graphicguy

Thanks! Hope you do join us!

Still debating that upgrade. I may score that given it's likely to be chillier a month from now.

Begging work? A few "pretty pleases" thrown in for good measure!!!!! 😉

So, they must have refreshed it today. On my end it showed the entire cruise not being available to book. Could be an NCL glitch earlier. 60 cabins, double occupancy, that's room for around 120 more guests. That's pretty darned good given we're still a month + out from sailing. Actually called NCL today to see what's left. I think you're about right.

That...and getting front row seats to shows on the ship. Getting billing issues handled by the Concierges without me having to stand in line at Guest Services. Getting the Concierges to get my internet/wifi issues taken care of without making a trip and standing in line at the internet desk. Not having to wait in line at Embarkation and being escorted on and off the ship by the Concierges. Having the Haven bartenders make me smoky bourbon drinks that I can't get anywhere else on the ship. I could go on and on..... But, I'm a man of few words... 😉

Agree. Celebrity does this. Fares are higher, but it’s easier to budget. That said, I tipped my Personal Retreat Concierge (mix of Butler and Concierge) additionally because she was so good in the Retreat on Celebrity.

Run away….run away!!!!!!!! LOL!

ON the flip side, I asked NOTHING of my Butler, and told him NOT to bring snacks. He did anyway. But, since he really did nothing I requested, and totally ignored those same requests, I did not tip him. Conversely, the Concierge booked all of my dinners, excursions, took care of all of my billing and internet snafus, plus he escorted me on and off the ship, and to all the entertainment and show venues, I tipped him $150 for the week. I tipped my room steward a $100.

Checked this a.m. again, looks like this cruise is officially sold out. Never seen that before this far in advance of sailing.

@JamieLogical Was thinking back to the last time I used ONPOINT. I had boxes of COVID tests with multiples in it, too. While I had opened the box to look at its contents, I didn’t tear the box and didn’t use any of them until I scheduled ONPOINT. They saw me open the end of the box, but didn’t seem to care/mind that the little adhesive on the box flap was already “unsealed”. I get using eMed. But, I used a coupon for ONPOINT and I think the total cost of their proctoring service was somewhere around $15-$16. So, price was right. And, I already know NCL accepts the results from them. Plus, I could use the COVID tests I already own. Just an FYI!

Just checked....looks like this cruise is selling out fast. Only Balconies left, and we're still over a month from sailing.

Loving this so far. Looking forward to more. So, if you're sailing with 3,700 guests, how many does the Joy hold? 4,000?

LIked the Spa when I cruised Alaska, but as is pointed out, liked it just as much when I’ve cruised the Caribbean. Generally speaking, the Spa has the best views on the ship. So, great just to sit and marvel at your vantage point. Stuffy? No! Warm and humid? Yeah! But, it is regulated. And, some of the rooms (snow and salt) are cooler than others. There is also a steam room and a sauna. Both get toasty. Whirlpool is not super hot. It’s actually quite comfy! But, it’s a thermal spa for a reason. If you don’t like thermal spas, then save your money.

This itinerary is port intensive. So, going to forego any VIBE or SPA bookings this trip. Plus, I kind of want to see how cheaply I can actually do this trip given I’ve splurged on the last few cruises I’ve taken.

I know I’ll catch grief for this, but here goes. I have a wedding I have to attend (Nephew/Godson) on 10/29. So, flying in embarkation day. Get all of the “guffaws” out of the way now, people! 😉 Anyway, here’s the drill…. 1. Direct flights only 2. Earliest flight of the day 3. Must have a back up flight that will get me to the pier on time 4. Carry one only so I don’t have to wait around at baggage claim….no chance the airlines lose my bag Just booked….. Delta to LaGuardia…leaves Cincinnati at 8:00 a.m., arrives in NY at 10: a.m. Booked SUPER SHUTTLE for a ride to the pier…..arrive 11:30-ish!!!!

Pulled the trigger on this cruise just now. Not live yet, but will provide pics upon embarkation. Once again doing this solo. Nice being retired. Going to have to fly into one of the NYC airports. Just not sure which one, yet. Working on that currently. Had $420 in FCC left over from a price drop. The fare itself was a little under $900, all in (including "all for free"). So, subtracting the FCC, fare was right around $450 out of pocket. But, my TA is picking up the gratuities. Using my AMEX Platinum, they consider the Club Balcony Suite a "real" suite (albeit, not the Haven). So, they're giving me $200 OBC plus dinner at LeBistro (and some sort of bottle of wine with dinner). NCL is giving me another $75 OBC (which might be for being Sapphire Latitudes). And, another $100 OBC for being an NCL stockholder. Sapphire Latitudes gives me 2 fee specialty dinners. "4 for Free" gives me two more Specialty dinners. All-in-all, I'm eating at Specialty Restaurants 5 of the 7 nites. That works. Pretty good deal! Love end of season cruises. You take a bit of a chance on the weather being cooler, but get a great fare in return.

Now that NCL is back to filling their ships, it’s nice to get back to chatting about “other” hot topics. I am OCD when it comes to fare shopping. I check different fares every single day. I also tend to find the best fares on NCL cruises that are sailing within a 90 day embarkation window. I make no bones about my priorities…in order… 1. Fare price (apples to apples in each cabin category) with all promos, perks, fees, tips, etc rolled into the number 2. Itinerary 3. Ship 4. Date (being retired allows me lots of latitude) 5. Cabin type Ya’ll feel free to let us know what you find. Looking to do a different itinerary. I’ve sailed the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska. Some itineraries I’ve done several times. On NCL, I’m Sapphire Latitudes. So, that nets me some perks. Which brings me to right now, September 2022 looking at cruises for October/November 2022. NCL Breakaway…sailing an itinerary I’ve never sailed in New England and Canada. Yeah…yeah…it’s October. The leaves will have already changed. But, weather should be good…not oppressively hot. And, it includes some places I’ve NEVER been. Shapes up like this…. NCL is running attractive solo fares (which I am), and all fares are rounded. Inside is $400 Oceanview is $500 Solo cabin $600 (can’t figure that one out….just get an inside for less money) Balcony is $550 Club Balcony is $600 Spa Balcony is $2,500 (might just want to get a Club Balcony and buy a spa pass) HAVEN—$4,500 (which for the Haven, as a solo, is a good deal) NCL will give me $50 OBC. TA will give me $120 OBC or pay for my tips on board. AMEX Platinum will give me at least a dinner at LeBistro + bottle of wine and add $300 OBC if I sail in the Haven. Sapphire Latitudes gives me free laundry and 2 free specialty dinners and some excursion discounts. NCL offers “free” drinks, 2 specialty dinners, excursion credits, some internet. I have $450 in FCC (from my last cruise’s fare drop) plus $100 CRUISE NEXT cert. Depending on category, I could sail for free and get some perks to boot. Seriously thinking about this….. 😉