maywell

Nice guys. Derail the thread to religion. In before lock.

 

Equally amazed perusing through these threads how industry reform is never mentioned. Flying flags of convenience coupled with this obscure remuneration system only helps shareholders.

 

Want to pay in blindly to a DSC, go right ahead. Want to tip all those who provided direct service to you like the room steward, waiters, busboys and bar staff, equally your call.

 

Not tipping at all is really the only category that is disgusting IMO.

I have no problems paying the DSC and tipping more on top to those that serve me directly in my sight. Because no offense, if you're boohooing over $12-13.50 a day per person for a $1,500 kids sale free altogether fare for 3- 4; you need to rethink about sailing on a budget line with your kids. Because $12-13.50 a day is pocket change for services that included in the DSC like room steward, all the complimentary dining, restroom attendants, the guys that wash your bedsheets/towels. Plus, I highly doubt that those that remove will tip $3- 5 to each worker that serves them within sight, since one runs into at least at minimum 3 a day; not counting the bartenders that are paid differently.

Not liking that cruise lines are flying those flags on convenience to skirt US minimum salaries and labor laws for those workers? Then don't cruise on them especially when they sail internationally since all the lines do it. [emoji57]

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Of course, one should have a reason and state why the service was subpar. Saying it is against your religion should not be a reason

IMO, not wanting to pay for your child(ren) who are 3 years old and up; falls in the religion is not an excuse category. [emoji72]

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So a 3 year old should pay $27 a day in DSC according to a couple on here...:confused:

 

The DSC should be a flat rate per cabin and not per person....the larger the cabin the more the charge.

 

We have also found out that DSC means a couple of different things on NCL literature...NCL needs to change this.

If one can not afford $12-13.50 per day, for each person above the age of 3 years old - then one can't afford to cruise, period. Doesn't matter which cruise line it is - your kid / spouse or whomever going with you, is occupying public space on the ship, eating breakfast/lunch/brunch/snacks, using the lavatories and has to sleep somewhere.

Not liking that you have to pay for them? Then never pick a cruise line that has Service Charges and fare separate from each while expecting the customers to pay for both. Also, never pick one that doesn't state the who, how and when you're getting your DSC refund back in the contract either. *Shrug*

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Merry Christmas:rolleyes:

But Thanksgiving hasn't started yet......[emoji19]

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Need the MJ eating popcorn one because anyone who knows better, knows exactly where it's heading to....

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Bigger is always better ! :D

Yes, yes it is. [emoji16] [emoji7] Love that those Breakaway-class ship(s) are so big; that one can actually lose weight on them if you do it right, by just walking in the sundecks for 10 minutes. No need for the gym on those ships, lol.

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no, you're just trying to start drama, but I don't take off the whole amount from what I'm charged. I also don't believe my 3 year old needs to tip, or service charge, as much as my husband and I.

How is he starting drama, if you're the one that made a thread about a hot-button topic? And then thinking you going to get a geniune answer regarding it?

Call up / email NCL regarding the hold up or call up your credit card company - Either way, you knew the answer to resolving your own situation anyway....

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On the plus side, it's prob my one chance to sail on the Anthem. On the minus side, my cousin chose a room and date I'm not wild about, and it's pricey, even as a double. I sound so spoiled, and I think that's what comes from traveling solo.

That and not having to share facilities....

If it's feels wrong for you to go - then don't go. There's always going to be other opportunities to go on cruises (applies to land vacations too!), even if the ship is one of a kind.[emoji4]

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What is GSC?

Great Stirrup Cay - NCL private island in the Bahamas

Going on my 3rd solo cruise later this week and my 4th next year, still have to plan my 5th trip for the year after - yes, I'm getting addicted to cruising.[emoji4] I find cruising easy to deal with the 3P's - paying, planning, packing - to the point; why didn't I do this sooner?[emoji3]

I too, have the problem of waiting on others to the point of why bother going now when it past the date of when we originally suppose to go. AND when I do go with friends/family, compromising plans to places/things I rather not go, stay and/or do plus being attached to the hip for days with no "me/alone time" to relax. But solo traveling on a cruise - just research the ship/line for its amenities, pay the fare/tips along with buying shore excursions or not. That's it - just relax and enjoy, do the stuff I want to do that doesn't break my wallet, read a book and/or watch a movie or show, not having to sharing a room or the bathroom, eating when I want to eat and where - just total bliss.[emoji4]

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7 days for 12 day Breakaway trip (single digit dance[emoji126] )[emoji13]

370 days for 3 week Escape and Getaway trip [emoji7] [emoji4]

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7 days for 12 day trip (single digit dance[emoji126] )[emoji13]

370 days for 3 week trip[emoji7]

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This blasé acceptance of price increase and all NCL changes it's the exact reason why they can keep doing it and get away with it. The OP is shocked by how much the price increased, not by the fact that there was an increase in the price.

Maybe it just me - but if it's too expensive for my budget, then I just not going to buy it and/or go elsewhere that has it cheaper/more affordable while comparing value/quality /quantity. I apply that philosophy / frame of thought to anything and everything in life like food, clothing, housing, etc; not just cruise fare.

And everything overall has gone up in price/cost across the board over the years - pick the things that gives you value even when it changed alot over year(s). And if it changed too much for your liking - pick something.

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I can't imagine why anybody would think it was their business to ask you questions, awkward or otherwise, about why you are solo. I would probably answer such a question with "and why do you need to know that?" And ask for a different table.

You'll be surprised how nosey people are throughout a ship, not just at the dinner table. They see or notice something that appears to them like a unicorn, like a solo traveler, & ask and/or make inappropriate questions / comments to person to the point it looks so un-PC and different levels of just plain wrong. One or 3 questions/comments of that nature for a week is pretty minor but getting 3 or more per day is sheer overkill - that's when you have to ask yourself if want to sail that line/ship ever again as a soloer or even when you go with as group / couple.

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Exactly, going over to a table of people you've had no prior contact with and have to eat with them, talk to them, even if they turn out to be horrible...) ugh. Awkward dinner conversation. Just what I want on a vacation. I'll sit with a kindle instead thanks. :)

That's why I like the NCL setup for solo travelers - if its awkward, you can still dine in the MDR by yourself because there's no assigned dining anywhere on their ships. You can go to completely different MDR or same one without getting the maitre'd to do something special; O'Sheehan's (24-hour complimentary dining place) or go to one of the specialty restaurants - there's so many table for 2 there on their ships, its like pick one to sit at. :)

Almost all lines offer the choice of anytime dining. I know a lot of solos like fixed seating, but I enjoy the so-called 'anytime dining' where you can ask to share a table in the MDR or you can choose not to do so. No need to eat in the buffet or a specialty restaurant, unless you want to...

Personally, after that one time on Carnival with their MDR assigned dining - I prefer dealing with NCL's solo meet dining setup where you get to chat/meet with your dining mates BEFORE dinner. If I go on any other lines, I'll be sure to check that the particular ship has more than just one specialty restaurant or complimentary place that not just the buffet or the MDR for dinner. Why? Because, whether or not it assigned or anytime dining; you might not as a solo traveler get a table by yourself - and honestly, when you haven't spoken before sitting down for dinner, you don't know if you hit off or not. Heck you might winded up with crazy, rude or completely silent tablemates - which makes for awkward dining....

Its the same thing if it was married couple / duo / group of friends/ etc dining with other people who are complete strangers to them - might not want to dine with those other people either in a MDR, your own company is more than enough at the table. Same thing with solo travelers - book, tablet, Ipad,etc by oneself is more than enough to occupy one's time.

i don't go to meet other people. I go to be on my own. So i wouldn't want to be put at a table with a bunch of strangers. On NCL, i did go to eat with other solos since we had a solo cruise host who booked our theater reservations and then offered to book us all at the MDR together beforehand. So i went along. It was a good group of a few gfs traveling together but one in a solo cabin, single guys, partnered and single women, ranging from 25 - 75 yrs old. One i ended up going out at night with in Bermuda, which was cool cause on my own i might have gotten lazy and just hung out on the ship that nite. Another girl and guy ended up being good dance party buddies. So it was useful to have someone playing host for us to meet up. Some never hung out with others at all. You do what you want, but its nice to have options.

That one of best things about solo traveling on the NCL Breakaway-class ships - it's not force, mandatory, never necessary to dine with other soloers because there's no assigned seating made by the cruise line. You go to lounge and/or solo meet, look or chat around a few minutes - then decide if you want to dine with them or not.

You either gel / get along with the people there or you don't with the added bonus of not being relegated to the buffet that doesn't have much offerings or the only specialty restaurant onboard. (My Carnival assigned solo table MDR experience pretty much summed up - and I was the most talkative person at the table of 10, which most days had only 3-5 people there; by saying "Hi, how's your day?" & "Have a good evening", literally...). It's nice to have additional options /choices especially when traveling by yourself on NCL - you can either take that or strike out on your own; still going to have great/good time either way. [emoji4]

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Ok great great thread, perhaps a silly question, where can I access the audio from the investor conference calls? Forgive me again if that's an ignorant question.

 

 

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Its up for at least 30 days:

http://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/events.cfm

All the financial reports from them directly:

http://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/releases.cfm?Year=

Missed it last year, winded up going to Nassau overnight and eating conch fritters platter for dinner at one of the restaurants there.:)

Daylight or $420.

 

It's a personal thing.. ;)

That and can make your own sun/moon light in an interior, by turning the TV and switching to one of the cameras. But, I can totally understand wanting it natural via the window and watching a regular TV program / Pay per view at the same time.[emoji5]

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Right, then who was it that decided to raise soda prices by .20 onboard because the passengers are a captive audience and if they are going to buy a soda they will buy a soda? It was Del Rio that mentioned that very fact in an investor's call and if that change didn't originate in the board room where did it originate for the CEO to even know about it?

Isn't soda before like about $3, anyway and still under that amount? Plus, NCL doesn't restrict people bringing as much soda/juice/water as they like - the port, one is embarking does; but not NCL; they let put luggage tags on the cases of beverage. Heck, one can bring as much wine as they like, provide the pay the $15 for 750ml /$30 for a magnum each - can open it anywhere without fear, even on the sundeck. The only thing they honest restrict / don't allow to bring onboard during embark is liquor.

Still have options to either buy it onboard and be "captive". Or bring your own liquid poison of choice and enjoy it anywhere, without having to pay a cent to NCL (unless it wine).[emoji14]

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I understand supply and demand.

 

What I am referring to is the small group of folks on this board who repeatedly claim that NCL has low prices and then you can pick and chose your add-ons and upgrade charges as a way to justify FDR's nonsense. The prices are higher than ever and the add-ons and up charges just make the price even higher thereby negating their silly argument that what FDR has done is good for the customers...

I can't speak for others, but in my case for next year - 2 out of 3 weeks of my B2B are $422 each ($522 with taxes and fees) with no promos on the Getaway when NCL wasn't running any during that time window. The 1 week I booked on Escape was $799 ($920 with taxes and fees) I booked along with Getaway around the same time - was still $799 ($920) when I rebooked it with $50 each port shore excursion credit. Couldn't rebooked the other 2 weeks because the fares went up to $1000 each by then.

It helps that I travel during the off-peak when prices are lower anyway. Also, those prices/fare are for a solo traveler in a studio room, which has it own perks included. Plus, my DSC is $12.95 per day and which is locked, if paid before final payment. If not. It's $13.50 onboard.

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I have not yet cruised NCL, but I know for sure I have seen upcharge items on the menu in the MDR on other cruise lines (don't remember which, maybe all, and I think CCL). This never struck me as a negative, just as an option (that I never took). As a newer cruiser, that's the norm for me.

 

The different shows on the same day I see as a huge plus.

It's just recently and only on one ship regarding upcharges in the MDR for NCL, no real ETA when rest of the fleet gets the upcharges. Probably next year when the rest get the a la carte restaurant price change (currently only Escape has a la carte in the restaurants affected and Breakaway /Getaway in Ocean Blue only).

Actually, I welcome the a la carte pricing change in Le Bistro and Cagney - it winds up costing way less for me than original cover charge price. Especially now that I can't eat full over-portion 3 course meals - which those restaurants serve.

Yes, having better and more entertaiment is always a plus. True, Carnival has the Punchliner but 2 problems with is 1) comedian is bad, and 2) that's the only entertainment they have for evening & if you don't like partying/dancing in the nightclub, well, you're done for the night.

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I am a very light packer. 10 days and only one, half filled suitcase and a small purse. My secret is dresses and rompers. I wear a pair of jeans and a heavier sweater to boarding so I have one warmer outfit without taking up valuable suitcase room. I like one piece dressing. 10 dresses take up less space than 10 tops and 10 pairs of pants.

I'm packing now. 2 bathing suits, 10 dresses for day and 10 for evening. Flip flops, heels and nicer sandals. All small, all lightweight and plenty of room for souvenirs.

I pack dresses as my cruise wardrobe as well and stuff my clothes in packing cubes, then put them in 22in wheeled duffel bag. Makes dressing up easy peasy and can buy jewelry on the ship to fancy it up. [emoji5] Plus, I wear a sweater and sweat pants on embark/disembark - I leave in the cold and return to the cold, along with not wanting to take my belt /metals off when going through both the metal detectors and the wand.

My personal philosophy on packng is this, if it all fits in a wheeled bag/luggage, zips up without breaking and I can lift it over my head without injuries - then that my wardrobe for 5 days and more trip. If fails any of that - then I overpack! [emoji31] [emoji15] [emoji52]

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The target market is the Target market.

Carnival's going for the Walmart demographic.

Lol!

The truth is funny sometimes....[emoji2]

The fact is NCL is like $20-100 more with lots of extras which one can buy or not; especially special dining which most of the other lines don't more of them. It's not necessarily the cheapest line when it comes to basics included in the fare compare to Carnival, but the included are much better quality and more quantity - like 5 different complimentary evening entertainment shows at same time on the same day, not counting the party or the nightclub, for example.

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