Son of a son of a ...

22 minutes ago, hallux said:

 

If they did this for all cruises around the time that the drydock is needed, until they found out the actual date it's scheduled for, they'd then need to "fire sale" cabins because nobody would be booking on those cruises.  Yes, it sucks that some folks had to have their vacations canceled but if you look around the boards you'll see this happening with ALL cruise lines.  They know when the ship is due, they just don't know the actual availability of the docks until after bookings are released for sale.  Noting that the trip is at risk of cancellation is going to result in nobody booking that trip until that warning is removed.

 

Agreed, but if the cruise industry, which is increasing capacity, intends to compete with land-based vacations, then it needs to be more transparent with possible cancellations.  Resorts do not close unexpectedly for a month for maintenance.  Drydock scheduling is a cruise industry problem, but the risk should not be placed on the customer ... experiences such as OP's are going to limit the growth of cruising.  

There is going to be a shakeout in the near future and I think NCL is going to be the red headed stepchild (with apologies to all gingers).  RCI and Carnival are giants and NCL is attempting to compete with them instead of finding a niche.  NCL has a lot of debt and it is not going anywhere but up with its ship building schedule.

NCL should have been upfront with you and told you there was a risk of cancellation due to “scheduled maintenance” during that period.  Not a lot of good news about NCL lately.

10 hours ago, Son of a son of a ... said:

 

Perhaps in Jamaica there is another meaning ... you can google

OK, I’ll quote myself.  "Buddy” is slang for penis in guttural Jamaican.  The upper case “big,” although unintended by the respondent, next to “buddy,” may have been interpreted as rude by OP.  Alternatively, the OP micro-raged over nothing. 

10 minutes ago, jskinsd said:

I have been able to cruise solo for eight weeks in alaska for less than $3000 this season. 

Damn!!!  Much respect for doing so ... that's less than $54 a day!!  

33 minutes ago, TheDougOut said:

 

To Bermuda? 

Just put down my beer and saw "2020" ... thought the post was about the TA.  Ya, Ottawa_Cruiser is going to miss the Spice on a three-sea day cruise to Bermuda.  Maybe they will close the track for a few hours and let you bring a towel to lay out.

21 minutes ago, Ottawa_Cruiser said:

I am excited about sailing the Encore on October 25, 2020. While I do love Spice, I'll reserve judgement until I come back from my sailing. Maybe Encore will be ok without it.

You are going to be sailing a northern Atlantic route ... I'll wager the Spice will not be missed on this cruise.

The deciding factor is cost savings if you know the class of seat you will receive.

You estimate saving between $700-$800 pp.  I approximate the value of my idle time at $50/hr.  At that rate, I would be willing to add 14-16 hours onto my trip before the savings diminished to zero.  However, the value of my idle time increases with each consecutive hour - I might wait in line for an hour to save $50, but I will not do so for two consecutive hours to save $100.  So add $10 to compound for each additional hour.  That will put you at about 8 additional hours that you will tolerate to save $800, which is 1/2 a waking day on vacation.

If NCL schedules your flight and the total travel time is less than the direct flight time + 8 hours, then you come out ahead.  If it is more than the direct flight time + 8 hours, then you suffer.

2 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

Is there some other meaning for "buddies" that I am unaware of? As far as I am aware, it just means friends.

Perhaps in Jamaica there is another meaning ... you can google

2 minutes ago, coriemarie said:

 

Over-dramatic here. There was smoking on the water front when I sailed the getaway. It was a 20 ft length area by one of the bars.

 

The waterfront stretches all the way around the ship. This is in no way the smokers 'getting YOUR waterfront'.

I'm pretty sure they have since eliminated that spot for smoking.  

It triggered me to make a dental appointment 😀  

18 minutes ago, ronbe65 said:

We always get foreign currency in advance from our local bank.

This.  Not willing to risk ATM card crapping out and not interested in hunting down an ATM as I am dragging my jet lagged arse through the airport.  Cash is king ... don't leave home without it.

4 minutes ago, TheDougOut said:

 

I suppose from a marketing standpoint, “overexposed” is what they want. 

 

I think it’s a good, albeit safe, pick.  Certainly better than a radio DJ.

She ain't gonna top the "O", tho   https://www.cntraveler.com/story/oprah-will-be-the-godmother-of-a-cruise-ship

Enjoy her music, but she is getting a little over-exposed with the show.

Star - Need to bring US electrical adapters?  No.

We did the Epic 2 BR Haven on western Med and Star suite on eastern Med.  The priority disembarkation was not necessary for several ports because we had NCL excursions.  The B/F was very convenient.

Many of the amenities would be better enjoyed with more sea days.  The Med cruises are so port intensive that we really didn't have time to appreciate the solitude.  

If you can get these cabins at a great savings, then do it.  Or plan to stay on board while in port.  However, the extra cost could otherwise be spent pre- or post-cruise or upgrading some excursions.

You will be seated in a section and served by a waiter and assistant waiter.  The party size will determine how many tables are each section.  The tables within a section can be interspersed with other sections within a degree of proximity so you think you are receiving individual service.  The service in the section is then paced for apps, entrees, and dessert.  If you are seated first in the section, then initial service may seem slow relative to those seated last.  Typically, when the entrees begin to arrive, all tables are synchronized as to schedule and service.   The system begins to fall apart when there are late arrivals in the party or a party lingers - that is when you need a good manager to make changes on the fly.

Look on the bright side ... as a non-national, it is more likely you will be kidnapped than killed.  

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

So, my TA, genuinely sorry about how this "non-cruise" turned out, sent me an email today with a 9 Day Cruise out of Copenhagen on the Getaway for about the same as I was going to spend on the Breakaway on 9/1 doing the Western Caribbean.

 

Talk about out of left field, but that's intriguing.  

 

I've sailed the Mediterranean on the MSC Meriviglia and loved it.  Copenhagen isn't even a cruise I've even thought about. 

 

This would also be in the Haven.

 

Opinions?

If the dog bites you once, don't let it in the house again.

Conspiracy theory #142:  NCL eliminated NFL games on TV to force passengers to buy upgraded WiFi packages if they want to watch the games.

I've been watching the GA Haven for a pre-Christmas cruise and it is ridiculously cheap.  NCL is actually giving $100 OBC to book as an additional perk.  

Man, Yoda-strong lately has been the NCL hate.

50 minutes ago, elwood_98034 said:

I must live in a different USA than you. 

 

They could actually have football and wings in the American Diner. No one would care if the noise and caps on backwards upset people. This was it at 8.06pm Friday night. We had just left a packed Cagney's, and walked past a packed Le Bistro. It was like this for most of the week.

Just dropped in to see what folks are still arguing about and saw this pic.  That place is deader than Margaritaville

23 minutes ago, Steff79 said:

Maybe this is important for a non smoker who book a balcony room above that area. People will smoke there the hole day and you smell it.

 

say it loud and clear, we want the H2O back. 

Quite correct ... the elimination of Spice also eliminated the outdoor smoking section in Spice.  NCL needed to have one outside area for smoking and deck 8 was the only option.

9 hours ago, TheDougOut said:

Interesting reveal in this photo from from N. Schmitz-Overlander Photography - the Waterfront light strip is GREEN! 

 

Haven’t all prior ships been that deep purple? 

I wonder if the other side will be red.  Might be best to stay away from navigational colors.

OP, while they are similar industries, you presume that customers have personal experience with the hotels that you are using for comparisons.  If I never stayed at a Motel 8 or Holiday Inn, then I have not basis to evaluate the differences.

Perhaps cars or cuts of meat or something else that people have actually experienced.