skeeter195

We tip well and this is not about how much to tip but more of an informational question. On NCL everyone is included in the daily service/hotel fee except the butler and concierge. Who is not included in the daily fees on MSC if anyone? Also will we have the same butler for our room throughout the cruise or will they be different? Thanks again

From the info I have gathered, researched today along with your responses I feel that I have a good idea of what to expect come Saturday. I like the idea of multiple bars. Also at times we felt like we wanted to grab something to snack on in the Haven but after 5 there was nothing to get easily. The YC looks to have small bites almost 24 hrs. Thanks again for helping us out

Our last 4 sailings have been in the Haven on the Joy and Encore. We are trying out the MSC Meraviglia in the YC leaving this weekend. For those that have sailed both can you say what you liked more and or less about each? We booked this today and am scrambling for info on the YC and the Meraviglia. Thanks as always

How are the comedians on MSC. The acrobatic talent sounds fun.

Thank you so much for the help. Going a la carte is expensive without a dining plan on NCL. One could easily spend $100 plus per person. I could find prices for the MSC restaurants. What would ballpark pricing be? I am interested in sushi. It looks like the YC has a filet on the everyday menu. Do they have any other steaks? Thanks again guys

Due to a lucky circumstance we just booked this morning the YC on the Meraviglia leaving this Saturday 1/6 on a whim. We are long time NCL cruisers staying in the Haven on our last 4 trips. I am trying to gather as much info as possible before we leave in 3 days. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. We were granted the status match to diamond with MSC from our NCL status. Here are some questions. What perks does diamond give you outside of the YC? Can we pay to dine in the specialty restaurants without a meal plan and pay as we go? Is the YC food good enough to not even bother with specialties? How is the entertainment? NCL had the best, not so much now though. Can you prepay the daily service charge or Hotel charge before we get on the ship? Thanks in advance.

I am taking a 15 day prima cruise and getting $250. The $250 will be nice. Even if I buy an overpriced bottle of liquor it is still definately worth the effort. A bottle of JW blue is always an impressive gift.

Wow. I realize it cost you $20 more, but imagine if you upped your bid $100 a person? Very fishy to me. Exactly

We were booked in a haven courtyard penthouse. I had put in a bid to a Haven courtyard 2 bedroom with a bid of $10p/p over the minimum. I got the notice to live bid 10 days before the cruise as our bid was not high enough. So I then bid another $10p/p($20p/p total now). 6 days before the cruise our bid was accepted. While we were very happy about this I now think that this new live bidding is all just B/S. 1-How could a $10p/p actually make a difference? 2-Why was I awarded the room 6 days before the sail date? Why not wait until the last possible minute to award a possible higher bid? 3-Here is the best part. The day we were notified that our live bid was accepted we got our new luggage tags in the mail sent 1st class, not priority or express. Those tags had to be sent out 3-7 days prior. Without proof I believe that our original bid was accepted and we were tricked into bidding an additional $10p/p. Who cares about $20 but the idea just seemed "fishy".

As of right now it is up 55% since November 15th. Maybe up means down?????

Cannot comment on the Bliss but have sailed Getaway, Encore & Breakaway in the last 18 mos. There was no poker table on any of these I am sure that you missed them on these ships. I have sailed on all of these also within the last 2 years and they all had one table in the casino. I play 5-6 hours a night 2-3 times during the cruise. I can usually pay for the cruise during this time if the players are right, just wait for your spots. The rake is indeed high at 10% but it is capped at $25. I have been on all of the poker finals cruises so I am sure that we bumped into each other at some point. Last month's was the best one so far think.

I got off the NCL Poker finals cruise last month. I won $7200 playing cash games the first 2 days. Then on the last day I won the main event. We made a final table deal but I still got the big check for $100,900.00. I have never had my picture taken so much. Fun times!!!!

I have watched many videos of the Prima Haven 2 bedroom suites. I did not see any makeup areas or even blow dryers like in the Haven penthouse suites(HE). I am sure that I am missing it but just want to make sure. Thanks

I have watched many videos of the Prima Haven 2 bedroom suites. I did not see any makeup areas or even blow dryers like in the Haven penthouse suites(HE). I am sure that I am missing it but just want to make sure. Thanks

Thank you all for the info.

From the deck plans it looks like there are no stairs near the Haven elevators. We like to use the stairs at times but no problem if there are none, just wondering. Also we have a room booked under the Haven restaurant. We have never had an issue with noise under the restaurant but just checking. Thanks

From a chef's perspective I would choose Onda. While there is more of a classic Italian setting in La Cucina, the technical aspects of the dishes are "sharper" at Onda. Plus Onda has octopus. We have eaten 15 plus times at La Cucina and 4 times at Onda.

We have a midship Haven suite outside the complex on a January transatlantic on Joy. I am debating bidding on an aft haven suite but am worried about (1) more ship movement and seasickness especially because it's a winter crossing so seas might be rough, and (2) more noise in the aft (I read in another thread that Joy aft rooms have lots of creaking through night). In normal or slightly rough seas it really does not matter where you are on these larger ships. When the seas are rough to very rough though the best place to be is in the aft. Side to side movement will be the same no matter where you are on the ship. The up and down motion though will be the least in the aft with it actually being quite stable. Think of it like this. We have all seen the front of ships come out of the water in bad weather but have you ever seen the props or thrusters come out of the water in the aft on a cruise ship? No, that is because the props must stay as deep as possible in the water for control of the ship. As far as noise and vibration goes that typically only happens when going slower unless there is an issue with a prop or shaft.

In 2004 I had an unbelievable cruise on the NCL Sun. I won every single day until the last day playing Blackjack mostly. I lost $19,000 that last day. I got greedy and wanted it all. I was upset with my loss for the day but felt a lot better when I realized what a great trip I had with my extended family. When I was winning I was buying drinks, bottles of wine and even took my group of 27 to a beach club in Cozumel for the day spending about $1500 there. The casino desk even gave me $1200 to spend in the shops the last night. The shops were actually nice back then. All said and done when I returned home I had a zero bill from the ship. The best part is that I had $42,100 more than when I left. I have been comped every cruise that I have taken since then. I have had some losses on cruises since then but have had more winning cruises. My point here is that winning is a definate possibility. Don't just assume that your $20, 50, 100, or 1000 is your entertainment money. Stop when you win but more importantly stop faster when you start to lose and don't get greedy like I did.

thank you

That is the place for sure. Even after many mojitos you can't forget that rooster. Thanks for the tip about asking a hotel employee where to go. We will try that first but if all else fails we will go back to La Carreta. Thanks again Capt

Last year we got in a cab and asked the driver to take us to an excellent yet reasonable Cuban restaurant near Bayside. He took us to a place that had a big rooster statue out front. He said the owners of the place owned a fancier place just down the street but this place was just as good. He was right, it was really good with everything very authentic right down to the mojitos with a piece of sugarcane in it for a stirrer. It was so good in fact that we ate and drank many mojitos causing the four of us to forget the name. If anyone knows of which place I speak of please share. On the other hand though we are open to any place that is reasonably priced with great food. Thank you

There is no snorkeling to speak of in either the lagoon or ocean villas. Also there is hardly any wave action either at both spots. Just to right of the ocean villas is really good snorkeling. We rent the Ocean villas now as the water is better(more current and no smell like the lagoon can have at lower tides at times) and it is closer to everything except the Moet bar. Also we will just swim out of the ocean cove to get to the better snorkeling.

When I shot trap(not skeet) off of the premiere line ship Atlantic in 1989 the shot(not pellets or bb's) was Stainless steel not lead. SS steel shot was used over water because it is environmentally safe. The clay that the pigeons were made from I am not sure of but clay is found naturally in nature so that may be OK also. The only impact on nature would have been if a spent shell was to fall overboard as they were made from brass(not bad) and plastic.

I disagree with most of the comments here. if the OP says it is not about the money I believe them. If I was embarrassed or spoke to in the wrong way especially if other people could here it I would not let it happen. I would have taken that manager to a quiet spot and let him or her know that the way they handled the situation was wrong. I would give them a chance to apologize and explain to them that if they did not then they would be hearing from the hotel manager. Whatever happens with the perks happens. Being able to use the rest or even having to pay back what was used(highly unlikey) is irrelevant at this point.