cruizinwithkids

I miss the table side food preparation by the maître d' in the main dining room.

I do think the term hate is a bit strong. Maybe cutbacks I miss would have received more interesting responses, because you're right, I don't hate them. I guess I sort of love them because if they weren't made I couldn't afford to cruise.

I have learned, from this thread, CC is not the forum to say you like or dislike anything, because there will always be people who will condemn you, belittle your opinions, and twist your words. It's ok to disagree, but never ok to turn a disagreement into a personal attack.

I've always been offended by the people who make cheerleader comments. I consider myself to be a NCL cheerleader but I think this thread is amazing with NCL cheerleaders. I love the NCL product and I believe NCL has done a good job keep prices low but there have definitely been cut backs.

I have been cruising for a long time but the friend who I have most recently been cruising with has only been since the Sky in 2009. I know that's the year the cut back the latitudes amenities for the shorter cruises. I don't remember if it was that cruise or his first cruise 7 day cruise. As we got on-board we were offered the glass of champagne. I think they also had orange juice and maybe soda. I don't remember, but now every time we get on-board he says, jokingly, "Where's the champagne?" He's not a drinker at all but I really thought that was a classy welcome on-board and I do miss it. It wasn't even offered for that long. Maybe started in 2007 as part of Freestyle 2.0 LOL

I am booked to cruise with a first time cruiser in October and I just think of much I would love her to be welcomed on-board with a glass of champagne.

He is currently employed. His time off with his current employer has been approved.

IF he is offered the job where he interviewed earlier in the week, then result is unknown.

I didn't leave. I didn't think there would be this much interest in the thread.

My friend is currently employed. His job is really terrible and while I understand the comments about a decent employer would allow him the time off, regardless the employer has to be better than the one he has.

I agree that he would probably be able to get the time off if he asked but I actually think he would be too timid to ask. He allows himself to get walked all over by people.

The new company seems really great and I think the job would be great. They do state their vacation policy on their website and it includes no time to be taken during the first 6 months. Maybe this specifically means no PAID time. So that adds an additional cost to the cruise - a week's pay.

The cruise on which we are booked is May 10. We just past final payment a couple of days ago. He had his interview on final payment day, I think. His plan had been to suspend the job search once we hit final payment. He specifically bought this insurance for the non-covered event cancellation portion. I thought it was a waste of money given the price compared to other plans AND the potential payout.

Everyone on here will give you lots of information. Very few if any will have had your particular situation. I learned that when posting something about insurance a while back.

 

My advice is CALL the NCL Insurance number. I did and they were very helpful in my situation.

 

In my case 2 people out of 5 in the cabin could not go. We are currently submitting the paperwork for the claim.

 

Our cabin price did not change. I did not have to pony up any additional money for the cruise. I did get the port charges refunded almost immediately. The cruise fare is what has been submitted and we expect to get that money back.

 

In my case, even though I was still able to go on the cruise, the Insurance company told me that if I had to pay extra, then I would need to add my name to the claim and it would be reimbursed. As I said, we did not pay extra, so that was a mute point for us.

 

As to the 75% credit that some don't seem to understand. When you buy insurance through Norwegian, if the insurance company deems the claim, "not covered", then you receive a 75% credit to be used on a future cruise. I think there is a time limit like a year, but at least you get something back

Interesting. Thank you. I just don't know if I'm supposed to be keeping my fingers that he gets a new job or that he doesn't. LOL

Thank you for the replies.

He bought the insurance (obviously for both of us) because he's looking for a new job. Quitting a job and then not having vacation time is not a covered reason. Now as the cruise is getting closer he's had some very promising interviews and I really need a vacation.

Oh well, seems like cancelling for both will be the outcome. Boo hoo :)

I'm booked on a cruise and my traveling companion might have to cancel. We have travel insurance. This would be a non-covered event and we'd be entitled to a 75% of cruise credit.

Does anyone know if he could cancel and I could still travel. Would he still get his cruise credit?

They started to cut back and having a separate and shortened Platinum tour around 2013 (based on other posters here), the Platinum tour is nowadays usually very different from the paid tour.

Thank you. I thought I was losing my mind.

They probably trimmed down the Platinum tour account a lot more Platinum level cruiser's....

Agreed!

A few years back - 2010, I would guess - I went on a tour of the ship. The friend I was traveling with paid and I didn't because I was Platinum. I thought it was very comprehensive. The best part was when we went through the laundry, we saw our clothes all clean and folded and sitting in a basket. What are the chances? We saw a lot of different places. It sounds as though this is no longer what is offered? At least to platinum. Maybe whoever was in charge didn't realize how it worked? Maybe I was the only platinum who was interested in a tour so they just put me on the regular tour. Based on everyone's postings this seems a bit unusual, doesn't it?

I love your review so far. Though I really can't give much credence to someone who sleeps through Mamma Mia!!!:D

I do remember seeing an older thread where someone else posted that their small cabana cost was $199. Maybe this was a special promotion or just an older quoted price. Or maybe $199 is a discounted cost during non-peak sailing dates (on the "smaller" ships). I paid $249 for a small cabana in late December aboard the Sky.

$199 was the price on our recent 3 night non-peak (January 23) Sky cruise.

Is the price lower the first day. I know the first night is free with the UDP.

Darn, mjkacmom - you beat me, as I was typing :)

Nowhere did i say i judged the entire NCL fleet for the Sky. Show me where i did.

 

We've sailed 3 times with NCL. The Sky is one of the ships we didn't prefer. Does that make NCL bad? No and I never said it did. The Sky was just not for us. Why does that bring out the worst in people? We are allowed our opinions.

 

We are sailing with NCL again. Probably on the Getaway again in August.

 

 

We did check reviews and the pictures of the Sky before we sailed. This place is to share our thoughts on ships which is what I did. No more no less. I did not bash the Sky. Reread if you think my opinion is bashing.

I didn't re-read the whole thread but I don't recall anyone accusing you of bashing. Also you did say that you met experienced cruisers who you told not to judge NCL by the Sky. I think if anything people are in agreement with that statement.

I thanked you before I took my Sky cruise for reminding me not to expect the Breakaway. I think that grounded my expectations, thereby increasing my enjoyment. On the other hand, I don't recall you mentioning Great Stirrup Cay. The only expectation I had of there was based on my experience years ago. I knew there had been a lot of work done there, but WOW, it really did blow me away.

I'm going to enjoy reading this thread. I hope their are a lot of comments. I feel like I'm "qualified" to answer some questions as I have been on the Fantasy twice and the Breakaway and Getaway each one time, but I'm so torn.

I do think the comment that NCL is inferior in every category was pretty harsh.

I used to "cruize with kids" but now my kids are older and they cruise without me. So I think some of my observations are from a parent POV but my personal experience is as an adult.

I would say my single best of ALL dining experiences ever on a cruise was brunch at Palo on the Fantasy.

My friend who I have been sailing with recently has only cruised with me and has only cruised NCL and the two Disney cruises. He had only sailed on NCL until our Disney cruise. He HATED the assigned dining. It was kind of comical because we do specialty dining with reservations so isn't that pretty much the same as assigned?

I asked him if the price was exactly the same, which would he prefer. He kind of waivered between the specialty dining and the assigned seating but in the end said if the price, including specialty dining, was the same, he would pick Disney.

I think we are kind of simple in that one of the activities we really enjoyed was standing on one of the higher decks in the atrium watching the kids meet the princesses.

Without being able to make any real first hand comment, I do think the activities for the "older kids/young adults" might be better on NCL. My early 20 year olds loved the slides, rock climbing, and ropes course on the Breakaway.

My next cruise is the Breakaway to Bermuda. That was picked specifically for the itinerary.

I love the Aft balcony. They are larger and the reduced wind is great. However, I was so thrilled a few years ago to get an aft facing balcony, only to have my friend get sick from the increased movement. It was a New York to Bermuda cruise where the seas are generally more active than a Caribbean cruise. He is not typically a motion sick person.

I recently had an Aft facing on the Sky. It was with someone else so motion was not a concern. The vibrations were pretty bad but I really didn't care. I loved the balcony.

I did find it a bit comical the other day when I was reading the smoking policy on NCL's website. E cigarettes are not permitted in non-smoking areas because they look too much like real cigarettes and NCL doesn't want their guests to think they aren't enforcing their rules.

I was able to do that thru the online website. I booked a suite and got all 3 specials with the AARP discount :)

Nope, I'm still not smart enough :)

I prefer using an NCL PCC. We can't make recommendation but I have had such great service from my guy. Right now for example, I don't know how to book the current special of UDP, UBP, or OBC in conjunction with an AARP price. He does.

I say go for it. Many others disagree.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2104271

If anyone cares, AARP is combinable with the UDP, UBP and current OBC.

You should get what you booked. If you booked mid ship, mid ship it should be. I don't know what you can do at this point, maybe post your complaint to their Facebook page or get someone to tweet them repeatedly until they give you what you paid for. I don't buy the upgrade explanation either.

This is an on-going issue with booking guarantee. You booked a BA guarantee. That means you will get a BA or higher. Like you said, the B3 is considered a higher category. What one person considers to be better isn't the same as another's. So you did in fact get what you paid for. Perhaps you can have the same success as other's have had with making demands on social media for what you WANT. The squeaky wheel does get the oil.

Thank you for posting your review. I will be sailing on the Sky next weekend and am VERY much looking forward to it. My last four cruises have been on the Breakaway, the Getaway and twice on the Disney Fantasy. All three of these ships are big and very new.

I have been on the Sky a few times but not in a couple of years. I'm grateful for the reminder that I am not sailing on those other three. I'm still very much looking forward to it but will readjust my expectations.

Interestingly enough, I sailed the Sky to Alaska in 2003. Sailed it again as the Pride of Aloha in 2008 and have sailed it 3 times since its return to Miami for the shorter cruises.

My screen name cruizinwithkids is kind of obsolete as the "kids" are now 23 and 24. Hopefully my advice is not.

My kids went on their first NCL cruise when they were 7 and 8. They loved every cruise except one. In 2005 when they were 13 and 14 we cruised on the Dawn. We sailed with family and friends. My kids each had friends their own age. My daughter's friend was 12. My daughter was 13. NCL wouldn't let either join the other's age group, so they didn't join. My son and his friend were too cool to join. Neither of my kids enjoyed the cruise and both made sure they always joined the teens group after that. I think the activities are secondary to the friends they made on the cruises.

For two, she will pay the full adult price - Well I guess you will be the one paying for her full adult price.

It doesn't matter if you wait for kids to sail free as that only pertains to the 3rd and 4th in a room.

I loved everything about the two Disney cruises I went on. Both were on the Fantasy for 7 days. I thought the service was great. I thought the food was great. The shows were wonderful. I really loved all the little details of the ship. It's the only ship I've every been on where I took pictures of the bathroom.

The private island is so much better than any other private island I've encountered.

BTW, cruzinwithkids has been my CC SN for a very long time. When I traveled on the Fantasy it was without my children - just two adults.

Now, is it worth twice as much as another line. I really don't know.