SuiteCruiser

I have to disagree on the buffet on Horizon. The outdoor areas shut down early, so for dinner you’re left with four identical boxes in one area open, and the panini/sandwich place. 
 

I was on the final leg of a 2.5 months cruise which included 4 cruise lines and the buffet on Horizon was really lacking. On NCL, the entire buffet is full of different foods for dinner. 
 

I’m not normally a buffet fan, but after traveling so long, we needed a few nights of just grab something and eat over a formal meal. 
 

Agree that for lunch having the outside stations open is nice, had a taco salad at Blue Lagoon for lunch most days.

Under the Tier benefits for Gold and above, it says

"Priority Disembarkation*

(only available to U.S. Citizens and benefit varies for international guests)"

That doesn't sound like luggage tags to me, otherwise there would be no differentiation between US and Non. In fact, leading someone out a doorway makes no difference either, so I don't know what they're getting at.

As far as the smaller ships go, there's a place to meet up (on the Gem it's the theatre) as soon as the ship clears, they let you out a separate door. I'd be interested to hear how it works on the newer ships.

My In-laws from DC go crazy over our cheese selection in our grocery stores in Canada https://www.google.ca/search?q=farm+boy+cheese+selection&client=safari&hl=en-ca&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV9e-qwdrWAhVIzIMKHWpcAD4Q_AUIESgB&biw=1024&bih=672&dpr=2#imgrc=EaoxAO7PtsJ5pM:

It is just like everything else; if someone doesn't want to do something, they always find an excuse.

 

I think NCL should require passengers who remove the DSC without a service issue to do it the first or second day of the cruise, so that the crew knows where they stand. Those with legitimate service issues would be allowed to remove or reduce it at any time during the cruise.

Those people would "create" a service issue out of thin air, which would be even worse for the staff

I subscribe to the $5/day/person for the Concierge and $10/day/person for the butler, but have gone over that amount for the butler in GV.

May I suggest, since the bedrooms are all separate, and the living area open that you have the butler bring in pastries and coffee early in the morning and leave them. It's a treat to wake up to them :) You shouldn't hear the butler as long as you tell him to come in and not ring the doorbell.

You can order in breakfast later or go to Cagney's, but it's nice especially if someone wakes up earlier than everyone else.

On my recent RCI cruise, the suites were provided with wrist bands that worked as our key cards. You could also buy them at guest services for $5.

It was really convenient especially at the pool and I never used my key card.

I know MSC also has them, has anyone heard of NCL adding them?

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Your suite price isn't going down any, you're still in the same situation, it's just that others have to pay more. I don't see that as a victory?

Well I for one can say that this change is welcome. One of my biggest gripes with NCL was that for a non drinker, i still paid for the UBP in a higher fare. My alcohol was included but not speciality coffee, canned soda and water bottles. I'm sorry but it was a real slap in the face to be given an UBP and still be charged for every single drink I consumed.

 

yes they can still charge the higher fares but at least the UBP and the fee it attracts, which quite honestly is probably just to cover alcohol expenses, is now an additional expense for everyone who takes it as a perk. This UBP has at least finally come full circle. It took a few years but sounds like NCL has finally figured out a way for the UBP perk if chosen, to pay for itself in fees for all. Now they can play with UBP choices and fees to make a better profit on alcohol sales. Fine with me. I know alcohol sales can make or break profits and I'm happy to have someone else pick up that tab. At least this package isn't rolled into suite pricing anymore.

 

It was very difficult to get suite pricing sans, "free" UBP in a suite. I had to stalk other countries websites and wait for an NCL Asia sale 50% off second guest no perks for my last Haven booking. Perhaps now that the perks attract fees in suites they'll be more liberal with the 50% off second guest sales for USA bookings.

"To top the day off, while we were leaving port, the ship (captain?) hit something that damaged one of the propulsion devices. We were then told that the stop in Belgium would be cancelled because of repairs."

This is interesting to me. The pilot comes on board to see the ship out of the port.

Whose fault is this and how are the damages paid for?

OP, sorry you had a bad trip, I have several friends onboard rolling with the punches and having a blast.

If you have group insurance through your work, it likely covers emergency medical and medevac. If your credit card has trip cancellation/interruption coverage, these 2 combined should cover all of your needs.

Might be worth getting a new card if your current one does not cover it.

For larger trip costs than my card will cover, I've used insuremytrip.com as well.

We didn't upgrade to Suites/Havens, but I believe I have read on these boards that CAS was now allowing all the suite promos when you upgrade with them. Perhaps someone else can verify that for us?

That is correct, I did that last week. Comped a balcony and upgraded to the Haven.

If you upgrade to the Haven you get all of the perks, but if you upgrade to a cabin below, they give you what the current booking would give you.

Sounds like you would have been better if you had gotten off on day 1 as requested

According to this TA's blog, any NCL UK booking is going to be all inclusive. Likely a similar set up to the Sky.

It also says that the tips or DSC are also included.

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-blogs/tomstravels/breaking-news-from-norwegian-cruise-lines-ncl/

I've never known of a cruise line's private island where people not on the cruise could just make their way there to hang out. I have no first hand knowledge of Harvest Cay, but I can't imagine this would be permitted, or that there would be any legitimate way to get there. I don't think HC is a vacation destination where anyone can go on their own. I think you must get off the ship to enjoy the island.

They're building a hotel and villas on it, so there must be some plan in the future if not already.

It's not a private island like GSC. Still may not be able to do it, but might be worth asking

Off Topic, but OP, do you have family in Canada? My cousins are Bromley's. Not sure how common a name that is.

I think it's fair to say that the majority of people do not have butlers or concierges. What makes you assume that the OP is in a suite?

 

 

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Likely because they have another active thread about being in the DOS on Epic

OP, I wonder if your family would be able to make their way to Harvest Cay? It's a semi-private island that NCL and the government of Belize own. It's all a la carte, so you could spend your day together, go to the restaurants and beach and then you go back on board, and they head home? That would be my suggestion, they wouldn't be on such a tight time restriction as you.

Perhaps they could reach out to one of the private shore excursion companies who are going there to pick people up and would have an empty boat on the way there and back?

Does anyone happen to know the difference between the Convenience Fee and the Cash Advance Fee? I thought they were the same, but they are listed separately on the website.

 

Pat

The convenience fee is the 3% they add to your onboard account when you take funds from your key card. I believe the cash advance fee is to withdraw from another credit card in the casino.

Pearl = $100

Sapphire = $200

Ruby = $400

Elite = $1000

Pearl is up by $25, Sapphire down by $25 and Ruby down by $50.

Better for some like myself, who aren't interested in the spa. As a Sapphire I now have $100 more usable credit.

I LOVE the Epic. It's my favourite ship. Crew is outstanding.

I'm heading off on my ninth Epic cruise in November :)

The food & beverage credit and spa credit never showed on the old list either, so it appears so far they've added the Regent and Oceania bits and haven't necessarily taken anything away, which would be good.

Is priority disembarkation for Sapphire (Golden) new? I didn't recall seeing that before.

http://www.ncl.com/promo/ultimate-beverage-package/terms

Any alcoholic beverages $10 and under, which is nearly everything.

Just browsing and saw this old thread as someone revived it. Interesting how things change in 2 years :) $10 and under, which is nearly everything, those were the good old days...

Thanks, I can't believe they would charge you $100 to be in a more peaceful atmosphere, and there isn't even a pool!!!. Doesn't seem right, other ships have their adult or serenity areas included in the fare.

There is an adult area included in your fare, Spice H20. I love Vibe and think it's worth every penny. I spend a lot of time up there, so everyone's take on it will be different.

If you have group insurance through work that has travel insurance, you won't need to buy any. I had $4K worth of expenses at the medical centre on Escape and it was all covered. As well, most of our credit cards offer free travel insurance as long as you use your card for your charges.

I love some of these posts. The guy has never cruised before! Ease up.

How is he supposed to know he needs to ask for an Amenity Confirmation, he has a TA to take care of things for him and clearly they screwed up. The reason he had a TA is because he's never cruised before and wanted it done right.

Suggestions on what they should have done have no value now, if you have suggestions on what he can do now to fix the situations, go for it.

5jays, sorry for the people here that assume everyone knows the way cruises work. Hope you have a great time.