SW.FloridaPhil

NCL America....Pride of America, an American flagged ship must employ 75% Americans to met the standard requirement of the agreement.

 

American workers can't keep up the work load and demanding hours of working on a cruise ship. If you read the reviews, its the same complaint over and over of bad service or lacking service. Crew has been known to walk off ship and never return.

 

OP...do your home work, like you said, you get what you pay for!

 

***

Thanks!

Apparently $11.80 worth.

 

Absurd.

 

Do we know how much frozen drinks are? Are the umbrellas extra?

Umbrellas are only placed in the drinks of Diamond, Diamond+ and Pinnacle guests!

This is preposterous.[/QUO

 

 

Think maybe rum runners are in demand

 

SSSHHHHH!

If I am Diamond on RCCL, what level will I benefit from on Celebrity?

4 days until L.O.S. out of FLL.!!

My DW and I are researching a Hawaii cruise for 2016. We have just made Diamond, and are looking forward to our first trip as Diamonds in a few days.

We have done Hawaii on Norwegian, and were not impressed with the ship/service. We prefer RCCL/Celebrity to other lines. We are shopping prices, and Carnival has the same cruise considerably less expensive than RCCL.

Do you think we will say..."should have stuck with Royal"?

I keep thinking about the saying....."you get what you pay for".

No Freestyle machines on Liberty.

Thanks Bob.

That's awesome... I wish I could say the same, as I tipped a dollar on nearly every drink last week on Liberty as well (mostly beer, effectively increasing the tip %), and it made no difference at all. For $5-10 a day it'd be well worth it.

We sail the Liberty on the 16th of April. Does she have the freestyle soda machines? If you don't mind, what was your impression of the ship/cruise.

The real situation is that every unlimited beverage package includes the special cup for soda.

 

Unfortunately, there are no guest dispensing machines (Coke Freestyle) on Liberty, so the cups can only be used for a limited number of flavors from a bar or restaurant fountain.

Thanks.

Anyone recently off the Liberty? Looking at different packages, the Select Package says wine, beer and FOUNTAIN SODA etc. The Premium Package specifies SOUVENIR CUP included. I take that to mean the Premium Package has the cup with the chip in it to be used with the dispensing machines. The Select package may just mean go to the bar and ask for a soda by the glass.

What is the real situation?

The three drinks loaded on the card can be used at any bar (not in the dining room) during the hours of the Diamond Lounge cocktail hour - usually between 5:30 to 8:30 - varies a bit on each ship. These are in addition to as many free drinks as you wish in the diamond lounge.

 

Incidentally, selected beer and wine and mixed drinks (basic mixed drinks) are available at no charge during the cocktail hour in the Diamond Lounge. The 25% off applies to a Diamond Event on a ship with no designated Diamond Lounge.

Got it. Thanks. Does the Liberty of the Seas have a Diamond Lounge? Is it only open those hours? I hear about complimentary Coffees, teas, and light snacks. Is that the Diamond lounge or the concierge lounge?

It has nothing to do with how many drinks you can have in the D Lounge. All D, D+, & P's have 3 drinks per night added to their SeaPass. They can have the same drinks available to them in the D Lounge in any lounge on the ship during the hours drinks are served in the D Lounge. The idea, I believe, is to decrease the overcrowding & allow those who qualify to enjoy that benefit wherever they choose &/or with companions that may not have the same C & A status.

So, in addition to the beer, wine and 25% off mixed drinks in the D lounge (between 5 and 8 I believe), all D, D+, and P members have three freebies coming? Can these three drinks per, only be used during the "Diamond" event times or at any time of the day?

Yep. He's Diamond too - how much alcohol does one person need? Might be cheaper to take the 3 drinks per evening and then pay as you go.

What is this 3 drinks per evening? Are you saying that's all you are allowed in the "D" lounge?

Great - just placed my orders for my December cruise. You can see where my priorities are. :-D

Saw you were from NJ. Had to post....moved to TX from Toms River NJ. Been homesick every day since!

I have been reading conflicting posts about increases in pricing. I have read $10 plus 18% for most drinks. Are these specialty drinks, plain old rum and cokes and are the prices fleet wide?

:confused:

Boy.....I'm glad no one is talking about Rum Runners.........OOOPS!!

With this package, is the souvenir cup the old style, or the one that works with the new dispensers. I am referring to the Liberty of the Seas.

It is very easy to arrange for excursions either privately or through the ship. This will be our fourth trip in June and we rarely use their arranged tours. As it gets closer many of us can suggest private options to the ships tours.

 

The travel time and cost is so high that maximizing your time in the region is a great idea. We try to spend a few nights (this time 4) on Moorea before the cruise. While the island of Tahiti does offer some things to do the beauty of the region unfortunately lies elsewhere. Moorea can be reached by a 30 minute and $30 ferry ride that is adjacent to the cruise ship terminal. On Moorea we have only stayed at the Hilton and love it. We do stay in an overwater unit which is spectacular. If you choose to go to any other island then you have to fly and the cost is about $450 per person roundtrip. You can get an airpass for a little more that lets you go to more than one island.

 

Most flights arrive in to Tahiti late at night and it is impossible to get to any other island after dark. The ferry and flights are not operating. For this reason it is common to have to overnight on Tahiti even if your plan is to head to another island. You can stay at larger places such as Manava Resorts or the Intercontinental or at a small pension such as the highly rated Fare Suisse for the one or more nights.

 

The black tip reef sharks are docile and it is fine to be near them. They will avoid you. Snorkeling is spectacular and if your wife has not tried it you should encourage her to. Going to this region and not being able to snorkel just does not seem right.

 

Presuming you don't have a ton of frequent flier miles most usually use the PG arranged transport as their fare includes the flights from LAX as well as transfers in Tahiti and day rooms when needed. If you don't use their flights they reduce the amount of the cruise by about $1,500 per person.

 

Since you are planning well in advance you may want to consider obtaining some points to make the trip a little less costly. The IHG branded credit card, when opened, give you one free night anywhere. This includes the Intercontinental on Tahiti. There are 3 or 4 different HHonors credit cards. One offers immedate Gold status which comes in handy if you choose the Hilton on Moorea as Gold comes with free breakfast and internet. Since breakfast is pricey ($35 or so per person), this does help. Other versions of the card give a lot of points and with your advance planning you could probably get enough points for a 2-4 night stay for free (we have 4 nights for free in June).

 

However you plan it this is a spectacular trip. On the PG many of us will suggest that you take a deck 3 or 4 cabin as they are the same size as the basic balcony cabins and save a ton of $$. While some love the balcony we use the ship as our balcony.

Wow! Great suggestions. Thanks much.

My DW and I are looking into sailing the PG in May of next year for our 15th anniversary. This will be our first cruise on a smaller ship and our first trip to Tahiti, a bucket list event for us! A few questions....

1. On our past cruises we have mixed tours from the ship with tours booked from other companies. Are those options available/suggested in Tahiti?

2. Because of flight times, we may do pre or post hotel stays. Over water bungalows are not a must. Any hotel suggestions?

3. My wife doesn't dive or snorkel. I snorkel...a little. I have seen a lot of footage of sharks (black tip reef sharks), in the shallows. Is it safe to even just wade and swim at the beaches?

I am a real novice having never been to FP and I don't like to base my opinion just on what I see online or on YouTube, so your suggestions will be welcomed.

I saw one or two bad ones. Flurry?

Take all the reviews as a whole. Don't forget there are people who hated Casablanca and The Godfather!

 

 

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DW and I hope to sail the PG for our 15th anniversary. next year. When I read your post, and saw the reference to Casablanca and The Godfather, I thought "this guy must be from NY/NJ".

We moved to Texas from Toms River ( near 37 and Vaughn) ten years ago. Had to follow my job, and can't wait to move. Retirement in 29 months (not that I'm counting) most likely in Fl. Sure do miss being "down the shore"!

I think only once did anyone ask what we did....our third PG cruise. Otherwise we have just sailed by with friendly people. Because of the price point you will most likely find some amount of people who are comfortably off but for others it is a never to be repeated trip of a lifetime.

Honestly of the whole repeaters group from last year's cruise more than 45 people I can say I only know what 2 or three couples did or do. This is because we have cruised with them before or because we have had extended writings/ cc conversations with them over the years.

 

I have no hesitation in saying that dignity and respect will be more appreciated by PG travellers than Celebrity status!

Thank you.

I guess my DW and I will fit in age wise at 59 and 60. Age is not the demographic I was curious about. Looking at the TV segment on the PG cruises, to me, it looked like a ship full of CEO's and retired entrepreneurs! My wife and I are just plain folk, nearing retirement from our jobs. We carry ourselves with dignity and respect, and are at home in any social situation. I just get weary with people whose first question after the introductions is "so.....what do you do?"

We have been to Nachi, and loved it. It is sold out for the day we are in port, so we are thinking about Mr. Sanchos. I have heard it is more of a "party" atmosphere than Nachi. We are not stick in the mud old folks, we do enjoy a good time. But if we are surrounded buy the "jello shot brigade", it may not be all that relaxing.

Hope I am not offending anyone, just looking for some constructive feedback:D

OP did not state the cruise date so it's not been determined if the final payment deadline has past in which it would be acceptable to book an accessible so how can you state... "no worries!".:confused:

We booked the cabin and paid in full. The cruise leaves 1/24/15. Would not have known about the cabin had I not looked at the deck plans and found the room.

My TA just sent me a quote for a cabin. It is an accessible room.

1. My wife nor I do not have any physical issues that require such a cabin.

2. Is it unethical to take the booking?

3. How is the cabin different.....larger? Will it have a tub?