Greenpea2

On 2/16/2024 at 10:41 AM, havoc315 said:

NCL is the one trying to create a narrative. 
Yes, lots of companies in their marketing and advertising throw around the word “free” very loosely.  Because they know it’s an appealing word. 
 

And most consumers come to understand it usually just means “included in the base price.”

NCL is taking a couple more steps beyond this — not included in base price at all, but you still have to pay a pretty significant amount. 
Then, a further step — they are calling it “gratuities”— but it does not appear to actually represent gratuities. A gratuity is an optional payment given to staff above their salary. is that what the money is actually being used for? (I don’t know the answer… maybe someone here does know). And as a gratuity is an optional payment, can I opt for FAS but opt out of the gratuity?

 

and on a discussion forum, what’s wrong with discussing it????

 

 

But even without the "Free" package, gratuities are added to all alcoholic drink tabs (among some others as well). So yes, it actually IS a gratuity. One you would pay either way. You don't get a choice on that either way you go.

On 2/15/2024 at 10:23 PM, Mrearl said:

Celebrity free drink package includes gratuities in their drink package. 
Their 14 day cruises are basically cheaper due to not paying gratuities for the drink package.

They should not advertise free drink packages,it is not if you have to pay and additional $690 for gratuity 

I do understand what you are saying. But technically the drinks ARE free. Any drink you buy with/without the package has automatic gratuities added. May sound sneaky (and I suppose it is, a little) but I think most people look closely at a deal to see what it really is worth. 

On 2/15/2024 at 10:05 PM, Two Wheels Only said:

You can also decline the promo and pay for drinks à la carte.

You will then have a 20% service charge added to each drink. 

Your choice. 

 

 

Exactly. It really is pretty simple--you get a choice. I can understand the first time someone has the opportunity to get "Free Beverage Package" and clicks to get it--then you see there are gratuities. An initial thought of "Well, that was misleading..." but then you decide. Is it worth it? If you drink a few alcoholic bevs each day, yup. Totally worth it. You choose and go on. Marketing is what it is. Always read the fine print.

I am not sure I understand why some people expect some sort of restitution for an itinerary change...as long as you don';t have to pay port taxes for a port you did not go to, what else is reasonable to expect? Of COURSE a port change is disappointing--I totally understand that. It's happened to me (as probably for anyone who has cruised a long time) and it can stink. And it can be super disappointing, no argument. But. It IS something that can happen. You are clearly TOLD it can in the paperwork you receive. I don't get it.

8 hours ago, Pevil said:

I am on the Feb 18th Antartica cruise, which ncl has removed an Antartica sailing day and added an extra sea day betwwen Falkland Island and Buenos Aires.

 

To protest this change I am considering removing the DSC because:

 

1.   The only communication I have received from ncl is that the change was made to enhance the guest expereince.   As a guest there is no way this itinerary change can be considered an enhancement.   Others have posted there is a go slow order but ncl has not provided that information to me as an affected guest.

 

2.  The itinerary change will shorten the cruise total distance significantly and will allow the Star to cruise at a slower speed which will add up to major fuel cost savings.  Instead of ncl making a goodwill gesture and passing these savings onto its guests in the form of an obc, ncl is pocketing the savings.

 

3.  For the 2024-25 Star sailings for this itinerary, ncl website is showing the original itinerary, not our revised itinerary.   So there will be no go slow order next year?

 

We board the Star tommorrow.  Maybe ncl will provide a better explanation for the itinerary change once on board.  If not, a trip to guest services to remove the dsc may be the only way to protest the change.

 

 

I only got this far and amthinking... uh oh.  

At least it did not become a charter cruise! Whew for you. :-0

For those of you going on The Tribe Cruise #2...

41 minutes ago, dmet0225 said:

Update on Tommy.  

 

He's in ICU.  After breakfast this morning, he went to his room to clean out his trach.  The nurse found him slumped over, limp and unresponsive.

 

Apparently had a heart attack in the ambulance and flatlined.  He was revived in the ambulance, but now continues to have numerous seizures and continues to be unresponsive.

Oh this is awful. I am just so sorry! The poor guy and all who care about him.

1 hour ago, scubagal44 said:

 

Again, I would die.  😆  I would never be able to sleep at 72!!!  Holy crap, I'm getting the sweats just thinking about it.  The heater kicked on last night and I got so hot, I had to open the app to see ***** was going on and it was heating from 62 to 64.  🤣 

 

We're like 62 at night / 68 during the day.  

I wish I could sleep at your house! 62 would be awesome! Every night, I have the ceiling fan on, a window open at least a little in the cold weather and continual ignored reminders from Mr Greenpea that when the heat is on, the windows stay closed!

20 minutes ago, BohJang said:

Good point - in that case that $2600 was not bad at all!

Truth!

1 hour ago, Funsince1983 said:

60?! I would literally die. We're a 72 year round household. 

Give it 10 years or so. Trust me. You will be batting that temp down regularly. It will be just one more silent struggle in a marriage. (One I win mostly, by shoving it down AFTER Mr, Greenpea falls asleep. Shhh. )

4 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

Ugh I think I either caught a bug or else them cleaning the vents at my work yesterday irritated my sinuses. Or both. I sit directly under a vent, and yesterday afternoon I got a terrible migraine, and by evening I was coughing, congested, and my throat tickled. Today my throat is so sore it hurts to swallow. Headache has let off, thank goodness. Only good thing about this is I had a good excuse to have some mint chocolate chip ice cream for breakfast. 

I hope you feel better soon! Try a martini. For medicinal purposes only--no enjoying it too much allowed. You're sick, remember. 

5 hours ago, BohJang said:

Ugh - I feel your pain.  Just spent $2600 last week on Mr. Boh Jang's Not Fun Wagon.  Good luck.

Well...I'm still reeling from the $35,000 I laid out for my new car Celeste. :-0

18 hours ago, ggooglyboogly said:

I'm perhaps picking a terrible time to introduce myself?  I'm a lurker who's recently discovered the The Tribe....and I love the style around here (and cruisers who enjoy a good drink package....boy did I get some looks with a cooler of beers on my Disney cruise at 1100)

 

Ive been on quite a few cruises, I'm from Fort Lauderdale (currently Chicago suburbs), my dad worked for NCL for 35 years, we got to cruise for basically port charges when I was a kid, my first cruise was on the SS Norway (lucky enough to sail Norway many times!)...pre 9/11 I got to go up on the bridge of the ships when they were arriving and leaving port, which lead me to a career working as an officer commercial ships (first on them....now handling some from an office in Chicago).  I always cruise with my wife and two sons (8 and 5), and I've got two cruises on the Norwegian Jade booked for this year!   

 

90% of my cruises have been on NCL, but I've done 3 on CCL (Sensation / Imagination / Legend), 2 Disney (Dream / Fantasy), 2 Royal (Majesty / Oasis) and 1 Princess (Caribbean).  

 

Thanks for all the info/entertainment and I look forward to more! 

Welcome! It sounds like you will fit right in then. 🙂

4 minutes ago, #55worktoplay said:

I don’t know if your area is bad for stolen vehicles but up here it’s nuts. I’m sure it will be fine and they are very nice vehicles so just enjoy. 

That’s exciting about a place with garage though 😀

 

Well there are periodic car break-ins around here (not specifically where I live, just "down here" in general)  because for some reason a lot of people don't think they need to lock their cars! Coming from NY/NJ I can say mine is ALWAYS locked. I grew up on Long Island and back then in the dark ages, no one ever locked their homes and there were no problems. The good old days!

35 minutes ago, Funsince1983 said:

Is it me? If it's me; tell me. I know I can be a lot. 

🙂 I don't know what/who hurt @Slainte57 so I can't say. I hope it wasn't me! I can be a smart a** sometimes...

3 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

I finally learned a very, very important life lesson last night. I may think I am invincible when it comes to spicy food....but that is not the case. We went to a Super Bowl party at a restaurant a friend owns, and they had a hot wing eating contest. I did not enter, and they had an extra plate of wings left and he asked if we wanted them. I said sure.....I love hot stuff, and I have never met a hot sauce I can't handle. He brought the plate over, and I asked which one was the hottest. He pointed to it (they had 2 of each level of heat, 5 levels total) and my thought process was start with the hottest and work your way down. I ate 1 wing....and was literally crying after just that one. It started off with GREAT flavor, and after about 30 seconds I knew I was in trouble. I couldn't feel my mouth or lips, and could barely talk. When I finally could talk (3 glasses of water and 10 minutes later) I asked him what the heck was in that sauce. Reaper, ghost, and some other pepper that I can't recall the name of. Oh, and the ranch that looked so innocent on the side? Yeah no.....reaper infused. 

So, what lessons were learned last night? First, I am not invincible. Second, do not sign up for a hot sauce/wing eating contest, especially one that your husband's evil minded friend puts on. Third, never trust the ranch. Ever. 

That Ranch aspect was sneaky. You COUNT on Ranch to cool your palate a little! Ugh.

4 hours ago, edspec said:

@Slainte57 I'm sorry you've been hurt.  I haven't felt that but I did tell DH there has been a shift which I don't care for.  

I agree. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it does seem different...

21 hours ago, #55worktoplay said:

Those CRV’s are highly wanted here with the thieves. Very high theft rate, my friends insurance rate has sky rocketed.

Oh terrific. 😞 And here I was only worried about a car scratching mine when they open their door--I was already wishing we were no longer in an apartment where SOMEONE is always parked right next to mine. Now I want a home with a garage too! Sadly, that won't happen for a year. Maybe less but realistically probably not for a year...

6 hours ago, Slainte57 said:

After many years being Tribe member, I’ve decided to step out and unfollow. To the tried and true members from way back when, thank you for being part of my life. We’ve shared our lives, ups and downs and made it through the pandemic. I’ve appreciate being able to share my photos and adventures. I will truly miss you.

Recent comments have made me feel attacked and ridiculed. I don’t need that in my life. Remember when snarky comments are made, you don’t know how it will effect someone.

I’m terribly sad that this is the end of my Tribe membership.

Stay safe, stay well💕

 

 

Oh please don't leave us. I don't know what the comments were, I guess I must have missed them. But I'm so sorry if anyone made you feel hurt or ridiculed. I for one think you are awesome and always am glad when you post. Please think about this...XO

I only follow threads of reviews by Tribe members. Why? Because they are my friends and it means a lot to them. And so I am happy to do it!

I dunno, my mind can't wrap around it, The wifeless guy -- last I looked -- was down $10,000. An improvement from the high of $11,800. I am just so not in alignment with such things...

6 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Good morning Cruise Critic and Tribe families! Today Patti and I have a family event to attend and tomorrow is the Super Bowl, so I won't be posting anything new until Monday. Have a great weekend! I hope that your favorite team wins or your numbers come in! 😁

Nooooooooooooo...........

We are pretty lame here at the Greenpea Ranch when it comes to the Super Bowl. I like to tune in for the half-time ads. Mr. Greenpea like to watch maybe a half an hour's worth of the game. But we of course must CELEBRATE. So early morning grocery run for nachos ingredients to slobber over and of course a couple blenderfuls of frozen margies will be imbibed.

2 hours ago, Roscoe13 said:

Speaking of CRV's here's my Touring Hybrid...this was supposed to be a Toyota Tacoma but our household deal is we pay cash (done) and then Mrs. has to approve...Soon Tacoma became a Venza but due to NONE available I settled for the CRV.  Great pickup, er, I mean SUV

 

I love it. I really like the red and was considering red when I bought my CR-V.