Elderly Mother in Law Joining Us Question!!

[emcelh]

What does SDP mean? I know UBP is the Beverage Plan. Do you mean you give the bartender a tip for each drink you order like we would do at any regular home town bar? I didn't realize we didn't pay the 18% gratuity but was planning on bringing small bills for tipping for drinks anyway as I would feel weird not giving a bartender a tip for a nice drink!

 

Sue

:)

 

If you're in a suite and received the beverage package when you booked the gratuity is included. Additional tips are at your discretion.

[emcelh]

Thank you! I totally get why people don't want others in the Haven. That would totally bug me. Have you been to Cagney's. Is it that great? I feel like I would have to beg my daughters and husband to get up and go to breakfast there with me LOL. And there is no way they would go there for lunch after that first day. Someone just said we can order breakfast in our suite so wouldn't that be better or is Cagney's breakfast way better? My MIL has maybe a slice of toast or piece of fruit for breakfast and can order tea for her room so I don't think she is going be looking to steal food from us LOL :D:D:D

 

Suites get priority seating for the shows? I didn't know that either! Our teens probably won't want to see the shows so we will never be using our 4 "paid for" spaces anyway. We will be using WAY less of what we have paid for.

Actually, on the Jewel I believe priority seating for shows is only for those in the Haven suites.

[NLH Arizona]

Okay Specialty Dining Package! Got it. You seem to know a lot about NCL so question for you! What are your favorite SDP restaurants?? Which ones would you not miss and why? Thank you!!!

 

Sue

:)

Cagney's is my favorite, second would be the Teppanyaki restaurant and I always eat at La Cucina. A lot of folks think Le Bistro is the best, I just don't happen to like their menu. Moderno is way too much meat for me.

 

Cagney's - I've never had a bad meal. I usually get the small filet and it has always been really good.

 

Teppanyaki - The food is good (except for the edamame, salad and soup, which I don't like) - again, I have the filet, which melts in your mouth and I always get the steamed rice. The show is fun and it is nice to be at a table with a bunch of other folks, I've met some really nice people at my dinners.

 

La Cucina - I like Italian food. It is not the greatest, but better than Olive Garden in my opinion. I get the spaghetti bolognese (which is not on the new menu, so I hope they will make it for me) and a Caesar salad. The warm bread is to die for.

[suesings]

My mom is 87 and we were blessed, after a 3 year break, to cruise on the Escape in February in a mini-suite and on the BA in June in the Haven. I don't know how mobile your MIL is but you may want to consider wheelchair assistance boarding and disembarking.

 

While it provides priority boarding, that is not the reason - we had that with CAS or the Haven -- the reason is, it can be a lot of walking all at once and people are excited, especially those running for Vibe passes --,an elderly person could easily lose balance and be hurt.

 

The run for Vibe on our February cruise was crazy - mom initially resisted the wheelchair assist, then admitted she was happy for it because of the crowds, the long walks and the wait through customs. It would have been too much standing. On the ship, you can always walk a bit, then find a seat. That's not possible boarding or disembarking.

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

That is ALWAYS my biggest fear that she will fall or someone will bump her and she will be hurt. :( Falling was the beginning of the end for one of our great aunts. People are running/rushing once on board? That makes me nervous. I have been hearing about these Vibe passes. Do all ships have Vibe areas. We are on the Jewel. I am going to talk to my husband tonight about maybe getting a wheelchair for boarding. I would never want to offend my MIL as she is very proud of her independence and takes great care of herself, but as you said, she could easily lose her balance if people are rushing around her. I always look at every trip with her as potentially our last with her grandkids given she lives almost 500 miles away and we only get to see her a couple times a year.

Edited August 27, 2016 by suesings

[suesings]

Cagney's is my favorite, second would be the Teppanyaki restaurant and I always eat at La Cucina. A lot of folks think Le Bistro is the best, I just don't happen to like their menu. Moderno is way too much meat for me.

 

Cagney's - I've never had a bad meal. I usually get the small filet and it has always been really good.

 

Teppanyaki - The food is good (except for the edamame, salad and soup, which I don't like) - again, I have the filet, which melts in your mouth and I always get the steamed rice. The show is fun and it is nice to be at a table with a bunch of other folks, I've met some really nice people at my dinners.

 

La Cucina - I like Italian food. It is not the greatest, but better than Olive Garden in my opinion. I get the spaghetti bolognese (which is not on the new menu, so I hope they will make it for me) and a Caesar salad. The warm bread is to die for.

 

Thank you!!

[pcakes122]

I personally pay a upgrade amount to travel in a suite and would be ticked off if I couldn't get a seat in Cagney's for breakfast or lunch because others brought non-suite guests.

The thing is that I've never heard of this happening (suite guests being denied seating or having to wait anywhere) because non-suite folks took up their space. I think the real issue is that everyone is hyper-focused on what someone else might be getting that they didn't pay for. Which honestly is a total waste of energy and way for people to make themselves miserable. It happens everywhere in life in all aspects, but it all evens out in the end. Sometimes you are the windshield, sometimes you are the bug. :p If everyone thought about how many times in life THEY have been the recipient of "a break", they might not be so upset that someone else may possibly get one once in a while.

 

Sorry for the rant...back on topic!

 

One of the best suite perks is the butler - please do NOT think you are "bothering" him! You can appropriately thank him at the end of the cruise ($$), but he is THE PRIMARY KEY to you having an extraordinary cruise (vs. sailing in a balcony.) The breakfast & lunch is nice, but nothing super special over other venues. The higher-end toiletries? Bulgari Green Tea - too blah and masculine for me - I prefer my own! Fruit you can get anywhere, saving a few dollars on room service, etc. is nice - but none of that is worth thousands of $$ over a balcony. But the butler? He (she) is soo worth it! If you have a good one (I've never had a bad one), they will quickly learn all about you and your family - who likes grapes and who hates apples. If you like to wake up to the smell of coffee or prefer to go get your own. If you always are looking for a snack around 2pm or don't like cookies with nuts. They want to know these things about your family! And then, magically, you will find yourself continuously amazed that JUST when you start thinking "I could go for some cheese & figs", the doorbell rings and your butler is one step ahead of you. :D

 

Bottom line - it is the LEVEL OF SERVICE you are paying for in a suite - not the daily tray of canapes (frankly, they are horrible - sorry to say. My first request of the butler is always "hold the canapes - permanently". lol) I never understand folks who say they hardly utilize butler services - they do not know what they are missing!

 

Enjoy the cruise and ENJOY being pampered! :)

[NLH Arizona]

The thing is that I've never heard of this happening (suite guests being denied seating or having to wait anywhere) because non-suite folks took up their space. I think the real issue is that everyone is hyper-focused on what someone else might be getting that they didn't pay for. Which honestly is a total waste of energy and way for people to make themselves miserable. It happens everywhere in life in all aspects, but it all evens out in the end. Sometimes you are the windshield, sometimes you are the bug. :p If everyone thought about how many times in life THEY have been the recipient of "a break", they might not be so upset that someone else may possibly get one once in a while.

 

Of course, people are concerned (not hyper-focused) that the value of what they paid for will be devalued, because others are let in. The reason that folks aren't usually denied seating, is because the hostesses don't allow non-suite guest in, if you read some of the posts where they were turned away. I don't think anyone on here is miserable, just voicing our opinions and giving the poster some options.

 

I'm guessing by your post that you would not object if an addition 10 non-suite cabins requested the use of your butler and were approved to use him, because sometimes you would be the windshield and sometimes you would be the bug.

Edited August 27, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[pcakes122]

Of course, people are concerned (not hyper-focused) that the value of what they paid for will be devalued, because others are let in. The reason that folks aren't usually denied seating, is because the hostesses don't allow non-suite guest in, if you read some of the posts where they were turned away. I don't think anyone on here is miserable, just voicing our opinions and giving the poster some options.

Totally was not directing my general comments at you - so sorry if it came across that way! :o Meant in general on these boards!

 

But I will still maintain my position that it's not worth being focused upon because not everybody in a suite or the Haven "paid" the same to be there. Some Haven-ites paid full fare, some paid highly-reduced "upsell" fares, some were comped by the casino (I have never paid full suite/Haven fare as a CAS guest), some are traveling as a "Friend/Family" of crew (I sailed in NCL suites for port charges only when my sister worked for NCL), etc. So, it's not an even-"paying" field even before someone's elderly MIL or otherwise non-suite lunch companion enjoys suite benefits. My point was that all of these things are beyond anyone's control, so not worth thinking about (because when you think about them, it understandably could be frustrating!) And the same folks who would get frustrated at this might be forgetting that they got a promotion at work because they "knew" somebody. ;) All evens out. :)

[NLH Arizona]

Totally was not directing my general comments at you - so sorry if it came across that way! :o Meant in general on these boards!

 

But I will still maintain my position that it's not worth being focused upon because not everybody in a suite or the Haven "paid" the same to be there. Some Haven-ites paid full fare, some paid highly-reduced "upsell" fares, some were comped by the casino (I have never paid full suite/Haven fare as a CAS guest), some are traveling as a "Friend/Family" of crew (I sailed in NCL suites for port charges only when my sister worked for NCL), etc. So, it's not an even-"paying" field even before someone's elderly MIL or otherwise non-suite lunch companion enjoys suite benefits. My point was that all of these things are beyond anyone's control, so not worth thinking about (because when you think about them, it understandably could be frustrating!) And the same folks who would get frustrated at this might be forgetting that they got a promotion at work because they "knew" somebody. ;) All evens out. :)

Since you responded to me with your rant, not sure I could take it any other way.

 

I don't think it matters if someone got their suite for free, or paid the upgrade like I do from CAS, or got an upsell or paid 100% of the fare. We are in suites and suites have perks that others on the ship do not have, otherwise there would be no suites, just ordinary cabins for everyone. So since it is not an even-"paying" field (your words and opinion, not mine), we should all be allowed to invite guest to Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. Not sure how you can compare this issue with someone getting a promotion at work, but so be it.

 

Have a great evening.

Edited August 27, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[pcakes122]

I was just expressing a general life philosophy that comparing myself to and judging others is wasted energy - in my opinion.

 

Since we are both recipients of CAS comps and don't pay full price for Haven or suites, bear in mind that there are some folks who would be frustrated that they paid to be in the Haven when we didn't.

 

Let's just agree to disagree on this one - have a nice weekend! :)

[cruzsnooze]

What does SDP mean? I know UBP is the Beverage Plan. Do you mean you give the bartender a tip for each drink you order like we would do at any regular home town bar? I didn't realize we didn't pay the 18% gratuity but was planning on bringing small bills for tipping for drinks anyway as I would feel weird not giving a bartender a tip for a nice drink!

 

Sue

:)

 

You paid the 18% tip on the UBP so they don't expect more. Why feel wierd for something you already paid for? They carefully screened for breakfast and lunch at Moderno where the suites had breakfast on my sailing. I suspect they would allow all of you to board together. The concierge knew who was in each suite and said good morning to each guest who used the suite perks for breakfast and lunch. FYI, I sailed on the Jewel and the breakfast and lunch were in Moderno not Cagneys. My favorite dining venue was Moderno and Le Bistro. I hated Teppenyaki, it was so noisy we couldn't converse or think straight.

Edited August 27, 2016 by cruzsnooze

[Two Wheels Only]

La Cucina - I like Italian food. It is not the greatest, but better than Olive Garden in my opinion.

 

Isn't that a given? :D

[suesings]

You paid the 18% tip on the UBP so they don't expect more. Why feel wierd for something you already paid for? They carefully screened for breakfast and lunch at Moderno where the suites had breakfast on my sailing. I suspect they would allow all of you to board together. The concierge knew who was in each suite and said good morning to each guest who used the suite perks for breakfast and lunch. FYI, I sailed on the Jewel and the breakfast and lunch were in Moderno not Cagneys. My favorite dining venue was Moderno and Le Bistro. I hated Teppenyaki, it was so noisy we couldn't converse or think straight.

 

 

Thank you! We are brand new to NCL and learning so much on these boards. You are the first person to mention that Moderno might be the Suite breakfast/lunch place. I have only read it is Cagney's till now. Now that I just learned we can order breakfast in our suite, I will probably just do that each morning and enjoy a cup of coffee on my balcony looking at the ocean!! Glad to hear you liked LeBistro, I really want to try it. I am not a big meat person so Moderno is out.

 

Sounds like my MIL might hate the Teppanyaki place if it is that loud? We had planned to go there before she told us she wanted to go because our teens would like it.

 

So all the bartenders receive the 18% bar gratuity or does that go in NCL's pocket? I always tip my bartenders/servers so I will probably still give them a buck for a drink (if they are nice, fun and the drink is good ;-)

 

Thanks!

Sue

:)

[atomax]

I'd say that people aren't necessarily going to Teppanyaki in order to converse with their dining companions, but to enjoy the show from the chefs (if you go on YouTube, you can probably find videos of the restaurant and gauge the noise level (I may even have an old video somewhere that I can upload)).

 

As for where the 18% gratuity goes, that's a whole can of worms that you don't want to open here on the CC boards. :eek: Just search for "gratuity" or "DSC" and you will see *hundreds* of replies/posts about it.

 

Sounds like my MIL might hate the Teppanyaki place if it is that loud? We had planned to go there before she told us she wanted to go because our teens would like it.

 

So all the bartenders receive the 18% bar gratuity or does that go in NCL's pocket? I always tip my bartenders/servers so I will probably still give them a buck for a drink (if they are nice, fun and the drink is good ;-)

 

Thanks!

Sue

:)

[IsanTom]

Call NCL for options!

[latebloomer56]

This is a grey area according to our TA when she spoke to NCL with us there.

This is the cruise history.

We booked 14 months ago for 6 of us in the 2 BR SC suite. This is perfect our son, daughter-in-law & grandson have rm. 2 we have master & 24 yr. old have living area at night.

Issue came up Auntie is OK to travel in Oct. which is great news for us, but where to put her. Answer across from us with her own inside cabin. She is very private. Paid high price for a single she got SDP (4 nights) with booking.

We contacted NCL though TA. Was told she can get on & off the ship with us no issue. She can join us at specialty dinners because she also has SPD (we have 7 UDP with package). We will need to speak with the concierge about her joining us for breakfast & or lunch, but they see no issue as the cabin is for 6 and no more than 3-5 will ever be there. Also will get her a card to enter our cabin on day 1 to snack or use the balcony watch TV from the couch etc. Se turns 95 the week before we travel (going on 70) :).

Remember when you call them take his/her name and mark date and time you called. Should you get other information you have this for any supervisor to check out.

Enjoy you trip.

[NLH Arizona]

Isn't that a given? :D

Actually not to everyone. Some have posted it is the same as the Olive Garden and others have posted it is worse that the Olive Garden.

[kathybelcher2433]

I was just expressing a general life philosophy that comparing myself to and judging others is wasted energy - in my opinion.

 

Since we are both recipients of CAS comps and don't pay full price for Haven or suites, bear in mind that there are some folks who would be frustrated that they paid to be in the Haven when we didn't.

 

Let's just agree to disagree on this one - have a nice weekend! :)

 

 

I am trying to understand how another guest would know what I paid for the Haven or a suite. I certainly wouldn't be discussing that or frankly any other money topics with other guests. For someone to be frustrated, wouldn't they first need to be aware?

 

 

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[beasfriend]

We've traveled in suites along with friends who didn't have a suite. They were able to sit in the suite lounge and board with us. They sat with us in the suite section for the shows. They went with us for priority debarkation in ports and at the end of the cruise. We didn't bring them to Cagney's, but it wasn't a big deal to them. We asked our Butler to bring in snacks for when we played cards in our room and when we had a sail into port gathering.

 

The concierge and the butler rely on getting good tips and will bend over backwards for you. They will do somersaults for an 87 year old MIL

[drhry]

My thought is MIL will be VIP'ed.

[pcakes122]

I am trying to understand how another guest would know what I paid for the Haven or a suite. I certainly wouldn't be discussing that or frankly any other money topics with other guests. For someone to be frustrated, wouldn't they first need to be aware?

Exactly. If someone's MIL or auntie who did not pay for suite privileges is eating breakfast in Moderno's, they are not going to announce that information and so the other diners would never know. My point is that no one should be wasting their time worrying when/if that happens.

 

As far as board discussions - where we sometimes do share who paid what (upsells, CAS comps, etc.) - my point was that anyone paying less than full suite fare probably shouldn't be concerned about someone else getting suite benefits without paying. ;)

[DMH15]

IMHO, NCLis not obligated to extend the suite perks to ANYONE who is not booked in a suite. However, it is at theit discretion to do so. Or not.

 

Many people post when said discretion is granted. That sometimes casts an illusion of expectation. No one should expect it. Therefore if it is not given no one should be upset. And if it is given there should be gratitude and further discretion.

 

IMHO, it is not classy to mention freebees to paying suite guests. There are many like me who would just never ask for "favors".

 

 

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[cruzsnooze]

We've traveled in suites along with friends who didn't have a suite. They were able to sit in the suite lounge and board with us. They sat with us in the suite section for the shows. They went with us for priority debarkation in ports and at the end of the cruise. We didn't bring them to Cagney's, but it wasn't a big deal to them.

 

You should be ashamed of yourself for taking up a seat that didn't belong to you at the show. This is the abuse that NCL needs to crack down on by making sure each suite guest shows their cruise card to get into the seating area.

Since NCL (and all cruise lines ) read these boards I know they will look into this kind of abuse. Why should I pay for suite like I do if you can get in anyway.

Edited August 27, 2016 by cruzsnooze

[kchiumento]

Don't some of those SCs have adjoining mini-suites? If so, can the bookings be connected and considered as one for perks?

 

I believe I've heard of that with Owner's Suites and connecting insides - the inside booking is considered an "extra bedroom" and included with the suite amenities.

 

Not sure about this, but just a thought!

 

 

Yes. We had 11530 on the Jewel and my parents had the adjoining mini-suite 11532(?) NCL linked our reservations and because we were connected they extended the suite privileges to them. The only thing they really took advantage of was the priority boarding. This was back in 2013, so I don't know if this is still true.

 

We are leaving on Escape next Saturday and we have a family suite again. But my mom is going along with us as the 6th-person. We are going to put her and my daughter in the 2nd bedroom and the boys on the pullout couch in the living room. I'll let you know how that goes when I get back. So be on the look out for my review after 9/10.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

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[DMH15]

You should be ashamed of yourself for taking up a seat that didn't belong to you at the show. This is the abuse that NCL needs to crack down on by making sure each suite guest shows their cruise card to get into the seating area.

Since NCL (and all cruise lines ) read these boards I know they will look into this kind of abuse. Why should I pay for suite like I do if you can get in anyway.

 

 

I agree with you. When my mom and I (suite) did things with my relative and friend (non-suite) we went to what THEY were entitled to, like general seating and MDR. Not vice versa.

 

 

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