Blitzburggirl

I'm sorry, is this a joke?

And here I was excited to be cruising in less than 50 days in a balcony. Silly me. 

I apparently should be fretting that I'm not going to be "elite" or "special" enough to enjoy my cruise.

Gosh. I should probably just stay home.

😼

11 hours ago, kenzie said:

No Charge, Room service bring it daily, its like a fairy-I never saw them deliver it but it was there everyday I returned to my room in the afternoon. Worked lovely getting fresh water every day and I just filled the empty bottles I took with me. We use the gym so needed bottles of water for that. 

I'm also a gym goer.. and I like to put beverage package to use, so I drink a ton of water. 

I'd read you could fill a water bottle in the gym (we were on Getaway) and I couldn't anywhere to do so. It was mind boggling they don't have dispensers like gyms/airports/malls do.. until I realized water on the ship was a racket lol 

Thank you for the tip!

7 hours ago, kenzie said:

Ring room service when you get onboard and request a daily jug of iced water to your cabin, use that to fill your water bottle daily. 

Is there a charge for this? 

I'm kicking myself I didn't know this for our last cruise (first on NCL... Carnival and RCCL include water in beverage packages.)

So frustrating trying to source water on the ship since the little tiny dispensers at all the bars were always 4 deep in little kids, and filling a 16 oz bottle would take 10 minutes with the trickle LOL 

13 minutes ago, Outerdog said:

 

People say this all the time, and just like them, you don't really know what the policy is.

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

LOL Did you notice I started my comment with “I think...” 

But thank you for pointing out that I don’t really know, because clearly I was under the impression I am a subject matter expert. 

@rochelle_s... I think you're looking from it from the wrong angle..

The crew member is supposed to surrender any cash tips to be reallocated in the DSC pool.

Whether that happens or not... none of my business. 

I too find it sad, but not as tragic as the OP seems to think this event was.

Maybe because I've traveled much, and in the age of comfortable, easy care fabrics.

I went on my last cruise in April, and will be going again in December. When I think of my "luggage", which I've always carried onboard, on 3 different cruise lines, I don't pack much that washing and drying would damage. Over the years, there have been a few dresses here and there, my ex's military uniform, and some shoes that would have made me sad. But certainly not enough to stain my trip, especially if the cruiseline was able to recover them, and wash them. I can't imagine an entire weeks worth of clothing for any family member, especially teens lol that 90% of it isn't wash and wear. I guess being a little dramatic is your way of hoping to maximize any payment you may get?

FWIW, for the last 3 cruises, I can only think of one dress and one pair of shoes that would have been damaged. My entire teenager is wash and wear, so his luggage may have been improved by NCL taking it and washing it for him. 😉

I have only been on one NCL cruise (looking forward to the next one this December!)

Drinks were good. I didn't find them light pours, at all! If anything, a bit heavy handed. 

As far as Pay for Perks... I have had quite a few sailings on Carnival, and found their "Faster to the Fun" to be well worth it on sailings with lots of tenders. Plus, our experience on the one NCL sailing was that NCL does alot of things very right, but disembarkation is a sad sad nightmare (and have read quite a few others here will agree.) 

They did absolutely nothing to ensure people didn't skip lines, come down at the proper time, etc. If I had been told it was the entire crews first time getting people of the ship, I'd have believed it. Soooooo to avoid that mess... I would pay for the "perks." But as annoyed (and yes, angry) as I was at disembarkation (Getaway in NYC fwiw) I would have been livid had I paid for the "perk" and they still allowed people who clearly had more important things to do than I did to jump lines and blatantly ignore what was put out the night before.

One thing (among many) I'll give Carnival, they empower their staff to actually enforce some rules. Kids in hot tubs, kids in adult only areas, chair hogs, drunks and line jumpers get called out on Carnival. On NCL it seems they are unable to do so.

Just a FYI... our NYC Getaway cruise in April resulted in about 3 hours too late to Port Canaveral, so alot of people missed out on  Space Center, and other activities. We got like two hours on the beach- the end.

Then our stop in Great Stirrup Cay was skipped. 

Parasailing shouldn't be hard to find though.

52 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I agree, buy therma spa passes if available ......Also, spend more time on the Waterfront deck. Much quieter. I too am canceling my Encore cruise  for 2021.  I have no interest sailing with my two kids during spring break on the Encore now that it's apparent that the Encore pool deck has room for about 60*people now ...... It's a shame the level they're taking their money grab too. 

I thought the lack of an expansive pool deck (but massive farms of deck chairs elsewhere) on the Getaway was pretty irritating when I got on the ship. I just don't understand it. One of the biggest things that frustrates people is lack of poolside deck chairs. LOL

I do agree with a previous poster- it is what you make of it, and if you focus on the positives, it'll likely still be a fantastic vacation.

We dined at Cagney's on the Getaway in April. Not impressed- at all.

La Cucina was fantastic!

OH! I also forgot to ask...

Because everyone loves a good beverage package question! 😂

Since we'll effectively be sailing down the east coast.. how does that work? On Carnival in US waters there were some random things.. like beverage package didn't take effect til some specific time, certain beers couldn't be served til in international waters, tax charges while in US waters. I'm guessing we'll arc far enough out to not be in US waters long.. (anyone know how long?!)

If I order a d*mn beer for sail away, do I pay full price plus tip? Even with the bev package?

Why must things be so difficult lol

Sorry @CarolinaMamma!

I just saw your post :)

Sailaway tomorrow! YAY!!! I'm going to just go with it and hope that I can get a chair every now and then. I'm not going to allow myself to get caught up in the math gymnastics of people/pools/hot tubs. I guarantee the ratios are way better on ship than at work next week!!

Are you participating in Meet and Greet and Slot Pull? There is more chatter in the roll call as we get closer to sailaway!

Hi all!

I'm antsy! I can't wait. I'm counting minutes. And I'm soooooo excited! I haven't cruised since 2016 and it shows!

We sail out of NY on the Getaway- TOMORROW! YAY! Down the the minute on packing. So I wanted to check a few things (never been on NCL)

Are there toiletry dispensers in the showers? I'll bring my own.. but I am traveling with 3 guys (2 balcony cabins) and don't want to pack for 3 people that can be happy with whatever comes out of the dispenser (Carnival does this on some ships.)

Will they remove the mini bar and associated tempting things from a cabin (there will be two teen boys in one of the cabins.)

We chose 12:30-1 as our check in window. I've never been to Port of New York. I've been to Miami and Port Canaveral quite a few times. Typically drive up, drop big bags, park car and walk back across and enter line. Even the Carnival Faster to the Fun resulted in a long time sitting in a room waiting to get on the ship after check in. How does this work for Norwegian at PONY?

I've read (here) to refill water bottles (we are massive water drinkers) in the gym. Anyone have other fantastic advice?

Thank you so much!

Tess

On 3/30/2019 at 8:14 AM, mjkacmom said:

When we book like this, we’ve been restricted to the perks that come with booking, and have just been issued extra keys. For example, with DH and I booked in different (yet connecting) cabins, we each got the UBP while our kids got the soda package, even though we would have preferred to be #1 and #2 in a cabin and not have wasted the USP on 2 soda packages. I wouldn’t chance bidding in your case.

We are going on Breakaway in a couple weeks and it was sad to waste the UBP "credits." A little irritating actually.

How does one find out how much spa passes are? We will be on Breakaway April 13... with every other kid in the North East US 😞

I've sailed out of various ports in Fl and it's usually pretty straight forward.

For this cruise on the Getaway in April, we sail out of "New York, New York." Well dang. That's a pretty big, crowded, and congested place. Where is the port? What is in good proximity??

I'd also love to find a stay and sail. Book a room for Friday night, and leave the car parked there for the week. Any suggestions?

I've also never sailed Norwegian. I've used Carnival's Faster to the Fun.. and it was fantastic! I'd like to get on board, and have time to try to get Vibe access. I don't care if the rooms are ready or not. What time is the earliest to arrive to the the ship?

Thank you all!!

@SNJCruisers Hahahahah I'm not really nuts about B52's but blood orange martinis are fantastic! Also Satan's whiskers :) Truthfully a bit more excited if Grey Goose is loose again :)

So grey goose and Grand Mariner are back in the UBP? If so.. huge sigh of relief!

Sadly, I am off the Glory.

The facts...

1. The cruise was spectacular and I loved every minute of it!

2. Cheers was awesome and put well to use- totally got my money out of it and for the eye rollers... I remember every minute of it and never was beyond buzzed lol Long days folks! Morning mimosas and bellinis and late night Alchemy drinks in the comedy club.

3. I paid the full price- the discounted price was NOT honored.

Let me tell you about the first 30 minutes of my vacation on the ship. And boy did it annoy the *ell out of me.

I boarded the ship with the GC's in hand. I went to my cabin and dropped my bags- I had FTTF. Went to Guest Services. Relayed the whole... Tried to buy Cheers months ago with the GC's and was told the system wasn't set up yet, double checked 2 days before boarding blah blah blah. I was asked for a confirmation letter etc.. I told her because there was no sale, there was no confirmation. Then I was told that she could put the GC's on the account, but I had to buy Cheers elsewhere (casino for example.) I then said, if you put the GC's on my sign and sail, what is there to "show" the person I'm buying Cheers from that I had GC's in the first place?

Bottom line I bounced around like a ping pong ball for 30 damn minutes (and this is super early in boarding and with FTTF Guest Services counter so no lines.) In the end, I just got angry, and was like, I'm not starting my vacation in a tizzy over $6 a day. So I went and bought the package at full price and orders my first of 105 alchoholic drinks. Yes folks, I made sure I got every drink I could- along with a water or two for every mojito (btw the ting mojito is flipping fabulous!!) teas, vitamin water, etc.

Am I still mad- no. But I would have rathered just a point blank no all around (not from fellow cruise critic folks, but a cohesive from Carnival. I'd love my first half hour on the ship back.

I attended the Cruise Critic Meet and Greet with the Cruise Director Eric (PHENOMENAL!!! Don't miss his comedy/magic show- the guy is AWESOME!!) and I did bring it up then. I didn't push for resolution or action, but I'm kinda disappointed that it wasn't offered to look into it.

Paying full price with the GC's is kinda a wash (the 10% savings is negated by full price) I considered paying in advance with cash then using the GC's as on board credit. While this would save the $6 plus 15%... It would also encourage me to spend more just to "use them up." I don't cruise as much as I'd like to. I decided against this and am glad I did.

Anyway, once I refused to let the cluster f*ck of trying to get the pre cruise Cheers price go and just enjoy my vacation- it was awesome. Good luck everyone!

Tess

So, it appears that Stolid has confirmed that you can board the ship, request the preboard Cheers price and it will be honored (at least on his/her cruise it was) and pay for said Cheers with Gift Cards....Now that that is out of the way, shall we debate the merits of the Cheers program????????????????????

 

LOL, J/K....enjoy your cruise :D:D:D:D

My cabin includes myself and a 14 year old. I promise you I will get my value out of Cheers! And... At this time I will purchase both Cheers (for me) and Bottomless bubbles (for him.) If it isn't honored... Just Cheers.. But that kid won't want for a soda, water or milkshake.. I promise you that!

Please allow me to elaborate in the words you want:

 

It worked. I boarded the ship and paid for my Cheers package with gift cards. They honored the pre purchase price.

That is awesome! I was hoping! I figure the way these boards (all forums really) work was that people would come back having a hissy fit if it wasn't honored. But hadn't seen feedback either way so was really curious.

Thank you! If there are others, please chime in!!

yes, yes, yes, you can use gift cards to pay for Cheers, I used AARP gift cards, same difference.

Hi, and thank you for your emphatic response. To keep the thread in the eye of the needle I a sewing with, I need to clarify.

I am confident gc's can be used to pay for Cheers (and thank you for the confirmation.)

Where I am looking for feedback is about price. Prior to the preboarding cutoff.. Cheers is $49.95 a day. On ship, it is $54.95 per day. I (and many others) have been told via the call in number- that they aren't set up to accept gift card purchases of Cheers at this time. However, once on board, indicat you wanted and attempted to pay the pre cruise price (which I did) and pay with your gift cards at that time. You will be given the pre cruise price.

This is where my question lies. I have not seen one person post that they got the pre-cruise price. Or that they didn't. And, at first, I was kinda happy that @StolidCruiser said yes. But apparently my question wasn't clear enough. Perhaps his yes and your yes are to the same question, which isn't my question

Yes.

So it HAS worked for you?! Did it require haggling or just request and done?

Are the gift cards at Verizon's retail stores? Do you have to have Verizon service to purchase them? How much do you save?

I am cruising soon and would love to know if I can use gift cards as well.

The ones I ordered are part of Verizon's rewards program. I have enough points to last til the end of time- and I'm sure any other Verizon customer does too. You pay $90 for each $100 in value. It takes about a week for them to arrive. There's a whollllle thread on them here.

I've also seen people getting similar cards through AARP- but I don't know anything about that.

I bought Verizon gift cards to save a little money on my cruise (We sail on Saturday!!!!) a few weeks ago, I called and booked some excursions using gift cards and was successful. I attempted to pay for Cheers and was told their system wasn't set up for it, but they'd give me the prepay price on board. SOOOOOOO I've read many people on this board have had the exact same conversation.

I tried to book cheers with a gift card in advance and the person on the phone said it couldn't be done in advance. But they did tell me they will honor the pre purchase price on board because they know we have this problem.

What I haven't read is a single solitary person write the following words:

It worked. I boarded the ship and paid for my Cheers package with gift cards. They honored the pre purchase price.

Has this happened? This thread isn't about the value of the package, other cruise lines, table clothes or turn down service. Has ANYONE gotten the pre purchase price on ship?

I do like a steak. But I would rather a perfectly prepared sirloin than a perfectly prepared filet. I don't like the texture of a fatty (even high quality) steak. I really do believe a great steak is very personal. Try it once and if you love it, eat there every night! Otherwise, it was a great night and stick with the main dining room 😊