rascaldog

I have stayed in the Mini Suite / large balcony, on level 8 and truly loved it. I didn't encounter any loud noise, the location is exceptional. The large balcony is great 2 lounge chairs 2 regular chairs and a table. The bathroom on Mini suite is larger which is nice as well. I have one booked on the Bliss for October and can't wait.

I have always gotten the insulated cup with the soda package, but I bring along a 30 oz. yeti for my sodas.

My favorite on the Escape was Mary and her crew at the Atrium Bar, I think she will be relocating to the Bliss pretty soon.

I am glad to know, you report all your under $600 winnings to the IRS, never take office supplies, refuse to take deductions, out of principle, drive the limit always, never over-pile your plate at the buffet, etc, etc. Of course you are the model for modern morality, personified!

I never said I was perfect, I said I prefer to play by the rules. I am very grateful for the generous offers from NCL CAS, and don't feel its worth the risk of loosing these great offers.

How does it make it harder for the "honest" players. I sometimes play two machines next to each other when I'm by myself, but if my wife is with me I'll let her sit and play the second machine (she doesn't usually gamble but does get a kick out of it sometimes). I don't think that is dishonest. Even the cases where people give their secondary card to a friend playing on the opposite side of the casino, if they can do it, more power to them. I don't think it affects me in any way.

Like everything else in life, the honest people pay for all the dishonest thieves. Every business has to allow for the theft in their pricing, so the people who pay have to pick up the costs of those who don't. In this case I am sure CAS figures in the cheaters by raising the points required to attain each status, so in turn the honest players need to play more to attain the desired status.

I often play 2 machines side by side but I use both of my cards. The rule clearly states that all Points must be earned individually. So I personally prefer playing by the rules.

"Points must be earned individually." Taken from NCL Casinos at Sea website. There are always people who try and cheat the system, which ends up making it harder for the honest players.

I haven't been on the Breakaway but have been on its sister ship the Getaway, and absolutely loved the balcony locations on deck 8. It was centrally located right next the waterfront 1 floor above the Casino, in my mind it is a perfect location. I am booked for deck 8 Mini Suite on the Bliss this October.

I have always gotten one and I am way over 18.

I have stayed at Hyatt Regency Miami, it is reasonably priced, and was comfortable. They had a breakfast buffet included. No shuttle but very close and Uber or Taxis are pretty cheap.

I have also stayed the Intrecontinental which is a little closer, it is very nice, priced a little higher but within walking distance to Bayside Marketplace.

I stayed in an M-6 on the Getaway, I think it was 8120 and really liked it. I had no problem with noise or motion. I loved the location being just steps from the Waterfront, and 1 floor up from the Casino. In fact I have one booked for the new ship the Bliss on the Mexican Riviera trip in Oct 2018. Can't wait for that one.

I guess sometimes it's better not to ask? ;)

 

Did they tell you how much it would cost for the non-gamblers to use the pools and beach?

 

 

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They didn't give that as an option.

I e-mailed the Casino there last month and asked if non gamblers could use the pools and beach while I was in the casino. I was there on a cruise, they said no so, I didn't go over there. It was a loss for them because I as willing to play a good amount in the slots.

I was just on the escape there was no problem getting a table for two in the MDR's.

quote=BTHodgeman;53812042]That seems very odd. In my experience on Carnival, earning 5,000 points on a sailing will get you an immediate BB for an interior cabin. The more points you earn, the better the cabin class. 15,000 points should easily have gotten you a balcony cabin BB offer.

Now, there are a couple downsides that I've mentioned on this board and the Carnival board before:

• You only have 2 weeks to book your next cruise, and that cruise must begin within 6 months of the date of your offer
  
• The offers tend to say they are valid for much more than what actually shows up in your online account. Like I mentioned in the first bullet, the offer says it's valid for 6 months, but lately I've only seen cruises in the next 2-3 months, and even then they've mostly been shorter 3-5 day cruises that don't interest me.
  

Also, other than the on-the-spot bouncebacks, you should be getting e-mails and postcards with Premier Cruise offers, "Pack and Play" offers, etc.

I would call or e-mail the casino hosts and see what your account actually says. Alternately, you can log into your Carnival.com account and click on the "offers" link to see what's out there. I almost always have a "Casino Offer," and a "Casino Offer - Premier Cruise" out there.

I was very surprised that I didn't get a BB offer. I have looked on website and they have a few short cruises 3 or 4 night where I can get an inside room for free. I usually travel alone and prefer a balcony and for any of those I need to pay something and it turns out that I have to pay double what they list, because I am alone.

There are some cruises where they offer casino cash but they all cost money. On NCL I call CAS and can get any cruise I want and usually get Mini Suite/ balcony. Have been offered Haven Spa Suite but the dates for that one wouldn't work for me. My upcoming cruise on NCL Escape in 10 days I got an Aft Balcony. Don't get me wrong I would cruise more with Carnival if they had better offers.

I have been using NCL CAS for 5 cruises and am happy with them. Last summer I got a voucher from a land based casino for a 5 night cruise on Carnival. I accrued over 15,000 points on that 5 night cruise and didn't get a BB offer, Carnivals offers are slim to none and hard to get. NCL you just call them up you pick a date and you are pretty much guaranteed some kind of comp on that cruise, and from my experience I am able to get a mini suite for port charges and taxes, and the administrative fee. I like the atmosphere and experience on NCL. I am always taken good care of on NCL by the hosts. At this point there is no reason for me to look anywhere else for a Casino Cruise.

Thanks.

Question, how strick is Ncl check in times at the Port of Miami, for the Escape. I am traveling with 2 others who sighned up earlier and got earlier check in times. I couldn't do mine because I was wIting for my renewed passport to arrive to finish my on line check in. Will I be able to check in at the port earlier than the time on my e-docs?

Thanks for answering! I haven't met Carey before but I think I was on a cruise with Christina some time ago. (There are two wonderful Christina's I have met.)

We will be back on the Escape September 16th. Hope you have a great cruise!

I had a Christina a couple of times as well, not sure her last name, and she was a top notch host. Hoping she is the one who just returned to the Escape.

What dates are you on the Escape? I am boarding the 26 Aug.

I asked someone who was on the Escape last week who were the current hosts and this was her reply. Exec host was Carey Louis. Amazing person! She also had Jessa, Melissa and Christina Masgo (back from a one-year hiatus and one of the best!) as hosts

It is a very short walk from the Hilton, I walked there from Harrah's Hotel with no problem.

In Tortola I highly recommend Escape to Jost Van Dyke. The trip over on the Rebel Yell is awesome, great crew and Captain. White Bay is the most beautiful beach ever, I have yet to find one better.

The Rebel Yell catamaran holds 60 people.

I was on a 5 night cruise last month and accumulated over 15,000 points. I never got a BB offer from casino on the last night. I can't seem to get a Premier offer either. What am I doing wrong?

I was just on a Carnival cruise that I got from Isle of Capri Lake Charles and they did give us all, the drinks on us card. It was a 5 night cruise last month. I also talked to the host on the second night and was comped dinner for 2 in the steak house and they through in a bottle of wine up to $50.