Things I Will Do Differently On My Next NCL Cruise!

[VineyardsGal]

12 hours ago, TheFenz said:

 

Thanks for the reply! Going to see if it shows up in my Bliss booking or not.

Hi.  The band is called Guns and Rojas.  They are a versatile band that does everything from rock to pop songs.  One night they dedicated their performance to Sinatra hits.  They sing all over the ship, by the pool, atrium, "Q", and late night parties, etc.

 

[Niffernay]

15 hours ago, TheFenz said:

What ship where you on?

 

My under 40 wife would absolutely lose her mind if there was a Sinatra tribute group. 

As would my over 50 husband 🙂

[Niffernay]

33 minutes ago, VineyardsGal said:

Guns and Rojas

This has got to be one of the best names ever!!!

 

[Niffernay]

@Sthrngary Once again, great post!!

[Yinster]

You don't know by chance the UK got talent act? Personally I don't really care but my partner loves those programmes. When we were in the Epic, the new dinner and show had several such acts 

 

With what's going in the world just now, cruising is a blessing. So I understand why you burn out so quickly at the start. 

 

We are in a pickle just now with one of future cruises. Friends are sailing on the Jewel in March 23 and I like to join them. However the Haven is way out of my price range and it's the only factor stopping us changing from the breakaway in Feb 23 to that. Great deal and all. Best I can do is either win the lottery or hope the price drops

[Oxo]

11 minutes ago, Yinster said:

You don't know by chance the UK got talent act? Personally I don't really care but my partner loves those programmes. When we were in the Epic, the new dinner and show had several such acts 

You don't know by chance the UK got talent act? Personally I don't really care but my partner loves those programmes. 

 

Lifford Shillingford. Fantastic!!! He is on YouTube.

[Yinster]

8 minutes ago, Oxo said:

. 

 

Lifford Shillingford. Fantastic!!! He is on YouTube.

Lol. I said who???

 

She said she knows who he is

[bstel]

21 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

 

1. Casino:  I love to play but I am so bad at it.  I have come to realize, just skip it or watch someone else.  I did not lose much money but I felt like I did not even give myself a chance.  I know better. 

 

 

I would recommend doing a little studying on how to play if you are.  Try visiting www.wizardofodds.com for tutorials and learning the math behind the games.  I would recommend sticking with blackjack and craps.

 

Blackjack is very easy to learn the ideal play and has a very low house odds.  Just be aware that how you play slightly varies depending on if the house pays 3to2 or 6to5 on blackjack and if the house is using a continuous shuffler.  So find the right strategy card to match the right game.

 

Also you can learn basic craps.  it seems overwhelming because there can be so many players and some much movement on the table, but if you stick to the outside of the table the bets are pretty easy.  Also the outside bets have pretty low house odds.  Just stay away from the middle of the table, that is where all the sucker bets are.  Stick with Pass/Odds bets and Come/Odds bets to keep the house odds low.

 

or for craps go to the casino in the afternoon or when it is slow and find out if they are hosting any practice games.  You can play with fake money and practice.  Also ask the dealers for help, they want you to win, so they are usually more than happy to give advice.  remember if you are winning you are more likely to tip them.  and they don't get graded on winning.  they get graded by the casino based on knowing the game, accuracy of payouts, efficiency of the game, and personality.

Edited December 16, 2021 by bstel

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, bstel said:

I would recommend doing a little studying on how to play if you are.  Try visiting www.wizardofodds.com for tutorials and learning the math behind the games.  I would recommend sticking with blackjack and craps.

 

Blackjack is very easy to learn the ideal play and has a very low house odds.  Just be aware that how you play slightly varies depending on if the house pays 3to2 or 6to5 on blackjack and if the house is using a continuous shuffler.  So find the right strategy card to match the right game.

 

Also you can learn basic craps.  it seems overwhelming because there can be so many players and some much movement on the table, but if you stick to the outside of the table the bets are pretty easy.  Also the outside bets have pretty low house odds.  Just stay away from the middle of the table, that is where all the sucker bets are.  Stick with Pass/Odds bets and Come/Odds bets to keep the house odds low.

I have played all the games and when I stay disciplined, I do ok.  I just lot my focus and interest and did not enjoy it as I once had.  Don't know what changed, just was not my thing this time.  

 

Cruise well.

[Sthrngary]

39 minutes ago, Yinster said:

You don't know by chance the UK got talent act? Personally I don't really care but my partner loves those programmes. When we were in the Epic, the new dinner and show had several such acts 

Lifford Shillingford

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, Yinster said:

Lol. I said who???

 

She said she knows who he is

Funny you said who. We talk to him at least 4 times and my DH  said to him he should change  his stage name. He laughed and said he has no problem getting gigs with his name.

 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

Another great thread by our friend @Sthrngary

On 12/15/2021 at 3:49 PM, Sthrngary said:

Casino:  I love to play but I am so bad at it.  I have come to realize, just skip it or watch someone else.  I did not lose much money but I felt like I did not even give myself a chance.  I know better. 

Pro tip.  Just play the penny slots.  You still get a taste of that "rush" of winning or losing, but at the end of the night (or hour) you'll only be out a couple bucks.  I take great pleasure in cashing in my winnings of a buck at the cashier.

On 12/15/2021 at 3:49 PM, Sthrngary said:

Eat At The Buffet:  We usually stay in the Haven so I have a happen of eating at the Haven Restaurant for all my meals unless we go to a specialty restaurant. A few days, we missed some Pool Activities because of how long it takes to eat lunch at the Haven.  Next time, burger at the buffet and enjoy the show at the pool. 

This.  I've had many meals at the buffet that exceeded the specialty or main restaurants.

On 12/15/2021 at 3:49 PM, Sthrngary said:

Skip the Pictures:  Every time we by the pictures we never use them.  I have a stack of them in my closet.  A waste of money for my family. 

I've never bought a picture on a cruise in my life.  I bought one at Disney and it was just as a bribe.

On 12/15/2021 at 3:49 PM, Sthrngary said:

Play Less Bingo: Fun, expensive and I never win.  I won't cut it out, I will just do it less. 

I didn't even know they had bingo on the ships.  Why would anybody in their right mind waste valuable cruise time playing bingo?

On 12/15/2021 at 3:49 PM, Sthrngary said:

Spend More Time In Bars With Music:  The best times were not planned.  The sugarcane bar had the best folks and music. 

Top point in the post.  I love music of just about all kinds.  Give me a good musician and I'm close to heaven.  I'll take a great piano player/singer over a major show just about every time.

[tafawke]

4 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

 

I didn't even know they had bingo on the ships.  Why would anybody in their right mind waste valuable cruise time playing bingo?

 

Walked past a room setting up bingo (think it may have been a RCCL out of Rome back in 2012) and bought my first and only cruise bingo ticket... managed to get a full house in under 20 calls - ridiculous - they were still selling tickets as I called bingo - never played again - can't beat that game so it has to be the benchmark that can never be beaten

... 

[Yinster]

Another thing to try in your next cruise Gary is having different meals I different locations. Especially breakfast.

 

I remember our first cruise and always had breakfast in the buffet but as more cruises go on, we learnt to not stick to one place 

 

Ships have so many different restaurants with at least half complimentary. Don't limited yourself. Try different ones  Even  go to different locations for different courses Use them all if you can. You might be surprised.

 

You could say the same about the bars but as I don't drink, someone else can advise

 

 

[tafawke]

Things I would do differently - hmmm ... check husband's proof of covid vaccination more than 24 hours before the flights... discovered this morning as I was checking in that his certificate had a name mismatch... middle name first, first name in the middle... 8 hours of ringing around to try and fix it, the official document that it was taken from (OHIP) was corrected... but certificate still has old information and we need to ring ANOTHER government official tomorrow (fortunately open on Saturday morning) and get the certificate amended... (we hope)... but we miss our 7.40am flight and of course no amount of begging would sway the flight booking person, nor his supervisor... so another $2000 in refundable flights (if we cancel in 24 hours) and 10 hours after our initial flights... so not arriving in NOLA until midnight Saturday night - so much for my dinner with my friend who lives there... and this is all as long as we get the certificate amended... if not - we can't go... but, I am packing and hoping...  Yes, I accept that at the end of the day it is 'our' fault for not noticing, but he has been using it for several months at restaurants and cinemas and no one has noticed that his ID is different to the certificate... I am posting this as a separate topic as a warning to others...