Canbylancer

Just got off ship.  They had 3 shows of summer.  8pm on Saturday.  And 7 and 930 on Tuesday.  Price is right was 2 shows on last night.

1 hour ago, Beachlover1723likesluxury said:

I’m on the Prima as we speak. No Donna Summer shows. There was a tech issue. But

Thank you for the update.  As I feared, probably not going to happen for the next few weeks.  I know people have their opinions about shows, but I love the shows and make sure to hit different ships for the different main shows.  I was on the Encore last year, booked with Kinky boots only for it to get cancelled shortly before we went on the ship, no real replacement.  Was looking forward to it.  I will make the best of it because what else are you going to do.  Complain, who cares.  LOL.  

I do pick a ship partly for the entertainment.  I sailed on the Epic shortly after it launched and saw a Cirque show, American Superstars, and Blue Man group.  I was wowed and hooked on the experience.  I compare cruising to an all inclusive land based vacation, the entertainment was always better on ships, that is not so anymore.   Last cruise they cancelled the play 1 month before I sailed and we got just Choir of Man (good show).  It was a boring week.   

I can't say I am super excited about the show, but it is better than nothing (or game shows).  I looked at it multiple times and talked to a rep and they didn't know why it was not available to book.  Now it doesn't even show up as an option.  

Has anyone taken UBBER/Lyfts from Houston to Galveston and back after a cruise.  How is the availability?  Price?  For 4 people going to IAH.  

I am sailing on Prima on March 22nd.  They took Donna Summer off of the entertainment list.  NO shows now.  Anyone else see this on their sailings?

I just looked at 12 et.   No go.  I chatted with rep and they said reservations were on hold.  They don't know the reason.

Thanks.  I will try the chat first.

Today I am 21 days out, going on the Prima March 22nd.  I am not allowed to book Donna Summers or Price is Right yet.  I know I can't book anything else until I board the ship (mainly improv).  Does anyone know when they allow you to book shows?

On 12/2/2023 at 2:37 PM, SomewhereGirl said:

At 113 days out, have the actual airline tickets been issued?  Maybe you will all end up on the same flight after all.

My room has been ticketed, my wifes room was booked out of New Orleans instead of MPLS.  So we had to call and tell them to change it.  Since then they have not booked her room.

I have only cruised on RCL and NCL.  At least 4 times each.  

Royal is a lot better in their main dining room food and entertainment (since NCL has cut most of their broadway plays).  RCL is better for kids activities and private island experiences.  I love the different sections of the Oasis class ships.  

NCL is better with their inclusive alcohol and free time dining.  They are way better at connecting you to the ocean on the waterfront.  On Oasis class ships, you wouldn't tell if you are cruising at all. 

My preference, if equal is Royal.  More to do, less nickel an dimed, late night pizza.   

5 minutes ago, Capitan Obvious said:

While I applaud the use of the forum for open discussion, I think it goes off-track when you start with the passive-aggressive statements that are just thinly veiled insults like:

 

I knew that a number of you would jump "blindly" to the company line.

OR

If they tell you to eat poop, I hope you ask for seconds. 

OR

I did not know that NCL supporters were like Trump supporters.  All policies are great!

 

Can't we have the discussion without these kind of comments?

If you read the first 5 or more posts, you will see there was not much hope for discussion.  Sure there is frustration in the title.  There has been a lot of frustration with NCL since COVID.  As long as they have avid followers willing to accept all cutbacks, then it will be better to be a shareholder and not a consumer.  This is not a long term plan that will work for NCL and opens itself up for more competition.  There are things to like about the brand (freestyle, free at sea), but their negatives (ship layouts, private islands, main dining room food, upselling, lack of deck chair space without Vibe or Haven, lack of pools, (I could keep going), entertainment going from broadway plays to game shows) are killing the brand.

I am 113 days out of my cruise.  I have a family of 4 and we are purchased 2 rooms with the airfare (a lot cheaper than booking on our own and the main reason we choose NCL on this trip).  They booked my son and mine airfare.  Everything is good.  They booked my wife and daughter out of New Orleans!  We live outside of Minneapolis.  I called to have them switch it to Minneapolis.  They make the change, but won’t book her on the same flights.  “It is company policy that you are not guaranteed to be on the same flight if in separate rooms”   I can understand the policy last second, busy times, etc.  This is 113 days out, screwing up her booking, penalizing people for purchasing 2 rooms, etc.  This is horrible policy for the NCL brand.  Why can’t they book it now and get a family of 4 on the same flight?  I talked to 2 different people with NCL (air and reservations) and was hung up on.  I have cruised 5 times with NCL and will be platinum after this cruise. 

I know a lot of people have been disappointed by the airfare, drop in entertainment, nickel and diming, and lower quality of food options.  I have been a big NCL supporter (I own 1000 shares on top).  We are all on these boards because we have or continue to like NCL.  At what cost do we stay with them?  I know they are cutting all these costs to dig out of debt, but if you lose your loyal customers in the meanwhile.  Is it worth staying with the brand or switching to a different company (been on 4 royal cruises) or a land based vacation.  

Just changed the ports of my trip on Encore next week 19th.  Nassua instead of private island.  Moved days around.  Great stirrup was last day, now a sea day, Nassau is now 1st day.  DR got moved from 1st to last stop.  I don't want to see Nassau again,  was looking forward to Great Stirrup Cay.  Have never been there.  This with canceling Kinky Boots, changes the value of my trip, BUT not their fault and I am stuck for this trip.  Back to Royal after this trip.

I have followed this stock for a number of years.  I currently own 700 shares.  They are reorganizing debt.  Demand is strong.  Profits????  Cutting costs to drive profits is tricky.  I do think it is a lot more buy than a sell.  It has gotten up to almost 24 dollars in the past year, lowest is a little over 10.  15 is a good range to dip 100 shares in.  

My first 2 requests for my sailing in March did not get a response( 4 weeks and 2 weeks ago).  Monday I sent a 3rd request and stated it was my 3rd request and got the credit by the next day.  

I have traveled both a number of times.  Past 4 years have been  Getaway and Joy for NCL and Allure and Harmony for RCL.  I am on the Encore in March.  No doubt in my mind that the food in the main dining room is better on RCL.  I don't even bother with their specialty restaurants.  I do like the NCL specialty restaurants.  The worst meals I have had on a cruise are in the NCL main dining rooms, both my wife and I usually end up somewhere else to eat later.  The main dining room on RCL has been fantastic on both of the above cruises with quality, selection, and service.   

Has anyone seen Royal offer the 10 beer or 10 drink cards during their recent cruise?  

1 hour ago, kitty-sail said:

Canbylancer: Thank you for your input.  Haven prices are getting out of my budget and Concierge seems like a nice downgrade.  Don't mind not having a butler but I do like help with dining and show reservations. Did you get afternoon snacks?

Yes we did get snacks.  Not everyday.  The breakfast and lunch at La Cucina was fantastic.  The concierge would walk around those times to see if he could help with anything.

Yes there is a charge for room service in concierge.  I was just on the last sailing, off on March 15th.

Just got off the Joy yesterday.  The crew did not know about all ships being grounded until Saturday of our cruise.  Most of them we talked to were staying on the boat.  Our cruise was full.  They told us early in the week that they were only expecting 2000 for the one leaving the 15th, then it was canceled with the rest 2 days later.

On 3/9/2020 at 8:33 PM, Love my butler said:

On the Joy they are interchangeable.  You might have to 'convince' the ignorant port personnel, but as Concierge class you get the same benefit as Haven at check in.

Not on this cruise.  Haven left the regular line before security, but in the same tent.

On 3/9/2020 at 11:13 AM, goodtill said:

Did you have a concierge class room or Haven class to use the priority check in?

 

We have a concierge class room on the 3/22 sailing and this would make it so much easier since we fly into LAX at 11:30

Concierge class.

2 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

What, specifically, was causing the delays?

The temp scans were quick.  They did not let anyone go through the security area until a little after 10am.  A lot of people were still getting off the ship when we arrived.  The counters for your cards were extremely slow and not enough workers.  

No the area is not.  Go all the way to the end and it is a single line (no weaving) labeled priority access.  When done checking in there is a seating area for you.  Nothing special, but not congested.