nyc2theworld

2 minutes ago, Bleueyes44 said:

I thought RCL wasn't  excepting at home testing ?   

My though was if you did take a test at like Walgreens , CVS or wherever and you have paper proof in hand that you tried and results were not back yet then and only then RCL would do the test at the pier.  

I was one of the unfortunate  travelers that got to my cruise port with no results yet and had to get a test.  I didn't  have a clue what to do so I  had a test done at the airport for $250.00.  When I  went to the pier the following  day I  found out there was a testing site down the pier doing them for $100.00.  By the way my original test results didn't  come through till Saturday I  left on Friday.

If you do an at home test it must be a supervised test. In fact RC calls out the Abbott test as an example of a valid at home test on their site - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/if-need-an-rt-pcr-test-before-i-cruise-where-should-i-go

I just booked this reschedule trip for my 40th birthday very excited to try Vacaya.

I just booked my first Vacaya trip, first LGBTQ charter trip as well

Soo...who's going to try out a new ship!:confused::cool:

Another benefit of this is that these vouchers satisfy the deposit requirement for your cruise.

For example (these numbers are just made up). You buy one-250 voucher on board but don't book a cruise.

You get home and see a cruise you want that has a TOTAL cost of 1200. The normal cash deposit lets say is 400 leaving a balance of 800.

You can use your voucher as the "deposit" for that 1200 cruise leaving you a balance of 950.

A very great way to lock in a specific promotion on a cruise without having the deposit up front.

Without the addition of the Solo Cabins by NCL I wouldn't have cruised at all. I've been very lucky to get some good deals on NCL even when booking in a Solo Cabin.

Cruise 1 - BOGO on the Getaway - why would I pass that up!

Cruise 2 - BOGO Redemption on the Sky. Nice weekend cruise

Cruise 3 - Thanksgiving weekend special pick TWO Freestyle Choice options! (Got the Beverage Plan AND 4 days of specialty dining)

I've constantly looked at RCCL and even when I look the furthest out for their few solo cabins the price difference is not worth it. Maybe if I cruise with someone else eventually I will try them, but NCL and specifically the EPIC, -Away ships, and Escape (for now) are my go to ships.

My birthday is right in the middle of the cruise...With the free UBP I got for a solo studio how could I pass this up!?!

Well, the UDP no longer exists! The SDP has taken it's place and it is not for all 7 day on a 7 day cruise, I believe it is for 4 meals only and it would be proportional on longer cruises. It is a limited number of meals and is by no means unlimited. Each meal counts as one of the 4 or whatever number you have. You could technically eat all 4 in one day if you wish.

Where are you reading this information?

Actually you can choose 3-7 days on the SDP for a 7 day cruise. Its up to you.

So let me get this straight. I booked my cruise with the UBP for the Freestyle Choices promo and it's currently up to $11 per drink. This will change at the beginning of October. So if my cruise is in November I have to prepay my gratuities to get the $15 price or the $11 price?

 

I'd rather have it comped up to $15. I'm confused.

 

EDIT: I guess it would also be helpful to ask how much the average drink costs on NCL. I read somewhere that a beer was 10 bucks, which leads me to believe that any mixed or frozen drinks would be $12+

IF what people are posting is true, then the working theory is that since you are still responsible for gratuities for your free UBP, you need to pay the gratuities by September 30th in order for you to pay the gratuities on 54/day. If you do, then whatever the current conditions are for the UBP on the day of embarkation will apply to you (i.e. all drinks under 15/day would be applicable to you as well - even though you paid gratuities on 54/day).

If you pay after October 1st...then you need to pay gratuities on 64/day and the new UBP conditions (i.e. all drinks under 15/day) would be applicable as well.

Basically, IF this is true, by paying your gratuities before October 1, you save 1.80/day. (The difference between 18% of 64.00 and 18% of 54 dollars).

It really is easy to go through 15 drinks.

On a Sea Day

• Mimosa x 2 at breakfast
  
• Mimosa x 2 for morning ship walkaround
  
• Cocktail x 2 for moring activities or just sitting at bar
  
• Cocktail x 2 at lunch
  
• Cocktail x 2 at Pool while laying down for sun
  
• Spa to detox relax and nap
  
• Wine x 1 during solo meetup
  
• Cocktail x 2 for LGBT meetup
  
• Wine and Cocktail at Dinner
  

That's 13 cocktails and we haven't even gotten to the party or after party.

On a Port Day

• Mimosa x 2 at breakfast
  
• Mimosa while walking to get off boat (or 2 if waiting for tender)
  
• Cocktail x 2 at pool after getting on boat around 2 PM (for a 5PM departure)
  
• Spa to detox relax and nap
  
• Wine x 1 during solo meetup
  
• Cocktail x 2 for LGBT meetup
  
• Wine and Cocktail at Dinner
  

This is slightly less at 10-11 drinks all before the party and after party.

Well on my last two cruises it went something like this.

Getaway:

1-Head to Guest Services for Vibe Pass

2-Start Drinking and roaming the ship

3-Purchase Spa Pass

4-Repeat #2 and talk to random people on the ship and find other solo travelers.

Sky

1-Purcahse UBP

2-Start drinking.

3-Repeat #2 and talk to random people on the ship and find other solo travelers.

And what I plan on doing with the Escape:

1-Head to Guest Services to see if/when they will sell Vibe Passes (Since I'm on the Transatlantic not sure if it will be open)

2-Grab a drink with my UBP

3-Get Spa Pass

4-Repeat #2 and talk to random people on the ship and find other solo travelers.

As you can see, Step #2 is very important.

Yes.

 

The other difference is that entrance to Vibe is restricted to people staying in suites and those that have paid, whilst Spice is for everyone. The main attraction (I believe) is that it is quieter.

Vibe is restricted to those that have paid for access. You do not get free access to Vibe in a suite. All suites on the Escape are considered a part of the Haven, for which you get access to the Haven Courtyard and Lounge which is completely separate from (but next to with a closed door between it and) Vibe.

OMG, what is a Freestyle Cruise Reward? I swear I love this site, I learn so much every single day!

This is a 250.00 electronic voucher (meaning its attached to your latitudes #) that you purchase on ship to use as a deposit for a future cruise in the next 4 years. However, there is an ongoing promo that they will give you a 100 On Board Credit for purchasing this electronic voucher bringing its actual cost down to 150.

The best part of this is that this is considered your "Deposit" for a cruise. So for example if a cruise normally has a 400 deposit; your FCR e-voucher acts as your deposit and the difference (400-250) is added to the remaining balance of your cruise.

Here's a Breakdown Math Example:

Cruise Cost is 1500

Normal Deposit is 400

Balance due before final payment is 1100

With the FCR e-voucher

Cruise Cost is 1500

FCR e-voucher redeemed for 250

Balance due before final payment is 1250

As you can see, you still pay the exact same fare, but instead of having to come up with a deposit when booking, you can use your FCR and book a cruise.

We checked with t-mobile. Apparantly there is no such thing as roaming with them anymore. We have worldwide coverage with data and Texting. There are some fees for voice if you are not using WiFi calling.

 

I wish I could just turn everything off but I can't get myself to do it. The way I look at it, the world keeps spinning without me so when I get back I would have to get caught up on things, I would rather just know about them when they happen.

 

Luckily I live a pretty stress free life and always stay out of drama so really there is nothing that I need to get away from.

Honestly I thought the same thing on my first 7 days cruise in the Bahamas. Having no connection to the world for someone who is addicted to social networking felt great. I spent so much time focusing on what was right in front of me that it was so relaxing even though I spent so much time running around the ship (This was the Getaway). Honestly, turn off the phone, you'll enjoy it!

As a male I just made sure my bathing suit trunks had a sealable pocket. I had the dining plan, drink package and a spa pass. The only sticker that kept coming off due to water was the spa pass as it was more like a traditional paper label than the plastic stickers they use for the UBP/UDP. No need for lanyards, cases, etc IMHO.

The Getaway, Epic, Breakaway and the Escape will have heated loungers in the Spa which you will have to purchase a pass for.

Thank you for your reply - and I've been all over the site - but I still can't find the upcharge amounts for the various restaurants.

Its listed on a per-ship basis...For example here is the Getaway - http://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/getaway/whats-on-board/Specialty-Dining

Why? I have never seen UBP a tied to a specific venue. Any RCI cruisers with the equivalent drinks package who can comment? But, there might have to be a time limit, cause I coild just go up and down all night.

UBP is not accepted for admission to the Svedka Ice Bar. That is why I didn't go in on the Getaway since I could drink grey goose as part of the package.

I personally have not but have read on here that is an acceptable use of your OBC.

Your math is wrong.

Initial OBC is 350. Purchase the 250 FCR gives you a balance of $100. Now you add the 100 OBC you get for purchasing the FCR.

Remaining OBC is 200. (350-250+100).

Another way to calculate it is the net purchase price of the FCR is 150. (250-100). Subtract the net purchase price from your OBC of 350 and you get your remaining OBC of 200.

Mimosa at Breakfast

Mimosa (or 2) while I take my morning walk around the ship to figure out what to do that morning

Drink as I do a morning activity

Drink at Lunch

Go to the pool and lay down and have 2 drinks.

Go to the spa and relax

Glass of wine during the solo meetup

Hard drink or 2 during the LGBT meetup

Cocktail or 2 with dinner

Cocktails at night.

That's a sea day - Easily 8 drinks/day:

Mimosa or 2 at breakfast (before I leave for shore excursion)

Shore till about 2PM

Back on ship and to pool and relax with 2 drinks

Go to spa for relaxation

Glass of wine during the solo meetup

Hard drink or 2 during the LGBT meetup

Cocktail or 2 with dinner

Cocktails at night.

That's 6 drinks for a shore day.

UBP definitely works for me.

As someone who was only 6 going on 7 towards the end of 1989 none of these shows thrill me. However, this does not upset me. When I was on the Getaway I didn't make it to any of the shows (and that was a 7 day cruise). Maybe on my TA I'll make it to one and it will change my mind about the shows but they won't make me enjoy the ship less. There's honestly so much more to enjoy and see that if you don't like the shows; its no big deal.

Just doesn't seem like a good deal. Your basically just getting $100 off your next cruise.

There's a subtlety to the Future Cruise Rewards though. Lets say you have a FCR of 250. A cruise you are looking a cruise that costs 2000. The normal deposit is 400 leaving you 1600 to pay. If you use your FCC you can reserve the cruise with just your FCR and not pay ANY money upon booking and have 1750 left to pay. This helps you secure a cruise if you don't have the full deposit right away.

This is especially helpful if there's a promo that's really great when you are thinking about booking as you can secure the promo with no cash down at that time.

ok, I want to complain that the ice melts in my lemonade when

I am out on deck in 80 (30 c) degree weather.:D

See I guess I'm just an optimist because I look at this as a challenge. (Since I always purchase the UBP) I must finish my drink before the ice melts. If the ice melts, the drink has expired and thus I need a new drink.

Just bring some surge protectors. I brought one for the one outlet in my studio on the Getaway and had no issues leaving phones/camera batteries to charge while out and about.