jints07

"Hate the Local Cruisers."

Kettle, meet pot.

I don't hand them a tip on day 1, but when heading out of the room on the morning of day 2 I usually leave like five bucks somewhere that makes it obvious it is for them. I do this each morning of the cruise on then at the end of the cruise if the service was good I will leave another 40 or so, but any number of factors could change this one way or another of course.

When staying in a hotel I do the same each morning, again amounts vary of course depending on a number of factors. In my opinion this is just sort of "hey, thanks for cleaning up after me today, here's what is basically a very small token to show my appreciation". In a million years I wouldn't consider it a bribe and any reasonable room steward wouldn't either. Those that do, oh well.

OP: in the end it's between you and the steward so just do what you are comfortable with since as you can see by the responses, there are a myriad of things that a given steward will see along these lines. I would however suggest you pretty much ignore any of the responses that come across as definitive, because there simply isn't really a 100% answer on this topic for so many reasons.

Is it really the gratuity? And so then we wouldn't have to add extra onto each tab we get? If so, that makes more sense to me.

Yep, correct. In fact there is no way to actually add anything on to the room tab at the bars because with the promo they don't even ask you to sign anything when you get a drink (unless you are in a port in which case you have to sign for the local tax).

I used the term "room tab" because you are of course free to tip additional in cash. The bartenders do not expect it, but naturally are appreciative of something extra if you find their service good.

Hopes4 - Do you know if I could prepay service charges with 1 transaction and buy OBC with another, and if the total of the 2 is $500 or more, would it count for the promo?

OP you rock! Good looking out! I would never in a million years have found that. Heck, I didn't even know any of those offers existed, haha.

I could be mistaken, but I could have sworn I just read a review on this forum the other day where a husband and wife embarked together in Seattle and the husband disembarked to surprise his wife flowers that she had seen at Pike Place Market. There didn't appear to be any problems. But as someone else suggested I'd definitely talk to someone at NCL before counting on it.

I understand your frustration but the amount in question is a gratuity. I don't really have a problem with it provided 100% of it goes to the staff. I believe in EU countries the 18% is actually included so free does mean free there, but in the good old US, we have been conditioned to accept that free means "look for the asterisk". Haha.

Thank you for all the suggestions. VERY appreciated.

I had to go through my TA that I booked through and I wish I could post her company because she really went above and beyond on my behalf.

Instead of cancelling and crossing my fingers that we would be compensated by insurance I went the "name change" route instead. My TA had my daughters name added in my husbands place for no additional charge. Now all I have to do is get her school on board with the time off. If I cant do that then I go alone.

Though not ideal (my husband and I were really looking forward to some time alone) Im grateful that it worked out in that we will not have to pay a penalty and I still get to cruise on this fabulous ship. :D

Very happy to hear this worked out. It is just the right thing for cruise lines to do as there is honestly very little reason for them not to (in most cases). I get why the T&Cs are worded they way they are in that it protects the cruise line in the event of some weird situation, but in general having the the right to say no doesn't mean it's good business practice to exercise it. So bravo NCL for doing the right thing.

Click Terms and Conditions toward the bottom of your page. You'll find this...

https://www.ncl.com/termsandconditions/latitudes-extra-point-obc?hide_hf=true

Thanks so much! Funny thing is I logged on from another computer with a much more recent operating system and lo and behold the 2nd row of offers including the Carib and Bahamas offers appeared.

Today!

 

 

 

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If you don't mind me asking, where did you pull that from? I just logged on to NCL and checked Latitudes Insider Offers and they are all European based.

This is what I get: https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/insider-offer

On the Breakaway you can sit and chill at the bar (which is called Chill) with a drink - it's right beside Margaritaville. Unfortunately we didn't hear much Jimmy or any other country any time we were there earlier this month. We heard more Jimmy in O'Sheehans than we did at Margaritaville. It doesn't really have a Margaritaville vibe to be honest. That being said, the bartender was fantastic, as were the drinks. :)

Definitely agree that the drinks and bartenders there are great. We ordered Watermelon Margaritas but asked if they would make them frozen (they are rocks drinks on the menu) and they did so perfectly. You haven't lived until you've had a frozen watermelon margarita! :)

I have noticed hardly anybody goes to MDR ... or if they do they don't post about it. What's the story?

Up until my last cruise I found the service and food quality much better in the specialty restaurants, so that may be a factor for some. That said, on my last cruise we ate in the main dining room and had very prompt service and good food quality so perhaps they are making improvements all around now.

GSC is one of my favorite places on planet Earth! Even when we've been in the "crowded area" it was still paradise. I have heard the further you walk the better but we never make it much past the first beach area due to excitement to just get settled and get the relaxing started.

The pub is open 24/7?! Oh my ... my doc is going to get my bloodwork back and faint ... I have no idea how bad my A1C is going to be :eek:

Haha, I hear that. I think I gained 20 lbs on our Thanksgiving cruise between all the food and drink.

It's the most awesome thing to have. No bill at the end. No slips to match up. Just the bomb! Love it.:)

This sums up our feelings perfectly! Even if you aren't big drinkers it's nice to just have and know it's there if you want to indulge.

You mention the manners of the lady who sat down at a table. O'Sheehans is not exactly a haute cuisine establishment and surely she can sit anywhere. Is your photo not an invasion of privacy? (unless you got her permission to publish). Manners work both ways.

Uh, but it's not a free seating establishment like the buffet. So no, she was not entitled to sit anywhere.

Chile's isn't haute cuisine either, may I just plop down at your table and share food with those at another table while you look on?

The sad thing is that a 23 yr old and three kids lives are most likely ruined by a lying 15 yr old. Other than ID ing this kid, she would have no reason not to believe him, appearance and in an adult area.

I usually side against the perpetrators, but this time I'm against the victim.

 

 

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Let's pretend the kid was 35 instead of 15. Sex in a public bathroom on foreign "soil" as a mother of three young children still represents horrific judgement. I won't pretend to know their life situation, but come on, children have been in protective custody for less than that.

Nissach, don't be silly and let facts get in the way, you're just supposed to imply it and get your pitchfork ready.

Here's what I found with a simple Google Search...

 

Auclair said several questions remain unanswered, including how a teenager found himself in an area of the ship normally reserved for adults and was allegedly drinking.

http://www.lfpress.com/2017/01/19/quebec-mom-arrested-in-the-bahamas-for-allegedly-having-sex-with-teen

So the mom of the girl said something. Did the police say it? Did NCL say it? Did the kid admit it? Or is it just the mom of the girl that is in jail saying something that the "press" (and I use that lightly in this case) has quoted?

Right now our service charges are listed at $189. I thought this was for the housekeeping, waitstaff etc...

 

Are you saying we pay the $189 + whatever the other charges end up being?? If that is the case what is the $189 for?

$189 is the 18% gratuity on the retail price of the ultimate drink package (which retails for $79 per person per day).

Once onboard you will be subject to 13.50 per person per day as the service charge for your room steward, the cooks, various staff you don't see, etc.

mj, that wasn't directed at you as I started before your post. I do agree that the woman in jail was also in a bad situation as she probably couldn't have known his age.

To even hint that a teen drinking alcohol is in the same universe of criminal activity as sexual assault is the dumbest thing I have ever read on these boards and that is saying something. Even if the child's mom, and yes he is a child, was holding him down and giving him beer funnels, that would in NO WAY mean that she shouldn't be outraged enough to call the police if she suspects he was sexually assaulted. In other words, him drinking changes nothing. Good grief.

No one knows all the details so judging the mom without more facts is ridiculous, but I understand that generally doesn't matter for busy bodies.

Don't have a problem with well behaved children

We have had our own in the haven many times

I was being a little sarcastic guess it didn't translate well

 

 

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I missed the sarcasm, so apologies in that case. FWIW, in all of the vacations I have been on over the years, misbehaving adults have far outnumbered misbehaving children.

Anyhow, sorry for the derail.... now back to class warfare.

If children weren't allowed it would be call heaven

 

 

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Guess it stinks that the money for their fair is worth the same as far as the cruise line is concerned. Or that some of the Haven suites are actually labeled "Family". I have heard there are other lines where such inconveniences are less likely, maybe heaven is to be found there.

There are minisuites on 8 that have extra large balconies and balcony rooms on 9 with extra large balconies.

For example cabin 8134 and others in that area on both sides of the ship. Those balconies are huge compared to the regular minisuite balconies.