josephmz

   I've always just asked room steward for those items and received them promptly.

Haven't seen this mentioned, but I understand the casinos are run under contract with CAS. I assume the dealers are employees of CAS not NCL.

I said it was old joke!

Reminds me of the old optometrist joke.

How do they price glasses? When you put them on he says $250.00. If you don't flinch, he says for the frames. The lenses are $150.00. If you still don't react, he says each.

Sorry to be a "Debbie Downer", but I don't get the idea of carrying luggage onto the ship..Awhile back on an Epic cruise out of Miami the waiting area was packed. Walking around was like going through a minefield.

I am sure there are cases of misplaced luggage, but it is not the norm.

I like the freedom of walking on the ship. eating an MDR lunch, and exploring the ship without having to deal with my luggage.

Don't typically take priceless artifacts in my luggage. We usually carry bathing suits in a small bag so we can change and head to the thermal spa or pool as soon as possible. Don't ever remember not having luggage in room by around three or four.

It seems to me that "parking" bags somewhere on the ship is a bigger peril than checking at the pier.

Just my humble opinion

I have only sailed Royal and NCL. Haven't sailed Royal for several years as NCL has been our line of choice, but have booked a W. Caribbean next February on Royal. The price was too hard to pass up.

I'm sure by now the OP  has discovered opinions and comparisons are all over the place. I guess that's why there are different cruise lines.

The things I like about NCL are: the spa pass, no dressing up, Freestyle dining,  specialty restaurants, drink and dining packages.

Depending on cabin class you will be offered options. Yes you will pay gratuity charge for drinks and dining package, but you would pay more than that if you paid for each drink and specialty meal out of pocket.

Really looking forward to the Italian on Royal even though it will cost extra. Thought it was fantastic the couple of times I've eaten there.

I will withhold judgment on Anytime vs Freestyle dining. We've never waited more than 10 minutes for a table for two on

NCL. Yes, food is subjective, but have never had a bad meal on NCL and have had no service issues.

I have a hard time understanding the nickel and diming thing. Other than the daily service charge, which at the moment appears more expensive on Royal, I've never paid for anything I didn't want to.

A couple of years ago on the Pearl, I hosted the M&G. Asked the Cruise Director about games. She said she didn't know if they would be available, but come Thursday they were available both publicly and in cabins.

She later told me later that due to my question they had gone fleet wide. Don't know if that was true or not, but I was glad to take the credit

GO HOKIES!

Depends how upset you are. L.O.L.

If you don't get the distilled water. just ask the room steward. They have always provided it.

We sailed Escape last October. Booked a spa balcony. When we booked there were angled balconies available. If you sweet talk the room steward, you might get him to bring a lounger. Plenty of room.

The cost of the spa balcony was less than booking a non-spa and purchasing the spa passes.

There are no extra benefits to booking a mini-suite other than maybe a larger bathroom. People gripe all the time about the "mini-suite" name, but RCL does the same with their Junior Suites.

By the way, the spa was wonderful.

The spa on Escape I believe is open from about 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p,m. I yhink they close early on the last sea day for cleaning.

Yes there are robes and towels available.

They have ho tea, iced lemon water.

Not really new, but it's been several years (2011) since we've cruised RCI. Last trip was on the then new Allure. Have been doing NCL exclusively, but the price was too good to pass up. Booked for next February on Rhapsody out of Tampa.

What's good about Rhapsody?

How well does Anytime Dining work?

Have done Giovanni's and the steak house last cruise. Thought Giovanni's was fantastic.

Have outside GTY. How bad can that be?

Never asked access desk for distilled water. Your room steward will bring it, if asked.

After several years of only considering or taking NCL cruises, I have strayed. I have been one of the NCL "cheerleaders" on here.

However in looking for a cruise for next February, looked at someone else's product. Western Caribbean out of Tampa, outside cabin, seven nights.

Key West, Caymen, Cozumel and Costa Maya.

The price with a nice OBC was over $1,000.00 less. For that I can fly to Tampa, stay one night in hotel, dine in a couple of specialties, and have a few drinks.

Don't worry, I still love NCL.

I suspect you did not here from events because you were so early contacting them.

3-4 weeks ahead is the norm.

As someone who has hosted M&Gs including one on Escape last October, I can confirm they are held in Brewhouse which has cap. Approx. 90. They are always held first sea day. They are always registered online with “Events”. Almost sounds as tho someone has a date error.

If you are relying on thr roll call for a head.count, you are headed for a  big disappointment. Many folks join there even if they only thinking about booking and then some cancel for various reasons.

i suggest setting up cruise specific e-mail account to communicate and receive confirmations. You might ask for someone to run the slot pull.

Escape did a great job. Officers present. Private party sign outside. Hot appetizers. Draft beer samples. Staff getting names and cabin no’s for possible goodies.

Just go to guest services to sign up.

The raspberry mojito at the Mojito Bar on Escape

"I don't check my e-mail very often, so obviously it is NCL"s fault"

I have organized M&Gs on big and small ships. Last one on Escape we had 80 or 90 attend. As usual some will sign up and not show, and you may get some who didn't sign up show up.

I typically set up an e-mail account and request that people sign up on there. I ask for names, state of residence and cc screen names. Just because they are on the roll call, doesn't mean they will attend. From that list, I do name badges with picture of ship. Once I get time and location info from NCL,

I do an online invitation to those registered with the schedule of events. You might ask someone on the roll call to volunteer to do slot pull.

I do a winner take all cash raffle - $5.00 entry - 3 chances for $10.00. I also spend some money for door prizes.

total out of pocket about $100.00.

Just a general question. I sail primarily with NCL, and they do a great job with accommodating the meet & greets. Just wondering how many other lines offer these and to what extent?

We were on Escape the week before you. Same itinerary.

Sorry about your embarkation woes. Actually, ours was the best we've ever had. About 20 minutes from metal detectors to boarding ship. We weren't in a suite.

I would have been upset at missing Bar Harbor. That was our favorite stop.

Agree about the steak in Le Bistro. It and the mushroom soup were fantastic. We always look forward to La Cucina. Love the lamb with side of pasta with olio.

We found the crew to be very friendly and helpful.

In New Orleans awhile back, watched a guy put a suitcase filled with nothing but wine on the desk.

Sorry, no dailies.

Note to LMB: I assume you have more cruises under your belt than I do.

It's always been my experience that crew members tend to avoid answering pointed questions such as the mix of passengers.

Our meet & greet last week was overwhelmingly New Yorkers and others from northeast. Really a nice group of folks.