Russiamomm

3 minutes ago, astera said:

 

This is the biggest question that was looming over me... at Food Republic can you use 1 FAS meal but have 2 or 4 people share it? There might come a day when all four of us might just want a simple pho soup and it would be great if it was possible to use just one of the included FAS meals for four soups...

It should not be an issue.  I’ve done it with two of us sharing one FAS meal (four items) and also done it with four of using one of the Platinum meals for two (8 items).  I’ve never tried four people using one FAS (one item each) , but I’ve never had any questions and we always left stuffed.  😂

27 minutes ago, astera said:

How does Food Republic work when it comes to the 'Free at Sea' included dinners? Is it any 4 items from the entire menu?

Yes, it’s good for any four items.  It’s a ton of food.  We usually use two of our FAS meals for two lunches on sea days and share the four items at each lunch.

35 minutes ago, roddy good boy said:

Actually, yes on the coat! Most department store retailers will give you the discount up to 30 days.

Maybe so, but not all.  Maybe a bad example, but you get the point.  Airfares also go up and down.  They normally won’t reprice an airfare after it’s booked if the price goes down.  They also don’t charge more if the price goes up.  

I don’t think they have to wait for the “deal”.  Especially since they’re Gold.  Confirm with the steward, but I’m reasonably certain they’ll give you the “deal” and the Gold 50% off at any time,  you may have to ask the steward for the bag though.

11 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

Ironically, stumbled upon a whole section from Nespresso of the pods that work with it and I'm tempted to stock up on the funky fancy ones next time I book an NCL Haven trip.

 

https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/original-coffee-pods

Feel free.  I have a Nespresso that I use every day.  Love it.  The machines aren’t expensive.  If I were you I’d buy a machine and pods for home and let NCL supply you with the pods for onboard the ship.  But that’s just me.  😃

2 minutes ago, Kortehgehn said:

I actually had a vigorous debate with my wife about this.  All our letters list Efren Acesor as concierge.  We dealt with Mr. X almost exclusively, and he was awesome!  The impression I had, though, was that he was an assistant concierge.  I'm not sure that we ever met Efren unless he and Mr. X are one and the same.

LOL.  I’m similarly confused.  I’m pretty sure they are two different people, but I’m not sure which is the assistant,  I need to pay closer attention to detail.  😂

6 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

If you review this thread, you'll find that giving FCC for price drops following final payment is standard policy from NCL.  

Yup.  That’s the policy.  After final payment they will give a one time FCC for price drops, and only up to two weeks before sailing date.  Before final payment date you can reprice any number of times (with certain exceptions like if you booked those air, and subject to the new promos attached at the time of repricing/rebooking.  
 

Sorry if the rep wasn’t clear on this.  But I have to ask.  If you bought a coat last week for $100 and it goes down to $50 this week, do you expect the store to give  you $50?  

They are Nespresso machines.  There is no frother.  I always ask for extra capsules and a pitcher if real cream in the fridge.  Even in the Haven you get only CoffeeMate.  Ick.

27 minutes ago, Asawi said:

I have no idea, but if you got anything back it sure would be very generous of NCL. Not making payment surley must be considered a cancellation? And after final pay you'd lose your deposition. But who knows? 

Thanks.  I tend to agree.  I have friends that booked a cabin on a trip we’re going on in October, using two CNs as a deposit.  They’re still not sure if they can go.  Just have to keep reminding them to make a decision by June.  😂

If you don’t officially cancel, but don’t make another payment on final payment date, will they cancel the reservation and re-deposit the credits automatically?

54 minutes ago, wealwayswander said:

I didn't know you could cash in for statement credit!    

Yup.  A penny a point.  You get 3 points for anything charged to NCL.  It’s basically a 3% discount on anything you spend with NCL.

I don’t know how long it takes, but I would never use the points for onboard credit.  You’re much better off using them to upgrade a cabin.  Or simply take a card credit.  The value for a statement credit is the same as cashing in for onboard credit and is much more flexible,

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

It is specifically not allowed by the terms of the latitudes vouchers in that it states that the vouchers can't be used in the same restaurant. This is often interpreted as meaning that a couple can't use both vouchers in Cagneys, for example, but I think that they are actually talking about the situation we have here (both vouchers being used at the same time).

 

That isn't to say that the staff won't actually allow it, but it may be a risk if they don't and you end up having to pay for meals you weren't expecting to. If they don't allow it then you probably won't have much luck arguing it as it is specifically not allowed.

 

Personally, I wouldn't risk it if it could mean having to pay for the meals a la carte.

 

Absolutely agree with your final paragraph though. As long at the other perks work out (ie you don't end up paying the tips for two beverage packages that aren't used) then this can work well.

16 minutes ago, Asawi said:

According to the term the two coupons cannot be used at the same restaurant. As mentioned by others. Screenshot from FAQ included

I stand corrected based on the written terms and conditions.  But rules are not always followed.  The T&C also say it’s two guests maximum, but just last week we were able to use one voucher for four of us at Food Republic on the Joy.  The server didn’t bat an eye.  Granted that Food Republic is not one of the traditional specialty restaurants like Cagneys or Ocean Blue.  In those I can see that rule being enforced.  

1 hour ago, Pappy1258 said:

Anyone know who the concierge is on the joy,and are they charging extra for a second lobster tail

Mr. X was the concierge.  (I don’t remember his real name,  he asked us to call him Mr. X 😃).

We had no problem getting an extra lobster tail at any dinner.  My DH had three one night.  Never a mention of an extra charge and none appeared on our bill,

3 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

No, you can't do that as the vouchers can't be used together.

 

That isn't to say that the restaurant may not allow you (I've never tried), but it's much more likely that they won't allow it.

 

You can use the voucher for yourself and one child at one restaurant and then your wife and that child at another, so you would just need to buy a package for one of them. If you have free at sea then that would leave one meal for you and your wife by yourselves.

1 minute ago, KeithJenner said:

Are you sure? Have you tried this?

 

It would certainly be useful for many if you can do this, but I've never heard of it being allowed.

I haven’t tried it myself, but I would be stunned if they didn’t let you do this, as long as both parents are Platinum.  One uses one of the certificates with one child and the other uses the other one.  If they give you a hard time, I would ask them to push two tables together.

But maybe I’m wrong.  If there are two cabins booked, the best way to do this is to put the Platinums in separate rooms, getting four total meals.  Key cards can be changed onboard.  

2 minutes ago, alanstarr said:

Actually, on this particular cruise you DO automatically get the drink package with the Haven. Its one of the reasons why the Haven rooms were 2k while the balconies were 10% of that.

And I think that specialty dining will be VERY empty. Combination of few passengers, and also fewer elites than usual. 

And how does one book this magical cruise?  😃

6 minutes ago, DwayneG said:

Wife and I are both platinum, traveling with adult children. Can I use 1 platinum with one guest and wife use other platinum at same restaurant, same table, so the 4 of us can eat one meal together for free?

Yes.

Anyone NOT receive an email showing their status?  My husband got one, but I didn’t.  He’s just a Showstopper, but I gamble a whole lot more than he does.  😂. I suspect I’m a Star because about a month ago I got an offer, which I already booked for next month, but it would be nice to know the exact status.  

15 minutes ago, disneynan said:

Can it be used toward bar/drink purchases? Wondering if it would be worth getting fir my upcoming trip.

Yes.  It can’t be used in the casino or for the daily service charge, but can be used for most other things.  Food, drinks, excursions, spa, shops, etc.

1 hour ago, Distinctive-Destinations said:

NCLH is $19 and change today, call it about $2K for a hundred shares.  If you take just one week cruise per year for the $100 credit, that’s essentially a 5% annual “dividend” which isn’t taxable, effectively increasing your net. Not to mention the “yield” increases on longer cruises for the $250 credit, or if you use it more than once per year. If you’re Haven, $2k should be well within your budget (I hope!) and a nice perk that you can always sell later, or just hold on to it for the potential future growth and the ongoing “dividend” OBC.

 

Quite easy to blow a hundred bucks on something at the shops or like sushi in a restaurant, etc

I completely agree.  I’m way under water on the stock (bought it pre-pandemic), but I’ve taken 13 cruises since we bought it, including two transatlantics.  Total OBC is $1600 so far.  

1 hour ago, WickedRed said:

I've had it happen a few times.  I'm the stockholder and do an annual cruise with a friend of mine who is not a stockholder.  In the past they would give both of us a $50 credit.  That said, in our next sailing NCL has given me the whole $100. Maybe that is a sign that they are changing their format.

I also travel often with a friend and the credit was split between us.  On a trip last fall I put a note on the request form to apply the full credit only to me.  That’s what they did.  I think the default is to split, but you can request that it be handled differently.  I don’t know if you can change it after it has already been posted.

51 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Before you put OBC on your card, check with the issuer, they may consider that a cash advance with a hefty fee which would obliterage and savings.

I usually just carry cash.

It’s shown as a charge to NCL. It’s not considered a cash advance.  Same with taking cash on your account for the casino.  This isn’t an issue.

1 minute ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

Thanks for the info on the limit. 
 

That makes more sense. I assume that you didn’t have any other on board charges before the last day, so you were able to take advantage of the deal. I suppose if you wanted to spend the last day of cruise in the casino, this method could work. I don’t gamble but my mom likes to feed the machines occasionally, so I’ll keep this in mind for her.  

I think I had bought a few things, but I also had $100 of non-refundable OBC, so I got the refundable in cash.  And of course turned around and spent a good chink of it in the casino.  😂. I don’t mind getting the cash.  There’s never too long before the next cruise.  Just keep it in my casino stash at home.😂

10 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

you can absolutely put refundable OBC on your account using a credit card.  The limit is $1000 though.  I can't speak on whether you can get the $$$ at guest services on embarkation.  I've never heard of it being done before

Yup.  Last fall the new Amex offer came out a week before we sailed.  I had already paid for everything.  I ended up buying $1000 of OBC to get the $200 back from AMEX.  I am a gambler, but didn’t want to pay the 3% to use money I already had on the account, so I used cash.  I also needed more CNs, but didn’t want to use the OBC to buy them because I wanted the 3% I’d get charging it to the NCL MC.  They wouldn’t let me cash out the OBC until the last day of the cruise.  So I was in line when the Guest Services desk opened that morning and got my $1000 in cash.  Then walked over to the CN desk and bought my CNs.  It worked like a charm. 😃

49 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

If it is refundable, you can go to guest services on embarkation day and withdraw it for cash. Then put it in a slot machine for no fee. 

I don’t think this is true.  I had a significant amount of refundable OBC on a trip last October.  I asked, but was not allowed to cash it in until the last full day of the cruise.