Disappointed…

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thank you for the clarification. I'm not a gambler, so not familiar with terms like "coin in." Bear in mind, I've only gambled twice in my 60 years: Once in Las Vegas at a casino while on Spring Break from college, where I think I won $8 while playing a nickel slot machine, and once while onboard the Carnival Liberty in 2013 (similar situation, I think I may have won $10). Point being, I'm not familiar with gambling terminology. I just always think it's funny when people it's easy to get $200-300 in OBC when in actuality, it involves spending a lot of time and money to get that. Personally, I've never seen the point of gambling while on a cruise ship, but to each his own.

i watched a show on comps at Vegas where they traced several 'whales', ie, people who got very nice comps for gambling large sums.  One whale was debating playing a very nice golf course.  He decided not too when he calculated the amount of time/money he would have to 'invest' to play the course, more time gambling that golf.

[DCGuy64]

8 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

i watched a show on comps at Vegas where they traced several 'whales', ie, people who got very nice comps for gambling large sums.  One whale was debating playing a very nice golf course.  He decided not too when he calculated the amount of time/money he would have to 'invest' to play the course, more time gambling that golf.

Wow. Where in the world did they come up with that term?

[UKstages]

a "whale" more specifically is one who bets extraordinary sums, the highest of the high rollers. typically, this is somebody who is betting 5K or 250K a hand at blackjack. comps are always commensurate with play - and sometimes loss - and will vary greatly, even among whales.

 

somebody who is betting 5K a hand consistently might be given a suite, as well as helicopter transportation from the airport. somebody who is betting 250K a hand would likely be given an entire floor of the hotel, private jet transfer and a lexus as a christmas gift.

 

lesser players get coffee makers and toaster ovens.

 

the term "whale" came about because, well, their behavior and their play is immense, much larger than the average bear... it is HUGE, much like, well,  a whale.

[Smitheroo]

On 2/10/2024 at 3:48 PM, brad0576 said:

Probably best for us that enjoy NCL - we are all on a ship together and have to accept a little give and take considering the staff is trying to accommodate everyone.

 

if I was NCL I would have forced a party of 14 to either dine very early or late - I would never take a large party during peak dining hours… or I would make them split their group.  

I agree, why is it necessary for them to all eat together  I've been on 3 NCL cruises so far (ok, not a huge number) and have never seen a group like this is the MDR. 

 

[hallux]

43 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

and have never seen a group like this is the MDR. 

then you never saw the solo group show up at the MDR...

[Smitheroo]

18 minutes ago, hallux said:

then you never saw the solo group show up at the MDR...

It is interesting that you say that because I just was on the Getaway and part of this "solo group" and there was no group seating. There were plenty of occupied cabins in the Studio cabin area yet no one went to dinner together (or at least in a noticeable group). There were no meetings in the studio lounge. In fact I never saw more than one man in the Studio Lounge at any one time.  There was a bar in there and I never saw a bartender. (there were very good cookies available and I went every evening to get a couple) It didnt bother me because I was just trying out the Studio. I have no problems doing anything alone.   I have another Studio on the Bliss coming up so it will be interesting if it is the same, or as I've heard the Studio accommodations/passengers described.  

 

Edited February 19 by Smitheroo

[zqvol]

3 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

It is interesting that you say that because I just was on the Getaway and part of this "solo group" and there was no group seating. There were plenty of occupied cabins in the Studio cabin area yet no one went to dinner together (or at least in a noticeable group). There were no meetings in the studio lounge. In fact I never saw more than one man in the Studio Lounge at any one time.  There was a bar in there and I never saw a bartender. (there were very good cookies available and I went every evening to get a couple) It didnt bother me because I was just trying out the Studio. I have no problems doing anything alone.   I have another Studio on the Bliss coming up so it will be interesting if it is the same, or as I've heard the Studio accommodations/passengers described.  

 

Solo meet ups are rarely in the studio lounge. They are usually in a bar. 

[Smitheroo]

3 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Solo meet ups are rarely in the studio lounge. They are usually in a bar. 

Well, they keep them secret then because I saw no evidence of any. That's ok, wouldnt be interested anyway.   But glad they have that for those that want it.   What amazed me was having a bar and never seeing anyone attending it. And no, it wasnt self service like the cookies

[hallux]

8 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Solo meet ups are rarely in the studio lounge. They are usually in a bar. 

There are a LOT of people making this generalization, I have yet to see it happen.  Solo meets on my recent 15 day cruise on the Bliss were SUPPOSED to all be in the lounge, but the group was simply too large.  He had to search for a replacement venue, there was not an alternate for the lounge originally planned.  The only NCL cruise I've been on where the solo meets were not in the Studio Lounge (or were not planned to be at the outset) was on the Joy and that was because there is no Studio Lounge on the Joy.  I wonder if the 'not using the Studio Lounge' is a Getaway/Breakaway thing for some reason...

Edited February 19 by hallux

[Sugar Magnolia]

5 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

Well, they keep them secret then because I saw no evidence of any. That's ok, wouldnt be interested anyway.   But glad they have that for those that want it.   What amazed me was having a bar and never seeing anyone attending it. And no, it wasnt self service like the cookies

 

The daily solo meetings are listed on the Freestyle Dailies. Meetings are usually around 5:00 or 5:30, either in the solo lounge if it is a very small group, or more often at a bar, or even at the Bliss/Spinnaker Lounge if it is a very large group. The solo host usually makes arrangements for the group to dine together at one of the MDRs, and sometimes the solo groups will take over 3-4 tables. Other solos might arrange to dine together at a specialty restaurant. Still other solos might just show up at the meetings to socialize and have a drink, but then go off and do their own thing. The more engaging solo hosts will hold trivia or other types of contests for prizes which range from coffee mugs to raffle tickets for a free cruise.

 

[Smitheroo]

15 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

The daily solo meetings are listed on the Freestyle Dailies. Meetings are usually around 5:00 or 5:30, either in the solo lounge if it is a very small group, or more often at a bar, or even at the Bliss/Spinnaker Lounge if it is a very large group. The solo host usually makes arrangements for the group to dine together at one of the MDRs, and sometimes the solo groups will take over 3-4 tables. Other solos might arrange to dine together at a specialty restaurant. Still other solos might just show up at the meetings to socialize and have a drink, but then go off and do their own thing. The more engaging solo hosts will hold trivia or other types of contests for prizes which range from coffee mugs to raffle tickets for a free cruise.

 

Was not aware of any of what you are describing on my recent Getaway cruise in studio accommodations.  I now realize that the announcement of a meet up place would have been made in the ship newsletter but since I wasnt looking for it didnt notice it.  Never saw anything that resembled a group dining in the MDR, especially a large group. Maybe they were the ones at several tables for 6 or 8. I would have no way of knowing they were all together. Still, they have a studio lounge with a bar and never saw a bar tender once. The cookies were self service.  I had no idea how to work the coffee machine that I heard makes great coffee so had to do with out that.  I make a few friends hanging out by myself thanks to friendly people and that adds to the enjoyment of the cruise but isnt absolutely necessary. I know I sound dull.

[hallux]

Just now, Smitheroo said:

Still, they have a studio lounge with a bar and never saw a bar tender once.

If there was a bartender they would only be there during the solo meet.  There's no 'announcement', it's an activity listed among the rest of the activities, usually 5 or 5:30 PM...

[Sugar Magnolia]

52 minutes ago, hallux said:

I wonder if the 'not using the Studio Lounge' is a Getaway/Breakaway thing for some reason...

 

The studio lounge on the Getaway/Breakaway is very small, so solo meetings are often held at the Bliss Lounge on those ships. The Epic has the largest studio lounge, so meetings are often held there but also at Maltings Whiskey Bar. On my most recent cruise on the Encore, the meetings were held in the studio lounge as it was able to accommodate a group of 40, though we have also held meetings at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. On the Prima/Viva, solo meetings were held at the Belvedere Bar.

 

[Smitheroo]

19 minutes ago, hallux said:

If there was a bartender they would only be there during the solo meet.  There's no 'announcement', it's an activity listed among the rest of the activities, usually 5 or 5:30 PM...

but you said there was no "solo meet" in the studio lounge. It was usually held elsewhere on the ship (I'm guessing to accommodate other solo cruisers not in the studio accommodations). the studio lounge has a bar in it. Why have a bar if no one ever has a chance to use it. Its possible I missed the opportunity but it wasnt very frequent because I checked enough times to catch it at some point.

[hallux]

22 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

but you said there was no "solo meet" in the studio lounge

No I didn't.

22 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

Why have a bar if no one ever has a chance to use it.

Maybe they didn't anticipate the popularity of solo cruising when those ships were designed?  When they started out I believe they DID host the nightly meet there, but it outgrew the space.  The Bliss, Escape and Encore can easily accommodate 50+ in the lounge (but some will need to stand), with 86 Studio cabins on each ship.  My last cruise had 70-120 on the first 2 nights, the meeting got moved to American Diner for more space.  My cruise on the Escape last year had 30+ on the largest night, it was in the Studio Lounge every night.

 

26 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

because I checked enough times to catch it at some point.

Did you check at the RIGHT times?  Were you there between 5 and 7?

[Smitheroo]

8 hours ago, hallux said:

No I didn't.

Maybe they didn't anticipate the popularity of solo cruising when those ships were designed?  When they started out I believe they DID host the nightly meet there, but it outgrew the space.  The Bliss, Escape and Encore can easily accommodate 50+ in the lounge (but some will need to stand), with 86 Studio cabins on each ship.  My last cruise had 70-120 on the first 2 nights, the meeting got moved to American Diner for more space.  My cruise on the Escape last year had 30+ on the largest night, it was in the Studio Lounge every night.

 

Did you check at the RIGHT times?  Were you there between 5 and 7?

ok, seems reasonable. Doesnt matter to me really as I wouldnt use the meet up functions.