ronswanson

Our drink package was supposed to include the 6 bottles/cartons but we only got one. I asked for another and received it from our stateroom attendant, but I tried to get more from a bar and was told I would be charged for them. Likely when they removed water from the beverage package, they don't have a good way to know who has a package that still included the water. This was on Pearl, 1/13-1/16

We cruised Alaska in July on Quantum OTS, and just cruised NCL Pearl this past weekend. My take was the MDR food on Quantum was better, but not by much. The only meal we were disappointed with was Moderno. We didn't pay for it so I do not feel so bad but it wasn't that good, except the flank steak (and the service was amazing). We had MDR one night, and Lotus Garden one night, which was pretty good as well. RCL just re-did their menu and not for the better IMO, so I think if NCL does not re-do/downgrade their menu, they might take the lead there.

I was on Pearl over the weekend and we missed GSC Bahamas due to very rough weather. Most passengers handled it well, but I was very disappointed at the few passengers I saw who were being downright nasty to random staff members because they missed their island day. The sea conditions were very bad, obviously something that NCL has no control over. RCL also skipped their Coco Cay day, you could see them taking a look at it and then sailing away on 1/14 as well.

We just got off Pearl and I was wondering if anyone has ever actually been charged for a missing pool towel. What a outdated system and definitely seems like a hollow threat. At least on RCL they use your room key to check towels in/out, but its very easy to cheat that system as well, if you are off on your towel count they will usually just trust you if you say you returned all your towels. No one is stealing towels off the ship in any quantities that matters anyways. They are just concerned about people returning towels for cleaning, and keeping people from using towels to reserve chairs for hours that they never use. We went to a Jamaican resort a few years ago and they had towel cards. Each guest got one. You could get more than 1 per guest if you wanted. You could exchange the card for a dry towel, and then return the wet towel for either a dry one, or a card back. On checkout day you had to return as many cards as they gave you. Pretty low-tech but it worked. At Legoland they have a fancy towel machine that uses a chip in each towel, you scan your ke4y, take towels from the cabinet, and it tracks how many towels you took. The return chute scans the tags as the towels get dropped in. The machine's door was hanging wide open so they have some logistical problems there but it was pretty neat tech.

Telemed testing is cheap and easy. Rapid tests are available everywhere now and cheap. We booked a “use your own test” with OnPoint. $10/person. The experience was very good and we had results about a minute after the zoom call ended. All you need is a phone, computer, or tablet with the Zoom app, and some rapid tests

In Seattle today. We stored bags at The Purple Store, booked via LuggageHero but I wouldn’t bother with that, just show up with your bags. There is also a place close to the market Smoke Plus that will store bags. Appears cheaper. Purple Store did a great job. Very professional and courteous.