SeaShark

Great story...thanks for sharing.

I remember a time when nobody even knew what Vibe was. Then, as the word got out, more and more people would show up early to the port to participate in the mad dash for passes. This drove up demand...and the price of Vibe soon followed. It went up...and up...and up. Yet, the demand doesn't slow. These "here is how I got my pass" stories are just going to give people ideas and make the demand even worse. Imagine working at Guest Services once all the Karens figure out that if you pester them enough you might get a pass. Fun.

You have to wonder how NCL will respond. Perhaps the whole selling Vibe passes online first come, first served isn't the best way from a business standpoint. People know they can bid for stateroom upgrades, why not bid for Vibe passes? Instead of selling ### passes online, NCL could just allow you to bid on a pass. Then, a couple of days before the cruise, they could just award the passes to the top ### bidders. Guarantees maximum income and allows them to take advantage of the "I'd have paid double for a Vibe pass " crowd.

Either that or they'll start dividing the entire top deck into sections, each with its own pa$$ that you can buy. 

We'll all miss the time when nobody even knew what Vibe was.

3 hours ago, Ellis1138 said:

I go with the idea that everyone's cruise experience is valid.

If people here are annoyed by complainers, is that also valid?

...asking for a friend.

2 minutes ago, cooncat_mom said:

 I don't think the staff needs to go through the added work of maintaining my diet so I don't use the special access desk and many others of us don't either.

IMHO, that is the wrong way to look at it. It isn't "added work", this is the job and function of the access desk...it is what they are there for. Let them do their jobs. The staff would rather you be happy and safe while enjoying your vacation.

27 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Thanks, but how hard would it be for them to let the wait staff know that those menus do exist?

Wouldn't be hard at all. In fact, they could tell every single employee in every single department onboard that the menus exist. However, given the procedure in place...which the guest would be fully aware of if they properly contact the access desk...one has to ask how hard would it be to just ask the correct person?

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

I remember reading on these boards before our Prima cruise this past summer that you could ask for a vegetarian or vegan menu for the next day and order ahead. But when I tried this the waiters would look very confused and then hand me the regular menu for the next day. This was in Hudsons, the main dining room.

That makes sense. When you talk with the access desk, they will tell you that you have to get the menu from the hostess or the maitre'd, who will then take your order to the following evening, and enter it into their system. The only server involvement is telling them the following evening that you've already pre-ordered your meal.

2 hours ago, Monica887 said:

Thanks. I didn't know this. Since it's a food preference and not an actual allergy, I never want to take away attention from people who actually NEED accommodations.

 

I'll try it for my upcoming trip! I know Haven is pretty flexible with the menu, but hopefully they can incorporate some of these for me too. 

You aren't taking anything from anyone because you need or want a vegetarian or vegan diet. No different than someone who needs/wants a kosher diet. The access desk exists to assist anyone with an accommodation...it isn't a disability only zone.

28 minutes ago, Monica887 said:

Interesting. I'd rather NCL work on incorporating a good variety of *interesting and flavorful* plant based dishes in the main dining venues rather than having to go to one specific spot. I can always find something or piece together sides, but they tend to be bland and boring.

Actually, NCL has done this. There is a vegan menu in the MDR, however most know nothing about it as they fail to contact the access desk prior to their cruise to discuss their dining accommodation(s).

9 minutes ago, OBSESSIVEWORLDTRAVELER said:

Is there something factually wrong with my post? I was giving a range that can be applied to any year. For example Villanova University Spring Break 2022 started February 28. Hence my starts late February comment. Easter 2025 is on April 20. Hence my ends mid to late April comment. Your comment is accurate as well. Just trying to determine if there's something incorrect with what I said.

Factually, no, nothing wrong with your post. However, the OP asked a simple, straight-forward question, which was answered by post #5 in the thread. Asked. Answered. Simple. In typical CC fashion, the thread then veers off into point/counter-point discussion that is nothing but a distraction. We are already 16 posts into a thread just to answer a simple yes/no question. 

Are you certain that you are remembering NCL? They haven't had formal nights in over 20 years.

22 minutes ago, JandC_Cruising said:

Oops...well..."Quite a handful" is really how most of us will think when we meet her!   But dear mom and dad have NEVER seen her act that way before.

 

Sure...Mom and Dad always think that way, but has the child ever been tested?

And we must not forget: My differently aged kids (who are usually apart as they are in different grades in school) can't go to the kid's club unless they are put in the same group

10 minutes ago, jimsig said:

I'd say if you are at 19, 44, 74, 149, 349, and 699 points after finishing a cruise it's the most painful as you are only one point away from the next status.  A so close yet so far away type of thing. It's got nothing to do with being thankful you have cruised that may nights.  You can love the fact that you have cruised that many nights and also be bummed that you are missing the next level by only one point.  

5 minutes ago, Middleager said:

I wouldn't feel painful or bummed at all. 

 

I'd feel glad, and blessed that I have been able to be on cruises, and got those points.  So what if I'm 1 point away from the next level.  There are other things that are painful, certainly not this.

I don't disagree with either of you, but consider the fallacy of the OP's "1 point" argument.

At 74 points, the OP is Gold, and with their next cruise being 14 nights, they will become Platinum after the cruise. However, a cruiser who is at 61 points (also Gold) going on the same cruise will also become Platinum at the conclusion of the cruise. 

If you're going to grant special status bumps to one, then you have to grant them to the other as both are going to become Platinum simply by going on the exact same cruise.

Note that this example only considers regular point levels. If someone had booked into the Haven on a Latitudes promo, then they could also make Platinum on the same cruise even if they started with as little as 33 points.

As noted elsewhere in the thread, if you grant someone a bump for being 1 point away, that only makes the person with 73 points say "Hey, what about me? I'm only 1 point away from the guy you bumped!!"

41 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

Good grief you just keep going. I already addressed that my question came as the result of conversations I've had on the ship. That was in my original post. Seeing as that was one experience of one cruiser I encountered I was trying to get a scope for if this is a more normal experience or if said person got lucky. 

But, you forgot to just ask others while you were on the ship? Instead of dealing with live data right in front of you, you waited, created an account, and decided to ask strangers instead? Some scientist.

41 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

1. I've never been 1 point away from an upgraded status before. Thus, this is a bit different from the other status upgrade levels. Most travel companies have some flexibility in their status programs, or ways to earn a point outside of their main methods. It appears now that NCL has one of the more rigid programs.

Given that Bronze starts at 1 point, your premise is demonstrably false. Besides, why would 1 point matter? As long as your next cruise will be sufficient to grant you a new level, then you are just as close regardless of points.

41 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

2. Why are you so invested in this conversation? Don't you have other things to do than to harass me for asking if anyone else has experience with being 1 point away from platinum? I'm a scientist by trade and wanted *gasp* data points so I could *gasp* analyze data. 

Why are you? Sure, I have other things to do, but I wasn't responding to you, I was responding to someone else...YOU are the one addressing me here.

41 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

3. Genuinely curious why are you looking for status pins to trade. Could it be your up to something nefarious with them? J.K. but what's up with that? Personally I've got 0% interest in the NCL pins... and I collect other types of pins.

Data point for you: it says SHIP pins, not status pins. Please learn the difference before you try to be clever. I can get that you personally have 0% interest in the NCL pins, but that doesn't mean that I, or other people, feel the same. 

But since you are genuinely curious, NCL released ship pins for 14 of their ships. I have a total of 139 pins in my collection. Rather than spend money to buy them (take a look at what they sell for on eBay), I'd rather offer them for trade with my fellow Cruise Critic members. That way, I can get some pins I'd like to add, and others can fill in their collection as well...without anybody having to pay some eBayer for something we were all given for free.

25 minutes ago, UKstages said:

lawd heave mercy.

 

as is typical around these here parts, a small number of folks are lambasting one poor soul for asking a perfectly innocent question. i find nothing untoward or deceptive or misleading about the OP's interest in having that particular question answered. many, including me, have been there before and wondered how this scenario would be handled.

 

you seasoned CC folks (and quite a few relative newcomers, as well) have heard variations of this question dozens or hundreds of times. you're tired of hearing it, and, you've learned from experience that some of the people asking it do indeed have ulterior motives. but this is the first time the OP is asking this question and the poster has no prior knowledge of how the question has been answered before. and the OP certainly doesn't expect to be scolded for the behavior of others.

 

just because somebody else may have been trying to bend rules or get special treatment doesn't mean that the OP is. the OP was simply saying, "hey, what's the deal with turning platinum on my cruise? i'm one point away... how is that handled? i heard they might give it to me. how do i go about getting that done?"

 

that's a simple request for information about an NCL policy, not an invitation to tear into the poster for what you believe are his horribly misguided evil motivations.

 

all the hidden intentions and perceptions of policy deviations are coming from the minds of those castigating the OP. there is nothing in the OP's initial post that would indicate that he is trying to pull one over on anybody, especially the readers of this forum.  yes, he is interested in getting the status on the next cruise and not waiting till the completion of the cruise. that's normal, not nefarious. everybody would like that! that's not the way it works, but he had apparently heard that it might work differently, so he was simply asking the kind people (there are still a few left) who participate in this forum for advice.

 

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

 

you only think it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck if you are looking for ducks.

 

many folks here, sadly, are duck hunters.

Well, well...as is typical around these parts someone jumps in and plays their moral superiority card instead of actually addressing the topic.

Sure, many people have been there before and wondered how it would be handled. Not really a valid observation here because:

a)     changing levels has happened to the OP three times (all recently), so they should have multiple personal experiences as to how it is handled

b)     the OP has clearly indicated that the topic of Latitude levels is one engaged in frequently in their cruising experience. Obviously, the OP has had the opportunity to ask this question directly, or perhaps via email to one of the many friends they made while cruising

Might be the first time the OP is asking the question, but is the search feature not working? As you yourself pointed out, the question has been asked "dozens or hundreds of times". Shouldn't be to difficult to find then.

Simple request for information about an NCL policy you say? NCL has this thing called a FAQ that plainly and clearly answers this request. A person is far more likely to find the NCL website than they are the Cruise Critic website, so NCL should be the go-to for policy information. Or...they could have simply asked the travel professional that does their bookings.

And yes, wanting something is normal and not nefarious. However, actively seeking work-arounds and hacks is nefarious and not normal. Not to mention that actively seeking work-arounds and hacks, by definition, means that you already KNOW the policy you are questioning.

And if the OP "heard that it might work differently", don't you think the OP should make the inquiry to that source? Why are we obligated to support what someone might have "heard" from a third-party?

8 hours ago, Exuberant said:

Weird I thought I basically spoke those words? 

Weird, but do you know he difference between:

"I basically spoke those words"  and  "I spoke those words"?

1 hour ago, yakcruiser said:

Three pages now when the original question from the OP could have been answered with a simple NO.

Except, of course, when an OP already knows the answer to the posted question, but is really seeking the answer to the unasked question.

2 hours ago, Exuberant said:

Not everyone is trying to scheme in life. But some people sure choose to be as rialed up as possible. 

 

Anywho, yeah I was transparent, I'd appreciate if they honored the platinum on this trip but if that's not a thing they do then whatever I should have booked my last cruise sooner when it was double points. 

But why would they honor the Platinum that you haven't earned when they didn't honor Bronze, Silver, or Gold before you earned them?

And no, not everyone is trying to scheme, but some people are seeking data points when they want rules broken in their favor.

2 hours ago, Exuberant said:

I'm not sure what you manufactured me assuming in your mind.

Really? Then you must not have even read the post you quoted where I stated it plainly.

2 hours ago, Exuberant said:

I shared my experience and that's it.

No you didn't. Your unique experience only came out when you became combative. And it certainly wasn't "it" was it? In fact, your whole purpose wasn't to share your experience, it was..to use your own words:

20 hours ago, Exuberant said:

best way to go about trying to get them to honor platinum this time...

14 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

I sail solo it's a very common question when you are with the solos as they frequently so certificate swaps so you get 4 speciality dining plus whatever free at sea you have. But feel free to have an opinion when I'm looking for data points which you could not contribute to. 

Do you always assume. I certainly have sailed solo, so I know what conversations do, and do not, occur. And I've passed through more Latitude levels than you have, so I've got way more experience as to what happens when as you move up the chain.

Truth be told, you likely already know the answer, but you're just another person who really wants to find a work-around to the rules. All you really care about is finding the one person who can tell you how to game the system.

10 minutes ago, Exuberant said:

It seems I struck a nerve with quite a few people. When I was on my last cruise I mentioned that I would be at 74 points after the cruise when I would be asked about my status. One person said that when they had 74 points they were pleasantly surprised at check in that they had the platinum status card in their room and got honored the benefits for laundry and dining which would be nice. Another person told me they had it happen to a friend at 73. I posted to see if anyone else has experienced this situation lately to see if I could get some more data points. 

 

For what it's worth, I earned all 74 points since July. I won't get my hops up for getting lucky but will come back and report a data point. 

 

It seems like most people here haven't been in this situation, so I've got no idea why they are being so hostile when I just wanted more data points. 

Hostile? Is that the new term to use when someone has a different opinion than your own?

You've done all of your sailing since July, my sailing experience goes back way further than that. Funny that I have never been "asked about my status"...not once, yet it has happened to you multiple times? Seems hard to believe. 

1 hour ago, marktwothousand said:

as it turns out, we’ve already heard from the CNC dept. apparently this orphan credit was left over from peace of mind COVID booking and then transferred within family (to me) and that’s why there were issues around using it.

And somehow YOU were not aware of this? For some reason, you just assumed that this was a regular CruiseNext that you purchased on a past sailing?

Just goes to show how hard it is to give a good answer when the person posing the question doesn't provide ALL of the relevant information.

1 hour ago, marktwothousand said:

CNC got back to me personally this morning to let me know they will apply it if the agent emails them.

That is odd...why would CNC need an email from a reservation agent to apply something that they actually control?

14 hours ago, ShrinkinTexas said:

Is the only way to get a cruisenext (not cruisefirst) voucher to buy on the ship, while on a cruise?

Yes, that is the whole point of the two offerings. CruiseNext is sold on the ship, CruiseFirst is sold off of the ship.

To sum up the entire thread (independent of the overblown drama built into the title as clickbait):

What is familiarity breeds contempt syndrome?
The ancient saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt," posits that as our familiarity with something or someone deepens, our initial warmth can wane, giving rise to negative sentiments and attitudes.

48 minutes ago, BoatSkipper said:

You have to do everything through on line forms and they will not talk to you.

Well, that isn't a bug, it's a feature. 

The way they handle these things causes everything to be in writing. Thus there is no misunderstanding, no misquoting, no "he said, she said". This also helps to avoid the inevitable arguments from people who let their emotions/drama take control of the situation. Everything is documented. The folks you want to talk to aren't in New Orleans...they are in Miami and have nothing to do with the ship, the terminal, or the movement of luggage. They don't even investigate...they only take information and pass it on. They can't help you or answer questions during a conversation.

You got to talk with people at the terminal, right? Why the need to talk to more people?

11 minutes ago, BoatSkipper said:

Will is not been returned so I'm some shape or firm its stolen

If so, then you should have reported it to a) US Customs, b) Port Security Personnel, and c) the New Orleans Police Department. All of those will be far more helpful than Cruise Critic, which is NOT on the list of places to report stolen items. (FWIW...the nice folks that run this website will only communicate with you online in written form...no phone calls...just like NCL.)

36 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

$600 in gratuities PER PERSON? That doesn't sound right. For a 14-night cruise, that amounts to over $40 per day. I think the going rate is $21.

No, of course not. When complaining on CC you never quote the per person cost. Instead you only mention the cost to the entire party because using the inflated number makes NCL look worse.