IAcruising

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Yes, but we will cruise together some day my friend.  I've foreseen it.... (insert some Star Wars thing)🤣

Someday we will coordinate at the nest. Unfortunately, Mrs. IA is demanding a one-year sabbatical from cruising after this one in August. I agree with her. We've been pushing it pretty hard. The only sticking point is whether the "year" is 365 days, or the calendar year 2025. I prefer the former, obviously. 

4 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

But, taking on New York City water after 1 1/2 sea days back was a bit of a surprise.... but they were doing it. 

No surprise to me. NYC is thought by many to have the best municipal water in the country.

6 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I experienced my last cruise less than two weeks ago.  Does that count?

Mine was 3 weeks. I think we count. I've got another one in 2-months that I can hardly wait for. And guess what? It's not NCL!

Some kind of "cheerleader" I turned out to be. 😆

16 minutes ago, obmarcr said:

The final total price quoted ended up being twice as much as the advertised stateroom with all the fees, gratuity, and taxes being charged.

That sounds about the right for my "advertised" price on Royal Caribbean last August. It's just a game they all play.

4 hours ago, julig22 said:

While that term [nickel and diming] is often misused and very much overused, it's one of the features that I LIKE about NCL. I don't want to pay for something that I'm not using just because someone else thinks it should be included.

Exactly. I have no desire to subsidize a go-cart track that I will never use, or special water I will never drink.

48 minutes ago, Yesimapirate said:

The handful of you that attack anyone who posts anything negative about NCL are just out of control.   You've chased so many people from here that its become an echo chamber of cheerleading. 

I've noticed that you have a strange definition of "attack" and "cheerleading".

As on those "handful of you" seems to include me, I can tell you in no uncertain terms that I do not attack anyone. And I am most certainly not an NCL cheerleader.

Now that you are clear on the facts, I will also state that I will not hesitate to question the veracity of a poster's statement(s) that is/are obviously either dishonest or simply ignorant. We all should. Misinformation run rampant on these boards and needs to be called out.

8 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

The only thing that really appeals to me about carnival’s drink package is that it includes specialty coffee, Gatorade, bottled water, and energy drinks as well as the 15 alcohol drinks a day. 

A nice package, but what's the cost difference? NCL is $22/day -- all in -- unlimited alcohol, and 2 drinks at a time.

2 minutes ago, zqvol said:

The only confusion is in your mind. Flip flops are those rubber plastic type things you wear to a pool. No confusion at all. 

Yeah, I can see that. I wouldn't think twice about the $70 sandals Chief posted. But then, I don't look at, or care, what others are wearing -- shoes or anything else.

15 minutes ago, jrt.mom said:

I was wondering the same thing...what's the difference between a flip flop and a sandal?

Not sure. For women, include open-toed shoes or whatever. How are they different? For men, it seems to mean no bare feet showing. But I really have no idea.

16 hours ago, Floatyman said:

Shorts - in every single restaurant every night of the cruise. We saw flip-flops in Cagney's

Muster - You're supposed to check in or they come find you. We spoke with tons of people who didn't and not one of them was tracked down 

Dining room breakfast - Buffet food plated and served by waiters. 

Service - as bad as you've heard. Every night multiple things were wrong with our orders, including allergies. If you want it corrected, you go back in the queue (as per our waiter) even if it's clearly their fault. You'll eat what you ordered alone while the others have finished.

Nickel and diming - By far the worst of all the major lines. Bottles of water don't exist, and boxes of water require a $20 min "water package" 

 

 

 

Shorts -- standard

Muster -- Tons? Didn't happen

MDR Breakfast -- Plated buffet food? Laughably false

Service -- Heard where? Go back in line? Ludicrous

Nickel and Diming -- no different than any other mass-market cruise line

Not sure who you are, or what your agenda is, but these parts of your post are either intentionally dishonest, or simply ignorant of what is going on around you.

50 minutes ago, Capitan Obvious said:

Best way to ensure compliance would be to issue everyone an "inactive" card (wouldn't work for ordering a drink or any other type of "spending") and program the system to activate the card once it has been scanned at the muster station.

The opposite would be better (and likely easier) to implement. That being, at a certain time, DE-activate all cards that haven't been scanned at the muster station.

9 hours ago, Kate45 said:

What is the average price of say a beer or a crown royal. How many can you drink before you are ahead of the pkg price?

One double-Crown w/ a splash of Coke and I'm even with the cost of the package for the day. The next 7 or 8 are on the house. 🙃

13 hours ago, jrt.mom said:

Mmmmmm, leftovers. Seriously,  a lot of food tastes better the second day when the flavors really come together. 

Uncooked food from the previous day is not "leftovers", unless I misunderstand your definition.

10 hours ago, European_CruiseGirl said:

 Also the MDR appetizer sizes are ridiculously small. At least at the buffet you get enough to eat… 

Order two (or three or four). It's the MDR. Your post makes no sense.

No. I believe they are confusing the fact that all the Main Dining Rooms (either 2 or 3) have the same menu for that evening.

6 hours ago, PartyPlannerLady said:

 No one NEEDS to be on line during a cruise.

No one? Absolutely no one? Time to wake up and join the year 2024.

On 5/17/2024 at 11:18 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

I don't tip the Concierge or Butler a dime!! 

Me neither! I've never seen one.

25 minutes ago, KarenRB said:

Anyone know what amount is supposed to be taxed?

Without booking the exact rooms, on the exact same cruises, at the exact same times -- no, no one knows the amount you are supposed to be taxed.

2 minutes ago, astera said:

No formal nights on NCL?

No. Dress Up nights, if you wish. There are photographers available whatever night you choose to take pictures. Dressed up, or not.

15 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

That is a very interesting statement.

It is what it is. I agree with you. You need to explore past what you "know", right?

6 minutes ago, astera said:

Which Royal ship were you on? Was it the ship you didn't like or lots of other things as well?

We were on Ovation in Alaska. A very fine ship, but different from NCL. No drink package or specialty dining included. Great shows, but not "Choir of Man" level. We had no complaints but will choose NCL.

5 minutes ago, astera said:

the Escape looks like a big ship with lots of options.

The Escape is a great ship. Very similar to a Quantum class like Ovation of the Seas.

But different. Obviously.

I think your girls will love it.

On 4/28/2024 at 7:41 PM, BirdTravels said:

So now it is unclear how a rotating menu would fix the fact that Haven menu has seafood and that you only tolerate what is on the non-seafood menu.

Wait. What? Is the Bird saying that the Haven restaurant should not have a rotating menu? That is the single most posted complaint about the Haven. And you agree with it?

Without actual knowledge of the true facts, you will receive your luggage whenever it gets there, with whatever tags you have. Haven, or not.

As a Loyal-to-Royal, you will not be as satisfied with NCL. We are NCL loyal and were not satisfied with the one cruise we took on Royal. It is all about what you expect. Both lines are the same, with different feels, vibes, packages, etc.

You prefer what you know.

56 minutes ago, chilliano said:

The menus seem to be following "foodie" (not just health) trends.

I can agree. Thus, pork belly seems to be a trend. Not for the animal fat conscious. I'd prefer a properly cooked beef pot roast.