david_sobe

Over planning can sometimes lead to disappointment.  There are countless threads of the pre-concierge requests never materializing. Put me in that camp.  It goes much more smoothly to board first and then make those requests.  Writing the butler is also a bad idea before a cruise. He/she is currently handling multiple cabins with some very needy people.  They cannot devote attention to a future cruiser. I completely understand the excitement of cruising in the Haven for the first time.  I am just afraid some of these actions could backfire and make you have bad expectations.  You will meet your butler on the first or second day.   No list necessary. Just explain what you want and he/she will make it happen.

Just now, traelee01 said:

On the Star and Prima this week, we've had pop top soda cans of water. Once they're open you have no lid or anything.

It actually makes me miss the cartons. Twist cap aluminum would definitely be better than these

Looks like they perfected their cans with these.

I am glad for the change (I guess).  Plastic hurt the environment and they said takes too long to dissolve and break apart in landfills.  But would not metal be worse and never break down?  Plastic toxins in the water killing us softly. Now we have metal toxins to look forward to 😲
I could care less but just curious.

So someone used her booking number to cancel her cruise as a prank or just to be evil?  I am sorry I am confused reading the article. It's me, I know.

On another note, its never a good idea to tell anyone you are leaving on a cruise on social media.  Thieves will target your house.  Many years ago a Carnival cruise rep went into the system and found passengers at sea and gave that information to her boyfriend who would rob the house with his friends.  Police caught on when multiple Carnival cruise robberies were happening over south Florida.

I was just watching a youtube video of a family first time cruising with NCL.  They were raving at the price they got for the cruise and their airfare booking directly with NCL.  They were sailing Joy out of Miami and traveling from Canada.  They were a bit confused that because they were booked in different cabins their flights and airlines were all different even though they booked the cruise together.  The guy was flying into Ft Lauderdale on one airline and his mother was flying into Miami on a different airline.  They were not complaining and everything worked out.  They seemed happy that they saved money.  But this is something I would never do no matter how inexpensive it was. I would not want to fly on different airlines and arrive in different cities with my family.  Would you do it if you saved lots of money?

1 hour ago, Acruzaholic said:

I would never never never let NCL handle the air flights.Did it once-learned lesson you will get the worst departure/connections times, and cheapest flights they can find.

That's probably true but airline delays and cancellations can happen with the most expensive, first class seats and airlines.  

Sort of reminds me when people book everything with a TA and then when they need a flight home and the TA wont answer the phone on the weekend, they blame and vent at NCL.  Flight delays happen on every airline.  But there definitely are less reliable airlines than others.  But if you accept the deal what can you do?

I think what makes this a bit different than other ships is La Cucina is sort of a hidden space on Epic.  Even when people are specifically looking for it, it can be a difficult find.  Other ships like Sky, La Cucina is also used as an overflow for the buffet.  But its adjacent to the buffet.  You cant miss it. La Cucina on Epic is down an almost hidden stairway.  

I'm interrupting this thread for a true story.  Back in 2009 I was on the NCL Jewel and they had that specialty Tex Mex place call Tangos.  The cover charge was $10 which included a margarita.  I ordered the ribs which were excellent.  Fall off the bone full rack.  The waiter came by and saw how I was chowing down and asked me if I wanted another rack.  I said sure and he delivered another rack. No extra charge. I finished everything and it was delicious.  Hard to imagine today but its a fun memory.

Those were the days!

Now back to your regular programming

Ok where are the leaked photos of the atrium at?

1 hour ago, erisajd said:

Who would set foot in a hot tub, private or not, that is not chlorinated?  You're telling us that the private hot tubs on cruise ships in cabins are NOTR chlorinated?  I find that hard to believe.  I'm not being obnoxious, I'm just saying that its simply not possible given CDC and other generally accepted health requirements that any HT on board a cruise ship would not have some chlorine or bromine or some other disinfection agent applied - in which case - even you admit the chance of spread of legionella is basically zero.

 

Yes - its aerosolized - 

I would rather be in a sterilized tub with fresh water than the "people soup" ones with hundreds of bodies per day even though its chlorinated .

22 minutes ago, Cruising89143 said:

NCL has been in the cruise news this week. This might explain some of the changes that some are experiencing. 
 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/how-nclh-reined-costs-dining-shows-housekeeping-purchasing

 

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/05/norwegian-cruise-line-more-efficient-cabin-cleaning-less-staff/
 

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/05/optimizing-entertainment-at-ncl-has-increased-ship-roi/

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance-legal-regulatory/harry-sommer-outlines-nclhs-bold-vision-and-culture-change

🙈🙉🙊

🤑

******double post*****

58 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

At first this bothered me when MSC did this but then I thought about it. Rarely have we ever ordered more than one entree but one cruise on MSC I seen a guy order a large amount of lobster entrees (7 or 8 ) and only eat a couple. The amount of food wasted was pathetic. NCL does not serve lobster in MDR and hasn't for years but I doubt anyone would order multiple Tilapia but if one is still hungry when dinner is over I would suggest O'Sheehans.

I dont really see it as an issue too.  But usually cruise lines copy each other and expect other lines to maybe do the same. I would also imagine they will be limiting appetizers to one or two someday.  I am waiting for this board to explode if NCL copies this approach 🙈

Just imagine a cruise soaking in your private hot tub for only an hour with no hash browns or cookies and having to pay for a second entre after eating 2 appetizers and dessert.

It's just too much 😲

MSC now charges for any second entre in the MDR.   You can still order another appetizer or dessert but a second entre is $5.00.  I can see all cruise lines doing this soon.

Are "hot tubs" on balconies over rated?  There is a 6 person hot tub on the balcony of the Sky Owners suite.  Read many reviews that it takes forever to fill and the heat leaves the water rather quickly and its just turns into cool water.   I think the visual and idea of a hot tub on a cruise ship balcony is more appealing that the practicality of one.

But what is it with tubs and NCL?  They removed the tubs from the spa suites and removed the tubs in some other Haven suites.  With these restrictions my mind wonders if there are stories we don't know about.

50 minutes ago, Ellis1138 said:

It's limited to one hour of use (or at least 1 hour of it being hot). I can't afford haven or hot tub suites, but I find it hard to believe that this is for "public health" when they no longer make people wash their hands or sanitize at the buffet.

I think the issue is that these tubs are not hot tubs.  They are not filled with chemicals to kill all sorts of bacteria.  These tubs are private and out of view if anything happened.  I am reading between the lines on this one.  Something happened. Maybe someone really dirty created some sort of issue.  It shows how full of bacteria these tubs are that they cant even wait until the guests leave to sterilize them.  There is hanky panky going on and who knows what else.  Its pretty extreme for NCL to lay down this requirement.  This does not happen for no reason.  NCL is protecting themselves by protecting their passengers.  But I think this is reasonable to use a hot tub for at least an hour and then call housekeeping to clean it.  People upset at this are the ones soaking in them all day creating issues.  Its sick to say but people urinate in hot tubs all the time.

39 minutes ago, MohrPfun said:

^ how is it unavailable?

 

Use, have them drain, and refill, right?  Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

Am I missing something here?

I thought it was just me.  How is it dishonest and deceptive for asking you to call housekeeping after each tub use so that it can be cleaned and sanitized?  

I have a vague memory of that in the early days of the Escape.  But have not heard of that for a very long time.  To assist with the crowds the newer ships would give Haven guests an option to have lunch at Margaitaville (when it existed) or the American Diner.  Not sure if that still is in effect.  I have not heard of any dinner discounts lately.  Going way back people in the Haven used to be able to get specialty restaurant appetizers for free in the Haven.  That's all long gone.

I had completely forgotten about the Food Republic discount.  That's odd to think about from today's perspective.  I suppose The Food Republic was seen as a lunch place and maybe they were trying to jump start a dinner crowd or maybe it was throwing a small perk to Haven guests.  I do remember it. I never experienced it but it was in the days when Food Republic was a new concept.  Did not last long.

2 hours ago, lemon bar said:

 

That's exactly what we did! But just the penthouse Haven, not three bedroom.

 

First time NCL

First time Aqua

First time Haven

 

Hope we like it! 😄

What a way to start the Haven on such a new ship!!!  The only bad part is your expectations for the other ships may not live up to the new Haven design on Aqua.  You are starting at the top 😁

6 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

He did not miss the point.  You just made a bad argument.  

If you truly believe Free at sea is free.

Bless your heart.

😆

4 hours ago, Menocchio said:

Like a fish? If you mean ahead of the charged gratuity, two cocktails a day or two beers and a soda will get you ahead of the curve. That's hardly "like a fish" for a cruise. 

You missed the point completely but that is ok.  You believe you are not paying for drinks and only paying for gratuities that you already paid for with your base cruise price.  
Enjoy your cruise!

None of it is free.  I heard someone call it Tax At Sea because all these offers do is surcharge your base cruise price.  But don't believe me believe NCL.  Many years ago the head NCL employee in charge of working with TA's was talking about the new "Free at Sea" offers.  She was saying what a big success they were because customers "think" they are getting stuff for free.  Its all a gimmick.  Yes, If you drink like a fish then yes you can make out on the deal.  Yes the specialty dining is more if you pay ala carte.  However NCL is not losing a dime because all of your meals and drinks are already baked into your base fare.

You don't have to take the offers.  I am not trying to start a debate on the value of the offers but just reminding people that nothing on a cruise ship is free.  Its all a marketing campaign.

Many years ago when the "Free at Sea" offers started, they would take a break for a week or so and then come back.  When I was pricing a cruise during the week of no "free at sea" offers, the cruise price went down $200.  The next week when the offers came back, the cruise price went up $200.

I rest my case.

🙊🙈🙉

My Haven suite that I booked months ago has went up in price $3,000 since I booked a half year ago (December 2023).  The ship has not even debuted yet and the prices are going up.  However I am booked in one of the rare 3 bedroom suites and I think there is only one of them left which of course makes it more expensive.  Just a reminder for those that want to sail the Haven, sometimes your best fare especially on a new ship is to book well over a year in advance.  If a ship is under construction book it then.  I would not have booked this suite if it was this expensive 6 months ago.  Its now on par with the Deluxe Owners suite (not the premier one of course) with price.

Book early.  You can always cancel if something comes up.

2 hours ago, CruiseMH said:

 

I can understand that they try to cut costs but there is no need to reduce the variety. If seafood is too expensive you can still create cheaper options and so still offer 10-11 different appetizers instead of only 7.

With the same ingredients you can create quite a lot of variety without having to use expensive ingredients.

 

I dont think anyone would disagree with you.  Seafood has been cut like crazy over the years. My last NCL cruise the shrimp appetizer was gone for lunch on the Haven menu.  It was replaced by a frozen, deep friend medley of some seafood.  Not the same on any scale but it is what it is.  The shrimp was on the dinner menu as an appetizer but they were a quarter the size they used to be.  Its happening everywhere. I just got home from the grocery store and had a spontaneous craving for BBQ Fritos until I saw the small bag was over $6.00.  We are all paying more for less.

The change I see is the crab and seafood appetizers are gone.  Seafood is always the first thing to get cut since its more expensive than salads or soup.  I remember when Cagney's had crab legs and jumbo shrimp.  I am not a huge seafood eater so it does not bother me.

I think its fair to say that lobster is out of the question 😲

(sorry seafood junkies, I couldn't resist)