YangtzeCruiser

Haven't been on RCL post-Covid, but we've been happy with the food on both RCL and NCL (and CCL, for that matter, except for the. desserts).

6 hours ago, AwesomO said:

TWe also have DR on the itinerary so it's yet to be seen if we will make it-- hopefully, since the Gem is a smaller ship. Amber Cove is full that day.

Cruised on the Jan 3 sailing ofthe Sky. We docked at Taino as advertised on Jan 5

4 hours ago, Goldenrosebags said:

Is it worth it? And has anyone ever gotten a pin?

We received pins even before we were Platinum. A cute little souvenir.

A couple of dinners in the specialty restaurants is probably the nicest bonus. The only time we've used our laundry benefit has been on back-to-back cruises. Otherwise, it's wash in the sink, dry using the hair dryer

On 12/30/2022 at 5:47 PM, shof515 said:

which NCL ship docked in Cuba? I remember a few Royal and Carnival ships docked there

 

This article is about the NCL corporation and NCL other brands like Oceania and Regent

We were on the Sun in 2018 on a cruise that docked in Cuba.

Haven't been on NCL since 2018; took three cruises on CCL in 2022, so some of this may be dated. What we noticed:

a) CCL's low-end inside staterooms seem to be a little more spacious than NCL's

b) NCL has more varied activities during the day; CCL has mostly trivia

c) Entertainment on NCL seemed better. May just be personal preference

d) NCL: No lobster in MDR on formal night; CCL: the tails are small, but I had 3 on our last cruise

e) CCL: cakes on the buffet were drier than the Atacama desert, but wife liked the food better overall

f) NCL: no free specialty restaurants (we've never cruised on a megaship; may be different there)

Bottom line for me - unless NCL has drastically degraded service, it's all about going to destinations I want to visit at a price I'm willing to pay. Among the three cruise lines we've used (NCL, CCL, and RCL), if all three offered identical itineraries/amenities at identical prices, I'd just randomly pick one.

On 11/20/2022 at 12:46 PM, RocketMan275 said:

Instead of buying Cruise Next, just take the money you would spend on them and apply it to your next cruise.

When I paid $500 out of pocket for $1000 worth of cruise next certificates that I fully intend to use, then it's like I'm saving $125 each time I spend a $250 CN. Looked at another way, once I've used two of my four CN, I've broken even; the last two are "free money."

On 12/29/2022 at 9:19 AM, Honolulu Blue said:

It was Carnival Corporation, of which Princess is a subsidiary that was responsible for some, but not all, of the fineable dirty deeds.

 

From the Cruise Industry News article at Norwegian Cruise Line Trimming Stateroom Cleaning, Cutting Crew Roles - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News :

 

• Epic - January 8
• Sky - January 13
• Jewel - January 14
• Sun and Breakaway - January 15

 

The Crew Center article at Norwegian Cruise Line to Reduce Stateroom Cleaning Services | Crew Center (crew-center.com) added (I'm quoting):

 

The new company policy will be rolled out to the entire fleet in the following three-month period, expected to be completed with the Norwegian Pearl on March 31, 2023.

Good thing we're on the Jan 3 sailing of the Sky! 🤠

On 12/26/2022 at 6:25 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

Don't all but LeBistro and Ocean Blue already have the same dress code as the Garden Cafe?

Yeah, I'll concede that one to you.  I'm saving my "sunshine" for the serious dress code threads.  Those are the ones where folks are aghast that some would prefer comfort over pleasing the uptight crowd on a FREESTYLE cruise.😃  You know, the ones where people talk about wearing ties and such.  That's where I find solid amusement value.😎

I haven't cruise NCL post-pandemic, but I think the last time I cruised NCL, the aft dining room required long pants. I often find the MDR a bit cool at dinnertime, so no shorts there for me. As for my fellow diners - whatever is comfortable and sanitary.

18 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

This is the least fun dress code thread I've seen.  Most are MUCH more clever/humorous/entertaining.  I predict an early death....

Blame NCL and their Freestyle Dining. It's a slippery slope. Soon all of the specialty dining venues will have dress codes identical to the dress code at the Garden Cafe. Why would NCL do this? Because it would mean passengers could pack less, meaning fewer pieces of luggage to handle, which means less lost luggage, which means happier passengers, which means more demand for NCL cruises, which means they can raise their prices, which means more profit. That's why.

On the other hand, you, ChefMateJRK, are part of this thread, and any lack of cleverness, humor, or entertainment value is a reflection on not only the rest of us, but on you, too. 😝

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Hand his wife a toothbrush and tell her to get on her knees.

That would seriously jeopardize my chances of making it home alive

18 hours ago, complawyer said:

so what will you do if they get scuffed?

Most likely, I'll just come into the dining room with scuffed shoes. However, if I feel ambitious, I might try borrowing a black magic marker to cover up the scuff mark 😎

17 hours ago, ColdCruise said:

 I guess i should say I also do it from an anonymized browser.

I typically compare prices by using a separate user profile which clears everything once I close the browser window and not logging in.

On 12/23/2022 at 5:44 PM, complawyer said:

 the prices haven't changed at all?

On 12/24/2022 at 12:16 AM, complawyer said:

it looks like ncl just jacked up the original prices, and cut them down to normal claiming a sale.

We cruised on (on an NCL competitor) three times earlier this year. Prices are two people (inside cabin) including port fees, taxes, and gratuities (but not excursions).

  First cruise: 7-day  Cozumel/Costa Maya/Roatan) was $895 ((129/.

  Second cruise: (7-day Jamaica/Grand Cayman/Cozumel) was $614.

  Third cruise: (7-day Alaska from Seattle) was $1225.

Upcoming NCL: (10-day eastern Caribbean) will be $1917

Which cruise line had the real sale?

17 hours ago, complawyer said:

dont forget to polish and shine your tennis shoes!

I bought brand new black tennis shoes that I haven't worn yet just for my upcoming cruise. I DO NOT plan to pack shoe polish 😎

I don't recall seeing 2nd guest sails free before. But rather than get caught up in the hype, I just look at the bottom line for the two of us, including taxes, port fees, and gratuities. I'm not sure what the actual offer was under which we booked our upcoming cruise on the Sky, but the invoice has a line for Guest Fare, and another line for Savings, where half of the guest fare is subtracted off. Second guest free, 50% off for each of us, or ??

On 12/20/2022 at 1:52 PM, New2cruise2022 said:

You have to wear underwear?

If it doesn't show, no one will know🤠

9 hours ago, cruisinmeme said:

 

On my upcoming cruise the only difference between sail away and regular balcony was 50.00 so taking away the drink package…..do the math.

On our upcoming cruise, Inside SailAway vs, Inside+FreeAtSea was $499 vs. $609 (plus $218 in drink package gratuities). Definitely a do the math situation.

Firm believers in Sailaway - we don't drink enough, we get two nights of dinners for being Platinum Latitudes members, and we don't particularly care about the location of our cabin.

Haven't cruised Norwegian post-Covid yet (we're booked on the Sky Jan 3), but did do three Carnival cruises earlier this year. We've always booked inside staterooms - Carnival's are noticeably larger. Carnival still serves lobster with no upcharge in the MDR on the first formal night. Norwegian's desserts on the buffet were much better than Carnival's. Carnival has more complementary restaurants. Norwegian has better entertainment and more diverse onboard activities. For us, the differences pretty much balance out, and it comes down to itinerary and price.

We've done FAS when we've traveled with family @ 3 people per cabin (using 3rd person free), but otherwise, it's sail-away for the two of us. For the amount we drink, it's not worth having a drink package, and we already get two nights of specialty dining with our Platinum status. And we don't feel the need to select our cabin. Cruises tend to be last-minute vacations for us - we typically book 30-45 days out.

Printed results (from Walgreens) were what we used out of Galveston in Jan. No problem

31 minutes ago, CC Rider 69 said:

just to let you know, our 40-50's with wind might feel colder than yours same temp  in Mn.

I'm ready for it. Wind breaker, light sweatshirt, down vest, t-shirt, and turtleneck shirt for upper body layers

Edit: with my flannel shirt in reserve

On 12/20/2021 at 3:07 PM, vamartha said:

... not packing DH a tie and not planning to dress up. I'm finally retired, ...

We're making our first Carnival cruise after a dozen or so cruises split between Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. I have a tie packed  - it doesn't take up much space. But no jacket. Elegant has no place in my wardrobe 😛

On 12/30/2021 at 12:18 AM, jas1178 said:

Todays update - no more than 3 in an elevator and cancellation of a bunch of Trivia.

I can deal with a cancelled playlist show.

I can deal with a piano bar with no pianist.

But no trivia??? I hope that contagion doesn't spread to the Dream's Jan 2 sailing!

Booked on the Dream tomorrow - hope it's windy enough to blow away the fog  🤠

And a VIQ (Very Important Question): Is the terminal building heated? We drove down from Minnesota, so we've got plenty of warm clothing - clothing we did not intend to bring with us on the cruise. Our boarding passes are for the 10-10:30 time slot, but we've never boarded a cruise ship before 11:30. If I know we're goig to have to sit in an unheated terminal building for an hour or more, we might have to reconsider our attire