schmoopie17

The TA was able to tap directly into NCL's system to pull up our Latitudes accounts to verify my Veteran status (for the 10% discount and to verify our total Latitudes level and points). I actually made a "hold" reservation with the TA, which our PCC was able to view when he went in to cancel our original reservation. After making the reservation with the TA, the cruise showed up instantly on our future cruise page in our NCL account, just like our other two pending cruises. So, to make a long story short (I know, too late for that...) you earn Latitudes points regardless of the source of the reservation.

Just a few days ago we booked directly with our PCC for a December cruise. The next day while randomly browsing, I found a TA (a very large one) that offers $375 Visa card rebates...plus prepaid gratuities...on the very same cruise. I put a reservation on hold with the TA so I could talk with our PCC. Obviously he said he could not match that deal (he was able to pull up our "hold" reservation to verify that we were comparing apples to apples and he said he understood why we would make the switch.) I felt bad because he has been very good to us, but $375 plus $380 in gratuities was too good to pass up.

Our one cruise on Royal was several years ago on the Adventure of the Seas. We booked an inside cabin that actually had a large window overlooking the promenade area in the middle of the ship. It was cool because you didn't feel as confined/claustrophobic as in a "regular" inside. On the other hand, it wasn't cool because cabins directly across had a direct view inside our cabin. (And we had a view inside theirs).

Another reason not to do Royal.

Don't forget that many ports charge an additional tax on drinks while in port. There have been many "spirited" discussions on this topic on CC.

On NCL a sports jacket is considered being overdressed. I typically wear t-shirts or polo shirts with shorts/jeans. A couple of restaurants require long pants, so that's when I pull out the jeans. I have never had good internet reception on an NCL ship. Would never consider "upgrading" to a more expensive plan just to get the same lousy connectivity. Haven't used cell phones on the ship until docking. We have T-Mobile, which has coverage in Europe and other foreign countries for free. As soon as we get near a port, our cell phones perk up with a message welcoming us to whichever port we are pulling into.

We did a 16 day TA on the Escape from Civita...oh, screw it...Rome...to NYC last November. We really enjoyed it and would do it again if we could find an itinerary with different ports and preferably ending in Miami. The sea was a bit choppy at times (well, it's the north Atlantic in November, what else would you expect?)...but overall wasn't that bad. I think that the Escape, being a bigger ship may have been better able to maintain stability (but I'm not an engineer, so what do I know?)

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong (oh wait, this is CC...no worries)... Okay, the few times we looked at booking with Royal there were non-refundable (and high) deposits required. We like NCL's policy of $250 refundable deposits (up until final payment, of course) because we're old and tend to change our minds a lot. I can't tell you the number of times we've booked on NCL and cancelled for one reason or another...with no penalty.

You lost me with the "only" problem... Prima has numerous problems, which reading the multitude of negative comments and reviews from past passengers will bear out. If you like creaking cabin walls (so loud that ear plugs, my wife's snoring and a sound machine can't drown out), go for it. If you enjoy a weird Local bar set-up where it's in a main passageway and everyone and his brother passing by tries to belly up to the bar (where there are only two bartenders working and 30 passengers already waiting at the bar), go for it. If you enjoy a tiny buffet with barely any maneuvering room, go for it. If you enjoy condescending customer "service" people whose only answer is "NO", go for it. If you enjoy maneuvering in a maze to get from Point A to Point B, go for it. The Prima is relatively attractive if you like beige...on top of beige...and even more beige. And it has that new ship smell, which is one thing it has going for it. I could go on, (and on) but the Prima cheerleaders already have enough ammo to fire back. That's fine, fire away. But this was our experience, and as they say on CC...YMMV. I've never been on the Breakaway, but I would try it before ever going back on the Prima.

Wow...you may win the prize for resurrecting the oldest thread on CC I've seen in many moons. Five years is a long way to go back through the annals of CC to excavate something to comment on. Are you an archaeologist as well as an Ambassador? 😁

Where can I go to apply to be a shill-phony gambler? Sounds like a fun way to kill a few hours on a sea day.

Captain: "Maybe we should tender. Or maybe we should dock." Since this took place in Zeebruggee, this is the epitome of a Belgian waffle.

Since my breakfast typically consists of two chocolate croissants and coffee, that would suffice.

My PCC is my go-to for major stuff. For something simple I had used the chat a couple of times, since I know my PCC is very popular (and busy). Don't want to bog him down with the small stuff. But no more chat for me. As they say on CC...YMMV.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2947619-bringing-the-joy-with-as-live-ish-a-review-as-the-lousy-wi-fi-will-allow-bermuda-79-716/?do=findComment&comment=65712959 Apparently the American Diner is a free option on the joy, as per @Dorhead1230

But the chat people are awful. At least three times I was given vastly incorrect info on a chat. Never again... The most recent was a question I had about 2023 cruises that give double points (a promotion currently going on for selected cruises). It's right on the NCL website.The chat person said there is no such promotion, except for suites on some cruises. Completely wrong.

It's ironic that the one time we saw "Choir of Man" was on the Escape...

Or come to our house...

You might get some answers if you post on the East Coast board. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/317-east-coast-departures/

That's funny, every time we go to Tepanyaki I walk out of there hungry.

I'm still talking about the filet I had in Le Bistro on the Bliss in 2019. Much better than anything I've had at Cagney's...and I thought Cagney's was pretty good (until then).

April 23, 2023? How was the cruise? 😁

If you have a PCC, he/she can pull up additional cabins (assuming more are available).

Thanks for the responses. Actually just called our PCC and canceled...he completely understood that we can't pass up offers that NCL can't offer.

I've searched and searched for this form on the NCL site and nothing comes up. Can you help locate it? I booked directly with NCL yesterday but today a TA is offering free gratuities and a $300 Visa gift card for the same cruise. If I can't transfer, I may have to just cancel and book with the TA. Thanks...