lujaha

About to book this November's transatlantic. Did it a few years ago, but had a balcony cabin then. I was just wondering what would be the worst outside cabin we could be assigned? Do they have some with just portholes or some that are obstructed view? Thanks.

Up until now I have just done a little laundry in the sink and hung it up specifically packing things that were quick drying. This last time since it was a longer trip and also spent a few days on land beforehand thought I would

check out their laundry service. I did not use the bulk service but the per item service with a 50 percent off coupon for being Gold.

Pros-Cost

It cost us just a little under $10 to do the laundry but of course this had to do with what we sent out

We used the fold service and everything was nicely pressed and folded in a basket

We got back everything we sent out and in a very timely manner (by the next day)

Con-

The only con is that some white items came back gray and my white tee shirts came back

pink. I was able to bleach out the ones that came back gray but the pink tee shirts were a

loss. I really didn't care as I got them at Walmart for $4.99 knowing during travel these things

happen.

 

So I will definitely use their service again but won't send out any white items. I am sure others

have gotten back white items just fine but this wasn't the case for us.

 

Final grade on their laundry service A-

I used the service too for the first time, getting my gold 50%. Was very happy. Sent a white tshirt, only a cheap one, and it was fine. Sent some stretch shorts though and I think they shrunk, probably shouldn't have been tumble dried, but I didn't like them any so didn't matter. Our friends had one item missing on return, but they told them and it came the next day.

Luhaja how did they itemise this 18% tax on your drinks as you were ona package? Was it a daily flat fee you were charged or by the drink

It was by the drink. Not much per drink I know, but it was the principal of never having paid it before on the Spirit. It will be interesting to see if you are charged. Keep us posted and enjoy your cruise.

I’m not sure if your concern is about tax being charged throughout the whole cruise, but if so then that isn’t a problem on the Spirit at present. It only applies when the ship doesn’t leave the EU VAT area, which is fairly rare. The main one it applies to is the Epic round trip. Even in that situation, tax hasn’t been being charged when people have the UBP for a couple of years now.

 

On the current Spirit itinerary, tax has been charged in the past when the ship is actually in Barcelona (and sometimes Malaga, but that seems more random and may have been to do with Malaga occasionally being an embarkation port in the past). However, on my recent times leaving Barcelona no tax was charged on drinks obtained via the UBP even in Barcelona.

 

I’d be prepared to pay tax when in Barcelona, although it will likely be the case that it isn’t actually charged on drinks as you have the UBP. That way it’s a bonus if you aren’t

 

 

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We are just back from the Epic TA. The whole time we were in Spanish waters we were charged tax. The first time, I said we had been on the Spirit and never been charged. We went to Guest Services and spoke to a number of people, including the Beverage Manager. He said we definitely had to pay tax in Spanish waters, we argued the toss as to never having to pay before, but it fell on deaf ears. As UK people we had the all inclusive, as there is obviously no choice for us but to have it. There was no doubt we were told, this is a non-negotiable tax regardless of whether you pay for your drinks or have a package. We had to give in in the end and pay our dues. It was a bad start to the cruise and we had a bad finish in that due to immigration and Norwegian we not only missed our flights home, but were totally abandoned by Norwegian and told to make our own arrangements to get home. We had the full package with Norwegian and have an ongoing complaint with them. Apart from that the cruise was great!!

I did not see one in my sisters cabin. I think they are available only in suites and higher categories.

I have been in ocean view and balcony several times on the Spirit, and they have always had tea/coffee machines. Can't say for inside, but betting they do as well.

Indeed he was. Another poster reminded me his last name is Glading.

He was our very first CD on Norwegian, on the Jade. He has a fascinating history in show business and you should try and get hold of his book 'Staterooms and Stowaways', a very good read. A multi talented man, I believe he still runs his animal sanctuary.

We have a guarantee balcony cabin on the Epic 5th November transatlantic. All cabin classes, on UK bookings are all inclusive, you have no choice on that. We also went to the presentation back in April when they told us all about the new Premium All inclusive. Assuming you booked after this promotion started then you will get all the perks. I personally preferred it when you got a choice of perks as the prices for the cruises have rocketed with the new deal.

Saw the show a couple of years ago on the Epic. You ate and watched the show at the same time. If it has changed to eating first, it sounds better to me. I found it difficult to eat and watch and would rather concentrate on the show. Well worth seeing, hoping it is as good as last time.

On the Spirit this year there was a notice on the counter of The Blue Lagoon (fast food café 24 hrs) that food is not to be take away, only consumed in the café area. We have previously take food from there back to the room. Didn't notice anything like that on the Epic last year, but could have changed .

We went on the Spirit when the person who posted that got off.

 

It was our third time on the ship and I have to say that I didn't notice any change to the decor. I'm extremely unobservant about that sort of thing, so I just checked with my wife who also said that as for as she could recall there were no changes to the Asian decor.

 

Unlike me, she does tend to notice that sort of thing.

Keith - you sound the same as my husband, also Keith, but I notice more things, especially as I was looking to see what had been done in January drydock. We usually go on the Canaries cruise for my birthday and a bit on sun and it has been the Spirit the last few years apart from once on the Epic. We are doing a transatlantic this November so I doubt we will be doing our usual in January. I would be quite happy to keep the Asian décor, but as I've said before, the cabins need updating and the buffet needs a facelift too.

If anyone else asks "I wonder what was done in the short drydock" or states that "most of the Asian décor has gone" ..........??!!

Yep, the April after your February cruise.

 

The person quoted in #124 as saying the Asian decor was gone had been on the ship April 12, after the refit.

No refit has been done this March, January dry dock was technical and some new carpets were laid in some of the public areas. The big refit should be April 2018 according to the Senior Marketing Manager for the UK who I spoke to in April at a marketing promotion. I think that is as reliable as possible, but watch this space!

Yes, same rules apply to GTY, all inclusive only, which we have booked anyway. I think we are stuck with the cabin, so I have been looking at the positives. On a TA we will sea views every day, bar 2 stops, so no scenery to look at. We can still sit on the balcony in rain and wind. We are not big sunbathers and prefer shade when it is hot. Our friends will be able to join us as there are 2 sunloungers and 2 chairs. There are cabins above and below and there will not be a lot of footfall. Have yet to find out what cabin our friends have been allocated as they are on a cruise at the moment!

Still waiting to hear if anyone has experience with these balconies.

In the interests of economy we decided to try a guaranteed balcony for our Transatlantic on the Epic in November. Surprisingly we have had a cabin number already, and I have found out it is 9016, a hull balcony, albeit advertised as a large balcony cabin!

I like to see the sea from my cabin and having read up extensively on this cabin and seen a picture of the actual cabin, I don't think this is possible and I think it would make the cabin dark as well.

Does anyone know if you can change a guaranteed? I gather all balconies are full from NCL website. If not, just how bad will it be? Anyone had one the same? UK cruiser.

Thanks to all who can help.

From post #124 on this thread, it seems most of the Asian decor has already gone.

The Asian décor was still there on 23rd February when I left the ship. It has been in service ever since so unlikely been removed. The décor has been the same the last 4 or 5 years I have been going on it.

When I went to afternoon tea for promotion of the new Premium All Inclusive, I asked the guy in charge about the Spirit refit, and he told me next Spring, possibly April.

We got off Spirit a couple of weeks ago and there was little wear and tear. The dated Asian decor is what it is. There's been speculation that her long-term future with NCL is iffy because of her age and the challenges of updating her with a Haven area. BTW, an extended dry dock next April doesn't jibe with the current schedule.

 

 

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From what I have read on these forums NCL seem to schedule cruises and then cancel them for dry dock etc. I was going to book one for next April, but changed plans anyway due to the cost of the cruise. I agree public rooms are fine by me, but the cabins weren't that great when I first went on the Spirit a few years ago and now need a good overhaul (I went this February).

Who knows what they have planned. Do they? I love the Spirit and it would be a shame to lose her, just get those cabins done NCL!! ps and the buffet décor too please.

I know the Norwegian Spirit had a dry dock....nothing much from what i read, just some technical details...to those who have sailed on her recently, does she need cosmetic changes as well...

 

and does anyone know, will she be getting any other dry dock for renovation in the near future....hopefully sometime this year...thanks in advance

I went to an afternoon tea with NCL to promote the Premium All Inclusive in the UK. I asked the guy running it about the Spirit and he said next Spring around April.

We are off to have afternoon tea with NCL later today. I will report back tonight. Should be interesting and hopefully tasty?!!

Put my report on the thread with the premium poll on.

Just back from afternoon tea with NCL. Nice sandwiches and cakes. Feeling quite mellow from a glass of wine followed by a glass of champagne, to toast the launch of Premium All Inclusive. So that bit was good. Promotion talk of the wonderful places NCL go to and are going to in the future and the fab new boats they are getting. A couple of boring films, then free talk with a rep on your table. When I pointed out that people were complaining that prices had gone up by a significant amount to cover the new AI he hedged around and said he had costed one today and the price rise was insignificant. He was a nice enough chap though, and gave us some good advice about Venice and which cruise would be best to go for if we wanted to go there.

I have already voted in the poll for no, and haven't changed my mind. Fail to see how these afternoon teas could have much impact. About 50? at our London one. With all the food, and all inclusive drinks!! must have cost them a fair amount x others across the country. Still they will add the cost on to our cruises no doubt.

Will I cruise with them next year? Wait and see how prices go and what others are charging for the same cruise, but suspect we will as we obviously like Norwegian - so far.

We are off to have afternoon tea with NCL later today. I will report back tonight. Should be interesting and hopefully tasty?!!

So, I have just registered for the London venue! They will send an "aide memoir" two days before the event. We're not doing anything that I know of on that day and we're not far from London so may well attend out of curiosity.

'The breakfast buffet was the same every day'. I would like to ask what else you could possibly have for breakfast? There was so much choice I thought.

Sounds like we're safe then, bringing a hairdryer on board. Whew.

I dont worry about ironing either - good tip about the spray bottle though.

 

Another question for those that have just come off the Spirit - I've read a few reports of sewage smells on some decks, did you notice anything? I wonder if the plumbing was attended to in the drydock. We were on an older RCI ship 7 years ago (Rhapsody of the seas) which we loved, but the sewage smell in the corridor was pretty bad! Never had that on any other ship since. Didnt ruin our cruise at all but.. yuk...

No bad smells we noticed.

Hi Cassicruiser. yes the tables and chairs are outdated, but not tatty. We had a balcony cabin on deck 9 and whether all the mattresses were replaced I couldn't say. If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about the Spirit. I think it is lovely and will be happy to go on it next year, changes or not. I think the most important thing is the destination of the cruise, and the one I want to go on is the Spirit, so that's fine.

Also it is a very friendly boat and the staff always seem happy. I didn't hear anyone complaining when I was aboard. It was our 4th time. Last year was the Epic for the same cruise.

Any more questions, just ask and enjoy your cruise.

Sorry forgot to say Armando is Hotel Director. He is a very funny guy, you must see him in the cake decorating competition.

We had a great cruise. The Trattoria is still a part of the buffet. We didn't go there partly for that reason. We are not platinum yet, still gold and have to get a few more points under the new system at that.

If you or anyone has anymore questions I will be happy to answer, if I can!