KarlChilders

No Coke, Pepsi </Belushi>

When the package is received as a perk, the 3rd passenger does NOT have to purchase it.  The requirement for all passengers in the cabin to purchase it only applies when it is purchased, not as a perk.

shoppie124's excellent review of the recent Breakaway sailing is loaded with pics of butler treats and more

13 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

<snip>

Also, saying the concierge can get you into a specialty restaurant at any time with no problems is NOT true.  A few times the concierge told us the restaurant was sold out completely and no room.  That may be a rare occurrence but I can verify its true.

While I don't doubt that is true normally, I would like to think that as the decision was made to close the restaurant for this sailing, they would have taken into account the need for alternative accommodations and reserved blocks of specialty dining for the Haven passengers.

4 minutes ago, Named-Tawny said:

 

TBQH, if a Haven butler would furnish me with, and help me put on, a batsuit, I'd upgrade in a hot second.

Post of the day!!!!

5 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

That isn't how I'd describe it. I don't think most people are jealous at all. I think most people could really care less and might just be annoyed at the way that Haven guests always seem to go out of their way to remind others that they are in the Haven. Seems like a lot of Haven guests wear it on their sleeve like a badge of honor and they think that everyone needs to know that they are special because they are in the Haven.

 

It really isn't about being able to afford it...there are many people who, in pursuit of status (real or imagined), live outside their means. If people only undertook what they could afford, we wouldn't have a big Student Loan Crisis in this country. There are folks in Haven cabins who are overextended to be there...instead of in a cabin they can actually afford. Of course, this isn't to say ALL Haven guests...just SOME Haven guests.

 

Looking at the ships it is easy to see that the Haven represents a small percentage of the overall number of cabins, yet if you read these boards you'd think every other person sails in the Haven. You hear waaaaay more Haven mentions here than the percentage would lead you to believe. It is almost like people in the Haven go out of their way to let everyone know about it.

 

Heck...just look at the number of "What does a butler do?" threads here. You'd think that wealthy people would KNOW what a butler does. The number of times this gets asked makes you think that the only time these people are exposed to a butler is while watching Batman.

I think you nailed it SeaShark.  I was just thinking that I bet on virtually every cruise there is someone in the Haven who will be paying credit card interest for ages to take that trip. Others I'm sure could sail the Haven weekly without straining their budget.  But we have all read comments on here that would make one think the rest of the ship is a leper colony, lol, particularly the comments like "I'm sure they only got in the Haven through the upgrade program".  

1 minute ago, PortFees45 said:

Let us know the next time you're at an airpot and have that view. 

 

Most people associate being at an airport in a major city like New Orleans with being in a terminal.

 

<snip>

You must have never flown charter.  In most major cities, the charter flights do not depart from the regular terminal.  Those gates are assigned to regular flights.  Every charter I have flown, we boarded from the tarmac in a similar area to that shown.

19 minutes ago, Named-Tawny said:

 Everybody is always entitled to their feelings, so your reaction is valid, but it does seem a bit extreme.  It's a change of venue, and they're giving you a bonus in compensation.

You're still getting a Haven exclusive venue for breakfast and lunch (likely with the exact same menu that would have been in the Haven restaurant), plus now they're giving you a 7 day specialty dinner package, so you can eat anywhere on the ship - that's a pretty reasonable compensation for a slightly further walk, IMO.

But of course they will have to rub elbows with the hoi polloi, the horror!

2 minutes ago, Dgius said:

UPDATE:  I just called to try and make reservations for the specialty dining rooms......AND THERE ARE NO SLOTS AVAILABLE LEFT.......IN ANY OF THE RESTAURANTS until 9:45PM!!!!!!   Which is not an option for my husband and me.   I was trying to be opened minded....NOW I am just ticked off!!!   

not to worry, they only prebook a portion of the reservations, check with the concierge when you board and they will most likely get you any reservations you desire.

So Forever, did anything you read here (aside from probably making you wish you hadn't asked in the first place) change your mind, help you place in perspective or otherwise change your perception of the events. Or are you still going with never sailing NCL again.  Just wondering.

5 minutes ago, Firepath said:

Darn. Can we buy a full size? Might be cheaper than $99 x 2 per day.

can't find a reference right now, but I seem to recall bottles of various booze available from room service in the $80-$100 range.  Maybe someone can confirm.

9 hours ago, Petoonya said:

 

NCL is new to me. We are Oceania regulars but this is a big family cruise and I'm certain NCL will especially please the kids more than Oceania!

Learning about the packages is a whole new ballgame for me. I wouldn't feel right taking up my regular TA's time asking her about them since I didn't book with her. I have two other cruises booked with her so maybe I should be bolder.

 

I heartily appreciate everyone here taking the time to educate me! And my husband is thrilled we have the drink package 😊

One other great thing about the package is you can try something new without feeling like you have to finish it if you don't care for it.  

13 minutes ago, CSloan said:

We have the Premium Beverage Package on an upcoming Sun sailing.  Do you know if that includes canned/bottled beer, or just beer on tap?  

all beer under $15 is included, probably only ships with District Brewhouse have beers over $15

Just now, ColeThornton said:

 

 

That would be one expensive drink to break even at two per day.

Sorry,  2 per person per day

The break even is between 2-3 drinks PER DAY. 

Depends on the beer, domestics mostly bottle shaped cans, import/micro in bottles 

1 hour ago, phillyguy31 said:

Just in case you didn't see this....

http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20190826/ncl-ferry-returns-after-hitting-reef

and the hardworking press digs up a photo of a ship that left the fleet a decade ago.  LOL

1 minute ago, MotownVoice said:

 

 

I got news for ya, happy.   When you push the publish button on a new thread you’re asking for opinions whether you like it or not.  

 

Plus there’s the way you closed it, “thanks for an options or opinions.”

 

sooooooooo.....

You realize of course, that you aren't responding to the OP? Yeah, didn't think so.

So many things can vary, however, if all goes well, you will probably be in earlier than that and can disembark between 7 and 7:30 if you do the self disembark (which requires you to carry your luggage). The port is about an hour from Orlando airport.  I wouldn't book a flight before 11:00 and that might be cutting it close.

I think the key here is sail whenever you want to or can afford to, but be mentally prepared to accept that hurricane season may mean itinerary changes or more, and winter sailings your travel to the ship may be hampered by weather.  If you can't deal with these things, as clearly some of our posters can't, then choose another vacation.  I suspect I know PTC Dawg would just order another bourbon and roll on. 

4 minutes ago, bearkeley said:

First time cruiser on NCL - can someone tell me how long it normally takes to process and how you are notified?  I sent my forms a month ago and have followed up but still no reply other than the auto reply saying they will get back to me in 24 hours.   If this is how they treat shareholders, I’m a bit concerned about the cruise experience?

on the three occasions I have used it, it has been 1-3 days.  I would try resubmitting the form by email.  Keep in mind however that they are buried right now with responding to the hurricane chaos. 

Also check your my NCL and see if the credit has been added.  It could be you missed the notification.

The Getaway has Million Dollar Quartet, which is a very good show, details the recording session with Carl Perkins, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.  We thought it was outstanding.

10 minutes ago, moondoggie said:

OK, Dorian has screwed up everything. 

That said, our scheduled cruise from Port Canaveral on SUN 96 hours from now (Sept 7) is still showing planned stops in Freeport and Great Stirrup Cay--uh, I don't think so.  Nassau is still showing as a planned stop--so that's a maybe.

Regardless, SUN's 8/29 sailing from PC is returning to New Orleans 9/3, not PC, and the scheduled 9/2 cruise is cancelled--this makes perfect sense.  

 

Why can't NCL tell us what their tentative plans are--and if cancelling or modifying is an option--all of us on the 9/7 SUN sailing must make arrangements NOW to (1) get to PC by car or flight, (2) figure out hotel and parking if driving (3) adding an additional travel day if driving will take us through Dorian's path to get to PC (4) make arrangements to meet SUN in New Orleans and possibly cruise to Mexican ports.

 

NCL--please give us some REASONABLE updates on your plans--we cannot press a Star Trek 'transporter button' at the last minute!  Even tentative plans would help us passengers to figure out what we are going to do.

 

Just a guess here, but I imagine their immediate efforts are being put into the logistics of what to do with the thousands of passengers they have had on board and need to get home.  The storm is still out there and taking its own sweet time in deciding where it will go.  You will not be sailing from New Orleans, because they would then have to return you to NO.  Your cruise will either go or not from Port C.

Bacteria, obviously, the point is the sepsis itself is not a contagious disease. It is the result of a bacterial infection progressing to the point of overwhelming the body with toxins.

2 minutes ago, elwood_98034 said:

You might want to do some more research on this topic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a good website. It is very informative.

from the CDC website   "Sepsis happens when an infection you already have —in your skin, lungs, urinary tract, or somewhere else—triggers a chain reaction throughout your body."

Bolded for emphasis