Always Cruising

Love the commentary and gorgeous pictures!  Your grandson looks like the very best traveling companion.

I also received nothing from the casino in my cabin, other than the 3 items that Ruby level guests can order (bottles of wine, shrimp cocktail, chocolate covered strawberries).  And I played (&lost) a lot.

I asked about the birthday gift on my December Prima cruise (my birthday month) and was told by casino manager that it wasn't done anymore 

Pre Covid, a photo of the group

was given to guests at the dinner with the officers.  None this past time on the Star (feb 26), but maybe it wasn't a regular part of the dinner, even pre Covid.

Not sure if the 16 and over policy is on the Jewel class ships.  The top floor is different from the Breakaway ships - they have hot tubs and lots of loungers.  I've never seen over a handful of people on the Jewel class top decks - except perhaps at sailaway

I've found that the casino host will give approximately 7% of your loss as  non-refundable OBC.  It used to be 10% (pre-Covid).  It was applied to my CruiseNext purchase on my last cruise (I hadn't realized it, and bought RayBans, but had some left that was applied to my bill.)

I was on the Dec 16 sailing, and received no notification.  I agree that the people sailing from Nov 19 would be more at risk than later passengers. 

Any info on the senior officers and staff on the Star?  (including concierge).  We sail Feb 26.  Thanks in advance....

Wondering if anyone knows who is the concierge on the Star?  I'm on board starting Feb 26.  TIA!

On 2/12/2023 at 1:35 PM, www3traveler said:

Would you please be kind enough to post a list of the Senior Officers, both Hotel and Bridge?

Thank You

I hope you have a wonderful cruise

I'd love to see the list of officers (& concierge), as well.  TIA!

Maybe he will be back by then - such a great personality!

and Rommel had been at Vibe in December, but I think he's at another bar now, according to a previous post.

just googled $2 bill superstitions, and  mostly in US, there is an association with gambling and prostitutes (both paid in $2 bills from 1900's).  Also two - deuce is a name for the devil - like "what the deuce" rather than "what the devil"     I tried to forward the short article to this page, but computer skills aren't my forte  😉     

I had 50 brand new $2 bills about 10 years ago on a cruise on NCL.  I thought the crew would be delighted with them as a tip for a drink.  Most looked at them a bit suspiciously - they weren't very common.  And being new, some staff members thought they were fake.  I assured them they could be used like $1 bills, but I never made my bank get them for me again.

After asking a few different people, we were finally led to Haven check-in at the port.  Lines at Port Canaveral Dec 16 were crazy long, so we didn't get to check-in 'til just before noon.  After checking in, we were led on board, and told to go to Cagney's. No crew member led us there (no big deal, but different from Haven).   We met Lainie (the suite concierge) who was often at a desk in Cagney's during breakfast and lunch.  She was very helpful with reservations for shows and getting us off ship early.  Not the attention of a Haven concierge, but we paid thousands less than  those guests.  We ate 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches at Cagney's.  Menu very close to the old Haven menus.  Good service and food, but not great.  Our butler, Benny from Goa was a delight.  Our forward facing suite felt much smaller than expected for us 3 "girls."  But it worked out.  When the sofa bed was opened (very comfortable for sleeping!), I had to do acrobatics to make coffee, cuz the end of the bed touched the counter and fridge. And we couldn't figure out how to close it - our steward had to do that.   But we had a fun time, and the ship is beautiful, but different.  Happy Sailing!

Just off the Dec 16 Prima, and really enjoyed the Vibe! Above bartenders (and Ann Marie) were all wonderful, and I enjoyed meeting other guests.  So glad I bought the pass. 

He is a bartender at the Vibe on Prima.

And with a baby, no less!

6 hours ago, dexddd said:

On Prima the Haven restaurant is called the Haven restaurant.  There is also Cagney's but not where Haven eat free.

It will be interesting to see how breakfast and lunch at Cagney's for Prima suite passengers works.  Not sure if this has been done on other ships with both a Haven and suites with partial perks (like concierge, butler, b'fast and lunch at Cagney's).  I will report back after our Dec 16 cruise.  Thanks for all responses.

The suite I've booked on Prima has breakfast and lunch at Cagney's (or equivalent) and concierge/butler service.  Just curious about any boarding perks.  Thanks for all answers!

Specifically, I'm asking about the Prima, and it would be at Port Canaveral.  I know they haven't started Prima's trips from that Port yet, but wondered how it worked at previous ports.  Thanks in advance for any info....

I see Haven check-in; do you know if suite pax can use that check-in, or is there another place for them?  TIA

26 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Call the Haven Pre-Cruise desk.  I think what you will have to do is have the Haven Desk on the ship handle if for you.  Don't worry, you will be boarded first.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Spa representatives have always been in the Haven check-in day available to book appointments.  So, if the Pre-concierge can't do it for you, you should have the opportunity to do it as you're having your first drink at the Haven bar. 

In reading the "fine print" for the AmEx $350 refund offer, it said the payment had to be done online?  But I see above a person had luck getting the refund by paying through their NCL cruise consultant.  Is it correct that the AmEx card number can be given to an NCL agent by phone?  TIA

15 hours ago, vince_g said:

It was $250 for a 14 night cruise years ago.

I thought so....thanks for your answer