cruiserbear55

29 minutes ago, zqvol said:

I amazed at the effort people go to with these bags. I have never had one rip or tear and have never had trouble getting what I need in the bag. The people with the problems must change clothes twice a day and never wear anything twice. 

You've been blessed!

3 minutes ago, hallux said:

It's half off that $35 - $17.50.

  Not on the cruise we just finished. The slip says,( which I have in front of me), "Laundry Service-One Full Bag-$34.00". This was on the Gem.

16 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

My brain is a little fried getting ready to leave in 2 days on Getaway so please bare with me. Lol!

We've done laundry on our last 2 sailings for free because we were in a CBS just to check it out really. This sailing is 10 days and we're definitely going to do some mid cruise.

We are Gold too (achieving platinum on this sailing), so is the half off of the $35 or is $35 the price?

We have obc, so it doesn't matter much, but I'm curious.

TIA

    Just got off the Gem, 4/5-4/12. Mid week laundry "special" was $34.00. We stay in CBSs and are both Platinum, so get three free bags of laundry per cruise.Which we've never used, as two bags seem to be the perfect fit.

   And to any newbies here, and as others have said, roll-roll-roll your clothes. Bring a three gallon trash bag ( like from the bathroom) to line the inside of the paper clothes bag. They rip very easily! Happy Cruising!

   A short while back, there was a flurry of activity here on CC about NCL replacing UHT coffee creamers ( such as Mini-Moos), with powdered coffee whitener, such as Coffee Mate, in the cabins. Can someone tell me what they are offering now. Thanking you in advance.

On 3/21/2024 at 4:19 PM, ready2cruzagain said:

Just seen this on another site. Price of the mid week laundry special went up $5. I know, some will say "no biggie" but thought I would mention it for those that use it. 

  If $34.00 is the price of the "midweek special", what is the price on the non midweek days?

    It's been a year since we last cruised. Will be on the Gem in a few weeks. Is NCL still offering either the memory foam or egg crate mattress toppers to those who request them? Will be in a club balcony if it matters. Thanking you in advance!

On 3/4/2024 at 11:36 PM, Royals Carol said:

Does the cruise ship shut down the casino while in port in Bermuda? Also, how handicapped accessible is Bermuda, ie Scooter?

  You'll be able to get to most places you want to get to in the Dockyard. Sidewalks and walkways everywhere.Hamilton and St. George would also be doable. Pavement everywhere and accessible by ferry.

1 hour ago, Outlaw Cruiser 400U said:

All of the Club Balcony suites on the Norwegian Gem are on Deck 11 and my concern is the noise level due to the pool, restaurants, etc. on the deck above. Would you please share your recommendations for quiet cabins - if such a thing exists on Deck 11? If the deck is likely to be loud, I'll probably go to a lower deck. Thanks for your help!

   On the starboard side, cabins 11002-11022 are all under the hair salon, library, card room, amd photo studio. Three of those cabins, 11006, 11012, and 11018 are family suites. The rest are club balconies. I would highly recommend any of these cabins, as there is virtually no noise from above.

   On the port side, 11500,11502,and 11504 are under the spa area. Recommended. Cabins 11506 to 11522 are under the fitness center. Not recommended. Someone running on a treadmill or dropping weights at six in the morning is not how I'd wish to be woken up!

   The rest of deck eleven is a crapshoot. Some quiet, some not so. Depends on what area your cabin is under. Being under LaCucina is usually pretty quiet. Happy Sailing! And welcome to Cruise Critic!

We’re on the Gem next month in a club balcony/mini suite. The CBS still have the aforementioned tubs with the high sides and narrow, tapered end which always reminds us of a sarcophagus.

  Out last two cruises were on the Pearl.The tubs have been removed in the clubs and replaced with walk in showers. So much better!

4 minutes ago, Damascus43 said:

Thanks all. At least I know to expect $20 per day. As I don't drink alcohol, the "free" drinks package doesn't seem worth it for a few sodas. Next it's trying to figure out shore excursions. At least I have a lot of experience visiting new locales and getting around.

   As @kitkat343 just posted, just decline the drinks package. Then add the soda package (Coca-Cola products). It is $9.99 per day plus 20% gratuity. $83.89 for the week.

23 minutes ago, bftcruiser said:

Someone told me the way around it is to start at the slots, take money from your "bank" (which is charged to your card) and then "cash out" at the slot. Go to the cage and collect your cash money. Then go play the tables.

You're still going to incur the 3% charge.

2 minutes ago, Sunseeker1001 said:

My husband and I would be interested in joining a M&G on the Pearl on Jan. 17th.   Are you keeping a list or do I have to complete the form??

   Check your roll call to see if there is a meet and greet already scheduled. If not, it is far too late to set one up for a cruise that leaves in two days.( I assume you did mean 1/17/2024).

2 hours ago, izzy19 said:

leaving on the Jade on January 27, 2024...how do we know which cruise terminal it goes out of?

If you let people know where you're cruising out of, someone may know the answer!

 Sorry, @BirdTravels. Evidently, we were both typing basically the same answer at the same time!

1 hour ago, SailorJoe22 said:

Hey everyone,

I'm gearing up for my first ever cruise in 2024 and have some questions about casino play. 

As far as I understand, you earn 1 point per $5 wager, but I'd love some insights from experienced cruisers.

Here are my questions:

1) Does this mean you need to wager $1,000 for the Pearl level?

2) Is the Pearl level worth it for the possible comps? What kind of comps can I expect at the Pearl level? I've heard whispers of people scoring free cruises from NCL at this tier.

3) If you strike it big, how do taxes work for non-Americans (sailing from US Ports)?
4) I'm also curious about how table games work when you preload money onto the casino card. How do you track your play and balance?

5) Any other insider tips 🙂

Looking forward to hearing your experiences and tips!

      You need to accumulate 5000 points to reach the Pearl level. Every $5.00 you play through the machines equals one point. Points come from a combination of actual money played and any winnings put back through the machines. Technically speaking, if you had no wins, you could spend $25,000.00 to attain Pearl level. Video poker is even worse, as they allot one point for every $10.00 played. And there is no rhyme or reason for points given at the tables. Totally at the whim of the pit boss, or whomever may be in charge at any specific time.

  You may get a comped inside or ocean view at Pearl level. Or a percentage off. No way to tell till you call CAS a week or so after your cruise.

   Have no idea how taxes in international waters work for Canadian citizens.

     My tip? Don't spend your kid's inheritance trying to attain certain levels in the casino. The rewards are just not there. Simply set a daily casino budget for each session, and stick to it! Happy Cruising!

1 hour ago, lele100 said:

I was wondering which dining venues are opened on embarkation day?  Thank you

  Summer Palace ( an MDR) deck 6 aft;  O,Sheehan,s; the Buffet; The Grill ( deck 12) are all open for lunch. Summer Palace doesn’t open till noon, so if you board at 11:00 you may have to wait a bit. Also, sometimes they’ll have grills going on deck 12 offering hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. But not always. Everything else generally opens shortly after sailaway. Happy Cruising!

21 hours ago, So_Tweetie said:

When booking with Princess and Royal, the fees are shown on the page where you browse sailings. I find it easier to scroll past and not consider cruises with high fees that way. On NCL though, I got my heart set on a birthday cruise and thought I had found a fantastic price all the way until I got to checkout and the fees were revealed. 

   Taxes, port expenses, and fees are shown upfront, per person, on every cruise offering. If you were, for instance, to go to the NCL site and click on "Find a Cruise". all the cruises listed have them in small print at the bottom right of the ad. No need to go through a whole mock booking just to find the fees.

4 hours ago, D_And_K_gocruising said:

Probably wont be very warm at that point.. Will be getting warmer, but probably still not very warm. I mean, it'll be in the low 70's probably?  Water will still be pretty cool then. 

   For we Northern New Englanders who start swimming in the Atlantic late May -early June, that would be like bathwater! Temps average high forties/ low fifties and might approach sixty by the end of June. Even in our hot month, August, seventy two to seventy five is the high. So I guess "cool" depends on where you hang your hat!!

   Haven’t been able to access my account info via Firefox for over three weeks. And yes, everything’s cleaned up. Have had to use Edge to gain access. With Firefox I just get the endless Username/password loop over and over again.

On 12/6/2023 at 4:29 AM, smillerholmes said:

coinky dink

   Is that an Ohio phrase? Never heard it!!

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

So....inquiring minds want to know. Did you make reservations for 4 and 2 or 4 and 4? Or, just going to wing it and get reservations onboard?

     Four and two, hoping they’ll either put them together or find us another table for six.We’ll try to iron it out at the reservations desk when we first get onboard.

On 12/2/2023 at 8:27 PM, cruiserbear55 said:

Well, thinking there must be another NCL computer glitch, I got on the horn with an NCL rep.She tried and tries to make the bookings, but couldn't get past the "firewall". She then got a supervisor and a CAS agent involved ( our original booking). Between the three of them, they couldn't make it happen.

24 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said:

I was noAll three t referring to the "6" problem.

I was referring to cancelling and rebooking. HBcruiser said they wished it could be done online; so, bite the bullet and call - if you want to get it straight now. Of course, no guarantees on what will be available.

     Evidently, you didn't read the first post. I called and got an NCL rep, then a CAS rep, and finally a supervisor .( See above).  All three working together couldn't make it happen. There is no fix online or by calling. We'll just have to wait till we're onboard and try to find a remedy to our first world problem!!

2 hours ago, cruiser2015 said:

I think you can do it if you call.

   Calling doesn't solve the problem. See my original post, #1. Also, post #4, who is experiencing the same aggravation. For some reason, NCL is not allowing  parties greater than four  to make dining reservations after 5:30P.M. or before 9:00 P.M.

      Tried to make specialty dining reservations today for six people. Stayed up till midnight, thinking reservations would open at 12:01 A.M., as is always being touted by some long time CCers. Well, that ship sailed fast! They finally were available to book at 3:00P.M.

   We all have four dinners, two FAS and two Platinum. Attempted to make reservations for 6:30P.M. at Cagney's x2; LaCucina, and Moderno. If I tried to book two or four people, all of the dining times were available. When I attempted to book six, I was restricted to 5:30 or 9:00. Also the same restriction if I tried eight people.

   Well, thinking there must be another NCL computer glitch, I got on the horn with an NCL rep.She tried and tries to make the bookings, but couldn't get past the "firewall". She then got a supervisor and a CAS agent involved ( our original booking). Between the three of them, they couldn't make it happen.

   They advised me to make the bookings for four at the preferred time, and run, not walk, to the restaurant reservation desk when we get onboard and try to snag a table for six.

  My question: why would NCL restrict any party over four people from making a reservation after 5:30 and before 9:00? And has anyone else experienced this? Most of our past cruises we've had groups of six to ten, and never encountered this problem. Thanking you in advance.

  Has the admin fee been raised to $155.00, as shown in @KKBpost #11 above. We've always paid $20.00 a day.