Liljo22

NCL prices are usually in line with the other mass market lines that do not offer the same perks. Are you saying that the other lines are inflating their prices for nothing extra and just straight ripping their customers off? Good to know.

No one pays for the full price of the beverage package when every adult in the room gets it for just the gratuities.

And I agree that there isn't much difference between the three mass market lines. Everyone has their line that they are more loyal to but if you took the name and logos off each ship and put a new cruiser on each, they probably would think they are on the same line.

I am very confused about your explanation of why you dislike the drink package. Royal and Carnival don't offer free drink packages so you would need to spend $500-$600 for their packages while you only spent $150 for the NCL one. If you have the package on Carnival or Royal, they don't charge you gratuity per drink, its added on as part of the package. To upgrade the to the Premium Plus package, its $29pppd plus gratuity. Once you add it to what you were charged for the regular drink package, the cost is $56.60 per day including tip. Royal's packages are in the $80-$90 per day range after tip. Carnival is $74.40 per day with tips. Even if you didn't get the package on Royal or Carnival, it is still a better deal with NCL. A beer is about $10.50 with tip on those lines. If you are drink 4-6 per day like you say, its going to cost you $40-$60 for those drinks. With NCL, you already paid $20 for those drinks. I am an accountant by trade but even if I wasn't, I would see that you would be spending less for drinks on NCL.

100% agree. The drink and dining perk is important to me so I will usually compare the NCL price with the perks against other lines after I add their drink package. Sometimes NCL is cheaper sometimes they are not. My last two cruises have been on Royal and they actually were more expensive than NCL before I added their drink package which comes to about $600 per person.

Sailaway rates will open and close based on how sales are going at the time. Is the rate really inflated because of it. Other cruise lines have similar sail away rates that are hundreds of dollars per person cheaper than being able to select the room location. Below is the difference between the guaranteed rate and regular rate on Royal. They don't include any perks but they are charging over $200 per person more to be able to select your room. I don't see how that is any different than NCL.

Most of the newer ships have Broadway shows. Encore had Kinky Boots but stopped the show in January.

With Celebrity, you have to select a upgraded package to get drinks, wifi and tips included. You are paying extra for gratuities. They are just calling it something different.

RCCL uses dynamic pricing for their drink packages. That means the price is different from ship to ship and even cruise to cruise. They also move the pricing up and down on a cruise date based on “deals” that are running. You are right around the breakeven point for the average package price so you will need to buy it at the right price. I personally use $12 as the average drink price which means $71.99 per person per day is the breakeven price point if you are going to average 6 drinks per day. If you normally would buy bottled water, soda, energy drinks, or specialty coffees, this will help make the package more worth it to you since these drinks would be included.

The complaint of the food on the Prima hasn't been about quality. Its mostly been that the menu doesn't change so you can get bored of it easily.

The latest offer is FCC for the difference to be used within a year of your cruise date. Its not an official policy so you could be told no if you reach the wrong rep.

They are focusing in the NE in September. Sky is going to spend September up there and then coming back to Miami in October. Escape is moving up to NY and the Joy is coming to Miami but they are leaving the Joy up there in September also. This song and dance is happening in September 2024 also. I am guessing that booking out of Miami are historically low in September given that its the peak of hurricane season.

They were asking about hotels on the sea wall though.

Do you want a resort style experience or a hotel/motel experience? San Luis and Grand Galvez are large resorts on the seawall. Hilton is also resort style. Everything else is your standard Courtyard or Holiday Inn style hotels.

Its about 7 hours. FYI....you will be charged sales tax on drinks and food purchases during that time. Also on the way back to NO, you will probably hit US waters around dinner time and the sales tax will start back up again.

Landry's owns everything in Galveston. San Luis Resort Harbor House Hilton Galveston Holiday Inn Galveston Pleasure Pier Willie G's Rainforest Cafe Fish Tales Bubba Gump Fisherman's Wharf Saltgrass Joe's Crab Shack The Steakhouse Landry's Prime Grotto Brick House

There are actually only 2 tram tours. The Mission Control tour can be purchased in advanced. The Training Facility is free and can be added the day off. Both tours stop at the Rocket Park.

Yep and it really is either one. I use Bush, Intercontinental and IAH at any time without rhyme or reason. Just what ever pops in my head first.

The OBC from NCL is non refundable.

You can’t use non refundable OBC on gratuities.

Expresso Martini

I think it depends on what channel the games are on. I doubt they are getting TBS and TNT on the ship. ABC and ESPN are more likely.

I use $12 as the average cost of a drink. At $71.99, its almost exactly a 6 drink per day average to break even.

The reservations have to be connected already since both parents were staying in the other room. The issue is going to be if Royal is going to allow a comped casino room without the guest who it was comped for being on board.

Royal allows minors to be in their own room if they are next to or across the hall from their guardians.