jcathers1

On 6/25/2024 at 2:33 PM, CarolnLarry said:

If I remember correctly, there is no deck 17 on MSC ships as it is an unlucky number in Italy.  Kinda like the number 13 in the US.

Yep, that's correct. 

3 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I've noticed some strange things like you describe. When doing some mock bookings, certain decks are unable to be selected. This could be due to MSC making different things available to different markets/countries at different times. It could also be that MSC wants to fill 3 decks before opening up the other 3. I don't know if we're seeing what is left or if we're seeing what MSC wants to fill first.

 

 

It could also be website issues in some countries but not others. For example, one time a certain Royal Suite was available if booking from the U.K. but was unavailable if booking from the U.S.. A call to the MSC "concierge service" solved the problem and allowed me to book when the website did not.

 

My suspicion is that MSC wants to fill the 3 decks before allowing people to book the next 3 decks. 

 

EDIT:

I checked a popular travel agency site and they have plenty available on 15, 16, and 18 (no deck 17). If you want a lower deck than what the MSC site shows, contact either the concierge (request a call) or call regular MSC customer service.

Thanks! Do you happen to have the number for the concierge. 

One final question: for the booking we are looking at (May 31), it only shows as having available YC deluxe suite cabins on deck 19, 20, and 21. These same class of rooms are on decks 16, 17, and 18, right? Is it possible that all of these sold out first? It's strange, because there appear to be 30+ rooms still available, but not on those lower decks. 

Will World America have the exact specs as World Europa (cabins, YC area, etc.)? Sorry, just looking to book now, and it always makes it more challenging when the ship isn't completed yet. 

Also, in your experience, any concern booking a late May sailing? It looks like they aren't offering sailings until April, so I assume that's when they are targeting its completion. I assume that month buffer should be enough if there are minor delays...?

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:

I haven't noticed anything exceptionality larger  but maybe 19015/19016 are a bit wider.

Interesting. Can I ask why you think they might be larger?

Looking for some guidance on whether any of the YC Deluxe Suites on World America will be slightly larger than the others (or different in any material way). Does anyone know if this is the case on World Europa or will be the case on World America? I know this was the case on Seashore, etc. due to the ship's irregularities, but wasn't sure if there would be any anomalous cabins on WA. 

Thanks in advance. 

Very helpful, folks. Thanks!

It appears to be fairly cheap and easy to take the Line 1 train from SeaTac to downtown (where our hotel is). Looking for any experiences that would confirm or refute that. I assume we can just get tickets when we land at SeaTac?

We won't be getting in until ~10:00pm, so it will be a later train ride. I'm not really uncomfortable with that, but my wife doesn't love it...

16 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

I have a vague memory of that in the early days of the Escape.  But have not heard of that for a very long time.  To assist with the crowds the newer ships would give Haven guests an option to have lunch at Margaitaville (when it existed) or the American Diner.  Not sure if that still is in effect.  I have not heard of any dinner discounts lately.  Going way back people in the Haven used to be able to get specialty restaurant appetizers for free in the Haven.  That's all long gone.

I had completely forgotten about the Food Republic discount.  That's odd to think about from today's perspective.  I suppose The Food Republic was seen as a lunch place and maybe they were trying to jump start a dinner crowd or maybe it was throwing a small perk to Haven guests.  I do remember it. I never experienced it but it was in the days when Food Republic was a new concept.  Did not last long.

Thanks. I had totally forgotten about getting free lunch at Margaritaville on embarkation day. Another perk lost to time...

Several years ago, Haven guests received 50% off at Food Republic on the first night of the cruise. Does anyone know of any deals like this currently (at FR or any other specialty restaurant)?

On 5/14/2024 at 4:19 PM, The Traveling Man said:

Juneau:  The shuttle drops off and picks up at the base of the Mount Roberts Tramway, right in the heart of the city.

 

Ketchikan:  The shuttle drops off and picks up at the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau on Front Street, next to the main city cruise docks where most other cruise ships will dock.  As in Juneau, this spot is at the heart of the city.

 

You are not alone in questioning the wisdom of NCL docking farther away from the heart of town at several locations in Alaska.  In some cases it appears that NCL has chosen to dock at an industrial port instead of the busy central cruise terminal.  In other cases, such as Icy Strait and Ketchikan, NCL has invested heavily in their own facilities located a significant distance from the heart of town.  The reasons are unclear, but seem to be related to port fees, pier availability, ease of docking, and controlling their own destiny. 

I've seen a couple posts that say the shuttle drops off at berth 4. The Visitor's Center appears to be at berth 2. Can anyone confirm which one is correct? These are about a half mile apart. 

Thanks, all! Very helpful info.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the port locations/berths for our upcoming Bliss cruise, as well as understanding how we get to/from the city centers of these ports. Can anyone confirm what I think I know? 🙂

Sitka: we berth at the Sitka Terminal Outside. There will be free shuttles into the town and they drop off at the Centennial Hall. 

Juneau: we berth at AJ dock. Appears there will be a short shuttle ride. Can anyone confirm where exactly the shuttles drop off?

Icy Straight Point: Bliss berths at Wilderness Landing and there is a free tram (green one) to the "main" area of the port.

Ketchikan: we berth at Ward Cove west. There will be a free shuttle. Can anyone confirm where exactly the shuttles drop off?

Thanks in advance for the help. Any other dos/don't for the shuttling? Trying to make sure we have all these details straight have been the most stressful part for me. It appears that NCL's port locations are among the worst of any cruise line, which seems surprising to me. 

When do bears typically awaken from hibernation? We will be in Alaska in late may/early June, so wondering if they will even have emerged yet.

On 5/6/2024 at 12:42 PM, rockfsh said:

Do you remember which nights these were?

We are attending Icons on Sunday and Jersey Boys on Wednesday, but I don't recall which other options were available. 

15 hours ago, jcathers1 said:

Yes, thanks for mentioning this. We have a 3rd party excursion scheduled (snorkeling), so I'm keen to be very clear on the transportation details to get us to/from the ship. Our plan is to take advantage of the priority disembarkation to get off the ship quickly, so hoping we don't encounter lines for the shuttle busses. Interested to hear if anyone has experiences with this...

Apologies, the snorkeling tour is actually in Ketchikan, not Sitka. 

14 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

Seriously?  Snorkeling in Alaska?  What’s the water temperature there?

"Cold". Ha. They provide you with a wet suit and the reviews are really good. We love snorkeling in the Caribbean, so we are willing to give it a shot!

34 minutes ago, rockfsh said:

What nights are these shows? I have to plan dinners

There were two options for both shows during our cruise, and each had an early and late seating.

On 5/3/2024 at 10:22 AM, dmwnc1959 said:

I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this, but the cruise ship pier for Sitka is several miles outside of the main town. In these screen grabs from Marine Traffic you can see Carnival Spirit pulling in…

 

 

Yes, thanks for mentioning this. We have a 3rd party excursion scheduled (snorkeling), so I'm keen to be very clear on the transportation details to get us to/from the ship. Our plan is to take advantage of the priority disembarkation to get off the ship quickly, so hoping we don't encounter lines for the shuttle busses. Interested to hear if anyone has experiences with this...

Both Jersey Boys and Icons show as being performed on our cruise, but you can't make reservations to either (but I'm not sure what that means).

My wife and I both have the two meal FAS. Can we bring our two daughters to a restaurant and use all four meals in one sitting? Do we need to let the restaurant know in advance that we plan to do that (other than making a normal reservation)?

Or, if we wanted to purchase additional specialty dining meals, is it cheaper to do that before the cruise or during? 

Just received our tags for our Haven room for the Bliss next month and they were purple and said "priority".

Thanks for the helpful responses everyone!

Hi, all. We have sailed NCL multiple times in the past, but have been on other lines for about 8 years. We've never been to Alaska, so I've got some general NCL questions as well as some specific Alaska questions. We are on the 5/25 Bliss sailing. Thanks in advance!

1. Where is the port located in Seattle? It appears to be the Smith Cove Cruise terminal, but looking to confirm.

2. Anything to pack (or not pack) for an Alaskan cruise (other than the obvious)? We've only ever done Caribbean cruises.

3. We are in the Haven. What time should we get to the cruise port to get on the ship ASAP? Is it still "arrive anytime" for Haven guests?

4. We've sailed in the Haven before, but not for quite a few years. Any new Haven tips/tricks that we should be aware of to help us enjoy our time?

5. Any particular Bliss tips/tricks that folks have learned that would help us?

6. We are set for excursions, but also open to any recommendations for things to do/see/eat/drink in the Alaskan cruise ports. We visit Juneau, Victoria, Dawes Glacier, Sitka, and Ketchikan.

Thanks! 

On 10/21/2023 at 1:43 PM, AstoriaPreppy said:

 

It’s a bit like the subway… there’s no prohibition about bringing big bags on the train, but it’s certainly an acquired skill if you’re not used to it, and you might be an annoyance to the regulars. 

 

That said, ferry use in NY is way lower than the subway, so you’re much more likely to have plenty of space near your seat to tuck your bags away. Wall St - Red Hook isn’t exactly a booming route. 

Thanks. Dumb question from someone who's never ridden the NYC ferry before: do we have assigned seats or do people just mill around out on the deck? Or is there just general seating for folks who want to sit?