buckirj1

Glad I caught this-I'm usually at least a day late and a dollar short. Have a great time! As always, I'm looking forward to reading your blog.

I get what the OP is saying - make it so special that people will WANT to dress in true formal wear - but I can't think of anything that would make it special enough that I'd be willing to dress that way, especially since I don't dress that way for anything else.

I kind of like another poster's idea of a reservation-only pay venue with fancy plates and silverware, tablecloths and chair covers, special menu, free wine, etc., but I still think the cruise line would have to deal with, "whaddya mean, I'm not dressed up enough?!!" people being what they are.

I doubt there's enough interest among the cruising public to make something like this worthwhile. Just about all mainstream cruiselines today try to be all things to all people.

Apologies if you've heard me say this before, but it bears repeating. You can certainly have your cruise portrait taken if you're not dressed up. The photographers don't care; it's entirely up to you.

The website won't even show pricing for the studio cabins if you put in more than one passenger.

 

It's ironic because initially the studios were designed for "hip couples" when that flopped they reinvented them as solo cabins.

Thanks for taking the trouble to check. I remember now NCL initially tried to sell studios to couples.

Theoretically, you could sleep two people in a studio cabin. You'd have to be exceptionally cozy to do it, though. I wonder how the studio cabin would price out for two occupants?

You'd think NCL would have paid more attention to Disney for lessons in how/how not to roll out a dining plan.

Nope. There may be times and places to dress up, but eating surely isn't one of them. That said, I'd love to sail HAL one of these days. I think it's a cruiseline that combines a lot of what I like about NCL and Carnival, and there are always ways to avoid any formal nonsense. I'm just waiting for the right cruise at the right time for the right price.

It's very much like dropping someone off at Logan airport. Same friendly, easygoing Boston drivers and everything. ;)

Hahahaha:D You win the internet today!

I still like NCL best for the same reasons as always (freestyle, entertainment, service, etc). Nothing I've read suggests that the current NCL management attitude of viewing passengers as sheep to be fleeced instead of valued customers (thanks, Sparks!) has filtered down to ship staff and crew. They, at least, still seem to giveadamn you're there, and the actual shipboard experience hasn't changed much, so far as I can gather.

I agree that cruising, especially solo cruising, doesn't represent the value it has for the past 15 years or so. If one cruise line seems to be remotely successful at whatever they're doing, the rest will surely follow. Personally, I'll still look at cruises with a "should cost" in mind, and will book only if a particular cruise fits my particular parameters...same as I've always done. I think it's a given that I'll either cruise less often or modify that "should cost."

It won't be cold. In fact, it'll probably be pretty hot with temperatures in the 70s. Well, I think that's hot, but YMMV. Be prepared to experience lots of fog if you sail that itinerary in the summer. Eerie and beautiful at the same time. The ship's fog horn will scare the life out of you until you get used to it! I haven't sailed RCI on that itinerary in the summer, but I've done some Carnival sailings during that time frame. There were lots of children. Have fun!

Certainly, given the right price, itinerary, time and ship.

I really would rather not see chain restaurants on cruise ships...I have to see enough of them at home. I guess some folks live in more rural areas that don't have a lot of those kinds of places, but I wouldn't want to spend hundreds of dollars to eat in one. Except for a Legal Seafood. I'd make an exception for that. YMMV.

Another advantage to an inside cabin (on the Dawn, Spirit, Star, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Gem) is a more open bathroom plan. None of that toilet-in-a-cubbyhole nonsense found in higher cabin categories on those ships.

Loved the intro, and looking forward to reading the OP's impressions of RCI. I didn't like either of my RCI cruises, but they have some interesting itineraries at better times of year than some of the other cruise lines. I'm hesitant, but not willing to give up on Royal Caribbean completely. Besides, I love the OP's writing style!

I have a feeling that these types of promos will continue until new bookings flatten out and they need to try something different... Right now they are successful in getting more and more people to try NCL.

I agree. The "promos" will continue as long as people think they're getting a deal. I think the Disney Plan effect will happen sooner or later with so many folks getting the promos that it'll be hard to get into venues with or without a reservation. That's the point where it might flatten out. Personally, price reductions are much better for me and the way I like to cruise, but I fear those days are over.

Toiletries, makeup, a blow-dryer (if its an older ship with those crappy ones), medications, a couple pairs of underwear and socks, a t-shirt, and a couple of paperbacks. Maybe a jacket or a spare turtleneck/jeans depending on weather. Purse contains travel and cruise docs, wallet and reading/sunglasses. The purse is about 4"x6", and the carry-on is a 12" duffel. Duffel bags rule: you can cram a ton of stuff in there. Add a 19" roller, and I'm all set for a week or more.

...and if one cruiseline does this successfully, others will follow. NCL is already starting.

It's what you wear with your "dressy" jeans and flip flops, of course.

Uh, nope. I'm pretty much an all-jeans-all-the-time girl, myself. I pretty much wear jeans and turtlenecks (or tee shirts) wherever I go and whatever I'm doing. The clothes I wear on cruises are the same I wear to work, and church, and wherever else I might go. Much simpler that way, instead of compartmentalizing your clothes into "casual", "dressy", "formal", etc. Those words don't have much meaning these days.

What the heck is a "dress polo shirt", anyway?

Sequined.

In the past, NCL has reduced solo supplements, or the bottom line price dropped so much the supplement didn't matter. These days, though, with all that's going on with the "free promotions", all you can do is carefully watch pricing, and jump on it when you find something attractive.

I haven't sailed Carnival in several years, but I'm considering a return. What are my chances of getting a table to myself in the MDR? I'd definitely do Carnival's version of open seating (My Time, Your Time, whatever they call it) because I loathe being told what time to eat as much as I don't like sitting with the same people all the time. I'd probably eat before 6 or after 7:30.

You can buy individual soda in the teens arcade room out of vending machine its a little cheaper than at the bar and you also don't get hit with the auto gratuity. It's also brand name soda not that fountain crap that's used for the soda pkg most of the time.

 

You use your room key to purchase and it's charged to your OB acct.

This is good to know. I sort-of remember seeing a soda machine on the Spirit many years ago, but didn't pay attention on other cruises. Do you know if the machine is outside the arcade on all ships?

Hearing competent, non-intrusive music from a couple of passengers is far preferable to hearing the shriekings of those fambuhlees who allow their children to turn feral on a cruise.

Yea..NCL, I think you screwed up here. Probably should've put a bit more thought into this..

In a nutshell, the source of most of NCL's current problems.