my3sonsnj

Just used 10,000 points to do a within meta 2 category upgrade.

I was told a 2 category within meta was the only option to get into an aft balcony! ;) Apparently there is no way to do a cross meta or double cross meta into a B1 aft balcony, just in case anyone is interested in an aft balcony. I'm also not sure how it works if the ship doesn't have any B3's, does anyone know???

Has anyone received different information?

My original booking had to be in a B3 (I was in a B2 and actually had to downgrade my reservation to a B3 in order to use my worldpoints). Only then I was able to upgrade to a B1.

Oh Well . . . I still saved $2300 with 10,000 points (i.e. $100) on a Panama Canal cruise.

Does anyone know which upcoming sailings/itineraries have large group bookings?

Breakaway Officers for 2/2 - 2/16/18 cruise

You need to book any with fixed fee (Monderno, Teppanyaki, upcharges (dinner shows, ocean blue, Bayamo). Then book all of your a la carte reservations.

Thank you 😊 I will give that a try!

Has anyone else experienced difficulty in making their specialty dining reservations under prepaid plans? We chose the Specialty dining as one of our Free At Sea choices. I also bought additional specialty dining so we should have 8 specialty dinners per person on a 14 day cruise.

For some reason I am only able to make 7 reservations online without being charged.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did you get it resolved.

I've called twice and customer service reps acknowledge I should have 8 specialty dinners but can't seem to figure out why I can only make 7 reservations :rolleyes:

Hi!

 

I’m sailing on the breakaway in a few weeks and was wondering how much I should bring? My boyfriend and I have the ultimate beverage package, pre-paid the service fees, have the specialty dining package and booked our excursions already. I’m not sure how much money we should bring after all of that? Does anyone have any experience paying everything ahead of time? How much did you bring? I’m thinking only bringing my credit card and $300. Is that enough?? Plz help!!!! 🙂🙂🙂

If you have already paid for everything and intend to let any additional onboard charges go to your credit card, my rule of thumb is $50/port per person plus whatever I plan to donate to the casino. 😁 I also bring $50 in ones to tip bartenders/servers and I tip my room steward at the end of the cruise in cash.

Wow, I'd say 25% off next cruise offer in the cabin is pretty generous and quite proactive on the part of NCL.

 

I've only been on one cruise that missed a port and all I got were port charges refunded. Those amounts are tiny too. It's basically nothing.

I was thinking the same thing since my experience on missed ports has been the same as yours.

This is probably an isolated compensation stategy for NCL because this particular cruise was originally a 14 day with 8 ports. Then hurricane season happened and 8 ports went to 5 ports and ultimately due to unforeseen circumstances it ended up as only 4 ports.

I doubt NCL would make this type of offer on a cruise that just missed one port.

Funny, many people have posted about the slides. We are sailing feb 25th. 2 members from our group called NCL about the slides after seeing all the posts and they said there is nothing wrong with the slides and they are not closed! I guess we will have to see the reviews after the current cruisers come off the ship, but they were obviously closed this past sailing!

I have been on the Breakaway 3 times and preparing for my 4th. The slides being open has always been hit or miss depending on the weather/wind conditions, in my experience. Land based water theme parks are more of a sure thing. :D

I only need one certificate per stateroom, correct? I will book an inside cabin for 2 people.

 

So to wrap my brain around this, I'll book an inside cabin now with a $50 deposit. When I cruise in March, I'll buy 1 certificate for $250 and spend the $100 OBC on that cruise. When I return home, I'll call NCL and have them apply the certificate to my booked inside cabin. If they offer any other perks when I call, great. If not, $300 total has been applied to the balance of the cruise.

 

If I'm wrong in this, please let me know!

I hope others can weigh in. My understanding is that you can use the CruiseNext on a future booking - not on something you have already booked. I could very well be wrong. Anyone with experience of this?

That can vary. It seems that usually it's an in-category upgrade (book a BA balcony, get a BA balcony).

 

At least that was what I got on my last cruise.

True if you do initial booking onboard :D This doesn’t apply if you have already booked or want to wait to book later.

What perks would then be applied for using the certificate?

If you purchase 2 certificates, you are charged $500 for them in your onboard account. However, you also receive $250 OBC in your onboard account, which means the actual cost $125 each ($500 - $250 = $250/2 =$125).

When you apply the Cruise Next certificates to your booking they will be worth $250 each, so essentially you save $125 off your next cruise for each certificate.

Also, you can use 2 certificates per balcony stateroom (or higher) if your cruise is more than 6 months in the future.

https://www.ncl.com/cruisenext

I want to book a cruise that was just released, but wondered if the perks are worth it to wait until I cruise in March. I see that the OBC offer from CruiseNext must be used on the current cruise you're on, which for me on a 4-night cruise that I already have the UBP and dining isn't that much of a perk.

 

Any other perks I'm not aware of?

You could book now for the $50, then purchase the Cruise Next certificates onboard to get the discount thru OBC. When you return, just call NCL and have the certificate(s) applied to your booking.

Glad I am not the only one wanting to plan ahead :D Our 35th anniversary will be in the fall of 2019 and I am hoping to plan something special to celebrate :champagne-toast: Waiting to see what will be available . . . and hoping to know soon for budgeting purposes, lol.

Seems cruise releases are later this year, at least based on my booking date for my upcoming May 2018 cruise. It was booked 12/11/16.

Any rumors on when cruises for summer/fall 2019 will be available for booking?

Royal Caribbean only releases in the spring March or April as stated in other posts.

This article seems to indicate otherwise: http://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-news/royal-caribbean-announces-2019-2020-destinations-and-new-ships

 

Spending points with NCL has a higher value than redeeming the points From the credit card company for cash. NCL redemption ratio is 10,000 points=$100 which can be used for shipboard credit for example.

 

Just a clarification, this is true for point redemptions of less than 25,000. If you redeem points of 25,000 or more, there is no difference between OBC value and a statement credit value.

Anyone know when I can expect summer of 2019 to become available?

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NCL usually releases cruises twice a year. Typically in the spring and around the holidays. I am expecting them to release more itineraries for 2019 in the next month or so. I am watching because I'd like to book something for fall 2019, lol.

FYI, I have two upcoming cruises that were booked within 2-3 weeks after itinerary release. One for February 2018 was booked in March 2016 and the other for May 2018 was booked in December 2016 according to my invoices.

From what I can tell, most cruise lines do the same to remain competitive.

I used my NCL branded MasterCard (issued by Bank of America) several times on a recent cruise from San Francisco to Miami, with ports in Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia. Turns out that this card charges foreign transaction fees. I won't be using it any longer for out of country purchases! :lips-sealed: I am absolutely NOT a fan of Bank of America and ONLY took the card for the initial perks. At least it has no annual fee.

Funny, I have never had a problem with BoA credit cards. However, I did read the fine print so I knew that the NCL card was not a "travel" card.

I typically link my NCL card to my onboard account then put it in the safe for the duration. I use my BoA Travel Card for all other purchases because it doesn't have foreign transaction fees. Neither card has annual fees, so it works for me. :D Plus, I like the convenience of being able to consolidate rewards points on one account.

Anyone know what category to book with the intent to use the 4 category within meta upgrade to get to a B1 Aft Balcony?

Which category oceanview for a cross meta upgrade to a B1?

Which inside category for a double cross meta upgrade to a B1?

And if anyone is interested in knowing this, points can't be used for upgrades in the mini-suites and higher categories. The upgrade program only applies to insides, oceanviews & balconies.

I really wish the written information on this rewards program had more explicit written explanations! ;p

Hello to all. A simple question I hope.

 

NCL allow a cancellation because of a "significant change" of itinerary. That means among other things a change of 2 ports.

 

Are they allowing cancellations at this time because of "significant change".

 

Many of us have at least 2 port changes.

 

Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

Deeko

Are you outside the US? If so, I believe you have more protections than those of us booking within the US. If NCL is required by your contract to allow cancellations due to itinerary changes, they will.

You should call either NCL or your travel agent. :D

Info for the Breakaway 14 Day Cruise February 2nd to 16th 2018

 

 

FYI.......For anyone not in the roll call and is wondering what is going on.

 

 

Please see below for the ship's revised itinerary:

 

 

Original

Fri New York, New York 3:00 pm

Sat At Sea

Sun At Sea

Mon San Juan, Puerto Rico 3:00 pm 10:00 pm

Tue Philipsburg, St. Maarten 10:00 am 7:00 pm

Wed Tortola, British Virgin Islands 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Thu St.thomas, US Virgin Islands 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Fri Roseau, Dominica 9:00 am 5:00 pm

Sat Castries, St. Lucia 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sun Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Mon Basseterre, St. Kitts 11:00 am 6:00 pm

Tue At Sea

Wed At Sea

Thu At Sea

Fri New York City, New York 8:00 am

 

Revised

Fri New York, New York 3:00 pm

Sat At Sea

Sun At Sea

Mon At Sea

Tue Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Wed Willimstad, Curacao 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Thu Kralendijk, Bonaire 8:00 am 4:00 pm

Fri At Sea

Sat Fort-de-France, Martinique 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sun Castries, St. Lucia 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Mon Bassettere, St. Kitts 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Tue At Sea

Wed At Sea

Thu At Sea

Fri New York City, New York 8:00 am

 

I am very happy with the new itinerary because NCL made the effort to ensure that the cruise remained "Southern" Caribbean. Kudos!

I honestly like this even better than the original itinerary, i.e. sea days, 3 ports, sea day, 3 ports and then sea days to return. It just seems more relaxing to me. :D

I am not sure why Barbados had to be replaced with Martinique but it is fine with me as long as we are in the Southern Caribbean. (y)

Would you rather go to an island you really were not planning on sailing to or go to the one you wanted so badly and get off the ship to nothing what so ever except crumbled houses.

I have no problem going to different ports as long as it is in the same region, i.e. port swaps within the Caribbean. I do have a huge problem with swapping a continental US or Bahamas port for a Caribbean port.

Honestly, if NCL wants to keep the same itinerary and make humanitarian aid stops to islands that need help, I would be all in with helping in any way I can. However, I want to have the opportunity to make the choice between vacation itinerary and/or charity work!

I've been (im)patiently waiting to hear the new itinerary for our 1/23 cruise on the Gem. I know they're scrambling, and I'm trying to just wait...but the over-planner in me is freaking out not knowing where we'll be headed LOL. I will not cancel, just make the best of it. But I am anxious to begin looking into options for how to spend our port time at wherever we'll be headed. Fingers crossed it's not Bahamas and FL...

I have similar concerns not only with planning for whatever itinerary we end up with but also cancelling reservations already made in ports that may no longer be on the itinerary.

And yes, I want NCL to be as considerate of guests on the Breakaway and Gem as they have been to guests on the Epic and Escape. I am flexible about the itinerary as long as it is an all "Caribbean" itinerary and not some hybrid Florida/Bahamas/Caribbean itinerary.

Ya im on the 14 day sailing in jan 2018.

 

I got an email saying 2 weeks. It should be in 2 weeks

 

People save a full year to know where they are going. Im in no mood fir a 14 day bahama/fl itinerary

I hear you, I've been making payments on my 2/18 cruise for 1.5 years. This is a big deal to us and definitely do not want to stop in FL or Bahamas. I could have done that much cheaper ;) on a 7 day cruise, lol. I think people booking out of NYC for the Caribbean cruises are doing so to get to places that a one week cruise just can't do without flying to a different port.

I am really wondering why NCL has announced altered itineraries for Epic and Escape but not the 2 Southern Caribbean cruises on the Breakaway or the Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Gem?