It would be fun if the NCL Three-Bedroom Garden Villa was a villa, and had a garden

[AmazedByCruising]

While the odds of ever being able to sleep in the Three-Bedroom Garden Villa on Norwegian as it is now without putting a serious dent in my pension are slim, I like to watch videos of what I think is the ultimate just before having to deal with all the fuss that comes with owning your own mega yaught. And all of those have a big walk in closet, those clumsy old fashioned washbasins, a piano, a big couch, and many square feet. In one video the TA felt he should mention the free tote bag, because that's all it is. A much bigger cabin with a much bigger balcony and the chance to be seperated from pax who can't afford it. 

 

Cruise ships are hotels and I don't really like hotels. For a longer stay, especially a holiday, I'd seek out a house to rent in France and not a hotel. And I think the Three-Bedroom Garden Villa is named so because it doesn't sound like here's your card to enter room such and such, you can simply take the elevator to the 16th floor and it's on your left, would you like assistance with your luggage?

 

From that perspective: this could be done better. A villa doesn't share a wall with the neighbours. A garden has grass, not some kind of green linoleum. The Three-Bedroom Garden Villa is a splendid idea if it was a three room garden villa.

 

So here's my idea how to do the over the top cruising on mega ships properly. On top of the ship there are 6 actual, seperate, small houses. The sleeping and bathing are handled in "the basement", which is a normal (but of course supersized) cabin with the walk in closets etc. The house on top is made to look as if it is build with bricks or wood. It has an actual fireplace and you can light it yourself. It has a well stocked kitchen where you can cook your own eggs if you feel like it. After you open the sliding doors to the garden you step onto grass and there's a badminton net next to the jaccuzi. The butler will get you a chef to cook on your own BBQ, but you can always request to get some more entrecotes delivered and try it yourself. All of the nice things of cruising, getting at many places without touching your suitcase, the shows, the restaurants, the casino and bingo, and as soon as you can't hear the word Tanzanite anymore you simply retreat to your very own home. 

 

 

 

 

[Two Wheels Only]

How about this....

 

 

Disney Wish Tower Suite.

 

23 minutes ago, AmazedByCruising said:

It has an actual fireplace and you can light it yourself.

 

If you add a fireplace, the smoke could go right out of the funnel. ♨️

[FLcruisergrl]

I’d just be content if the GV had an actual garden, a la Celebrity ships. The top level of the sun deck could have a lawn with a little cricket or bocce ball court and plenty of room to lounge or have a picnic. C’mon, NCL, make it happen before March 2022, please! 

[BermudaBound2014]

@AmazedByCruisingyou are a great writer 🙂

[AmazedByCruising]

On 7/31/2021 at 12:57 AM, Two Wheels Only said:

How about this....

Disney Wish Tower Suite.

 

If you add a fireplace, the smoke could go right out of the funnel. ♨️

 

Well, the sinks look decent. Instead, they decided to make a clumsy small bath. It is filled with so much white and gold that this TA calls it "incredibly classy" 🤣 https://youtu.be/5v6LPoJW63k?t=27 

 

I think this is more for people who like a Disney themed room in the first place, no problem with that, but of those, the very small percentage that would pay extra to have some Tanzanite sprinkled in their drinks.  So, nope, this is just another bigger cabin IMHO 🙂

 

 

 

[ImADaneFan]

The Star & Dawn have a large outside garden that includes a hot tub, sauna, lounger and dining table.

Linda

[FreestyleNovice]

It would be way too expensive for a mainstream line. Cruise lines don't have a need or urge to achieve this, the current standard/modus operandi fits them very well.

 

While I understand your point of view, take a look at Celebrity's Iconic suite and it's pricing. I have no clue how often that suite is occupied but it seems more of a showpiece than a revenue maker to me.

 

I believe more in the add-on flexibility, with Celebrity's Alcoves you can rent a perfectly fine daybed with decent service, on a nice lawn.

 

But with the Prima they might be bringing such customization to the NCL ships. I think I've read that daybeds/cabanas for rent were to be expected but it might have been on the Foodhall deck..

[sverigecruiser]

On 7/31/2021 at 12:30 AM, AmazedByCruising said:

 A garden has grass, not some kind of green linoleum. 

 

I know two families which have fake grass in their garden.

[AmazedByCruising]

18 minutes ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

I know two families which have fake grass in their garden.

 

There is a Twitter account dedicated to pictures of Dutch gardens that are completely tiled. 😃 A google search for pictures of "Garden" says that a garden has grass (fake or not). This "Garden" has a green floor.

[AmazedByCruising]

3 hours ago, ImADaneFan said:

The Star & Dawn have a large outside garden that includes a hot tub, sauna, lounger and dining table.

Linda

 

Cool! I just saw a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w5lN53OstE and next to the "main garden", you have access to another huge upper deck. I won't wine about the fake grass anymore, this really is the very best possible besides having your own yaught. Though it might cost a small yaught for a week I guess 🙂

 

[david_sobe]

I want a rain forest in my Garden Villa 😁

[ImADaneFan]

42 minutes ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Cool! I just saw a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w5lN53OstE and next to the "main garden", you have access to another huge upper deck. I won't wine about the fake grass anymore, this really is the very best possible besides having your own yaught. Though it might cost a small yaught for a week I guess 🙂

 

Yes the upper sun deck is huge.  It overlooks the pool area and people were always trying to figure out how to get to the deck we were on.  😁

We got the GV at an amazing price thanks to the old “ Upsell Fairy”.  We had 3 couples and paid $3k per couple.

Linda

[AmazedByCruising]

22 minutes ago, ImADaneFan said:

Yes the upper sun deck is huge.  It overlooks the pool area and people were always trying to figure out how to get to the deck we were on.  😁

We got the GV at an amazing price thanks to the old “ Upsell Fairy”.  We had 3 couples and paid $3k per couple.

 

 

Oh wow.  You had the most wonderful Fairy! Tell her she can call me anytime 🙂

 

Any idea what it would cost without the Fairy showing up? I thought it would be a LOT more than 9K.

[ImADaneFan]

5 minutes ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Oh wow.  You had the most wonderful Fairy! Tell her she can call me anytime 🙂

 

Any idea what it would cost without the Fairy showing up? I thought it would be a LOT more than 9K.

Unfortunately they don’t have the Upsell Fairy any longer…☹️ Now you have to bid.  At the time the normal price for the 7 days was almost $30k

Linda

[AmazedByCruising]

On 8/2/2021 at 10:06 PM, FreestyleNovice said:

It would be way too expensive for a mainstream line. Cruise lines don't have a need or urge to achieve this, the current standard/modus operandi fits them very well.

 

While I understand your point of view, take a look at Celebrity's Iconic suite and it's pricing. I have no clue how often that suite is occupied but it seems more of a showpiece than a revenue maker to me.

 

I believe more in the add-on flexibility, with Celebrity's Alcoves you can rent a perfectly fine daybed with decent service, on a nice lawn.

 

But with the Prima they might be bringing such customization to the NCL ships. I think I've read that daybeds/cabanas for rent were to be expected but it might have been on the Foodhall deck..

 

Somehow the real grass on X got real, which is probably quite expensive. Ships always sail full (100% pre covid, probably a lower percentage now, but certainly not a cabin less), no way X would sail with their most expensive cabins being empty. 

 

I've been on Silhouette twice, and both times the alcoves were empty for 14 days. These are not alcoves looking out at the beach, your view is the other alcoves on the other side, and an endless stream of other guests on their way to the Sunset Bar, inspecting your alcove to decide if it's a market stall with drinks or shirts, or some piece or art, and only then realize it's your very own private alcove which explains why you are there, half-naked in the middle of the street.

 

The cabin @ImADaneFan mentioned is just a few bucks away from what I proposed. X shows that both can be done technically. People willing and able to spend 30K for a cabin for a week will pay those few dollars extra for a 24 hour fire brigade and gardener to have your own BBQ and fire place and real grass. And your own kitchen. At least for me, those would be the extra special things I'd remember because they are out of the ordinary.

 

You'd bore people to death at a party if you tell them about the guest rooms that also had a walk-in closet and art work and golden faucets, or the broadway shows, or the splendid food. You'd sell the cabin if you told them about the BBQ party you organized in the middle of the ocean, with a couple of nice people you met on an excursion, where the butler couldn't find the firelighters so he used vodka to get the BBQ started and made a joke about having his own beverage card and not reaching his 14 drinks limit today anyway.

 

 

The combination of private yaught and a cruise. You are in a complete private, non-ship like area, which is a ship in a ship, and then some. But if you get bored, you can take the elevator and be part of a flight with new people in the Martini Bar.