DrSea

30 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

I find it crazy to waste 5 clean cups to fill up my 35 ounce wide mouth yeti when nothing is coming close to touching anything. And I have no trips planned, but thanks.

Again see my comment above. Wasting 5 cups is much preferable to kidneys shutting down from explosive diarrhea. 

I'm in my 30s. I'll survive. But will your loved ones? Geriatric ppl walk around dehydrated as is and are predisposed to kidney failure. Just thinking of others here. 

My point: just follow the rules. There is a good reason why they are there in the first place. Why else would they wield that sign there at every single station? 

44 minutes ago, CruisingFun2023 said:

My seniors need hot water and our own electronic kittle is not allowed to be onboard, so we have to fill our giant bottle at the buffet. We will follow the rules to use a new cup each time, which is convenient for us, though not so convenient for the dish cleaning staff team 🤭 I am wondering if I can use the glass cups to get hot water instead of the ceramic cups because the glass cups seem to hold more water so I don’t need to “waste” a lot of cups each fill.

You can give it to staff and they will fill it for you in the back

The benefits of washing extra cups far outweigh treating someone when their kidneys shut down from too much diarrhea. 

59 minutes ago, mcmomny said:

 

 

My grandmother used to say " you attract more bees with honey than vinegar !" 

 

I have found that if you are polite and not demanding with any call center employee the more willing they will be to help you!

Got to be honest. That's minimizing people's real experience and almost shifting the blame onto the customer for a bad outcome.

I am always polite and professional because that is how I want to be treated, and believe me when I tell you I still get the short end of the stick with customer service. 

14 hours ago, dgc2861 said:

I usually sail Princess but found a great itinerary to Alaska with a full day in Victoria to see Butchart Gardens in 2025! But the deposits are almost $400!

1. Do you get that back if you need to cancel before final payment is due? 

2. Do they ever run a sale on deposits? I see now there is reduced deposits from $50, but does it only apply to certain cruises?Certainly not this one.

 

I really liked this itinerary, but not used to paying such high deposits, but I'm fine with it if you get it back before cancelling before final payment is due.

 

Also has the Spirit been updated?  I love the classy older ships and don't have to sail the brand new ones, but I see the videos of the bathroom that have 70s green tile - or maybe that IS updated 🙂

 

Thank you,

Sue in Pgh

Hey Sue. 

I see princess having huge fire sales with AK all the time as last minute deals. Why not stick to them? The entire cruise is sometimes less than 400 for 7 days. 

4 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

I use the same cup. I have a giant yeti so the cups never come close to touching.

The sign says use a new cup every single time. It's your decision to follow the rules or ignore them. 

Have a safe trip

7 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

 

As a frequent cruiser, I think that the biggest issue/challenge is people's expectations. For the most part, those expectations are totally unreasonable, and therefore they are disappointed, angry, hateful when their expectations are not met. I think of it as when my kid was just out of high school answering phones for a big corporation as a summer job.

 

When you contact NCL (or any cruise line), you are calling into a call center, sometimes off shore, staffed by minimum wage workers hired to answer phones. The vast majority have never been on a cruise ship before. Like any business, those call center staff can only answer your questions based on what they can google on their call center system. That call center information system, for the most part, has generic information for the entire cruise line. So, when someone calls and asks "What time is Choir of Man going be be preformed on my cruise on May 22, 2025",,,, or even October 1, 2023,,,, that information is does not exist. "Will there be a chicken dish on the main dining room menu on Tuesday, April 9, 2024"?  "What effect will Hurricane Lee have on my cruise?" "Why did my itinerary change?" While exaggerated, when you read the comments left here on Cruise Critic, they basically come down to information that does not exist.

 

NCL is doing well if you have a "simple request". "Make a reservation on the Norwegian Viva in a balcony room on April 1, 2023. Done. No one can answer truthfully "is room 12310 better than 12312?"

 

People often are yelling and making a fuss over things on the phone,,,, and call center people get in trouble when they "wing it" and start making stuff up just to get an irate, irrational, person off the phone. 

 

Post cruise, I have had a lot of positive interactions when trying to resolve issues. The call centers and guest services have gone out of their way to "make things right"... mostly after schedule changes where I incurred costs because of NCL changes. Those interactions have often [far] exceeded what they put in their written communication on compensation. 

Can you please elaborate on your post cruise experience? And when did it occur?

The reason i asked is that NCL used to (per an officer on NCL, so no personal experience) used to give 5% off a future cruise and 80 in OBC. But NCL stopped this practice some time ago (idk when...maybe after the restart?) bc they are trying to stop losing money. Again I have personally never received such a benefit, but it allegedly occurred. 

48 minutes ago, herbanrenewal said:

nonexistent? An example since you obviously cant relate - I bought a November cruise in studio. A balcony is now selling for less than $100 more than i paid for the studio. A phone call got the new deal, after final payment was made. another cruise I received $464 future cruise credit after a price drop. They had my money, but both cruises gave me more for the money I had paid. I'll take that "nonexistent" benefit of a phone call!

That's what I define as pre cruise. Post cruise to me means after I went on the cruise and disembarked. Over the years across multiple lines, getting money from any line is like squeezing blood from a stone. I'm talking for obvious things too, like getting a refund on port taxes and fees on missed ports. How is it legal for a cruise line to keep port taxes and fees to a port that I never went to? Idk 

Please PLEASE use a new cup every single time you fill up your cup. I end up with like 3 to 4 used cups every time I fill up my water bottle. But this is how we stop the spread of many diseases that cause diarrhea. 

I had an Italian guy cuss me out in Italian for a solid minute because I pointed out the sign to him on my Med cruise. I don't speak Italian, so the joke's on him.

Lol. The post cruise support is nonexistent bc they already have your money

2 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Love your Coca Cola anecdote.  Coca Cola did a product alteration, which in consumer package goods is risky. It would be like Mickey D’s taking the secret sauce off the Big Mac.  Brand positioning is something that shifts with consumer behavior, and something that gives you a competitive advantage.  Freestyle has been a very successful position for NCL.  However if it costs more to deliver than the benefit it delivers…or the consumer behavior has changed, then it’s time to rethink.  The postings on this thread suggest that NCL competitors are doing a hybrid of Freestyle. If doing hybrid…why not all in.  It’s either cost or consumer behavior.  And, if you think about it…things aren’t really “Freestyle”… you are encouraged to make reservations for dining, especially Specialty (which isn’t free), entertainment, racetrack (not free), Vibe (not free), darts, pool, bowling, games (not free).  So, exactly does “freestyle” mean.  Again, no crystal ball here…but as a retired brand marketing executive…(slow wave of two hands over an orb)…I believe there will (or should) be changes.  We will see.  In 120 days y’all can come back here and reposition me 😂

 

 

For sure change is coming.

And 100% agree with what freestyle really means when we have to book and pay for everything. 

2 hours ago, yakcruiser said:

I remember in a world not too long ago where NCL's big production shows were a selling point over the competition. We all know what happened to most of those. IMHO nothing is sacred right now.

Are you saying NCL cut them or everyone else got bigger shows? Or both?

5 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Magic - I posted a brief review the other day. It is not an exaggeration to say I would have had a better week of food if I stayed home and ate at Golden Corral.

It's unfortunate that the food hasn't made any strides in a year. Yes I believe that golden corral statement because that was my experience a year ago.

NCL has made huge improvements in their food. Sad to see CCL hasn't 

15 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

First, I would recommend a good pair of comfortable well fitting slip resistant shoes,  especially if you are concerned about slippery floors.

 

Next, order something from room service the first day of the cruise, then keep the tray and store in in the closet.   Whenever you go to the buffet just take the tray with you.   Your husband can sit down safely, 'for all intents and purposes', without having to worry about failing.  Then you can go through the buffet line and easily carry both of your meals back on the tray to table where your husband is safely waiting.

 

Just make sure you keep the tray stored in the closet or your room steward will take it out when he cleans the room, and you won't have it to bring for the next trip to the buffet. 

 

Can't you just request a tray? I feel like that's a reasonable accommodation for someone. But maybe I just don't get it.

23 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Carnival desperately needs to revert all their food cutbacks because the food on my most recent cruise (which ended yesterday) was absolutely disgusting.

Ouch. Which ship was it?

I didn't want to mention that CCL had made some very positive changes in the food department to only have all that progress rolled back last year with all the cutbacks. Food is subjective, but I'll be waiting for those changes to reverse before I return. And if they don't change course, that's OK. 

25 minutes ago, Agent999 said:

@DrSea Thank you for sharing your expertise on the thread, it is really appreciated.

 

I am hoping you can provide insight into the following:

 

The OP laid out the premise of "when you catch Covid on their ships" in the thread title. However, the OP provided no information to support that premise.

 

It is my understanding that Covid can have an incubation period between 2 and 14 days. It would seem that the OP could have been exposed to Covid at home prior to the cruise, on the way to the airport prior to the cruise, in the airport prior to the cruise, on the plane prior to the cruise, on the taxi ride to the cruise terminal prior to the cruise, inside the terminal prior to the cruise, or ashore while on an excurions...IOW, many opportunities for the Covid exposure to be OFF the ship and not ON the ship.

 

From a medical/scientific standpoint, how could the OP know with any degree of certainty that they caught Covid "on the ship" as they claim?

There is no way to know for certain. The CDC would count any infection diagnosed on the ship as having caught it on the ship even if they didn't.

But it spreads like wildfire on the ship and the cruise ship doctor had to open the medical center for extended hours to see patients on my last 4 NCL cruises.

19 minutes ago, Tierun said:

It’s already set for Miami 2025

Dang. One can dream

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll check back in a year to see if these policies are changed. CCL just isn't a good fit today. 

11 minutes ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

Yes.  It's still listed as $5.00 on their site, but it's kind of hard to find it. 

 

 

 

What are my dining options?

 

Guests may choose from three different dinner seating options. By popular request, all dining rooms are smoke-free.

Assigned Seating - Early Dining and Late Dining
This dining option offers guests a pre-set dining time for the duration of the cruise as well as the same table assignment each evening in the Main Dining Room. Guests who choose this option will not be able to reserve 'Your Time' open seating once on board.

'Your Time Dining' Open Seating
'Your Time Dining' is offered fleet wide.  Guests are seated on a first come, first served basis depending on party size and in most cases, are accommodated within 20 minutes. Advance table reservations are not accepted. Guests using Carnival's HUB App can check-in for 'Your Time Dining' ahead of time or check-in when they are ready to go. The App will alert the guest when their table is ready as well as the table number in the dining room displayed on the App screen. All guests must be present in order for the party to be seated. The table will be held for 10 minutes. 

 

Dinner Time Options
.	Assigned Seating Early Dining	Assigned Seating Late Dining	Open Seating 'Your Time Dining'
Domestic Cruises **	6:00pm	8:15pm	5:30pm - 9:00pm
Alaska Cruises	5:30pm	7:45pm	5:15pm - 9:00pm
Europe Cruises	6:00pm	8:15pm	5:30pm - 9:00pm
Australia Cruises	5:30pm	7:45pm	5:15pm – 9:00pm
Transpacific Cruises	5:30pm	7:45pm	5:15pm – 9:00pm
** Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras: Early Dining is 5:30pm and Late Dining is 7:45pm; Your Time Dining is between 5:30pm and 9:00pm.

 

Dining times are subject to change due to conflict of time with port stays or other scheduled activities. Accurate times are listed in the daily 'Fun Times'.

 

At time of booking, guests will be able to confirm their preferred dining choice. If their preference is not available, they may confirm an alternate time and be waitlisted for their preferred choice - there is no guarantee a waitlist will clear. When possible, waitlists will be cleared prior to the sailing and guests will be notified by email. Parties traveling together who are waitlisted together will be cleared on the same dining time.

Cross-referencing bookings does not guarantee parties will be eating together. They must be confirmed on the same dining time to ensure they will be able to dine together.

For those guests who choose Early or Late dining, the assigned dining room and table number will be printed on the guests' Sail & Sign® card which they receive when they check-in on embarkation day.
 

In addition, guests may opt for casual bistro dining in the Lido Deck Restaurant or dinner in the elegant Steakhouse Restaurants serving fine quality prime steaks and other dishes in an intimate, upscale atmosphere; as well as Cucina del Capitano®, a casual Italian restaurant. Other dining options offered are The Chef's Table, Bonsai Sushi, and Ji Ji Asian Kitchen®. Please note, specialty dining options have an additional charge. To see if your ship features these options, please click here.

 

Parties greater than 8 guests may need to be accommodated at several tables and the wait can sometimes be more than one hour. We highly suggest that parties of 8 or more guests choose an assigned seating to assure sitting together at one table or several tables close together.

 

NOTE:  Menu items (excluding Steakhouse Selections) are complimentary in the main dining room.  Guests can order a second entrée and keep in mind they can also request half portions if something looks too enticing to pass up.  If a third entrée is ordered, a US$5 charge will be assessed.

 

 

 

That's disappointing. 

Did they bring back the fillet mignon on the brunch menu for Sea days? Or is it still just steak and eggs?

24 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

A 3rd lobster is $5 now I've read. Seems reasonable. 

I don't eat any seafood

49 minutes ago, Tierun said:

I suspect that World America is being built purely for the American cruise market, with the American cruiser top of mind. Similar to how Royal Caribbean built Spectrum OTS purely for the Asian market.

Let's hope they plop that ship in the west coast 

I sailed with NCL 4 times and PCL 2 times this year.

You sound like you fit PCL better.

If food is your main concern, I would pick princess if your more concerned with quality and more seafood options. NCL will give you more variety and also has a beef option nightly in their complimentary main dining room. 

If you only eat beef, then you may go hungry on PCL like I did. I skip the chicken, pork, lamb, and seafood. 

You may like hanging out with 50 60 and 70 year old more than you thought you would. The entertainment is very dated though on PCL. I cannot listen to opera from the 50s/60s and walked out on their show. And the night life on PCL is dead after 10pm.

The private islands are overrated IMHO. They have you trapped on their island and they can charge you whatever they want. 

On 4/9/2023 at 8:25 PM, kona_wahine said:

I loved that free chair I sat in last time I was there. 🤣

Now that same chair costs 49.99 

Jk of course (for now lol)

Does CCL still charge for entrees #3 or more? I haven't sailed with them for a year since they implemented that policy, but I didn't follow up if CCL has reneged or made additional changes.

I checked their website and did a quick search on here and didn't see info on it. 

Thanks

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/dining-room-dinner

2 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

Maybe it depends on the ship but I have sailed both Carnival and RCL and neither had a dedicated dining room for My Time Dining. On RCL it didn't start until 6:45, which is not my time at all and we were seating in between diners that had left the 5:30 seating and those not arriving yet for the 8:30 seating. On Carnival it was somewhat different but the table were so close together, I might as well have been seated with those next to me. 

 

@DrSea the Prima may be smaller capacity wise than the Getaway, but it has more specialty restaurants than the Getaway. 

Sorry. I didn't realize that the prima had more specialty dining. I didn't see moderno, which is my favorite in the NCL brand. I then assumed the prima had fewer specialty restaurants than the getaway. 

The carnival radiance for sure has dedicated my time dining. RCL didn't on mine when I was on the independence of the seas last year. 

4 hours ago, hallux said:

Enough with the "someone's coughing, they must be sick".  I can get into a fit of coughing if I drink something carbonated, doesn't mean I'm sick but by your reasoning you're going to assume I'm deathly ill.  People cough for MANY reasons.

Common things being common,  I wouldn't blame the average American to think of covid when they see someone coughing on a cruise ship. It's not their job to think of the differential diagnosis of what it could be while they are on vacation. But it is their responsibility to mitigate their risk of infection.