Capitan Obvious

3 minutes ago, Tyler414 said:

Still here, guess I didn't realize I was being bullied for saying down.

Nor did you realize that nobody said you were being bullied.

1 minute ago, Tyler414 said:

There are so many more reasons I will never step foot on another NCL ship. 

YMMV, but if I ever decide that "I will never step foot on another NCL ship", I can guarantee that you won't find me hanging on an NCL forum. Its like following someone around after you've dumped them. Ya gotta move on.

10 minutes ago, soniablue said:

Does anyone else get really annoyed in general at pier runners who whine about getting left behind to the media (social or mainstream), not just these?

Exactly. 

Everyone here should put themselves in the position of these guests. Imagine that you are on a tour in an African port...you are running late and you miss the ship. A total of nine people and only one useable credit card to pay for anything.

Now...think about the list of things you are going to have to do to get back onboard the ship at a subsequent port.

Can you picture the list?

Is calling the ABC TV station in Florence, South Carolina on your list of to-dos? 

If you need to get to the ship, are you taking the time to send photographs to the TV reporter? How is "Oh, by the way, I'm a volunteer football coach" relevant to the story/situation? Same question on everyone's health issues/situation.

You know they had to call the TV station as the TV reporter would have no other way of knowing that someone in an African port missed their ship, and even if the reporter did know, he/she would have no way to call to speak with those people.

Yep...very much a case of reaping what you sow.

Seemed pretty harmless in the begining to make a mantra out of "the customer is always right". I mean, how could THAT go wrong? Fast forward to today and we find Karen running amok through the town faster than the villagers can gather up their pitchforks and torches.

4 minutes ago, blackwing said:

And had this "can you believe it, the cruise line left them" attitude and remarks just as the segment ended.

It is interesting how the media frames this as "the cruise line left them" instead of the more truthful "they didn't return to the ship on time" angle.

When the bell for class rings, Mr Hand locks the door and leaves Spicoli in the hall.

Life lessons from Ridgemont High my friends . . . life lessons.

1 minute ago, roger001 said:

Was "Dress up or not" I believe.

Yeah, but isn't every single night a drss up or not night? I mean, NCL allows you to dress as you want, so you could be elegant every single night, casual every single night, or mix it up as you please. As far as I know, there are no venues onboard that require a different level of dress and would turn you away for not meeting it. Which begs the question: what is/was the difference in these "dress up or not" nights?

5 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

I remember when someone could ask a question and actually get an answer or several answers without some members bringing all the bitterness to a subject, it  seems to be very common now.

 

I also remember a time when people would only post to answer the question or participate in the discussion without some members feeling that they had to pop in and drop judgment on other people. When did it become OK to display one's "holier than thou" tendencies?

4 hours ago, Exuberant said:

and have heard that some people have been lucky in having a higher status honored when they are super close

FWIW, when you "have heard" something, it is expected that you provide a source/link OR that you direct your question to those you heard it from.

That said, why would NCL do this? The level begins at 75 points...you want special treatment because you are "super close", you know, "only one point away". If they gave it to you, then wouldn't the people with 73 points be able to point at you and say "well, you gave it to him and I'm only one point away from his level"? And the folks with 72 points would be in line next. Where would it stop?

That aside, with three levels below and three levels above, Platinum is just a mid-tier latitudes level. If NCL were to grant special favors, it likely wouldn't be for mid-level guests.

And this is the problem with trying to move the goal posts.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

You see this type of thread posted quite often and always from the "we want to spend time together" angle. However, it often appears that the poster really just wants to spend time together IN THE HAVEN. 

Makes me wonder if the real angle is "how can I get Haven benefits for someone who hasn't paid for them".

33 minutes ago, Actuality251 said:

“Sailors missing the ship is an extremely rare occurrence at Virgin Voyages, with only a handful of instances ever recorded,” Alex Zeitz, Senior Director of International Operations, Experience, Inclusions, and Events for Virgin Voyages, tells Matador Network. ”

https://matadornetwork.com/read/left-behind-by-a-cruise/

Not entirely relevant as the linked article discusses missing the ship at a port while already on the cruise, and this thread is discussing never making the ship at the cruises' point of origin.

I believe that guest services can set a spending limit for cards assigned to minors. You can check with them once onboard.

5 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i find nothing wrong with the OP's careful and considered report.

5 minutes ago, UKstages said:

as if the OP was writing in a public forum in which cruise experiences are shared.

I have to agree...nothing wrong with a careful and considered report, especially on a public forum where cruise experiences are shared.

However, one can make a careful and considered report in a review, so that others can be informed as to the poster's experience. The issue seems to arise when the poster puts that result in a discussion forum instead of doing the review...it, by design, opens it up for discussion...where people can present a wide variety of differing opinions. When it appears in the discussion forums, I think the whining about the replies and responses is really what is out of line. If you don't want the discussion, just write a review...then nobody has to play the "tough crowd" card.

This entire thread begs the question: On a given ship, how many times and in how many different staterooms should one sail BEFORE having sufficient knowledge to say which stateroom on that ship is "the nicest and least expensive"?

15 hours ago, Pevil said:

When removing the DSC at Guest Services, I was not asked for the reason I was deducting the DSC from my final account.  If NCL wanted to enhance the guest experience I would have thought NCL would want to know the reason I was deducting the DSC, so that NCL could correct the issue on future cruises.  The impression I was left was, NCL could not of cared less if I did or did not remove the DSC.

You originally claimed that the whole point of removing the DSC was as a "protest". If they don't ask you the reason why, and if they "could not have cared less" about the removal, then, IMHO, your protest completely failed...you made a sound without anyone available to hear it.

17 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Where the ships are registered is irrelevant.

NCL is a publicly traded company on the NYSE.  Consequently SEC requirements to apply. 

FWIW, NCL is also based in the US.

 

No....NCL is not a publicly traded company on the NYSE. NCL is wholly owned by NCLH Ltd.

BTW...NCL itself is nothing but another holding company...each and every ship is incorporated as its own individual company.

10 minutes ago, havoc315 said:

I’ve had Europeans visiting the US ask me about tipping practices — not because they were being cheap.  Quite the opposite, because they were not familiar with the customs.  
 

People asking about tipping, in most cases, has nothing to do with being cheap or not wanting to look cheap. In most cases, it’s simply people doing their due diligence to understand whether there is an applicable custom, such as the 15-25% in American restaurants. 

Yet they always ask about amounts, never about customs.

9 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

No, the point is why do we care, what difference does it make?

While it obviously doesn't make any difference, we just have to accept that there are members of this community whose entire focus is on their every nickel and every dime and ensuring that they explore any potential justification to keep those nickels and dimes in their pockets. That is why we constantly rehash this topic. The whole "what does everyone else tip" is just a way to check to see if the person asking can reduce what they are paying.

The only reason that person A would ask what person B tips is either to a) ensure they aren't paying way less than others...making them look cheap, or b) ensure that they aren't paying way more than others...and they can "safely" reduce their chosen amount.

Tips should always be given based on the quantiy of service received, the quality of service received, and the financial budget constraints of the guest. IOW, "tip what you feel is fair based on the service received and staying within your means". That is the answer that should always be given whenever anyone asks about tipping.

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

We are holding off the 2nd Diamond upgrade until later this year - supposed to use it or lose it within a year of reaching this tier, but - not confirmed or verified anywhere in writing - that we can use it to book a cruise beyond the 12 months.  

Disagree.

One-Time Free Cabin Upgrade – Diamond

Diamond members will be offered a one-time complimentary cabin upgrade once they have reached the Diamond tier. The cabin upgrade is valid for one category increase from the category that the guest booked. The Latitudes member must first make their booking, then call to redeem their complimentary cabin upgrade. The cabin upgrade is not eligible for Suites or Haven. The highest cabin category that a member may be upgraded to is Club Balcony. Eligible members will have one (1) year to take the complimentary cabin upgrade after graduating to the Diamond tier.

The complimentary cabin upgrade may only be redeemed once for each member. There are no destination restrictions but holiday sailings are excluded. All upgrades are subject to availability. This benefit is not combinable with other cabin upgrade promotions or offers. Taxes and fees are not included. Complimentary cabin upgrades are non-transferable.

Terms and conditions are subject to change and inventory is subject to availability.

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

'm only a lowly sapphire, but my understanding of the diamond upgrade is NOT that it has to be used within a year, but that it has to be used while you're still a diamond. (if you move up to ambassador, the diamond upgrade is forfeited.)

First time hearing that claim. From where did you gain that understanding? You'd think something like that would be published considering the number of people who reach Diamond (350 points) and them somehow cruise enough to move to Ambassador (700 points) without having an opportunity to upgrade their cabin.

22 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Using you signature as reference, I guess one could say you’ve become ignorant.

 

 

Willingness to listen to the experience and opinions of others, especially those with whom you disagree, makes you "open-minded". 

When you ignore the experience and opinions of others, you simply become "ignorant".

Seems like someone might want to improve their reading comprehension skills a bit.

Willingness to listen doesn't mean one has to accept or agree with another's opinion, but they simply have to be open enough to listen to it.

You become ignorant when you ignore the experience and opinions of others...typically through the use of the "ignore feature". 

I guess one could say that you can measure someone's ignorance level by the length of their ignore list.

7 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

 It’s a perfect focus group for NCL.

Hardly. It is more of an echo chamber for the perpetually aggrieved and others in the never ending search for "compensation".

7 hours ago, tokidoki said:

Just to clarify, since I haven’t cruised in 4 yrs on NCl, I plan to buy 2 CN certs for $500.  I thought the OBC of $250 from the purchase wouldn’t go to offset the purchase.  Was planning to spend it on shore x’s, if I was forced to spend it, since it’s non refundable.  Thx

A distinction without a difference.

NCL's FAQ

You buy Cruise Next on the ship, you buy Cruise First from home. Not much more complicated than that.

18 minutes ago, Canbylancer said:

If you read the first 5 or more posts, you will see there was not much hope for discussion.  Sure there is frustration in the title.  There has been a lot of frustration with NCL since COVID.  As long as they have avid followers willing to accept all cutbacks, then it will be better to be a shareholder and not a consumer.  This is not a long term plan that will work for NCL and opens itself up for more competition.  There are things to like about the brand (freestyle, free at sea), but their negatives (ship layouts, private islands, main dining room food, upselling, lack of deck chair space without Vibe or Haven, lack of pools, (I could keep going), entertainment going from broadway plays to game shows) are killing the brand.

You support them as a consumer by booking, and you support them as a company by investing (how much invested in your 1,000 shares?)

If things were as bad as you say, you'd cancel the bookings, sell the stock, or both. You can't hide your actions here....they say far more than words ever will.

32 minutes ago, kylenyc said:

Just a guess. They want you to spend the OBC on board where they have the highest margins.

Well, it is ON BOARD credit after all, you kinda have to spend it on board by definition. Not like you can spend OBC off of the ship.