padams2017

I was in the DOS on the Gem this past April. They had just updated the list right before my trip. Here's the list they gave me to choose from. By the way, upon arrival they only gave me sparkling wine, not the champagne I was expecting. They swapped it out for a bottle of Moet when I asked.

Please choose 3 bottles from the list below.

Liquor

Caña Brava Rum

Bacardi 8 Rum

Aylesbury Duck Vodka

Kettle One Vodka

Fords London Gin

Tequila Cabesa 100% Agave

Dewars White Label Scotch Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey

Bulleit Kentucky Straight

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky

Campari

Cinzano Sweet or Dry

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Kahlua Original Liqueur

Hidalgo Reserva 12 Year Old Brandy

Sauvignon Blanc North and South Norwegian Proprietary Wine

Chardonnay Robert Mondavi “Private Selection”

Rosé 6ème Sens Gérard Bertrand Languedoc

Red Blend North and South Norwegian Proprietary Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon Beringer Founder’s Estate

Sandeman Founder’s Reserve Port

Is this a late April Fool's joke? That is actually a decent list but I'm a bit skeptical they actually improved it - sorry.

 

We should be getting the list in about 10 days so we'll see what they tell us.

This is the Gem list. It would be perfect if they had Grey Goose, but I was happy to see that they replaced the Smirnoff with Ketel One.

What ship?

This is for the Gem.

I'm traveling in a DOS this month and I just received a letter from the Concierge Desk. I thought I'd share the latest list of choices.

Please choose 3 bottles from the list below.

Liquor

Caña Brava Rum

Bacardi 8 Rum

Aylesbury Duck Vodka

Kettle One Vodka

Fords London Gin

Tequila Cabesa 100% Agave

Dewars White Label Scotch Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey

Bulleit Kentucky Straight

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky

Campari

Cinzano Sweet or Dry

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Kahlua Original Liqueur

Hidalgo Reserva 12 Year Old Brandy

Sauvignon Blanc North and South Norwegian Proprietary Wine

Chardonnay Robert Mondavi “Private Selection”

Rosé 6ème Sens Gérard Bertrand Languedoc

Red Blend North and South Norwegian Proprietary Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon Beringer Founder’s Estate

Sandeman Founder’s Reserve Port

I don't know if I have anything to add, but I can reinforce the good things others have already said. Los Lobos was one of my favorites and I didn't use my SDP because it was so inexpensive. Try the jalapeño margarita. I spent at least an hour (or more) every day at the thermal spa. It was only crowded on the last day. I loved the Atrium bar and the singing duo that performed there. I never went to the wine bar, but I wish I did. Gatsby's was my favorite place to get a martini or mixed drink. I enjoyed sitting and listening to the piano player. We also ate at Moderno, Cagneys, La Cuchina, and Le Bistro. All good. There's a small mojito bar in Moderno that opens at 5:30PM.

That’s why sailaways are cheap- you get whatever cabin no one else wants. The system literally picks your cabin for you- for each cruise- so essentially you would be picking your cabin on the second cruise- which is not possible on a sail away.

I guess OP could guarantee that they got the same cabin (if it's available) by paying the higher category price on the second leg. If NCL guaranteed it to you at the sailaway rate, they would be discounting it and losing revenue from someone who was willing to pay a higher price to guarantee that specific cabin. A cabin that gets assigned at a sailaway on one cruise my be someone's favorite cabin on the next.

I've been on the Breakaway Fwd Penthouse and it was fantastic! There's a post about 13106 here on CC by dillagirl if you can find it. I think this is an accessible cabin.

WOW! That's a great video!

I'm happy that worked out for you! I understand how frustrating something like that can be. Even if it was a misunderstanding or even a miscommunication, it's always better with a happy ending.

The starboard cabin on deck nine, 9706, is right above the crew's lounge and can get loud late into the night.

For tourist stuff, I recommend staying in Times Square. June will be great weather to get out and walk around the city or a quick cab to Central Park. Marriott Marquis is my favorite.

You are correct - never say never and I will probably wait until November and cruise in November - but the deal is not a very good deal. If I transfer to the SKY for their 4 day cruise, it will cost me $180 more than my original booking which in essence makes the "OBC" they are giving me $20 instead of $200. I say that because the letter also says that the new booking will be at the current published price of the cruise.

 

If I take the second option and wait for the 4 day cruise for November, the booking will cost me $40 more than my original and they are giving only $25 so I'm out $15 then. We don't know what the fares for the 7 day cruises are yet. Taking into account that I now have to change my vacation leave to an inconvenient time at work is the icing on the cake.

 

I have the freedom to be able to do these things - some may not. Do you still think it's a good deal?

Isn't it an option to get your money back and go on vacation where and when you want?

My vote would be to book the Aft Balcony and purchase spa passes. Best of both worlds. BTW, I had a "tiny" balcony on the Breakaway and sat out on it everyday, especially in the early morning for coffee and later in the afternoon with pre-dinner drinks. Clearly, some cabins are better than others, but in my opinion, every cabin on a cruise ship is awesome.

I sailed the Breakaway out of NYC in April, 2017. It was unseasonably warm the day we left and I didn't have shorts packed in my carryon. I am on the Gem this coming April and I will definitely prepare for the worst, but carry a change of clothes just in case I get lucky with the weather again. BTW, coming back was chilly and I needed the long sleeves again.

In April, 2017, we were booked on a balcony on the Breakaway and were thinking about bidding on a Haven. Late one Saturday night about 30 days out, the price of a Forward Haven Suite dropped to $2099pp, We changed out reservation to that cabin immediately. By Sunday morning, the Fwd Suites were sold out. I've been watching, but I haven't noticed it that low since. I loved that cabin!

I can somewhat answer the first part of your question. I was in a forward Haven suite on the BA, not aft. No issue at all with butler service. I did find that giving the butler feedback early on was helpful. For example, I didn't care much for those little sandwiches he left, but I loved the sweets. I just mentioned that to him and from then on, bowls of M&Ms, cookies, and gummy bears. And as requested, he also brought a hot breakfast to my room every morning.

Why the exclamation point on the title of this thread??!!! OMG!!!! LOL.

I actually go the other way. I think we are helping people to make good purchasing decisions when we share the amounts of winning bids. With the additional information, folks can determine if they should book the desired cabin or select a lower one and potentially move through a bid. With the known cost savings of a winning bid amount, it enables better upfront bookings.

Exactly. (y). Plus, isn't it fun to read about those who were lucky enough to get an upgrade? And even those who don't get upgraded are on their way to a fantastic time!

I would not say “no problem” necessarily ....For the same week this coming March I switched from a Haven Owners Suite on the Breakaway to the Escape in a Haven Owners Suite which even costs more & because I was past final payment I ended up paying for the 2 of us a huge penalty of over $5000.00. I book directly with NCL also. Yes I could have cancelled under “the no reason clause” and saved some but by cancelling you still have to pay the full amount of the new booking then wait for the paperwork to come fill it out then wait for money to come back on first cruise which I was told could be a minimum of 2 months.

I will be no problem. OP is moving to a higher category on the same ship.

You will get double latitude points. I would definitely book as there is no guarantee you will win the bid. You will love the Haven!!!!!

 

 

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Can't agree more. That's how I did it the first time I stayed in the Haven. I bid on a Haven cabin and the price to book it outright came down nearly to what I was bidding. I noticed it late on a Saturday and booked it around midnight. By Sunday morning, all of that Haven category was sold out.

No problem. But, technically, you are not upgrading. They allow you to cancel your current booking (even though you are past final payment), and rebook a higher category at the current price with current perks. Make sure to review the perks you have against the current promotion. The perks you have don't automatically transfer because you are technically cancelling your original booking.

If you are a successful bidder, you keep the promos you had with your original booking.

We just returned from a GEM cruise and we were in a Forward Penthouse with a Large Balcony (SE Category) and had the Nespresso in our cabin. We liked it so much, my wife ordered one for our home to replace our Starbucks Verissimo coffee machine we now have.

We found the Nespresso to be better than the LaVazza.

 

Don:cool:

Glad to hear you liked the Nespresso better. Funny, I wanted to buy a Lavazza after I got off of the Breakaway until I saw the $750 price tag.

Thanks for the info! I'll be on the port side as well, 15500. Both DOS suites were open at the time I booked and I couldn't decide which side. I thought Starboard would be great for viewing the Statue of Liberty on the sail away, but I also thought it would be fun to be near the slide. Did the slide ever get too noisy at times?

Wondering the same thing. We're port side as well.

I will be in the Gem DOS on my next cruise. Last time I had a Haven cabin was on the Breakaway and it had an awesome Lavazza espresso machine. I've seen a picture of the smaller espresso machine on the Gem and I'm wondering how it compares to the Lavazza unit. Can anyone give me an opinion on the Gem machine?