Capitan Obvious

On 5/13/2024 at 5:13 PM, JGmf said:

Sorry, but entering that stuff again is a waste of time.  They already have our credit card and passport information in their databases....ready to be hacked by anyone smart enough with enough time to do so.  Entering it again is perplexing.  It's not about data security.

I'd have to disagree. They would have no way of know if the information had changed or if you might want to use a different credit card...easier to simply ask each time.

Same way that on every flight you take they show you how to buckle and unbuckle your seatbelt..even though you are already wearing it by the time they get around to showing you.

1 minute ago, willise said:

It's unhelpful because it's not accurate. As I said, there are others on the sailing who have purchased the Vibe pass. Therefore, it is not "too early to book".

If it is sold out, then say that. I find it incredibly hard to believe that an agent working for NCL cannot verify if an item is sold out or not.

Well if you somehow know "accurate information" then just buy the pass. You know and NCL doesn't ...I get it. 

Since you already know the answer, it just seems that there is less need to drag all of us into your situation with NCL.

9 hours ago, willise said:

However I am aware of others on the same cruise that have purchased the pass.

So...why not ask THEM? Seems like the information they would have would be a whole lot more applicable to your situation than what anyone here might be able to guess instead.

If NCL already told you the passes aren't available, what do you want from us? Are you hoping we tell you they are so that you can call NCL back and tell them that they are wrong because the good folks at Cruise Critic said so?

42 minutes ago, Daruma said:

 

Also, I'm unsure of what would make me happy... discussions like this can help me to decide. 

I know that, but the question is how does the breakpoint for me or anyone else help you to decide what makes you happy? I believe that your happiness can be determined regardless of how factors affect other people, just explain to me how you feel the opposite? Unless you live by following what everyone else does, I don't see the logic.

37 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Well, I was really just answering the OP's question from the perspective of somebody who doesn't base the decision upon resources available (i.e. the opposite of your position).  My perspective of diminishing returns is that once I have to pay more than $25 per day for a balcony, it really isn't worth it to me. 

You see how you end up arguing against yourself, right? You can't say your perspective is "somebody who doesn't base the decision upon resources available" and them claim "diminishing returns" and/or "really isn't worth it to me". Not honestly anyway. Worth and return both refer to those available resources you claim not to use.

All that said, my point...once again...is that financial or otherwise, no factors in my decision on whether or not to take a balcony (or make any other decision) are a one-size-fits-all for the OP to use to make the same decision for themselves. We are individuals, not clones.

16 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

My income and expenses are totally irrelevant to my choice of cabin.  So yes, I was able to actually answer the OPs question.  That places me clearly in a very small minority.

 

I don't live by the equation: "Income - expenses = money to throw away on things I don't need"

 

That said, it sounds like you and many others might.😎

Play word games however you want, but if you're not using some sort of equation, how are you determining the balcony breakpoint that the OP was requesting? And, how is YOUR breakpoint (which, be definition, is financial) relevant to the OP?

11 minutes ago, Daruma said:

 

You get me. 

 

As I've mentioned above, I can afford this... but would I rather spend my money elsewhere? I'm not sure to be honest. 

 

I'm no Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos... but I can pay my rent... and now that last week my son graduated from college... I can eat meat too 😂🤣

OK...you can afford this. Cool. And maybe you would rahter spend your money elsewhere or not...whatever YOU choose.

But how is the breakpoint for me or any other poster here relevant to your situation? How does my go/no-go on a balcony affect your situation?

I've never understood the need that some people display as far as just following the crowd instead of simply doing what makes them happy.

20 hours ago, Daruma said:

Hello, folks. 

 

Me again. 

 

So, let me explain the topic and my question. 

 

At what daily price break down do you say, "NOPE!!" to a balcony? 

 

I'm currently booked in an interior room for my 7 day cruise, but since day 7 is disembark day, I only consider it to be 6 days of cabin use. 

 

To change to a balcony for those actual 6 days of cabin use is $660... so $110/day.

 

I'd like a balcony, can afford a balcony, but the logical part of my brain is saying, "Are ye DAFT man?" lol. 

 

So, just curious, at what daily price differential do you decide that the balcony isn't worth it? 

 

I know that I can "split the difference" and go with an Ocean View room, but that doesn't interest me in the slightest. 

Given that it is highly unlikely that any two people here will have identical income, not to mention identical expenses, I don't see how we can answer "What's Your Financial Breakpoint In a Balcony?" type questions. Affordability and preferences are both unique and personal...person A's situation isn't the same as person B's.

I don't see how knowing MY personal yes/no financial tipping point on a balcony cabin is helpful to anyone other than myself. Likewise, since I know nothing about your income, your expenses, your debt, and/or your personal preferences for needs/wants, I don't see how I could offer any insight into your personal decision when it involves your finances.

2 hours ago, albatros1 said:

2. Please read carefully my message above, I explained that I was referring to the walking/socializing area between the elevators. The theatre and Manhattan are outside this area.

So when you claim that the casino takes up most of the deck, you justify that claim by qualifing it with "if you only consider the casino itself..."? 

Well, heck, if you only consider the area aft of the elevators, the Manhattan room takes up the whole deck! 🙄

2 hours ago, Asawi said:

Here's a crazy thought: Itinerary?

You might be right, but if itinerary was the driving factor, then carping about the casino size is even less relevant. Itinerary should be the driving factor.

5 hours ago, albatros1 said:

I said it takes almost the entire 7th floor

That might be a bit dramatic, no? Looking at the deck plans you referenced, and only considering the passenger accessible areas, the theater takes up 23.5% of the space, O'Sheehans takes 19%, the casino takes 33.5%, and the Manhattan room takes 24%. So the casino (sky bar included) takes slightly more then a third of the deck...I don't know if 1/3rd counts as "almost the entire 7th floor".

15 hours ago, krazy4kruisin said:

Can I get cash onboard the ship for butler gratuities? 

I don't believe that the intended use of the money has any bearing on whether or not you can get it onboard.

39 minutes ago, PelicanBill said:

Because when tendering....  "I'm on a boat!"

Surprisingly not always true.

The two original/oldest tenders at GSC are the tenders from the Norway...and they are actually ships, not boats.

58 minutes ago, jackieodonnell said:

What's the lesson?

Um, life is easier when you use an educated professional? Especially since using a knowledgeable PCC or TA doesn't cost you any money.

In this instance the OP acted that their own TA and made a booking without the knowledge of the basic amenities that come with that booking. It seems only logical to wonder...what else might have been missed out on simply because the OP didn't know? Of course, you hope it is nothing, but you can't be certain.

Just my 2 cents.

1 hour ago, skier05 said:

I booked myself online. 

Well, lesson learned I guess.

Wow...you joined Cruise Critic in 2008 and you're just now going on your first cruise? That is a whole lost of restraint, IMHO.

Don't be afraid to lean on your booking agent (PCC or TA) for information on the amenities included with your cabin/cruise. They are being paid to ensure that you have this information.

17 hours ago, buddy1755 said:

This matter has now been resolved.  After more phone calls to NCL and Airtransat, i found out that Airtransat actually cancelled the flight, so NCL re-booked thru BA.  When i first called air transat they denied a refund, I called back today and asked to speak to a supervisor they decided to refund me.  took 3 calls to Airtransat but its resolved.  No fault on NCL.

Great to hear.

FWIW, this is why we shouldn't jump to conclusions and blame NCL for every problem. Not saying that they are never at fault, but issues do tend to change when all of the information is available.

10 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Exactly. Although, one could argue that if the insurance company can always find a reason to deny, why purchase insurance in the first place?

It isn't just purchasing insurance, but purchasing the right insurance. One policy might cover cancelled flights, while another might cover changed flights. You can't bellyache because you purchased the wrong policy.

You tell us this about the food...

On 4/16/2024 at 2:04 PM, rlpboy said:

First and foremost, the food is simply gross.  Much of it borders on inedible.  Every meal on this ship we have taken a bite of something that we either had to spit out into our napkin or simply choked the bite down and sent the dish back.

On 4/16/2024 at 2:04 PM, rlpboy said:

All in all, the food sucks.

"gross", "inedible", "sucks".

Then there is this...

On 4/16/2024 at 2:04 PM, rlpboy said:

The gentleman that cleans our room has left dirty dishes in our room more times than I can count.

If the food is gross, inedible, and sucks, then why are there more dirty dishes in your room than you can count?

This is where you lost me.

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

Frequently, though, when NCL issues FCC of this type, the percentage refers to the cost of the next cruise to which the credit is applied.

Actually, it is a savings on a future cruise up to the amount of 20% of what you spent on the current cruise. The person who spent $9000 (like the OP claims) would get a FCC up to $1800, however the person who only spent $3000 would get a FCC up to $600 on the next cruise.

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

@Nikita4 stated that they did not intend to cruise with NCL again, thus the 20% FCC would be of no value to them.  Their only other compensation was the $200 OBC.  If they did choose to use the FCC on a future cruise, however, then your math would be correct, assuming that the 20% applied to the amount they paid for this cruise.  Frequently, though, when NCL issues FCC of this type, the percentage refers to the cost of the next cruise to which the credit is applied.  Thus, if the cost of their next cruise totaled $20,000, for example, the value of the FCC would be $4000.  Conversely, if they applied the FCC to a relatively inexpensive cruise, say $3000, then the value of the FCC would only be $600.

So, in short, the choice is up to the OPP, right?

1 hour ago, Nikita4 said:

The Infos are from crew members there we speak not from the offical ships information canal, there are no infos about the generators until this morning from the captain! 

Official ships information is likely just distributed to official ship personnel. There is no information that you don't have that you NEED to have. When there is an issue, they need to focus their attention on resolving the issue, not on explaining everything to the nth degree to every curious Karen onboard.

1 hour ago, Nikita4 said:

We won‘t book a next NCL Cruise so only 200 obc for us, thats nothing

That is your choice, right? You are, of course, free to walk away from the 20%, but you have to accept all the facets of YOUR decision.

Like how you remain in an Internet forum instead of enjoying Hawai'i. smh

2 hours ago, Brian1973 said:

their once in a lifetime Hawaiian vacation is ruined

44 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

Hawaii is a once in lifetime holiday

2 hours ago, Brian1973 said:

“20 percent” off a future cruise will not make up for this.

1 hour ago, Nikita4 said:

20% future cruise credit for a changed and one missed port and 200 Dollar obc?

Same story...it is ALWAYS a "once in a lifetime" cruise and the compensation is never enough. Somebody please put another record in this jukebox.

1 hour ago, Nikita4 said:

so  200 Dollar refund for a 9000 Dollar cruise

Looks like you missed a zero. 20% on a $9000 cruise is $1800 plus the $200 in OBC...that comes to $2000, not $200.

2 hours ago, Nikita4 said:

Yes it was big generator problem and the solved it now.
So we will set sail at 8 am with a sea day to Kauai and some scenic cruising to Molokini, Molokai and so. Tomorrow we will have a full day at Kauai.

15 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

There are two or more generators down not only one. And the US Coast Guard stopped the ship to sail with the broken generators. It will need a week or more to solve all generator problems.

You seem to have a lot of information about the problem, how many generators were involved, the US Coast Guard involvement, how much additional time is needed for repairs, and the future ship schedule...yet you complain that they don't give you any information? What do you want, the name of the mechanic who fixed the generator?

Seriously, folks. If Hawai'i truly is your "once in a lifetime" vacation...at the very least...get off of the computer and go outside and see Hawai'i. Once you go home, Hawai'i will be a memory, the Internet will still be there when you get home. Why waste "once in a lifetime" on the Internet?

57 minutes ago, scottsquires12 said:

150 people not 45 like Sid’s place never guaranteed to go see show Sid place is the Starbucks size 

 

Odd, given that not only are your numbers wrong, but the Improv on Prima seats more people than Syd's.

53 minutes ago, macewank said:

Nothing. That's why I said it's a good change to put a store there instead..

 

Iirc, it held away less tess than 100 people. When I sailed the Prima they had already given up on it as a comedy club. Comedians were strictly in the theatre. 

So...you never actually were onboard to see it used as a comedy club? And while you were onboard, you looked at the space and thought "I'd really be happier if this was a store. There aren't enought opportunities onboard for me to buy stuff."?

6 hours ago, macewank said:

 

Improv becoming retail is a good call. That venue was worthless. Way too small. 

How big should it have been? What on the ship would everyone be willing to give up for 45 min of stand up once a day?

5 hours ago, Nikita4 said:

I am interested if that is the first time oder the ship has more problems like this?

I can pretty much guarantee that nobody on this forum has a maintenance/issue log for the Pride of America. That aside, since you are acutally ON the ship in question, why not just ask them?

2 hours ago, Liljo22 said:

How do you know they didn't design it bigger.  NCL just announced the bigger ships a few days ago.  Are you saying that BA should have put in their write up from months ago that NCL was planning on having bigger ships?  Is that how the bigger ships should have been announced?   

They may have announced them a few days ago, but do you realize just how much time is spent in design, financing, and contract negotiation before they make a public announcement? NCL has known about these ship for far longer than a few days.

The firm desiging the peir would not have had to say anything about the new ships. Instead of saying that the piers could accomodate a Breakaway+ ship, they could have said that the new piers could handle a ship UP TO  ######GT.

2 hours ago, Menocchio said:

It says the new pier can handle Breakaway+. It doesn't say it can't handle bigger than Breakway+.

Interesting logic. Thus, if an elevator says it can handle 25 people it would OK to put 60 people in it since "it doesn't say it can't handle" that many.

29 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

I don't think that means that.  The Breakaway Plus class ships are just the biggest ships NCL currently has.  This isn't a press release from NCL.  Its from the architectural firm that doesn't have that information.   

However, NCL would have had that information and would have known to include it in their request for the pier design. You don't design for what you have, you always have to design for what you will have.