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pcakes122

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    Northeast
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    NCL
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Bermuda

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  1. My response is that we should all take a moment to ensure that we don't have an unconscious bias that is influencing our perspective. Respecting the decisions that others make for their lives should be paramount. Just because someone's first language isn't English doesn't mean they aren't very capable of making informed decisions about where and how to work. We should tip in appreciation for outstanding service no matter who is doing the work. We don't need to tip, however, because we have determined (through our own bias) that people are poor and easily duped and accepted jobs in servitude because they were desperate or didn't know any better. Those are my final comments on this delete. 😊
  2. First, I don't think there's anyone not tipping their butler. Second, when it comes to global economics, you need to check out more real life examples than relying on stereotypes. Check out some channels on YouTube of people that travel full-time or retired early overseas. The low cost and high quality of medical care in some countries is amazing. You assume that people outside of the US have a lower standard of living. That is absolutely NOT the case everywhere.
  3. I don't think you understand how exchange rates work. Let's pretend you could go to XYZ country and make 10 times your yearly salary in 9 months. You don't live in the other country and you don't spend ANY money there at their inflation rate. When you spend the money that you make (or send it home to your family) you're going to be spending it in the US at our prices, so you are actually considered RICH in the US and can comfortably buy anything you want, own multiple houses, support extended family, etc. On the other hand, in XYZ country the cost of living is exorbitant and even though you are getting paid 10 times your US salary, it's a very low for XYZ and if you had to live there, you would be seriously poor. The people of XYZ country then look at you like you are a poor indentured servant who is stupid and sad for taking such a low paying, hard-working job far away from home. They feel sorry for you and pity you, even though your children are getting the best education, you own a beautiful home, you can easily support your elderly parents and you travel with your family to exotic places on your time off. THIS is why there are crew members on cruise ships who are actually highly-educated professional engineers, nurses, chiropractors and more (performing jobs such as cabin stewards.) They know their cruise salary is NOT "peanuts" - at least not where they are going to spend the money. Everyone deserves to be tipped for hard work and to show appreciation for great service, so that's not my argument. However, I actually find it offensive when people talk about crew members as if they worthy of pity. Nobody tricked them into working on the ships. They each saw an opportunity and made a conscious decision that obviously works for them (or they wouldn't do it.)
  4. Some context would help you understand why people (from the Philippines, for example) make the decision to work for the cruise lines. Basically an NCL butler is making in a single MONTH on the ship more than the average YEARLY salary at home. And that is BEFORE tips. Cruise crew members are not stupid or indentured servants. They are smart people making excellent financial decisions for their families (albeit by sacrificing family time, but the significant earning opportunity makes it worth it for many.)
  5. Definitely the Tranquility model 👍đŸģ and the company provided the greatest service in terms of delivery, etc.!
  6. @cruiseat50 PS here's a screenshot from the manual regarding splitting the chair in two just in case the delivery people are clueless (lol)
  7. I am so so happy you were able to get this resolved! Have a wonderful cruise on the Jade! đŸ›ŗī¸ I will be relaxing in that exact chair next week on the Oceania Vista and will think of you! 😀
  8. I see folks are trying to help here, but I don't think people understand the issue. The company that rents the chair has advised that the chair is 34 inches wide. NCL has ALREADY indicated that the door is not 34 inches wide. I'm not saying not to call the Access Department, but they aren't really the ones that can solve the problem. The poster should work with Scootaround to resolve. I have a lot of experience with them and the general agents will just say, "No, the chair is 34 inches wide and if the door is not 34 inches we cannot rent you the chair." That's the reason I posted the link to the chair specs and mentioned that the chair comes apart in two pieces. Since the chair comes apart, the door doesn't need to be 34 inches wide. Someone needs to just get a supervisor at Scootaround to authorize the rental. The most that the NCL Access Department can do here is to confirm what NCL reps already said (that the door is not 34 inches wide.) The NCL Access Department doesn't have any authority over whether or not Scootaround will approve the rental.
  9. Okay, first I wanted to give you the link to the exact chair that Scootaround rents: Pride Lift Chair. The chair is 34"wide, however it comes apart in two pieces (without tools.) The back of the chair lifts straight up and off, so even if the door is narrower, they can bring the base and back in sideways (separately.) Then the back just snaps back in. Unfortunately, I don't have experience in a regular cabin, even the suites that I've sailed in have always been accessible. Good luck and keep pushing! It is worth it to have a chair that you can be safe and comfortable in during your cruise. 😊
  10. Yes, but the actual suites (not mini suites) on the Jewel-class ships are a great value. You get butler service and all of the amenities of the Haven guests (with the exception of access to the Haven Courtyard and sundeck which are tiny and not even worth it) for a significantly reduced price.
  11. Breakfast in Moderno and lunch in Cagney's. 👍đŸģ
  12. There is no Haven restaurant on the Gem (or any Jewel class ship for that matter.)
  13. Yes, and this is a tremendous negative and disadvantage in most ports when renting a mobility scooter ☚ī¸ which is why I exclusively use Special Needs at Sea in ports like New York City. Most people with mobility issues will need to utilize the scooter through the large cruise terminals - so if the scooter is left in your cabin by Scootaround you will need to find a way to get yourself through the terminal (same coming off because you will need to leave the scooter in the cabin.) Wheelchair service on and off the ship takes forever because there are a lot of folks needing wheelchairs and not a lot of workers available to take folks on and off. In New York City, Scootaround does not offer the option to pick up the scooter in the terminal, but they do in Miami (one of the only ports where they offer this option.) That said, the one benefit of Scootaround is that they are the only provider for onboard medical equipment (hospital beds, etc.) that NCL will allow on the ships. I rent a recliner/lift chair for every cruise I take from Scootaround. In New York, I have to rent the chair from Scootaround and the scooter from Special Needs at Sea. It's crazy but it's the only thing that works for me 🤷đŸģ‍♀ī¸ lol.
  14. I've never sent in a 90-day-old statement, I've always sent the current month statement and never had an issue either with NCL or Oceania. I also am shocked that people are still scanning and printing documents in 2023. đŸ¤ĻđŸģ‍♀ī¸ The form is absolutely 100% able to be electronically filled out and emailed (as others have pointed out!)
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