Have you seen how much NCL has Cutback?

[DrFootball]

Yes, your point is dead on Carrie! Still,..I felt we had better food choices(and Quality of same) on this trip then our last trip on Carny a few years back. Now that we've done NCL were hooked and I suspect not only will we "cruise more often" once we relocate, but we'll be cruising NCL.Also,..you never gave me your card(you were wrapped up with John's Back! How He Doing? are you working tomorrow night?)

 

 

Bill(DrFootball)

This Medal is awarded to the Aviator who has “distinguished himself by Heroism, Gallantry or Extraordinary Achievement while participating in aerial flight.” - The Army Distinguished Flying Cross

Bill's Brainiac Random Quote Generator V0.95 final beta for Mac

[Bars7816]

"So personally I am glad that no cigar smoking is allowed on balconies."

 

Hear, Hear!!!! Smokers have no idea what it does to the rest of us.

[floatplan]

As for cigars, I'd rather smell a nice cigar than a pack of nasty cigarettes. Yes my DH enjoys his cigars and in all honesty how will they enforce this?

We had 3 women sharing a cabin two away from us who smoked the illegal stuff and nothing happened.

 

I'd rather smell neither, and like cigars the least. I have a balcony to breath the sea air, not smoke. Leaving the door open tends to cause the bad smells to be sucked in.

 

AFAIK they have never allowed cigars on balconcies. The current smoking FAQ page http://www2.ncl.com/faq#n28634 says "Cigar and pipe smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony is prohibited." The 2012 revision is the same restated.

 

> how will they enforce this?

 

I called the front desk once when I smelled (and could see) a cigar being smoked on the balcony below me. They sent security and it was no longer a problem. I would do it again. The rules are published, follow them or find another line.

 

I agree it feels like there are many small cutbacks that make the NCL experience less enjoyable. I had the escargot a few weeks ago and it was not as good as I remembered.

[davesgirl51]

I just had their escargot 2 weeks ago and they definetly were NOT the same. I was so looking forward to them and was disappointed big time.

NCL specialty restaurants aren't what they used to be.

Neither were their mussels .

 

Different chefs on different ships .

 

The Dawn's specialty restaurants were the best but not their MDR"S.

 

Our opinion only.

 

Did you ask to speak to the chef ?

[family cruisers]

I wasn't referring to the tenderloin in Le Bistro. I was referring to what they called a steak in their MDR"S.

I enjoyed my filet mignon very much .

I challenge you to find a better cut of beef anywhere at any price than the tenderloin in Le Bistro. It is the BEST !!!

 

I am also very pleased with the New York steak in the MDR. Tender and cooked to my liking.

[family cruisers]

Hi Bill,

 

Johns out of work for at least a month ! First time calling out sick since 2003 . He's hurting and I'm driving him daily to the chiropractor that you and I chatted about about on the Gem.

Thanks for asking .

Yes I am working the Jets game tomorrow . I'm actually signed up to work the remainder of all games at the stadium thru new years.

Waiting to hear what kind of spring, summer concert/ soccer season we will have.

 

I was so glad we had that mini suite on deck 11. Made me running up to the buffet much easier to grab him something ( he stayed in bed from friday night to sunday departure) . He wasn't hungry but I tried.

 

I did look for you & Ann Rose on sunday morning around the buffet area several times to say goodbye. I had my cards in my pocket too.

 

I know that certain ships of different cruise lines are not the same but I do know that the Carnival pride we've sailed has been a winner not only to us but friends who just got off a month or so ago. I have my girlfriend and her family booked on that one for spring break in april.

 

If you've never sailed on the Carnival pride ( baltimore) which we have the last 2 years back to back I urge you to do so.

Their menu choices are endless and the food is really outstanding.

 

I hope you don't think I'm bashing NCL. I'm not at all.

WE had a GREAT time and enjoyed all those we met both staff and CC'ers etc.. The staff onboard the GEM was outstanding. Went above and beyond each and every day.

Dr.Football you've seen me, I'm not a big person but I do love food, good food. So ... I do look forward to eating on a cruise..

 

You mentioned you're relocating . Did I see somewhere Arizona ?

Lots of good west coast deals out there :) I have a friend in Chandler AZ who I always send stuff to.

 

Hello to Ann Rose,

 

Carrie

 

Yes, your point is dead on Carrie! Still,..I felt we had better food choices(and Quality of same) on this trip then our last trip on Carny a few years back. Now that we've done NCL were hooked and I suspect not only will we "cruise more often" once we relocate, but we'll be cruising NCL.Also,..you never gave me your card(you were wrapped up with John's Back! How He Doing? are you working tomorrow night?)

 

 

Bill(DrFootball)

This Medal is awarded to the Aviator who has “distinguished himself by Heroism, Gallantry or Extraordinary Achievement while participating in aerial flight.” - The Army Distinguished Flying Cross

Bill's Brainiac Random Quote Generator V0.95 final beta for Mac

[newmexicoNita]

And the point is? I booked a suite in 2002 for $3200 on the Sun 7 days peak Alaska season. NCL is asking over $9000 for the cheapest suite on the Breakaway. Far more then the 3.90% annual inflation rate.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Oh, come on, you are talking apples and oranges: first of all you can't compare the Breakaway with the Sun (even when she was new) and you can't pay any attention to the prices on the Breakaway now, it is almost 2 years away..They will change plus I think you might want to check out that cheapest at $9000.

 

Nita

[andrewjb1]

Bye.

[family cruisers]

I will say my DH only smokes when he knows no neighbors on either side are out on their balconies. He is very respectful of those who do not smoke.

 

As for your comment on follow rules or find another line .... You're kidding right ? THere are lots of rules that are published but never followed.

All the booze smugglers, pot smokers, Kids in the adults only pool and OMG those who wear jeans (even though NCL allows it) the ship would be half empty !

The ship overlooks ALOT.

 

I'd love to dabble a bit in the casino and try my luck which I normally don't do but the smokers would kill me ( I quit 20 years ago) Funny how in areas where the ship makes money it's allowed !

 

If you've read my review we used to love to leave our balcony doors opened at night BUT we had a late night intruder on our balcony which changed that idea for me. Lets just call him " Igor" and I showed our Cruise director , Johnny Cash Sanchez the pictures and he was shocked. He called the executive in charge of housekeeping in front of me to come clean up "the mess" left behind. Other crew members have seen "Igor and friends".

They do have some rather large stowaways :)

He asked me to forward him the pix and I did.

 

Please tell me what " AFAIK" means ? Not familar with that one.

 

Thanks for reading my reply to your comment.

 

Enjoy your evening . I'm glad we agree about the escargot :)

I'd rather smell neither, and like cigars the least. I have a balcony to breath the sea air, not smoke. Leaving the door open tends to cause the bad smells to be sucked in.

 

AFAIK they have never allowed cigars on balconcies. The current smoking FAQ page http://www2.ncl.com/faq#n28634 says "Cigar and pipe smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony is prohibited." The 2012 revision is the same restated.

 

> how will they enforce this?

 

I called the front desk once when I smelled (and could see) a cigar being smoked on the balcony below me. They sent security and it was no longer a problem. I would do it again. The rules are published, follow them or find another line.

 

I agree it feels like there are many small cutbacks that make the NCL experience less enjoyable. I had the escargot a few weeks ago and it was not as good as I remembered.

[family cruisers]

No I waited for the main entree .

I did mention the lobster that was overcooked to our waiter though.

 

Did you ask to speak to the chef ?

[time2cruise1]

Oh, come on, you are talking apples and oranges: first of all you can't compare the Breakaway with the Sun (even when she was new) and you can't pay any attention to the prices on the Breakaway now, it is almost 2 years away..They will change plus I think you might want to check out that cheapest at $9000.

 

Nita

 

Nita I am not comparing apples and oranges. I was looking at time value of money. I could compare the the first Epic transatlantic at $5500 for a courtyard villa to the Breakaway TA and yes over $9000 for the least expensive penthouse.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Lonedaddy]

I'd prefer to pay for an entry level cabin on a luxury line than spring for a penthouse on a mass market. The cost is similar, and at least I get better food on the luxury line. Am I missing something?

 

I agree with that. We had a suite booked on upcoming cruise and asked why I want to pay that much extra for what. I am only going on this one because the kids want to just move to a minisuite. For less, when you add it all up, I can book on crystal in a balcony cabin or one of the other lines. I have not seen anything about the other lines cutting back. Still get maine lobster on the captains dinner...

[family cruisers]

Thank You :)

AFAIK-As Far As I Know

[family cruisers]

I double agree on this !

I agree with that. We had a suite booked on upcoming cruise and asked why I want to pay that much extra for what. I am only going on this one because the kids want to just move to a minisuite. For less, when you add it all up, I can book on crystal in a balcony cabin or one of the other lines. I have not seen anything about the other lines cutting back. Still get maine lobster on the captains dinner...

[christiecruise]

I think that the OP has a point - simply about being disappointed that things are not the same as they once were.

 

From my very limited perspective (one cruise when I was 21 with my parents on the Norway, and a fantastic cruise on the Jade in the Mediterranean last year), it is the experience and not the details which have made the cruise special for me.

 

My mom kept our tickets from the 1988 cruise (which allowed us to get Latitudes status, who whoo!), so I know that the cruise fare that they paid for the cabin for my sister and me in 1988 was actually higher by $500 per person than what we are paying this year for my two kids in an inside cabin!

 

When I was 21, I liked the food ;) Last year I thought that some of the food was outstanding, some was good and just a few things were sub-par. But for my husband and myself it was the experience of traveling to the great ports/cities of Spain, Monaco, and Italy and spending every evening with our best friends in a gorgeous dining room with fine service and very good dinners with even better conversation (umm...no cooking, cleaning, laundry) that made our experience so special.

 

My family has travelled from coast to coast (we live in Ohio), eaten in fabulous restaurants, but in Boston we had two meals where the seafood was less flavorful, fresh and beautifully prepared than we have at our favorite restaurants in Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio! Seriously.

 

So - to me it is a matter of perspective and expectation. If the OP expected what had been their previous experience, it would be disappointing to have things change. I hope that the experience that my family enjoys together is what we take away from our Dec. cruise - and I hope that we think that the food is good, too! Will let you know!!

[SuiteCruiser]

Like the above poster, my first cruise was in 1983. 4 to an inside cabin and it cost $750 each.

 

BTW, I'm in the Owners Suite on the Gem for a week for $3600, and my last suite was a two bedroom suite on the Dawn for over $5k for a week.

 

The prices are not rising, you just need to watch and know when to book.

 

To each his own, sorry you're disappointed, my last cruise was definitely yptye best one, and all of my meals were enjoyable.

[Ontario cruise duo]

Quote If you've read my review we used to love to leave our balcony doors opened at night BUT we had a late night intruder on our balcony which changed that idea for me. Lets just call him " Igor" and I showed our Cruise director , Johnny Cash Sanchez the pictures and he was shocked. He called the executive in charge of housekeeping in front of me to come clean up "the mess" left behind. Other crew members have seen "Igor and friends".

They do have some rather large stowaways :)

He asked me to forward him the pix and I did.

 

Please tell me what " AFAIK" means ? Not familar with that one.

 

Thanks for reading my reply to your comment.

Enjoy your evening . I'm glad we agree about the escargot :)

Okay, you've peaked my interest. We too have also cruised and left our patio door open. What the heck or who the heck was "Igor" and "the mess left behind". :rolleyes:

[Ontario cruise duo]

Quote If you've read my review we used to love to leave our balcony doors opened at night BUT we had a late night intruder on our balcony which changed that idea for me. Lets just call him " Igor" and I showed our Cruise director , Johnny Cash Sanchez the pictures and he was shocked. He called the executive in charge of housekeeping in front of me to come clean up "the mess" left behind. Other crew members have seen "Igor and friends".

They do have some rather large stowaways :)

He asked me to forward him the pix and I did.

 

Please tell me what " AFAIK" means ? Not familar with that one.

 

Thanks for reading my reply to your comment.

Enjoy your evening . I'm glad we agree about the escargot :)

Okay, you've peaked my interest. We too have also cruised and left our patio door open. What the heck or who the heck was "Igor" and "the mess left behind". :rolleyes:

[Ontario cruise duo]

Quote If you've read my review we used to love to leave our balcony doors opened at night BUT we had a late night intruder on our balcony which changed that idea for me. Lets just call him " Igor" and I showed our Cruise director , Johnny Cash Sanchez the pictures and he was shocked. He called the executive in charge of housekeeping in front of me to come clean up "the mess" left behind. Other crew members have seen "Igor and friends".

They do have some rather large stowaways :)

He asked me to forward him the pix and I did.

 

Please tell me what " AFAIK" means ? Not familar with that one.

 

Thanks for reading my reply to your comment.

Enjoy your evening . I'm glad we agree about the escargot :)

Okay, you've peaked my interest. We too have also cruised and left our patio door open. What the heck or who the heck was "Igor" and "the mess left behind". :rolleyes:

[Ontario cruise duo]

Oops, sorry about the multiple postings!!:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Susie51]

I have a simple philosophy --- If I don't think the cruise is worth the money, I don't book it !!

 

I have cruised the lines that have tried to hang onto the past with their luxury image, and GUESS WHAT ??? They were gobbled up by Carnival !!!

 

I readily accept the cutbacks because that is what keeps the companies in business and keeps cruising affordable. Prior to the change in leadership at NCL, they were on the verge of backruptcy, so the cutbacks and changes are what has kept them available for us to enjoy.

 

Well put!

[Cubechick]

Nita I am not comparing apples and oranges. I was looking at time value of money. I could compare the the first Epic transatlantic at $5500 for a courtyard villa to the Breakaway TA and yes over $9000 for the least expensive penthouse.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Excellent point!

[lgfromdg]

Personally, I am more than willing to forego a lobster tail, jumbo shrimp or glass of champagne to still be able to afford to board a beautiful ship which will take me to far-off places, where I can eat at any time of day, be entertained from morning until night and have all my needs attended to by friendly, attentive crew members.

[family cruisers]

LOL.... Igor as I called him was a late night intruder on our balcony.

 

My DH was strolling on deck 7 enjoying his cigar. I decided to take advantage of our bathtub in the mini suite and go up ahead of him .

 

When I came out of the bathroom I heard a noise out on the balcony. Thinking it was DH who snuck in the room and out on the balcony to give me a scare , I was quite surprised when I pulled open the curtain and flipped on the light to see " IGOR".. A big hawk looking kind of bird.

Normally I would have pulled the door open quickly to scare my DH thinking it was him. Luckily I didn't.

IGOR had a big beak and large claws.

 

I have to try and post the picture here but am not sure how to do a single picture. Any one want to help me figure this out ???

 

We LOVED sleeping with our balcony door opened on every cruise. This changed that. All I thought of afterwards was "Imagine waking up with him in the room " .

I sat on our sofa next to the balcony door as IGOR sat on either the table or chair. At one point I freaked him out and his he displayed his wingspan.

I HAD to take pictures thinking DH would return to no bird and my story and he'd wonder what I was drinking in the bathrub ! Luckily for me he walked in and saw me talking to the bird.

We showed the pix to Johnny Cash Sanchez at our CC meeting the next morning.

Throughout the cruise we chatted w/ different crew members who also told us stories of other birds that size on board. We were too far out to sea for them to fly to land so their stowaways ! What a life huh ?

 

Quote If you've read my review we used to love to leave our balcony doors opened at night BUT we had a late night intruder on our balcony which changed that idea for me. Lets just call him " Igor" and I showed our Cruise director , Johnny Cash Sanchez the pictures and he was shocked. He called the executive in charge of housekeeping in front of me to come clean up "the mess" left behind. Other crew members have seen "Igor and friends".

They do have some rather large stowaways :)

He asked me to forward him the pix and I did.

 

Please tell me what " AFAIK" means ? Not familar with that one.

 

Thanks for reading my reply to your comment.

Enjoy your evening . I'm glad we agree about the escargot :)

Okay, you've peaked my interest. We too have also cruised and left our patio door open. What the heck or who the heck was "Igor" and "the mess left behind". :rolleyes:

[commodoredave]

I agree with that. We had a suite booked on upcoming cruise and asked why I want to pay that much extra for what. I am only going on this one because the kids want to just move to a minisuite. For less, when you add it all up, I can book on crystal in a balcony cabin or one of the other lines. I have not seen anything about the other lines cutting back. Still get maine lobster on the captains dinner...

 

Yes, the food on the luxury line is still very good. The only cut back I have seen is with caviar -- they now hand out a lot less at the captains party with the big shrimp, but at least they still hand it out.