CalLuvsCrusingToo

I like to get off da boat, every couple days so a Transatlantic is not in our future anytime soon. But really enjoyed reading your stories as we will be on Escape this Saturday! Can't wait

I took some notes as what you had to say......and Don't plan on taking any baths......the shower will be just Fine! Glad they reimbursed you! They definately Should have.

I was also wondering about changes to the casino, and how big is it in comparison to other ships? Weve been on most of the NCL fleet.....

Anybody try the Ropes course or was it too cold? Scary?

Thanks for all your wonderful reporting!

We are on Same cruise also! lol

Sorry you have fear of flying.....I USED to be fearful, but I've been a

frequent flyer for years, so it goes away.

Wow, Thats an awfully long drive.

I don't even drive to Vegas, unless I have to.

We live in Calif. but were Flying to Seattle that morning, and flying

out that evening on return.

We went on similar Alaska itinerary in May this year, and liked it so

much were going back. (Weather was WARM, didn't need a jacket!)

However, I do believe Pearl has Gotta be a better ship than what we went on NCL Sun in May. (long story short, its the Only NCL ship I regret getting on) See ya on Pearl, May 2016!

I gotta call Princess.......AGAIN.

The site still shows same mistakes, and nothing has changed

Feel like cancelling res. and starting over, or just saying Screw it,

and stay with NCL. :mad::mad::mad:

Sand&Sea..... I think we will be fighting over the same machines! LOL

I also LUV Ult.X. Play dimes mostly.

Think best I did was playing 5 play & hit a Royal on one line with Multiplier,

must have been 4X

$1,600

Last ship, I did well just playing regular triple play & got a Royal

playing deuces.

I seem to hit royals on deuces, more than anything. Go figure. lol

I was on the Breakaway couple years ago, sorry can't give you more

current info.....

We don't play Tables.

We did well in casino playing Ult.X video poker, and my friend played

the dollar Wheel of Fortune.

They had some wheels that took $3 max, and I noticed the one

next to her was only $2 Max.

So I said, Why don't you play that one, its only $2.

She did.......

and on her First SPIN, got $1,000.

Boy, didn't I feel dumb for Not playing it myself? LOL

Seem to recall people camping out at machines, so when the ship

got in range and the machines came ON? They were Right there to play!

Seems you had to get there early.

But that seems to be the case at most ship casinos. Good luck.

Sand&Sea-- This will be my First princess cruise, in March.

I gotta say, its been Much easier booking on NCL, than Princess.

Cruise vouchers were very similar. Both kinds are Inside for me.

But NCL now gives us Alaska.

And this current Princess voucher were booking is Calif. Coastal.

I would recommend Reading Ship reviews before booking

your Princess ship.

I made the mistake of leaping, before I looked.....

So now I'm in the process of Changing ships, to get the better of the two.

As a whole, Princess seem to be Older ships, and their refurbish averages 5 years ago!

Thats a LONG time ago for refurbish, IMO.

Where on NCL, I prefer ships refurb within the past couple years.

AND their Princ. employee gave me the Wrong info. when I booked, so that was a pain in the rear.

Long story short.......they (princess) have some PROVING to Do,

to make a believer out of me.

Otherwise, will continue to book NCL, and KNOW what I'm getting.

I'm in the Same boat.......so to speak. lol

Been cruise certificates up the wazoo for NCL and now, Princess.

I have NCL Escape booked thru CE next month.

Just booked Princess for Calif. Coast in Mar. 2016

This will be my First Princess sailing, since I've been so busy with NCL.

Then were going Alaska again on NCL in May.

Recently went to Harr. Tahoe where Spouse and I both got NCL cruise

certificates......so the good news we can bring another couple next year.

I book myself to one cabin, spouse in other, and we give keys to

our grown kids or family.......whoever else we decide to bring along.

Yes, just pay Port charges, taxes. I usually upgrade from Inside to

Oceanview or Balcony, depending on Itinerary and cost.

Some cruises its $100 each. Some $300 each. In that case, it depends on Itinerary. Like Alaska, we were happy with Ocean view instead of costly Balcony.

But yeah, its a Great deal getting the "free" cruises thru casinos!

The Godfather.......... Pitbull. :) Why not.

Gunner22a..........you have wisdom, but I doubt I could have kept my mouth shut. Told my spouse to Always, ALWAYS play MAX bet.

Whatever game you are playing....If the Max is too much for your budget?

Then play a lesser value game, or quit early, but Always Max bet!

As for me, I've been lucky on most cruises hitting a quarter royal.

Usually in the $1,000-$1,600 range.

FYI- Thats 5 quarters for Max bet.:D

I've only won on VP/Slots, in the ships casino, and if its over $1,200- you get a W2G, just like on Land.

I "thought" we were exempt at sea? But we ain't. lol

Usually the 1099 is for Contest winning, like if you won a major jackpot in a tourney.

This has happened to me in a Slot tourney. I got a 1099, instead of W2G.

Like others have mentioned......get a good "Gambling" CPA/Tax person.

Some who don't gamble, don't know what their talking about.

I agree with you Sand&Seas.......... I DO get occ free cruises per CAS.

Usually for select dates, VS. more dates to choose from thru CE.

And I get many more free Cruise voucher offers thru CE (Caesars Ent./Harrahs props).

My last 6-7 cruises have been with CE comp vouchers. As Diamond level they are offered often, and I usually make a trek to pick up. Usually Tahoe or Vegas.

So basically I pay for Port charges & upgrade to balcony or Oceanview. (my vouchers are usually Inside cabin, and I Don't DO inside cabins lol)

But makes for a cheap cruise, if you like to cruise. And if my spouse can't go? I bring one of our sons or a friend.....whose spouse gets seasick and can't cruise. Works out great. I haven't technically paid for a cruise in YEARS!

Recently, Princess is getting into the act, and I'm getting free voucher offer pickups for Non-Caesars properties, to pick up Princess vouchers.

So if timing is right, we might do one of those next year too.

Thanks for mentioning.

Sure enough I checked my Latitudes acct. and I was missing a 7 day from earlier this year.

I should be Gold by now, and still listed as Silver.....:(

However they DID have a cruise credited from 1992 and ship "UNKNOWN". lol

Good advice from minnesota mama.

They are close enough in age, can't they be in the same group?

My parents used to stick Me solo in groups & expect me to blend.

"make new friends"

It was usually a bad experience. Especially if kids are shy to begin with.

Bring a friend?

Or keep them together if poss, unless they BOTH want to be seperate.

Hope it all works out fun for all.:o

Hillary? tee hee

I'm still trying to figure out Why they named the ship after my car?

Were on our third Ford Escape. Great car btw. :D

I'm confused. We received the UDP as a promo given when we booked for our upcoming cruise in Nov. (we could have gotten UBP or Mins or tours etc)

We chose the UDP.

But now I'm trying to figure out Which restaurants are actually Free, with the UDP?

Think I would still expect to pay something extra with the "Chef" restaurants, although not famililar which one, or two, are on Escape......

We get it squeeky. You're a smoker, some people smoke.

But you are incorrect.

According to NCL, only a small portion of Deck 6, is smoking area.

And not near our Forward cabin.

Ship is sold out, so moving isn't a possibility.

So unless I find out differently on the ship, or people are breaking the rules?

I hope to enjoy our smoke-free area.

We had a comped Inside, but we upgraded to Oceanview window (not balcony on Sun).

I've never stayed in an Inside, for fear of getting seasickness.

Always upgraded to Oceanview or Balcony, on NCL.

I'm guessing those of you Inside-advocates, don't have an issue?

I got frustrated with delays in Quik shuttle posting their routes (they were Months late, and over 45 mins to get anyone to answer the phone.)

Finally gave up. Amtrak timing didn't work for us, so I looked into One

way rental cars.

There are 2 or 3 rental car companies that have drop off and pickup at Canada Place terminal.

I booked 2 One way rentals.

We pickup Alamo rental from Sea/Tac in the morning.

and drop off Pier when getting on ship in Vancouver.

On the return, same in reverse.

Its alittle more expensive for the One way rental on drive up, than drive back. Don't know why. Perhaps when I booked it.

Has anyone else done it this way? How simple was drop off at the Pier? Thx

Yes, we got the roundtrip out of Vancouver May 18th.

Yes they issue a W2G if Win over $1,200. (not a 1099)

I was surprised first time it happened. Really didn't think they did that.

But like CPA said, You're suppose to report all your winnings anyway.

So, get Win/Loss statement, if you need to offset your W2G's.

I have found MY people! :)

Been on 5 comped CE cruises on NCL, in the past couple years.

Actually #5 leaves in 10 days.......

But before we leave on that one,I'm flying to Vegas on Sat., for my quickest

turnaround ever......to pick up another CE cruise voucher!

I get the snail mail offer, usually after its posted in your online

CE/Harrahs acct. So DO check it from time to time.

Should say NCL cruise.....

I've picked up cruise vouchers from Vegas & Tahoe.

Also gotten one from Stations on Princess (ala Red Rock) which I never used.

And gotten a comp cruise thru Cosmo also, which I never used.

Usually its for Inside cabin, so I will upgrade to Balcony, if its $300 or less.

Most of the time, its the Flights to reach the ships, are the most expensive

part of the Free cruises. lol

Seems once you start doing cruises, and Play some in ships casinos,

the offers keep coming..... spouse gets some once in awhile too, but

you can only use so many. Were still working, not retired yet.

I got off Jewel a few weeks ago. Probably the worst luck of any

cruise casinos weve done, to date. But then I mostly play VP, not slots.

High denoms seem to hit more often than low.

But when you can't get anything rolling, who wants to risk High denom?:rolleyes:

Thanks for the info so far.

Wondering if anyone has details about Sun casino?

Any vp? or mainly slots?

Size-wise, is it similar to other NCL ships? I'm guessing casino much smaller....

Is it overly smokey? etc.

Thanks ahead.

Thanks to these posts, I called NCL about Sun, yesterday.

We are staying on Deck 6A, in just over a week........

I was worried our cabin would be nearby the smoking area on Deck 6.

I was assured it wasn't.

If anyone knows anything different, about Smoking area Location, on Deck 6? Please share. Thank you.