bmwman

NCL is not giving away the drink package. Last year our cruise on the Epic cost us $799 which included the package.

 

This year looking at the Escape and the cruise will cost $1164, so in essence NCL raised the price to COVER the cost.

 

Nothing is ever FREE, the consumer will pay!

Absolutely the packages are priced in :rolleyes:

So if he is just speaking to placate the investors that translates into he doesn't mean what he is saying? I don't believe that for one second. Del Rio has a vision to make NCL the gateway cruise line for Oceania and to do that he needs to transform NCL away from what it has been into something different. Yes, that's just business and he may be able to pull it off, but I have no interest in sailing on Oceania lite.

"Oceania Lite" love it!!:)

I kind of feel that the Epic is doing the same over and over for a pretty long time now. And the older and smaller Jade is less appealing, despite the lovely departure from Venice and beautiful ports she visits.

 

Not mentioning Spirit, longer cruises, older crowds, Celebrity has better offers with multiple S class ships if one wants that, IMHO.

 

The once in a year North Cape cruise with NCL is on the bucket list, no matter which ship in the current fleet, for the itinerary.

 

To sum it all up, waiting for BA, GA or ES to be deployed in Europe before the 3rd Breakaway Plus will be finished in Q2 2018.

 

But.. MSC might be tough competition for NCL in Europe at that point with their new mega ships (altough half of them, 2, are US marketed, project Seaside). And the newest Celebrity ship will be finished in fall 2018 too, she might head over directly or stay in Europe? Let alone RCCL with another Quantum class and a 4th Oasis class. NCL will surely need to bring a newer mega ship to Europe in the 2017/2018 season to keep up besides the extensive Epic refit.

Really - do you honestly think that BA GA or ES will get re deployed to Europe? Nice idea but I think there is more chance of Corbyn becoming prime minister of England!:D

I realize this is the case for some people, but it does cause me to wonder why you would bother with a thread that is of no interest to you? I skip the ones that aren't of interest for me or my family.

 

And the reason why most people on this thread want to know specifically who is on their sailing is because they've made friends with them and look forward to seeing them. Some aren't officers, and some you'd have to hunt for even if you know they're on board.

Good reply and we agree BUT...............with so many ships the info is getting less and less relevant I regret. There will be moves emergencies and the fact is the crew are being stretched. Check out the turnover of Hotel Directors this year alone. That said I completely agree why go to a thread you are not interested and comment - strange waste of time!:confused:

Adrian Bica is concierge on Escape

He is awesome as ever.

He will. we hear be relieved by the truly amazing David C but will otherwise be staying on Escape:)

NCL really do have some amazing people!

$40m is not lot for 4000pax ship probably less than a month revenue, under 2% of the 5 year revenue to get the ship serviced up to scratch.

 

Works out at around $5pppd over 5 years.

I suppose thats one way to look at it and does give credence I suppose to $40m but as I say it will all be disclosed its a public company:cool:

Think whatever you want. I report, you decide. I have no reason to make anything up.

That's all you comment is a report let's wait for NCL to comment given some of work is warranty. I am sure it will be in the financial accounts published in due course. Yes I may be wrong but only NCl truly know the cost not you or me.

I am not saying you are making things up but I decided it sounds wrong given other reports I have read its that simple. If I am wrong I apologise in advance, but as you say, you decide if I am right, its just a counter comment.

I was on board Pearl until this morning, and I heard from a crew member that the refurbishment budget for Epic originally started at $2 million, then grew to $20 million, and is now over $40 million. So, there should be lots of impressive changes.

Sounds wrong 40 million dollars might include new engines but no way,This is how rumours start,

The DSC just like CC tipping in major chain restaurants is nothing more than a way for the company to make money out of the customer and pretend its going to the staff as some form of "tip".

 

Its simply a tronc device that allows them to pay the worker less than the minimum wage level and then use the tronc pool to make it up to the legal requirement.

 

It was not an issue until 2009 when the first european challenge to the system happened but that failed.. However with the new legislation that occurred in 2014 re taxes the EU is now focusing again in 2015/16 on service charges and tipping and this time they seem to have a name and shame policy in place before they even pass the legistlation in Brussels. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34146032

 

 

Cruises will be next on the agenda (there already under investigation re taxes) and its obvious that several are starting to change there wording and method before the event.

 

It does leave both the customer and the cruises though in a slight catch 22. Yes I can remove the service charge (your better basically as thinking of this as nothing more than part of the cruise cost/which it is it just makes the initial price look lower) but if I then tip in cash to each server I come across there's an issue that kitchen staff etc are not being tipped and if everyone removed the service charge how would there wage get made up to the correct level.

 

The only solution I can see is to simply pay everyone properly in the first place, rise the cost of the cruise to include the service charge and then leave it to the customer to tip at the bar/table/room etc.

Excellent post on this subject. I prepay them its part of the overall cost so no worries for me.

Also I expect that there will be other challenges in the UK from consumer law point of view.

Someone who never pays the DSC (wrong in our view) would say they are going to ask for the form on his first day on the cruise as it is optional and they are opting not to pay. The reason will be simple in UK t & C its optional.

Like it or not NCL will repay and more over the credit card companies will be in a sticky position because the end user will say they did not agree to the charges and all credit cards and then have no choice but to maintain the refund. I can see Chargebacks at the CCC being very busy and NCL accounting teams even busier.

Interestingly will a UK booking with prepaid service chargesbe refunded in sterling or US$ the latter being subject to conversion charges

Some deck 9 balconies have no life boats in sight, some mid and especially some at the aft. So it depends on your stateroom number, so we can provide you with some pics. :)

The lifeboats are really only affecting Deck 8 but on 9 if you are mid ship you are fine but on deck 9 they are not obtrusive at all

What is really disgusting is the amount of NCL staff members, casino, photographers and yes even beverage staff not washing their hands after using the bathroom. I am always irritated when they don't even care that a guest is present.

Sorry - you are irritated but you book cruises with NCL why go to get irritated:rolleyes:

NCL UK does not honour any price drops, the price you book at is the price you pay.

Correct for the UK

Thanks! I looked and my credit card doesn't charge any fees on foreign purchases (just whatever the conversion rate is at the time of the charge). I don't typically book ship tours, so hopefully that will not be an issue.

 

As far as #2- what does that mean? The next time I try to book a cruise (for example with my PCC), it will default to pounds? Or are you talking if I buy a Cruise Credit on board this cruise?

Look at the rate your card company charge, the charges are built in. Also you will be booking under UK law and if you have problems you will have to deal with the UK law. You will find it far more difficult if something goes wrong.

We used Groundlink transportation to go from Rome to Civitavecchia. I was pricey but I was focused on comfort. i am pretty sure Trenitalia has a train from Rome to Civitavecchia though.

Yep an express as well 40 minutes one stop. Taxi from Station to Ship.

We left Rome and were at the ship in under an hour, Best way the Italians are not the finest drivers

We're on the Jewel in 9 days. Hope Hanno is a better concierge than Florentina - who hasn't exactly earned any praises in the last few reviews.

Do not worry this is not the first time I have seen negatives about individuals form Oceandreaming2. I commented on how good we had found a particular F&B director and got a negative response some time ago. For one I am pleased to say there are people including a former HD that we met that we thought was poor but that was our view and did not publicise it. They may have had a bad week or other worries - We are all human but to make a comment about another who you have never met (Florentina) based on other peoples opinion is simply wrong!:mad:

I'm hoping to get some input here. I was pretty sold on booking royal caribbeans allure of the seas, but in digging deeper I stumbled upon the Norwegian Escape. I will be taking my two sons, one will be 11 and the other will turn 13 the week before we leave. I am slightly concerned about my 7th grader being grouped in with 11th and 12th graders. The maturity difference in that age group is miles apart, in my opinion. Also, roaming around the ship without supervision? I'm not so sure.....he can be a little socially awkward, and has been targeted by bullies many times in school, thus I find myself being a little over protective. I would love to hear what others think about 13 and 17 year old mixing and their experience with entourage. Are there ways for your kids to communicate with you onboard?? Thanks in advance for any input offered.

with respect this is an absolutely impossible question to answer as it relies on so many variables. Anyone who answers anything else must guess.

Some of these are

The fellow children

The teen counsellors

The demographic of the teenagers _ in summer on the Epic a majority are Spanish

The age spread of the group

Your child who is the most important person - will he find the special friend

We have two children and they have been through all ages groups and both say some years good some years bad. They now take friends with them!!:D

My guess is they want to save on fuel as Marseille is on the way. Palma Mallorca is farther away- more fuel to sail further. I've been to both and you're right Palma is a much nicer place. Though having said that - I did do an excellent private tour that visited two wineries and Aix en Provence with members from the roll call. Maybe NCL thinks they will sell more shore excursions as many people often use Palma as a beach day using private taxis.

Shore ex of course that's it

Hello all, I am new to cruising and new to solo cruising. My first cruise will be on 2oth Sept from Barcelona to Southampton, flying to Barcelona then transferring to the port. Getting quite excited and a little nervous now.

Book the Cirque show its free as there is no legends on this cruise as the theatre is being refurbished after 22 September

Will Howl at the Moon be on our sailing (20th September 15)?

should be as it not in the theatre. It is in a separate show room

The story I heard claims that Ruth and Carlos Zarate started together in a London Sales Office (Armando may have been there too).

The story goes on to say Andy Stuart started there as well.

Armando trained in the hospitality industry in England (Bournemouth) a wonderful seaside town on the south coast. If I recall he worked in some of the hotels there and he knew the community well.

Andy sounds correct but I do not know for sure.

Now Im confused even more .. So where is "Burn the Floor" being performed ? I seem to be booked to see it on the Granada port night (though oddly thats the only night it shows as available)

The refurbishment of the Epic theatre will start from 23 September 2015 hope that explains and helps.

So no shows after 22 September 2015 on this cruise.

I'v just booked this for the Barcelona - Southampton cruise on 20th Sept. and it was free, so I've booked it - hope it was not an error.

No error its because the Epic theatre is not open and there will be no legends show so they have put the Cirque free!

Think you can reach Avignon on a TGV well worth a visit and easy to book in advance. About 25mins (The TGV station is a very modern new facility 5mins drive outside of historic Avignon but a shuttle bus takes you or you can taxi it.

Thanks - Food for thought and helpful

The only cabin crawl that I've even done was on the Breakaway Transatlantic. There were a couple in our group who immediately started going on about how they had been misled about it being an inaugural and had been expecting loads of events. They were trying to get others to agree with them to all go and complain.

 

They kept banging on about it all the way through, and really detracted from the whole thing.

 

One of my great regrets is that I never just told them to go and have their miserable time (which they were evidently determined to have) elsewhere and leave the rest of us to enjoy ourselves in peace.

Well put - the transatlantic to my mind is a shakedown cruise simple as that

Yes.

Thanks - I will use cash for this then