mark290

Seems pretty plain to me...

 

"Guest is responsible for 18% gratuities on the retail value of the Ultimate Beverage Package ($14.22 USD per person, per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.35 USD per person, per day) prior to cruise, except when booking The Haven or a Suite."

Then you don't speak no plain english no good.

"if you read the terms and of conditions, it says it in plain English that the fees is for gratuities

Drinks Package:"

 

if you read the terms and of conditions, it says it in plain English that the fees is for gratuities

Drinks Package:

 

 

Kind of funny because that is not really plain english.

Because the people booked in the cabin you would bid on might be bidding on an upgrade also

and then a cabin you want to upgrade to might open up.

Shower - Hope so. Bathroom - Hope not.

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If missing a half day on a four day cruise doesn't bother you then good on you. Doesn't sound like you are thrilled with the circus aspect even though you are an experienced cruiser.

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It was obvious to me what DMH meant. It was an all things being equal scenario.

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So normal on a cruise ship to eat two meals at once, when on land in a normal restaurant it isn't.

 

If you say so.

It might not be that you are a magnet if everybody around you is insane.

There could be another explanation.

You think it normal?

On a cruise ship, yes. If you see two items you like then you order them both.

It happens all the time. When I have done it I always get both at the same time

without having to ask for it that way.

Absolutely NOT - if they did this for everyone every time a price dropped they'd be out of business in a year.

Yet they did honor the price drops for many years and are still in business. The new policy has only been in place for about six or seven years.

What an odd thing to do.

 

 

 

Perhaps the learning point is if you are going to do something odd, then explain what you want rather than have the waiter guess what the strange guest expects.

Why is it odd to order two entrees ?

I did an upgrade from an OV to a Spa Mini Suite last summer (before the bid process), and it was GREAT! I think that you should go for it!

A Spa Mini would be great and worth the gamble but the Op is bidding on just a regular mini.

I set myself a figure for the butler the only time I cruised in a suite; added to it whenever I asked him to do something beyond his normal duties.

 

I did cut it to a third when he appeared on the penultimate day, three times, asking if I was satisfied with his service. Just like a street beggar!!

Maybe others will understand this and your strategy but I don't.

What would you do if you won both/all!!?

That is not how it works.

Thank you

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I have only read on these boards about being able to bid only two categories up. I don't know if that is actually a policy of NCL.

Another question. I am in a BB balcony cabin. My upgrade options to bid on were all Haven cabins. Why couldn't I bid on a spa cabin ? There are lots of those available. Is a spa cabin considered more than a two cabin upgrade even though they are less expensive ?

Really, no body is forcing you to drink so if you don't want to pay then don't drink . Bar cash tips are also pooled

You realize you are answering a question that was not asked ?

The cruise I'm on is also sold out of Haven but I can still modify my bid for a Haven cabin. Why would that be ? I can bid more for something they don't have. Why wouldn't the offer just say bidding closed or no longer available ?

After watching some cruise friends get their knickers in a twist and themselves in a real dither trying to book their meals and shows way ahead of their cruise on the Oasis, we weren't sure we would ever try that size ship.

 

But when a good deal came up, She Who Must be Obeyed and I did a B2B on the Allure about this time last year. We hate the thought of trying to figure out what nights we want to which show or eat when and where, and we haven't even boarded the ship yet. So, we tried something. We didn't pre-book anything. Once on board, we reserved that evenings MTD. Since we had two weeks to try the specialty restaurants that we were interested in, we would catch the maître 'd when we were near one of the venues and see what was available. Shows were no problem either, we reserved those from the room with the interactive TV each day and on a few, just wandered in a few minutes before the show started after all of the reservations had been let in.

 

It was one of our more relaxing cruises since just went with the flow and we weren't all in knots trying to fill each day's schedules weeks ahead.

Sounds perfect but a lot of that was because you were on a b2b.

Hopefully OP can provide some more details, but I'll chime in with what I know. If you leave your wifi on with the iConcierge app (without paying for extras), you will still receive notifications of texts, Facebook comments, WhatsApp messages, etc. Not sure how sending works on the ship, but you can definitely get incoming notifications without paying a dime.

I was planning on paying the $9 or $10 to use Iconcierge. Will this mess up my ability to try and use imessage without any cost ?

I'm going on the same cruise in the opposite direction later this year, so I appreciate all of Tim's time and effort. Going back to the very first page, he states:

 

"The buffet was crowded as expected and it remained so for most of the cruise. However, thankfully, I am a member of the Cruise Critic Forums, a previous review from mitsugirly hinted that I could go downstairs to the LA Cucina dining room for some peace and quiet as well as leg room during breakfast/lunch. This was definitely the best advice I can pass on to you as well. Most people are too lazy to walk the few feet downstairs or think it's closed. Don't be that person. Go down there and enjoy the beautiful setup, the quiet and often a dining room almost all to yourself. There is juice/coffee/water machine down there and usually at least 1 staff member to clear plates and clean tables."

 

Does this mean that breakfast and lunch are served there, or that you get your food at the buffet and carry it down one floor to eat it at La Cucina? I'm thinking it's the latter, but am not sure.

After reading his review I was wondering the same thing.

We wake up when room service knocks on the door with our coffee.

And they are always on time and have never been a no show.

Is anyone able to give a little more detail on how to use iMessage without incurring a cost ? If I signup for iconcierge do I simply not use the app and I might have success using imessage ? I will be signing up for iconcierge. Will this interfere with the possibility of being able to imessage people off the ship ?

I guess my question is how do I use iconcierge and still be able to attempt to take advantage of imessage without an additional cost ? I know I will be paying for iconcierge.

I suggest you give your child the same amount of freedom you're comfortable giving him or her at home. Not everyone on a cruise ship is someone you'd want your child to encounter anymore than everyone in your home town is. For me, being on a cruise ship doesn't mean my daughter is any safer than she would be walking down the street at home.

Completely safe ? No. Much safer on a cruise ship ? Yes. Bad stuff can and has happened on a ship but it is much safer than most cities in terms of crime.

In terms of safety concerns other than crime it is also much safer. The vast majority of public areas of a ship are covered by video cameras. You can walk to a medical facility 24 hours a day. You can't say that about where I live.

It will be very noisy, cigar and cigarette smoke will be overwhelming, more crowded than Times Square on new years eve and the rude people will only be out numbered by the drunks. Have fun :)