G-DawgMN

2 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

 

We just became Platinum last month. I guess we'll see how hard it is to snag spots on the Behind the Scenes tour and Wines Around the World on our next cruise. At least we'll be able to get free laundry, chocolate covered strawberries and (most importantly) a couple extra Specialty dinners.

 Never had an issue getting a behind the scenes tour but I sign up the first day. 
  The valuable perks for me are the free laundry and dinners. I’m Sapphire now and don’t think I’ve seen or used the additional perks. 

On 3/23/2024 at 6:47 AM, BirdTravels said:

That’s a wrap!

 

Thank you for joining The Bird on a St Patrick’s day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the stunning MSC Seascape. 
 

The Bird tries to gather and proactively post the answers to the most frequently asked questions on Cruise Critic. 
 

It is time to get ready for another cruise. Safe travels everyone. 

 Thanks Bird for the great review (as always).

  Looking forward to being on the Seascape later this year.

18 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I was pointing out that even lines that charge tax while in port don't always charge tax while in port. 😉

 

The cruise line is going to get that money from the guests in one way or another. HOW cruise lines get it may differ and guests may prefer one way to another but the line passes that expense onto the customer whether the customer sees it (NCL) or doesn't.

 True. In Alaska where you’re taxed quite a ways out from port I was not charged tax in the Haven even though they had a sign. 
  Certain bartenders don’t always ring drinks up either even outside the Haven when you’re in a tax area. Not sure how they do that without getting in trouble. This was my experience on a recent cruise out of NOLA. 

12 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

When in the Yacht Club, MSC doesn't  charge guests anything extra since guests don't even swipe their card.

 Well that’s because you’re in the YC. Passengers get what they want even when they don’t ask. 
 

  Ok. I’m not dissing the YC or Haven. I’ve sailed on both when I’ve had the opportunity. 

30 minutes ago, marktwothousand said:

Oh here we go. The Cruise Critic tough love brigade strikes  again. 
 

as it turns out, we’ve already heard from the CNC dept. apparently this orphan credit was left over from peace of mind COVID booking and then transferred within family (to me) and that’s why there were issues around using it.

 

CNC got back to me personally this morning to let me know they will apply it if the agent emails them.

 

So in response to your tough love, I say:

 

So there, buddy. So there.

 So NCL fixed their error and acknowledged this was a special situation. Glad they did the right thing for you. 

6 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

We are onboard and officially on vacation!

 

I'll share more details in the posts to follow but it took a total of 39 minutes from the moment we were dropped off at the Yacht Club tent until the moment we stepped into our cabin... Amazing.

 

 

 I'm glad they've still got that process down. Last time we were in the YC it was at the end of Covid so we had to also get tested and wait for results, but it was still really fast.

  Looking forward to see how the trip is, of course it will be amazing!

9 hours ago, kona_wahine said:

I’ve only cruised a couple times with NCL and we have a group cruising Alaska in July.  Specialty dining opened up 5 minutes ago and everything is just about gone except super late. Is that the norm? We have 5 cabins booked so I’ll try calling that department tomorrow and hopefully they can help us, as we we want to dine together as it’s a family vacation. There are 9 passengers so I couldn’t do it online anyway, I had to call tomorrow when the group NCL people are open.  I was just checking to see what was available.

 

I guess i don’t understand why they advertise the cruise with the free at sea and then you don’t end up getting the specialty dining????

 Part of your problem is probably because you’re trying to book 9. I’m sure there aren’t a lot of tables if any built into the reservation system. As you said, calling in should have more success. 
 You will be able to get something booked if you wait until you are onboard, but if you’re not early you will probably get less than ideal times. 
  If you would be more flexible and break the group into smaller ones you’d probably have more success now. 

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

It is small already and ... 

 

 

Are they doing this with the fancy nylon bags used for Haven too 😁 curious, asking for friends 🫢

Looks like they washed it in hot water…

9 hours ago, IAcruising said:

Guys. This thread is from 2022.

 

 

We like living in the past. 

35 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

So, is ID.me not accepted?  

I used ID.me to get verified and it worked fine. 

18 hours ago, JustAPilot said:

They are also tip motivated and the more you give the friendlier they are, until the next set of passengers come onboard and they forget who you are. 

 I don't think that's true, we were on the Bliss a couple years ago and had over a year between cruises, the bartenders and servers in Sugarcane remembered me along with some other venues. My wife was shocked.

  I wasn't really tipping at that time, so it's not like they were trolling for money.

1 minute ago, cruiseny4life said:

  

Your experience is exactly my experience: one domestic and one international. Folks need to read the terms and conditions, otherwise (as we see so often) they'll be in for a not-so good surprise! I will book NCL BOGO Air again, if I ever need to fly to the port.

 

When we flew to Barcelona, we flew in from Syracuse to JFK, then on to Paris, and finally to Barcelona. Didn't mind at all - I actually hoped the flight in Paris would be delayed for several hours. We only had 80 minutes in the airport and that wasn't nearly enough time to go see Paris in between flights. We were smart enough to schedule a two day deviation, which allowed me to have the hope of a delayed/canceled flight.

 

We did look at trains from Paris to Barcelona - no good options, that's for sure! 

  I haven't done international yet, but might next year, the cost savings is real!

 We flew from Barcelona to Paris a few years back, flights are usually cheap. Paris is pretty amazing, it was probably my second favorite city in Europe so far, Rome is still my top favorite.

On 3/18/2024 at 11:32 AM, letmego4 said:

Absolute horrible customer service with NCL and their chosen air. As was previously stated, Beware Using NCL and their Air. Canceled our flights which were already poor options and gave us worse times and flights. Why they chose an airline sending us through Canada instead of direct to Europe made no sense except that it added extra fees on to us.  

 Sorry you had that happen, but it's right in the terms!!

https://www.ncl.com/air-service-standards

• How many connecting flights will I have if I am traveling internationally to and from my cruise vacation?
  For international travel, we strive to secure flight itineraries with no more than two connecting flights and minimize layovers that exceed five hours. Connecting flights through other countries may be required. Please note if you are flying to Europe, you may be routed through Canada.

 I'm not saying that NCL is perfect, but I've gotten excellent direct flights in the US both times I've used it, been able to upgrade, and saved hundreds of dollars. Oh and those who think they're the cheapest flights you're not always right. Our flights to New Orleans would have been  $1000 a person, I paid $250 for both of us through NCL.

Best way to avoid surprises is to just read the terms. A lot of the complaints I see on here wouldn't happen if people would read it (Like I have a redeye, why am I flying out of airport X, etc.).

  https://www.ncl.com/air-service-standards

 They even address when NCL is responsible for flights and when you're on your own here:

 https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/airsea

2 minutes ago, JYeagersGrl said:

We don’t ever buy drinks on cruises because we don’t really do soda so they think it’s not even an option and NCL attached the soda package to the youngests name so it works to my advantage. I just know the rule used to be that EVERYONE had to have a drink package in the room if you got any sort of drink package. So I did not want to get a surprise you owe another $170 you weren’t budgeting because you have to get the package for the other 2. 

 You won’t have to buy more soda packages but the other 2 will have to pay as they go. 

4 hours ago, rcstrot said:

We sail on the Breakaway in two weeks and in reviewing Dailies, posted last week, I saw "Broadway, 80's Edition" had 3 performances in Spiegel.

We it at the end of January. . It’s 3 singers doing 80s broadway songs. If you’re into they it’s a decent show. 

9 hours ago, Distinctive-Destinations said:

I’m executive platinum with American and have been upgraded for free many times. 
 

Even despite not using luggage tags!

 Imagine the upgrades you would get if you used luggage tags!

 Thanks for the report. It’s been a while since we’ve been on an older ship, but I’m glad they’re still worthwhile. 
 

15 minutes ago, zqvol said:

That’s all fine and dandy but it still doesn’t tell us which airline requires a luggage tag with an address to check it. I know that neither Delta nor American has such a requirement. So, do tell, which airline?

 I know Delta has a bin of paper tags at the luggage check in but I don’t know if they require them. 

2 minutes ago, Oakman58 said:

"We're sorry that happened to you, thanks for informing us and we'll inform the port authority this is unacceptable" would go a long way in this case.  Lack of compassion and caring isn't the best way to keep customers coming back. 

 We don't know what the response was so how can you assume something similar was said? They might not have said sorry ( if they apologize that implies liability). They have a process that the OP should have followed for lost luggage.

  It sounds like they already filed against travel insurance so it should be covered to whatever limits they offer. I'm surprised they didn't bring up if the travel insurance company was sympathetic or not also.

  I'm more impressed with action on how to fix a problem vs. someone reading platitudes off a script. In this case there's NCL and Travel Insurance forms to fill out.

1 hour ago, Wayward Son said:

Isn't it amazing how well-received an OP can be when the guns remain in the holsters and they don't come out screaming "Free at Sea is a marketing SCAM!!!!"?

 

Funny how that works.

 

 

 Don't worry, someone will chime in that they're going to take off the DSC because they didn't like the entertainment.

1 hour ago, PATRLR said:

Absolutely my observation as well.

 Depends on the ship, you might get stuck with Cats as the headliner.

 Of course everyone's opinion of what's "good" entertainment can differ because we all have different tastes.

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

This is true to a very limited extent.  The crew are contracted for a total compensation per month, made up of wages and DSC.  It is acknowledged in the contract that the DSC is variable, based on passenger participation/satisfaction, so the wage can be less than what is contracted for at any time.  There is a statutory minimum wage, that is less than half of the contracted wage (about $685 out of $1400/month contracted), and the DSC makes up about 70-80% of the contracted wage.  The cruise line is required to make up salary lost due to DSC reduction, only if the total compensation falls below the minimum.  So, passengers removing the DSC can reduce crew compensation by 50% without affecting NCL's bottom line in the slightest.

 

Incorrect, again.  The amount of DSC charged to passengers, and the contracted amount of DSC in each crew members' paycheck is based on double occupancy participation in the DSC.  The crew's contract acknowledges that the crew's compensation may be more than what is contracted, if the ship has a higher occupancy than double occupancy.  So, yes, the crew, of whatever rating in the DSC pool, will see any "extra" DSC that is generated.  Further, the crew know, based on terms in the contract, that about 10% of DSC will be used for crew welfare (parties, upgrades to crew facilities voted on by crew), and is not used for "crew uniforms" nor "pensions".

 

I don't get into whether or not people should remove/adjust the DSC, for whatever reason, I just make sure the facts about the DSC and how crew are paid, is presented.  That's why this will be my only contribution to this thread.

 I wish we could pin this post anywhere and refer to it when anyone starts claiming they know how the DSC is distributed.

  @chengkp75 I've always appreciated your knowledgeable posts over the years. Thank you.

18 minutes ago, zqvol said:

There is nothing wrong with the entertainment, it is just different than what it was in the past. 

 I will clarify since everyone has different options. NCL has always advertised their big Broadway shows as a major point on their large ships. Last year on the Epic they cancelled Six and there was nothing to replace it.

  This year on the Breakaway they cancelled Six and Burn the Floor was cancelled except for two shows at the end of the week I believe. The replacement was one showing of Wheel of Fortune. There was even at least one night with the theater empty.

   Granted they have great things like Syd Normans, but you had to line up 2 hours prior to get a seat. The comedians were good, but when they were in the comedy club people lines up over an hour in advance to get seats. Later in the week it was a little easier to get in.

 I was just on it at the end of January and found the food acceptable. The entertainment wasn't as good as in the past, but that's pretty typical of all NCL ships these days.

 I went to the buffet and never thought it was overly crowded, we were always able to get a seat.

  Here's my review from the end of January, I believe there were 4200 passengers onboard.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2987488-taking-a-getaway-on-the-breakaway-almost-live-maybe/#comment-66811026