luv2kroooz

That is fair, but if the cruise line decides not to pay, then they need to inform their guests in advances of the rules of the game. I know someone who bought the upgraded drink package and was faced with unexpected $29-$30 taxes on each bottle of champagne. There were also times when they couldn't get the premium spirits they paid for due to port rules and regulations.

Good point and it makes sense, but it doesn't work that way. You will be charged sales tax in all US HomePorts based on the menu price of the drink (even though you have free drinks).

It will vary from bar to bar. Generally, your Atrium bar, O'Sheehans, Mixx and the bars up on the pool deck will have a wide variety of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails. Then, you will have some bars that are more spirit focused, like Shaker's which focuses on martinis. Not sure you could get a pina colada or strawberry daiquiri at the martini bar. They may not even have a blender. Likewise, Maltings is going to be more focused on Whisky, Bourbon and Scotch. They will have a special menu focusing on cocktails made with Whisky, Bourbon and Scotch. Now, they will probably still have some vodka, gin, rum, etc, to make basic gin and tonic, vodka soda, rum and coke, but there may be some drinks for which they don't have the ingredients since they are focusing on bourbons there. The bar in La Cucina will probably have Limoncello which you might not find at every other bar on the vessel. Hope that helps!

Yes, the early booking fares are artificially inflated. Then they run the promotions about free air or cruise next double up offers if you book 6 months (sometimes 4) months out. Just be patient if you really want to sail on NCL. If you can book and sail last minute, their last minute discounting is alive and well and is some of the best in the industry. You could save hundreds even thousands over the "fake" promotional pricing if you have flexibility. Yes, MSC and Carnival sailing into NYC will also disrupt this artificial inflation.

Yes, credit cards widely accepted worldwide. I'd take an average of $40-$50 per port of call. Allows for some incidental spending in port and some incidental tipping onboard and on tour.

If you choose NCL, make sure you fully understand dock location. It is my understanding that NCL often times uses docks that may be located far away from the actual ports that they visit. Also, look at port times to understand how much time you will have ashore. We would choose Princess for an Alaska cruise over NCL, RCL and Carnival.

You could head up to the Garden Cafe buffet on Italian night and probably get pretty close. You might find some smoked meats and imported cheeses plus fresh veggies spicy peppers, etc.

Predictable response. Good luck to you.

It really isn't a matter of being able to afford. Truth be told we could afford it. For us, it is about the relationship of the service being received to the tip. So, again, I ask, at what point would you turn off the mandatory tips? What is your ceiling, if such a ceiling exists? Or will you tip whatever the cruise line tells you to without regard to service levels?

Predictable response. Just curious, at what point do you turn off the tips, or is there no cap in your world? Just keep paying whatever they ask.

Unfortunately, we are tapped out on tipping. We are paying $40 per couple per day for service charges plus $43.60 per couple per day for booze, plus the dining gratuities which I will set aside for now. At $83.60 per couple per day in fees, charges, and gratuities, we don't have any disposable income left to extend additional gratuities. This whole system needs rejiggered, if that's even a word. I suppose we could reallocate some of the DSC by removing it and taking those savings and sharing them with staff directly. We will have to see what the onboard experience looks like.

The entire IT system is a train wreck. Whether it is the cumbersome process of checking in online to the emails telling you to check your email for notification that your edocs are ready to the onboard chaos of trying to understand a billing statement. We just had a pre booked dinner reservation cancelled in the name of an apparent software glitch. It is like their technology was developed during the Fred Flintstone era and never updated....kind of like the FAA flight scheduling software here in the US.

Thanks for the assist, there. Both times.

Respectfully, I am not here to help you understand. You are free to read the message boards and draw your own conclusions. How you process information is out of my control. Nothing I can do about that. My response was written in a very intentional, deliberate manner and based on my understand of others experiences and personal knowledge. I stand by what I wrote with the intention of helping other members on these message boards. Over and out. Peace.

But it could also be your problem if you follow what NCL says and book independent tours only to have times adjusted and ports cancelled. If there are conflicts noted between NCL and port authority, make sure independent tours are fully refundable. NCL will not help you if they change the itinerary and you have money tied up with independent tour operators.

Predictable response. Good luck to you.

Yes, always go directly to the primary source, which is the port authority for the most up to date information. They know which ships are coming when. It is very sad that you can not rely on Norwegian to be upfront and honest. Norwegian has many times been delayed with providing complete and accurate information about itineraries. It is my opinion that they are routinely altering itineraries behind the scenes in the name of green initiatives. This opinion is confirmed by the experienced documented in this thread. In all cases I have seen, they have shortened port calls or eliminated ports altogether in a clear effort to keep their ships out at sea longer. This decreases fuel spend for their convenience at the inconvenience of the paying public. But they couldn't care less. I find it interesting that ports never get added or port times extended. They are usually eliminated and/or times reduced. They always start out the announcement with all the platitudes, thank you for sailing, it is always our intention, blah blah blah, trying to attribute randomness to these itinerary changes. Yet, these apparent random situations always result in decreased port times and cancellations. If they were truly random, the law of averages dictates that port calls would be extended and ports added on occasion, yet that never happens. An educated consumer is NCLs worst customer.

Yes, this is the thing. They intentionally made the ship and various venues smaller which is a great goal, in theory. In practice, there are still 3,000 guests onboard. So when you have 3,000 guests trying to fit their way into venues that hold 100, well, you can see the problem. The overall design is a major problem for the overwhelming majority of passengers. You can scroll through tripadvisor and over and again see the same complaints described in different ways.....disappointed.....beware....shortcomings....poor layout....never again....ship design does not work, etc.

Until the capacity of the public lounges like Syd's and the Improv are rightsized and until is able to create a main pool deck, we also have read enough opinions that we would not book a cruise on Prima. I am expecting revisions to the vessels currently under construction.

This is clearly being done in the name NCLs sail and sustain initiatives. Notwithstanding, maybe NCL will soon be offering in room fan rentals. You heard it here first, lol. 😁😁 An electric fan could be $9.95 per person per day based on double occupancy plus a 20% mandatory service charge. Battery operated fans could be $7.95 per person per day based on double occupancy plus a 20% mandatory service charge. Rechargeable batteries can also be rented for $.69 per person per day plus a 20% mandatory service charge, for our convenience. For valued Haven guests, ceiling fans are being installed. Fans can be selected as an add on in the app up until three days prior to sailing. However, if you add a fan to your cart and don't pay for it, your cruise will be cancelled and no refunds will be issued. The new policy is subject to change at any time at NCLs discretion. Fans subject to availability. If the policy does change or fan availability is limited, customers will not be entitled to a refund.

Yep, you sure can.

2. All pretty good. I would avoid Moderno. 3. No cartons of water included. Pay or drink from tap. 4. I've read good and bad. Never used the service to comment personally. I generally prefer to have direct control over my flight times and airlines.

This was just a deceptive move by NCL. Typical. If you remember back in September 2022, NCL announced it would be increasing the cost of the drinks package from $99 to $109 per person per day for our convenience - the highest price in the industry, with the most restrictions. At the same time, in an attempt to "soften the blow", they coincidentally began a promotion that made it appear as if the package would include 6 1L cartons of water going forward. Then, on December 31, just before the price increase, they quietly pulled the 6 1L bottles from the regular package, leading to this multi page thread by consumers who were confused, thinking they paid for something NCL was not providing. It's all just smoke in mirrors. They even had the media fooled with their cryptic, vague policy. https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-drink-packages-increase-price-2023/ https://www.cruzely.com/norwegian-increasing-drink-package-costs-by-10-per-day/#:~:text=The price of NCL's main,%2499 per person%2C per day.

For the right price, I would give them another try. Carnival is widely know to be a budget cruise line. They are not HAL nor do they pretend to be HAL. We have found that they compare well with NCL. You can go to the NCL boards, like I have, to read reviews about cold food, tough meat, and supply chain issues. If it is the only cruise that fits your schedule and you want to take a cruise, give it a go. Go in with eyes wide open as the onboard experience post Corona is probably different than what many are used to pre Corona.

Sounds to me like that support tech representative might have just wanted to get off the phone so it sounded like the right thing to say at the time. In reflection, the response isn't logical.