Meet & Greet vs Platinum Behind the Scenes

[numberguy]

Hey folks,

 

I've read a couple of places that NCL has now, in some cases, rescheduled the Platinum (and above) Behind the Scenes tour for a different time than the standard Cruise Critic Meet & Greet. Can people tell me about their experiences with this on recent cruises? My roll call for the Spirit this November/December is kind of quiet, so I'd like to offer to plan the Meet & Greet to maybe drum up some engagement on the Roll Call.

 

However, I did this on my last cruise in September 2016 on the Jade, which was my first Platinum cruise, and I missed out on the BTS. I don't want to miss out again this time, so I only want to plan the Meet & Greet if these two events no longer conflict.

 

Any experiences? TIA.

 

--Michael

[FredZiffle]

I don't know if it had any effect, but on our last NCL cruise in March, I specifically asked that the two not be in conflict when I booked the M&G. They ended up at different times.

[debnjoe1438]

My last cruise, there were enough Platinum members that there was more than one behind the scens tour. On one cruise I left the meet and greet early to go and attend the tour.

[mking8288]

... on our last NCL cruise in March, I specifically asked that the two not be in conflict when I booked the M&G. They ended up at different times.

Which ship was this ? ... as that's useful to other folks planning their M&G.

 

We sailed on the Gem and did the same, informed NCL's Group Event liaision at HQ that we would like to avoid scheduling conflicts within a month of sailing, when I put in the request. I know that when we last sailed on the Gem, the BTS tour overlapped & cut into the M&G time, 10 AM on Day 2 (Sea Day) and 11 AM, respectively.

 

By the time we got onboard & went to the CruiseNext office to ask, they've told us the Platinum BTS tour would be held on Day 5 (another Sea Day) @ 9 AM. The M&G time remained unchanged, Day 2 @ 11 AM - it's a win-win for all.

 

Been on the BA and thus far, no changes that I know of - both scheduled on the morning of Day 2 at 10 AM & 11 AM. All they had to do is move the schedule around by 30 minutes to fit both in ... Or, do the M&G first at 10 AM, followed by the BTS tour at 11 AM (60 minutes set aside, in practice - less than 30 for M&M). BTS tour on BA last a bit longer at 75 to 90 minutes vs. Gem at 60 minutes (shorter walk down "I-95")

 

On a different BA sailing, another CC'er reported that they offered those that attended the M&G the "regular" paid BTS tour - nice, as that's 2 "extra" stops not seen by the Platinum members (normally). On our last BA BTS, staff split the fairly large group of Platinum members into 2 groups, with security escort, and went the opposite direction doing the tour.

 

Someone else on our next BA sailing this late Fall - is organizing the Roll Call/M&M and probably not yet Platinum, but I've already explained & gave him a heads up ... to note the wish & make the request to NCL at a month out. I've skipped one or the other - DW didn't do the BTS on the BA last time, so if there's a conflict - will do the tour instead of the M&G.

 

Getting an idea of how many on the Roll Call with plans to do the BTS tour would be useful to "poke" NCL Group Event to work the matters out with the ship's liaision person responsible for the logistics.

P.S. - they do read these posts, kudo & thanks ... the friendly staff on the Gem.

[garycarla]

Which ship was this ? ... as that's useful to other folks planning their M&G.....

 

Though the scheduling might be somewhat driven by the "person" doing it on each ship, I am thinking each itinerary has significant bearing on the schedule.

[numberguy]

Thanks for all your responses. I was asking purely for selfish reasons: it would look crappy for the organizer to cheese it early out of the M&G to go on the BTS. Actually, as calm as our roll call has been, the M&G might not even happen.

 

But everyone keep telling me your experiences, so I can decide what to do.

 

--Michael

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

No offense, but if the M&G conflicted with the Plat behind the scenes Tour?

I would Do the BTS tour, and hopefully fit in the M&G.

Like mentioned above......some M&G's get a large turnout, and times probably Won't conflict.

But if its a small M&G, only a few or none might show up.:o

So I would sign up for Plat tour when you board, and see how it goes.

[NH Cruisers]

This next cruise Sept. 8th to Bermuda from Boston, will be my first cruise as a platinum guest. I plan on doing the BTS tour.

[herdingdogmom]

I've been Platinum for my last 4 cruises and have not yet made it to the BTS tour. The last two cruises required signing up with the Cruise Next office and they then decided the time for the tour. All of mine were scheduled around 9:00 or 10:00 am. I'd suggest asking the group coordinator work with cruise next to avoid schedule conflicts.

[numberguy]

No offense, but if the M&G conflicted with the Plat behind the scenes Tour?

I would Do the BTS tour, and hopefully fit in the M&G.

Like mentioned above......some M&G's get a large turnout, and times probably Won't conflict.

But if its a small M&G, only a few or none might show up.:o

So I would sign up for Plat tour when you board, and see how it goes.

 

I agree with you, but I'm asking because I'm considering offering to be the M&G coordinator. It would be crappy for me to leave in the middle of the M&G I'm coordinating to go on the Platinum BtS tour.

 

Just trying to figure out if I should offer to be the M&G coordinator or not.

 

--Michael