Sthrngary

Here is another installment. As I always say, don't believe me or anyone else on social media. Do your own investigation on these topic especially those you consider serious. Booking a Guarantee Stateroom: The best way to explain this is you choose a category of stateroom. Let's use a Penthouse but any category will do. In Penthouse there is three levels. PH3 (Lowest Priced), PH2 (Middle Priced) and PH1 (Highest Price). Location and or deck is usually the criterion for the different distinctions. In most but not all cases, the highest price staterooms are in the middle of the ship. For our example, we choose a PH3 Guarantee. This means when our stateroom is actually assigned, it will be a PH3 or better. We have no choice which stateroom it is and have to wait to find out which could be when we check in at the port. You don't like the stateroom it does not matter. You are in it. Your thought pattern needs to be, "I am good with any cabin in this code (PH3)." Now if the ship gets sold out in the PH categories, or in the PH3 Categories, there is a possibility you might get a complementary upgrade. The cruise brand first tries to get folks already on the ship to give up their cabin for a "Discounted Paid Upgrade". That might open up a PH3 for you. Or, as is the case on a cruise I am going on in 130 days, the entire ship is completely and fully booked. If no once cancels, the give guest onboard all kinds of incentives to go another week. From a strategic perspective which is mine and mine alone here is how I think. I book the PH3 Guarantee which gives me the lowest cost for the PH categories. I would be happy with ANY PH3 so no issues on my end. I choose a voyage likely to sell out. I did just that on my upcoming cruise. The penalty stage for cancellation on this cruise has already begun so this reduces the odds of folks cancelling. It does not eliminate it it just reduces it. This gives me better odds of gaining: A PH2 or PH3 upgrade. A higher than PH upgrade if all PH are sold out with no cancellations. An incentive offer for future cruising. What I have done to increase my changes of a complementary upgrade? Do day is June 25, 2023. My final payment is due August 11, 2023. Yet, I have paid both my booking in full two months before it was due. That shows skin in the game and commitment. Will it work and will I get an upgrade, time will tell and I will report back. My gut tells me base on past experience, yes. For me, that is sport and I enjoy the chase. I hope this entertained you and helps in some way. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ak1004 I would tend to agree with you. Especially if you already have and been using that credit card for years. Used the Credit Card for your entire cruise. Add to this, purchasing Cruise Insurance even though you have that great Credit Card Benefit. Mute point. On another note, I am NOT trying to HiJack this Thread. I read your recent review on the Riviera. Thank you, very balanced and fair. I wish more folks would take the time as you did and do balanced reviews instead of only when they are upset. Back on Topic. From a business stand point. When you have a nice cruise brand, that accepts deposits that are 100% refundable for a time, the only client commitment is that money held by the cruise brand. When the client has to make a minor and true financial commitment because the deposit starts to have a penalty, this for the brand to take the guests on the fence on/off that sailing and makes them have skin in the game. I did not know that "O" did this but when I was informed, I could cancel and get back 100% of my deposit or as I said have skin in the game. The issue is a change in policy that benefits the cruise brand and not the client. I get that. This seems to be a serious issue for other as is the "Lack of Taste of Oceania Cookies". After Covid and not sailing for quite some times, we ALL knew something had to give. I HATE change also but we all have a choice. I am on "O" for the first time because I was disappointed in my last selections of brand. My wife likes average wine. She drinks wine in a box (really in a bag in a box) at home. Yet even with an upgraded expensive drink program it was hit or miss with more misses than hits. I like a decent steak cook to Medium Rare Plus, and got Medium Well more than once. Just some examples. It was time for a change. My money, my choice. An earlier $250/10% fee on my deposit to gain some level of guest commitment is not a big deal to me. Just me, not saying it should not be a huge issue for others. Just saying. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

This is a very dangerous conversation. I know because It almost cost me a lot of money. I have an American Express Platinum Card. Yes, it has come coverages that can be leveraged. Now I am 66 with Advantage Health Insurance. That does not cover me outside the US. When it has to do with something as important as Health Insurance on a ship, please double check and read every bit of fine print. I paid about $600.00 this insurance for a 10 day Mediterranean Cruise. I need air transport I have it, I need hospitalization I got is, I need to cancel with some restrictions I have it, lost luggage and the list goes on. Have I used my AMX for some past cost that the Insurance did not cover, yes. Please on this one, be as completely educated as you can be and depend only on your own due diligence. Nothing bad is going to happen to any of use however somebody one day is going to really need all the coverage. Sorry, I ranted but so very important for everyone to make their own decisions on the fact. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I remember it was a small place and it had been there for a while. Gallop used to be in Lincoln and moved so I know it was in Omaha. Funny story. I was a professional speaker the majority of my career. I was on the road from Sunday night until very late Friday or all night fight getting in Saturday morning. The folks I worked with played a game to find the best steak and Prime Rib in America. The Prime Rib was House of Prime Rib in San Francisco. The steak we simply never found one but Peter Lugers in New York was at the top of the list. Those were the days and I miss them. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

For the life of me, I can't remember. To long ago, sorry. All I remember was eating the steak and saying it was GREAT.

@SATaxman My pleasure. By the way, I love Omaha, Nebraska. I got several weeks of training their by the Gallop Organization many years back. I also remember a very Fine SteakHouse downtown. Great Memories. Cruise Well and Enjoy Every moment.

@SATaxman I have been asked this question before and never had an issue. Issue happen when we suggest a specific Travel Agent. The company I used the last five cruises was Allianz Insurance Company. Like most providers, they give you Basic, Normal and Extra coverages. Very easy to navigate. I usually use the mid-level yet I always look at all options. I also do the actual day I leave my home and the actual day I get back home. Some folks just do the dates of the cruise. I have had two claims. One big one when we had to cancel the cruise 8 days prior due to wife getting covid and the cruise line charged 50% penalty. The next time my adult son got short of breath on a snorkeling excursion. Both times, a direct deposit was put into my checking account 15 business day or less from the time I put in the claim. I hope that helps you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@LHT28 As normal, GREAT information and advice. Thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Since other will have questions on how "Guarantee Staterooms" transitioned, allow me to create a real-time outline for those searching this topic in the future. If my history on cruising serves me, just because this is happening now, does not support it will happen in the future. Just interesting to watch this transition. Below is what my cruise looks like right now. It is 138 days away. Final billing is August 11, 2023 which is about 45 days away. We are in a PH3 Guarantee. I have paid my final payment two month prior to the deadline so my group of two Penthouses is paid in full. I have reached out to my travel agent and said I would be interested in a discounted upgrade paid opportunity. I have had great success with this on other brands. The alternative is just wait and see. I got everyone's thoughts on how this comes down. I fully get what everyone is saying. Logic tells me offers will be given to the most loyal guest first. I have no expectations simply enjoying how processes like this work out. Again, just a real time view of this single situation. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

This is a very interesting topic. For me, it kind of opened my eyes. My experience previously was the key date was the Final Payment. In my case that would be on August 11, 2023. That is what I am use to using as my benchmark for fees. Than one day, I get an email indicating that I was going in to the penalty stage. I was completely taken off guard and called my Travel Agent. She informed me of the situation on my two deposits. I was not upset, I just figured every brand did it their way. I immediately purchased my Cruise Travel Insurance. I then went deep into the penalty % and when they go into affect. Not that I want to cancel my cruise due to this, just so I know what the rules are to this new game to me. In the past, had to cancel a cruise at 8 days prior to the departure due to my wife having Covid. If I would have waited one more day, the penalty would have been 100%. Instead it was 50%. The Cruise Insurance made me whole in 15 business days. The experience I have had with "O" so far has been outstanding. That is compared to experience with other brands even the VIP sections of other brands. I figured, as new as I am to "O" this is just the way it is with the fees. Not saying it is right but it did remind me of when I researched Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection some years ago. If I recall, deposits were not refundable or maybe not fully refundable from day one. Not sure which. I just figured, when you raise the level of your cruise brand, this is the way it is. I am sorry so many folks that are true "O" guest are upset. You have an expectations and in some ways you feel betrayed on even a minor level. Just know, for new folks, it is much less intense because our past was very different than yours. We hope our future will improve with this new brand to us, "O". Realistic expectations, key word "HOPE". Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@schmerl Thank you for your post. My comment is not directed at you in anyway. This specific issue is not only a topic on "O". Every single brand has this same topic. For me, I get in trouble with my family all the time for doing something as simple as sending back a $65 steak that is not cooked right. I pay for a perfect steak at a expensive steakhouse. Now if I was at Golden Corral (I like golden corral) I just eat my $8.00 steak the way it comes. Yet, how in our world does someone have butlers like you did, and I have had; yet an others have the butler from down under. It is frustrating and so easy to point fingers at why this discrepancy can and does happen. I don't know "O" nor the butlers on "O". But I do know and love cruising. If you have something that disappoints, deal with it. Send that steak back. The person will learn, they are paid to serve and when they don't, you will express your dissatisfaction. It will make them better. Also, I personally have found, creating a relationship with a butlers upfront of humor, kindness and appreciation always gets me the extra mile. It is a two way street as it is in any relationship. They serve however they are not our servant. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I came back to read your post again. Everyone has been so open and kind with their remarks. I think always using common business sense is a good practice. In my situation, If I were "O", if all the PH suites were paid in full, all the suite below the PH were waitlisted and paid in full, the only suite open were above a PH. I would offer an fare and reasonable upgrade offer to the most loyal "O" guests in the PH suites. Those loyal guest should always gain the upgrades. Loyalty is so rare in our world. To your specific situation. If it were offered to most folks, like you, they would have to turn it down. Airfare issue, vacation issue and just plain hassle issue. I would recommend "O" does not offer that situation to me. Both our airfares are fully refundable, changeable and cancellable. That kind of off reminds me of decades flying weekly with Delta. I was going from Birmingham, AL to LAX every single Sunday night and back on the last flight on Friday night. This was for years. On occasion, flight issues would happen and the Delta Flight vouchers would happen. Those were the days. Cruising on the other hand has so many variable that even if a ship staterooms were all showing Waitlist, folks cancel all the time up to the last second for lots of reason. For me and my guest, we are simply glad to be on the voyage, any PH cabin would be fine. Still, I am happy to have a Guarantee. It gives me something to think and dream about. Attitude is everything in this crazy world. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@knscruiser322 Hello, I am the Author of this tread and I wrote the Butler letter originally posted for the Haven Butler. The key to a great butler letter is to develop it around your specific wants, need and motives. The challenge everyone who has never had a butler before has, is what will a butler on NCL do and not do for you. We all don't want to ask for something and be embarrassed. Let's start there. Google What Butlers do and don't do for you on Google. You will get a list for both. Once you have the list, think about your self and your family needs. Look up an old butler letter on this stream, there are more than one. Then craft your letter with those as a template. I want you to have background on why this letter was created in the first place. I was VERY disappointed with several of my past Butlers. The seems to not be present until the last day for their tip. That was not how truly trained butlers do their jobs. Something was wrong. So on one cruise, I had a serious conversation with my Butler on what was happening and why were my past butlers hit/miss. He explained, most folks don't know we Butlers are NOT on the pre-paid gratuities program. They assume the gratuities are prepaid for us. When they leave, the huge part of our income is never gained. When this started to happen over and over, human nature was do as little as possible. To add to that, the majority of our responsibility's are behind the scenes. The guest have no clue even when we do things to make their cruises better. This got me to think, let us try something a little unconventional. Let's write a letter with some simple and minor requests, give the butler a little bio of all guest in the suites and end with likes and dislikes. The Unconventional part was based on the conversation with the Butler. I hesitate to state it again because folk either like it or HATE it. All I am going to say is once I did this with the letter, my butlers were Good to Great every time. So you do you. I Tipped the butler on day one in the envelope with the letter. That one item changed for what ever reason the quality service I got from my Butlers. My concern was having an elevated cruise experience and it seemed to be achieved. Again, your letter and the reason for your letter needs to be upfront and personal to you needs. My approach and reasoning is what I do, it creates all kinds of debate online. I just want to have a great time and if this approach has accomplished it for me, it is a strategy that is worth considering. Just my two cents. Let the criticisms begin. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

That is both good and interesting information. Most folks say their guarantee suites are fulfilled a week prior to embarkation. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Cruise well, and enjoy every moment

I agree, I always plan my dinner reservations around the shows. One of the main reasons why I even chose NCL is because I enjoy the shows. It troubles me that many of the shows I enjoy the most, will no longer be a part of the NCL cruise. Cruise well, and enjoy every moment

A simple question and please answer anytime. We purposefully left our first night dinner open hoping to gain a waitlist for a specialty restaurant. Did you have pre-arranged reservations at Red Ginger or did you gain them once you were on-board. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for taking the time to give "Real Time" information. I was supposed to go on the Marina but cancelled due to covid-19. It was interesting some of the comments given on the toiletries. I never new one could ask for special items like that due to allergies. But it does make sense. I know what it is like to take my vacation days and help folks on social media. It is a very kind gesture you are doing and respected by many. On that note, I have no idea why anyone would post Oceania Policy Updates for Administration Fees on a stream about live impressions of a ship. Hijacking a kind stream seems to be well, kind of rude. Just know, your efforts are noticed. Cruise well and enjoy every moment as well as much improved cookies.

I have a PH3 Guarantee on a November 9, 2023 departure for a 10 day Mediterranean Cruise. I actually have two PH3 Guarantees. Currently, the sailing has most stateroom categories as sold out/Waitlist. PH3 is Waitlist, PH2 is Waitlist and PH1 is available with 6 suites. It seemed this shop sold a bunch of cabins with a four category upgrade and the Extraordinary sale. It seems that Oceania will be changing their pricing as of July 1, 2023, 10 days from now. In addition to the 6 PH1 available, Vista Suites have 2 available and Owners Suites has 3 available. Here are my assumptions based on common sense, not experience with Oceania. Prior to August 11, 2023 which is the final payment date, some folks will cancel their reservations. Even though they will lose some of their deposits. The sale will be over on July 1, 2023 however I would assume, key word assume the PH1 will sell by then. If all PH categories are sold out with full payment, what happens to my two PH3 Guarantees. I think you can see where I am going with this question. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

@Nashna I love the way you write and share information. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Yes

Daniel, I think you will appreciate this. My birthday is on Wens. This morning, EARLY, I ordered Hot Pastrami, Rye bread, Pickles and Cheese Cake from the Carnegie Deli. It will arrive on Wens. My wife and I are on a Keto Diet to get ready for our November Mediterranean Cruise. We both have lost some serious weight. The only time we go off is birthdays, anniversaries and Cruises. I grew up on Huntington, NY. I would always visit Carnegie when I went to the city. This brings back great memories. I thought I would share. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

You are not wrong. This is the update to the original posting many years ago. Both took different turns as people posted different ideas. The problem is sometimes, when the topic goes off the intent, you just have to let it play out. The alternative is a huge issue that has nothing to do with the Secrets of the Haven VIP Experience. With the current investment in the Haven on all NCL ships, it should be what it was designed to be. Luxury on a Mainstream Cruise Brand. A Ship Within A Ship concept. Yet when NCL has 3 & 4 passengers free which are mostly kids, when the staff get a complaint from a guest even when the guest is wrong, the staff member pays the price. As I have said so many times, until you go to the Haven, you can't judge it. I have seen folks come in not appropriately dress. I watched them leave and come back dressed very nicely. I have also seen folks dress poorly, asked to change clothes and argue loudly. The one thing we can not control on a cruise ship, is the other guests as much as I would hope we could. The kids on the Haven Sundeck is a rule for a reason. I have seen younger kids up there but only for a very short time. To the kids, it is boring, to the adults it is amazing. Not designed for kids. I have never seen a kid in a hot tub in the Haven Sundeck. I have seen both the hot tubs in the Haven Courtyard filled with kids. This and other reason are why I have personally stopped doing any NCL or Haven cruise during any holiday or spring break. It is also why I am on Oceania on my next cruise. I hope this makes sense and you can see for the most part, I agree with you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A We are on the same page on Gym Clothes and Swim Clothes. I thought I was clear on that. Nice Shorts and a nice shirt was the issue. Let us also be clear, I personally NEVER wear shorts or tea shirts to eat in the Haven Restaurant. My comments was what I have observed. Sorry you thought differently or thought I was in agreement with Bathing suits. Not in my life time. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@omahabobWelcome to the NCL board and this topic stream. I am the author of this topic on the Haven. My whole focus is "Realistic Expectations". It is my opinion that at any meal, nice shorts that are NOT BATHING suits and a nice tea-shirt, collared shirt or Tommy Bahama type shirt is all the Haven Restaurant will require. I have been on many NCL ships. They will turn you away if you have bathing suits or for ladies bathing suit tops on. This means if you are on the sundeck or Haven pool, you have to change before you go to the Haven Restaurant. The real issue and the reason so much is talked about on this stream is on rare occations, some folks complain about being turned away. On a recent sailing, I say a guest being turned a way and they were making a scene. The had a cover up long shirt over a wet bathing suit. That is a No/No, obviously. They posted there situation and was NOT accurate on what they were wearing. I was there. Common business sense makes all things work out. Now will other Have Guest potentially complain, YES. They have no right to do so. But many of them remember the "Old Days". I can say that because I am OLD. Times, they are a changing. So, relax, be flexibly, be realistic and enjoy the vibe of the Haven. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A My pleasure. The key to the NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat, MSC Yacht Club and others, know what amenities you have, have to leverage them to exceed your personal need. Never use an excuse that I hear so much like, I really don't need a Butler. Instead realize, in life, it is rare to have others take care of you. You are the one that takes care of you and your clan. So learn to except service and kindness from other for your one week of vacation. You and everyone deserve it. The other thing always to remember is, have realistic expectations. Life is not perfect, you got to go with the flow. That defines cruising pretty well. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.