Jetlagged787

You will be tendered. If you are only walking around Cannes, leave when ever you want.

Thanks. I have not been tendered before. I imagine that it is pretty hectic at first with those getting off to join excursions. Roughly when could we expect it to calm down, i.e. no long queues?

I understand from another site that only small ships can dock at Cannes and for all others it is a tendered operation. Sadly, they do not specify what counts as small.

Does anyone know if we will be tendered from Spirit? If so, bearing in mind that we are not in any particular hurry as we are only getting off for a walk around, is there any particular strategy regarding the best time to leave please?

Just got back from sailing on the Spirit. I know that you can get hot chocolate packets in the Buffet and the blue lagoon.

 

 

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Thanks. That's me sorted now then.

Nope, just balcony and higher categories.

None Inside or OceanView.

 

OP could ask cabin steward who might be able to find an extra one, but not always.

Thanks. It's not a problem, as I wasn't expecting one anyway.

Hmm...I think a coffee maker comes with all the cabins.

This just gets better!

Final balance payment today. 92 more sleeps and we're on our way. :cool:

Although the hot chocolate in buffet and complimentary room service breakfast was packets, in the MDR at breakfast when we ordered hot chocolate it came pre-made in a carafe.

Now there's an idea. Hot chocolate and brandy for breakfast. The Spanish call it Lumumba and I like one in the evening. I'm adaptable though and hey! It must be bedtime somewhere in the world while we're having brekkie!

I just took some of the hot chocolate packets back to the room. Hot water from the coffee maker and double strength with two packets. Good!

Great thought Roger but, being buried in a dark hole down in the bowels of the ship, I doubt that we qualify for a coffee maker! Surely, they're just for the posh folk up top!

Thank you both for your replies. I can taste my nightcap now, with just a slosh of Malibu or brandy to top it off!

Is hot chocolate available anywhere on board Spirit and if so, is it available on the UBP?

I read each person who has the UBP Can order 2 drinks at one time

 

Is this true?? I'd like to order a shot and a beer or 2 beers at the same time and save time going to

The bar again 🍹🍹😜

Exactly that. Cheers. :)

We are just home from a 12 night cruise on Spirit, on which we had the 'free' UBP. We weren't charged gratuities on any of our drinks - not sure if this is because our package was provided by a British travel agent. It was a pleasant surprise not to be stung for 18% gratuity - we'd half-expected it!

Yes JB, the 18% is included in the UBP perk when the cruise is bought in Europe.

I don't want to be accused of thread drift but would like to ask you a couple of questions re the Spirit. If you don't mind, could you drop me an email at:

pobox2004-ncl at yahoo dot co dot uk

Thanks.

Understand that it is the cruise line itself that is fined by the US government for violations of the PVSA, but your ticket contract allows them to pass the fine on to you. PVSA waivers are routinely granted for reasons of weather (either missing embarkation, or missed port) or mechanical failures. If the missed embarkation is due to a personal reason (one guy here on CC had to go back for his wallet and missed the ship), or just too close a connection between flight and cruise, then you would be out the whole cruise, unless you could board at a foreign port.

Thanks for the explanation. Perhaps my insurance premium is good value after all.

Wow! That seems harsh, but if they are the rules in the US then you have to go with them.

Tell me something though. What happens if on embarkation day you miss boarding, say through transport problems, delayed flight, etc? Is there no way that you can catch up at the next port or do you lose the cruise altogether? Thank goodness for insurance if that is the case.

We booked an inside cabin through a TA in November and were offered the Free At Sea.

I was thinking I must be the only one that felt it wasn't the fault of NCL> It is sad; OP I am so sorry this had to happen but I still do not understand how this is the fault of anyone except you for not being absolutely sure every bit of documentation is up to date and correct. Lets hope you can work things out some way.

 

OP, I just read your response; thanks for letting us know it all worked out in the end. That is the important thing and I hope this is a reminder for everyone; please make sure all your documents are in order.

You really don't seem to get it do you? The documents were in order. They were accepted without question when the group entered the US from Europe. It was just the NCL contractors and it seems you, who didn't have any sight of the documents by the way, that seemed to think that there was a problem.

Now the best brains at NCL have admitted that they made a terrible mistake, have admitted it. offered a sincere apology and made a total refund and compensation.

Isn't it time that you recognised that perhaps you also got it wrong?

So finally an update from NCL Guest relations:

 

I did get a sincere apology for the entire incident and an assurance that they have spoken to the people involved and that they are updating their routines to take into account the fact that US immigration is now “paperless” and information is available online. They did mention that unfortunately they don’t have access to the US immigration web (seems strange as I was able to access it via the Wifi network in the departure hall….) and they would look at how to have this arranged.

 

Bottom line results: A sincere apology from NCL for the entire incident. A full refund of the entire cost of the cruise + 1200 EURO’s in vouchers for a future cruise.

 

 

So....first positive experience with NCL for me :)

Well done and thank you for coming back to us with the outcome. The question that I'm sure a lot of us will be asking is, what about all your other expenses such as your return flights from Europe to the US? And what did you do with your time? Did you stay on and holiday in the States or return home immediately.

I bet any lawyer that might have got involved in this would have piled on the agony for NCL with added compensation for all the extras along with trauma, stress, etc. I'm sure you are just grateful for a far quicker result and your cruise fully refunded though.

A very good free VPN you could try is Tunnelbear. The free version gives 500 Mb of data a month with option to upgrade for a fee for unlimited data.

What I find most interesting about this is the flights being booked. For the most part, I have always found the best time to book a flight (based on cost) is 45-90 days out from flying. Do a lot of people book flights so far out (over a year)? I did not even realize that airlines let you book that far out.

I cannot speak for your side of the pond, but usually here in Europe at least, the earlier you book, the better, particularly the low cost airlines. I have worked in and around the travel trade for many years and I cannot think of any full service carrier where you can book more than 364 days in advance. With the low cost carriers it is even less.

A very interesting and enlightening analysis Keith. Thanks for taking the trouble. I am surprised at the change highlighted by Susank on another thread where her Italy/France/Spain/Sicily/Sardinia/Italy cruise has been changed to go in the opposite direction to Greece/Malta/Italy. Do you have any idea what would bring about such a change?

How do you get to the US website? If I add .com it just sends me to the UK one or are people using a VPN?

 

Interested in the price difference even with the bad exchange rate!

Yes, I am using a VPN to view the US site.

Thanks for posting that Susank. That's quite some change and I could run with that but clearly, from your letter, that's not going to happen for us.

Have a super cruise. :cool:

That's interesting Susank. I'm looking at the NCL website and your itinerary change is showing as an extra port stop in Malta on the day that you would have been at sea. I hope they make a similar change to our cruise in May.

On the positive side, for any free drink promotions there is no chargeable gratuity.

And if you are cruising the Med, a legendry no sales tax on drinks either. I have yet to put that to the test though! Roll on May. :)

Are theme cruises more applicable to U.S. sailings or am I at risk in June leaving from Barcelona? :eek:

Earlier, another poster mentioned themecruisefinder dot con

If you search in "All categories" then in the box, "Search anywhere in the ads" enter 'Barcelona', you will get a list of all cruises departing from, passing through or arriving at Barcelona. Warning! There are many but not all in 2017. You just have t work your way through them. Good luck!

Just received a reply from NCL UK: "Please be informed that guests are not charged on-board for VAT for the Packages we offer as part of our Freestyle Promos. VAT and 18% gratuity will not be charged on beverages up to the value of $15 per glass."

Thanks for that. I will now contact them and try to get the same in writing. As others have pointed out, there is no guarantee that you won't be charged so it's always handy to have it in writing.