wichitastatecruiser

Virgin is currently offering two 7 day voyages:

Holidaze and Nights  December 20-27

New Year's Ahoy! December 27-Jan 3rd

I'm seriously considering doing one of the solo cabins for NYE as I do want to try out the line and have always wanted to do a New Years cruise. I'll probably put the deposit down @ August!

On 10/22/2018 at 9:58 AM, RickinNYC said:

As much as I love tattoos and have nine myself, including a half sleeve, I can't see a tattoo parlor at sea being a success.  In fact, it's pretty damn stupid.  Immediately following a new tattoo, you can't expose it to direct sunlight, certainly not in the Caribbean sun.  And you definitely can't go swimming in a pool or the ocean due to risk of infection.  Getting one on a cruise?  Hell no.

 

Funny enough, the studio that has partnered with Virgin agrees on aftercare:

http://soho.ink/aftercare/

Not to mention what might happen if you decide to get a tattoo and the seas get rough!

Getaway balconies with loungers:

Large balcony:1 longer 2 chairs

Aft balconies: 2 lounger 1 chair

Mini suite with large balcony: 2 lounger 2 chairs

Haven Aft balcony: 2 lounger 2 chairs

Sorry you missed your ship. Sounds like you waiter gave you bad information. However the information is in the dailies, usually announced on the PA and posted at the pier. Ship docking times are often changed and its possible that the ship use to leave at 4 but recently changed or that the waiter use to be on a ship that left Cozumel at 4 and he still had that time in his head. Hopefully your more careful if you do decide to cruise again.

When I spoke to NCL they said Sushi and Tapas would be All You can Eat with the cover charge.

The only question is if you only buy a 3 meal plan will they automatically charge it to the highest price options if you end up going to more than 3 or will it automatically be the first 3 places you go? (I'm planning on doing Le Bistro, Ocean Blue, and Cagney's. However I usually snack or have 8-12 pieces of sushi one or two night).

The first day you might have gawkers looking down at you and waving and being jealous of balcony from the barely existing balconies. After that nobody really pays attention.

IMO: You say you live in LA.

Drive to Vegas and get married during the week. Flights and hotels are cheaper during the week and you can get 3-4 days at the 4-5 star hotels including flights for $800 or less. That gives the family less of an excuse.

Keep the cruise as a honeymoon present. If some people would like to join you then its up to them. I agree with another poster that you may want to look into cruising out of LA.

I wont cancel but I likely wont book next years cruises on NCL. Ill be exploring other lines next year. Not because of the changes just the customer service in general. Im growing more and more disenchanted with NCL. The price dropped significantly on my upcoming cruise and they refused to honor it. That sealed the deal for me.

If its past the final payment date they don't have to honor it, though they usually offer a no cost/ low cost upgrade. I think Carnival is the only line that will match price drops after final payment.

In light of the overwhelming changes in such a short span is it enough to get you to cancel your current bookings?

 

Personally for my family and I the answer is YES, 2 Suites Cancelled and I'm not looking back at this train wreck until they realize constantly changing the product makes people feel uneasy and abused.

Wait you cancelled 2 suites?!? Unless you booked in May you realize that all the changes were covered with the promo and they didn't effect you. Heck if you booked before May your gratuities were included with suites. If you booked June or July if you prepaid they would have been at the current rates.

Why would I cancel a cruise when changes have not effected my cost unless I'm not thinking.

I have a feeling that you will regret your decision when you end up taking a vacation that ends up costing more than if you had kept those bookings, but hey, in your mind you sure showed them!

When NCL first started giving the UBP as part of a promo they stated that it included the gratuities. Getting 2 $10 glasses of wine would mean a gratuity of $3.60. Why should anyone have to tip more?

 

If you look at the increase to cruise fares it is easy to see that these 'free' promos are incorporated into the base fare. So not really free at all.

 

That said I can understand why NCL is now charging the gratuities for the promotional UBP and/or the UDP. I just think it is unfair to blame the customer who did not tip over and above the automatic 18%.

 

 

Rochelle

I disagree with the notion that the "free" promos are incorporated into the base fare. Last October over Halloween the Getaway aft cabins were @ $2400 and the only promo was $120 OBC. This year if you include the UBP the aft cabin is @ $2700. Even if you include the price increase I would still be getting 2 UBP for the price of 1 saving over $400.

NCL is only making money off people who don't get the UBP.

I don't pay $30 for a steak at Applebee's and then separately for my sides.

Also, and this is just my opinion, I believe the SDP will be done away with very soon if people are willing to pay for specialties a la carte.

NCL Main courses will still include a side or two. It's the appetizer and dessert that will be charged separately, just like Applebee's!

When my wife and I went on the Carnival Dream, one of out favorite features was the adults-only Serenity Deck. What are your opinions of comparable adults-only decks on other lines such as NCL or Royal Caribbean?

 

I'm not interested in pay-to-access areas, such as those that comes with suites, but I would like to know if a particular ship or line cut features or amenities from their free areas to get you more interested in the paid areas.

 

Thanks!

Carnival and RCI have the best. The Solarium on the Oasis class ships are the best, especially since Royal shift cleans hot tubs making sure at least 1 is open at all times which means you can have a somewhat romantic 2-4am hot tub session with a glass of wine with your SO.

Carnival is next with their Serenity decks, only problem is that hot tubs close at midnight.

NCL has Spice H20, bit most of those are Adults only during the day then switch over to all ages for the deck parties leaving no Adults only deck space. I heard that the new Escape is planning on making Spice H20 Adults 24/7 though.

Won't be able to tell if its nickel and diming until the menus come out with pricing. Some people might be able to get what they want for less than the cover charge was. UDP and SDP still apply. So it's too early to tell until menus become available.

I'm going to say I was half right on saying a la carte dining was not coming to Cagney's since its going everywhere! :p

IMO this change has more pros than cons:

1. It might make places cheaper for people. I usually don't eat an appetizer in places when I eat. Not getting a salad or something like that will not effect my dining experience. Also depending on what the menu item I want is just getting a main course and maybe a dessert might be cheaper than what the cover charge would be.

2. The SDP/UDP is still good for full meals. So if you want to eat a full 3 course meal and not worry about the pricing just get one of the packages.

3. The change will facilitate for potential "take out". If NCL is smart they will make it so you can call in orders and pick them up yourself with out a room service charge or gratuity. That way people can call in an appetizer, main course, or dessert then pick it up when its ready. The order placement and pick up could even work with iConciege.

Hopefully they will provide the menus and pricing on-line so that people like me can look and make decisions about dining packages and other factors.

I'm guessing most own or charter private yachts, as they do private planes these days. No TSA or potential stalkers to deal with. It has been years since I've seen a celebrity flying commercially, and I used to see them with some frequency.

 

I once sailed with a retired local television host/anchor. She sat at our table in the MDR, but nobody approached her when we were together. She had been off the air for awhile at that point, so perhaps nobody recognized her.

2 years go I'm 99% sure I was in the waiting area and on a plane with Steven Colbert. I use to work with somewhat big acts so when I do see them in public and nobody realizes its them I tend to leave them alone because that starts a domino effect.

I'm guessing only "B" stars might be on cruise ships and I'm also assuming that they would avoid public areas. Most big names will charter a ship like Kid Rock does every year or like Gronk is doing.

I wouldn't base your opinion on that one single account. There have been numerous reports from people saying the complete opposite. That's the only time I've ever heard of someone having trouble getting a drink.

Having trouble getting a drink all has to do with the time of year, if its a sea day, if there is a party and if there are any large groups on board.

If you sail during "spring break" or Halloween the ships are going to be fuller and the bars busier. If it's a sea day or there is a deck party, bars (especially in that area are going to be busier. If your sailing has a "hosted" group or large group booking the bars are going to be busier.

Also the bars on ships are not usually designed for high traffic. Most can only accommodate 2-3 people behind the bar. The other issue is that when it does get busy you always have those sitting at the bar and people tend to group around them and have to squeeze between them and back out to get a drink. Cruise ships would be smart to do a grab and go lines. One for just beer purchases and another for mixed drinks for people not sitting at the bars to move people quicker.

It was like this no matter when we went, where we went or what time we went...pool area, bar at the bimimi on the top deck, in the atrium, in the casino. They were all slammed on our last cruise. Referring to what Carnival or RCCL has and their layout is a mute point when we are discussing NCL and the UBP. Just saying...:)

You mentioned the 4 busiest parts of the ship. Next time go to a bar that's not in a heavy traffic area. On the Getaway I usually grabbed a drink at Sunset, the bar by Grammy Experience or by Taste and Savor before I went to the pool deck. O'Sheehan's is directly above the atrium on the Breakaway class so I usually went to the bar there to get a drink. Of course I'm a ship roamer so by day 2 I usually know my way around a ship, the least busy bars and the quickest ways to get to point A to B!

I couldn't agree more. We just got off the Dawn a few weeks ago and you were lucky if you could get a drink in a matter of 1/2 hour. It was crazy. You could tell this was all due to the UBP. You were lucky to find a place to stand at when you were at the bars and once you made it up there, you would remain there for A LONG TIME before they would even recognize you and there was no way for them to keep track of who was next in line because there was ONLY 1 EMPLOYEE working the bar itself. Then they would have the 2nd employee making drinks for the bar runners. It was CRAZY! :eek:

It also has to do about when and where you get a drink. Carnival and NCL don't have that many bars so on sea days and deck parties the bars get especially busy. It's usually quicker to just go to a bar beside the pool bar during those times and come back. RCCL has more and better spread out bars than the other lines so its usually not bad there.

The sales tax depends on the city or state. In FLL they charge it and I also think so in MIA, I don't know about Key West. They only charge the tax within 5 miles of the US coast and usually the tax will only effect your sail away drink(s). My taxes only have come up to a few dollars which won't break my travel budget. It would be something to be aware of if you dock at Canaveral and stay on the boat to mind how much and the price of what you order as that might run up to $10-15 if you drink all day.

The real issue for the OP might be the size of the ship. Their cruising history indicates that this is the first "mega" ship they have been on. It just might be that the "herding" that can seem to go on with the larger ships is not for them.

Hello I have been looking at hosted singles cruises available through the places we can't mention. I am normally a Carnival Cruiser and have enjoy all 10 of my cruises with them. What about the other cruise lines? I am asking because some of the singles cruises I am looking at are on other cruise lines.

The major lines are more similar than they are different. That plus you end up interacting with the other people in the group enough that even if you don't like the ship they will have something to keep you entertained. I have yet to have a horrible cruising experience on any line and I have only booked through the places that we can't mention.

Really? You have a problem with the Gronk?

No problems with Gronk. More of a FYI post kind of like the Walking Dead post. The only problem I have with charters like this is that they are expensive (700+250 port fees and taxes for inside!), that and after looking at the site, this cruise has no age restriction. With how they are advertising it and Gronk's party reputation I would think the charter company would say, sorry no one under 18 allowed!

Well the Patriot's Rob Gronkowski has chartered this shi Feb 19-22 of next year so if you sail immediately afterwards make sure to bring extra sanitiser, disinfecting wipes and ask house keeping to triple wash the bed sheets or replace the bed completely! :p

I have been all over the Carnival website and cant find anything about a singles cruise. What am I missing?

Not allowed to mention agency names on cruise critic. Good luck finding singles at sea or singles cruise.

(Hint: take out spaces from those last two things I mentioned and add .com)

Hi WSC. I was really lost searching the net, until someone on reddit pointed me here. Obviously landed in the right spot. Where are you getting all of the cruise info and metrics?

 

I'm already booked Halloween and in March, but I'd love to find a 20s-40s cruise, and would be thrilled to be able to see the breakdowns of those already going. Don't want to hijack the thread either, but want to book and go on a cruise soon. I'll try to keep reading these forums--looks like a lot of info to digest which makes me hesitant to start a new thread until I've done more reading. Since I've never been on a cruise, I feel like there's an enormous amount of room for rookie mistakes. I don't want to get caught up researching endlessly and never booking though...

There are two ways to get the metrics on the cruises:

1. On FB there are pages for the companies and cruisers create unofficial pages where they report the booking numbers.

2. If you call or e-mail the respective company they will usually provide you with the current metrics of a trip which are the number booked, men to woman ratio and age ranges.