Russiamomm

Horrible accident. I’ve been over that bridge countless times and just passed through Baltimore twice this weekend. Prayers for all involved. While a minor issue in the big scheme of things, there are two cruise ships that go out of Baltimore - the Carnival Pride and a small RCCL ship. We saw them both this weekend. Who knows now long it will take to allow any ship in or out of Baltimore Harbor, including those two ships which are out to sea at the moment. And freight will be affected up and down the East Coast.

Thank you @UKstages and @Beach Life 1!

That’s good news anyway, if it doesn’t change again. i have a question about the OBC. My April cruise will be the first since I made Pearl in December. Does the casino OBC show up in your account online like the shareholder credit, or does it only post to your folio when you get on the ship?

Thanks for the update. To me it’s unconscionable the way this has been handled. I’ll reach out to my guy in hopes I’ll at least get the $100 OBC for my April trip, but I’m not hopeful. I’m a regular cruiser/gambler, but not a Whale. I guess I don’t count. It’s not about the money. It’s about the way this has been rolled out and the utter disregard for their loyal customers. I simply can’t believe how poorly this has been handled. I’ve had high status with the airlines for years. They would never treat their loyal customers this way.

I disagree. US law says any winning over $1200 needs a W-2. I had my first hand pay on Virgin over New Years and got a W-2. (Now I just need to remember it at tax time next year. 😂) I have heard this before - that MSC doesn’t issue them. I think it has something to do with it being an Italian line and their interpretation is that they aren’t subject to US tax rules. I’m not taking a position one way or another, but this is my understanding of MSC’s interpretation.

Yup. Not great offers, but the emails come in every day. Usually a free Oceanview with drinks in the casino. But it’s Carnival. 😂

I can’t answer that. it’s my understanding that those discounts on the drink package are pretty useless because it’s on the full price of the drink package, which virtually nobody pays. It’s cheaper to take the FAS package and just pay the gratuities. Again, I may be wrong. I always take the FAS package and have never upgraded to the premium package.

The screenshot you posted are Latitudes levels. Completely different from CAS levels, the subject of this thread.

I’m not sure your situation. If you’re elite it may be different. I’ve never been there and likely never will be. 😂. As has been stated before, it looks like they are no longer giving free drinks in the casino to CAS bookings. I believe that’s all levels. At the Ruby level it appears there’s a complimentary upgrade to the premium package. But in order to get an “upgrade” the implication is that you already have the basic package. But no one really knows at this point. You can’t get the FAS price for the basic package ($21.80 pp/pd) once you’re on the ship. You need to buy it beforehand, and it can’t be paid with OBC. Maybe others have a different take.

This would be on the normal Free at Sea beverage package. It has to be purchased and paid for before sailing. If you buy the package onboard you pay full price for the drink package. So, no, you can’t use OBC to pay for the FAS drink package.

Thanks for the additional info @UKstages. Needless to say, none of us are happy about these changes. Another thing just dawned on me. I’ve been booking through CAS for several years. Last year was the first time I made it past Jade, only because I took so many cruises last year (two transatlantics, one ten nighter and two normal seven night trips.). The chances of making Pearl again this cycle are slim. I have always gotten at least a discount on the cabin, and several “freebies”, even as Jade. It looks like that is gone as well since they got rid of the Jade tier. I may book another cruise or two while I have Pearl status, but then I’ll be done with it.

I hear you. I did one cruise on Carnival last August. I get a new offer literally every day after that one trip. But it’s Carnival. 😂. Haven’t tried MSC yet. MY have to look into it.

I completely agree. The program has been denigrated a lot in the last few years. This could be the final straw. As much as I love NCL, other lines’ casino benefits are so much better.

I hope so. We’ll see. I board April 14.

I’m with JGmf. I’m in this situation. Finally made it to Pearl in December and am sailing on April 14. My CAS rep wasn’t sure, but told me not to count on the OBC for the trip. (We booked months ago.). At least the airlines give you more than two weeks notice before they change the terms of the program. Sigh.

Yes, but they also took away the perks, primarily the OBC and the drinks. I finally made Pearl in December and am sailing in April. It appears I won’t get the OBC. This is no enhancement to the program, that’s for sure.

I’m in the same boat as you. Only Pearl and unlikely to make it any higher. I’m sailing April 14 and it looks like I’m losing the $100 OBC I was planning on. I think also don’t understand the elimination of the drinks in the casino. Like most others, I always get a drink package so the only thing I’m losing is the bottled water and espresso. This is SO shortsighted on the part of NCL. It’s a perk that most perceive to have some value, even if in reality it doesn’t cost them that much. Mostly I’m annoyed about the sudden change in the program, with no apparent grandfathering for previously booked trips.

Not at all happy. I sail on April 14.

Thanks for posting this. Any idea when this goes into effect? I just made Pearl for the first time on our December cruise. I’ll be on the Joy next month and was counting on the $100 OBC. Won’t be happy if I don’t get it. Also not happy about the elimination of drinks in the casino. While I always get a drink package,I like being able to pick up bottles of water for excursions and the occasional espresso or cappuccino at the casino bar.

I’m assuming you’re talking about purchasing it yourself on your own account or are you somehow trying to buy it on the secondary market? I’m assuming it’s the former and not the latter as I’m not aware that these can be sold. Anyway, in answer to your question, this is refundable OBC. It can be used for anything onboard, including your DCS. If you have anything left at the end of cruise, you can go to Guest Services starting the morning of the last full day of the cruise and they will pay you cash for any remaining credit. In fact they will not let you off the ship until they’ve paid you. You can’t keep the balance for a future cruise.

I’ve been on six cruises on the Breakaway post-Covid, including 28 consecutive nights in April/May of 2023 - a TA from NY to Rome with stops in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, followed by ten nights through Italy and Greece. The Transatlantic portion of this trip was in the Haven, but the rest of the trips were in a balcony or an Oceanview. Personally, I love the Breakaway. I haven’t been on the newer ships, but have been on the Joy, the Epic and the Gem. Of these three, my favorite is the Joy, but that could be because I’ve only been in the Haven on the Joy (and going again next month.) Since you really can’t compare a Haven experience to a sailing outside the Haven, my comments are limited to those trips. The ship is big. No question about that. But it never felt overwhelmingly crowded. Did I ever have to wait for a drink? Yes, but no more than five minutes. As others have said, if one bar is crowded, walk 75 feet to the next one. The buffet will be crowded at peak times, no way to avoid that. It’s even worse if the weather is bad and no one is sitting outside to eat. But again, a little patience goes a long way. You will find a seat if you try. It may just take a few minutes. Same for MDR. You may have to wait a few minutes for a table at peak times, but you will get seated. The food overall is good. And if you don’t care for something, order something else. You will not go hungry. It may not be Michelin Star dining, but overall very good. Same with Specialty restaurants. I’ve never had a bad meal, but at times the service was slower than I would have liked. The entertainment is good. For the big shows, it helps to have a reservation, but even if you don’t there is a standby line and chances are you will get in. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the best entertainment on the ship is at Syd Normans. Shows are absolutely fantastic. But the venue is small. Others are right that you need to be in line at least an hour before the doors open to have any hope of getting a seat. But it’s worth the wait. Trust us. Grab a drink from the Whiskey Bar next door and chat with your fellow cruisers waiting in line. You won’t regret it, and will likely do the same thing for the next show. That’s how good it is. 😃 I wouldn’t hesitate to go on the BA again. So far it’s my second favorite NCL ship.

I’m not sure of the official rules, but I always book through Casinos at Sea and have always been able to apply two CNs as long as I was booking a balcony or above. YMMV.

Uh, no. Fairness for being in the Haven aside, the FAS dinners are per person. They’ve always swiped our cards - or at least taken names and cabin numbers - on the way into the restaurant. They know who is there and bump that against your packages. At the end of the meal they do only swipe one card, but rest assured they’ve confirmed that both have the package. So, no, you can’t take four people to dinner when you’re only entitled to two meals.

I’d call them servers, not bartenders.

I’ve only seen it on a Carnival cruise. In the main dining room. Found it tacky. I don’t need a roving bartender. Going to the bar in the buffet for my morning Bloody Mary works for me.