NCL Getaway July 9-16, 2022-H9-Live w/pics

[KKB]

4 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Given this ship is sailing in the Caribbean, in July, it’s going to be “hot”.  What I’ve always packed are these “hydration multipliers”.  They work well when you’ve been traipsing around a hot trail beach all day.

 

As a side note, they’re also really good for the “morning after” if you’ve spent the previous day/evening tilting a few (or more).

 

I get these at Costco.

Yep, me too!

[graphicguy]

Well..things are moving along.  This showed up in the mail today….

 

 

[cruiseny4life]

I'm so freaking excited to follow along on your cruise! And I can't explain why....ugh, I'm a weird person.

 

I highly, highly doubt Gusti will be your room steward, but if he is, admire his cute face for me. 🙂 

[graphicguy]

On 6/22/2022 at 9:44 AM, cruiseny4life said:

I'm so freaking excited to follow along on your cruise! And I can't explain why....ugh, I'm a weird person.

 

I highly, highly doubt Gusti will be your room steward, but if he is, admire his cute face for me. 🙂 

Not weird.  I think we all like sharing our mutual love for cruising. 

 

Things are a little slow right now, but will get more exciting in the next couple of weeks.

 

It's always dicey when posting live from the ship as there seems to be some sort of incompatibility with ship internet and CC.  Videos are next to impossible to post (even very brief ones), pictures sometimes post upside down or sideways, etc.

 

But, I'll try to make it as live as I can.

[dincus]

Hey Graphicguy! We're in 14742 on the Getaway next week! We'll take good care of it for you😁

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, KKB said:

We have each won 2 free cruises playing onboard tourneys over the years😉

Re-buys are OK in more expensive tourneys.

But typically those cruise tourneys are 1 table SnGs to earn seat at 1 table the last sea day to win cruise. I like my odds.

I prefer tourneys--just more my style. But there were none on Edge or Apex so played a bit of cash. 

 

A couple years ago I had a dealer on a cruise make a comment ("It's only money") when I was heads up w/ a guy & he was hemming & hawing whether to call. When I told the pit boss she said I was complaining because I lost. 

Um, NOPE. If the guy called me on his own accord, that's poker, Happens all the time. 

But in the thousands of hours I have played poker over the years, I have NEVER had a professional deal make any sort of comment that could affect play like that.

And the fact that the pit boss was clueless to that reflects poor training.

Boy, do I get it.  I've played in too many tourneys where someone (usually a player) tries to "intimidate" a dealer to the player's advantage.  To have a dealer make any statement as to how anyone should play a hand in a Hold'em Game should have resulted in the dealer being replaced.

 

Playing against the dealer?  Say blackjack or playing against the house as in craps?  Hey, pitboss make any comment you want.  But, dealers commenting on player vs player?  NOPE!

 

I don't mind tournaments.  I play them when/if I can.  I've mentioned before, I'm of the mind, once I beat you in a tourney, you're out.  I don't want to keep coming back to play you again after you've had a chance to observe how I play and you can adjust accordingly.

 

I think that's why I prefer cash games.  I don't like the players at the table?  I can get up and leave.  In a tourney, I'm in until and if someone puts me out.

 

The only other thing that bothers me about NCL's Hold'em tournaments, it seems they are held in the smoking areas of the casino.  Don't want to get into that debate. I'm a non-smoker and the smoke in that part of the casino bothers me and really does affect my play.

 

All that said, I'd love to sit at your table any time.

 

 

[A4Audigirl]

I’ll be onboard with you on 7/9-7/16!

I like Texas Hold em but usually don’t play tournaments because I dislike all the rebuys. I’ll be at the UTH tables 😉

[KKB]

9 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Boy, do I get it.  I've played in too many tourneys where someone (usually a player) tries to "intimidate" a dealer to the player's advantage.  To have a dealer make any statement as to how anyone should play a hand in a Hold'em Game should have resulted in the dealer being replaced.

 

Playing against the dealer?  Say blackjack or playing against the house as in craps?  Hey, pitboss make any comment you want.  But, dealers commenting on player vs player?  NOPE!

 

I don't mind tournaments.  I play them when/if I can.  I've mentioned before, I'm of the mind, once I beat you in a tourney, you're out.  I don't want to keep coming back to play you again after you've had a chance to observe how I play and you can adjust accordingly.

 

I think that's why I prefer cash games.  I don't like the players at the table?  I can get up and leave.  In a tourney, I'm in until and if someone puts me out.

 

The only other thing that bothers me about NCL's Hold'em tournaments, it seems they are held in the smoking areas of the casino.  Don't want to get into that debate. I'm a non-smoker and the smoke in that part of the casino bothers me and really does affect my play.

 

All that said, I'd love to sit at your table any time.

 

 

Since our only NCL cruise was a poker cruise we only played in the club/the area near the noodle bar that they cordoned off for poker tables.

HATED HATED HATED how smoky the casino is. Due to very poor design. Bet we only played $20 other than at the video poker bar.

Hey, I've been going to Vegas numerous times/yr for 30 yrs. I can deal with a bit of smoke. 

BUT poker rooms are smoke free everywhere...so that spoils me a bit.

But I do enjoy video poker as well & in Vegas most casinos have pretty good smoker eaters.

 

@graphicguy we have been just missing cruises with each other for a year---eventually we shall meet at the tables!

[graphicguy]

8 hours ago, KKB said:

Since our only NCL cruise was a poker cruise we only played in the club/the area near the noodle bar that they cordoned off for poker tables.

HATED HATED HATED how smoky the casino is. Due to very poor design. Bet we only played $20 other than at the video poker bar.

Hey, I've been going to Vegas numerous times/yr for 30 yrs. I can deal with a bit of smoke. 

BUT poker rooms are smoke free everywhere...so that spoils me a bit.

But I do enjoy video poker as well & in Vegas most casinos have pretty good smoker eaters.

 

@graphicguy we have been just missing cruises with each other for a year---eventually we shall meet at the tables!

Would love that!  We’ll eventually cross paths.

 

I’ve played the tournaments by the Noodle place.  Agree about the way they designed that area.  I remember the back of my chair bumping into the railing for the restaurant in addition to the smoke issue.

 

Cash games were in the back of the casino.  Smoke was better but still noticeable.

 

When I got into a lengthy cash game (3-4-5 hours) my throat was sore, my sinuses were runny and my clothes stank by the time I got back to my cabin.

[graphicguy]

10 hours ago, A4Audigirl said:

I’ll be onboard with you on 7/9-7/16!

I like Texas Hold em but usually don’t play tournaments because I dislike all the rebuys. I’ll be at the UTH tables 😉

Hope to see you on board.

[graphicguy]

Making slow but sure progress.

 

Preface this by saying I'm relatively familiar with Orlando, but that's because my former company had an office there and I spent quite a bit of time in the area.  Plus, it's a hot spot for conferences.  But, I've always stayed either near UCF or around International Blvd.  

 

I've never cruised out of Orlando.

 

Booked the pre-cruise hotel at avid-IHG in Melbourne/CoCo Beach (Sheriff Blvd).  Thought about staying near the airport.  But, Have plenty of time the day before as my flight gets in around 10:30 a.m..  I'll have a day to roam before embarkation.  Didn't want to "hang" around the airport.  Avid looks relatively new (thanks for the recommendation @KKB).  Avid was relatively inexpensive given what some of the prices were for (decent) hotels in and around Port Canaveral.  Plus, the hotel is only about 20 minutes from the cruise port.

 

Transport from MCO to the hotel was $30 from Port Canaveral Quick Shuttle.  Transport from the ship to MCO was $29 from GoPort.  

 

Funny, neither could really fit my schedule for roundtrip transport.  So, if I were willing to bend my schedule and/or haul my derriere (plus luggage) to a nebulous meeting point, I could have shaved $9.99 off the $59.99 fare (up and back).  But, I wasn't staying near MCO, and I am too into the cruise at this point to look at being inconvenienced, even in the slightest. 😉

 

Slow progress, but progress nonetheless.

 

Oh, and am still looking at an Oct Celebrity Solstice sailing that is a helluva good deal.

[KKB]

24 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 

Oh, and am still looking at an Oct Celebrity Solstice sailing that is a helluva good deal.

Guessing THIS isn't the one you are looking at😂

[graphicguy]

13 hours ago, KKB said:

Guessing THIS isn't the one you are looking at😂

Holy Moly!  Geez-Louise!  Smack my Momma and call me Shirley!  LOL!

[cruiseny4life]

Ok @graphicguyyou need to keep good care of the Getaway! We just booked a 5 day cruise for August/September on her.

 

Also...have you been watching a wee bit too much of Cruise with Ben & David?

[graphicguy]

Week away from sail away day.  😃 😊 😆.

 

Little wrinkle and a warning.  The pre-cruise hotel transport (3rd party) accepted my transport reservation a couple of days ago.  But, they sent an email this a.m. telling me they cancelled it.  No idea why.  But, have been scrambling trying to find transportation that won’t cost me $150 one way from MCO vicinity to Port Canaveral.

 

Most of the busses, multi-person transports, etc don’t go to Melbourne, which is where my original Hotel was (Avid).  I guess they have a set route.  MCO to airport hotels and on to Port Canaveral.  So, this set off a series of events.

 

I didn’t want to stay at an MCO hotel, as that means I would be beholden to whatever dining and activities.  I’ve never found airport hotels and areas around them to be very appealing.  It doesn’t help that I’m not familiar with the hotels and area around MCO (know the area around International Drive quite well, though).  Don’t want to get caught up in the International Drive scene either (Disney crowd).

 

Probably making this harder on myself than it needs to be….but whatever!

 

Started looking at hotels in and around Port Canaveral.  First, they’re certainly in an area (route A1A) that has to be more picturesque than around MCO.   Well….apparently most think the same as I do.  Lots of “sold out” and “Unavailable” for booking airBbBs, hotels, etc.  And, those that are available, are creeping towards $400/nite….NO THANKS!

 

Wait a minute…found one.  Best Western….good ratings….close to Port Canaveral….shuttle service available…..not outrageous……..BINGO!  Called the hotel to see where they were in proximity to the cruise docks.  Very nice person gave me all the info….about 10 mins to the ships….MCO busses stop at the hotel…restaurants around….PERFECT.  She also said the online booking sites offered a better deal than booking directly through Best Western.  Appreciate the heads up.

 

Cancelled Avid stay!

 

Found Booking.com (here comes the rant).  Nightly rate was not heads and tails better than direct booking, but less.  OK.  Booked the room.  Booking.com states all over the place that they price match anywhere.  Even better.  Credit card input, confirmation given.  I now have a place to stay.

 

Transport booked (again).

 

And, being the perpetual cruise fare, hotel stay, etc shopper, wouldn’t you know,  I found a cheaper hotel price, same hotel, same date, same room type on Trivago vs Booking.com.  Wasn’t by a little either.  It was a LOT….more than $100.  File with Booking.com for price match.  

 

Booking.com says it’s a different room type so they won’t match.  Huh?  No it’s not.  It’s a King room, overlooking the “garden area” that Trivago advertises…same as Booking.com.  Both come with free breakfast.  I email Booking,com and try to get an explanation what’s different between the two rooms.  They won’t explain (or more likely can’t give me a good answer).  Not going round and round.  Cancel my Booking.com and I’ll just book with Trivago.  Oh wait, Booking.com says the room is non-cancellable.  OK…fine.  Just honor your price match guarantee.  They won’t.  But, they give me a phone number for customer service I can talk to.  The phone number is somewhere in Europe, which means a huge phone bill as they’ll probably put me on hold forever.

 

AMEX has my file as I’ve disputed the charge.  We’ll see where this goes.  Cautionary tale….I know I’ve seen a lot of commercials for Booking.com.  DON’T!  They’re pretty scammy.

[KKB]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

 

And, being the perpetual cruise fare, hotel stay, etc shopper, wouldn’t you know,  I found a cheaper hotel price, same hotel, same date, same room type on Trivago vs Booking.com.  Wasn’t by a little either.  It was a LOT….more than $100.  File with Booking.com for price match.  

 

That's a great price for a Cocoa Beach hotel on Trivago. 

I rarely use 3rd party booking sites but I would for that one!

Since my flight gets in late Friday (845), it would be a $75 Lyft to the hotel.

My $25 shuttle the next morning sounds better.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, KKB said:

That's a great price for a Cocoa Beach hotel on Trivago. 

I rarely use 3rd party booking sites but I would for that one!

Since my flight gets in late Friday (845), it would be a $75 Lyft to the hotel.

My $25 shuttle the next morning sounds better.

Yeah...should be $146/nite for Best Western Cocoa Beach (via Trivago).  Transport is $75 (CoCoa Beach Shuttle), but that's round trip.

 

AMEX acknowledged that Booking.com is "researching" the price match. At least they didn't say "no".

 

AMEX is good about siding with me.  Over the years while traveling for both leisure and work, there have been perhaps 3-4 issues with hotels.  AMEX took care of me.  One time for a hotel in Paris, the heater in my room did not work, in the dead of winter.  The hotel refused to move me to another room, refund or even discount my stay.  AMEX took care of me even though the hotel wouldn't.  It wasn't a few dollars, either.  It was like $800 AMEX refunded me for the multi-nite stay.

 

 

[KKB]

38 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Yeah...should be $146/nite for Best Western Cocoa Beach (via Trivago).  Transport is $75 (CoCoa Beach Shuttle), but that's round trip.

 

AMEX acknowledged that Booking.com is "researching" the price match. At least they didn't say "no".

 

AMEX is good about siding with me.  Over the years while traveling for both leisure and work, there have been perhaps 3-4 issues with hotels.  AMEX took care of me.  One time for a hotel in Paris, the heater in my room did not work, in the dead of winter.  The hotel refused to move me to another room, refund or even discount my stay.  AMEX took care of me even though the hotel wouldn't.  It wasn't a few dollars, either.  It was like $800 AMEX refunded me for the multi-nite stay.

Ehhhh...Cocoa beach shuttle gets consistently bad reviews...I'd avoid.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, KKB said:

Ehhhh...Cocoa beach shuttle gets consistently bad reviews...I'd avoid.

Uh...Oh.....Gonna have to find somewhere else, it seems.  Thanks for the heads up.

 

Booking.com is a joke.  AMEX said they wanted more information and forwarded me this from Booking...

 

 

"es tut uns leid für die Umstände, die Sie mit dieser Buchung haben.

Vielen Dank für den Screenshot. Nach Prüfung Ihres Screenshots haben wir festgestellt, dass man auf ihm nicht die Bedingungen, die Verpflegung, usw. sehen kann, auch die Tage und die Anzahl der Gäste sind unterschiedlich.

Aus diesem Grund können wir Ihren Anspruch nicht auf Gültigkeit prüfen.

Sie können uns natürlich auch den korrekten Link zuschicken.

Falls Sie weitere Fragen haben, sind wir jederzeit für Sie da."

 

Not sure if they're trying to be funny, or they are just jerking me around.

 

I am not fluent in German but Google translate helps.

 

They are asking (I think) the date(s) of my stay (which were included in the screen capture), whether breakfast is included (it is) and what kind of room (King, same as booking.com).

 

After providing proof to Booking.com that there was indeed a cheaper hotel price, I provided both a link and a screen capture.  So, either they're not reading my responses to them, or they're jerking me around.  I vote the latter.

 

What a scammy WEB site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KKB]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Uh...Oh.....Gonna have to find somewhere else, it seems.  Thanks for the heads up.

 

Booking.com is a joke.  AMEX said they wanted more information and forwarded me this from Booking...

I ordered some frozen food from a site I have used b4 & it all came with NO FREEZER PACKS.

I emailed company 3x--no response. No phone number on site.

Contacted Chase to put in a claim...needless to say not terribly thrilled. Guess I'm eating that $100. (forgive the pun)

[graphicguy]

Back up plan if the Cocoa Beach shuttle doesn’t work out is probably UBER.

 

AMEX must be short staffed for the long weekend.  They have (nicely) asked if I could contact the vendor and give them until Monday to get involved.  Booking.com keeps wanting more and more of the same info.  I keep repeatedly sending them the same thing, over and over (link to   price, dates I’m staying, room type, etc).  I think they are trying to see if I’ll wear down.  For $100?  Not on your life.  I’m retired.  I live to do this kind of thing! 😉 

[KKB]

7 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 

 I’m retired.  I live to do this kind of thing! 😉 

DAMN STRAIGHT!

[graphicguy]

Seems I get asked a lot about what booking with the American Express Platinum card nets with NCL cruises.  I had saved the "perks" in a folder I had forgotten about, but ran across it again today.  While there is some confusion about whether these perks are available through booking with NCL directly, I can't answer that as I use a TA.  What I do know is whichever TA you use, they have to be part of the AMEX program to be able to offer these perks.  And, you don't HAVE TO use American Express Travel to get these perks (although, they obviously offer them, too).  Hopefully, this is helpful....

 

 

American Express Platinum Card Benefit Program:

Details

Valuable benefits and amenities for Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members.

Benefits

Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members receive benefits on select sailings of 5 nights (6 days) or more.

•USD Shipboard Credit per stateroom

Stateroom Category USD Shipboard Credit Amount 

Haven/Suite $300 

Balcony/Mini-Suite $200 

Outside $100 

Inside $100 

•Complimentary dinner for two at Le Bistro Restaurant*

 

One extra Membership Rewards® point on each eligible dollar you spend per booking with American Express Travel.

 

Single passengers who pay the single passenger supplement are entitled to the full CPP amenity.

Shipboard credit can be used for onboard spend and shore excursion (except service charges)and cannot be utilized toward gratuities. Should a Card Member chose to utilize their shipboard credit towards pre reserved shore excursions, NCL requires pre-payment of the shore excursions and the charges are reversed by the OBC onboard.

 

*A voucher will not be issued for the complimentary dinner as a shipboard credit will be applied once the dining reservation is made onboard. Should the Card Member chose to pre-reserve their dining, the dining must be pre-paid and a credit will be applied once onboard.

 

Please see the terms and conditions below for complete details.

 

Eligibility:

•Available for U.S. Platinum Charge Card Members and U.S. Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such as Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card Members who are not also U.S Platinum Charge Card Members or U.S. Centurion® Members.

 

Combinability

•Cruise Privileges is combinable with nationally PLATINUM (new bookings only), available tactical offers, discounted promotional fares, early booking discounts, past passenger programs/discounts, regional and other discounts, cruise tour programs.

•Not combinable with X (IX, OX, BX, & MX) categories "SAILAWAY" rate.

•Not combinable with Amex Groups or other American Express Card offers.

Existing PLATINUM promotion bookings are not eligible to be moved into the CPP promotion.

Full Cruise Privileges amenities will be provided by Norwegian Cruise Line once on back-to-back and multi-segment itineraries sold as one.

Bookings must be made in the United States.

[KKB]

5 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Seems I get asked a lot about what booking with the American Express Platinum card nets with NCL cruises.  I had saved the "perks" in a folder I had forgotten about, but ran across it again today.  While there is some confusion about whether these perks are available through booking with NCL directly, I can't answer that as I use a TA.  What I do know is whichever TA you use, they have to be part of the AMEX program to be able to offer these perks.  And, you don't HAVE TO use American Express Travel to get these perks (although, they obviously offer them, too).  Hopefully, this is helpful....

 

 

American Express Platinum Card Benefit Program:

Details

Valuable benefits and amenities for Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members.

Benefits

Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members receive benefits on select sailings of 5 nights (6 days) or more.

•USD Shipboard Credit per stateroom

Stateroom Category USD Shipboard Credit Amount 

Haven/Suite $300 

Balcony/Mini-Suite $200 

Outside $100 

Inside $100 

•Complimentary dinner for two at Le Bistro Restaurant*

 

One extra Membership Rewards® point on each eligible dollar you spend per booking with American Express Travel.

 

Single passengers who pay the single passenger supplement are entitled to the full CPP amenity.

Shipboard credit can be used for onboard spend and shore excursion (except service charges)and cannot be utilized toward gratuities. Should a Card Member chose to utilize their shipboard credit towards pre reserved shore excursions, NCL requires pre-payment of the shore excursions and the charges are reversed by the OBC onboard.

 

*A voucher will not be issued for the complimentary dinner as a shipboard credit will be applied once the dining reservation is made onboard. Should the Card Member chose to pre-reserve their dining, the dining must be pre-paid and a credit will be applied once onboard.

 

Dang that alone would justify the annual fee!

Of course, new bookings only...ugh

Edited July 3, 2022 by KKB

[luvcruzing]

After reading about the good hotel price you got for Cocoa Beach using Trivago, I decided to check prices out for my November cruise.  On the Trivago website, I clicked on the hotel I thought I might choose to stay at, and it immediately took me to Booking.com. Same company or affiliated?