fastpitchdad

3 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

DS asked if there was anything I would change or if there was anything I had complaints about. Honestly, there was nothing! Well, maybe not partying quite so hard so I could enjoy the last day, but I really can’t blame NCL for that. I do have some observations, though:

 

- every bathroom seemed to have at least one (usually more) blocked toilet. Plus, constantly out of toilet paper and paper towels. Maybe I was just unlucky.

 

- the ice machine at the buffet seemed to be temporarily out of service the whole time. 
 

- I dislike that the District Brewhouse is now adult only. My teens loved chilling in there playing games with me. No longer allowed.

 

- A few times, cruise staff running more adult centred games would comment/suggest kids be dropped at Splash Academy. The problem was, it was at capacity (hence the kids swarming every public area). 
 

- Several times I checked the daily for specific opening/closing times but then they ended up being wrong 

- I found this sailing a vast improvement on the same sailing last year (though it seems many wouldn’t agree). I had a blast!

I agree with you, I enjoyed the sailing this year more than last year, although 2022 was far and away the best of all. 

See you on Sunday (this is our 3rd year in a row on this cruise). 

If you literally want to be the first person on the ship (not including B2Bers) you will need to be in the Haven. My wife and I did it once on the Bliss. 

Oh man, I thought this was going to be a theme cruise with John Keister, Bill Nye, and Joel McKale 😞 . 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_Live!

1 hour ago, ccqueenanne said:

AH - it's CC (think RN Reunion for clue). Happy to answer any Celebrity questions for you - we do at least one Alaska each summer. Very curious how you'll like it compared to NCL. 

 

We did the extra key thing last year on a family trip. Super easy to get the extra key at guest services - just make sure you bring a sharpie to write on the keys, so she knows which one is which.

Hi CC! 😄 I will definitely reach out as we get closer (this cruise isn't until Jan 25, we have 3 NCL cruises prior to that including Alaska). In fact hopefully I will see you at the reunion before then 🙂. I am curious as to how they compare as well. 

2 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

The extra key card will just be for room entry.

 

As for any 'hidden benefits' of sharing the stateroom with your own wife, only you two will know. 

;  )

Thanks! Yeah, I was thinking that I better not get her mad at me because she will have another place to go 😄

This will be our first time sailing Celebrity. My wife booked a quilting cruise but it was more than $1000 cheaper to book a room on my own then to book through the quilting cruise as her roommate so that is what I did. She booked solo and will be assigned a roommate but will stay with me. The biggest issue will be access to the room, is it possible to get another key? Any other issues of which I should be aware? Any hidden benefits?

4 hours ago, thesnoopster2 said:

that sad....When we sold chocolate bars in school we made 50/50 with the manufacturer

The manufacturer doesn't get the rest, it is how the service units and GS nationally is funded. 

53 minutes ago, thesnoopster2 said:

 

on the flip side...my brother lives in your town.  that's just funny

That is funny, maybe he bought cookies from one of my girls. Although it would have been a few years ago, both have since graduated from high school (we lived on the Skyline side, he would know what that means 🙂 ). 

6 hours ago, thesnoopster2 said:

I'm going on the Encore in the middle of girl scout cookie season.  Do you think NCL would let us set up a table for a couple days and sell cookies for an hour?  talk about a captive audience.  Maybe outside to the casino area?  🙂

My wife was the cookie unit manager once and cookie cupboard a few times so I admire you ambition. When I was at a mid sized tech company (when we still would go into the office every day) I asked HR about my girls setting up in the atrium/Cafe during lunch. The head of HR said it wasn't allowed per policy but if they wanted to setup and deliver cookies already ordered and maybe bring some extras just in case *wink wink* then that would be OK (then she ordered 5 boxes of Samoas). 

My suggestion is to join the CC roll call and the other place with specific cruise groups and see if anyone wants cookies delivered to the cruise. 

8 hours ago, roger001 said:

Just being told by the poor server that he/she is going to have to charge me $25 for the next one just takes aways from the comfort of the Haven experience.   NCL...stupid idea.  Your cost for the extra lobster can't be that great.  Don't tell a Haven guest no.  That ruins the atmosphere.  

You can get the same lobster tails on sale at Safeway for $3.99 so my guess is they pay $2 or less each for them. 

Glad you are interested in trying all the whisk(e)ys because premium plus is not worth it for the wine. You should go to the wine bar and taste the bottles available with dinner and find one you like to order with your meals but if you want good wine you will need to bring your own. 

NCL will not take any responsibility if your flight is late. 

There was a post on one of the other social media platforms where the recipient of the surprise was not happy at all (to the point where I thought they were being unreasonable). 

I got one for Carnival 🙄

43 minutes ago, skittl1321 said:

 

 

I started off by walking to the light-link from the hotel, a very easy walk.  Apparently I give off an air of knowing what I'm doing, as 3 different couples asked me how to buy tickets.  Here's my question for locals- at no time were these tickets checked, or scanned, or anything.  Is it indeed an honor system, or did I do this wrong? I did pay, so I feel OK about it.  

The ride was super easy, and I got off at Westlake Station.


 

No, they sometimes have people to check tickets but usually do not (I have never seen anyone check tickets). 

16 hours ago, MikeandMarcia said:

 

I am sorry you did not have a good experience with the cruise director.  We were on the Getaway for the month of August. Perhaps we saw you there. The CD was Paquito Fuchs. We saw him very often and thought he was very friendly and helpful. I hope you have a better experience with him if you cruise with him again.

 

 

It is not like he made us have a bad experience, he just didn't add any value to it. I am glad he was around more than I thought (I don't think he was at the Meet and Mingle). 

Your butler will deliver French Press coffee every morning along with cream and sweetener (and a crab cake benedict 🙂 ). 

1 minute ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

@fastpitchdad

 

We just did a 10 day cruise in August and did not see the CD a single time.

 

Name him/her so we can agree or disagree.

I don't remember his name because I never saw him, it was on the Getaway. 

1 minute ago, FlGoodShips said:

Do you remember when Silas Cook worked with Andre Gaffney (no longer with NCL either)?

Two of the best🏆🏆

 

Silas was the best CD I ever saw. Not just the events he would do but his presence around the ship. He was everywhere helping with everything and made you feel like he was your personal cruise director. We just did a 10 day cruise in August and did not see the CD a single time. If the travel was too much NCL should have given him a land based position overseeing the CD program. 

Does anyone know where Cruise Director Silas is? 

Just now, skittl1321 said:

I got a coupon for a free appetizer during my second stay, but I never went over.  Maybe that was a mistake.

I live in Seattle and Sharp's is in my top 5 favorite restaurants. 

They have several different types of sales running all year long and shockingly the discounts all end up being exactly the same. 

A couple of weeks ago I found out I had to miss a cruise the night before, my wife called our TA and she got my gratuities, free at sea plus, and port charges (I think) refunded. My wife still sailed. 

The best feature of the Coast Hotel is that is shares a parking lot with Sharps Roaster 🙂 .