drewsmom123

I recently went on my first cruise, the Norwegian Epic. I played in their casino and kept the chips in my pocket instead of cashing them in and out multiple times. On the day of disembarkation, I was told the casino cage was closed and I'd have to send the chips in via mail.

 

When I contacted customer service, I was told they don't accept chips by mail and I would have to use them on my next cruise. Logistically, that's not going to happen. It's very frustrating as I had no way of knowing the cage would be closed. It feels like they're using a technicality to keep my money.

 

Has anyone had this experience? Were you able to find a remedy?

 

Is anyone going on the Epic anytime soon that would be able to cash these chips for me? I'd be happy to pay a percentage in exchange for the transaction.

I see that you got lots of helpful advice. I am going to try to be helpful too. I am leaving for the Epic on March 31. I would be willing to cash them in for you. If that is something you are interested in doing I'll give you some personal info.

Now let's wait for the negative nellies to give their opinions of that.

Thanks for the great review. We go 3/31.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Forums mobile app

I make pbj sandwiches at the breakfast buffet. If we don't eat them I bring them back on board to throw away. I also take bottles of water.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Forums mobile app

Holy smokes...per the dictionary: condescension is "an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain". Excellent demonstration of this in your post. Must be nice to have this feeling of superiority.

I agree. All this negativity when the original question was what is on the menu not how was the food. I have found that everyone makes mistakes and just because mine was bad doesn't mean it is always bad.

I'm a bit confused, because I live in a rural area, and we have to go to a city to find a Chili's or Applebees. Once you hit the city, there are plenty of better choices. I didn't know large chain restaurants exist in rural areas, other than an occasional fast food restaurant inside a truck stop.

 

Regardless, O'Sheehan's sucks in general. What bothers me the most is that it's touted as a place to go for late night "snacks", yet there aren't many snack options on the menu. I'd rather see more appetizer type choices. I don't want a sandwich for a snack. That's a meal. I want a snack for a snack.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Forums mobile app

I spend hours reading posts on CC and other travel websites, I am always looking for some wonderful thing that I may have missed. I like to find the secret decks, secret stairs, hints for the least used elevator, and if there are freebies (deck of cards and postcards on Carnival). The other day I was engrossed in such an activity and DH said “I think it is too late to back out now if you find something bad.” I had to explain that I just overlook all of the bad. Almost all of the bad is just a personal opinion and I will not live my life looking for the ugly. If the buffet line is really long at lunch then wait 45 minutes- you’ll be the only one there. Pool too crowded- come back during dinner time. The truly bad stuff are things that usually happen once in a lifetime sorts of things like rooms flooding, rotavirus outbreak (I know these happen more that once, but what are the chances that you will be on that one ship?), or ship mechanical problems. Poor service, crowded areas, and dirty areas are things that I can work around. I am paying a lot of money to have a good time- however, that does not translate to the people around me having to create that good time for me. While doing my reading I recently found that on the Epic there is a bridge viewing room (go forward on 13, starboard), the "secret" staircase (aft deck 8 - 13 port, and aft 8 -14 starboard), and a sundeck with the comfy loungers (looking forward from the pool deck take the elevator on the right to 18), and then walk forward to the front. I also found out that deck 19 is a “Freestyle” deck, thanks Oakman58 for the great play by play of your experience. I think maybe option #2 would have been best, then you would have gotten the full Epic experience and got your pictures of deck 19. Now, even after I become all dark and spicy from the tanning bed, no one (except DH) wants me going Freestyle. We will probably have to visit, yes I know how immature!! Yes, yes we are. I will probably act shocked and just leave but I’m sure there will be some work in getting DH to not stare or take any pictures, jk he wouldn’t (I don’t think).

I've been reading about the person overboard and the spring breakers on a 4 day and all I can say is wow!!! People just loose all sense of decency when posting things online. Not ever thought that enters your brain should be public knowledge. I know- free speech and all- just because you have the right to say something doesn't mean you should.

As I'm posting we have 21 days 8 hours and 51 minutes until we are off. I have decided that I am way more excited than the average grown up should be. I am sooo ready. There are lots of major things going on at work between now and then and the only time DH isn't working or thinking about working is when we are out of cell phone range. So tick, clock tick.

I forgot to add a collapsible cooler to my list of must haves. I have one that looks like a large purse, it it well insulated and doesn’t leak. I think I got it at Walmart. We have used it in the past used it to take our carry on sodas to the pool deck. We love the fruit juices that are only available at breakfast so we fill up a water bottle to have some throughout the day. We’ve always used these as our mixers. However, this time we have UBP so we won’t need to do that. But I saw a great suggestion on another board (sorry I forgot who to give credit to). They suggested that since sometimes you can order 2 drinks at a time, get a beer along with your with your favorite pool beverage and add it to your cooler. Then you have extras for when you are relaxing in the room or to take with you when you go into port. You will have to drink them all while off the ship- they won’t let you bring them back on. It would also be a good idea for sodas, but I recently read that can soda isn’t included in the UBP, so that won't work.

This should be a fun thread as I am also mega sarcastic, and I embody both you and DH's spending habits (refuse to buy Chapstick at over $1/tube, but next cruise is in a suite). Whatever, I make it work. Subscribing!

 

Some earlier commenters made me think of Drax:

 

And I also saw that thread that included the inflatable pool noodles, and a set are currently in my luggage! LOL

Aaah! You get me.

I am looking forward to a review of this ship that is recent. We are going during Spring Break also but not until 2019, so I am going to live Vicariously through you for this year.

I am getting very excited. I hope I provide something helpful.

I haven't started packing yet, but I have started piles of things

that we won’t need between now and then. Some of my favorite must haves are:

Travel folder- to keep track of important paperwork

magnetic hooks or clips- for hanging things around the room

Highlighter- keep track of what I want to do in the Freestyle daily

Water bottles- to stay hydrated

Ziplock baggies- for snacks that we take with us- we’ve done everything from order room service the night before (club sandwich no mayo) to make pbj sandwiches at the buffet during breakfast time - Side note: some ports have dogs sniffing bags as you get off- in that case we lose our lunch but it’s not a big deal.

Night light- I have some battery operated candles- also good for ambiance

Travel games- left, right, center or a deck of cards- these are good for waiting around times

I take a backpack for when we leave the ship, but I have a smaller bag that is good for taking to the pool- book, towels, sunscreen, Freestyle daily

Post it notes- to leave a note for your room steward, roommate, or friends in other rooms

3 way outlet- there are never enough plugs for all my stuff

Laundry bag

Small first aid kit- I take this everywhere- neosporin, band aids, pain meds, stomach meds

New to my list is swim doodles- they are inflatable noodles. 6 for $14 on Amazon- no need to rent a float at GSC- we won’t need all 6 if someone wants to share- hunt us down. (thanks to another CC post on things to not forget) These came recently and all six of them are kinda heavy so if you are flying that might be a problem.

I am a teacher also and will be on the Epic in 7 days!! Since it will be spring break for a lot of families, I might have to go into teacher mode also. Hopefully, the H2O area is really kids free.

Let us know if have to use the teacher stare.

This is EXACTLY why I cruise Solo!!!!

Just curious, which thing is why you go Solo?

Are these are within the UBP limit?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sure hope so. But I guess I won't know until I get there. On previous non-UBP cruise those type drinks were around $10 each so that would work.

We've been a couple of times. BOth times we went snorkeling at Dead Mans reef. It used to be &20 a piece but the have built that area up some since then. Used to be a bathroom and a little hut with food. Here is a link. http://deadmansreef.com/freeport-bahamas-things-to-do/

Beautiful water with lots of marine life.

I'm curious....what is you plan when you are dark and spicy in H2O and Mr. DrewsMom is pasty white like Casper. Won't he notice something is a little bit different when he pulls his shirt off and is lathering up his brute chest and sexy legs with a heavy duty SPF and you are using baby oil???

That is a very good question. Mr. Drewsmom will likely discover that I have become dark and spicy beforehand so I will have to fess up. I did find a great deal. He flips houses for a living (and does his own had work) so as soon as it warms up a little his sexy legs will brown up the natural way. I love the baby oil reference, I used it many times.

You can start out drinking with mimosas in the morning.

:DThat is an excellent idea.

Good on ya, mate! Looking forward to seeing them in advance of our 3/31 sailing, same itinerary.

We are on the 3/31 also.

This was supposed to go with today's post. It was the inspiration for my drink list.

[/img]

We have been looking for these. We are on the 3/31/2018 sailing.

Me too!!

Today we are 29 days, 8 hours, and 44 minutes away from vacay time.

I want to start today’s post by saying that I am well aware that my DH’s cheapness is directly related to our ability to cruise whenever we want to. (And I love him for it) If my “oh I want that” personality was in charge we probably couldn’t afford a canoe for floating down the Little River.

Now I feel better that everyone doesn’t think I am actually complaining. Just stating facts.

Since we do work in the cheapskate mentality, we also like to know if we made a good decision in our purchase. So I have been tracking the price of the trip we booked. We purchased at roughly 45 days out and the base price for the room and UDP was 739, it has steadily inched up to $859 for a slightly lower category room. We got ID and they only have IF left- I don’t know the difference in the 2. So I am feeling good about our timing.

Today I am going to the tanning bed to get started on that base tan. I know that you are thinking that paying for a tan is not really a cheapskate thing to do. Well I need to remind you that DH is cheap not me and I will be paying cash so there is no paper trail. I will go a couple of times week so that we can stay out all day and not worry about getting burned. I will mention here that we are vitamin D junkies and love to be outside. So I am looking forward to many hours at SpiceH2O soaking it up. Apparently it is an adults only area (I’m a school teacher so not child unfriendly- however I want to make them behave and people are often offended when I go into teacher mode, I know they are on vacation too, but that is not an excuse for not follow the rules- which applies to adults to- which I am less likely to correct- but have been known to do so). I predict that this will be our favorite spot- food and drinks are close by, and there is pool for cooling off. So I will start with an Ultimate Pina Colada followed closely by a Mudslide, a Bushwhacker and then a Classic Hand Shaken Daiquiri with some spicy popcorn chicken on the side. I think I said in an earlier post that we aren’t heavy drinkers- well we did pay all that $ for the the UBP and DH has worked out the quota, so I think this is a good plan. I need to check the dates on the sunscreen and stock up on some ibuprofen.

SCREAM!!! just found this thread at random and when i saw the word "cheapskate" i thought, oh, is someone cruising with ME??? love the hilarious wordplay and can't wait to see how it all turns out, since we are kindred spirits. except i cruise solo, no UBP, and definitely no wifi package--a gurl needs her vacay!! party on!

 

~diane

Welcome soul sister to my my journey. I hope you enjoy the ride. This is the first time we have gotten the UBP, and I'm predicting the last. I'm afraid I'm going to be pressured (haha) into meeting my daily quota and we are really only cruise drinkers anyway.

Oh my we are huge. I'll have to work on that. Sorry

When I started my review I couldn't figure out how to insert a picture so I am just practicing to see them if I can do it.

[/img]

Jumping on a subscribing to this one. We'll actually be at sea the same time as you are, but on the Carnival Glory. We do have this cruise booked for 2019 though so are looking forward to your review! We can count down together!

I will wave at you if we see the Glory.

Just wanted to drop in and say “Hey neighbor!” I’m in Maryville :) I don’t have another cruise booked until October, so I’m currently living vicariously through everyone else’s reviews. Hope you have a great trip!

We grew up in Maryville, I also read reviews to live vicariously and dream of the day.

Hi, I’ll be on this cruise too! Very much looking forward to it and like you booked rather recently. We too booked a guarantee balcony and were thrilled when we were assigned a B1, aft facing balcony. No worries about tenders in Ocho Rios and Cozumel we should be docked.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I knew that about Cozumel, but it had slipped my mind. Thanks for the reminder. Enjoy your balcony.

Lol you guys reminded me of that Russell Peters bit about being cheap.

 

 

When someone calls you (and me), cheap, instead of being offended, you go "Cheap? Why thank you for noticing."

The DH is proud of his status. He would wear a badge if I would let him.