MrMike45

Glad it worked out, have fun! 

16 hours ago, deweytrader said:

I was Gold on NCL and matched to Silver on MSC - this was over a year ago when they were more generous with the status matching.  My guess is the Platinum on NCL will only match to Silver on MSC now.... The match disappears after 3 years if you do not continue to sail with MSC.  Also as a side note I do not dress any differently on MSC as I do on NCL - my motto is comfy...

 I matched to Gold (am Platinum with only a few points to Platinum Plus) about a month ago.   I believe it is 1 tier behind 

16 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

Huh? The membership levels for NCL are:

 

Bronze - > Silver -> Gold -> Platinum -> Platinum Plus

 

The membership levels for Voyager's Club are:

 

Classic -> Silver -> Gold -> Black

 

I am Gold on NCL. I was matched to Classic on MSC. If, as you say, that is "correct" it should be more transparently documented so I would have known not to bother submitting my match until I reached Platinum with NCL.

I apologize, I thought you said you were matched to Silver on MSC with 1 point 

Just now, ColeThornton said:

 

Ah, didn't realize they worked that fast on something like strep.  Learned something new.  Thanks.

Yeah strep stinks...very painful drinking/swallowing, but antibiotics work pretty quickly with it.  She definitely won't feel great on Wednesday (5/1) when boarding.  But by Friday, will probably kick herself for not going since she is feeling better.  

That being said, I've never landed in the ER with strep throat.  So that might be a whole new ball game 

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Jamie...I can't recall, but if you turn Platinum Latitudes during the cruise, check and see if you get the benefits for the entire cruise.

 

That gets you free bag of laundry, a specialty dinner, priority em/disembarkation, a nice party with the cruise management, some sparkling wine, strawberries, probably some other discounts I'm forgetting.

 

I think your misgivings with booking MSC will color the rest of your cruise with them.

 

While you're right, there is a similar feel going from something like the Bliss and Escape to Breakaway, I find I'm more comfortable in doing what I want to do and getting around.  Plus, I'm able to explore/experience things I always seem to miss on other NCL cruises (and don't bother wasting time with those I didn't care for with the other cruises).

Don't get the perks on this cruise...will be the next one.  We were one pt from Platinum on one of cruises, day 2 asked and shot down 

Thank you @01Sweetpea

1 minute ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

That's a seriously bad idea.   Going on board a cruise ship while you may still have strep?   No.

No longer contagious after 24 hours on antibiotics w/ strept.  She will have 48 hours of antibiotics in her.  Might feel crappy, but won't be contagious anymore.  

The match you got is correct.  Ok fine, maybe they could have given you more points, but whatever.  

Platinum/PPlus = Black on MSC.  You are a tier below platinum so you are match to Gold on MSC.  Whether you have 1 point or 1 point under Black, you're getting the same perks for this cruise.  

In the other thread, you posted that they finally replied and will be giving you back your 10%.  So yes, took a few phone calls and emails, but you will be back to the price you expected.  

As far as the dress code goes, I have posted a few messages and gotten alot of replies from MSC cruisers, all who said it's not as strict as it seems.  The only time it seems like it is really enforced is the formal nights in the MDR.  Jeans won't be allowed in then.  So plan on dinner elsewhere that night.  

It seems like you're just used to the NCL product, so talking yourself back into it.  I can understand that.  It's the style you have been on for every other cruise.  So it's really asking yourself...do you want to try something different, which you might love or hate (who can answer that for you until you've been on the cruise)...or do you want to go with something you know already.  

Have her take a few shots before boarding.  Will kill the germs, and the look of being sick, replaced by the look of starting the party early!  

All she needs to do is get on the ship.  Even if she feels a little sick for a few days, the likelihood is by time you reach the first port she will be ok.  Better to have a few days of a cruise, then miss it entirely and lose all that money 

Anyone have current dailies for the Escape?  did a search but came up empty.  Thanks in advance 

51 minutes ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

Honestly I do not see why people would question a conversation you had with a friend onboard, I have had plenty of conversations with crew and workers at NCL. Do I repeat them? Not really, I just wait until it is common knowledge and then comment on it.

For example...I saw something recently and asked a friend of mine for confirmation, it is true. Will I speak about it yet? No, I won’t because the knowledge is not that common yet. 

Do you confirm what your crew member friend told you in confidence with other crew members?  That's what the OP said he did.  With multiple other people 

Fair enough...an individual can still choose to discuss their wages and/or tips, and deal with the consequences, whatever they might be, from doing so.  I will agree to that.  

57 minutes ago, BABAZ said:

If someone wants to share what their salary is, how much they make in tips, etc. that is their own business and completely up to them. And they have every right to if they so choose.

Not true at all, if in their employee contract which they signed, it says they are forbidden to discuss salary and tips and doing so could result in termination.  Which is the case with many jobs.  

Do a mock booking, picking the category you want (say Mid-Ship Mini Suite for example).  The will assign you the "best available room" in that category.  But you can click change room, or select my own (not sure exact wording), and it will show all the rooms available in that class for you to pick from  

@Into Cruising that is an excellent view on it.  I really like the Traveler v. Vacationer premise.  

9 minutes ago, StolidCruiser said:

As you will see from a preponderance of responses, many will criticize and complain but continue booking cruise after cruise with the same company.

 

Perhaps it is in hopes someone will listen and changes will happen.  

 

I firmly believe it, for most, is for an entirely different reason.

 

It would be counter-intuitive to sail again and again with a line that repeatedly disappoints (unless one is a glutton for punishment).

I would agree with this 100%  We are "NCL loyalists" only because that is all we have cruised on.  We live 30 mins from the Manhattan terminal here in NY.  My wife will not fly.  So, our cruises are those that leave from NY.  Our first cruise was our honeymoon on the Gem to Bermuda.  We were both very leery as to what to expect as neither of us had been on a boat for longer than a few hours.  7 days later, we had the greatest times of our lives and were hooked.  We both gamble, NCL CAS offered us a nice discount on our next booking.  And the cycle has continued, up until recently...

There were other lines leaving from the NY/NJ but the discounts we received from NCL, and the fact that every cruise we went on was great, we never bothered to look elsewhere.  MSC is leaving from NY this October.  Their ships and cruise model are vastly different than what NCL offers (or so it seems), but the price on an October cruise was better than any discount offered thru CAS...so we booked it.  Finally had a reason to look at other companies....price/itinerary/value.  Maybe we will love MSC and become platinum plus on their line (or whatever top tier is called)...maybe we will hate it and it will be a one and done and we realize we're more into the "freestyle" of NCL.  Who knows.  But continuing to book with a company over and over, while at the same time complaining about that same company, seems absurd to me.  I would look for alternatives which I could A) afford and B) I wouldn't have those same complaints about.  

Appreciate all the responses, and this not turning argumentative.  

The goal of my post was to hopefully see the constructive side of the criticism that some people have/post about, and also to get an idea of what other options out there don't have those same issues.  This is a public forum.  People can post whatever they want (as long as within the rules by the mods).  It can be a detailed negative review with some knowledgeable shared things to avoid in the future, or something as simply as "NCL/MSC SUCKS!".  They have that right.  And I have the right to read/respond or to keep it moving.  Basic premise on message boards.  

But as someone else said...when 3 of the major cruise lines all have a bunch of negative complaints, and most of those complaints are similar in nature...i'm interested to hear what the alternatives are.  

Appreciate all the responses, and this not turning argumentative.  

The goal of my post was to hopefully see the constructive side of the criticism that some people have/post about, and also to get an idea of what other options out there don't have those same issues.  This is a public forum.  People can post whatever they want (as long as within the rules by the mods).  It can be a detailed negative review, or something as simply as "NCL SUCKS!".  They have that right.  And I have the right to read/respond or to keep it moving.  Basic premise on message boards.  

But as someone else said...when 3 of the major cruise lines all have a bunch of negative complaints, and most of those complaints are similar in nature...i'm interested to hear what the alternatives are.  

4 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

Really? I sailed on MSC and didn't experience that. Actually, if you go to the MSC website and you click on where it says "free drinks" it brings you right to the page that tells you exactly what is included. Not hidden anywhere...just 1 click. Their "free at sea" is very similar to the "standard" package on Celebrity. You can upgrade your package for under $200 per person for the whole week and still come out WAY ahead of anything NCL has.

Go on the MSC forum.  There are about a dozen or so threads all with questions and complaints about their various drink packages.  The Drinks on Me promo morphed into the Easy Drink package.  Which the limit and what was included changed.  At the same time, if you booked the Fantasica package, it included 12 free drink vouchers.  MSC discontinued that promo effective 3/1/19.  However if you booked a cruise for say 4/16/19 PRIOR to 3/1/19, you don't get those vouchers.  They were just eliminated.  And cancelling and booking under another experience would incur fees.  

I'm not complaining about it.  I'm just saying that would fall in line with "deceptive and misleading" the same way alot of what NCL does.  So people complain about what NCL does, people complain about what MSC does.  What is the right choice? 

10 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

The OP is mixing apples and oranges.  When NCL changes perks, service fees, restaurant items, or food, its only fair and justified that boards devoted to NCL are to discuss the changes.  The board did not start the discussion on their own.  Yes its true, the customer base does not like price increases, cut backs in service or perks, etc.  Call that negative?  I call it reality. Do you really expect customers to cheer......thank goodness for those prices that went up or the services that were curtailed?

If NCL or another line would move in the other direction then I am the first one to applaud them.  I applauded NCL for having the bravery to reverse course on the Grey Goose upcharge on the UBP.

If anything, I think the boards are mostly positive from cruise passengers who mostly enjoy their experience.  Yes of course there are always Debbie Downers.  I guess I see the glass half full because discussion of changes should be open for discussion.

I'm not mixing anything.  I am asking those who post complaints, criticisms, and negative posts about NCL, what have they chosen instead, that does not have those same complaints, criticisms, and negativity.  As I have now been on 3 different boards, and different people on all 3 of those cruise lines all seem to have similar complaints.  And lately, it seems like there are more complaints than not.  

So I am curious as to which cruise line (or other vacation) people prefer to NCL that does not have these same issues.  

To those who are saying NCL's biggest flaw is deceptive marketing and hidden fees...what other lines have your cruised on that have not had these?  

I can only speak to self experience, but I know my booking on MSC has had alot of those same issues.  The booking came with Free Easy drink package, all gratuities or fees included, which at the time I thought was awesome.  Only to find out that it only includes very limited drink choices.  For example, the only beers covered by this plan are either Heineken drafts or Miller Lite bottles.  Even if other beers or ciders are the same price, they are not covered.  Same with mixed drinks or wine.  And for any drink above the $6 limit for this plan, you do not pay the difference.  

So for example, glasses of wine $6 and below are covered.  If my wife orders a $7 glass of wine, she doesn't pay $1.  She has to pay the full $7 plus 18% gratuity.  

Others booked rooms which included free drink vouchers (any priced drink).  Only to have MSC discontinue that perk effective 3/1/19, and offer no substitute.  So those people paid extra for rooms and lost a perk without getting anything replaced.

All this would fall under the realm of "deceptive marketing and hidden fees" in my mind.  But we roll with the punches.  We decided for this cruise, we will drink what's available or pay ala carte if I really want a cider or my wife really wants a mixed drink not covered.  No big deal.  

Again, this isn't me being an NCL cheerleader.  I am curious what lines those with complaints are now cruising on, in which those same complaints don't exist.  

I guess lurker is a better title than troll, thank you Ate.  

I guess the gist of what I am asking is...for those who have complaints about a particular cruise line (not talking the 1 post disappearing people) and are critical of them, do you go back?  Do you try another cruise line, and find those problems did not exist?  If so, which line?  Or if not, do you vacation another way?  

Or...do you keep going back to the same company, and keep complaining.  Which is their right, they pay the same thousands of dollars as we all do, but why?  

Posting this on both NCL and MSC forums, which might be against the rules.  If so, mods, please remove one, and sorry....

Background - we are platinum plus on NCL. Our next cruise w/ NCL is less than 30 days away.  We are also booked for our first cruise on MSC for October of this year, and will be going on a Carnival cruise in June 2020 for a "destination wedding" family thing.  

Have been a member of CC for awhile.  Mostly troll, post here and there.  But I read alot of the posts.  And being booked on MSC and Carnival now, I am also reading alot on their sections of the forum as well, and have posted on the MSC forum a bit recently.  

So here's the thing...for all 3 lines, about 1/3rd (maybe even 1/2) of the posts are negative.  Criticism of the service, the prices, the perks, the offers, lack of deals, repetitive deals, etc. etc. etc.  If I was a first time cruiser...I would run for the hills!  Luckily, I have been on 16 cruises so I know alot of what people post can be taken with a grain of salt, and until I experience it for myself, I chalk it up to a random bad experience.  

But on an overview.  To those who post negative reviews, comments and criticisms...I am curious as to what you find "worth it" in terms of vacationing?  Is it another cruise line?  Bearing in mind, that the price you pay on NCL or MSC or Carnival is not what you will pay on a luxury cruise line...so do you save up for one of those trips?  Is it a land based vacation, deeming all cruises have dropped in quality?  If so...why are you posting on CRUISE critic?  

This is not meant to start a flame war or a bunch of argumentative posts.  I am just curious.  My wife does not fly (major fear).  So for us, it is either drive or cruise.  But maybe we are missing out on the best options when it comes to cruising.

Thanks 

Posting this on both NCL and MSC forums, which might be against the rules.  If so, mods, please remove one, and sorry....

Background - we are platinum plus on NCL. Our next cruise w/ NCL is less than 30 days away.  We are also booked for our first cruise on MSC for October of this year, and will be going on a Carnival cruise in June 2020 for a "destination wedding" family thing.  

Have been a member of CC for awhile.  Mostly troll, post here and there.  But I read alot of the posts.  And being booked on MSC and Carnival now, I am also reading alot on their sections of the forum as well, and have posted on the MSC forum a bit recently.  

So here's the thing...for all 3 lines, about 1/3rd (maybe even 1/2) of the posts are negative.  Criticism of the service, the prices, the perks, the offers, lack of deals, repetitive deals, etc. etc. etc.  If I was a first time cruiser...I would run for the hills!  Luckily, I have been on 16 cruises so I know alot of what people post can be taken with a grain of salt, and until I experience it for myself, I chalk it up to a random bad experience.  

But on an overview.  To those who post negative reviews, comments and criticisms...I am curious as to what you find "worth it" in terms of vacationing?  Is it another cruise line?  Bearing in mind, that the price you pay on NCL or MSC or Carnival is not what you will pay on a luxury cruise line...so do you save up for one of those trips?  Is it a land based vacation, deeming all cruises have dropped in quality?  If so...why are you posting on CRUISE critic?  

This is not meant to start a flame war or a bunch of argumentative posts.  I am just curious.  My wife does not fly (major fear).  So for us, it is either drive or cruise.  But maybe we are missing out on the best options when it comes to cruising.

Thanks 

Cruised with our son in October, who was 10 months old at the time.  

Call the NCL number and ask to speak to the special needs department.  Explain the situation and what your baby currently is eating/drinking.  Our son was drinking formula and purees/soft solids at the time.  

They added a liquid waiver to our edocs, allowing us to take infant water on board.  They also said we can bring pre-packed purees, and added a waiver for that.  All had to be taken on via carry on though, as if we packed them, they would be removed.  Carry on, when questioned, we showed the waiver and they said no problem.  They also added a note to our booking saying infant/purees.  So every restaurant we went to (either MDR or Specialty, not the buffet), the waiter always offered to bring us some plain steamed veggies or mashed potatoes or something like that.  Basically, they took care of anything we could possibly need for him.

Every restaurant has a high chair.  You can go on amazon and buy disposable bibs and place mats.  The place mats stick right to the tray on the high chair.  And the bibs are use once and toss.  We brought spoons and bottles and baby dish soap, and just washed them right in the bathroom daily.  Obviously no boiling sterilization though.  

As others mentioned, I would plan to pack/bring as much as you will need with you when you board.  I would not rely on picking up more supplies at a port, nor will I rely on being able to take them thru the check points at those ports.  Call NCL, get the waiver, and back a separate small bag of just baby supplies.  

Also, the diapers (atleast at the time) offered thru NCL were very reasonably priced.  They offer something like 36 pack of diapers, for not much more than if you went to your local grocery store and bought from there...which was shocking.  Obviously, you probably buy diapers in bulk (like the 120 packs).  But packing all that will take up alot of room.  I think we took about 30 and then bought a few packs from NCL for just less to pack.  

Overall though, did not encounter any issue whatsoever for whatever we needed/asked for re: our son.  And once on board, he was the star of the cruise.  We had breakfast in O'Sheenan's daily, and all the waiters and waitress would come over every morning to say hi to him, play with him, and whatever we wanted, they would get.  Even say like yogurt or a banana, which isn't normally on the menu, they would run up to the buffet and get for him.  

Have fun!