Sthrngary

@DOJO466 I also bought these kind of Clear Plastic Tags with the metal steel ring. I thought I was the only one to have an issue with the fastener. Once on, they are great though. On the topic of the "Blue Book". I have no idea what this is, I do live in the US. All I have ever done with other brands is print the tags after I do the 21 day check in. Getting fancy luggage tags from brands have been hit/miss for me. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ORV I respect your opinion. Normally I would share more information to prove my point. How ever, this is a cruise board, not automotive. I brought up auto to make a point about pricing evolution. On to cruising. Last night I sent my agent a thank you note. Last year I sent her a $100 Capital Grille gift card. I have also been known to send thank you notes and flowers to Brand Team members that have gone above and beyond. I spent 45 years of my career teaching people to go above and beyond. Because this is so ingrained in me, because I know that that attitude is not necessarily everyone’s. A little extra thank you goes along way. But most people don’t know, is that my travel agent when I had to cancel a cruise eight days before it happened, personally contacted a member of the insurance company staff to get me paid quickly. This allowed me to rebook because I was financially hole. Where we should expect someone to go above and beyond, it is a rarity. When you find someone who will do it, stick with them for life. Pay their entire commission. It will come back to you when you least expect it. Cruise well, and enjoy every moment

@Chan50 I started this thread over five years ago. If anyone is a cheerleader for NCL it is me. I also obviously LOVE the Haven Experience. Yet, it is important especially when doing a European cruise to look at all options, brands, ship sizes and accommodations. The ship you want is a smaller ship because of access to ports with as few tenders as possible. I am not saying the Dawn/Viva combination would work for you. I am saying look at all your options out there. That kind of trip deserves all that it can be. Regardless, you will have a time of a lifetime. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Flatbush Flyer Times change. I was born in New York also. Great upbringing. The biggest complaint is in retail sales of all kinds which was my area of expertise for 45 years is, "I hate not just knowing what the price is and making my decision on the quality of the product solely". That is why the Automobile New Vehicle Business is now increasingly "One Priced" also know as "Value Priced". Still there are old school buyers than say, No Discount, I will buy elsewhere. Happens all the time. On the other hand the first time sales with no negotiation and haggling are up 37%. Lose a few gain a lot. Who would have thought that would happen. Hence the industry transition. Opinions are our right. Business will always gravitate to what works best for them. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Flatbush Flyer I respect your opinion. We all have one. My opinion is neither short sighted nor off base. Those that think so, simply have a different point of view. My opinion like many, are based on our experience on many, many cruises. Just like a cruise, every person's experiences are different so how they handle cruise related items are a bit unique. Our world seems to be all about the only opinion that matters and is right is mine. I personally feel that every opinion matters, none are really short sighted and as long as you are happy with the outcome all is good with the world. As long as it does not negatively effect my experience. So want to ask for a part of a commission, go ahead. Want to think it should be offered to have a long a lasting relationship, I hope that works out for you. Want to let your valued team member make all their earned commission, your decision to make. Want to give you opinion on the experience you have had, that is what social media is all about as long as we don't hurt someone else. Making ones own decision is NOT short sighted. It is being human. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Jancruz Jan, I know that this topic is sensitive. From a client perspective my gut tells me why it comes up so often. 44 years ago when I took my first cruise, the nature of cruising was different. It was in my opinion the best value in vacationing. Since at the time, I was broke, with a new wife budget was a huge thing. In the budget we go, out of the budget we stay home. No flexibility. As the years went on, we went from inside state room with bunk beds, to 40 + years later suites. Back then we could find deals. Real deals not less money for a stateroom and you find out later, you don't have a drink package, "Surprise". Just like in the car business, back then it was based on negotiation and haggling to some extent. Now the prices are pretty much fixed for cars with very little haggling room. Why, the manufacturers changed the pricing to the dealers. In the cruise industry, with very few exceptions the same thing holds true. Pricing is computerized using algorithms that are complex. Yet I as a consumer most still always look for that deal. They feel like not going after it makes me them the fool. No one means any offense with their approach because it is a matter of habit. Old habits die hard. Over the next few years, as with the automobile industry, the understanding of the value of a truly professional Cruise Travel Agent will become even more clear. Just reading the 20+ page cruise guest contract should let all of us know, maybe having a pro on our team is a good thing so let's pay them. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I HATE this topic has to be debated. However, just like the debate on "Cruise Only" vs. "Simply More"; "Not getting a drink program vs. choosing one"; or "choosing a brand over another brand"; this topic is of interest to those that make comments including myself obviously. My entire business life, I was a owner of a business until retirement. Essentially, I earned 100% commission. Uniquely, I taught Sales, Management and Executive Leadership skills as my product. Commission is how I earned my living. "Don't sell, don't eat." Simple notion. Cruise Travel Agents just came off two years of very few commissions during covid. Yet they were canceling, rebooking and busy keeping there client base up-to-speed. All for no income. If I had a dime for every time during my career, I was asked for a discount on my daily rate, I could be cruising 52 weeks a year. Either you know your value or you don't. I never discounted and I rarely lost a sale. That was the career decision I made. Many travel agents openly make claims that if you book with them, you can save money or gain perks for booking with them over booking with Oceania (Or any other cruise brand). One agent in particular has done many luxury cruise video's on YouTube. If he offers a benefit, we would be foolish not to take it. For the life of me, I wish folks could see and be worth every penny of commission they can earn. With statements like the agent above, it is clear he is simply taking the path of least resistance. This opens for more guest to ask for discount even if the agent never offered one. Once the Genie is let out of the bottle, it can't go back. My personal opinion and take it for what it is worth. I have never asked my Travel Agent for a discount, credit or perk. I do not ask my agent to do to much for me except a change here and there. Prompt Accurate Communication is all I ask and really need. I have received free gratuities by the agents company as long as the fare I got was not a special promotion. That was an agency special. Did my agent offer to do some perks for me out of her own pocket, "Yes". Not much but a kids Drink Package or something like that. I declined and said, "Keep the money and never give your commission away!" That is my background and the way I really feel. If you insist on a perk, discount or OBC; some agents will give it, others will give you a reason they are worth the commission they earn. The guest has to make a determination on what is right for them. Either way, it is up to the guest and the agent. My motto is as follows: "If an agent is so willing to provide a deep discount, how much of their services will also be deeply discounted!" Just my two cents. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel AGlad to here it old friend. Wish we were on the same cruise. It is my first cruise on Oceania as well. When I found the cruise I wanted, I booked it and had my agent take I over within 30 days. My approach is find what I want, so my agent really does not have much to do other than transfer it over to themselves. I do business with my agent because of the incredible amount of work they did for me with so many Covid cancellations. They earned my business and all the commissions. I still get my AMX cruise perks with my agent. Cruise Well and enjoy every moment!

@juneaubliss Welcome to CruiseCritic.com. Although I have usually gotten a letter about 45 days prior to the embarkment, it is NOT guaranteed. If you need to reach out to the Pre-Cruise Haven Desk, call NCL and ask to be transferred. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A The Spa Representative has the same menu in the Haven Lounge as if you were in the spa itself. The services are done in the spa of course. This is simply another benefit of staying in the Haven. I have booked my spa treatments in the Haven with the Spa Representative and directly at the spa. If I got on first, I do the Haven if I get on later, I go directly to the spa. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Jancruz I know your experience and respect it. Please share your knowledge. I am not in the industry so I look at everything trying to make sense of it. Your comments will be appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

My Next Observation on the Topic of Guarantee Stateroom: I thought that my ship which only had two Oceania and on Owners Suite left would have lower stateroom show up when the Final Payment was due. Following my thought, it seems if folks were going to cancel, they would do so before final payment. Well the final payment was last Friday, on PH1 showed up and it was gone and never came back. Not what I thought would happen. I find this very interesting. Maybe the lack of cancelations is because the sale that filled the ship up was a really good one. No one wants to lost the valuable fair they have. Maybe it is another reason. Again, just interesting to watch. Back to logic. I have no earthly idea how many Guarantees Oceania books in a given category. To me this means that all that stateroom Category are sold and assigned to a guest. So, Guarantee followed by waitlist as Oceania's strategy to keep every stateroom filled. Kind of like a plane over booking passengers with the policy that you will be in a stateroom at your guarantee level or higher. Now I am interested to see what happens every time the penalty stage get higher. I will report back. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

GREAT to hear. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Pitzel Yes you are right. That was my bad. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. Butler_NCL_Cruises_Template.docx

@Ballwin Babe Here you go!. Resize it if you need to get it to landscape. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. Cruise_Agenda_Template.xlsx

@Ballwin Babe The post #1 is the full explanation of the Haven in GREAT detail. That should be very helpful. I am not sure which template you would like to have. The Butler Letter, the Excel Calendar or the Journey Document. Respond to my using @Sthrngary and I will accommodate. Anytime you want some information or have question, come back to this topic stream. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@LindaKB It seems your question about about having your flights coming in two days prior to embarkment. I am on lots of cruise brand boards and this issue is something that some of the brand have handled. Unfortunately, I do not know the answer for NCL. It has nothing to do with being in the Haven thought. Please call your travel agent immediately or if you purchased directly from NCL, call them. The one thing I do know is that once the ticket is issued, that is all she wrote. Let us know what happens. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Yes

Folks, here is some advice which you can choose to take or not take. Main Shows: If you are in the Haven, just book which ever show you want to go to with the Haven Desk. Don't worry you will be closed out on shows. Small Venue Shows: No reservations are taken, they are first come first served for everyone. SOME folks say you get escorted in the back entrance by the Haven Desk. I personally have never gotten that treatment but maybe in the future. Just know, These small venues are policy at first come first served. Specialty Restaurants: Book the moment you can book them. On Teppanyaki, contact the Haven Pre-Cruise Desk. I always book this for my last night because it is so much fun. When you attempt to make a reservation for odd numbers, just choose the number above it. 3=4, 5=6. This is for the normal sit down Specialty Restaurants. Pre-Cruise Haven Desk: They simply put into your portfolio what you request is. Not a Guarantee for sure. Just ask when you get on the ship and most of the time, it will be done. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mthayer295 I don't understand it either and it has been a point of debate online many times. The Bottom line is the Butler does not participate in those Pre-Paid Gratuities. Everyone else in the Haven does. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Nikita4 What I love most about CruiseCritic.com is we don't have to agree on a topic. All I ask is to be taken under consideration. We all make our own decisions on how to proceed. For me, a butler letter has worked grandly. Others that have tried it have had mostly positive experiences. The folks the have had the biggest issues with the concept are the ones that never used it or put it to use. It is not just a letter, it is a well thought out communication in writing. If any butler says they can't do something, you just let it go and say thank you anyway. Since I have had butlers on NCL, Celebrity, MSC, Crystal and other brands; the quality of butlers are in deed much better on luxury brands with Crystal being a GREAT example. However, the letter got much better results on Mainstream Cruising brands. Remember, you results will vary based on many factors. All I care about is an enhanced cruising experience. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mauibabes Well thank you. I have both booked directly with a brand and with a really good Travel Agent. I much prefer a GREAT Travel Agent. That is my opinion and not shared by all. I have to clarify something. Even though I was dealing with a GREAT travel agent, she was not able to really help me with my paid upgrade. Long story but when she asked Oceania, they gave her a upgrade amount that was verbally verified twice then took it back. My agent went to serval supervisors with no resolution. I wrote a very well organized, professional and non-threating letter explaining my situation. All I asked as a resolution was, when and if these upper suites were still available, to consider me as a prospect for an "Paid Guest" upgrade. I figured it would happen on the last week before the cruise. To my surprise, it happened two days after they got the letter. It actually was a "Vista Suite" and yes, just like you, we plan on it being Party Central. My point is even well connected travel agents sometimes can't get things done that a guest with good communication skills can. My agent called me when Oceania informed her of what had happened. She was thrilled for me and got some extra commission which was good for her. As long as we are kind, professional and focuses, almost anything is possible within reason. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Nikita4 my online name is Sthrngary and I am the community member that originally wrote the Butler Letter. I did it because my butlers were hit or miss. This includes NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat and yes MSC Yacht Club. The problem as I have now found out was the number of staterooms each butler had. It did not allow them to learn the guest needs as they would on a Luxury Brand. When I handed them the letter, initially they seemed shocked. They left the suite and came back within 15 minutes with a smile on their faces. To the butler, I got a thank you and was told their lives would be so much easer if they were not having to have a crystal ball for their new guest needs. My goal was to gain an improved cruising experience without being "That GUY!!!!!". The person that is mean, rude or super demanding. This little letter created instant engagement with the butler who from that point forward, could not do enough for me. After 40 years of cruising, I have learned one simple rule. Be nice, be kind, be understanding and be a GREAT communicator. Almost anything is possible. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Chan50 Everyone who has a butler for the very first time feels the same way as you do. Below is some detailed information form my upcoming cruise. I do a very long and detailed "Journey Document" for my wife and in this case my friends that will be joining us. I hope the research helps you. How To Utilize Your Butler: · Menus: Ask for the restaurant menus for the day. The Main Dining room will change daily and the specialty restaurants stay the same. Let's say you have a reservation for a Specialty Restaurant that evening, but the menu for the Main Dining room has something you really want. This is your method to change if available future date is open for your original reservation. · Coffee: Bring your morning coffee and pastries if you like. Depending on my suite, I give the butler a time, and permission to bring the items in to the suite. This always works best if your great room is separated from your Bedroom. Always give your butler good instructions, a head up, and time to prepare. · Reservations: Assist in making or changing Specialty Restaurant reservations. Remember, “NO” guarantees especially on a sold-out cruise and that is why making those reservations pre-cruise as soon as you can, is important. · In-Suite Dining: Serve you in-suite dining from ANY restaurant. However, they may be a cost for Specialty Restaurants. The butler will do this course-by-course. Please give your butler a fair head up and only order from one restaurant to avoid confusion. · Pillow Menu: Gain the pillow you want from the Pillow menu and exchange it for the pillow on the bed. · Afternoon Canapes: Provide you with your afternoon canapes or snacks. They have some flexibility so talk with your butler. · Bubble Bath: Draw you a bubble bath at a specific time. · Escort: Escort you to the main theatre shows, restaurants and events upon request. NOTE: A Butler is NOT your date. They take you to the location and drop you off. · Laundry: Take care of your for fee laundry service. There is a three-day turnaround time for return. · Shoeshine: Have a scuff on your shoes, give them to your butler. · Pressing: You can request pressing of some items. Their may be a cost so ask your butler if so. · Port Reservations: In some cases, the Butler can gain reservations even for port restaurants. · Luggage: Unpack and pack your luggage. This is NOT something I have ever had done. Those that have had it done seem to enjoy it. I hope this helps you in some ways. I also give my butler an index card with requests that he can take with them. The key is I make sure they know to tell me if any request has a cost. I want to make that decision after I know the cost. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jonthomas I have read many of your posts on lots of subjects. It is clear that this is NOT your first rodeo. I obviously am interested in your results because selfishly, I still have one (1) Guarantee Stateroom for my guest that I am controlling for a November 9, 2023 Riviera Cruise. The topic of Stateroom Guarantee's is the same intense debate as topics like "Simply More" or to use "Oceania Air Fare" or not. Lots of very strong opinions all valid and all usually based on some level of fact/experience. I think you and I are basically on the same page. We hope for the BEST, understand the RISKS and will NOT complain to other live or online if we get a stateroom that is NOT ideal. We will not allow it to effect our cruise experience because we made a business decision based on knowing the Potential outcomes. I am also very carefully watching the "Waitlists", occasional staterooms that open up, and how quickly they go away. We both know that if a online guest goes to the Oceania website chooses a stateroom as a mock booking, that inventory disappears for a bit and then reappears if not confirmed. Your original op-ed simply asked for folks that gained a assignment from a Guarantee. At no time did you ask for advice on if you made the right decision or not. As I said, not your first rodeo nor mine. Here is what my hope is for YOU. I hope you get what you are hoping for. I hope you get even a better stateroom than you thought you would get. Stranger things have happened and with a fully waitlisted cruise, the available pool of staterooms is random (Based on Cancelations not current availability) not based on as some say, the worst stateroom in your guarantee category. So live with a positive attitude knowing that you have a good shot at success. However with the understanding you are clear as a bell on the strategy you took and why. "Live is a glass half filled with Vodka!!" Cruise well and enjoy every moment.