Crusin6

On 6/20/2023 at 3:37 PM, ljvander said:

Thank you so much for that useful information. I think Gate 1 caters to maybe a more mobile and slightly younger clientele but good to know that it’s not super strenuous or there are options. My husband is not quite as active as I am due to an accident, but is perfectly able to walk reasonable distances.

We did gate1 Egypt in January and at 65 I easily climbed up inside the Khufu pyramid.  Did camel rides too.  We had several 80 to 85 year olds on this trip….burial chamber climb and camels didn’t stop them either 

29 minutes ago, MNfamilycruiser said:

I am pretty certain this is not true.... I seem to remember that my husband signed a form and had it notarized.  My girls had at least 2 passports before they turned 18 - my husband was never there when we got them.... OK I just googled it: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/under-16.html

Step 7 in the above link alone will convince anyone that it’s much easier for both parents to go....

hence my advice still is to is to bring both parents if a child is under 16

1 hour ago, sparks1093 said:

Yes, passports are the best form of ID but not everyone needs one for the type of travel they do. (And FWIW it's the Canadian border and I know many people in my community whose only travel is across that border and they use an alternative form of documentation that is allowed by the regulations.) Since the latest numbers from the State Department indicate that only 44% of US citizens hold passports that the percentage of people who can get away without a passport if not a small one (and industry reports that I have read indicate that on any particular closed loop sailing 50% to 70% of the passengers are using something other than a passport).  

Statistics are great if you can understand what they aren’t tellingyou

so 44% have pp....ok that assumes 100% of Americans travel

we know that’s not true. All the 44% is saying is that 44% of americans travel or have traveled to a place that required pp.  it’s also saying that 56% of Americans either...can’t wont dont want to can’t afford to are too old are too young etc etc .to ..travel to a place that requires pp.  Lots of Americans dont travel so you cant say 100% of Americans regarding a pp because a  pp is only for travel and not everyone travels 

ok so closed loop sailings...50 to 70% not using pp. hmm....let’s back out those that are on “once in a lifetime cruises” and perhaps first time cruisers who dont know any better regarding pp and I’ll bet that the vast majority of savvy repeat cruisers have  a pp

again statistics on their own are meaningless unless compared to the overall picture and that overall picture means backing out certain things in order understand the statistic fully

pp are the best form of Id available and I’ll gladly pay to keep mine updated. 

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

I think at some point perhaps after the airline requirement for real ID is rolled out completely that passports will be required even for a close loop cruise. 

I’ve heard that aswell

25 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

If you were just joking it was hard to tell since there was no indication of it but in any event of course there was a way since I am a US citizen born and bred. My signature gives the reason but of course everyone doesn't see that- I served in the Navy and as they say "join the Navy and see the world" (without mentioning of course that 75% of the world is water🤣). I also live 8 miles from the border and used to cross it every now and then back when documentation wasn't needed. And when we started cruising we were doing closed loop cruises that didn't require passports. All of which is why I am comfortable not having a passport unless I actually need it for the travel I am doing.

Ok so that clears it up. You were part of a very small percentage of people who could get away without a passport.  Why didn’t you post that initially. And no I don’t read signatures but I am one that posts enough info to be clear and concise.  

also you said you crossed the borders when passports weren't needed. I’m guessing you are talking about Mexico and canada but please enlighten if I’m incorrect 

you also mentioned you did closed loop cruises

not everyone is military and note everyone does closed loop cruises

regardless. Passports are the absolute best form of ID a regular person can have and from what I’m reading they may well be required to fly within the USA in short order

1 hour ago, sparks1093 said:

 

No extra stress at all, the vast majority of my travel in my life occurred without a passport in the first place, including to Europe. My travel plans will dictate when I renew my passport, not the expiration date.

Ok well I was just joking but whatever

however I’d like to know how you travelled to Europe without a passport? If you area EU member then please clarify that

if you aren’t then please clarify how you traveled to Europe without a passport?

im guessing there is a way but I not know of any so I’m curious

On 12/23/2018 at 7:26 AM, sparks1093 said:

No, but I'm the one that uses a vice grip to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.

And just think of all the extra stress that last bit cost you 

On 12/11/2018 at 8:28 AM, apratt said:

That is what I am worried about! If one of my kids needed medical care I would feel so bad if we were held up because of that. I know they have some kind of med bay on the ship, but I don't know how good it is. I didn't know until I posted this that kids under 16s passports are only good for 5 years...what a rip off! 

Their passports also cost less

fyi your husband will need to physically be present to get the kids passports due to their ages you can’t do it alone 

Something I miss that I've noticed on basically all our cruises regardless of if it's just me and spouse or me and some of the young adult kids or all of us together...and this is for our land trips too...2 day overnights to Disney to 14 days in a beach house.....

we never fight and all get along famously and it's great 

when the real world rears its ugly head not so much. Lol 

14 hours ago, Bookish Angel said:

I miss the joy of minimalist travel.

 

Whether traveling for a week or a month, we are efficient, light packers and probably bring less than any other passengers. I love "less is more" travel experiences and always come away from them inspired to further simplify my life.

 

 

 

 

 

I use a 21 inch roll on and a small tote but am starting to wonder if I could get away with those underseat  roll Ons and a tote. Lol. 

I hate when im randomly picked for gate checking my non bulging 21 inch roll on when others roll right on. Lol

bad luck of the draw I guess and yes I book zone 6/7 tickets. Lol 

18 hours ago, JulofDenial said:

I have only been on one cruise before which was a Wester Caribbean cruise on the Grandeur with my mother. We live in Southern Pennsylvania so cruising out of Baltimore saves us all the inconveniences and costs of flying. I was wanting to go on another cruise from Baltimore or New Jersey, but when browsing the itineraries I noticed that they were lacking. They almost all stop in Florida or South Carolina no matter where the cruises stated destination is. There are even cruises billed as being cruises to the Bahamas that have more ports in Florida than in The Bahamas. I honestly would rather be on a cruise that has one stop on an island and after meandering aimlessly out in the ocean for a few days than pay the port fees for a place I could drive in a day. On top of that I think most people from the Northeast have been to Florida more than once because it is inexpensive to fly there. What's the deal with this? Do people want these sorts of cruises or is there something else at work here?

The issue you are looking to answer is simple...geography

if you want a deep Carib itin out of NYC they absolutely exist. Mostly in winter and mostly 10 to 14 day itins

check out RCCl and NCL

you are not going to find a 7 day itin to the Carib out of NYC no matter how much you complain about it. Lol 

8 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

^ not sure the numbers would have been that much diff had CC not changed - M&M and Roll Call thread participation on CC seems to be waning.

I've stopped joining roll calls on my last 4 cruises. 

Bye bye cc. I'll miss you but you are now too difficult to use 

I'm thinking that cruise critic hired some former Royal programmers for the new and improved cc boards

10 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I remember back in 2008 when I had a blackberry. I thought that being able to sign on to the CC website was the best thing. Then the app came out years later when I had a smart phone. There was no going back. Well now we are back to 2008 in a world that has better technology and a slow speed, graphic over loaded web based site. If the phone version is this slow on my home wifi I can't imaging what it would be like trying to use it on the cruise ship wifi. I'm sure it won't zoom. I feel your pain because I used the app almost exclusively. I will be traveling this weekend to DC on Amtrak and I was going to spend my time reading CC. I don't have an unlimited data plan so that's not going to happen now. Those who have never used the app can't understand what we are dealing with. CC members are made up of a lot of retired people who just use their home computers so the app isn't a necessity for them. I'm fine with the new format on the computer. I don't see much difference other then being able to post pictures easier and the like button. I can't function on the phone there is just too much buffering. I'm on vacation this week and have been using my desk top to post. 

Amtrak has free wifi 

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So if they got rid of the DSC and increased the fare by $13.99 a day you would be just as happy as a clam?

You think they aren't already raising fares by $13.99?

Only they are still keeping dsc as well

How do you defend the free dsc perk that is sometimes offered ?

Oh never mind...they already added it to cruise fare and then offered it as a perk. Lol

I still want to know what dsc covers

I give tips for personal service

I pay 18% where required

So who does dsc cover? And whoever it covers why aren't they just getting paid? Shouldn't our cruise fare cover all the back office/engine room/officers/entertainers salaries?

Do you tip the performers at a play?

Do you tip the manager of a clothing store?

If you tell me dsc covers the engine crew then I'd like to ask you if you tip your oil delivery guy or the guy who cleans the restaurant you went to or the customer service rep at the warehouse store that just renewed your membership for you?

You tip for personal service...so waiters and stewards

Who gets the dsc? And why are those people even tipped?

Oh and if dsc isnt a tip....then what is it?

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So paying your cruise fare, having to buy alcohol if you want it and having to pay for shore excursion are all service issues as well by your absurd definition. You are basically saying "I want a refund because I don't want to pay it". That is not a service issue that is a passenger issue.

You are not reading correctly

Alcohol incurs a 18% auto TIP so you can't compare it to dsc. Apples and oranges.

Honestly

should shore excursion employees even be part of dsc? However I'm told they are for some reason.

Not being able to use your balcony due to smokers and you report it and nothing is done is a service issue...

The steward who I caught picking up my dirty towels from the floor of the bathroom and re folding them on the racks is a service issue

The waiter that was serving drinks to a smoking couple on the non smoking sun deck and just shrugged his shoulders when I asked him why he didn't tell them it's non smoking. The couple stopped when I told them the sun deck was non smoking btw....but said the waiter was with them all day and said nothing and saw them smoking. Not sure why others didn't say something though. Smh

Oh and as far as shore excursions are concerned....when a crew member behind that desk tells me that there are NO taxis at the port that will take me to cane garden bay and that I needed to pay $39 for a transfer....that is a service issue....because they blatantly lied and I when I went back later to let him know that taxis are indeed available he laughed at me and said "caveat emptor". Um no that doesn't work on me.....bye bye dsc and hello comment card. Yup...the crew is supposed to work as a team....well that team member screwed it up for the rest....and I told them so....it's not about paying the $39 it about the mocking to my face by a crew member

With regard to the above....I'm so well traveled I don't even know why I asked or why I bought his line....perhaps it was because I had a senior citizen with me ....

I really am Savvy enough to know about $8 taxis. Lol.

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You're making way too many assumptions.

 

1. Was the time off pre-approved?

 

2. Is the person an exempt employee or a non-exempt employee?

 

3. Are their union regs involved here?

 

4. Is this a 1099 contract employee?

 

 

 

OP only provided generalized information, therefore we can only provide generalized information

Everything you posted is exactly what I presumed.....

And if the answers to your above questions lay the blame at the employers feet then yes they owe the employee any lost fare

E.g. If the answer to number 1 above is yes there employer approved the time and let's add for fun...that there is no stipulation that the employer can renege on that approved time off....the employer can "indicate" all they want about time off....but if they force you to cancel they owe you the lost fare

Wether you get it or not is another story...but the employer is still responsible for your financial loss

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NCL dailies state that items can be left for up to 1 hour, not 30 minutes.

Ok then just substitute 60 minutes for 30 minutes in my above post

It makes the same point.....if ncl doesn't enforce the rules that make my cruise comfortable then what is the dsc for?

As stated the dsc is not a tip

I happily tip for good service

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Here's food for thought...

If ncl doesn't enforce their own rules is that reason to remove dsc?

Such as letting non gamblers stand in the casino and smoke?

Not stopping a pax from balcony smoking after complaints are made?

Not removing chair hog towels after 30 minutes?

Not providing enough space in the atriums for shows?

Not being organized correctly for tenders?

Not keeping public restrooms clean?

Etc etc etc...

Dsc should mean lots of good conveniences for pax should it not?

Tipping your steward for great service imho is not part of dsc....expecting ncl pool deck crew to keep an eye out for chair hogs is part of dsc....

When I see them enforcing their own rules....I will leave dsc in place

Until then...my steward and waiters get cash in hand...

I never have nor will tip buffet staff....that's ridiculous ....they work in the mdr too. Lol

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While I agree that people should not be guilt tripped into removing the DSC IF THEY HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON TO DO SO, the remainder of your post is speculation, opinion, and conjecture. Lastly paying or removing teh DSC has absolutely NOTHING to do with tipping.

You are correct it has nothing to do with tipping

I prefer to tip

I prefer to not subsidize crew salaries in any way other than paying my fare

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Have done that once when had issues with 3 restaurant bookings on same cruise. Reservation was in place but there was an issue with specialty dining package not showing correctly and had to go back to cabin to pick the documentation and then to guest relations and back to restaurant again. On 3rd time was already pissed enough of having to do their job so made a small adjustment to the service charge. They give the form from Guest Relations, you can just simply write amount to be removed and reason for it. Then it will be adjusted on the onboard account.

Are they doing this onboard again?

In oct 2016 I had to go a website after I got home

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https://www.ncl.com/faq#service-charge

 

 

 

If there is a service issue can the service charges be adjusted on board?

 

Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. However, in the event a service issue should arise during your cruise please let our on-board guest services desk staff know right away, so that we can address these in a timely manner. It is our goal to reach a satisfactory solution to any issue when it happens and make sure our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges.

Imho....

Charging pax the dsc can be considered a service issue especially if that is not what a pax wants to do.

If a pax does not want to tip everyone and then some that counts as a service issue

There really is no debate about removing dsc

Pax should not be forced to tip the entire ship

Pax should tip only those who provide one on one service if that is what they want to do

Pax should not be forced into a set dsc

Pax should not be forced to tip the laundry crew or the engine crew

Kudos to ncl for realizing this and NOT making the dsc mandatory

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Well seeing as you are supposed to mention any issue to them and give them the opportunity to address it before filing for a refund I highly doubt it.

Not sure if this op will get their refund or not but nope you do not have to give any reason at all in order to get the form for refund which is btw just a piece of paper with a website link last I looked

As a matter of principal and just so I have it...just in case I need it...I stop by guest services at some point during the cruise to pick the paper up

I just say I'd like it and may certainly not need it but since there was no line I'd like to pick it up now

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