graphicguy

Why? Oh why, am I jumping back into this discussion? Was talking to a friend this weekend. He took his family to Disney World over the Holidays. That alone should tell you all you need to know about him....Mr Trendy...does everything his little precocious Janey and Johnny want....kids rule the household. Anyway, he said he spent a bunch of money not only on tickets to enter the park, the Disney hotel and food, but also to "cut lines". I had never heard of such a thing. But, I guess you can bolt to the front of the lines if you pay Disney for the privilege. Plus, there was a Disney employee who escorted them to do that. I told him that's akin to a sizable tip for said "service". Point is, tips abound. Having traveled a lot for work and pleasure, I tipped housekeeping and the bellman and the Concierges, and the hotel restaurant staff, etc of the hotels I stayed at. And, you paid a resort fee, whether you used their "resort" or not. In Vegas, where I would attend conferences for a week or so, it was more prevalent than staying at the local Marriott for one night. But, they all provided a service and expected a tip.

With you brother!

We could have a show featuring all the Rock Stars who are dead… We could cover every generation!

I would think if licensing Rumors gets too discombobulated, NCL could probably adopt the same sort of show around a different group/album…Beach Boys-Pet Sounds….Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon would be big fun! There are a wealth of albums that could be adapted. Plus, Rumors is only one of the shows the same performers have in Syd’s!

Playing Devil’s Advocate for a moment, the flip side is bourbon. Buffalo Trace used to be “extra charge”. It’s now included on FAS, as is 1792 Small Batch! Don’t know how they ascertain what is FAS+ and what is FAS! Some great choices and some not so great choices seems to be the rule of thumb!

Found this......Looks like Syd's is wider on Prima but not as deep. But, it's a video, so I don't know that they capture the entire place.....good idea of the music they play...which is right in my wheelhouse!

@KKB...this couldn't be more timely given I'm sailing out in a week and a ½ on the Prima. Looking forward to more. Thanks!

Kind of skimmed OP's post....tough read. Some I understand. Some I don't. Drinks in the casino....I find a $5 bill with the first drink keeps them coming quick and often. I do agree about the smoking in the Break/Get-away ships. While they have improved the filtering quite a bit. It's still not as good as it is on the B+ ships with their enclosed smoking areas. Never have had cold food that wasn't supposed to be cold. Let's say one of the meals was served cold. A quick mention to the restaurant manager would have rectified it quickly. Day time shows are everywhere. There are solo and duo performances throughout the ship. And, the never ending parade of trivia and the afore mentioned geography quiz shows always going on in the Atrium. Now, if it's too hard (as the OP suggests), that's more of an issues with the participants' ability than anything else.

Yeah...as best I can tell, Syd's is more or less the same size on the ships I've been on. I think the difference is world of mouth has travelled that the Syd's shows are very good shows. As such, their lines have grown. Although, it doesn't sound like they're all that bad if you only have to wait 30 minutes or so.

Lots of folks just do not like change. And, if you give them the "comforts" of their daily routing (e.g. Wheel of Fortune), well....they're happy campers. Just look at the responses have been talking about changing the typical buffet experience, or the changes on the Prima compared to NCL's other ships. Heck, it's been nearly two decades since NCL has changed their formal dress requirements, and some are still bemoaning its demise. People like "same 'ol" on their cruises. Personally? I like new and different. I much prefer to sail new and different ships, with different layouts, different dining, different looks throughout the ship, different venues. I get the hand wrnging over the entertainment changes. But, I'm also cognizant that some like the entertainment options offered with some of these new shows.

I think you have to ask yourself how many "premium plus" drinks you'll consume. You only pay the difference and get 20% off that amount and add in. the tips of that amount. Is it worth it? Personally, there's nothing on the Premium Plus package that would make me want to pull the upgrade price out of my wallet.

I am not privy to their contract arrangements for entertainment. So, I really don't know.

@KeithJenner…I don’t know! Maybe? Maybe not?

Diamond on Royal. Last couple of cruises I took with them it seemed like chaos. Weak and disjointed Aqua Theater shows. 270 shows were little more than rehearsals we could sit and watch. The final straw was the Solarium Bistro being closed the entire week and the Windjammer Buffet actually being "sold out". They even had a sign up not allowing anyone else in to the Windjammer. Decided to put RCCL on hiatus for a few years. Cunard....I dunno....I just can't bring myself to do the whole rigid specific dining times and dressing up routine. Personally, I'm well past doing all of that on my cruises. Have dabbled my toes into MSC waters. It's been 50-50 whether I have a good experience or a bad experience, sometimes on the same cruise. I like Celebrity. Their fares have been way prohibitive. And, I shop cruise fares a lot. They've been consistently high. Carnival......well....Carnival is Carnival. I have to be in a certain mood to book them. I haven't been in that mood for a little while. NCL, while not perfect, has been hitting all the right buttons recently.

Have seen the entire show twice...80's music, Rumours, Prom. Two different ships, two different casts. First time as a guest of the Haven where about 3-4 of us were escorted through the back stage area to the venue 45 minutes before show time (15 minutes before the doors opened). 2nd time we waited in line (had a balcony cabin) 30 minutes. Found a tall table. Weren't the first, nor the last in line. There really are no bad seats (unless you're SRO). Either way, you're waiting.

I know it's supposed to be a delicacy. I've tried them a few times. I just can't get over the texture. Can't force myself to like them...not in the least! LOL!

Agree on both counts!

It's free. If you only want an app(s), then it's a good deal. Order what you want. No one will be critical.

Well....it must be a very recent omission because I booked my upcoming cruise about 5-6 months ago, and am sailing in two weeks. And, it shows up as a dinner and a bottle of wine at a "French" restaurant, in addition to the OBC. The only French Restaurant on NCL is LeBistro! Maybe AMEX quit offering that part of the perk!

Intersting. I've seen all the "Syd's" shows. I like how they give the humorous back story about who the fictitious "Syd" was. I enjoyed the other shows as much as I did the "Rumours" show.

So, you feel like you don't have to get to the back of the line, regardless of reason? You can't do both. Have dinner in LaCucina and get in line for the show. Why can't you all go together to get in line for the show? This is what creates ill feelings between passengers on a cruise. I can see having to use the restroom and need to leave the line for 5 minutes. But, I personally will call you out and not allow you to cut in line in front of me for any other reason. I see this on cruise ships all the time. To me it's the same as "chogs".....I just went to lunch and put my towels down on a lounger by the pool for two hours..... It's this belief that no one else is on the cruise ship and it doesn't matter who else you inconvenience as long as you can do everything you please. Disney employee has nothing to do with this, whatsoever!

No minimums. No weird looks. Order as little (or as much) as you’d like. You can get an app and leave. Won’t matter! Your perk and/or money. Your choice!

Not a wine fan. So, can’t help you on the wine/champagne choices.

They still offer it. used it in October and will again in two weeks in the Prima!

Bourbons....I know they have Buffalo Trace (my preferred bourbon) and 1792 (like it, too). They have Woodford, which is extra charge. I wouldn't pay more for Woodford, ever. I also found if you. tell them what you want, they'll make it. But, the Haven doesn't have "drink of the day" (DOTD) like they do at the pool bars. Those are mostly pre-mixed, anyway.