complawyer

i have advised this many times. if you take ncl up on their flight offers, you give up control of your flight times and seating. 

regardless of the price savings, i always book my own air reservations, and especially if you're are flying into a foreign port, we go in a few days early, to explore the city.

you can also buy the cans (coke products only! boo hoo,im a pepsi addict) i believe its just a little over 3.00 per can, unless you get the upgraded drink package, where ever you are eating, you can ask the waiter/waitress to bring you a can, but they need your key card. 

otherwise the soda comes in  a plastic cup. sometimes a ask for 2 cups at a time (get thirsty very quickly)

do any of you nice people still have access to or  website for the letter from ncl's  counsel to the brazilian embassy dealing with the bank statement. my wife  (and I as well) feel really uncomfortable disclosing our bank statement to perfect strangers.

any assistance would be greatly and thoroughly appreciated.

thank you in advance

your friendly neighborhood complawyer

do any of you nice people still have access to or  website for the letter from ncl's  counsel to the brazilian embassy dealing with the bank statement. my wife  (and I as well) feel really uncomfortable disclosing our bank statement to perfect strangers.

any assistance would be greatly and thoroughly appreciated.

thank you in advance

your friendly neighborhood complawyer

on the past 5 cruises we have taken, when i unpacked my cpap , seeing tis the cabin steward immediately offered to bring me the distilled water, and every one of them brought an extension cord, when i asked for one.

however, i bring my own, and the only thing ncl requires me to do is keep it unplugged when not in the cabin. most of the time they dont even enforce this

club suites are just renamed mini suites, so unfortunately dont get your hopes up due to the new names.  they arent really "suites" in the true sense, they are a little nicer, and the bathrooms are bigger

if you read the response from n4w, the only true  'PERK" that differs from the ordinary cabins, is the free bag of laundry, and the possible treats delivered to your cabin a couple of times a week, while that's better than a poke in the eye, the treats are really nothing to write home about, and almost any one else sailing gets the same as on the list, unless a purple key card overwhelms you with joy and rapture

you are correct, it's 8 seats to a table. i think (if im not mistaken) there are only 3 tables in the restaurant, and only 3 seating times per day. if everyone has a ding package you can use them at teppanyaki. that being said, however, as far as the 4 kids are concerned, youre probably better off going to la cucina and letting them order pizza

the lobster thermidor in le bistro is to die for. worth the extra $25.00 upcharge. french onion soup and escargo are both great. 

teppanyaki has downgraded from filet mignon to new york. used to be my favorite but now so-so. salad bar in moderno more than compensates for the meat choices. cagney's is and always will be cagney's. in over 25 ncl cruises, i can safely say ive never really had a bad meal there, contrary to other posters comments

not really crazy about cucina. ive had better meals in olive garden restaurants. more choices also

hey magnolia blossum, if the t-shirt is a maybe, simply bring along an extra tube of toothpaste, and then you need not buy anything. and mocruisefan, most cruise sites advise "NOT" to but any art. biggest ripoff imaginable

there is no freezer in a cabin fridge, it's designed to keep whatever you put inside just cold at best

bifire, you did the calculations in your head. now realistically try and figure out the entire costs for a family of 4 for a week in disneyworld. just staying in one of their standard hotels.  im sure you will find an ncl cruise a much better value all around.

you have your choice of cabins from inside to the haven, if you're not much of a drinker, you can waive the beverage package, you can waive the specialty dinner packages, etc. eat all y our meals in the buffet or the mdr's.

ive looked at other lines, and unless you're in the superior cruise lines, regent, oceania, etc, in terms of prices, cabin sizes etc, ncl has them all beat hands downs. have you noticed that whenever something bad happens on a cruise, it's usually a carnival vessel?  Check out the jr suite on rccl. it's the same size as a club balcony suite on ncl, and a few 1,000 more

we usually hire a cab driver when we dock at a port, and what he charges is half of what the ship wants for an excursion. what do you really consider a "lesser" experience? getting  your room cleaned only once a day. same as your hypothetical ocean front hotel (or most any hotel for that matter).

no broadway style shows? Did you really book a cruise contingent on the entertainment? 

Quality of the food? They're fixing at a minimal of 3 meals per day, for multiple venues on board, for a few 1,000 people with probably as many different tastes.

ive often posted, i book a cruise for the itinerary and the prices. Food, entertainment, once a day room cleaning are all lower scale perks that i am not concerned about. 25 + cruises with ncl in the past 14 years, and i have really nothing to complain about, other than my ongoing gripe about the hamburgers falling apart before im done with the burger. and that my friend is clearly a 1st world problem. if youve noticed, almost everything is/has gone up in price, and lloyd jr. yes, it admirable that toyota has continued to improve and up the quality of its product. have you priced one lately?

and finally, paper sniper4 what do you want as an increased experience? no company is in business to give their product away. what experiences have you had to date where to were not satisfied

you think thats bad, try going to las vegas for a weekend. it seems like a great many  people leave their brains at the boarder

cruiseny, thanks a million. the only reasons i was even considering this cruise is 2 fold. (1) seeing the northern lights has always been on my wife's bucket list. If i book this cruise and she doesnt get to see them, my life as i know it will be forfeit (2) a few years back we took a european cruise and one of he ports was brugge. it was one of the most beautiful, picturesque places we've ever been, and this sailing gives us the opportunity to go back.

im thinking of booking the penthouse suite with master bedroom/large balcony. its not in the haven, but the room is almost identical, and for the price difference, i can suffer through not dining in the haven restaurant. breakfast and lunch in cagney's and moderno will keep me happy.

as ive posted before, i book based on both price and itinerary. this one seemed ideal, as it ends in southamptopn, and we can spend a few extra days in london at the end.

by the way we're also booked on the 17 day trans atlantic from rio to lisbon. it's on the star and we've sailed he before. i have no complaints whatsoever about any ncl ship we've ever been on. give me my balcony, the heineken,/glass of champagne, have the butler bring coffee, hot water for tea, croissants and sweet rolls in the morning, and im good to go

anyway, i wish to thank you for your input, and just like chiefjrk mate, i hope we can find a mutually agreeable cruise one day. if so, the 1st round is on me

so, cruisey my friend. while i value your opinions as both a cc poster and travel agent, is your answer "yes" you would cruise prima again. i keep reading posts that it's not all it's cracked up to be, and i dont want to spend a boat load of money (pun intended)  but i'm planning to book the iceland cruise this september

simple response.... just human nature...goes with a misguided sense of entitlement

if youre just looking for a ship, and dont care about the ports, i understand both the encore and its sister ship bliss, are amazing. dont know personally aboutthe encore, but w were on the bliss 2 years ago to alaska, and i was a beautiful ship. the observation lounge was phenomenal. 

daruma.. i've posted this thought many times. my wife and i cruise for the enjoyment of being on a cruise ship and visiting exotic ports around the world. personally, i can live on junk food if need be.

i've had good meals on cruises, great meals on some, (lobster thermidor in le bistro is to die for and worth the upcharges) consider the kitchen(s) making assorted meals for multi venues throughout he ship, for a few 1,000 people every day for however he cruise lasts, odds are very favorable that something will go wrong.

there are so many choices in the buffet (breakfast, lunch and dinner) that if you cant find anything you like, the problem is on you.

broadway quality shows. nothing beats broadway, but oftentimes i dont even bother going. you need to give the cast-regardless of the production being offered, props for the mere energy they expend puttimg on a show. ive seen entertainers, that were painful to watch/listen to, we walked out of jersey boys, frankie valli he aint, loved SIX, saw it again when it played locally. others have posted the exact opposite.

we've stayed in major hotels on land , and you only get i housekeeping a day. last year in paris las vegas, they completely forgot to clean the room at all.

the saying goes opinions "opinions are like certain anatomical parts, everyone has one)

even on  a sea day, what could be better than sitting on your balcony, with a glass of champagne or ice cold beer just watching the world go by. if that doesnt float your boat, go to the topsiders bar and order a margarita, or a mojito from sugarcane. 

in the end, remember that all these so called problems are 1st world problems at worst, and or minor annoyances at best.  we've sailed ncl over 25 times in the past 14 years, and never has very much to complain about. you can always find something to complain about if you really look.

take your cruise, i understand the escape is an amazing vessel, enjoy both your time on board and in the ports you visit, and feel free to give all these naysayers, the mid finger salute.

by the way, let us know your feelings after you get home.

hey, ukstages, dont  you think that your response to post #14  is a little racist. even if posted in jest. im surprised the cc censors let you get away with it. ive been censored for what i believe was much less. is it possible that UKstages and company also tries to find ways to beat the system?  inquiring minds want to know!

hey, almir. the fact that all your good buddies have pre paid the DSC is completely irrelevant. So what! they could have paid up in full at the end of the cruise. Are you now claiming you and your friends are now some new type of tipping heroes because they paid upfront?

INSTANT NEWS FLASH!!!!. everyone booking has that option. 

still doesnt justify trying to game the system, and sharing your drink passage with someone to which they are not entitled.

call it whatever you wish, to justify your position, but "a rose is a rose is a rose"

usually when a cruise ship docks for an overnight port, the gangplank stays open and you are free to come and go as you like. the only caveat, is  make sure you get back in time

the operative words are "you purchased". following your logic, one person can get the package, and share with as many people as he/she feels like it.

ncl is very clear about sharing drinks.  while sharing 1 or 2 with a friend might get a pass from the bartender/waiter or whoever might be serving, it's the same as going into a buffet or a place that specializes in salad bar/all  you can eat. while yes, you purchased it, and while sharing is not  a crime per se, giving some to another individual is in fact cheating, and could be considered "stealing" which my friend is in fact a crime.

why dont you adhere to the stated policy, and quit finding a way to game the system, before you screw it up for everybody else.

while gratefully/thankfully ncl doesnt limit the amount of drinks ordered per day,

if i had 15 drinks per day, i would be afraid to go anywhere the railings or even on my balcony

i think the max i have  ever ordered in 1 day is 9, and that's spread from a glass or 2 of champagne with breakfast, up through a cocktail (chivas) before dinner, and a glass of port with dessert

havoc315. while i appreciate your input, please advise the relevance of your post.

to tip or not to tip (that is the question) has been discussed, debated and beaten to death (imo) here!

the butler is not part of  the pool for participation of the DSC.

he is assigned to provide assistance to you and a limited number of other cabins. How can anyone argue that he/she is not entitled to a tip at the end of the cruise. My butler shows up every morning (per request) with  pot of coffee, hot water for tea, a pot of  decafe, and assorted sweet rolls, croissants and muffins. in the afternoon, he brings assorted meats/cheeses and crackers, and keeps me supplied with bowls of peanut m&m's and gummie bears.

at the end of a long, hot  shore excursion, (again upon request) he brings in a couple of bottles of ice cold Heineken.  Who could ask for anything more. 

it seems self evident,  that if you have booked a cabin that provides butler service (usually a haven or "suite") that you should anticipate tipping at the end. If this doesnt enter or coincide with  your plans, maybe booking this category cabin is not the correct fit

I for one would not even consider not leaving a tip. In my mind, it's a non-issue

after the visa discussion, and as to whether or not a yellow fever vaccination is required to enter cape verde, i am now reading that brazil is being over whelmed with dengue fever.

im sure like everyone else, my hotel and flights are all arranged and in order.

anyone think ncl is going to cancel the rio departure, or will the powers that be at ncl notify us as to the current status. inquiring minds want to know

snoopster, ok i'll give it a shot, but i hope you mean 2025