Soda Card and Priority Check In?

[canuckgal33]

I decided to do a soda card for my daughter for our Epic cruise next week. It's too late to send in my request via the Bon Voyage Gift link on NCL, but I'm assuming it's something we can get on board....where do we do this? And when we do it on board...I'm also assuming we get the mug?

 

And...I just noticed we have priority check in...what does that really mean?

 

Can't wait...5 days and counting!

[oldguysandgalls]

Instead of buying the soda card, you may want to consider buying a few cartons of soda pop on shore before you board. (for example at Walgreens in Miami, a carton of 12 cans of soda is about $4.00 or less.) We bought a few cartons before we boarded the Norwegian Dawn and saved us a bundle of money.

 

Simply bring your cartons of soda on board as part of your carry on luggage (a couple of sturdy shopping bags will do fine) and there's NO FEE charged by NCL for bringing sodas on board.

 

Have a great cruise!

[wacopolumbo]

Instead of buying the soda card, you may want to consider buying a few cartons of soda pop on shore before you board. (for example at Walgreens in Miami, a carton of 12 cans of soda is about $4.00 or less.) We bought a few cartons before we boarded the Norwegian Dawn and saved us a bundle of money.

 

Simply bring your cartons of soda on board as part of your carry on luggage (a couple of sturdy shopping bags will do fine) and there's NO FEE charged by NCL for bringing sodas on board.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

 

Very true. We are going on the Epic on Saturday and will bring some soda on board. My Mom drinks Caffine Free Diet Coke (very particular about her soda) and I am going to bring a bunch of Tonic water to go with the gin bottles I ordered up.

 

It still amazes me that the only cabins to get the free booze and sodas is the Owner's Suite. A ship that big and only one cabin class gets it. This will be our third NCL cruise and the first time without it. Seems kind of cheap of NCL considering how much they charge for the S4s on the Epic.

 

Anyway, I will quit complaining.

 

Yes, bring your own soda.

 

As for priority check-in, just look for the saign for that. It means you get to bypass the long check-in line and get escorted to your cabin. It's very nice perk of the suites, especially on the Epic with so many passengers.

 

Good luck!

[canuckgal33]

We did bring our on soda on the Pearl last year...it was really easy, but I thought this might be a nice treat for her, to be able to go up and get a soda. I'm cheap though, so I probably will end up just bringing a 12 pack! LOL!!

 

The priority check in is also for Bronze/Silver members?? We are in just a balcony room, not a suite.

[SuiteCruiser]

We did bring our on soda on the Pearl last year...it was really easy, but I thought this might be a nice treat for her, to be able to go up and get a soda. I'm cheap though, so I probably will end up just bringing a 12 pack! LOL!!

 

The priority check in is also for Bronze/Silver members?? We are in just a balcony room, not a suite.

 

When you enter the check-in area, you'll see lines for bronze/silver gold/platinum and a regular line. If the bronze/silver is too long, hop on the regular one.

 

Have fun!!

[valleyvillage]

We did bring our on soda on the Pearl last year...it was really easy, but I thought this might be a nice treat for her, to be able to go up and get a soda. I'm cheap though, so I probably will end up just bringing a 12 pack! LOL!!

 

The priority check in is also for Bronze/Silver members?? We are in just a balcony room, not a suite.

 

There is usually a special line for Latitudes, and over the years I have seen them break it down for some sailings with higher Latitudes levels getting their own line. Often the regular line is the shortest because there are so many Past Cruisers.

 

Take a good look around the lines and make sure you are in the right line or the shortest! On our first suite cruise I got confused because the sign talked about Romance Suites and Suites, etc. We were in a Penthouse, which happened to be a very high category. We started in the wrong line as a result, then I double checked and our REAL line didn't even have anyone waiting! We scooted over there, they checked that we were in a Penthouse and presto changeo! We were meeting our Concierge (The wonderful Anca!) and we were escorted on board.

 

Sorry, I got carried away with a nice memory...anyway, yes, there is a priority line, just go with the flow. And bon voyage!:D

[fergusonvt]

Yes you can purchase the soda card and receive the mug when you first board the ship. On our cruise in Jan. there was a desk set up right in the atrium and we did this as soon as we boarded.

[wacopolumbo]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but how big are th ecups they give you with the soda card? My sister and her husband may go this route. Thanks!

[fergusonvt]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but how big are th ecups they give you with the soda card? My sister and her husband may go this route. Thanks!

 

 

Pretty big. Looked to be 16 oz.

[Stickman81]

We did bring our on soda on the Pearl last year...it was really easy, but I thought this might be a nice treat for her, to be able to go up and get a soda. I'm cheap though, so I probably will end up just bringing a 12 pack! LOL!!

 

The priority check in is also for Bronze/Silver members?? We are in just a balcony room, not a suite.

 

I believe there is no tax once purchased on-board.

That would appeal to your frugal side! :D

 

This is the route I intend to go.

I want the freedom to get a coke whenever / wherever I want.

 

Have fun!!!

[wacopolumbo]

Pretty big. Looked to be 16 oz.

 

 

Thanks! I just let her know.

[fergusonvt]

Thanks! I just let her know.

 

We actually didn't carry it around most of the time but just got glasses wherever we happened to be.

[wacopolumbo]

We actually didn't carry it around most of the time but just got glasses wherever we happened to be.

 

Can she bring her own? She just texted me back saying she likes at least at 24oz cup. She likes her soda. She may want to bring a 32oz cup. Would that be alright? I have never used this service. Thanks.

[fergusonvt]

Can she bring her own? She just texted me back saying she likes at least at 24oz cup. She likes her soda. She may want to bring a 32oz cup. Would that be alright? I have never used this service. Thanks.

 

 

That I don't know, maybe someone else will answer.

[jdvmd]

I believe there is no tax once purchased on-board.

That would appeal to your frugal side! :D

 

This is the route I intend to go.

I want the freedom to get a coke whenever / wherever I want.

 

Have fun!!!

 

If you are still in a U.S. port when you purchase the card, you will get hit with sales tax.

 

There are vending machines onboard also for soft drinks and bottled water.

[rvsullivan]

Usually they will not fill another size cup. You can get a small glass or have your issued mug filled. The mug they give you is not very large, I just measured one of mine and without ice it holds 16 oz. You will get about 12 oz when they fill it for you as they use ice. Last year there were several folks around with big mugs they brought with them. The bars would give them a regular glass, about 10 oz of soda and let them pour it into their jumbo mugs, but no multiples.

[jdvmd]

Usually they will not fill another size cup. You can get a small glass or have your issued mug filled. The mug they give you is not very large, I just measured one of mine and without ice it holds 16 oz. You will get about 12 oz when they fill it for you as they use ice. Last year there were several folks around with big mugs they brought with them. The bars would give them a regular glass, about 10 oz of soda and let them pour it into their jumbo mugs, but no multiples.

 

That's what I was thinking too.

[Journey11]

I believe there is no tax once purchased on-board.

That would appeal to your frugal side! :D

 

This is the route I intend to go.

I want the freedom to get a coke whenever / wherever I want.

 

Have fun!!!

 

I thought I read that NCL only does Pepsi products. Someone will correct me if I am wrong. You may want to doublecheck this before your cruise.

[jdvmd]

I thought I read that NCL only does Pepsi products. Someone will correct me if I am wrong. You may want to doublecheck this before your cruise.

 

Only Pepsi products served on NCL.

[Stickman81]

I thought I read that NCL only does Pepsi products. Someone will correct me if I am wrong. You may want to doublecheck this before your cruise.

 

To me, its all basically a "coke".

I don't say, "soda" or "pop", but I do say "coke". :D

Now it's just a matter of what kind of "coke".

Pepsi is fine by me.

Dr. Pepper is preferred.

Thank you. :)

[Stickman81]

If you are still in a U.S. port when you purchase the card, you will get hit with sales tax.

 

There are vending machines onboard also for soft drinks and bottled water.

 

Thanks for the information on the "soda" card.

I thought there were no taxes if purchased on-board.

I appreciate the tip on the vending machines as well. :cool:

[coachnip13]

By all means get the soda card. I can't imagine worrying about carrying cans of soda all over the ship. You're on a cruise, spend the money for the convenience.