LloydJr

Last April, the train was running but not all the way to the top (due to snow).

On 2/16/2024 at 10:46 PM, nw2this said:

So, if I miss it, I miss it.  I hope I don't, but changing my flight doesn't work for me.

7 hours ago, nw2this said:

I understand I might miss it and I don't want to take it bad enough to purchase an earlier flight. 

Does this make sense to anybody?

What are these group benefits of which you speak?

25 minutes ago, Panhandle Couple said:

80% of the time I don't read past page 5 of a thread, because after that page, 70% of the posts are repetitive, and the other 50% just don't make sense.

You're learning, but you need to use more precise sounding numbers.  That is more effective 83.23% of the time.

1 hour ago, Russiamomm said:

I will grant you that $109 a day is higher than other lines.  But I doubt that many, if anyone actually pays full price for the drink package on NCL.  It’s marketing.

Exactly.  Since the start of FAS, exactly 53 suckers have actually been so confused that they paid list price.  All the rest of the smart kids, slow kids, drunk kids, etc. have just paid the freakin' buck ninety five "gratuity" and enjoyed their cruise.

2 hours ago, havoc315 said:

It’s priced at $109 per day, off which the 20% gratuity is charged.  The “free” is waiving the $109 per day. 
 

But Holland America is just $60 per day.  And unlike the NCL package, it includes bottled water, specialty coffees, etc. 

 

So are Holland America bartenders earning 50% of the tips of NCL bartenders?

 

Oceana is $30, including gratuities — and includes bottled waters, specialty coffee, etc. 

 

Princess is $85… and includes canned soda, milkshakes, specialty coffees, etc. 

 

Thus, NCL is charging the highest “gratuity”

So, it is free??

13 hours ago, bkrickles1 said:

Approximately $2 per cookie is no bargain! Lol 😂 

 

Don't forget the 20% gratuity!

42 minutes ago, havoc315 said:

NCLs drink package is far more expensive than most other cruise lines… even luxury lines.

Isn't it free?? 

2 hours ago, IAcruising said:

 

Wow. Pulling numbers out the arse is easy. How about backing them up?

 

I do it all the time.  It's the internet.  It's not "real."  🤣  Haven't you noticed some of the percentages I've tossed out in recent threads?

In my own defense (not that "defense" is needed), I do it to challenge our intelligent readers to consider my points and reach their own conclusions.  That, or I do it for fun.  I guess the jury can decide.

(It doesn't seem to be working)

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

and lloyd jr. yes, it admirable that toyota has continued to improve and up the quality of its product. have you priced one lately?

Yes.  I bought one in July.  Worth every penny. 😎 

3 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

Correct, except I'd replace "may not be" with "WILL not be". Why would cruise lines do anything to increase our value when the ships are full as it is? Economics 101 folks, supply and demand.

 

 Doug

It's the same reason that Toyota kept improving their vehicles even when they could easily sell every one that they could build.  Long term strategy vs. today's bottom line.

58 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Whether in Haven restaurant or other, we never ask for window seats even though preferred.  I like to see where they'll seat us. 

That's why we ask.  By about the third day we no longer have to ask.

27 minutes ago, julig22 said:

No additional promotions with a bid. However, if you pay for an upgrade, I assume you might be eligible for the additional meal - but I can't say that for sure.

Upgrade Advantage FAQ (ncl.com)

I have done this several times (paid outright for an upgrade from inside to balcony) and we got the extra meal each time.

Just now, dexddd said:

We've had Haven cards with high lats level for long time.  No flashing anything, just give card when asked going into restaurant.  I guess the benefit must be getting a seat near doors to kitchen as that seems to be the pattern for us.

We typically go to the MDR for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner when they open.  On our last cruise we had window seats every time.  And we just had a normal old card.  No Haven Halo needed! 😇💩

12 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

So odd. Of you book online before your cruise, the “system” properly applies all of the discounts. Onboard, every other dept can figure it out (shops, photo, laundry), but not ShoreEx. They must make $10’s thousands every cruise from people who don’t bother going to the desk to ask that their discounts be applied. 

On a recent cruise, the Shorex desk told me that I couldn't use OBC to pay for an excursion.  🤣

54 minutes ago, Birdnutty said:

Holy moly!  Dem's pretty pricey cookies!

Who among us would EVER pay that?  There is crazy and then there is this.

55 minutes ago, JGander said:

It makes you feel good to flash your special status key card around.

 

That's about it.

That only applies to 2.3% of cruisers.  The rest are nice people who couldn't care less about flashing around "special status."  I wish there were more, because they amuse me greatly.  

44 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

t's funny, on my last cruise my status wasn't listed on my keycard. 

When/where was this??  I haven't sailed since November, but every card in my stack has latitudes level indicated?   Do you have a photo?

45 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

And the coveted gold card for Haven guests. 

Coveted??  🤣  Did the bird just make a joke??

7 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

which are usually so close to each other they are practically table mates.

While I've experienced this in the Taste/Savor/etc. alternates, I've never found this to be the case in the "real" MDR.

39 minutes ago, JGander said:

You can not check in before they open the offices and start processing people.

 

And you can not check in after the ship has departed.

Okay, I'll grant you that there is a check-in time range with an infinite number of eligible check-in times.  So, I was totally wrong.  As far as East is from the West.  I said "no check-in time," when in fact there are infinite check-in times.  That is likely the most wrong that anybody will ever be. 🤣  There simply can't be a larger gap than zero to infinity.  Did I win the internet today? 😎

17 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

Give the MDRs a try. The larger one is beautiful and really makes you feel like you’re on a ship, the smaller one feels more like a restaurant on land. (Sometimes the service is better in the latter, but it depends.  The menus are the same.)

Yeah, I didn't understand that.  The MDRs on NCL ships are fantastic for both breakfast and lunch.  Dinner entrees can be hit or miss, but you can always graze the buffet or local later.  It's just food, and I've never had a cruise where I couldn't find more than enough good food.

16 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Ah. I missed that you edited the quote from UK. Nice. What about the 125-day dining?

 

I already get that because I'm Platinum or above, but that could be a slight perk for those who have not yet reached such esteemed and glorious levels.🤣

(🐀)

10 hours ago, dexddd said:

Who knows.  They removed lounge on Star and Dawn and replaced with rooms.  I'm sure they've made more money on the rooms than people sipping coffee.

Not necessarily.  21.3% of NCL cruisers won't book a ship without an OL.  That reduced demand can certainly equate to the opposite (i.e. reduced revenue).

27 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

You were able to book dining at 125 days in the "cheap cabins"? You got a bag of free laundry and a bottle of (crappy) wine?

 

 

I didn't include the laundry and wine in my quote.  Those are likely "real" perks, but certainly not "exclusive."