Wow - great report on cruises ! I suspect that since this is a video poker
forum, we are mainly talking about casino sponsored cruises or linked with
a casino or casino program such as 7-stars ? From a casino marketing
prospective, this must be a great ploy - give the well heeled addicted
gambler what looks like a freebie , lock him up on a boat for a few days
with 6/5 VP or poor table games , and we'll split his heavy projected losses
with the cruise line and/or they give us a 75% discount on his "free" ticket
up front. While only a mid-roller who loves gambling, I can see myself
easily losing $10,000 over the course of a cruise ( I suspect they have cash
machines, wired services, or easy credit ) , but we never read about that
here, we only post about gallant wins against impossible odds !
best..Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Misscraps" <misscraps@aol.com>
To: <vpFREE@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 2:56 AM
Subject: [vpFREE] A few more thoughts on NCL cruises (even for non first
timers)
> Remember the certificate is not transferable. If you bring someone with
> you and you can't go, they may end up being charged the "normal" rate.
> This is one reason for always buying the insurance. Two people from the
> same household cannot both have separate rooms. They can combine
> certificates for a one level upgrade. Two people with different addresses
> could each book separate cabins and each take a friend. It is possible to
> switch cabins once onboard.
>
> Single people get the most benefit, because they can book a double sized
> cabin without bringing a friend or paying extra. A very nice benefit one
> of my single friends loves.
>
> You can pay extra to upgrade your rooms. The cabins on NCL are very
> small, so adding a balcony instead of oceanview gives u a little more
> space (not just a better view), and a little can mean a lot. A minisuite
> isn't all that much bigger than a balcony however.
>
> You can't combine two certificates from two events to get a bigger cabin.
> Just two for people in the same household.
>
> If you have played on NCL before, you might get a better deal by calling
> their casino department rather than using a certificate. I tried this and
> got a balcony for the same cost as a oceanview.
>
> Although it is possible to win on a cruise ship, I have found NCL even
> tighter than most. On the Epic I and some friends played VP almost every
> day, despite bad pay tables, and found the amount of quads really
> abnormally bad. Craps or blackjack is your best theoretical bet onboard.
> The tournaments run have a LOT of people doing them and small amount of
> prizes. They may be fun, but generally not a good bet. Bingo is the
> worst. If you want to take a flyer, take the $25 (or more) you were going
> to spend on bingo and plunk it on a roulette number. Your odds of hitting
> a number are greater and if you do hit you'll get more money than a bingo
> hit.
>
> If you do play, be sure to ask the casino "host"/manager, if you can get
> comps -- these usually take the form of a free bottle of wine and free
> admission to one of the specialty restaurants. On the Epic, since I
> played a lot, after a couple of days I got free dinner for 4 people and
> wine in one restaurant, then free dinner in another. Also once the host
> is on notice (by you, it doesn't seem to be automatic), they may also
> start sending extras to your room such as wine, cookies, appetizers. Like
> you need more food! Even more important, go to the host at the end of the
> stay and they may increase the amount of "free play"/comps toward your
> room bill over the amount that was posted. In my case it was more than
> doubled. That money can be used to pay for Internet, spa, and some (but
> not all) room charges.
>
> Your boarding card also serves as a room key and a slot card (odd). You
> get it when u arrive at the ship. Don't lose it and take it onshore
> whenever u leave the ship. For many ports you won't need a drivers
> license or passport.
>
> Speaking of passport, be sure to make sure you have a valid one well
> before leaving. The passport office is backed up, so get yours in order
> when u book the cruise. You probably will need one for most cruises, even
> Alaska (you cross the Canadian border).
>
> A handy item is a plastic holder on a string (or equivalent) to wear
> around your neck for holding the room key. These can be bought onboard.
> You will use the card instead of money for any onboard purchases. You
> won't need foreign $ in any ports unless you go to Europe.
>
> Plan to arrive at the port the day before if you can't get there by 12-1
> pm. Depart on a plane after 12 noon. Ask the cruise company if there is
> a question on times We often stay at a motel near the airport that has a
> free shuttle to the port, then go back to the airport and get on the NCL
> transfer bus (for a fee) to go to the port. Once onboard you will find a
> nice buffet. We like to arrive at the port around noon to give plenty of
> time to get onboard and get acclimated. Your luggage won't get to your
> room until a lot later in the day, so take important papers and pills with
> you as carryon.
>
> Lines for check in at the port can be long. Another reason to arrive
> early. Handicapped people should just avoid the lines, go to the front,
> tell the guard you are handicapped and can't stand so long and you'll get
> inside.
>
> In ports, listen to instructions on the time to get back to the ship, and
> follow these. The ships WILL leave on time. Remember that the ship will
> delay for its own shore excursions if they run late, but not for I
> dependent ones. We have never found this to be a problem because we are
> careful and wear watches and use common sense when booking non-NCL shore
> excursions. Some ports are crowded and taxis to scenic locations can get
> tied up in traffic. Use common sense. We often take a taxi to a beach
> we've seen recommended online and ask the taxi driver to pick us back up
> at a specific time. For common locations there are plenty of cabs if ours
> doesn't show up.
>
> If you go onshore a bit later than most folks, sometimes you are at the
> tail end of people looking for shore excursions, and you can find a real
> cheap bargain onshore, or bargain down the tour provider (oh it is $30 for
> each person, how about 2 of us for $50). For flea market situations or
> vendors who come up to you, always bargain, whether in Mexico or another
> port. Don't buy "ganja" (pot) or other drugs onshore. Some pharmacies in
> other countries may sell items that are not available here (codine tablets
> in Belize for instance). Look for local crafts as great souvenirs or
> gifts. Some liquor stores onshore may have booze cheaper than in the duty
> free onboard (but it will be held by ship til you arrive home -- and you
> can't take liquids onboard a plane except as checked luggage).
>
> The ship will sell bottled water as you leave the ship, for a lot of $.
> Buy it onshore or take some from the buffet (put it into an empty bottle
> you bring with you or refill one you bought onboard). Watch for special
> ship's sales of watches and jewelry as the voyage goes on. These can be
> bargains. Near the end of the voyage they will have sales of tshirts and
> other stuff. They may even run special booze sales onboard, so don't be
> too quick to buy items. Never buy loose gem stones, they are far too
> expensive to mount later -- buy them already in a ring or necklace.
>
> We found the spa services onboard just as expensive as in casinos, but not
> as good. In some places you can find a massage on the beach or at a beach
> resort for a good price. Adults should look for adults only jacuzzis or
> pools, if available onboard.
>
> NCL ships have a free cafe called the Blue Lagoon (usually) with 24 hour
> food. We found these places a great place for a snack or even a meal
> (especially breakfast). Free room service is also available, except there
> may be a fee for pizza (for unknown reasons) and for late night hours. If
> you fall sick, see if additional meal choices can be brought while
> confined to your room.
>
> When choosing your room, look at a map of the ships layout (available at
> NCL.com). Don't choose a room too close to an open atrium area (too much
> music or announcements), under an area with people walking above you, or
> close to the ship's motors/screws if possible (stern faxing rooms with
> balconies can have great views, especially useful on an Alaskan voyage,
> but can be noisy, so decide what is important). Once onboard you probably
> will NOT be able to switch rooms if yours has a problem.
>
> Beds can generally be converted to single or double. Take dramamine or
> patch with u if u get seasick, though modern ships are a lot better with
> good stabilizers (but I still start out taking dramamine).
>
> A great item to take for swimming is a holder on a necklace that holds
> your room key and some money. They sell them onboard. This saves you
> from needing to worry about your purse and money when swimming, it goes
> with you.
>
> Dress up if you like on NCL, but casual is pretty much all you need
> nowadays. Formal nights are optional and plenty of people will not dress
> up. You cannot wear shorts in the dining room at dinner though.
>
> Save money by planning your excursions or town visits in the morning or
> afternoon in port, and go back to the ship for lunch. Why pay for an
> excursion that includes a meal? (at least I dont generally). Fruit
> cannot be taken on and off the ship.
>
> Some people love the art shows and buy art. But I found if I liked an
> artist they sell, I could find the same or similar pictures on EBay from
> other people who took cruises for less $. I won't go so far as to say the
> art shows are a scam, but some of the prices quoted during the auctions
> seem to be inflated ("We value this painting at $1000 but you can buy it
> at $250" --- Just who is valuing it??"). But they can be fun to attend,
> and give out free champagne. Also costs for them to crate and ship
> artwork home can be very high. Best bet, buy already framed items you can
> put in your luggage if you really want art from them, unless you are a
> more sophisticated buyer. Note this same art company runs all the auctions
> on NCL, and maybe other ships, and a lot of these prints and artists will
> be the same on other voyages.
>
> Pack light. You can wear the same clothes more than one day! If needed,
> laundry facilities are onboard.
>
> Internet at sea is expensive. Once onboard your phone will be connected
> to the ship's service at high prices. You don't want to run up a fortune
> phoning or browsing the Internet on your phone/device. Do phoning
> onshore, or in ports if you get a signal from outside the ship. Do
> Internet sparingly onboard if you must or from Internet cafes. In some
> ports you may be able to latch onto a Internet network from the shore for
> free (I've done it in Mexico and elsewhere).
>
> Have fun, and don't be like one man we saw who was so eager to get onboard
> he ran and tripped, broke his leg, and never got onto the voyage!
>
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