nyc2theworld

I think we should start a new thread. "What is the least substantive thing you can complain about on NCL and what compensation do you feel is deserved."

I did the same exact thing, Getaway first, then the Sky. Completely different ships with completely different audiences with completely different agendas. Sky is a party ship and was fun as a party ship. Its different from the Getaway in which you have that party atmosphere but it is a lot more subdued and relaxing than the Sky.

I enjoyed both ships and if I ever need a quick escape the Sky is the ship for me...If I'm going on a longer vacation, there are better ships that suit that purpose.

As a solo traveler I've only cruised NCL because of the studio cabins.

The one thing that struck me as different is what NCL does at every port (well the ones they don't tender at...never been to a tender port). They have popup tents with the cruise director's staff playing music, bins with cold towels, hand sanitizer, cruise director's staff with water guns shooting at people and welcoming you back and both a small alcoholic and non alcoholic drink for coming back onboard.

Compared that to Carnival...there was no one outside the ship to greet you back. Looked like you were boarding a ferry.

It was that little difference that sold me on NCL over Carnival.

I do not believe there is any beer on NCL over 10.00 so if they serve Blue Moon...you're fine.

Take a taxi from the port to the airport. Prices will depend on date and time that you want the car.

Normally you are able to pre-book your specialty restaurants w/o paying the cover, but seeing as this is a new ship...we might have to wait until closer to sailing as there are still things to announce.

If you read the link provided it states the following:

Q. ARE ANY MENU ITEMS EXCLUDED FROM THE ULTIMATE DINING PACKAGE?

A. No, all items listed on the menus are included in the package. Additional entrée charges also apply for dining at Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro.

Now, if your server waived the additional entrée charges that's awesome but I would not expect that everywhere as the FAQs by NCL specifically state something different.

As for dress code LeBistro has a no shorts dresscode. On the Getaway, in my experience, if you are wearing shorts they will seat you in the seats outside the restaurant on the faux patio no problem.

Now as for ordering multiple appetizers, yes, you can order as many as you want. I personally ordered 3 appetizers at Cagney's just to try them all out. The only thing you are limited on is the Entrée.

As for eating at multiple restaurants in the same night, yes. That you can do. If you wanted two meals one at Cagney's one at LeBistro that is covered under the dining package.

As for making reservations, I had no reason to push the guarantee, but lets think about it. If I call at 6PM Monday for an 8:30PM reservation and 8:30 is booked, why would I accept a 5PM dinner time under the guarantee? What would happen if I called at 3PM Monday and the restaurant was completely booked the next night? They still would have to offer me a table under the T&C of the program. I suspect that it is time specific. If you have the UDP and want a table at 8PM Tuesday, you need to call before 8PM Monday to guarantee your table. If its interpreted any other way the guarantee is useless. That is how I would interpret it and "politely suggest" that NCL do the same.

Even if they all aren't a party of UDP still 20% off

I was reading an older review from the NCL Getaway, and saw that if you have the UDP, you do not have to pay the additional $10 surcharge for the specialty dishes at Le Bistro. Is this still the case? What are the other perks? I believe I saw something about booking the magic dinner the first night? So does that mean the entire fee is waved? We already have UBP, and looks like we may come close to breaking even with the specialty restaurants with or without the package. Also, can you order more than one appetizer at the restaurants?

Details are here - http://www.ncl.com/udp/faq

Look at it this way. You got a deal with a whole bunch of stuff that had you bought separately would have cost more individually minus the 20.00 you save on the UDP.

That's the way you have to look at the ALLIN promo which is what it sounds like you got.

The bartender should know what’s going on because all staff is given an very small and I mean small (need a magnifying glass) copy of the FreeStyle Daily to know what is going on in case a passenger asks.

 

The bar doesn’t need to be private but the out of the way ones like the Star Bar on the older ships meant it was a more intimate feeling and people were more inclined to talk and mingle. The open concept of the Breakaway class at the martini bar is less conducive to that and if people are shy it’s definitely a deterrent to stopping in. However, if you have a good gaydar you can see them cruising by looking.

I agree with all that you said. It was my very first cruise so after coming from the hosted solo meet I probably expected too much. Its water on a ducks back at this point looking back it didn't detract from the cruise in a significant way.

I am so glad I'm on the TA for this ship and I booked during the ALLIN promotion. I will be eating and drinking A LOT!

Does getting hit on by a solo female traveler in Bliss (even though I'm male and gay and she knows this) count? And yes, she was hitting in me - hand rubbing the inner crotch and call looking for signs of "appreciation".

Or how about your fellow solo travelers in the lounge during the hosted meetup say "Nyc2theworld is a better cruise director than XXXXXX"

Fun times.

Would someone tell me what this is please. V

Vibe (on the Breakaway and Getaway) is a adults only area in which one needs to pay a separate admission to get into. It is more relaxed and has two hot tubs for those who want to relax in water. Bartenders come around to serve fruit on a stick while you are in the area. The are loungers and daybeds for people to relax in. On these two ships, Vibe does NOT overlook the main pool area so it is more of a relaxation area. In addition there are 5 cabanas that people can purchase for 299 with a 100 food and beverage credit that can "only" be used in Vibe, though your mileage may vary. (YMMV).

Posh is the same on the Epic but from what I hear overlooks the pool area where the stage is so it can be more lively and fun. (Disclaimer - Never been on the Epic so can't speak to it).

Like, forever? No they aren't. You must be referring to a specific sailing.

They are sold out on the transatlantic.

Tips are included in the UBP.

The wine tasting class is not.

When I make reservations for a specialty restaurant from my cabin/account, will I be able to note that there is 8 in our party so there will be a table large enough for us? And can I have everyone's dinner charge ($30) put on my cabin when the bill comes at the table or will I need to tell them when I get on the ship?

 

 

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If you make the reservation online and do not have the UDP you will have to pay for as many people are on the reservation then and there. If you do have the UDP you won't have to pay (but on the ship they will ask to see everybody's card to confirm everybody has the UDP).

If you make the reservation on the ship they will ask for your Seapass card at the end of service to settle the bill.

Does this mean we will no longer see Kevin fumbling around the Epic on Undercover Boss on the Norwegian Cruise Line Channel on the ships' TV?

One more question, just to be certain we dont want the UBP. If we have the UBP is the beer served in bottles or cans (like in the bucket) or is it on tap in a small plastic cup?

With the UBP since you can't order a bucket, the only time they would ask someone who has a single beer (as opposed to a bucket) to pour it in a plastic cup is if they are in the hot tub or pool. I believe, but can't remember, on GSC that they will serve in a bottle but if you want to walk away from the bar, they will ask to put it in a plastic cup. Otherwise its served however it came from the brewery/distributor.

Thank you NYC2theworld. $210 does seem high. I think we will stick to the original plan and take a couple bottles of wine with us. If we don't drink them, I understand we don't pay the $15 fee.

So no beer buckets at all on the Sky?

I'm not sure about the wine. I know when you board they will count your wine and charge you then for the total # of bottles brought on board. I'm not sure if you can go to guest services the morning of debarkation to get the extra bottles not consumed removed.

Sorry I wasn't clear, beer bucks are available, just are not a part of the UBP. They are available both on the ship and on GSC.

We only drink beer occasionally wine. I am looking to see if we should purchase UBP, The corks and caps, or just nothing? Thinking we will take wine onboard with us @&15 cork fee.

seems to be a lot of add on gratuities? I dont mind if service warrants it.

What is break even point?

The cost of the UBP on a 3 day cruise is over the 200 mark (I want to say 210 including gratuity) if I recall correctly and can only be bought on board. Beer is only about 6.00 on board so if you can drink 34+ beers in those 3 days (embarkation day, Nassau day, and GSC day) then it could be worth it. Just remember that you have to get each drink one at a time so sitting at the beach with a couple of beers cannot happen with GSC (Beer bucks are not part of the UBP).

It’s not hosted on NCL and not at a private bar on the larger ships. There’s no place which exists to have it at a private bar on the newer ships. The older ships had the Star Bar which was out of the way. It was still open to the public but it gave a more intimate setting and was out of the way so you could use your gaydar very easily and strike up conversations with others. If you want a hosted FOD then go on Princess which I’ve heard lately doesn’t have hosts at those either.

 

Scheduling-wise, if they wanted to close a bar off for another group on the ship, it would show a conflict if the FOD was being held there. That’s why they put it in as a group even though it is loosely so.

There's no need to close off a bar or even have a host. There is table seating at Sunset Bar (both outside and inside) where a simple table tent saying "reserved for LGBT meetup" on one of the tables would suffice. The fact there is absolutely nothing at the bar & the bartender not knowing that there is a NCL listed meetup at their bar can easily turn away many people. For my next cruise I might just need to purchase table top flag to use as a gathering point at the LGBT "meetups".

This brings up another question... with these new promotions, once we get on the ship (we are in a suite if that matters) how/where do we get our sticker(s) for the UBP and the UDP? Will they already be on our keycards we get from the concierge?

I'm going based on what my Amenity Invoice shows for my ALLIN package I have on my upcoming Escape TA so I'm giving you and educated guess at this point.

My amenity invoice shows that I have the UBP and UDP but shows a cost of 0.00 (my actual confirmation shows the ALLIN promo code...yours should show the promo code applicable to your free UBP and UDP). Therefore, you should have the stickers already applied to your card when you check in for your cruise. If not, having a printed out copy of your final invoice showing the promo codes and your amenity invoice showing that you are supposed to get both packages should suffice (After they call Miami to figure out what the promo codes mean). I would do this on the ship as the port staff probably won't have a clue as to what you are talking about vs NCL staff on the ship.

From what I've read here, it depends on the ship because the charges should be tagged with UBP tag on POS.

 

With ships that have interactive TV systems all charges can be seen on the TV but if you ask for an account printout from the Guest Services, it probably should not show them at all as the billing system can filter the tagged charges out.

Incorrect. Ships that have the interactive TV Systems (like Getaway) will not show any drink purchases that are under the UBP. If you purchase something not covered by the UBP (for example a bottle of wine or a glass of wine through the wine vending machines) those will show up, but drinks that are covered through the UBP will not.

Per the Latitudes Rewards website - http://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards/rewards-points-and-benefits - There is no Member's Only cocktail part on the Sky, Epic, Getaway and Breakaway.