MrsTocko

I once spent a weekend in Vegas eating, gambling and drinking for 3 days on $5 total.  I had booked early, non-refundable, and ran into some car issues that resulted in nothing left in the Vegas saving fund.  Prepaid the shuttle round trip from the airport, went to the gas station on the corner for burgers and chips, and sat at the nickel slots long enough to get a couple of those free drinks.

Art Gallery on a ship…I don’t understand the concept behind thinking that a cruise ship is the place to put an art gallery.  I can look at pretty painting and think that it is pretty.  I don’t have an artist’s eye, nor a lover of statues and paintings.  I can look at it and appreciate and respect the work and talent that went into creating it.  However, I also know that it has no place in my home, or life past the 5 min I spend looking at it.  To me it is like having the spa guy at the fair. Why do we need this on a ship? Or at the fair?

52 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

The ropes course on some of the ships (like the Encore) has a short zipline (and walk the plank), then you can progress to Oasis ships on Royal, and so on.

Our next cruise has quite a few zipline excursions...I might try one of those...DH has done ziplining in Puerto Vallarta (with the ex) before and said it was great...PV is a stop on our next one.

5 minutes ago, juju2454 said:

That is my fear is the edge of a ship.  now smaller boats no problems.  Heights? no Problem.  The rope bridge would be no problem too, for m, but I get where you are coming from.   I see the bridge in I think it is Japan that is glass and as you walk on it it reacts like it is breaking. 😮  could be freaky.  Zip line can produce some interesting feelings too.   I got you too! 😉 .

 

I cant look at that glass bridge on my computer, and my legs start to tingle.  after we got to the other side of that rope bridge, DH said "you know we have to go back right?" "Yup, as soon as I have feeling back in my legs, we will be good to go"

Me no like heights.  me no like bridges. I think about my dropping something over an edge...nope.

I started cruising before I started swimming.  and still not a strong swimmer, but not as afraid as I once was (near drowning will do that to you).

I try to not let my fears conquer me.  I am stronger than my fears. it just may take me a while to conquer it! Thinking about a zipline one of these days. not like the one at Icy Strait...but still thinking about it

1 minute ago, juju2454 said:

I don't really have negativity towards Haven in and of itself,  I think it is about the "elite" attitude that many have once they book it.  It's your money , spend as you wish.  I only do inside center of ship center of section. because  1) I am terrified of the edge of the ship( yeah true story), I don't go to it, I will never do a balcony ( have had nightmares of rolling out the door on a rough sea day lol (I know I know)  ) So even club balcony isn't something I would try for.  But again you buy what you want. and I do too.  It is the remarks  that come from many ( not all) haven peeps of calling people lesser to them that is the issue.  for many.   Enjoy your choices!!  Happy cruising!

I got you.  We get a balcony mid-ship by elevators...I grip the railing whether we are moving or not.  Most terrifying thing I did was the rope bridge in Northern Ireland.  Look up Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and you will see what I mean.  BUT I conquered that fear that day (only), is a bit easier now, but not much..

24 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I've cheated by booking a number of cruises with double and triple point promos.  That makes me "smarter" in one half to one third the time. 😎 

guess a lot of us are smarter by half...myself included...

1 minute ago, billslowsky said:

We skipped the train and did a van trip up to the suspension bridge in the Yukon. Several stops along the way, including the touristy "Welcome to Alaska sign" photo op.  We also had a professional nature photographer as our trip guide, she was great.  Lots of info about what it's like to live there as a seasonal employee, how the people deal with intermittent doctors on site, etc.  Didn't have to deal with the people who hog the "better side" of the train in both directions.  Similar but still different.

 

Our first one we did the bus in skagway both ways.  Then we started doing the bus up and the train back.  Best of both for us.  we like the relaxing part of the train ride.  Having done it, we know that we see plenty from both sides.  DH like to stand out on the platform and take pics.  I do not like being that close to an edge, so I sit inside with the backpack.

6 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Too many people on this site post what they always do on their same cruise line time after time.  

We love alaska (have done it 4 times, and will do it again), and NCL.  the things we (DH) like about NCL is the freestyle concept.

We try and do different things in repeat ports. Except Skagway - we tend to do the same excursion there, because we enjoy it so much.  I try to be impartial when asked though, and explain what we liked or didnt like about each.  We like learning the history of the a place, and getting an overview. so that is what we go for at least the first time.

1 minute ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I beg to differ.  We all know who the seasoned cruisers are on this forum and I, for one, greatly value their posts.  To the point, they usually don't need to start with "well, I am Platinum/Diamond/etc.", but they likely are.😎

agree - You have to put your accomplishments out there to show how important you are?

I have my past and future cruises in my signature because:

a. it helps me remember WHEN I went...

b. maybe I will run into someone on here that I have cruised with before and has a fond memory to share.  (havent really changed)

c. when I joined that is what everyone else seemed to be doing, so I did (i try to blend in everywhere), and now im too lazy to change it

10 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

The thing with the Haven for us is that it really isn’t worth the extra as we are really very happy with the standard cruise experience.

 

People say about the benefits of not having to queue or being away from crowds, but these things just either don’t happen or don’t matter for us. I don’t mind busy places, and we don’t tend to be in the popular areas (we don’t hang around the pool, or eat at busy times etc). Our room steward does everything we want for our room and we like making our own plans so I have no need for a concierge. I also have no wish to eat in my room.

 

The only thing that appeals about a suite is the bigger room, which is why the non Haven Suites on older ships work well for us. We still get butler and concierge but if you don’t ask them to do anything then they tend to leave us alone.

 

As I said earlier, I have no wish to be fussed over, so that is actually a negative of being in a suite/haven, although I think that we probably do get slightly better seats (more window seats etc) in restaurants, which is nice.

 

The one time we have stayed in the Haven (on the Pearl, so no bar/restaurant), we found ourselves spending time in tha Haven area when, in hindsight, we would probably rather have been in the main bars. If we were in a Haven with its own bar then I suspect that would be better, but I can still see myself thinking “let’s head down to a bar on the Waterfront”. When there are so many options that work well for us it seems a bit of a waste to spend thousands to add another.

 

Each to their own though.

you said it way better than I did...but all of this...

2 hours ago, DrSea said:

My next question is, if the Haven has so many perceived psychological triggers, then why bid for it?

Actually I have only bid for an upgrade once - before the last cruise - because it was for our anniversary, and bucket list destinations, and I figured WTH.

but when I win the lotto - I will pick another set of bucket list destinations, and book the haven, follow the dude/dudette with the card (that says im better than you because I'm in the Haven) at embarkation, scream "I'm platinum" (just turned on the last cruise), and demand to stay away from the commoners...

I guess I need to start buying lotto tickets???

4 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

@wil e coyote I think this one may take over as the leader in about five hours. 

 

I'll be the first to bite - I agree 100% Dave994. I'd much prefer pay a higher rate at the front, knowing the staff is being paid a fair wage. I'll go on the record as saying I know the cruise lines (likely all of them) screw over their employees at every opportunity they get unless it's frankie boy del rio. 

My PCC automatically adds the DSC to my booking.  So I am paying it upfront.  Well worth not thinking about it later.  I save all year long for the "spending" dollars using the 52 week $ challenge.  That is what I use for porter tips, or souvenirs in port and I stick aside some for tipping my steward at the beginning, and then extra at the end.  I know that they don't make what they should, and were out of cruise work for 2 years. I give them what I can with gratitude and appreciation.

And honestly if they "raised" the prices, but "removed" the DSC, would people care if it was embedded in the initial cost?  I know that I wouldn't.  do like other lines where "crew appreciation" is included.  The perception that you are getting more for your buck is a powerful marketing tool, and has kept me loyal to NCL (yes, i do exhaustive comparison between the lines and NCL usually comes out ahead or close to it - so loyalty points then come into play)

My vacation budget isn't always large, so I need to make the most of it, always.

12 hours ago, DrSea said:

In terms of entitled or rude people who think they are better than others bc of some made up thing in their head, I just don't let them bother me. All these people around me think they are God's gift to the earth bc they went to an ivory tower some time in their training (I did too), won some national award (I did too), and made some discovery (same here). But whatever. I don't let others make me feel bad and ignore others behaving badly. Your giving a random stranger too much power if their poor attitude elicits a reaction from you to the point that you are avoiding an area of the ship or an experience. If I worry too much or pay any attention to people who are poorly behaved, I would spend my entire vacation worrying about others and not enjoying myself. Up to you if you want to avoid those people. Just realize that it is objectively an immature coping strategy (defined per psychiatry....not me...don't shoot the messenger). I don't want to spend my life trying to avoid arrogant jerks all day long or else I wouldn't be able to work at any hospital system ever. It's just easier to ignore, reframe my perspective, live life, and laugh (look it up, humor is a mature coping style). 

I think this is a matter of personal perspective from my stand point. 

Above you said: "I don't want to spend my life trying to avoid arrogant jerks all day long"

Why would I put myself in a situation where I have to make to do that on VACATION?  That is my time to relax and recharge.  to enjoy my surroundings, and the food and laugh.  I have NEVER been one who liked being the center of attention.  Too much bullying as a kid directed towards me. Yes, it shaped me.  It shapes everyone. That is how we learn and grow. I can't ignore it, not in me to ignore it.  and I left it effect me as little as possible, but that takes effort.  So I distance myself from people that bully, and that I have to make an effort to be around.  That is why I apologize to everyone in the customer service industry when I have witnessed this appalling behavior.

I always remember that the only thing I can control is MY reaction to whatever is happening and the situation around me.  I am mature enough and have grown enough to know what my triggers are and how to cope and deal with them. I am also mature enough and grown enough to know better than to put myself in a situation I am not able to handle.  I deal with it enough in the real world, I don't need to deal with it on vacation. Personally, I think that is more mature coping strategy. (I actually had a lot of good counseling as a kid at an age that the lessons stick, and I am a quick study.  I was taught how to figure out what I am reacting to and WHY...Knowing that...I can adjust my response to a more affective one, rather than strictly emotion.

Again, I don't believe that everyone in the Haven are entitled jerks, nor that they are confined to the Haven.  I do believe that the entitled jerks are LOUDER than the ones that are just there to enjoy themselves and have a good time, and are OFTEN staying in the Haven.
 

See something, say something, do something - makes sense.  By ignoring it, we are letting it fester and grow. I dont feel that society can continue to say "just ignore it, not my problem."

11 minutes ago, tetleytea said:

 

When I was in Gothenburg Sweden, I got viciously attacked by an aggressive signpost while I was checking my cell phone for directions.  I had to wear that gash on my face to the main dining room that night.   But, as I always say, you should see what I did to the other guy.

I hear ya - the final little patch of under eye discoloration has finally dwindled down to a shadow under my eye and a beauty mark.  if you dont know then you would never know.

Just now, tetleytea said:

 

You were travelling on business when you tripped.   Right?   Right?

I wish there was a way I could say yes

Relatively uninjured.  Split my lip and knot in above my eye.  which caused the swelling and discoloration.  But no other injuries, except to my pride. So very very lucky.  Could have been much worse.  Tripped on June 30, cruise started on July 3.

felt worse for my DH, because people were looking at him like, "do we need to take him down?".  He didnt care, but I did.  So far from who he is.  I am sure that my body language, which showed no fear of him at all, helped to prevent people from saying anything, but we still had a lot of looks.

Made for an interesting cruise for sure, and EVERYONE knew who were

7 minutes ago, complawyer said:

dearmrstocko. if we're ever on the same cruise and i happen to be in a haven suite, i would be delighted to buy you and your husband a drink at  the haven bar and have you join us for dinner at the haven restaurant. it's all on me!

@complawyer

HAHA - Thanks.
 

We are both so...hate to ask others for something we can do ourselves... I had a hard time asking our room steward for ice on our last cruise.  But I needed it to ice my black eye.  Me and the "up" escalator at LAX had a difference of opinion 2 days before the start of our last cruise...Thankfully my face broke the fall. Definitely a "trip" of a lifetime...

Just now, complawyer said:

if you go to any casino anywhere with the expectation of beating the house, you're better off going to either the show, a bar, or to sleep.

 

ive laughed at many people talking about their so called "system(s)". ive tried to point out that the billion dollar hotels built on the las vegas strip are thanks to the many gamblers and their system.

 

i go and sit at the blackjack table or texas hold 'em table just to play. if i win great, if i lose i go to bed

We go to Vegas for the getting away, not the gambling.  We rarely will gamble.  Maybe take $40 each for the weekend.  when it gone it gone. if we win anything, cash out and count ourselves lucky.  

54 minutes ago, DrSea said:

But don't poo poo something just bc you can't afford it. 

Not poo pooing it BECAUSE I cant afford it.  Though it is a contributing factor.  But I HAVE been in the common areas of the haven amenities, and IMO it is NOT worth the added cost.  So for ME to go to the expense of booking a Haven, when there is a 90% chance I wont be using the Haven facilities, that is not a sound investment. I will at some point indeed try the haven.  Just not in the vacation wallet for now.  The rest of the contributing factors for not booking the Haven is that I have witnessed too many "I'm in the Haven" before a crew member or other guest gets ripped a new one for displeasing the Haven guest.  I want to be as far away as possible from them.  I know that the entitled people are EVERYWHERE...but I choose to not put myself in a situation where the chances of encountering them and the entitles attitude increases exponentially.

Make Sense?

18 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i play mostly video poker, with some slot machines here and there, no table games. i've written other posts in other threads about what it takes to get a comped cabin through the NCL's casino at sea program or  a discounted fare. there are a lot of misunderstandings about this... it reminds me a lot of the haven discussion here. those that don't gamble insist that somebody must be losing THOUSANDS of dollars in order to get a "free" cruise, but that's not the way it works.

 

I am going to go searching for those threads....I am in the we dont gamble - you have to be losing thousands group...IF we gamble, it is like $20 in a slot machine....so probable still not enough...but if I can learn anything that will help get me a heavily discounted Haven experience, I think it might be worth a shot.

There are entitled people everywhere on cruises that is for sure. I know that not everyone that stays in the Haven are jerks, they are out in the gen pop as well.  and I should re-qualify my statement omitting the haven label in general.  I have witnessed MORE of the entitled jerks, first proclaiming "Im in the Haven" or "Im Platinum/Diamond...." They make themselves stand out even more.

We have experienced the Breakfast/lunch in moderno/cagney's, and have experienced and used the privilege of the concierge service. The things I have overheard people saying to the crew was appalling. The tone too...

But I have also witnessed it in the MDR.  Where I end up apologizing for complete strangers because people are...entitled.

"Vegans/vegetarians" who complain about the options, but dont pre-order their meals. Adult offspring traveling with parents who then have mom and dad advocate (loudly and rudely) for them on the lack of options. Then pouting because you "can't" eat anything.  There are things you can order and then pre-order going forward (instead of the yelling/pouting every meal).  If it is a health related dietary restriction vs. a preference, you can bet that I am taking the 2 seconds to fill out the special assist form. (These same people I witnessed their behavior in the breakfast/lunch at cagney's/moderno)

The ones that complain about the "$2 chuck" or "swill" that is offered with the FAS package...if you dont like it, then upgrade your package to the plus, or pay out of pocket, or pick something else.

We did bid on haven room/DOS on the last cruise we did, but didn't get it. We tend to want to stay midship (I get seasick/motion sick).  We have the bands and pills, and didnt need any of them this last time (despite a couple days that were pretty rough).  A lot of the haven rooms I have seen in my exhaustive pre-cruise ship research - are forward, and far forward...so that too creates a pause...

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I've had steaks at Cagney's that rivaled the best restaurants I've eaten at.  I've also had really bad steaks.  On one cruise, the Local had a NY Strip steak special one night.  We gave it a shot.  It was much better than the last NY Strip I had at Cagney's.  So, who knows?

DH loves the raspberry creme brulee and I am addicted to their OMG Caramel Cheesecake

29 minutes ago, complawyer said:

mrstocko: while i appreciate your opinion, it seems just a wee bit inconsistent. you claim you like to be pampered, in that case you should love being in the haven complex. depending on the ship, you have your own pool area, bar and restaurant. the concierge is there to assist in whatever  you need, and if there is something special you want, ask  your butler. as soon as we meet him. i let him know that 1st 

thing every morning to please bring a carafe of coffee, a pot of hot water, small pitcher of milk, croissants, muffin's and sweet rolls.  they are there like clockwork when we get up. haven seems like  the top of pampering (at least on the ncl ships) .  while im a little like you, not overly fond of buffets and crowds (plus forget about trying to get a seat)  sometimes the variety of stations and choices are enough to go up and experience the buffet. while of course you need to get the food yourself, you will find the people behind the counters, and the wait staff are all very accomodating and helpful . just try and avoid the guy at t he front with the annoying "happy,happy, washy,washy" UGH!

I get the contradictions in my statement.  I think what turns us off of The Haven the most, is a the cost.  though if I may at some point bid on a haven, we just dont have it at time of booking or during the bidding as a rule.  Havent ever been in a Haven stateroom, but the common areas that I have seen are not worth double and triple the price of my balcony. The second part that turns us off is the entitled attitude of some (I know not all) of the people that book in the Haven.  For the most part, we want to be as far away from them as possible. The entitled ones are the louder complainers, and that is what we hear.  I heard a haven guy complaining that he and his girlfriend were very disappointed in irritated that the ship hit some rough waters the night before. THAT is what I hear more off, and what puts us off. All of that said, we still want to try it at some point...

For us, being on the cruise itself is a luxury. Having a plate of food brought tome that I dont have to cook...or clean up the kitchen afterwards...that is luxury to me. I don't want to fight my way to a food station to get a plate of food, then to find a seat, trolling through the garden cafe scoping out the tables trying to guess if someone is done or not.  That is not luxurious to me.  If my day warrants that the buffet is the best choice due excursion departure times or whatever, of course we do it.  I just really dont enjoy it.  Not the food or the crew, just the concept itself.  Embarkation day is usually Buffet. DH loves the crepe station on the smaller ships for evening snack.

We dont even do the free continental breakfast that EVERYONE can order through room service. Once we get up, we are up, lets start our day and go eat.  We dont want to snack on breakfast foods. so for us to ask a butler to go get for us...it is wasted on US, we would just go get it ourselves.  As a rule we ask very little of our room steward as it is.  Towel animals, pool towels (to use as bath towels), empty the fridge, this last time we also asked for ice for ice packs.  That is the extent of our asks.  We tip at the start (smaller - $20) and then a thank you at the end ($50). Plus whatever they get in the DSC.

But that is why we love cruising - we make it ALL work for US.  It is flexible enough to fit everyone's OWN idea of the perfect vacation.

And this is also why I love this topic.  Im not complaining (though it sounds like it), just stating my "unpopular" opinion...We are all in control of our vacations, it is what we make it.  The things out of our control, are just that, out of our control.  Being nice, and understanding will get you A LOT further when things DO go wrong (as they often do), then being mean, demanding and nasty.

So we too have no real interest in The Haven.  We are just not into the whole thing.  We would have no idea what to do with a butler....we have been invited to the captain's cocktail party in the haven, and are honestly not that impressed with the facilities, especially with the people talk about it.  We are quite happy with our mid-ship balcony.  Yes, the extra room would be nice, but still.  We usually end up right over where the gangway goes, so prime pier runner watching.

I dont care for buffets as a rule. I dont pay to eat out or all the money for a cruise and then have to wait in a line to get food.  I am there to be pampered, bring me my food. We have really enjoyed cagney's and moderno (we just turned platinum so we stopped the FAS specialty and are just going to go with the platinum benefit going forward)  What we get in the MDR is good for us.

We did the sail away for the first time last month.  We are always doing something and never realize it.  We didnt really feel like we missed much.  We do enjoy talking with the people in person that we have been talking to for months online, both here and other social media sites.

We ONLY book shore excursions through the ship.   I know, more expensive, but the added security of the excursion running late, and the ship waiting for us is worth it.  We dont ever want to be one of the previously mentioned pier runners...and we dont ever do the all day/inclusive beach excursion.  we want to learn about the port we are at (at least the first time there)

We wake early, no alarm, just awake at 6am.  which means we go to bed early.  like 9. so we are often missing the shows.

We like the cheesy port pictures.  I know...but we put them on our adventure/travel wall...we miss when they dont do them.

On 7/14/2022 at 4:31 PM, Bramcruiser said:

The Norwegian Star left Reykjavik today on its next 11 day cruise. However, instead of heading to Greenland as planned the ship has been re-routed to Norway. It seems that the weather gods have been playing games with us. Huuricane force winds are predicted in Greenland along with a strong ice flow so the Captain made the decision not to try. NCL head office approved the re-routing.

 

Biggest issue is that no passengers were informed early enough about this and most of us only found out seconds before stepping onto the ship when the key cards were handed to us. No one said a word as we all entered the terminal, got checked for Covid and went through all the check in formalties. Too late now to do anything about it. 

 

Most of us have learned to accept the fate befallen on us but it is a disappointment. The majority of passengers said the same thing - that they booked this voyage because of Greenland. A lost opportunity for some.

 

As for compensation. 30% FCC towards another cruise booked before December 31, 2023. For some this is not going to be much of an incentive or will end up being a lost cause. The biggest scramble has been the shore excursions - private operators in Greemland are without passengers and the ship's shore excursion desk if handling about 2,000 passengers who are flooding them with bookings for Norwegian ports that are likely to sell out fast and leave some passengeres without. There were only 3 tickets left on one excurision of which I decided to go for so its was only one left after that . I am sure its gone now.

 

Topsy turvey day!

 

 

We were getting off the cruise, the day you got on.  Then we heard about the changed itinerary.  DH and I wanted to be on board for the sole purpose of hearing the Capitan…

very disappointing for everyone I am sure.  We missed Edinburgh due to rough seas.  
 

stay safe, visit Rajesh at spice H20 - request Pandey as you waiter in Versailles. And have fun…

1 hour ago, ALD18 said:

Usually the testing is based on the day the test is done and time has no factor.  So if you tested on Thursday morning you would/could be fine until Saturday at midnight.  That could have changed, but the only tests historically I've heard timing was an issue was the PCR tests.  Pretty much everything now is antigen and works on the calendar day.  Another option would be if you have access to a home test do it for yourself the day you fly.  The test kits we have here in Canada are the same as the proctored pharmacist used for our official test.  You have the comfort of knowing you are negative, mask up on the plane, and have the test done in England.  We flew out of Gatwick (on way home) and there was a testing clinic right in the airport.  Cost 35 pounds per test and had result in about 20 minutes.  Then all you have to do is take train, car, bus, whatever to Southampton terminal.  Not sure if they had testing right at the dock, but if they do suspect it may be more $'s.  Best of luck.

the NCL sail safe page indicates that for non us-embarkation (we embark in Southampton, UK) on Sunday, we can test on Thursday, so it is 72 hours, so as long as it is not time constrained, I think we should be good.