phillygwm

Others can better opine but I've read threads where people found it difficult to ditch an unresponsive PCC. For me, this might be the big reason to switch to a TA. I'd be pretty upset if my new PCC only wanted to deal with new revenue generation and didn't want to support my existing cruises. I realize the importance of earning commissions but if you take care of your clients, the revenue will take care of itself over time. Of course, it's a position with pretty high turnover so they may not be focused on the long term.

Depends on the TA (or PCC) you're working with. As stated elsewhere, many travel agents will throw in goodies. At least one big box warehouse has a travel site that gives you a gift card so you can load up on Kirkland products 🙂 Amex has goodies, others do OBC, etc. Of course, a good TA should really enhance your trip experience, not merely financially. I don't use a TA because 1) I book through CAS so I can't; and 2) I enjoy making my own arrangements and (IMHO) do a pretty good job, most of the time. It's like enjoying my vacation vicariously before I actually leave the house. But it's not much different from managing one's own investments versus having a financial advisor (I do that myself too.) It can be daunting at first and some people will never be confident enough to do it themselves, which is why there are entire industries built around the process. Back to the topic: Don't be confused by the promos; they're usually the same, just different wording (1/2 off versus 2 for 1, etc.) Instead, look for the $500 Cruisefirst cert opportunities, or the promos that allow you to triple up CruiseNext, or maybe multiply Latitudes points.

I have the same offer. Since I book through CAS and had a $500 Cruisefirst cert, even with the admin fee, upgrade, and prepaid DSC, I didn't have a $1000 sale even when paid in full. So I booked excursions to get over the threshold. Since my cruise isn't until August, I ordinarily wouldn't have booked those so far in advance. I don't expect to cancel but I did this with the understanding that I COULD, if something unexpected arose. Of course, I also have trip insurance 🙂

We're probably splitting hairs but DSC, as stated on the NCL website, isn't technically a "tip." It's part of the participating crew's comp package and goes to crew entertainment etc. That said, additional tips, while always appreciated, are not expected. I don't know firsthand how the beverage package tips work, I assume similarly (i.e. not split among bartending crew based on number of pax) but won't pretend to know with any certainty. I agree with the above comment, though. While appreciated/not expected, I do bring cash for tips. My room steward (non-Haven) gets something if he's good, which has (almost) always been the case. I'll frequently -- but not always -- tip bartenders. If service is attentive/friendly or I'm sitting somewhere for a while, I'll certainly throw a few bucks to them. But if I grab a drink and move on, probably not. Moral of the story is, unless you're in the Haven, you do you because you've already contributed. Butlers and concierges in Haven aren't part of the pool so you're expected to tip them. Not sure why that isn't included in Haven pricing but it is what it is.

Yes. I always book through CAS and get a casino OBC in addition to shareholders.

Quick answer is that people want to leave the ship without a big bill. It isn't mandatory. Even though I get $200 OBC, between casino and shareholder benefit, I try to prepay as much as possible. Worst case, I'll run to the duty free on the last night and buy a couple bottles of Champagne 🙂 FWIW, this has nothing to do with the shareholder OBC, which cannot be applied to DSC.

As others have stated, it covers MOST wine. If you wanted Veuve, for instance, that's only included in Le Bistro; you'd pay anywhere else. And they charge for the Louis XIII cognac 🙂 The bartenders will always advise when something isn't included.

I may be misreading but Bliss is in port (9/24/24) 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Encore is in from 2:30 - 11:00. FWIW, RCCL Radiance is in from 7:00 - 3:00. So it would seem that Encore is the third ship in port that day. Would there be no room at the inn? Not sure how many ships can be accommodated at the dock.

The breakeven is roughly 2 alcoholic drinks per day, per person, assuming the average drink is $10-11. As others have stated, a Bud will be less costly, most mixed drinks will be more. I advise friends to get the package. Not that they'll be binge drinking (necessarily) but when you're on vacation, it isn't difficult to put away a couple drinks...especially on a sea day. As for the casino drinks, point taken, as long as you only expect to drink in the casino. That isn't going to help you if you want a glass of something with dinner.

I just booked a cruise for next August on the Encore. On the website, it shows Juneau as a tender port. On my trip confirmation, all ports show as dock, which is the way things were when I last did the itinerary, pre-COVID. It wouldn't be super-important except a friend who is considering booking has some mobility issues and won't do a tender (I've seen some pretty frail people on tenders but nonetheless.) Of course, information on the NCL website isn't always 100% accurate 🙂 I've told him to call his PCC but, again, their info isn't always correct either so I thought I'd pose the question here: Does NCL generally tender into Juneau? Thanks in advance!

I called the reservations number and asked. If they have an opening, they'll tell you. If not, some crew will call you back if one opens up. I've also gone up to the podium at the restaurant and asked, in the event there are no shows.

Nice review. I sailed the week before you and agree with many of your comments. I've always told anyone who would listen that Le Bistro had the best service of any of the specialties. Not the case this time. But I might have had a few glasses of Veuve which evened things out 🙂 La Cucina was surprisingly good; it is inconsistent generally. Ocean Blue was, overall, the best restaurant on the ship IMO. Ironically, I ordered the steak there. Cagney's was also good but OB edged it out. My niece is vegetarian which was not an issue in OB and Cagney's accommodated (by bringing the veg dish over from Le Bistro.) She loved it so didn't mind it twice. That is correct. Veuve is ONLY available (as part of the package) while in Le Bistro. Anywhere else, you have to pay. Pommery Rose is the only Champagne option.

That's correct. My friend has never been on a cruise but she gambles (CZR properties) much more than I do. However, most of my gambling is on NCL so my offer was better than hers.

Depends on the offer. I got a good deal (balcony upgraded to club) because I'm NCL rated. A friend who gambles a LOT more than I do (at Caesars) got a free oceanview. But when I asked my host for a quote on a cabin for someone who is not a gambler, the cost was slightly more than I computed by running the numbers myself on a certain big box warehouse site. That site offered a $333 gift card on top of everything else.

I've upgraded to FAS+ on my last 3-4 cruises. For me, as a solo, it's $42/day. I'm going to get the unlimited Internet and upgrade my dining anyway so the question becomes whether premium bevs are worth it. I do not drink fancy liquors and, while I like a Chimay or a better glass of wine once in a while, if that's all it was I'd rather pay the incremental few bucks for that. But I DO like Pellegrino and Starbucks and drink enough of those to tip the balance. Not saying there's a "right" or "wrong" answer because if your preferences are different than mine it could change the calculus.

Only once was I subjected to pressure tactics. Ironically, I was already buying 2 but he wanted me to max out. I don't like keeping too many certs in my bank because I cruise once a year, sometimes not that much, so I don't want to chance any expiring. Since that experience, I've bought CF when they have the $500/250 opportunities and skipped CN altogether.

This literally happened to me a few cruises ago. I don't normally sail out of Miami so I just plugged in Port of Miami in Uber. Driver didn't speak English but, in his defense, many of the port staff speak better Spanish anyway. He found out I needed to get to B and dropped me there. He got a good tip 🙂

Interesting. I'm just off the Joy, Deck 8 Fwd, above the theatre. I only recall hearing the bass once; it was over by 10:00-10:30. As inconveniences go, very minor, and it WAS nice having all my favorite bars/restaurants nearby. But it may have been that I was out of my cabin at the more annoying times. Also, the lower decks tend to be lower category cabins so you save a few bucks (nothing appreciable, though.)

The bathroom IS a nice perk if you're a [ahem] larger person. You get an extra bag of laundry (so 2.) You also get some goodies, though I could never tell which were because I was Platinum/Sapphire, which were CAS, and which were Club Balcony. Personally, I prefer CB, but not enough to pay much of a premium for it.

As others have stated, go to the CruiseNext desk. Get there early; they book up, especially the BTS tour, which was on waitlist by the time I thought of it. Wine tasting was pretty good, though. I'm now Sapphire, having been Platinum for several years prior. The Concierge benefit was one of the things I most looked forward to. Alas, it isn't a thing. I expected a sheet in my room packet stating "Hi, I'm ____, your Platinum Concierge. Call me if you need anything." Nothing. I was told that the CruiseNext personnel ARE the "concierge" but obviously, their primary concern is selling certs. Perhaps they'd be more "concierge-y" if I made my requests while making a purchase 🙂

Sadly, service levels have been cutback on NCL and, indeed, most cruise lines over the last year. I managed my expectations downward on my last cruise. While my steward was great and exceeded my expectations, it was clear he had a LOT to do. I once accidentally left my DND on one morning, though my "occupied" light was off. When I came back, early afternoon, he flagged me down to explain why my room wasn't done. He (correctly) thought I left the light on in error but I guess they're not allowed to clean if the DND light is on, period, which is understandable. I apologized for screwing up his routine and he told me he'd clean it as soon as he got back from lunch; he was literally heading out when we passed. I thought that was more than accommodating. I'm usually out early but never actually requested an earlier service so I can't say whether it would have been honored or not. As others have stated, with their recently doubled room load, it may be asking a lot to move things around. He did accommodate some other minor requests (fridge cleanout, towel animals, etc.) I usually tip on Day 1 and, if service was good, again on Day 7. Not sure whether that impacted his attentiveness 🙂 Personally, I'd pay a bit extra to have the 2x daily service and other cuts added back but I guess they're concerned that would impact bookings which they'd then have to discount later anyway, so I get it.

I've not been diagnosed on the spectrum but I share a lot of those common characteristics. I agree with you completely. I'd love to chat with someone on an excursion or at a bar, particularly after I've had a few drinks. Even if you're the world's most interesting person, keeping a conversation going with a complete stranger over a 2 hour dinner is exhausting and -- for me at least -- stressful! I often go silent even when among family and friends but at least they know me well enough to understand I'm not upset, just being me.

Not only that but many people don't even want to socialize with people whose political views differ from theirs. Personally, I haven't missed an election in almost 40 years and I have opinions which I consider informed; I've voted for Democrats and Republicans over the years, sometimes for the best candidate and sometimes for the least worst 🙂 That said, I wouldn't dream of subjecting anyone to those opinions unless someone specifically asked me about it. Likewise, if I see someone wearing a hat or t-shirt (even if I voted for that person) I'm going to try to avoid that interaction. No need to raise my blood pressure on vacation!

Sailed Western Caribbean last week. Time changed according to port. I would have preferred it be constant because I wasn't really looking at onshore clocks while on excursions, but I understand why they choose to do it.

Old thread but an interesting one. There was a similar thread about the "Dinner With the Officers" perk at Sapphire level and above. Personally, I don't like socializing with large groups -- at all. Part of that is social anxiety but I also have difficulty hearing when there's a lot of background noise, so I can't effectively communicate with anyone not next to/across from me. I just got off a cruise with my niece and I sucked it up and took her to Teppanyaki. I hated every minute, between the noise and the annoying drunk girl next to me. At dinner, I prefer to dine with friends and family. I enjoy socializing with people at bars, on excursions, etc. Of course, if we find each other annoying at the bar, we just speak with others or get up and go to another bar. But being stuck for an hour or two with people whom I find insufferable (or vice versa?) No thanks.