Gampy1967

On 7/28/2019 at 1:42 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Or if you are/were a teacher,military/or any other civil servant you can get a 10% discount [instead of, not in addition to the above mentioned 5% loyalty discount].

I work for a county government in Texas.  Does this get me the 10% civil servant discount?  Also is this available if you book directly online or would I have to call and book over the phone?  Thanks.

3 hours ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

 

I got a deluxe YC for July 2021 for 3 of us for $6274. This is our first MSC cruise. Is that a good rate?? I have no idea what to comp[are it to other than NCL's Haven. 

3 hours ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

 

I got a deluxe YC for July 2021 for 3 of us for $6274. This is our first MSC cruise. Is that a good rate?? I have no idea what to comp[are it to other than NCL's Haven. 

Which ship?  The only summer 2021 cruises I can find are in Europe.  Not the Seaside.

1 minute ago, dexddd said:

Aren't you booked in the RS? 

 

We've been on 18 and 16 and actually had more noise on 16 but not much overall to be of a concern. IMO the distance to various places in YC is not a big deal as it is easy to get around plus you have mid stairs and elevator.

Not booked yet.  We are looking at June 2021 which hasn't opened up yet.  When I looked at the same cruise for June of 2020, they still had a RS available at approx 9k. When I looked at the same cruise in March 2021 (the farthest they currently have out), it was 14k for the same room.  I know rates change by seasons.  When June 2021 becomes available, if it is 9k range we will probably book RS, if it is in fact 14-15k then we will go with a YC Deluxe Suite.  Can afford 15k.

My wife and I are planing on taking our 9 (almost 10) year old daughter on the MSC Seaside in the Yacht Club.  We are looking at booking a Deluxe Yacht Club Suite.  We have never sailed on MSC before.  Our question is should be book a room on Deck 18 (where the Jungle Pool and recreation area is) or Deck 16 (where main concierge and Top Sail Lounge) is?  I assume the rooms are roughly the same.  Also, any suggestions on a particular Deluxe suite that may be better than another (better layout, slightly larger balcony, etc.)?

Thanks for your help.

I noticed on the US MSC website, they are showing cruises thru April 2021.  When do they normally open up their summer cruises for booking?  We already have plans from summer 2020 so we are looking at Summer 2021.  Thanks.

On 6/12/2019 at 1:02 PM, dexddd said:

Gampy - you are not allowed to stray from NCL.

 

We too have 16037 in 10 days in case you have any other questions.

They have simply gotten too expensive so going to try yacht club

Thank you to everyone for posting.

Silly question that I tried to find the answer too on the MSC site but couldn't and I have learned never to assume.  In the Yacht Club Royal Suites, do either of the two couches in the living room fold out or make into a bed.  We are planning on taking our granddaughter with us and could not find anywhere where it mentioned if the couches made into a bed or not.  Thanks.

That is what I seemed to notice.  Just did not think that might be correct.  That does us know good as our granddaughter will be 8.  I did notice it does seem Suites get priority dinner reservations also.

My wife and I along with our 8yr old granddaughter are looking to book a suite on the Carnival Vista.  I trIed to look online but could not find much information on the Carnival website.  We recently sailed in a Owners Suite on the NCL Dawn, where we could eat breakfast and lunch in a suite-only dining room, has reserved seating at the shows, and several other perks.

On the Carnival Vista, what perks come with staying in a suite, other than priority boarding and priority disembarkation?  Thanks ahead of time for the info.

I don't understand why they were allowed on the ship for any reason.  I did not think anyone was allowed to bring a non-ticketed person on the boat with them.  I try and bring a hooker back with me and get told no and they are allowed on and get a free lunch.  Does not seem fair to me.🤣

We got of the Dawn on 3/31 after sailing in the Owners Suite w/ 2 balconies (10006). They already had started not doing the towel animals.  Did not get a single one.  I did not say anything after the first night because I thought "ok they are busy getting all of the rooms ready and delivering luggage)."  They never did a single towel animal.  They also mentioned they would appreciate it if we could reuse our towels and only requested a replacement every other day.  All other services were excellent and the Butler took great care of us.  Basic room service not so much.

16 minutes ago, DCLCrazy said:

Because the people in the cabins you are bidding on are bidding for a high cabin, themselves.  So once they win one, the cabin you bid on will be open.

I thought the same except I received the same email(s).  I am in a Owners Suite w/ 2 balconies on the Dawn.  The only thing showed available to bid on were the two Garden Villas.  Both of which were sold out. The people in the Garden Villas are not upgrading anywhere.  I think sometimes they do it simply to gauge how much someone will spend on a room.

Get a "Robert Kraft" extra special massage at the spa. 😊

10 hours ago, erdoran said:

Excursion tipping story - somewhere in Caribbean, I forget where, possibly Turks & Caicos,, DH and I did a catamaran/snorkeling tour.  Worst snorkeling I have ever had in my entire life!  Dead coral/rocks, guides threw bread crumbs and one lonely fish dropped by.  Snorkelers climbing over each other, kicking everyone would have driven the fish away anywa - probably 50+ snorkelers.  Total WASTE.  On the way back the bar passed out what tasted like koolaid with rotgut rum.  Big jar on the bar for TIPS.  As we disembarked, one of the staff was standing at the gangplank with the TIPS jar, shoving it in eveyrone’s face and shaking it.  

 

Terrible excursion, tips not only expected but demanded - what would YOU do?

 

 

 

 

I would walk right on by without adding a tip.

37 minutes ago, thetaro said:

I don't automatically tip tour guides or drivers that bring me from point a to point b. That is included in the excursion. Unless I know they make close to nothing, then I may give them a few bucks.

 

I usually only tip when they show exceptional knowledge or go an extra mile in helping me. 

This i agree with.  Basic transportation from point 1 to b is what the excursion cost is for.  Taking me to the shorkeling spot is what the excursion cost is for.  Assistance with equipment, tips on snorkeling, etc. is what generates a tip.

5 minutes ago, cheersforbeers said:

Cole, couldn’t agree more, seems like a lot of posters are in a constant state of displeasure!

And then everyone wonders why NCL did so bad in the "Cruise Critic" awards which are based on the whiners.

I could not agree more.

8 minutes ago, alexgtp said:

We sailed Dawn for NYE 2018. Yes rooms are equipped with standard US outlets. I would recommend you purchase one of these. Gives you extra outlets and USB power x2 with added surge protection. 

 

Belkin product.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-3-Outlet-Swivel-Travel-Charger/dp/B0016IXEWG/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Belkin+BZ103050-TVL&qid=1551991161&s=gateway&sr=8-7

 

 

I did not think anything with surge protection was allowed.

12 minutes ago, roboclam said:

Been on 5 cruises with NCL, they do not do the "envelope thing" at all, tipping is up to you as are the envelopes you use...We always bring a few Thank you cards which we use when leaving something for either the Butler, Concierge or room steward...

Enjoy your cruise on the Dawn, we're booked for Feb 2020...

Didn't even think about the thank you cards.  That is a better idea than just a plain white envelope.

A new tipping question.  I know that while staying in a suite, I will need to tip the Butler and Concierge as they are not included in the DSC.  With the DSC now in full affect, do they still leave tip envelopes in the suite or do I need to bring a couple envelopes with me?

Thanks.

I sneak my own lobster in my luggage.  I then cook it in my room with a hot plate I also sneak on.  Who cares if it blows all of the circuits on my section of the ship.  As long as I get my lobster.

30 minutes ago, dcipjr said:

@Shorty6095 See what we meant about the can of worms? People are still here arguing about it. 5 pages and counting. 

 

Don't feel bad, somebody else will post the same question next week and we'll do it all over again!  🙌 🎉

 

Just whatever you do, don't post a question about whether the Free At Sea perks are truly free.

I make the "free at sea" perks free by removing the DSC to cover the costs of the "free" perks.  Boom!! Two topics in one.  Anything left over I use to purchase plastic straws that I then feed to the coke-addicted sea turtles that keep getting them stuck in their nose.

4 minutes ago, erdoran said:

There is NO removal option for bad service, because, as the vocal DSC people here say "why punish all the people who have provided outstanding service because of the misdeeds of a few, or one?".  So it really is a hidden cruise fare upcharge, just like a hotel resort fee, because of how it is positioned.

 

I know - here's another fair & legit option - charge the DSC but pax have the option to allocate to some extent.  At the end of the cruise instead of little envelopes, you get a sheet "change DSC allocation" which is optional.  Most people won't bother with it.  Those who feel strongly about something can re-allocate.  The behind the scenes share can't be changed, so that way the behind the scenes workers who shouldn't depend on DSC but do can't be "punished".  The only shares that can be changed are the groups the pax has directly interacted with - and it doesn't even have to be by name, just "housekeeping/steward, restaurant, etc" - whatever the customer-facing groups are.  Pax has the option to remove or increase each group's share; removal means that the removed percentage gets redistributed to the remaining groups, not refunded to pax.  If a group's share is decreased, there's a space to say why!  "cold food in MDR, dirty room, poor service by xxxx".  Same goes for increased - but if one group is increased, then the remaining customer-facing groups are proportionately decreased, and pax knows this.

 

A lot of work for pax so only those who feel strongly would do this.  And yes, more work for NCL but hey-if you are pushing off the financial responsibility of payroll onto the pax, this may well decrease the poor service or other excuse removal rate!

Not sure where you are getting that information or if I am just misunderstanding you, but bad service that is not corrected, is an exact allowable reason given by NCL for the removal of the DSC.  Not saying you should but if I received bad service that was not corrected, then I would remove a portion or the entire DSC as that is my only option.  The entire group gets the benefit of good service and the entire group has to pay for bad service.

What I like to do is have the DSC removed and get the equivalent cash in singles.  I then invite all of the applicable personnel (room steward, waiters, etc.) to my room on the last day and throw it in the air so they can battle for the cash gladiator style.  Trust me on this.  It is better than in MMA fight you have ever witnessed.

7 minutes ago, yankees111 said:

Exactly. Shore excursions are like dining reservations. You can pre-book if you wish but only a certain percentage are sold in advance. 

Um no.  They are not like dining reservations.  It even clearly states when looking at the excursions that popular ones will sell out prior to sailing.