schmoopie17

That's fine if you keep your key cards. But even so, what do you use as the issue date, since the date of the cruise wouldn't be the date you enrolled in the plan? I guess it doesn't really matter, as long as you have something showing your level. But again, we don't keep our key cards, so then what?

If you're wrong for your clients and yourself, that's a good thing? 😁 By the way, regarding NCL's "other" airline department (not the BOGO)...what (if any) advantage is there to book with them?

The Chocolate Cowboy was in the Belvedere Bar on our Prima cruise. He invited us behind the bar to take his picture with him. He told us he would be on the Viva in the near future but didn't mention the Joy. That might have been a recent development.

MSC asks for Loyalty card information, including issue date of the card. They also ask for "a scan or screen capture of your current external loyalty card." I don't know about anyone else, but I don't recall ever having an NCL loyalty card.

We were on a TA from Rome to New York last November 1st. We stopped in Spain, France, Portugal and the Azores. The weather was unseasonably warm...in the 70s and 80s almost every day in Europe. There's no guarantee that the weather will be as warm when you're there, but it should be pretty nice. As they say on CC...YMMV.

As they say on CC..."For your convenience, of course." By the way, the pizza picture you posted under the "other" pizza thread (La Cucina on the Escape) looked pretty yummy.

If you're a beer drinker, any ship with a District wins hands-down. The typical beer selection on NCL ships without a District is downright dreadful. Having said that, we recently canceled our Epic cruise for next September and substituted another cruise on the Escape. And we were just on the Escape TA last November, so that should tell you something about which we like better.

CC doesn't allow promoting travel agents. However, if you like to drink Bosco, you could try something that rhymes with it....they offer cash back and sometimes free gratuities. Happy drinking...

The next time we're on a ship with an Observation Lounge, we're going to rent it out for the entire cruise for our party of two. That'll show 'em...two can play at that game.

Yes, there is a way to avoid the calls. (Actually, I've never received a call from a random PCC)... just don't answer calls from unknown numbers. Also, if you have an I phone, you can block unknown callers. Easy.

What's the difference between the Haven and Heaven (besides an extra "e")? To get into the Haven, it costs an arm and a leg. Praying doesn't help. Heaven, on the other hand... I'll take Heaven every time.

Ours doesn't track price changes. However, he encourages us to keep checking prices to see if they drop. If they do, he is able to apply the new price immediately...or issue FCC if after final payment. He has also changed cabins for us instantly if we needed/wanted to change. Much easier doing these things with a PCC than a TA.

One is named after a paper towel and the other isn't.

As you said, TAs can sometimes offer additional perks. A PCC can't do that. What a PCC can do is offer you instant service (or close to it). Our PCC has a private direct line with voicemail. If he doesn't immediately answer (with a personal greeting, since he has caller id and knows who's calling) he always calls us back within a few minutes. He also has access to cabins that aren't shown as available on the NCL site. Using a TA can require much waiting time on hold while the TA connects with the cruise line.

It's where the steering committee meets...

So...hypothetical...if you were seated at a table in the MDR and the table was covered in crumbs, had used napkins and utensils laying on it, half-filled glasses with lip marks, food left on plates, etc., would you use those utensils, wipe your face with those napkins, drink out of those glasses or eat that food because poor NCL is understaffed? Or would you expect someone to correct the deficiencies asap? *crawling back under my rock to avoid the inevitable bashing to come*...

This would be the most concerning thing, if you ask me (even though nobody asked me). We were on the Prima in January and we received an email from NCL shortly after arriving home saying there had been evidence of Legionnaire's on the Prima on previous cruises. Since it forms in water lines, showers, etc., this would be something to worry about.

That goes without saying. That's why I didn't say it...😉

We were in Rome the end of October and early November last year and the weather was unseasonably warm. Most days were sunny and over 80 (f). Your mileage might vary this year.

This all may be a moot point if the Epic doesn't return to Europe in 2024, as rumored.

I've only seen them in the buffet. But they may appear elsewhere.

Better be careful loosely throwing around the term "1,000s". Someone on this board will say it's actually 100s. And then spend half a day trying to come up with data to prove you wrong. 🤪

And I can just as easily (and more prevalent) find cruises for two people in the THOUSANDS. I can't believe someone is actually arguing that the vast majority of cruises aren't THOUSANDS. Oh, well...I'm done with this. If you want to keep kicking the dead horse, go for it. Bye/cheerio.

You're cherry-picking by picking solo fares. I'm sure the stow-away fare is even cheaper. As I'm sure you're aware, the average cruiser profile is couples/families. Show me total fares for under $1,000 for that profile. I'll wait...and I stand by my THOUSANDS comment.

I wish. Maybe in the UK. Try getting away with under $1,000 in the US. We just booked the Escape for September and even with my Veteran's discount of 10%, we're looking at over $5,000...plus flights and gratuities.