PATRLR

Thanks. We're on Sky for the fjords cruise July 13. I just don't see us using the casual dining option and even if we use it more than twice we can pay as we go a few times and still probably be ahead of the game. And I have no doubt we will not use the photos. It's been years since we allowed a ships photog to take our picture - we tend to avoid them entirely.

Hi folks, I recently booked a cruise and had the TA select the Premier option. The more I read, the more I realize the only thing we are likely to use from Premier is the 2 specialty dining options. We won't use the extra internet, fitness classes, deserts, casual dining, expensive drinks and we avoid the photographers. Just doesn't seem we need the Premiere, Plus will do just fine. We are not at final payment yet. FWIW, we're in a guarantee category. Before I call the TA, I like to be at least somewhat informed about how this should go. So, should I be able to call and request a downgrade to Plus? Anything I should be aware of in doing so? Anyone actually do this?

OK, so this begs the question do people get bumped from cruises if they can't get enough "Move Over" volunteers? Or in airline parlance, involuntary denied boarding?

We are debating what the acronym stands for. The acronym is going to be for the formal name. You showed text that included "a discretionary service charge" which is much different from something labeled with the formal name "Discretionary Service Charge". No where was I (or Google) able to find the formal name Discretionary Service Charge on the NCL site.

This came up a while ago and at the time I didn't believe it so I talked to my friends at Google. I learned that they had never seen NCL give it a proper name of "Discretionary Service Charge" (as you know), they only had record of it on NCL sites as described that way in a few places. But the fascinating thing is just how many non-NCL sites (bloggers, news, forums, etc) changed NCL's descriptive term ("a discretionary service charge") into a formal name ("Discretionary Service Charge"). There is a marketing lesson in there and I am sure the name was changed precisely to break that connection to "discretionary" (and for our convenience, of course).

I don't. Damn, I really wish I did, I just struggle with finding the time to take notes during and then writing it after.

Thank you for posting that. I'd lost the link and CC's search feature isn't very robust so I couldn't find it again. I agree with your assessment, I trust his statements based on his history on these forums. I also like his reply #46 in that thread in response to my question comparing crew compensation before DSC and after.

It's a shame that some people feel the need to tell others how to enjoy their vacations, as if it's any of their business what others choose to do. I once paid extra to rent a condo in Vegas where the owner intentionally made the washer/dryer available to his tenants (almost all others did not). I'll be damned if I explain why that was important to us on that vacation.

We've been on HAL, CCL, RCCL, DIS, NCL and a line that's now gone. Lately, NCL had been our primary, but, they've fallen off so much since the restart we are openly cheating. Went back to RCCL last summer (MDR/buffet food was worse, SD was way better, entertainment much better) and will do them again. We've got Sky Princess booked for Norwegian fjords this summer. I would like to get on Celebrity but their price point makes it difficult to justify the jump.

Umm, that's exactly what I wrote: You are the one who felt a need to state that it wasn't your job. Glad we are all in agreement that it isn't your job to respond. Perhaps your job is just to complain? You are very good at it.

The part I missed, and I did go back and look for it, was the part where someone tried to make it specifically @SeaShark's job to respond to any post, let alone one requiring "spoon feeding". In my experience, these boards work much better if, when one doesn't want to answer a question one simply doesn't answer it, vs replying complaining about the question. Often times someone doesn't mind answering the question (e.g. @OceanDreaming2 in this thread) so they do and all is well. But these aren't my boards so if you feel the need to add your complaints, we'll just have to tolerate it.

@ozziebound - You asked about the culture on NCL: My observation is there are many kids in that pre-teen age that enjoy the ship unsupervised. Many of them are even well behaved.

This!!!! But what about the folks next to you, I wonder if there food tasted any different? Some might have you think it does! 🙂😉

What I read is people saying it's OK to wear certain clothes, not that people should NOT wear some other specific clothes. Big difference.

I have this same question as I expect to have OBC that I otherwise probably won't use. But, I don't want to end up with no transfers. Anyone have any thoughts of booking ahead of time vs onboard? This is for the July 13 Sky Princess (so July 20 return to LHR).

I don't know but I'll bet cost savings of some sort for NCL is part of it.

I agree.

I wonder if in 1986, when I went on my first cruise and watched my parents dance the night away to big band hits like "In the Mood", people said "the good stuff from the forties and fifties will never die"? It's been a long time since I've heard big band music on a cruise. Come to think of it, I don't recall the last time I heard something from the 50s played on a cruise.

I agree, I'd be livid too. The scenario I imagined (completely my imagination) is the cruise was 10 days, they sold X passes to folks that booked the 10 day version. Then it got changed to 7 days and for some reason, they restarted the Vibe counter at 0, losing track of the people who'd already bought passes. Pure speculation - I don't even know if it ever was a 10 day cruise.

I did this through NCL. It's an Allen Marine boat with a capacity of about 150 people that goes much further up the Arm than the cruise ship goes. It was worth every penny - if it's offered, do it! 🙂

We're doing a similar itinerary in July. My research on Skyolden/Sognefjord so far indicates there isn't a whole lot there. Very small town. We're probably going to book a RIB tour there. If you haven't done so, I'd suggest spending some time in this thread over in the Northern Europe and Baltic Sea ports of call forum (there is a lot in that thread, but, it really is loaded with information):

We are contemplating booking Sky Princess for a Norwegian Fjords cruise. Being new to Princess I think I'd like to choose my room now, but there are not a lot of room choices left. One option is rooms like S220/225/227/231/301 on Deck 18 (sky). The question I have is what exactly is the space above those rooms? Some are actually under the Sky Suite but others are under what looks like open deck above the retreat pool. Is that space part of the Retreat (e.g. adult only)? Are there loungers up there that we are likely to hear being moved around in the early morning? S301 appears to be under Sky Suite S309, perhaps that might be the safest choice? Appreciate any feedback you more experienced Princess folks might have.

Is the reason you refuse to provide the one piece of information that could explain all this because you really don't want to hear the correct explanation?

Thanks. I really want to do Pulpit Rock, just not sure my wife can do it. So, it sounds like this excursion would be a good alternative.

Oh, right. I missed that on this mornings. Add the tax and we get to the number OP posted.