ksmcdonald

1 hour ago, Roadsofa said:

Jay,

 

I'll give you info on how I currently understand things. In my case I'll use Woodford Reserve bourbon as my example in that it's price jumped up to $22.95. If I order my Manhattan with Woodford as i usually would, I would have to pay the difference in price from the $15 max on the UBP package including the now 20% gratuity. $7.95 + $1.59 (gratuity) = $9.54 for my drink. 

 

If you currently have the UBP,  you could "upgrade" to their new package for $29 per person per day plus 20% gratuity for what appears to be an almost truly unlimited package that will include fresh juices, energy drinks, specialty coffees etc... In my case for my upcoming cruise I could pay $29 + $5.80 (20%) = $34.80 per person per day. In my case $69.60 x 11 days = $765.60 for an 11 day cruise. This is in addition to the "beverage service charge" of $435.60 for the "FREE" perk for an "UNLIMITED" drink package that limits what you can drink and limits you to $15 drinks. 

 

I may have my figures and facts wrong so please feel free to correct.

 

This cruise will be the litmus test as to whether I continue to stick with NCL. 

 

I 

So, looking at these figures, the unlimited package will cost you $1201.20 for 11 days ($54.60 per person, per day including gratuity) on NCL with the FREE drink package with upgrade.

Carnival charges $61.25 per person, per day (including gratuity)  if you order in advance.  This has always included top shelf liquor up to $50 per drink, bottled water, spiked milkshakes, Gatorade, specialty coffee etc.

So there is a $6 advantage to going with NCL and getting the FREE perk, as opposed to going with Carnival and just purchasing Cheers!  So basically these marketing people are trying different ways to incite us to buy a cruise based on smoke and mirrors!  Most of us are able to do the simply math to figure this out.  

Smh, NCL, you might of gone too far this time to keep me!

I have the Escape booked in March, but that will be my last NCL cruise!  Just started pricing for next May 2020.  Thanks to other people on this thread, I looked into Celebrity for a seven day cruise to Alaska next May 2020.  All these cruises below leave from Seattle.  This is as close to comparing apples to apples as I can get.

May 27th Celebrity - Solstice - 7 day - $3903 for balcony (includes $150 OBC, classic drink pgk and Internet)

May 24th Celebrity - Eclipse - 7 day - $3914 for balcony (includes $150 OBC, classic drink pgk and Internet)

May 26th Carnival - Spirit - 7 day - $3593 for balcony (no perks)

May 30th NCL - Joy - 7 day - $5157 (includes drink pkg, spec. dining and shore excurisons)

May 25th NCL - Jewel - 7 day - $4614 (includes drink pkg, spec. dining and shore excurisons)

With a $1200 difference between NCL and Celebrity, I think Celebrity is the "new" way to go!  Heck I've been on the Breakaway three times in the last three years and scheduled for the Escape this March.  Not happy with the changes at all.  I only started cruising  NCL due to the great deal when comparing to other lines.  But recently, the prices are just not competitive with other lines.  I'm more loyal to my pocket book and getting a good deal than to any cruise line!

3 hours ago, my3sonsnj said:

Loved to hang out at Maltings (outside) and Shakers (inside) on the Breakaway, mainly due to the comfortable seating. The Escape just felt more crowded to me. It also seemed to have used more seating that was bar height. Something that is difficult and uncomfortable for shorter, older people. Even the sofa's and regular chairs in the District Brew were uncomfortable.

 

Then there was the fact that there was only two outdoor designated smoking areas and neither was covered or had enough seating, much less comfortable seating. That sealed the deal for me. 

 

I guess that on the Breakaway, I felt like the ship's furnishings and designated spaces tended to make people feel comfortable and enjoy their "home away from home".

 

The Escape just felt like a tourist trap to me, one where tourists comforts and needs were ignored.

We loved the Maltings outdoor area as well.  That is where we spent most of our time.  My husband is a smoker and, your are correct, that was a very nice comfortable place to hang out. 

1 hour ago, Liljo22 said:

 

 

Hmmmm......that is weird.  

16 hours ago, my3sonsnj said:

Curious to know which ships cruise critic members have cruised on and that one time was more than enough?

 

 I have only sailed on NCL’s  Breakaway and Escape. I loved the Breakaway (5 cruises) but our most recent cruise on the Escape was a one and done for me. 

 

I am booked on the Bliss next year and hoping I like the feel of that ship better than the Escape. 

Could you elaborate on why you didn't like the Escape?  We've been on the Breakaway three times and have the Escape booked for March this year.  I've always heard when they built the Escape, they improved on somethings from the Breakaway design, just tweaking things to make it better.  We absolutely loved the Breakaway and was wondering what they could possibly improve the Escape!

I've found the airlines change their ticket prices daily.  For example I looked on Southwest for a ticket to Washington DC, got a price of $164, wanted to think about it for a day, checked the next day and the price was $300!  Same day, same flight #,  just the price from one day to the next.

If the airline changes their price, NCL will change theirs.

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Greetings from HC this morning

Does this mean that NCL is not going to implement the UBP card on Harvest Caye now that the lease is up?  Looks like is says "Only cash and credit cards can be used"

54 minutes ago, cathi007 said:

OH help. How do you get reservations for the comedy club??? I want to book asap when we get on Sunday. Thanks 🙂

You can’t reserve comedy shows until you board. Make sure you do it the first night as it fills up fast!  Go to the box office outside the theater (at least that is where we do on the Breakaway). 

My son and husband are both fire fighters/paramedics and are exposed to these deadly drugs every time they run on an overdose.  I do hope the dog is ok.  unfortunately, our first responders have to go on scenes every day not knowing what they are dealing with. 

Side note, my dad is sailing tonight on the Epic and called and said they boarded the around 4:00. He said all the luggage was still on the dock when he got on. I’m sure they will not be heading out for a while. 

What does “Holy Ship” mean?  

Does anyone have details why they are not yet boarding the Epic in Port Canaveral yet today?  My dad is waiting in a huge, long line outside the terminal waiting to board the ship. 

I do know the Oasis is in port at Port Canaveral early today, but I wouldn’t think an RCI issue would delay an NCL ship from boarding. They are told boarding could be a couple more hours yet. 

Any info out there would be appreciated. 

21 minutes ago, stobe1 said:

I stayed in an ocean suite on the Triumph. Couldnt tell you the exact room number but it was deck 7 port side. It has a larger balcony and a larger room with a small vanity area in front of the bathroom.  

 

We got a good deal on it and couldnt complain about it for what we paid.

 

We are booked on the 10 day out of New York this summer on her in June in one of the new aft extended balcony suites on deck 5 and are anxious to see the new renovations.

I really like the fact it has a vanity area!  I hate sitting at the desk area in a regular balcony while trying to dry my hair and put on makeup. We are on the Sunrise May 27 for the 14 day Panama cruise. They are currently offering me an upgrade for $1466 to upgrade to the Ocean Suite deck 7 from a standard balcony deck 6. Just do t know if it would be worth it. 

Has anybody stayed in the Ocean Suites on the Triumph?  What are the major upgrades from a standard balcony?  Just bigger cabin and balcony?  Not sure if it is worth the difference. 

On 12/23/2018 at 6:01 PM, Hazelroo said:

We were unable to use magnets on the walls of our Ocean Suite on Deck 7 a couple of weeks ago. We didn't try on the door, so can't comment on that.

Could I ask if you liked your Ocen Suite on deck 7?  We were wondering if it would be worth $1400 more to upgrade from a balcony to Ocen Suite. Is it that much different?  Balcony bigger?  I know things might be different after dry dock, but I’m thinking the size of the suites won’t change. 

If you want to text phone to phone, without using any social media apps like Facebook or Whatsup you will have to pay for each text.  There is no way around that. If you text from a social media app, it will only go to another social media app.  But since the other person doesn't have social media, then you must pay the price and text from the ship's tower (phone to phone).

21 hours ago, lepidoptera said:

They have a solo traveller meet up every night. When I was on the Breakaway in Ocrober they had it in a lounge the first night then we moved to the studio lounge thereafter (the door was unlocked so people that were sailing in other cabins could get in). From the solo social those of us that wanted to could go to the  reserved table one of the main dining rooms and they also reserved seats for us at shows near the frount. 

Thanks!  Also I love the idea of them all going together at a reserved table.  He's always preferred the set dining time and set table and was a little disappointed that NCL didn't have that.  Also, I like that they reserve seat in the front at the shows.  He was always the person to get to the show 1/2 hour or more before it started just to get a seat down front.  Very helpful info to pass on to him, thanks again!

13 hours ago, Nola26 said:

I echo the solo meet up, just check the daily, time and place are listed each day.

 

I sail solo and I have made friends/meal companions via the group, but also on excursions. I met one of my good cruise buddies in the security detector line. So just be open, you never know who is solo or simply open to dining with your Dad.  I also had lunch with a  charming grandmother sailing with her 20 something niece/boyfriend. O'Sheehan's was packed on a sea day and the server asked if I'd mind sharing, my gain.

 

Finally, it didn't work for me, but he can also join his roll call to connect with people and meet them early in the cruise.

Thanks so much for the information.  I agree the solo meet up sounds like his best bet.  I'm sure he will be fine, just me worrying about my 81 year father!

16 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

You can also do one night at the teppanyaki. You are guaranteed seated with a group there, and even if you don’t make friends, you still have a good show to watch as they prepare the food

Great idea!  Thanks so much for your input. 

17 hours ago, NSnJW said:

I just got off the Epic Dec 5th.  I had a studio and went to the first get together.  There must have been over 100 people there.  It was packed.  I am not super social so I bailed, but for the social type, there was always lots to do at the open evening meets.  Plenty of people to have a meal with.

Thank you so much for the info!  I'll make sure my dad goes to that first get together just to see what it's all about.

18 hours ago, bob brown said:

You can certainly do it that way, but there is no guarantee he will find others wishing to share at that time...

The best thing for him to do, would be to go to the nightly solo cruiser's (of all ages) get-together. The time and location will be listed in the Freestyle Daily.   It is usually held in the Studio Lounge, which is normally only for those in Studio cabins, but during the get-together, it is blocked open for all solo cruiser's on the ship to access.   

There, a host from the cruise activities staff will make introduction's, conduct games, maintain signup sheets for specialty restaurants, shore excursion's, and other group activities.   At the end of the meet, all who do not have other plans, are invited to join the group for dinner in one of the main dining rooms, where a couple of large tables are already  reserved.

 

I do this all the time, and have met some great new friends on every cruise....

Thank you!  Exactly the information I was looking for.  He does have a studio cabin so I'll tell him to make sure he goes to the nightly get-together! 

My father will be going on his first solo cruise.  He is an experienced cruiser, with 70 plus cruises under his belt, but they all were with my mom.  She has been gone now for five years and he really misses cruising but just thought it would be too hard to go without her.  He has decided to try a solo cruise in January and I was wondering what is the best way for him to have dinner with other solo cruisers.  He is going on the NCL Epic and I know they have the free-style dining so he won't be assigned to a regular table each night.  He is very, very social and loves to meet new people.  If you go to the MDR solo, can you ask to be seated with other people?  I want to give him some advice before he leaves. 

My father will be going on his first solo cruise.  He is an experienced cruiser, 70 plus cruises under his belt, but they all were with my mom.  She has been gone now for five years and he really misses cruising but just thought it would be too hard to go without her.  He has decided to try a solo cruise in January and I was wondering what is the best way for him to have dinner with other solo cruisers.  He is going on the NCL Epic and I know they have the free-style dining so he won't be assigned to a regular table each night.  He is very, very social and loves to meet new people.  If you go to the MDR solo, can you ask to be seated with other people?  I want to give him some advice before he leaves. 

3 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

I think the problem (if not a mis-understanding at the port) is that some states issued what they called EDLs, but they weren't - they were a generation behind.  So someone might think they have an EDL but really they just have a better-than-before DL.

 

Nowadays, everything issued as an EDL truly is such.  AFAIK, at least.

Exactly!  This was five years ago and they definitely said he could not board with what he had at the time.

We left on a cruise out of NYC a few years back and one person in our party did bring his passport, thinking a enhanced driver license with  was good enough for cruise travel.  He was mistaken and was refused boarding.  I told him to call the courthouse in the county he was born and they just faxed the birth certificate to the cruise terminal.  Luckily, it was a week day and the court house was open.  Another time my 21 year old niece went on her first cruise without all us family. She called my brother crying that she forgot her passport and they wouldn't let her board.  He ran home and got her birth certificate and faxed it to the terminal, problem solved!  Two cases where it was a good outcome.  Sorry that wasn't possible in your case.  My heart breaks for you!  I totally see how you could leave the papers by accident, it happens to the best of us.

2 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said:

"BUT" still CAN'T use that type of OBC for payment of the DSC !

I thought you could use the $100 Past Guest OBC for anything, even refund the amount you don't use.  The other $100 Free On Board Spending can only be used on board.