The Our Journey to the NCL $100,000.00 Winner Takes All Slot Tournament

[Sthrngary]

December 12, 2022: NCL Private Island

 

·        07:00 AM: Unsuccessful Starbucks run.  The line was too long.  I also knew that the coffee in the main dining room was good, so I went back to the cabin. 

·        08:00 AM: Breakfast at the Main Dining Room:  So, we have gone to the main dining room twice and the buffet once for breakfast.  Both were good.  The eggs to order at the omelet station is slightly better than getting the same eggs in the Main Dining Room.  The comfort of the Main Dining Room is better than the buffet. 

·        09:30 AM:  Private Island—This is a very nice place.  I have been here several times.  Very clean and well organized.  We waited for most of the folks to leave the ship before we headed down.  No issue at all getting two lounge chairs and an umbrella by the pool.  The pool should be heated but once you get in, you get used to it pretty easy.  The Food and Drink prices are fair but I don’t like the food there so I simply go back on the ship.  When you leave the ship, you can get some towels.  You sign for them so bring them back and sign that you brought them back. 

·        12:00 PM: Vibe Beach Club—If you have not figured it out as of yet, we love the Vibe.  It is our source for privacy and quiet from a completely sold-out ship. 

·        01:30 PM: Lunch at the Buffet—We looked at the “Blue Plate Special” at O’Sheehans and it was salmon.  Folks were unhappy with it because it was dry. So we went to the Buffet.  I found the carving station with some nice beef, mashed potatoes, and had some lamb stew.  The deserts again were average at best but the soft served was again a highlight.

·        02:30 PM: Nap

·        04:00 PM: Bar Hopping—We had Manhattan at the Whisky bar while playing Gin.  Great drinks and great staff. 

·        06:00 PM: Dinner at the French Restaurant—From a service standpoint, excellent.  Lovely place.  The food was very good.  I got the Scallop dish, Crab Salad with Smoked Salmon, Lamb chops and lots of champagne courtesy of the Premium Plus Beverage Package. Lovely experience and food was good.

·        08:00 PM: Casino—Time for my wife to play the coin pusher.  You don’t make much but you can play for ever. 

·        09:00 PM: Headliners—Dueling pianos.  This was just OK.  They take requests and play them.  They also spent a bit to much time asking for tips in my opinion.  The place was packed but their was no energy.  They were just ok and we left after three songs.  The musician at the Martini Bar is much better in my opinion.

 

Conclusion:  As most folk start to understand, after a few days you begin to relax more.  You stop over filling your plate and food simply is not as good to you because you are not hungry.  Happens on every cruise with us.  Now we start skipping meals based on our dinner selection. 

 

HINT #6: Bring pain reliver meds from home.  They simply don't sell them on the ship.  It is a policy.  Bring extra.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[PATRLR]

6 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

07:00 AM: Unsuccessful Starbucks run. 

Does the Breakaway have the Starbucks machines in the Buffet?  

[RocketMan275]

8 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

December 12, 2022: NCL Private Island

·        06:00 PM: Dinner at the French Restaurant—From a service standpoint, excellent.  Lovely place.  The food was very good.  I got the Scallop dish, Crab Salad with Smoked Salmon, Lamb chops and lots of champagne courtesy of the Premium Plus Beverage Package. Lovely experience and food was good.

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

Question:  When I called the pre-cruise concierge she suggested the crab salad.   How big is the crab salad would it do for an entree for someone  who has had weight loss surgery so I can't eat a lot.  I guess i could order two???

[Sthrngary]

45 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Question:  When I called the pre-cruise concierge she suggested the crab salad.   How big is the crab salad would it do for an entree for someone  who has had weight loss surgery so I can't eat a lot.  I guess i could order two???

It is crab salad like Tuna Salad, rolled like a tube with smoked salmon around it. Two would do it for you.  You have other choices to go with it. All portions are small. 
 

Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment. 

[Sthrngary]

2 hours ago, PATRLR said:

Does the Breakaway have the Starbucks machines in the Buffet?  

I did not see one.

 

Cruise Well

[weltek]

10 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Conclusion:  As most folk start to understand, after a few days you begin to relax more.  You stop over filling your plate and food simply is not as good to you because you are not hungry.  Happens on every cruise with us.  Now we start skipping meals based on our dinner selection. 

 

I'm sort of dreading the inevitable bad-decision day where we over drink and eat and are miserable. This is the first cruise where we are going to try and be more cognizant of it because it can really ruin doing anything after dinner. Onda day we are going to have to really watch it, as I have my eyes on some heavy food.

[mtrancher]

Can you let me know what the craps table odds and minimum bets are?  Thanks!!

[Juncti]

17 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Part of the strategy I give when cruising is to attempt to have a relationship with your favorite Bar and Bartender.  I did this in the Vibe Bar and gave everyone a $20.00 tip the first day.  Three folks working this bar.  I also engaged with them.  My way of nicely getting everything I want.

 

When you tip at the start, do you circle back at the end of the trip and tip some extra? 

 

So far sounds like you all have had a relaxing vacation after getting the tournament out the way early. 

 

We look forward to meeting the Vibe staff in a few days. Can't believe we're only 3 days out now. 

 

If you want to try a new frozen drink they can probably make you in the Vibe that's quite tasty. 1 part Vodka, 1 part Grand Marnier, 1 part simple syrup, and 2 parts sweet and sour mix. Blended up and served frozen. So good.

[MNcruisingcouple]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Question:  When I called the pre-cruise concierge she suggested the crab salad.   How big is the crab salad would it do for an entree for someone  who has had weight loss surgery so I can't eat a lot.  I guess i could order two???

 

If you enjoy seafood, the Fruits de Mer entree at Le Bistro is small.    

[PATRLR]

18 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

The bar tender said, Classic Shooters like B52's were no longer being served fleet wide because of A) Cost; B) Supply Chain and C) They were too time consuming.  The next words out of their mouth was but we will do them for you because you have a Premium Plus Package.  I found out later it did not matter, it was really the "Time It Took".  

 

I purposefully asked for a B52 and they made it for me not questions asked was a wink.  I believe they do it from time to time depending on how crowded the bar is knowing it is against the rules.  That is as clear as "MUD" I know but it is all the facts I have.  NCL is sometime very confusing especially when they change policies. 

Thanks for this observation.  It's becoming clear to me that what's happened here is that the staff has been given permission to stop serving these mixed shots and such.  Key words being "given permission".   Probably as part of their ongoing improvement processes, they have heard from their staff that the mixed shots take a lot of time and are demanding of the staff.  Their jobs would be so much easier if they didn't have to make them.  And NCL being the good employer that they are has obliged and told them they don't have to make the shots.

The problem is, that puts us, the cruiser in an awkward position.  Do I ask or not?  If I ask, does that now put the server in an awkward position of saying no?  What if the server tells me "no", but Gary (who gave him a nice tip) asks for the same thing?  Now what?    That's no way to run a railroad, either allow them or not.

[northwoodsmom]

26 minutes ago, MNcruisingcouple said:

 

If you enjoy seafood, the Fruits de Mer entree at Le Bistro is small.    

Hijacking for a moment, just saw your from Jackson, MN! Grew up partially in St. James!

[MNcruisingcouple]

1 hour ago, northwoodsmom said:

Hijacking for a moment, just saw your from Jackson, MN! Grew up partially in St. James!

 

Yes, we've lived in Jackson since 2008 and before that we were in Sleepy Eye, MN, so we are very familiar with St. James.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, MNcruisingcouple said:

 

If you enjoy seafood, the Fruits de Mer entree at Le Bistro is small.    

might work

 

[New2cruise2022]

14 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

HINT #6: Bring pain reliver meds from home.  They simply don't sell them on the ship.  It is a policy.  Bring extra.  

Regarding medicine (I’m sure there is some vague or specific confusing information available from NCL, but I’m looking for experiences) does all over-the-counter medicine need to be in retail packaging or can pain meds, allergy pills, etc just be carried on in labeled plastic bags? 
 

Thank you to all for any experiences. 

Edited December 8, 2022 by New2cruise2022

[quillwercruisers]

1 minute ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Regarding medicine (I’m sure there is some vague or specific confusing information available from NCL, but I’m looking for experiences) does all over-the-counter medicine need to be in retail packaging or can pain meds, allergy pills, etc just be carried on in labeled plastic bags? 
 

Thank you to all for any experiences. 

I carry my prescription meds in a pillbox type thing in my carry on.  And any Aspirin/Tylenol/Tylenol PM combo I just carry in a regular bottle (like what you would buy it in at the store) mixed together.  I've never had any problem with them even looking at that kind of stuff.  

[New2cruise2022]

3 minutes ago, quillwercruisers said:

I carry my prescription meds in a pillbox type thing in my carry on.  And any Aspirin/Tylenol/Tylenol PM combo I just carry in a regular bottle (like what you would buy it in at the store) mixed together.  I've never had any problem with them even looking at that kind of stuff.  

I’d rather just dip into my Costco bulk stock of ibuprofen and Tylenol rather than buy a bunch of more expensive individual bottles, so thanks for the tip.  

[scooter6139]

7 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Regarding medicine (I’m sure there is some vague or specific confusing information available from NCL, but I’m looking for experiences) does all over-the-counter medicine need to be in retail packaging or can pain meds, allergy pills, etc just be carried on in labeled plastic bags? 
 

Thank you to all for any experiences. 

 

Not to my knowledge.  Only folks who had rules on that were the TSA in my experience. 

3 minutes ago, quillwercruisers said:

I carry my prescription meds in a pillbox type thing in my carry on.  And any Aspirin/Tylenol/Tylenol PM combo I just carry in a regular bottle (like what you would buy it in at the store) mixed together.  I've never had any problem with them even looking at that kind of stuff.  

 

Same, but instead of bottles I've gone the cheapskate route and just used ziplock bags.  

[RocketMan275]

11 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Regarding medicine (I’m sure there is some vague or specific confusing information available from NCL, but I’m looking for experiences) does all over-the-counter medicine need to be in retail packaging or can pain meds, allergy pills, etc just be carried on in labeled plastic bags? 
 

Thank you to all for any experiences. 

We found some very small, 2x3 inches plastic baggies which we place our medications in.  Two bags for each of us each day.  One with our morning meds and one with our evening meds.  OTC meds go in a larger bag.  Never had an issue.

 

https://amazon.com/Pill-Pouch-Bags-Disposable-Write/dp/B07K4X78H6/ref=sr_1_6?crid=29C1QBCHUINLK&keywords=medication+baggies+for+traveling&qid=1670525367&sprefix=medication+bagie%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-6

Edited December 8, 2022 by RocketMan275

[Sthrngary]

3 hours ago, Juncti said:

 

When you tip at the start, do you circle back at the end of the trip and tip some extra? 

Yes, based on service provided.  So far, outstanding. 
 

 

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Regarding meds:  for my prescription meds, I have a daily pill box that I use.  For other meds, I have a first aid kit that I keep aspirin, ibuprofen, and all the usual "just in case" stuff (and believe me, I have learned the hard way to take lots of "just in case" items).  These are in small envelopes (a bag would work the same) and there are about 11 different types!  In lots of cruises with different cruise lines, I have never had any issues.  My first aid kit is always in my checked luggage, so can't comment on airport security, but they have never said anything about my pill box dispenser, which is in my carry on.  I am usually TSA pre-check, so don't know if that makes a difference.

[Sthrngary]

3 hours ago, PATRLR said:

Thanks for this observation.  It's becoming clear to me that what's happened here is that the staff has been given permission to stop serving these mixed shots and such.  Key words being "given permission".   Probably as part of their ongoing improvement processes, they have heard from their staff that the mixed shots take a lot of time and are demanding of the staff.  Their jobs would be so much easier if they didn't have to make them.  And NCL being the good employer that they are has obliged and told them they don't have to make the shots.

The problem is, that puts us, the cruiser in an awkward position.  Do I ask or not?  If I ask, does that now put the server in an awkward position of saying no?  What if the server tells me "no", but Gary (who gave him a nice tip) asks for the same thing?  Now what?    That's no way to run a railroad, either allow them or not.

No way to run a railroad for sure. However, it is an approach to enjoy your cruise better. I say ask, if they say NO, That is just fine.  Life is to short. 

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Regarding medicine (I’m sure there is some vague or specific confusing information available from NCL, but I’m looking for experiences) does all over-the-counter medicine need to be in retail packaging or can pain meds, allergy pills, etc just be carried on in labeled plastic bags? 
 

Thank you to all for any experiences. 

my understanding is have it in the pill bottles. We just ran out so we bought some in Roatan. My daily meds are pre packaged.

[ChiefMateJRK]

Pill bottles or even written prescriptions mean absolutely nothing.  Scenario A: I have Lisinopril in an unmarked container.  Scenario B: I have "some pills" in a prescription Lisinopril bottle with my name on it.  Which one is acceptable?  It doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is the actual shape/size/marking on each pill.  I can put highly illegal drugs in a Statin prescription bottle and it doesn't mean that I'm not going to spend a while in jail.  Nobody cares if I have actual statin pills in my pocket, hat, shoes, etc.  I'm not breaking any laws.  Does anybody really think that the over-worked policing folks have time to bust people for taking Statins without a prescription?  What would be the penalty for that one?  A talking to?  🤣  Sure, if it's a controlled substance, I had better have proof that it has been prescribed for me.  I just don't think that is what most here are talking about.

[cruisebeachgirl703]

Gary, I want to thank you for you taking the time during your cruise to post. You are most helpful. We have learned so much from you. Enjoy!!!!!

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, cruisebeachgirl703 said:

Gary, I want to thank you for you taking the time during your cruise to post. You are most helpful. We have learned so much from you. Enjoy!!!!!

You are more than welcome. A little fun today. I walked off the ship in Roatan. A little shop had tiny fish that eat the skin on your feet. A unique experience for sure. 
 

Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment