psmarkle

Can you try saving to your computer, then posting, perhaps??

First-time MSC cruiser here as we normally sail NCL. Booked Seaside YC suite on Fri, scanned/e-mailed our status match request for NCL Platinum (both wife and I) on Sat, we got e-mailed today confirming BLACK in MSC Voyagers Club for both. Pretty impressed they were that quick! :cool:

We are leaving in 2 weeks on our fifth cruise booked thru CAS. They have a separate res # (don't have it on me at work). I usu put $2K in plays on the craps table per cruise, and I have consistently been offered a free inside cabin when I call for my next cruise, then I pay the upgrade diff. The costs for upgrade thru CAS are usu lower than what you find on NCL.com. I seem to get this offer regardless on winning or losing. On this upcoming cruise, what we paid for a Haven 2-bdrm is roughly $2,100 lower than the website.

 

In addition, we've always had free drink cards waiting in our room for all the adults on my reservation even though I'm only rated at Lucky. And the daily evening treats in the room is also a very nice touch!

I used to "carpet bomb" our luggage with a 1.75 liter bottle of rum in every suitcase. Worst I had happen, a single suitcase was held and I had to go to the "Naughty Room." Last cruise, they just placed a letter inside the suitcase like TSA at the airport does, but the other 3 suitcases with the booty made it ;p

 

Now, however, with the UBP as one of the "Choose 5" promo, I am a retired bootlegger and sip to my little liver's content :cool:

We did this tour 4 years ago but booked directly, not thru NCL. Was it good...absolutely! My wife, young daughter, and brother- and sister-in-laws did the dolphin explore pkg where you get to kiss and pet the dolphins. My son and I did the upgraded pkg where you get to surf on the dolphins noses...and we were the only 2 people in that pool, so we got to spend a lot more time with them. It's still ranks as one of the best excursions we've done on a cruise...ahhh, the memories!

Sigh, I miss Kevin Sheehan already....

Last year, NCL had the highest % of onboard passenger revenue out of all the cruise lines. Currently, their bookings on their newer ships are ahead of industry standard (to be fair, I'd have to go back and find the exact article, but it was when I was researching buying 100 shares of NCL stock so I could get $100 OBC every cruise!).

 

In simpler words, NCL is a for-profit company and they seem to be hitting the sweet spot for max profits. Really, the effective way to fight price increases is with your wallet...as in go to Carnival or Royal Caribbean. However, this would be a long-term supply/demand process.

 

Not saying I like the higher prices (think airlines not lowering tickets prices, either, even though fuel costs have come down), but I keep cruising NCL for the product...and I'm on my 24th cruise, 11 with NCL.

 

So, to sum my thoughts, I think NCL HQ has assessed the market will bear higher prices for their product, and, so far, bookings back that up. Until bookings suffer, I believe rate will stay higher.

 

Thoughts??

Do you know how much per person they charge to access the rooftop pool area? Traveling with 2 kids and this sounds like a good way to kill time before an evening flight.

We sailed on the Getaway the first week of August, and we ate a ton of lobster tails in the buffet! They were served the second night at multiple serving stations. At first, there were lines when the buffet first opened, but almost no lines by 6:30. The servers only put 3 1/2 tails on your plate, but gladly put more on if you ask them to. I went back multiple time 'till I was stuffed!

Well, it depends. I think that I saw him several times. So did 3Shar and I think DrNora. My kids DID see him ...but then didn't.

The rumors were buzzing, but they were playing " Undercover Boss" on the NCL channel on board. I think that he was on in Miami and then left on St Thomas.

Wish someone really knew....I like to think that he was there, singing along with us at Howl at the Moon!

 

But WHERE does he sleep?

 

Annmeat:

 

Just got on the Getaway right after you got off. Returned this past Sat. On Mr Sheehan, yes, it WAS HIM, indeed. During our behind the scenes tour we did as Platinum members, Jamie the cruise consultant, told us he got on at St Thomas. In fact, he would walk around talking to passengers as if he was first-time cruiser to get a feel for what they thought was good/bad about the cruise. On your cruise, the #1 complaint he heard was the Noon arrival in Nassau didn't allow enough time to do anything significant. So, 1 week later on our cruise, we arrived in Nassau at 10am, 2 hours earlier...that's process improvement in action, folks! But, like you, we stayed on baord and had a blast on the water slides with zero lines!

 

Pete

Sailing on the Getaway this weekend, 7/26. Since it says will be avail on most ships by 7/31, I am hopeful we will get to try it out next week!

I wish I could go in September again! Erin works hard so I have no complaints (she's working now and I'm reading cruise critic). I wish the bank would adjust our account the way she sees it. I would say I should have well over a million in the bank with all the savings!:D

 

Despite any little flaws, you are truly pampered in the Haven. NCL does a lot of things I wish they would adopt on the other lines.

 

Best excursion of any cruise was in St. Maarten with Cpt Bob and Soualiga Destinations, look for them on trip advisor.

 

I am enjoying your review immensely so far! We sail on Getaway in 2 weeks, and we also have booked Capt Bob in St Martin. After your feedback, I'm really looking fwd to it!

 

I had to show my wife your review...she's just like Erin, "I'll see it when I get on board, don't bother me with all these reviews." I am also a retired Airman after 25 yrs and just finished my first year teaching AF JROTC...I am enjoying the heck out of my Summer so far! And we also always book through NCL CAS, we like the free drink cards NCL CAS gives when you book through them which you won't find on any other cruise line.

 

Pete

OK, thanks. So it'll come down to which gives the bigger discount between the Latitudes or the port day special.

 

Appreciate the feedback!

These are the Signature Spa Treatments listed below from my recent Breakaway cruise which are usually the only treatments discounts can be applied to for Port days only. I did not find the daily spa specials on this cruise that great except for the $30 off for the Bliss Triple Oxygen Facial which I tried to book as soon as I saw it but all the booking slots were taken. The spa manager did extend the discount for me to get this facial the following day which was a sea day. I did not addionally get my small discount for Silver only the $30.

 

24 Karat Facial - 75 minutes - $325

Elemis Oxydermy Facial - 50 minutes - $169

Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial - 50 minutes - $125

Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial - 50 minutes - $145

Elemis Aroma Stone Massage - 50 Minutes - $149 - 75 Minutes - $195

Poultice Massages - 75 Minutes - $195

Bamboo Massage - 50 Minutes - $159 - 75 Minutes - $199

Elemis Face & Body Sensation - 50 Minutes - $159

Elemis Absolute Spa Ritual (Facial & Massage) - 100 Minutes - $265

Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage - 75 Minutes - $195 - 100 Minutes - $259

Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction Program - 50 Minutes - $159

Ionithermie Cheek Lift Treatment - 50 Minutes - $159

Elemis Exotic Lime & Ginger Salt Glow - 50 Minutes $155 - 75 Minutes - $199

First Acupuncture Treatment - 50 Minutes - $150

Bliss Fat Girl Slim - 75 Minutes - $150

Bliss Triple Oxygen Facial - 75 Minutes - $160

Elemis Pro-Collagen Grooming Treatment with Shave for Men - 55 Minutes - $95

Fire & Ice Manicure - 50 Minutes - $50

Fire & Ice Pedicure - 55 Minutes - $70

Elemis Exotic Hand Ritual with Manicure - 45 Minutes - $45

Elemis Sole Delight Ritual with Pedicure - 50 Minutes - $65

 

Bumping this one from last year since I still have the same question for our upcoming Getaway cruise in July. We have finally hit Latitudes Platinum which says it gives a 25% discount on Signature Spa services on Port Days.

 

So, is that 25% off these prices above? Has anyone successfully "stacked" port day discounts + their Latitudes discount?

Bumping this older thread to see if anyone has current news on using Latitudes Silver/Gold/Platinum discount during port days...going on a Boston to Bermuda cruise w/ 3 days in port, so am curious to see any current advice.

 

Specifically, has anyone successfully used a Latitudes Gold 20% or Platinum 25% discount on top of a Port Day Special discount for a combined total or did they make you choose one or the other??

 

Second question, could you use it on any spa service or only certain offers? Not sure what they mean by "Signature" treatments...I personally like the hot stone, but DW only likes mani's and pedi's.

 

Thanks in advance!

Bunbun,

Go to YouTube and look up your suite if you want to really get a sense of what it looks like. The pictures on the website are not always reflective of what you are getting. Many people wander around taking very clear videos and then post them so you can start getting excited by actually seeing what you are getting! We are in 12000 in October and can't wait!:) margretha

 

Concur, there are a couple of youtube vids out there on Cat SJ Family Suites. We were in one on the Star for Alaska in 2011 and fell in love w/ NCL's Suite life! Glacier Bay from the cozy comfort of your suite's couch w/ floor-to-ceiling windows w/ a martini is the way to go!

 

We are now booked in 12508 on the Dawn for Bermuda in July. We picked that one for best chance not to be under the deck chairs above on 13 and hopefully to be facing the island when we dock, but it just depends on which way the ship pulls in.

 

The room itself is an awesome value for our party of 5...much less than booking 2 rooms. Plus we had b'fast from the Cagney's Suite Guests menu delivered to our room on the Star every morning vs going to the restaurant--we tipped our Butler ahead of time and wrote down what we wanted, and picked a 9am delivery (after peak for him since he works 10 rooms, I believe).

2 yrs ago on the Star, we were in a Family Suite, Cat SJ. When we were taken to Cagney's at embarkation for lunch, we were chatting with the hostess about how much I enjoyed eggs benedict for breakfast after my morning workouts, but would I have to change to come to the restaurant? She said, no problem, handed me a Cagney's b'fast menu and said the butler could just deliver it to our suite in the morning! So every day, we had b'fast from the Cagney's menu delivered to our room...eggs benedict, filet mignon and eggs, crab cakes and eggs, extra crispy bacon...yum-to-the-o!

 

Now you know why I hit the gym every morning on my cruises, too!

 

The suite life is suite on NCL, which is why were booked in another Cat SJ in 90 more days on NCL Dawn :-)

I mistyped in my previous post when I said 3 pts per $1 and 1 pt per $1, I think. Somebody feel free to correct my new math! However, I did get the conversation correct w/ the rep when I asked about it taking $100,000 in spending to = $1,000 in cruise credits which is a 1% rebate similar to Disney's card. As posted a few messages above, it looks like another cruise line only requires $80,000 in spending to = $1,000 cruise credits, so that's marginally better.

Apologize if I confused some math!

Pete

OK, just called NCL Compass Rewards at 1-800-434-8313 and got a similar response to others on this thread...agent wasn't familiar and had to go look for info. After he tried to put a positive spin on the program, I asked him directly, "right now I have to charge a little under $34,000 yr to earn $1,000 cruise credits. How much do I have to charge under this new program to earn the same $1,000?" He hedged and tried to figure it out and said I get 1 pt per $1, so 1,000 pts = $1,000 off. So I figured $100,000 at 1% back = $1,000 cruise credits under the new program, to which he concurred.

So, looking objectively w/no loyalty to any cruise line, this is just an average deal under the new terms as we are going from a 3% back (3pts per $1 now) down to 1% back (1 pt per $1 charged). Objectively, there are better programs out there like Amex Blue Cash (no sponsorship or recommendation intended, just highlighting the #'s) w/ up to 5% cash back after you pass a $$ threshold or our bank's regular Master Card that gives 1.25% cash back.

For our family, we should have $1,500 earned by Dec for our Alaska cruise next summer, then we will canx our 3 NCL cards after the end of the year and use our cash back cards (unless we find a better cruise card!).

Any feedback on cruise cards offering better than 1% back are certainly welcome!,

Pete