The Black Page

19 hours ago, Mjbenz said:

Every crew member has a contract with a set salary. The DSC is used to pay those salaries. NCL corp takes the remaining amount and could use it on bonus programs for the top crew members based on hero cards. 
 

crew members do not get tips unless you personally give them cash tips.  

And we have yet another OPINION. 🙂

20 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

The crew don't get any share of the DSC.  They are third world country slaves forced into serving the evil NCL overlords.  

 

Or, something along those lines.  

Thanks for your OPINION

You are talking about the Daily Service Charge, not tips.  While may claim to know who gets what wile others swear that"NCL keeps it all for added profit", no one outside of NCL knows how the DSC funds are distributed.

On 10/27/2022 at 8:37 AM, kitty-sail said:

Very well stated. No one, guests or staff, have a problem except if children are rude or disruptive to other guests. If I remember correctly, as a teenager, the last thing I wanted to do was hang out with my parents.

So you have interviewed EVERYONE, guest and staff, and can speak for them all?  The rule dos not say a thing about being rude or disruptive (those are both highly subjective terms so who would decide anyway), it states a specific age limit and should be enforced with no exceptions.  If a family wants to be together, simply go elsewhere on the ship.  Is it really that hard to follow rules?

On 10/26/2022 at 9:41 PM, Beamco said:

Why shouldn't other guests have a problem with it. I am perfectly fine with leaving the Haven Lounge, Pool, Observation Deck etc. to avoid children behaved or otherwise. Just don't chase me away from the one area of the Haven that is designated no children. Additionally, the parents with the disrespectful children show up and get to say - it's Ok because other children are here - and we go down the slippery slope from there. Rules are rules and they are not meant to be broken. The rule is there for a purpose. Also it's not about the staff breaking up the  monotony of their job its about the comfort of your fellow guests that are following the rules. The no kids under 16 on the Haven sundeck is a hard rule not a soft one. Oh and I can say it this way you always run into the people who take every opportunity to take the edge for their own benefit over others and god forbid others complain about their self centered behavior. If people follow the rules the staff won't be forced to do anything. 

I wish I could have liked this 1000 times.  Finally someone posts a well thought out cogent post,.  Kudos to you Beamco!

On 10/26/2022 at 6:58 PM, IronRobi said:

This is exactly what I was going to say as well. If your son is as respectful and quiet as you say, the staff won't have any issues with it and the other haven guests shouldn't either. I say shouldn't because you will always run into the people who follow every rule to the letter and will take every opportunity to complain and point out when somebody doesn't. So if this happens, staff will be forced to enforce it, just try not to put up a giant fuss about it since it is against the rules.

So it is OK for him to break the rule but it is not OK for someone else to call him out on it.  LOL that has to be of of the most absurd things I have ever read on the internet.

On 10/25/2022 at 11:58 AM, dandelpino said:

In any case, if you really want your son on the sundeck my advice would be to not ask for permission and just have him sit out there. The Haven staff are not going to ask him to leave unless he's being disruptive.

 

Terrible advice.  You are basically saying "go ahead and break the rules and make others have to complain to have you follow them or force the staff into the uncomfortable situation of letting you know that he has to leave"  It is not OK to beak rules until someone calls you on it.
.

On 10/25/2022 at 11:03 AM, July1963 said:

We booked Norwegian first time for July next year on the Joy. We have since found out that children are not allowed on the Sundeck. This would exclude us as a family from this whole area, our Son will be 14 when sailing, only child and behaves much as an adult. I did have an online Chat with Norwegian and they said to talk with Guest Services when onboard. 

Has anyone seen children in this area? This may well be a deal breaker for us to the extent we cancel.

If that is how you feel, consider the deal broken.  The rule is in place and teaching your son that it is OK to break rules is not something a good parent would do.  The rule does not say only well behaved children are allowed on the sun deck, and for good reason.  "well behaved" is highly subjective whereas setting an age limit is a firm parameter with that has no room for subjectivity.  Having said all of that, teh sun deck in question is a very small portion of the ship and there many Haven areas that you son can join you as a family.  Quit worrying about a small sundeck, go on your cruise with your family and have a great time.

2 minutes ago, Nclgetawaymenhoney said:

Yes normally you should see your new cabin soon

 

 

Thank you

If I just checked my bids and one of them changed from Pending to Processing then the rest are al now marked Expired, is that a good thing?

2 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Yes it will be on. Soccer is the most watched sport in the world

That's only because in many parts of the world they don't have any real sports, just this kickball junk! 🙂

If you have only sailed CCL you are in for a real treat going with NCL.  CCL is FAR inferior to NCL especially in the areas of food, crew members, ship cleanliness, and many other things.  Do yourself a favor and go to the NCL site had read about their 'freestyle' dining.  Enjoy your cruise!

Chances are it will be on.  NCL is famous for showing a lot of kickball (a.k.a. soccer - lamest and most boring sport ever invented might I add)on their cruises.

On 11/4/2022 at 8:43 AM, Markanddonna said:

We boarded the Epic Nov 3 and the shops, as of this sailing are permanently closed. I peeped behind the canvases and the were truly all empty. No display windows either. I wonder what is going on?

I seriously doubt that they are "permanently" closed.  That is a little drastic and melodramatic.  The assumption you are making is unrealistic as are most assumptiosn.  This is how most rumors are started! 🙂

46 minutes ago, pickle11 said:

I can have fun at home for half the costs.  You have to pay for fun on a cruise ship.  The more you pay the more fun you have.

I have a total blast and spend very little.  Having fun is a state of mind!

I listen to music when I eat wings!
 

14 hours ago, cindyhere said:

Which Ship to Bermuda has been awarded the upgrades for next week ?

Well a quick search on NCL's web site shows only the Joy and the Pearl sailing to Bermuda next week.  Using that info and surfing through the roll calls on this site turned up many people posting about upgrades on the Joy November 12th sailing.  Ah you gotta love the interwebs.  🙂

On 9/28/2022 at 1:20 PM, fstuff1 said:

The buffet Garden Cafe was renamed Surfside Cafe.

Teppanyaki  was rename Hasuki.

 

And it could be argued that OceanBlue was renamed Palomar.

 

At a minimum, why rename the Garden Cafe?

Does it really matter?  Maybe NCL just decided it was time for a change!

On 11/2/2022 at 10:12 PM, JBCall said:

Hi all,

Are the balcony cabins big enough to hold 2 teens (14, 16) plus their parents?  Should we be looking at a Club Balcony Suite or two cabins?  We are looking at a spring break cruise on either the Joy, Bliss, or Encore. 

 

We are experienced cruisers but have not been on NCL before.  Are there significant differences between the three ships?

 

Thanks.

We have done four in a balcony.  It can be a little bit tight if everyone wants to do the same thing at the same time, but it can be done and help save a lot of money, especially if you catch a 3rd/4th free or 3d/4th $99.  Most people do not spend a lot of time in the cabin anyway so I would at least consider it.  It is not as horried as some would have you believe.

Read about the ships at this page https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship

3 hours ago, cruiseat50 said:

Is there only one cruise terminal or many so that I know what to tell the cabbie. 

 

 

What airport should we fly into - JFK or LaGuardia?  

 

Where should we stay - if Manhattan is too spendy for multiple days?

 

TIA for any help/suggestions

Hello there Tia!  I hope the following helps.

Port info is on the NCL site at https://www.ncl.com/getting-to-the-pier/driving-directions iy is a very helpful page!

We prefer LGA, but that or JFK would be fine. Pick the one that has flights to fit your needs and is the cheapest one available.

There are many hotels very close to the port.  We normally use Hilton properties.  For some of them you could actually walk to the port if you choose to do so.