AK Dreaming

15 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

Don't make a mess, won't be a mess...

 

I dont think the issue is being messy, I think the issue is the level of service.  Do we have to go get our own ice each night?  Do we have to set up and make our third bed and put it a way every day before an excursion?  Do we constantly have to call for more towels?  Will our cabins not be ready until we sail away and miss our dinner reservations because we have not gotten our luggage?

I"ve been on the Escape, Epic, Getaway and Breakaway many times.  Never once made a reservation for a show and never had an issue getting into one.  Just my experience.  I never know what I'm going to feel like doing at 7pm next Tuesday so how can I make a reservation on a ship??? Only small ships I've done are the Sky and the Jewel.  I don't really like the small ships as there doesn't seem to be as much to do.  

I'm on this cruise too!  Heard our whole Haven is booked by a charter, but we don't know who.

I did early August last time and found it a little to warm for my taste.  But it was still beautiful and we got to see a lot of bears.

8 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Same here.  My goal is always to arrive at the pier, check in, and walk right on board.

 

Unless you're in the Haven, the waiting areas t board at the pier are "NO FUN"!

 

I try to get to the pier sometime after noon.  Unless something went haywire, I check in and walk right on board.  And, when I board, it's usually close enough that my cabin is ready and I don't have to schlep my carry on everywhere.

I’ve heard with the new policy of once a day room cleaning the stewards have double the rooms and cabins haven’t been ready until 3:30 or 4:00 🤦🏻‍♀️😳

If you are not Platinium or Haven you may as well sleep in a little.  I prefer to get there early just to get everything done and wait there because I am too excited to sleep.  That being said, the NYC terminal was not that comfortable and nothing really to do but sit.

One more thing.  Bid on a balcony if you can.  It's fine in an inside but the peace you get sitting on your own balcony watching the beautiful scenery is worth every penny.

I've sailed the Epic so many times!  Every cabin from Solo Cabin, Ocean view, Balcony to 2 Bedroom Haven.  I LOVE the Epic.  Best crew in the Fleet!!.  I sailed a few times out of Barcelona but my last time was the one out of PR that did your ports and it was amazing.  I stayed at the Embassy Suites in PR and it was perfect place to get some rest.  I speak no Spanish and had no issues at any port, especially PR.  BTW made my Dad do the toilet bowl slide.  If only we could have taken a picture.  It was super fun!  Enjoy and tell everyone when you get back what a great ship the Epic is (even with the weird bathrooms)

3 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

On Epic now.

Does not matter to us, other than not knowing when servicing will happen.

Better than the turndown service at home! 😉😎

How many in the cabin.  I would not care much if it was just me or me and one person.  We have three and need the beds set up and put away.

39 minutes ago, LoungerOnBalcony55 said:

The woulds, coulds and shoulds of cruising are kind of the central topic of these message boards. 

Exactly!  I’m a Platinum cruiser but this is my first cruise with the new service changes to once a day. I am really just asking for real life experience with setting up extra beds and putting them away. NCL told me the steward would take care of this daily. From this board I’ve learned that is not always the case. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I didn’t even consider the service reduction would delay cabin being ready on embankment day. Anyone have experience with late cabins 

Last time I got on too early and only the buffet was open. Wait till at least noon.  

1 hour ago, clojacks said:

I have a reasonable, I believe question. 

 

In this scenario, you feel you are justified in reducing or withdrawing the DSC? By how much? Am I mistaken that the DSC's are shared among multiple crew departments? So if your beverage service has been phenomenal, and steward has been noticeably below that "standard", but you withdraw the DSC, does that not affect the other departments that you may have been extremely satisfied with? Am just curious if you can withhold, JUST the portion that may be shared with your steward, or if there is a way to even find out what that amount is? I freely admit I don't know the answer, so I am seriously posing a question, not presenting a hypothetical argument.

First and most important, you confused my comment with another person's comments.  I had an unpleasant room steward.  I did not remove my DSC and if fact left him an extra $20 tip.  Which is much less than I would have left if he had been nice or even brought me towels.  I have never removed my DSCs and cannot understand why somone would except in extreme instances but none come to mind.  In my mind the DSC is just part of the cruise cost and I tip cash for service I receive.  Everyone is different and I am not judging anyone else, but I just wanted to be clear that I would not and have not removed DSC.

Been to Juneau a few times. Only did whale watching once. It was ok but usually just visit the port. Going back in April and was considering going to the Glacier. Are taxis readily available and if so how much would it be?  Also I’d like to mine for gold but the cruise excursions do not appeal. Are they readily available once we disembark? 

On 2/25/2023 at 2:22 PM, donaldsc said:

Inquiring or maybe nosy minds have to ask - why April?

 

DON 

I booked April because I did August last time and we wore tank tops in Juneau. I wanted it to be cold. 

I agree that it is ridiculous that they increase daily rate the same time they reduce services.  On my last cruise in September I had the worst cabin steward I've ever had.  They were still coming 2x a day but he was unpleasant most times and I was solo in a balcony cabin, which I feel I keep very neat.  I still had to call 2x on that cruise for extra towels so I could shower.  My point is, the cabin steward you get assigned will make the difference not so much the policy.  My only concern is since we have 3 in our cabin this time how and when will they take care of bedding.  Seems l like every experience is different.

18 hours ago, AwesomO said:

Our room did not have a pullman, but that was fine for us because we knew our son would sleep with us in the bed, while our daughter had the fold out couch. The couch was very hard, so unless you like a firm bed, the pullman might be better. I think they can put a foam topper on the couch for some additional comfort. my daughter had no complaints, but she's only 9. 

Did the steward make up the bed and return to a sofa each day?

Sounds like everyone has a different experience 🤦🏻‍♀️

50 minutes ago, shof515 said:

Or it can be that NCL is not allowed to to share information about this due to privacy. They are lots of privacy protection laws and regulations. 

 

Most likely NCL does know something 

I agree, they have to know.  Just like our Bliss cruise they will not even tell us the name of the group, but they know.

I"ve been on the Sky several times and would not recommend it for anything but a weekend get a way.  It is of course personal preference, but the lack of entertainment and space would be too long for anything more that 3 days.

I chatted with NCL on the website and the person said that they would take care of setting up the bed and putting it away every day.  I"m not sure how that will fit into the schedule.  Also, they said we should ask for extra towels when we get on board.

I"m on in a couple months also and am looking forward to it being chilly.  I'd love to eat outside with blankets and a heater.  I live in Florida and it's been so hot here already in February that I can't wait to be a little cold.  I guess it all depends on your preferences.  I've been on Alaskan cruises where we wore tank tops and were warm.

2 hours ago, Kierste said:

We didn’t have to use the sofa as a bed, so I can’t speak to that. But our steward (Prima) for our club balcony suite a couple of weeks ago filled us in on how his duties changed. He went from 14 cabins and twice a day service working from 8-12 ish with a three hour mid-day break and evening turndown started around 3 and went to 8 pm—so 28 cabin touches a day. He now has 34 cabins and works them from 8 to 6 ish with a 30 minute lunch, and by 6 pm his cart was no longer in the halls and I am sure he was exhausted. I wonder if the stewards will just undo and redo the bed on the cabins that need it—two touches just for those rooms? But then I would expect you would have to be very flexible with when they could come to the room since they are done at 6.

I would be very flexible and most apprective if this were the case.  I will make sure to tip even more than usual if we get this kindness.

We are three women in one cabin and want to know how the bed set up and and put away system has been working with passengers that have experienced this situation.  We are in a Club balcony suite on the Bliss and will propably need help getting the bed down and made and put back daily.  

Has anyone been on the Bliss and know if they will help set up the beds and put them back up?