal cruise, etc of yesteryear....It's gone. Just like tuxes and gowns are gone. Lots of hand ringing in these threads about the "formal night" going away. Me? I applaud it. Smoking areas are severely restricted....and moving towards being eliminated. Some don't like that. Most do. Personally? I do not like smokers being made pariahs. Stick to the areas you're allowed to smoke, and we're all good. But, given the small demographic that makes up smokers (and rapidly shrinking) the fact is, they are no longer being courted by cruise lines, overall. Fares..,.this one befuddles me the most. I sent some example fares on an itinerary and date(s) I'm personally looking at. Comparing NCL to their competition, they are extremely competitive. FAS has been a game changer in the industry, as was "Freestyle", as was "ship within a ship Haven concept". NCL is and has been an innovator. They are also a business that needs to make money (same with Carnival and Royal and MSC). NCL's fares offer really good value. Go look at Icon of the Seas fares (Royal's newest ship) and compare them to NCL's Viva (their newest ship). Add in drinks, some Specialty Dining, etc and the pricing delta becomes pretty large. I know some have been able to nail down an MSC fare that is competitive, too. But, it's not "night and day" differences (if there is much difference at all). I was here when there were stock players trying to drive down NCL stock because they shorted it during COVID. I thought that was pretty sleezy. Many of them got their hat handed to them. I was here when people made fun of NCL for requiring COVID vaccines and testing for all crew and guests. They stumbled a bit during the restart (which really PO'd me with their promises that weren't kept), but it turned out their policies got people back on their ships the quickest...innovators. Although I've sailed NCL the most, I have sailed the other lines quite a bit, too. If you don't want to sail NCL, no harm-no foul. But dang, as always, the incessant whining (not being a critic...but out and out whine post after post) is toxic. It helps no one. And, NCL needs to do what they're going to do. They are financially going in the right direction. They may not take you with them, but they're going. No one's going to convince you to like one cruise line over another. That's your decision. If MSC or Carnival or Royal or Celebrity fits the bill for you better, they are happy to have you come over to their side of the cruise industry. I'm sure NCL feels the same.

I make my own. Way better than any frozen or delivery pizza!

I don’t know their P&L, EBIT data, etc. But, they’ve been sailing full. The only way to increase passenger count is to add more ships. Prima, Viva and Auqua intend to do that. Increasing margin per guest is the another way. All of the cruise lines have a large debt service from the COVID shutdown. It looks like Royal/Celebrity are raising fares. MSC is adding ships and cutting crew/personnel! Really surprised Carnival is raising fares, but they are. They are introducing new (sometimes reimagined ships..i.e. Venezia). NCL is expanding their premium cabins (Haven) and premium extra cost areas on their ships (Vibe). What‘s the magic formula? Best I can tell, NCL is still sailing at capacity. So, they have that part down. The more passengers, the less expenses they have per passenger!

Cavern Club and Syd's bands are among my favorite entertainment on ANY ship. The musicians are easily Broadway and Vegas caliber and their song menus appeal to a very broad swath of cruise guests, focused on their bread and butter demographic. Burn the Floor on Epic was OUTSTANDING. Not a disco fan, but DONNA on Prima was very well attended. Choir of Man on Escape and Encore is also one of the best shows at sea. I know past shows like Rock of Ages had some people walk out because it was "risqué". I thought it was tame, but some...well..... Blue Man Group I saw on my first Epic cruise. Fun. But, if you've seen it once, the repeat entertainment value just wasn't there. Saw Million Dollar Quartet twice. Would see it again if they ever bring it back. Saw the shows in Illusionarium. Fun. But, the whole dinner show concept on a ship just doesn't quite make it...especially given it was extra cost and the food was mediocre. Have said before, Price is Right was well attended and everyone seemed to have a good time. Is it something I'd attend again? I guess the prospect of being called up and winning a Corvette or a cruise would make me do it, given there are only a few hundred they can call on to play in the theater. Plus, there are some really naive and some really clueless people who played that game. I guess that's the draw, though...thinking you can outplay the others.

Thanks, Henry. That's a fun "blast from the past". I recall on the Epic, the then wife had a surf and turf and wine. Total bill was $100. That was before FAS.

I do love NCL for Solos. They welcome us. As a Sapphire, not a lot of these discussions matter to me. Social media is a mine field for ALL the cruise lines. I know as Royal has cut back on Diamond benefits, there has been plenty of outcries. Celebrity has raised fares dramatically. Carnival used to be the budget choice. They aren’t so “budget” these days. Neither is MSC, who used to be more budget focused! As an example, I had read that the NCL Prima was horrible…mainly regarding INDULGE food hall. I sailed her a few weeks ago. Found INDULGE an absolute delight. Found the outdoor areas to be great. The problem? It is so different than NCL’s other ships, people were surprised (apparently, not in a good way). To me? It’s a new and upper scale experience for NCL!

Oh…I recall paying about $100 for a Cagney’s dinner on the Epic a dozen years ago. I think it was $49/pp. That vs $20/pp for 2 FAS SDPs today!

Bermuda vs Canada is a different itinerary. So, I tried to stay roughly the same time frame and itinerary when doing my comparisons. That said, it's been a minute since I was in Bermuda. I am still looking into Bermuda sailings.

My point of the pricing exercise, and I quoted the fares I was personally trying to book, is the fallacy of NCL nickel and diming. Most of us book their FAS. Royal's drink package runs between ~$50-$100/pp/pd. Do the math compared to FAS. Someone's going to have to fill-in what Canival's drink package is because I don't remember.

My error....I did a copy and paste. NCL still wins....and adds in FAS.

Still cheaper than the others, plus NCL gives you drinks, SDP, some internet and excursion credits.

I mentioned before, I'm a cruise shopping fiend. I have not been back to NE and Canada for a couple of years. I love that itinerary and in September, the leaves are turning. So, it's beautiful. Let's do a comparison. MSC doesn't have a cruise available in Canada for Sept so I can't include them. All are balconies...all are sailing in Sept. All are 7 day cruises. Royal's is an older ship. Carnival's is a converted Costa ship. NCL's JOY is a Breakaway Plus ship that just finished dry dock. Just looked all of them up from their WEB site booking pages. NCL's fare includes FAS and tips. The rest do not. So, tell me who is nickel and diming. I'll put NCL's food, drinks and service up against any of the other ships on this list. And yes, I've sailed Carnival and Royal, too. Royal 7 Night Canada Cruise Leaving from Boston, Massachusetts onboard Jewel of the Seas Sep 22, 2024Sep 29, 2024 Due today Total price $500.00 $2,743.28 USD Staterooms Ocean View Balcony 2 Guests Ocean View Balcony Aft Deck 7 #7650 Guest Info Dining & Options Payment Summary View pricing by guest Staterooms $2,332.00 Subtotal $2,332.00 Taxes & fees $411.28 Total price $2,743.28 Carnival Itinerary:7-Day Canada & New England from Manhattan, New York City, NY Sat Sep 7, 2024 - Sat Sep 14, 2024 Ship:Carnival Venezia 1 Room 2 GuestsChange Room 1: Cove Balcony Onboard Credit Bonus Early Saver Sale $50.00 Credit to spend onboard Included Guest 1: $1,239.00 Guest 2: $1,239.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $419.30 Room Total$2,897.30 NCL 1. NUMBER OF GUESTS & DATES 2 Guests Sep 10 — Sep 17 2024 2. STATEROOM & OFFERS Balcony#9746 Offers 3. GUEST INFORMATION & PAYMENT Stateroom Offers Prices shown in USD unless otherwise noted. PRICE SUMMARY STATEROOM 2 Guests Balcony $3,676 50% Off All Cruises $1,838 FREE AT SEA Open Bar Selected Specialty Dining Selected Shore Excursions Included WiFi Included +MORE OFFERS 50% Off All Cruises Included 2-For-1 Deposits Included GRATUITIES Open Bar Gratuities $305.20 Specialty Dining Gratuities $39.60 Subtotal $2,182.80 Excl. taxes, fees and port expenses, they will be added at checkout. View Cancellation Policy