Sailor1959 Posted November 29, 2017 #1 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Ahoy Mates !!! One of the bennies of Platinum members are a couple of free meals in optional restaurants. If we select a "Guaranteed" cabin (no included bennies like OBC, etc.) would we forfeit the standard Platinum bennies ? TIA Sailor-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry wichita Posted November 29, 2017 #2 Share Posted November 29, 2017 No, come with benefit not cabins. Just sign up and your latitudes will handle Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BostonGal35 Posted November 29, 2017 #3 Share Posted November 29, 2017 you get platinum bennies regardless of cabin type booked. note that if you are on a short sail (less than 5 days i think it is) you dont get the majority of the platinum perks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted November 29, 2017 #4 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Ahoy Mates !!! One of the bennies of Platinum members are a couple of free meals in optional restaurants. If we select a "Guaranteed" cabin (no included bennies like OBC, etc.) would we forfeit the standard Platinum bennies ? TIA No forfeiture. Enjoy your two free dinners (one with wine), bag of laundry (each), and behind the scenes tour,,, along with various discounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted November 29, 2017 #5 Share Posted November 29, 2017 When you first check into your cabin no matter what type you should find on the small desk an envelope with all the Platinum bennies enclosed. Read it over and see what you can do for free. One thing if you are planning a tour of the ship - Behind the Scenes Tour (BST) you (must) should check in with the Shore Excursion or Next Cruise people ASAP to arrange it - capacity is limited ! If you have the SDP dining package and have not made reservations - plan how you are going to mix that with your free Platinum dinners. Laundry is usually on cruises of 6 days or more but ignore that - the Platinum Laundry free be is something to look into - check with your cabin steward for when you can use it. Oh so much free be stuff and you earned it by your frequent loyalty - did you notice the bottle of bubbly in the champagne bucket next to the desk ? If it is not included check later for the invitation to the cocktail party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 29, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted November 29, 2017 When you first check into your cabin no matter what type you should find on the small desk an envelope with all the Platinum bennies enclosed. Read it over and see what you can do for free If you have the SDP dining package and have not made reservations - plan how you are going to mix that with your free Platinum dinners.That sounds like it could be confusing. :eek: When we dine... how do we communicate to dining room staff which one we'll be using that evening ? Oh so much free be stuff and you earned it by your frequent loyalty - did you notice the bottle of bubbly in the champagne bucket next to the desk ? If it is not included check later for the invitation to the cocktail party.I believe every category receives a bottle of sparking wine per cabin.We did as Gold members.. but not in a champagne-bucket. We tossed the bottle in our fridge and took it to dinner with us.. Do Platinum and above members... receive something different ?. Sailor-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted November 29, 2017 #7 Share Posted November 29, 2017 .That sounds like it could be confusing. :eek: When we dine... how do we communicate to dining room staff which one we'll be using that evening ? Just let the Host/Hostess know when they are seating you. I always bring the voucher for the Platinum dinner with me and give it to the Hostess/Host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 29, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Thank You to: Terry wichita, BostonGal35, BirdTravels, and don't-use-real-name Sailor-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 29, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Just let the Host/Hostess know when they are seating you. I always bring the voucher for the Platinum dinner with me and give it to the Hostess/Host. Will Do ! Thanks NLH-AZ !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted November 29, 2017 #10 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Just wanted to add make sure if you do the Behind the Scenes tour, to wear closed toe shoes. I didn't have any and had to go to the gift shop and purchase a pair of Crocs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 30, 2017 Author #11 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Just wanted to add make sure if you do the Behind the Scenes tour, to wear closed toe shoes. I didn't have any and had to go to the gift shop and purchase a pair of Crocs. Excellent Advice JDVMD !!! BTW: Approximately... how long (minutes) is the tour ? Sailor-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted November 30, 2017 #12 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Excellent Advice JDVMD !!! BTW: Approximately... how long (minutes) is the tour ? Sailor-1959 I want to say they said it would last 1.5-2 hours but ours went on and on. Probably because I was asking questions. It was more than 2.5 for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 30, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted November 30, 2017 I want to say they said it would last 1.5-2 hours but ours went on and on. Probably because I was asking questions. It was more than 2.5 for us. ROFLMAO !!!! :rolleyes: Questions like: Does the crew sleep aboard the ship ? Did you get any dirty looks from fellow tour attendees ? Actually... the staff enjoys answering questions about their jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted November 30, 2017 #14 Share Posted November 30, 2017 ROFLMAO !!!! :rolleyes:Questions like: Does the crew sleep aboard the ship ? Did you get any dirty looks from fellow tour attendees ? Actually... the staff enjoys answering questions about their jobs. No, the only one who wasn’t happy was my teen son because he was hungry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted November 30, 2017 #15 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Excellent Advice JDVMD !!!BTW: Approximately... how long (minutes) is the tour ? Sailor-1959 Unless I missed it What ship are you on ? The SUN STAR and DAWN tours are 1.5 to 2 hours long - usually starting with the Laundry Room (clean-up your act before touring further) then to I95 (named after the East Coast main interstate highway) the main crew thru-way below the passenger occupied decks. See the crew mess (cafeteria) and what goes on in the bellows of the ship. From there varies with a visit to the main galley usually centered between the two MDRs and finally the back stage of the theatre seeing all the lighting costumes and dressing rooms that are actually the stairs between decks. AND the all important question the "BRIDGE" forget it not going to happen due to terrorists on the high seas restricting all that NCL Fun. Seriously "don't ask" and I have already let the cat out of the bag "don't tell" ! This Platinum BST is free and from what I have been told is just slightly less encompassing than the tour offered for about $80 to non-platinum guests. Remember to sign up for it when you first get on board - limited capacity ! If however you are too late and there are no openings talk with the Next Cruise Shore Excursion people if they don't sell out the Paid tours they maybe able to fit you in ! These tours are taken on Sea Days. As noted proper footwear must be worn - you are climbing steep stairways on lower decks and some of these are metal grating like peeling a potato. Don't forget to bring your camera along - photos are welcomed everywhere UNLESS the guide says otherwise ! AND don't forget to ask those silly questions that are so amusing - Crew: I had a tour today and you won't believe what one of those guests asked - really I can't mention it here it was RODLMAO* but the cruise director will not have a lack of material at his next show. * RODLMAO - notice the D instead of the F - D is for deck instead of the F for floor ! When you are in the theatre enjoying the show - think how all those entertainers change clothes in the space less than Superman's telephone booth ! Enjoy the tour and show - - - ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 30, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) Unless I missed it What ship are you on ? NCL's STAR; April 8th 2018; San Pedro-CA to Miami; 14-Day Panamanian Cruise It'll be our first on the STAR which I heard isn't such a STAR. It didn't start that way' date=' but now my favorite (so far) is the [b']SUN[/b]. Such a small vessel I can get from one point to another quickly and conveniently. Thanks for your super-duper description below, I'll take it with us: The SUN STAR and DAWN tours are 1.5 to 2 hours long - usually starting with the Laundry Room (clean-upyour act before touring further) then to I95 (named after the East Coast main interstate highway) the main crew thru-way below the passenger occupied decks. See the crew mess (cafeteria) and what goes on in the bellows of the ship. From there varies with a visit to the main galley usually centered between the two MDRs and finally the back stage of the theatre seeing all the lighting costumes and dressing rooms that are actually the stairs between decks. AND the all important question the "BRIDGE" forget it not going to happen due to terrorists on the high seas restricting all that NCL Fun. Seriously "don't ask" and I have already let the cat out of the bag "don't tell" ! This Platinum BST is free and from what I have been told is just slightly less encompassing than the tour offered for about $80 to non-platinum guests. Remember to sign up for it when you first get on board - limited capacity ! If however you are too late and there are no openings talk with the Next Cruise Shore Excursion people if they don't sell out the Paid tours they maybe able to fit you in ! These tours are taken on Sea Days. As noted proper footwear must be worn - you are climbing steep stairways on lower decks and some of these are metal grating like peeling a potato. Don't forget to bring your camera along - photos are welcomed everywhere UNLESS the guide says otherwise ! AND don't forget to ask those silly questions that are so amusing - Crew: I had a tour today and you won't believe what one of those guests asked - really I can't mention it here it was RODLMAO* but the cruise director will not have a lack of material at his next show. * RODLMAO - notice the D instead of the F - D is for deck instead of the F for floor ! When you are in the theatre enjoying the show - think how all those entertainers change clothes in the space less than Superman's telephone booth ! Enjoy the tour and show - - - ! Edited November 30, 2017 by Sailor1959 Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BostonGal35 Posted November 30, 2017 #17 Share Posted November 30, 2017 sailor, we are on that cruise as well! Love the Star! this will be our 3rd time on her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aldeya Posted November 30, 2017 #18 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Unless I missed it As noted proper footwear must be worn - you are climbing steep stairways on lower decks and some of these are metal grating like peeling a potato. - ! I was going to sign up for the tour first thing after boarding Gem in December but after reading this I know we'have to skip this. My husband will not be able to claim the stairs because of his recent leg injury. I read quite a few reviews of the tour but somehow no one mentioned this. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeahawkSiren Posted November 30, 2017 #19 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Great information, thanks everyone! We made Platinum level after our cruise earlier this year so our upcoming cruise on the Bliss next year we will get to experience all of these Platinum benefits for the first time. I will definitely make sure to book the Behind the Scenes Tour as soon as I get onboard. And we have the 3 night SDP and now with 2 additional nights dinners for Platinum that is really nice that 5 of the 7 nights will be specialty dining! Also, with this being our first time on a mega ship with a lot more people I think we will enjoy the priority embarkation too! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda the Book Lover Posted November 30, 2017 #20 Share Posted November 30, 2017 I was going to sign up for the tour first thing after boarding Gem in December but after reading this I know we'have to skip this. My husband will not be able to claim the stairs because of his recent leg injury. I read quite a few reviews of the tour but somehow no one mentioned this. Thank you. We also used the crew elevators. I would speak to the desk when you sign up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted November 30, 2017 #21 Share Posted November 30, 2017 We also used the crew elevators. I would speak to the desk when you sign up.I concur, we're on the Gem earlier this year doing the P-BTS tour, it was shorter than the one on the Breakaway, lasted just over 1 hour with 3 stops, first being the theater/backstage ... staircase up to the small changing room, which one can opt to skip, if that's an accessible issue (we had 2 or 3 in the tour ...) They took the crew elevators next down to the Fwd Laundry area, where the rest of us walked down the stairs - it's not bad, all the stairs are made out of metal/aluminum ... not wooden plank. Then, it's straight but long walk down I-95 into the main gallery area, no further climbing. That was it and upon finishing up, we came back up one deck ... or, maybe it was two (via the stairs) onto Deck 7, near but behind Guest Services via crew access. Definitely no flip-flops and/or open toes, etc. for safety reasons, high heels - IMO - not recommended. Definitely speak to the CruiseNext staff about booking it & asked about special needs, don't just assume & "waive" the tour just because :halo: Happy sailing the Gem next month, take good care of that ship - we are booked on her again next Spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1959 Posted November 30, 2017 Author #22 Share Posted November 30, 2017 sailor, we are on that cruise as well! Love the Star! this will be our 3rd time on her. Ahhhh... yes, Boston-Strong. I thought your handle sounded familiar. Were you the one who complained about the high airfares from Miami to the N.E. ??? ;) It's reassuring to hear you love the Star. Some weren't impressed with her. I guess: Different Strokes for Different Folks. We're reasonable easy so we'll probably like her too.... Hope So !!! Sailor-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now