schmoopie17

Stole this from @OrcaGirlon her trip report of the Epic Transatlantic: I checked in at CruiseNext for the BTS tour, and we headed off shortly after 8:20am. Our leader mentioned that there are 900 Platinum and higher guests this sailing, so they had to book a lot of tours across different days. So, maybe there is hope for us, after all. Fingers crossed...which makes typing even more difficult.

Welcome to CC, and... Just a hint...post this on your ship's roll call. You might get a better response, since...I don't know...all of the people on that roll call are actually going on that cruise. Unlike the rest of us. Edit: Just saw @cruiseny4life beat me to it. Oops. Story of my life. A day late and $10 short.

Or take some back to your cabin, cut them up into a million pieces and fry them up on a hot plate. Voila! Instant hash browns. Just one minor issue about sneaking a hot plate onboard...

I'm sure you'll have a great time on the Jade...our favorite ship. Say "Hi" to Shane (our favorite bartender in the Martini bar) from "Cosmo with a lime" and "Bulliet on the Rocks". He'll get it...

The price is usually right...the flights usually aren't. (Or so I've heard), Having said that, we've actually booked the BOGO from O'Hare to New York and then London to O'Hare for our TA next April. We can always change it, if needed. Speaking of the Price is Right...it was okay on the Pr1ma. Wheel of Fortune on the Jade? Even Pat and Vanna couldn't save that fiasco. No matter how many vowels were purchased. Okay, back to the BOGO discussion.

The walls of your solo cabin remind me of a padded cell. Don't ask me how I know this...

I fully understand that and I don't disagree. My point is, we will be missing out on two of the main Platinum perks on our very first Platinum cruise. I don't know what "things taking place at the end of our cruise" would be of importance in comparison.

Do they do more than one of these events? Most cruises only do these once per sailing. If so, Barcelona boarders would have first crack at them when they board a few days ahead of us..

We're on this same cruise from Rome...just like the OP. This will be our first cruise as Platinum, which is disappointing because all of the Wines Around the World and Behind the Scenes Tour will already be taken by people boarding in Barcelona a few days earlier.

Ditto. We had to choose between the Pr1ma (nod to @cruiseny4life) and the Pearl for a TA next April. Having been on the Pr!ma (and not loving it) and the Jade (and loving it)...and since the Pearl and Jade are sister ships, we're opting for the Pearl. Besides, the Pr1ma isn't a great cold weather ship, and we figure crossing the Atlantic in April from NY will still be cold-ish.

By the way, I posted this on another thread...but the NY Strip in the Grand Pacific on the Jade was awesome. The prevailing opinion on this board is "Don't order the MDR NY Strip." Both Mrs. Schmoopie and one of our cruising companions decided to order it, despite my telling them "DON'T DO IT!" They both said it was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. I though this was an early April Fool's joke until I tried a bite, and they were right. It was so good, I ordered it the next time we were in Grand Pacific and it was just as good. Now, maybe it was a quirk and NCL actually ordered some fantastic NY Strip from a supplier by mistake. But it was honestly as good (if not better) than the filet we had from Cagney's.

We're doing Reykjavik a year from now. Mrs. Schmoopie is a big chocolate lover...me, just so-so. But I'll make an exception for these.

The coconut tapioca pudding would like a word. I'm not a tapioca person, but that was honestly the best dessert I had on that cruise...and I had it four times. Kudos to our waiter for recommending it...as well as an extra tip. (Oops...not another tipping thread...)

Don't overlook Jasmine, the complimentary Asian restaurant, We ate there four nights and loved it every time.

We were on the Jade for 14 days a month ago. We ate in Alizar once...Grand Pacific five times. We much preferred the atmosphere in Grand Pacific...the place is huge and (at least to us) more elegant. You have a different table and different servers every time (unless you just happen to get the same table and/or servers by sheer coincidence,)

And this discussion is now way past the tipping point.

Never waited more than a couple of minutes (if that) by just showing up at the restaurant desk. Of course, as they say. YMMV.

If your colon is missing, better see a doctor ASAP. 🤪

Oh...I get it. A belated April Fools joke.

Congrats on your VIP status. I assume that means you'll have exclusive access to hash browns and cookies.

If they won't let people with Tattoos into the Spa, Mr. Rourke from "Fantasy Island" is out of luck. Unless he goes solo...

THIS ^^^ We tried ordering an outside tour vendor a couple months ago (yes, we did it, despite the admonishments about outside tour vendors in the infamous Africa thread). But after trying to reserve it twice, and both efforts showing the charge didn't go through, I assumed it was because of something on the tour operator's site. Wrong... It turns out BOA declined both attempts, due to the tour operator being a foreign company. What was strange, I didn't get any notification...not even the ubiquitous "Credit card not present" message.

That's one of the key reasons we stick with NCL...along with the Veteran discount. Refundable deposits are a big thing for people who like to change their minds regularly. Then change them again. That would be us.

It had a taco stand when we were there a year ago. However, I don't recall it being all that great. But it was free...so I guess that's something.

But now that you told me, it won't be a surprise. As for attaining Platinum status, with all of the NCL promotions where people could get an extra night or two for many bookings, it seems like everyone and their brother/sister is Platinum or above.