smurf1635

I haven't had any experience with the claims process, but I am insuring my upcoming trip with Nationwide, and after doing a comparison shop, they provided the most coverage for the least cost for my situation. I didn't opt for their "any reason" cancellation, so without it, it actually provides more coverage than the NCL insurance at about 1/4 the cost of the NCL insurance.

I've purchased Nationwide several times. Filed a claim once and was quite pleased.

I just completed 2 mock bookings for my Nov 26 sailing. Both of which were insides, the lowest rates possible, one with UBP and one without (ix category). The grand total difference was $440 ($220 pp). I find it hard to believe anyone ever buys the package, for us, NCL is almost always the best value.

They are out of their flipping minds. What is that? About a 13% increase with no additional return, hint--bottled water?

 

I do like the NCL product but there is no way in hell I am consuming $105 a day in alcohol.

I will be choosing a different free at sea option if I choose them again for my cruise line. Honestly, I'm sick of this BS. They are overcharging for a product solely to increase the service charge which is allegedly distributed to employees, but I suspect a solid percentage goes to anyone but.

I spoke with a server on the Escape who I wrote an additional tip in for and asked her if she actually gets it. She said in all her years with NCL, her check never changes from her set pay rate despite passengers writing in additional tips on her receipts all the time.

Classy.

We were on Oasis earlier this month and a bar tender told me the very same thing. We no longer add charge tips, only cash.

We are planning to purchase a dining package, but not till we board, as we have obc we want to use. If I booked my specialty dining using the vacation planner, will the reservations be covered by the dining package purchased on board? Does this make sense? I sure hope so.

Thanks much!

Please explain the Chops menu to me. What I've seen from searching the Web, it appears that something like a rib eye is an additional cost. Surely, that can't be, can it?

has anyone used the parking area in NJ for their cruise? How long was your trip? were you comfortable that your car was safe?

good/bad experiences?[/quote

 

We had stayed at a hotel, that was suppose to charge us $10 a day for parking, as most of the hotel in the area do. Long story short, a taxi back to the hotel was more than $50 ($25+ tolls PER PERSON) , not to mention the long taxi line, we will park at the port next time.

Could someone please post a current menu for Chops? TIA

Were there any discounted offers for specialty restaurants?

Several differences.

 

Cafe Promenade is open virtually 24 hours, Park Cafe has limited hours.

 

Park Cafe has a number of hot items for breakfast, plus a bagel station. Not as much choice for breakfast at Cafe Promenade.

 

Park Cafe has a very nice made-to-order salad station for lunch. No salad station at Cafe Promenade.

 

Park Cafe has the roast beef sandwiches for lunch (among several other choices). Those are usually not at Cafe Promenade, though I've read that some have offered that.

 

In my mind, Park Cafe excels at the variety of food offered and Cafe Promenade excels at the 24 hour availability.

Good info, thank you. I take it both offer specialty coffee?

Cafe Promenade vs Park Cafe, is there a difference, other than location?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app

My SO and I think it is imperative that we know each other's location at all times. You never know what could happen. Just look at the North Korea situation.

 

Therefore, we've devised a triple redundant SO Location Plan that is in effect from the moment we step on board.

 

Step 1 is regular radio contact. We don't trust those little radios you get at Walmart though. We both have high end Motorola radios and we're both HAM operators. Every 15 minutes we check in with our on board location or "OBL". In the event of a 10-1, we make contact with pre-determined ground stations and give them our coded locations. Something like "SO unit one 14:45 check in OBL is lemur banana echo 6 until 14:52, will update further. " In this example, lemur banana echo 6 was a specific seat in the lounge used for Bingo.

 

Each of us carries a laminated ship map with our location codes in our ready bags that also has our spare batteries and a 12 hour food supply.

 

In the unlikely event of a step 1 failure (2 consecutive non-contacts) we go to our backup which is an hourly plan we stash at preselected dead drops around the ship.

 

We select 12 individual dead drops and then update each spot at the appropriate time with the next hours plan. So for example, at the 3:08 dead drop I code in my plan for the next hour and leave it there. If SO is unable to establish radio contact, they can pick up the drop and coordinate from there.

 

With each person having 12 drops the locations are only used twice daily decreasing suspicion. Again, drop locations are coded on a laminated card cross referenced with the drop times in the ready bag and photos of the cards are kept both in our phones and in an innocuous looking paperback in the cabin.

 

Step 3 I'll keep to myself, and we've never had to use it, but I will say it involves an intricate code we've devised using buffet silverware, 2 Pina Coladas, a red and yellow checkered scarf and a poor Guatemalan family whose inside cabin we pay for just for this contingency.

 

You can never be too prepared.

This is awesome!!!

Do you have to pay the $19? Is it not possible to pop on for a drink and guacamole and pay the $3 per person?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app

I just recently discovered this upgrade preference page, made my selections. As exciting as it would be, I assume an upgrade is pretty unlikely or is it fairly common?

I've been looking at that same cruise. It's been on husbands bucket list for ever and that cruise would be perfect for our 30th.

Tried to add a drink package to my booking and got a message that it could not be added to my cart. Wonder what that means?

Just booked Getaway for November. Sailed this ship in 2016 and loved it! I don't remember if there is an advantage to prebooking dining packages? I have obc from my TA that I'd like to apply to the cost, but if there is a savings for prebooking, I'd consider booking early.

Also, I think I remember it to be pretty pricey, but what is the cost for the thermal spa?

Thanks much!

Columbus Cove is the beach you want on Labadee.

 

It is located all the way in the back on the right side.

 

Three ways to get there without going by the pushy vendors.

 

1 - Take the ferry from the pier as you depart the ship.

 

2 - Take the tram at the first round-about all the way to the end.

 

3 - Walk past Barefoot Beach - just past Nellie's Beach there is a path way that goes along the waters' edge - past the Aqua Park and you are there.

 

As others have mentioned there is plenty of shade, a covered area for the BBQ, plus a steel band to get you in a happy mood.

 

The best part is that it is the only beach you don't need watershoes, since it is white sand all the way into the water.

 

Note: the best way to return to the ship is by taking the tram.

How much for the ferry? I assume the tram is free of charge?

There is no more Ultimate drink package only the Deluxe. Our October sailing on the Oasis just shot up $10 a day for the drinks alone, but the combo stayed the same. Now the Deluxe and Voom are only $4 apart. They aren't calling the Deluxe package offer a "sale" any longer it's now a "pre-cruise deal" at $55 per day.

I'm also seeing this "pre cruise" deal. I'm pretty sure it's the same price as on board. Which really irks me. But I'm even more annoyed that I waited and missed out on the $46 per day price.

If I call C&A, I wonder if they can confirm the on board price?

We are cruising Oasis in September and plan to spend 2 nights post cruise. We would like to rent bikes, spend some time on the beach and enjoy a hotel pool. So, with that, do we want to stay in Cocoa Beach, Melbourne or somewhere else close by?

Robin

Wow, my October on Oasis just jumped to $55 per day with the 20% sale. The Deluxe + Vroom is only $4 more. I am so glad I bought three of the needed packages over the last five months when they were $44. I still have one more to purchase so it's not all that bad for just one, but so glad I didn't wait to buy all four.

I thought to buy the package onew at a time, great idea. I'm hoping the $55 price that my sailing has gone up to decreases when the excursion/arcade sale ends at midnight.

Robin

I'd been holding out for a sale on the drink package for my oasis sailing in September. Checked my cruise planner this evening and the cost increased from $46 to $55. Lesson learned! I had been hoping to purchase in July, even if it was still the $46, but was prepared to do it sooner if it had gone down. I never expected it to go up:o.

Makes me wonder what the on board price could be, since I thought $55 was the on board price.

Robin

Can you buy a gift card with it, something that won't expire?

To make reservations for my time dining and cancel? I'm concerned about not having a reservation, yet we don't always want to go to the dining room. On our last cruise, Celebrity, we made our reservations each day based on our plans for the day/evening.... is that an option or should I make reservations for each night beforehand?

Do you get to keep the perks that your original booking qualified for?

Tell me more....What's the discounted price (average price)? Does anyone stay at one of the hotels, which look really nice, and not go to the parks?