Tutontow

2 hours ago, Sue Do-Over said:

We lose enough to earn free cruises.  When calculating our casino losses against the cruse fare, we come out about even in the long run.   "I always pay for my free cruise!"

I can't begin to tell you how many $100.00 "free" Bud Lights I have had at the Blackjack tables.  While I'm waiting for my "Free" beer I invariably have to buy in for another $100.00 while I wait.

On 8/20/2020 at 3:54 AM, deadmoney said:

Ya know that big gold lion out in front of the MGM grand in vegas?

They paid for that with my money😪

Wow, that is too funny.

3 hours ago, ObstructedView2 said:

This was imminent, assured, inescapable, inevitable, bound and sure to happen...

 

 

 

😷

•  

Other than that who knows LOL!

On 7/10/2020 at 9:46 AM, AK Dreaming said:

I keep seeing the May 7th requests being refunded an getting a bit jealous as I am also waiting.  Did you all receive emails, or just refunds appearing?

No email the refund just appeared as a credit on my charge card.

I submitted my refund on May 7th for a May 24th cruise NCL cancelled.

I received both my final payment and deposit refund today.

The refunds went to two different credit cards,

Hopefully others will have such good fortune.

14 minutes ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Carnival will not fill the ships at first. The first evening i the Steakhouse is your best deal. Once you book your charge will automatically apply to your OBC. The first evening you get a free bottle of wine or 50% off your choice to purchase. The reason. The fist evening is never busy and they try to get more to dine there. It is also casual dining. that is because many have not received their luggage by then. You will enjoy the best steak  and dining experience you probably never had. We have NEVER been disappointed. We always do the first evening on every carnival cruise.

Great advice and I totally agree.  

When we did the CT it was on The Dream.  The CT was held in the galley and it was not a pleasant environment.  We really looked forward to hearing about each entree and we couldn't here a thing because it was so loud.  For a special occasion I would go with the Steakhouse.

We took the money.  I really wanted to use the FCC and 20% off but it just didn't work for us because we were trying to book through the casino and they wouldn't apply the 20% off.  When it is all said and done we booked 2 cruises with CCL and the it didn't cost any more than my one Alaska cruise on NCL.  Of course we don't get free drinks and the specialty restaurants but we do get drinks in the casino for free and $500.00 on board credit on each cruise.  If I were you I would do some mock bookings on other cruise lines just to see what you get.

On 5/16/2020 at 8:01 PM, geckoaz said:

Our first cruise was on the big red boat. Not carnival but it gave us the cruise bug. It would be 16  years later before our first carnival cruise. 

My son had been injured in a car accident when he was two. We were told he would not gain ues of right side. He fooled the doctors. He danced with mickey and had a great time. Cruises will always be magical for us.

What a wonderful story.  I am so happy it worked out for your son.  Yes miracles do happen.

Okay, I can only go back until the late 1990's.  My neighborhood had an improve your yard contest.  My wife is super competitive so we won the contest.  First prize was a three night cruise on the Fantasy.  We weren't expecting much but it turned out to be an absolute blast.  The cabin was inside, way in the back.  The cabin was pitch black when the lights were off and you had the constant drone of the engines.  We slept like babies.  We love blackjack and got ahead the first night and never fell behind the rest of the cruise.  We spent so much time in the casino we never ate in the MDR.  We mostly ate room service and late night pizza.  A free cruise and we came back money ahead from the casino.  When we were in port in Nassau a local guy came up to me when we were waiting to board and mumbled "Ecstasy"  I said no "Fantasy" he asked me three times and then said forget it.  The guy next to me said man you are out of touch.  He didn't want to know what ship you were on, he wanted to sell you drugs.

2 hours ago, evandbob said:

I've done maybe 8 premier and 2 ultra cruises.  My premier cruises have seen the cash drawings lessen in prize money and have the drawings at 11PM every night instead of at 8pm or earlier.  My "cash back went from $300 cash to 300 casino cash to 100 casino cash.  The actual cabin fare for my offers is now only about $50pp less than early saver fares.

 

I've won an IPad and a Microsoft tablet on the scheduled ultra spin the wheel.  Both resulted in getting a gambling statement W2G requiring reporting and taxes.

 

I was on one 10 day Celebrity cruise last year and was offered a free infinity midship balcony cabin, taxes and port charges on the Edge, their new ship.  Princess, which I sailed twice, 8 and 3 years ago, sends me offers for free cabins.  NCL offers me heavily discounted casino fares. Carnival casino offers that I receive can't match these other lines, and I've sailed and gambled on over 40 Carnival cruises.

It is hard to beat NCL when it comes to gambling cruises.  My wife and I limit ourselves to a thousand a day and NCL give me a free inside anytime, anywhere we want to go.  Fortunately we are actually ahead on NCL.  The plus with Carnival is when you get a free cabin it really is free, no admin fees.

2 minutes ago, Jason82 said:

Yep, I am supposed to be on the Bliss in May as well. I know it’s not going to happen. As a WA resident, the “stay at home” restrictions won’t be lifted by then, much less having the ports open.

 

And not to forget who knows when Alaska would even be ready to accept cruise ships. 

 

It's ridiculous. I have loved NCL in the past. No clue what they are thinking. 

I am supposed to sail on The Bliss May 24th Seattle to Alaska.  My guess is they want to hang on to our money as long as they can.  I'm sure they are severely cash strapped right now.

2 minutes ago, Jason82 said:

 

 

20 hours ago, GA Dave said:

As desperate as the cruise lines may become, I wonder if they will accept walk-ups, like the old Eastern and Delta Shuttles in the northeast.  Just walk up at least two hours before sailaway, scan your credit card and passport, and off you go!  🧉🥂🍺

That would be great for us that live in port cities.  I bet the price would be great.

2 hours ago, SeaShark said:

 

Sure...and we could then call suites "super deluxe balconies" or ultra deluxe balconies" because...let's face it, they really are just larger balcony staterooms with some extra amenities, right?

 

Studios and insides...isn't that confusing too? Maybe insides should be "deluxe studios"...after all, they are just larger.

 

What you've missed is the fact that "deluxe balcony" will also cause confusion. Look it up: Deluxe: "luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind". So....what exactly makes a bathtub and/or a little more room "luxurious" or "sumptuous"?

 

Seriously though...aren't we past this by now? Just like the minifridge...if people don't have the comprehensive skillset to know the difference between a suite and a minisuite, they shouldn't be booking cabins. (Interesting that "Penthouse" doesn't contain the word "suite", but nobody gets confused and thinks a) that a Penthouse is not a suite or b) that a Penthouse is actually a "house".

UNCLE

47 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

Well...don't look up the definition of suite, look up the definition of minisuite. It isnt misleading...NCL doesn't call it a suite. In fact, it isn't even in the same category. Upgraded amenities go to H and S category cabins, not to category M cabins, which are minisuites.

 

Perhaps it would be less confusing if you didn't parse out suite from minisuite. Just because it contains suite in the word doesn't mean it's the same...much like a person can be a boy or a girl even though person contains the word son.

I still say they should call it deluxe balcony.

6 minutes ago, Named-Tawny said:

 Most hotels have 'Jr Suite' categories which also don't have separate living rooms and bedrooms.

It's a fairly standard category, tbh.

I guess I have never stayed in a Junior Suite.  More than likely I just skipped over them because I would file that under "why bother".

If you look up the definition of "suite" it always says "a set of rooms."  IMHO if it doesn't have a separate living room and bedroom it is not a suite.  I think NCL is very misleading calling a balcony cabin with an upgraded bathroom a suite.  Just another way to milk more money.  Of course that is the purpose of a business.

3 hours ago, PixieMom3 said:

Our is (was) May 24 on the Bliss. 

Me too.  I was so looking forward to our cruise and now it doesn't look like it will happen.  Oh well at least we are healthy and will have money for another cruise when the dust settles.

On 3/21/2020 at 10:35 PM, Ukigirl said:

Well I do have a complaint about dress code. I know there’s been a lot of discussion about what to wear to the MDR but I shall be voicing my displeasure tonight about the new dress code that RCL has implemented for the crew, I’m wearing my ball gown and this is the attire I have to look at?!? I do believe my waiter looks familiar, think I’ve seen him on my previous cruises. Oh but a new personal touch which I’m ok with, the waiter actually gets to sit down and eat a meal with you! Getting to know my waiter, Elbo from USA.

This is absolutely pure gold.

They need cash

9 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Absolutely!

Thanks

I was just informed The Joy does not have a sit down bar in the Observation Lounge, does The Bliss still have a sit down bar in the Observation Lounge?  That was one of our favorite hang outs on a prior cruise.

11 minutes ago, roger001 said:

If Seattle does it, I bet the Canadian ports are going to do same.   I'd say that Alaska cruises are going to come to a halt.  Fortunately, the season is still a couple of months away.  Lots can change by then.....good or worse.......

I totally agree, a lot can happen in 60 days.  I sure hope it changes for the good.  I booked our May cruise to Alaska over a year ago.

Even if the Email is for real it looks like it is just some rogue sale manager.  Sort of like when a restaurant refuses service to a policeman.  It is not the whole chain, it is just some clueless employee.  BTW we sail in May to Alaska.  Everyone in my party is over 60 but we are a young 60.  I know people in their 40's who are older than us.

We are watching and waiting, a lot can change in two months.

5 hours ago, Tallyfins said:

This is an old thread, but the only one I could find on here 🙂 Can anyone update me on the current status of blackjack aboard NCL? How many decks? CSM vs. ASM and/or hand shuffle. Min bets? BJ payout? 3/2, 6/5, etc. Thanks - any info will be helpful.

 

In reading the posts above, I understand the odds of winning are even lower. Just trying to figure out if I should host a game in my suite or play in the real casino! LOL

 

Thanks, 

TF

Hey Tallyfins, I know I answered this for you over in the Cruise Casino's forum.  I know it is hard to believe that out of the thousands of members here nobody plays BJ on NCL other than me.  Having said that if you can see your way clear try this.  Get some liquid courage in you and take $500.00 and go to the $50.00 table which is an eight deck shoe that is hand shuffled.  The dealer hits soft 17 but everything else is good.  Just try it.  We were always $10.00 dollar players and we did the above in Biloxi.  I told my wife let's just try it.  If we catch a couple of good hand great, otherwise we will leave.  Anyway we stayed for 45 minutes and won $1200.00.  My point is after 35 years of playing BJ I can vouch the only way you will ever leave "really" ahead is to play at $25.00 or greater.  The $25.00 tables on NCL are continuous shufflers and believe it or not the odds are actually a little better than a six deck hand shuffled shoe.  The thing is I just don't like CSM's.  Believe me if you sit down at that $50.00 table and get a Blackjack or win a double down you will not believe the adrenaline rush.  The first time you are paid with a purple chip it is a great feeling.  Good Luck and don't play with money you can't afford to lose.