KarlChilders

Thanks for the replies. Wondering why, from a business standpoint they would do that, not that I’m complaining. Seems that they would want the deadline to motivate people to book!

So we have a cruise next cert that I think was to expire in 2025, when I logged in to check the expiration it now says 2099. I called and they said it was extended. Anyone know why or if I should even believe this?

At least once more! You will have to play it in your cabin before the tv will work.

Keep in mind you will pay the price plus 20% so a $9 glass (which there are scant few of is really $10.80), as early stated if you have more than two a day the package is a deal.

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Again, I would have turned that over to the Concierge and let them deal with it.  Clearly an error, and something the Haven Concierges are there to rectify.

 

Their billing is so convoluted on cruise ships, I almost expect there to be errors whenever I cruise, unfortunately.

Sadly no concierge for those of us down in steerage 😉

never mind,, just found the table, sorry

Sorry if this has been asked before.  I am thinking of doing a status match and trying MSC. I am Gold on NCL and Platinum with IHG hotels. Anybody know which one would give the better match? Thanks.

We have sailed Getaway 3 times, most recently just off Sunday.  We absolutely love the waterfront and the Mojitos at Sugarcanes.  I'll second Million Dollar Quartet, absolutely fabulous show.  This recent trip we felt the food quality was just a little off from our previous cruises but I heard there had just been some crew changeover so maybe they are still working out the kinks.  I twice had a steak overcooked, so if you are ordering steak, you might want to order one degree more rare than you would normally.  Ropes course is really fun if you are physically able to do it.

There is no priority check in/boarding for any latitudes level below platinum. We are now Gold and had to board with our assigned boarding group (15) and we checked in at 10:00a.

https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program

When we had Tortola on our iten. last year, we had a similar in-port time, so we booked the Baths at Virgin Gorda on a ship excursion for the same reasons you were considering.  We ended up having to skip that port anyway and went to San Juan instead. Oh well.

We were on this sailing, not in the Haven so I can’t weigh in on that , but I can say that I heard lots of people had problems with their bills, ie they had the beverage plan but every drink they had was charged to their bill. I had a minor issue myself in that I was billed full price for one drink that should have been covered by the plan. There was a huge line at guest services on Sat afternoon.

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

we were  1for 2 for gsc. personally, i wouldnt bother to get off the ship, even if we were able to dock.

 

i'd rather sit on the deck , with a glass of scotch.

Each to their own, to me, not much better than a bright white beach, crystal clear water and standing chest deep sipping an included cocktail. YMMV.

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Yeah...that's an error on the bartender's part.  I don't think they have a specific key in for Buffalo Trace, but it isn't, nor or Bulliet and upcharge.  I do think NCL is revamping their drink packages, and there is some confusion on the front lines what is and isn't extra charge.

Well while I was handling the removal of the charge at guest services I saw the slip the GS agent printed out and it read buffalo trace $18, service charge $3.60 ( which would be 20% of a full price drink). The initial correction to my account removed $15 leaving a 3.60 charge on. A second trip to GS got that one removed when I showed them a screen shot of their page listing Buffalo Trace as included in the plan. More effort than I would normally put in for such a small amount but it was the principle of it!

Yep, I'll chime in. We just finished our 5th cruise and while there were a couple of issues that probably bumped this one to the bottom of the list, we still had a great time and it beat being in the office. Plus we are now 3 for 3 in making a scheduled stop at GSC, which by my read of the board is a rarity. Talked to a fellow on the waterfront the night before and he had never made it there.  We knew one of our streaks would come to an end the next day, glad it wasn't ours 😉

semi interesting story that ties in loosely with this topic.  Before our recent cruise I was posting to the cruise group on a particular social media site.  Someone asked what top brands were availble on the package so I mentioned several I had last december ie Grey Goose, Woodford Reserve, Bullitt, Titos, Bombay.... another poster mentioned that Woodford and Bullitt were now an upcharge so I went to the NCL website and saw they were no longer listed but Buffalo Trace was.  Now this was two days before we sailed.  Fast forward to nite 2 of the cruise, I go to the bar between Cagneys and Moderno and see a bottle of woodford sitting next to Grey Goose and Tito's which I know are included because my wife drinks them.  I order a Woodford and the Bartender says thats an upcharge, so I say what can I have that isn't. She says Buffalo Trace, which I like so I say great give me one of those please.  Wake up the next day, happen to look at our onboard account and see a charge for 21.60 for that drink (had to go to guest services to have it corrected).  So clearly Buffalo Trace isn't included anymore even though 2 days before, the website still said it was.

Can't believe I'm wading into a tipping thread but here goes. Just off a three day Getaway cruise to the Bahamas. The bartenders were slammed busy but doing a tremendous job and greeting everyone pleasantly and serving quickly, efficently and with a very friendly attitude. If they were unhappy with their employment arrangement, I can't see them working that hard and smiling away if they felt they weren't being sufficently rewarded for their efforts.  I always had them a dollar with my card, but saw few others doing this.  They didn't seem to treat anyone differently.  

As graphicguy said earlier I evaluated the total cost of the cruise and decide if it is a value for me, so far it has been on five cruises.  

Last thing, there have been several comparisons to tips to servers in land based restaurants.  If you tip on a credit card, you have no idea whether or not your server gets all that tip or if it is split amongst the staff or even if management takes a cut.  Even if you hand your server cash, they still might have to pool tips with the rest of the staff.

Here is a shot of Cagneys menu, Teppanyaki is  $39 I think.

We are having a little cruise fever, and due to my impending retirement at the end of the year, I am minimizing using my vacation days. So we are looking at the three day Getaway cruise from Canaveral to Nassau and GSC. We are 2 for 2 on making it to GSC but I am aware from reading here that it is missed frequently. This itinerary goes to Nassau first, so if we miss GSC would it just turn into a sea day? 

From La Cucina, this was one of the best meals we had

Filetto Di Manzo Al Pepe Verde*  8 oz Beef Tenderloin, Green Peppercorn Sauce, Blue Cheese Ravioli 

I found that and the filet at LeBistro to be better than anything I had at Cagney's, not that Cagney's was bad, but I literally NEVER send food back and I had to at Cagney's due to an overcooked steak.

For cruises out of Miami, always check flights to Ft. Lauderdale, its just a little further from the port and often several hundred cheaper.

we stayed at the Hotel Indigo on St Charles. Very nice place, easy street car access to French Quarter and a quick uber ride to the port.

That is the Getaway, she was supposed to start a 9 day Carribean from Port Canaveral on 9/29 which has been cancelled due to Hurricane Ian

11 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

If your new stateroom is a Spa ***, you get Spa access. 

If your current stateroom is a Spa *** and you win something that isn't a Spa ***, you do not keep Spa access. 

This is correct, our Dec Escape cruise, we won an upgrade from regular balcony to spa balcony for the minimum bid, which I think was $50 per person.  NCL probably won though, because I doubt we will be able to convince ourselves to sail without the spa again.  😉

On our last cruise on Escape, we had the romance package to celebrate our 30th anniversary. It included an afternoon tea as pictured here. I expect this could be requested separately.

I will second the tenderloin at La Cuchina. Best steak I had last cruise!