MoCruiseFan

On 5/25/2024 at 7:53 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

Well, we're all different and in different situations.  In fact, I don't even own a couch!😮  That said, the only things I really look forward to returning to in my home are my cat and my Stressless chair.  My back is really about the only part of me that doesn't enjoy cruising.

Stressless® furniture | Ekornes

 

disclaimer: that's not really me

Having had 4 lamenectomies and spinal fusion L3-L4-L5, I can relate to the back situation!

20 hours ago, roddy good boy said:

Who ever said that?

We are talking about paying for one cruise and getting a completely different one, in terms of ports! 
 

Just asking for a little integrity. If NCL knows prior to sailing that they can’t go to the contracted ports, let customers know. We can then make an informed decision. 

Again you are assuming that is what they did.  It may well be the case, but you really have no idea if it is so.

Don't waste yoru money.  Vibe was barely worth the old price let elone the newer (for the last several years or so) price.

46 minutes ago, realnice46 said:

Does NCL list phone numbers of US embassies for each port in daily paper?

I have never seen in in THEIR dailies, may have been there but if s I missed it.

On 5/24/2024 at 6:35 AM, ready2cruzagain said:

Would you consider the fact that the menus now are all cheap fish, Hoki, Talapia, Bluefish nothing? How about how much pork there is on the menus? I agree to disagree. 

I don't order food based on what the market value is.  I order what I think tastes good.

On 5/24/2024 at 6:43 AM, ready2cruzagain said:

At first this bothered me when MSC did this but then I thought about it. Rarely have we ever ordered more than one entree but one cruise on MSC I seen a guy order a large amount of lobster entrees (7 or 8 ) and only eat a couple. The amount of food wasted was pathetic. NCL does not serve lobster in MDR and hasn't for years but I doubt anyone would order multiple Tilapia but if one is still hungry when dinner is over I would suggest O'Sheehans.

You SAW him order that much?

On 5/24/2024 at 1:56 PM, roddy good boy said:

I’ve relayed this story before, but I completely understand how GrouchoMarx feels! We were on the Bliss in a Haven aft suite, Fall of 2018. Reports showed a hurricane building in the region ( Mexican Riviera cruise). NCL kept assuring us that they could move around the hurricane, right up to the point of departure.

As soon as we pulled away from the port, they announce we would be going to San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada! A lot of folks on board were from San Francisco and San Diego. We spent a year planning excursions and had paid quite a bit for the aft suite. It was too cold to use it the entire trip.  I would rather not have gone or just stayed in L.A. ! It was the deception that annoyed me, more than anything! 

 

And, of course, we got no compensation. I don’t even recall port fees being refunded. 

Weather, especially hurricanes, change rapidly.  While it may have been as you described (a intentional delay in announcing the change), it very well could have been that a last minute weather update made it unsafe to go on the planned itinerary.  Of course I have no idea what exactly happened, but you are assuming an intentional  deception.  Either way, I may have been disappointed but I would have been happy to be on a cruise ship rather than be sitting on my couch at home.

4 hours ago, Willwork4cruises said:

This is the current breakdown of our dining credits from what was included with our balcony and interior cabins and the upgrades we purchased.

 

Balcony:

me - 4 (2 included, 2 purchased thru an upgrade offer)

stepdaughter - 4 (2 included, 2 purchased thru an upgrade offer)

 

Interior:

DH - 1 (1 included)

friend - 3 (1 included, 2 purchased thru an upgrade offer)

 

Can we share these credits? I would have tried to make them even but I haven’t seen anywhere to buy just one credit. 
 

Thank you for any insight you can offer. 
 

 

 

 

No they sre not shsrable no matter if you got them THROUGH upgrade, FAS, or outright purchase.

Enjoy your cruise.

5 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I dont really see it as an issue too.  But usually cruise lines copy each other and expect other lines to maybe do the same. I would also imagine they will be limiting appetizers to one or two someday.  I am waiting for this board to explode if NCL copies this approach 🙈

Just imagine a cruise soaking in your private hot tub for only an hour with no hash browns or cookies and having to pay for a second entre after eating 2 appetizers and dessert.

It's just too much 😲

And don't forget to tip the smokers!

18 hours ago, grouchomarx said:

I would prefer to be able to cancel it than go to Canada and New England but I know that is not an option.  Obviously I’d prefer not to sail into a hurricane but this cruise would be a pretty big waste of money to go to those ports.  I know it is always a risk to get re-routed on any cruise, it does not mean I have to say I will enjoy it.

You are correct, it is your CHOICE to enjoy amy cruise or not.  I have only been on a little over 20 cruises but I have cjsen to enjoy all of them,

On 5/17/2024 at 6:05 PM, relmondcrsise said:

Someone posted all the current MDR menus from the Encore to another group I belong to (you can see them here).  It looks like most of the entrees are the same, but huge cuts to the appetizer and dessert sections.  I'm wondering if this has rolled out fleet-wide yet?  Has anyone had these on other ships?  While I've been hoping for a long time that NCL would totally revamp their menus (which have been basically the same for YEARS), it seems like they are just cutting items.  Disappointing for those of us who cruise a lot and were getting sick of the same things over and over.  Now we have even less to choose from.  I know all lines are streamlining, that's nothing surprising.  But at least come up with NEW menus if you're going to limit the number of items. 

I would not consider trimming down the appetizers or desserts MAJOR cuts,  Also I have never had them limit how much I can order.  Much ado about nothing.

On 5/15/2024 at 9:14 PM, ChelseaMom said:

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

 

 

As someone else stated, the ONLY valid guide on tipping s to tip anyone you want any amount you want any time you want.  What other people choose to do is not at all relevant as there is no suggestd amount and tipping is not required, however most people do choose to tip for personal service.  I normally tip the bar keep who gets my soda for me, I tip the servers any time I eat, and I tip the dealer if I win a hand in the casino, plus others.  How much I give is between me and the person I am tipping.

On 5/18/2024 at 5:58 PM, autumncat said:

We're looking at booking a cruise on the Norwegian Joy and one person won't eat anything not vegan. Can anyone tell me what the options are for vegan eaters? Thanks

NCL offers many options for picky eaters.  If you have specific dietary needs see the FAQ on the NCL page.  They address it there.

1 hour ago, grouchomarx said:

Sailing to Bermuda end of June.  I just read an article that NOAA is forecasting a very busy hurricane season. Which made me think oh my gosh, I hope there won't be a re-routing to Canada/New England.  That would be most unfortunate as I have zero interests in that area.  I know I will still have to take the cruise if this should happen, I was wondering does NCL offer any kind of compensation?  I read some posts on Reddit where people said they got OBC and 50% off a future cruise.  I know technically they won't owe me anything but maybe they do something to be nice to all the disappointed passengers.

Did you read the cruise contract that you agreed to when you booked?  The captain can deviate from the planned itinerary at any time for any reason with no explanation abd NO COMPENSATION DUE.  Sometimes they will give you some on baord creadut but it is not at all rquired that they do.

14 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Really?

Earth humor!

They dont GO anywhere.  You have to put them where you want them to be!  A lot of people put them under the bed or in the bottom of the closet.

On 5/12/2024 at 4:56 PM, back2cruising1 said:

Random question, but back in the day when I used to cruise with other cruise lines, I would purchase the soda package, and it would come with a reusable cup. Does NCL give you a reusable cup if you have a soda and/or alcoholic beverage package, or do you just get your sodas in glasses from the bar?

Does not sound tandom to me.  Sounds like a specific question you want answered.  NCL no longer gives out those cups.  Personaly I am glad they stopped ofr a number of reasons.

11 hours ago, Pappy1258 said:

Just off the JOY in the haven and for those of you who were wondering it was as much lobster as you want ,at no added charge, in the haven restaurant. Lobster Lobster Lobster

Yeah but do you have to tip for lobster if you are smoking?

🙂

On 5/10/2024 at 8:48 PM, BirdTravels said:

 

I drink bottled water on the ship because of our encounter with what is really in a ship's water system. Naive. 

 

Only slightly less fake than the straw in the turtle's nose picture that the tre huggers get all upset about.

11 hours ago, G-DawgMN said:

 San Pellegrino is a really nice sparkling water. Not at all the same as getting it out of the tap. 

You are paying a LOT simply for bubbles, that is the only difference, but oh well.  I agree with PPP, feel free to buy the hype!

On 5/10/2024 at 3:39 PM, david_sobe said:

Not really.  While milk is more expensive to make than soda, soda is in demand on a cruise.  I've never heard of a milk package 😁

Look at the drink packages.  I can get a martini that would cost $15 with my drink package but water will cost you and is not included.   Soda is pure profit.  A little bit of sugar syrup and some soda water. 

Cruise lines know how to make money 🤑

 

On another note I want an investigation into these people that claim they can get a can of soda at a restaurant on NCL.  Every time I have asked for a can they say they dont have it or not allowed.  But I keep seeing youtube videos and reports that say "Save money, tell them you want a can" because the glass of soda is half ice and half of the can.  I am to the point that I need to see it to believe it 😄

It would be a logistical mess to charge for milk.  People need it for cereal at breakfast for example.

On 5/10/2024 at 3:36 PM, zqvol said:

You realize that they switched from Pepsi products to Coke products a few months ago. 

It was longer ago than a few months I think.  I thought it was at least a year ago.

3 hours ago, Daruma said:

Hiya, folks. 

 

Every cruise line currently only shows Itineraries out to April 2026... does anyone know when May/June 2026 Itineraries usually come out? 

 

Thank you. 

NCL does!  🙂

22 hours ago, michelle-nh said:

We have a lot of onboard credit on our next cruise thanks to a special our TA was running, and they also pre-paid our gratuities. We never seem to spend much on the ship, and we definitely won’t this time as it’s a Mediterranean and we’ll be in port pretty much every day. But I have booked and paid for a couple of excursions through NCL. I didn’t want to wait as I was afraid they’d sell out and that was a good call as they seem to be.
 

My question: When we board, is it possible to have my credit card refunded and then pay for these using the onboard credit? Otherwise we’ll just be spending to spend it rather than lose it, and I hate to do that. I’m guessing they won’t let us use it to buy Cruise Next certificates which is the only thing I plan to buy onboard. 

First off there are no gratuities to pre-pay.  I think you are referring o the DSC,  To address your question, you can always go to the shore excursion desk and cancel the shore excursions then rebook them...  I should refund to original form of payment then charge the rebook to your acct.  Worth a shot.

On 4/28/2024 at 9:33 AM, Ruttrowg said:

Our cruise in May was supposed to stop in British Virgin Islands. An email came saying due to fuel costs and recent surveys they are dropping this destination and giving us a mere $100 credit. Another day at sea instead of 1oing to this destination. 
 

Can they pull a stunt like this weeks before sailing?

1st off it is not a 'stunt', it is covered and speciiicaly addressed in your cruise contract that you obviously did not read.  You were actually due nOTHING at all for the change.  Them giving you he $100 was not required at all.  Nex time you buy something you ought to read what it is you are buying before plunking down your money.