ireashmott

So we have been booked for sometime now in the Haven on a European cruise next year. The Haven has been sold out for a few months now and much of the ship is too.

Recently, they added the ship to the Canada at Par deal. We are Canadian and based on previous pricing, we would save about 30% if we the CAD was at par with the USD.

My PCC isn't available today but the person I spoke with said they didn't think they could help me as the have nothing to price compare with.

Has anyone ever switched promos when their cabin class was sold out? If so, how did you do it?

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! Unfortunately, we don't stop in Flam. So no amazing train ride for us. Maybe next time?

Our itinerary has us stopping in Norway at: Bergen, Alesund, Olden, and Skjolden. For Bergen, we were going to do a hop on bus, check out Bryggen, and then take the funicular up Floyen. I understand there is a bus from the fish market to the funicular. Is that true?

For Alesund, we were going to go to the aquarium and Kniven. Anything else recommended?

For Olden, we are looking at kayaking or taking a local bus from town to the Fjord. Any insights on either of these options would be much appreciated.

For Skjolden, we are looking for a private RIB boat excursion and hike. Unless something else would be better.

They provide a pack and play. You can also ask for bed rails if you have a pulldown bed and want to have one on there and one on the couch.

If budget allows, I highly recommend the 2 bedroom family suite for a family of 4 or more.

For those of you had sailed this summer or last on NCL through Norway's Fjords, what suggestions or tips do you have? An excursion you highly recommend? A unique thing to pack for the trip?

Going next summer and I am already planning cause I can't wait.

Enjoy your holiday! While we have not sailed on the Sun, we are fans of the smaller ships. If the bells and whistles means long lines to them, then why bother?

I posted, though, to give one helpful tip. If you are a fan of excursions and being off and active, you should know you can do more than 1 excursion in most ports in Alaska. For example, you could do dog sleding in the morning and a helicopter glacier tour in the afternoon.

How's Jade?

Recently read a review commenting on her Hawaiian furnishings.

The Jade isn't due for the modern makeover until the spring of 2017. The Hawaiian will hopefully be gone.

We picked Haven over non-Haven for our next cruise as we are going to the Fjord and wanted an indoor pool option.

We cruise with our kids and, while they are pretty well behaved, they are still kids. And I know many fellow cruisers don't care for their loud laughing during meals or other playing around moments. I totally get it. Other people's kids can get under my skin.

To address this, I think NCL should create an adult only haven area, with small suites. The family haven and the adult haven would be like beaches and sandals resorts. Pick the appropriate one.

Twelve cabins? If I were you, I would charter a yatch or catamaran and sail around the Mediterranean!

I loved the cave tubing and zipline excursion in Belize.

The minimum weight is likely just for the zipline and it likely exists to ensure that she is not too small for the harness equipment. Of course, height and weight can also be an issue for properly zipping through.

You may want to cancel and book a private cave tubing only excursion. Or cave tubing and snorkling?

The 2017 Europe spring, summer, and early fall cruises came out in February 2016. The 2016 Europe spring, summer, and early fall cruises came out in December 2014. I also believe the 2015 Europe spring, summer, and early fall came out in December 2013. You can see the old press releases on NCL' website.

In other words, anyone's guess. But I would expect December at the earliest.

I recommend walkie-talkies. My husband and I used them, so we could touch base when I was with the kids and he was off exploring or relaxing. They can even work a fair distance, should one person be on the ship and the other in town.

You get some that look pretty awesome.

It is obviously your and your wife's choice, but I wouldn't make the same one. Most new parents love having a few days to themselves with their newborn at the beginning. Especially since it's all feed, sleep, and change, on a 3 hour continuous cycle.

Several years ago, I missed a chance to go to Australia with my husband (he was sent for work) to be there for a friend's wedding. I seriously regret that decision.

Baby will be there and more ready for guests when you get back.

The fascination will allow for 5 in the grand suite. It's got a nice layout for 5. You can also spend 50% more and get a connecting Oceanview room.

In my vacation experience, both adults and kids can be awful. You can find yourself neighbouring next to the Problem Child or in the pool with an Adam Sandler man-child.

The name "Haven" implies it is free from jerks. Of course, they cannot guarantee that. All they can offer is: look, here is an area with less people, therefore less odds of a jerk child or adult.

I would definitely take a Mediterranean Cruise over a Caribbean cruise. If I am picking between being pool side in hot tropical weather or being in cooler fall-ish weather roaming the streets of a beautiful village, I pick the latter. To each his/her own, though.

Also, as you are likely planning on being in a family way, it's good to do the Mediterranean pre-kids. It is one of the more challenging (but certainly not impossible) kid cruises.

I should also mention that we have been traveling with our children since they were newborns. I think it is wonderful to introduce travel and wanderlust at an early age.

 

We currently are traveling the country in a 45ft RV with our three children to show them this beautiful nation.

 

Please do not let other people make you second guess traveling with your baby. Be flexible. Be forgiving. Give yourself grace. You WILL encounter negative nellies and people who do not like children... that is on them, not on you.

Completely agree!

As explained before you aren't swapping since it is two different sales. That's why they say no. If the price was the same, it still would be a cancel and rebook. You then might lose the cabin you have chosen. Some have said they have done it but who knows how the paperwork end works. My friend is also my travel agent. She fought to just have the promos changed on my last cruise. They warned her I would take a chance on losing my cabin by changing. I was lucky and didn't but another customer wasn't lucky.

Yah, I think you are right. It's a different sale and I don't want a cancel and rebook. Oh well, I wish just be happy with our great price and consider excursion options.

Tried again with someone else, and they still won't let me. Maybe tomorrow?

I definitely will stay with my current booking if I can't do an easy swap. The new price is much higher and my cabin class is sold out.

Also, if you do travel while your wife is pregnant, ensure your travel insurance covers not only her, but also baby. Many insurers only cover the woman, so if baby comes at 23 weeks, you could be out of pocketing paying for NICU care for 22 weeks abroad. Google it, it has happened.

We cruised with a 2.5 yo and a 10 month old to Alaska and will be cruising in Europe with a 5.5 yo, 3.5 yo, and a 15 month old. We also did an all inclusive in the Caribbean with an 11 month old.

We love to travel with our kids. That being said, it is very different than traveling without kids.

If you decide to cruise with a baby, I strongly recommend:

- either a balcony suite or a cabin with a separate bedroom area, as baby will go to sleep earlier than you will want to;

- travel with friends/family or pick one of the ships with the baby daycare, as many of the ships only offer child care at ages 3 years old and up;

- pick an itinerary that has some great family friendly excursions (eg in Alaska we did a helicopter ride and dog sledding)

- be prepared to be flexible

- bring a stroller and a baby carrier

Traveling with kids is not for everyone. Most of my friends think we are crazy. But we aren't going to wait a decade to travel. Plus, we love having them with us.

Given the number of people who are against traveling with babies or with certain babies, you may want to wait for baby to arrive before you book.

I know there are a few threads on the new promo, but I am a little unclear on something:

Has anyone who booked with the old promo (eg shore excursion credits) been able to switch to the new promo (eg paid gratuities) without having the cruise cost changed to reflect the current price?

Our cruise cost has gone up by a substantial amount and my PCC advising I can't swap promos without triggering a price adjustment. Just want to confirm he is correct.

My husband was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer 3 years ago and has been in remission for 2 years. For us, we also live each moment to the fullest (a saying we prefer to "each moment as if it were the last").

My recommendations:

- Even with stage 4, he should do all he can to stay in remission post-chemo, that means eating healthy, juicing, exercising, relaxing, etc. As such, I strongly recommend a spa pass for the cruise and looking at special diet options at the restaurants.

- For excursions, I recommend booking private ones with local providers. For health and flexibility reasons, he will want to travel in just your small group in a van.

- For what type of excursions, in the Caribbean, I am a big fan of the zipline, catamaran and snorkeling, beach lounging, and scuba diving. I recommend having one of those at each port, so that you get each box checked.

- To limit illness exposure, avoid the buffet and try to stick to the speciality restaurants and Cagney's for breakfast and lunch (available only for suite/haven passengers)

- Of course, staying in the Haven is the best way to cruise on NCL.

- Ensure he has insurance coverage

For funding all of this, start a Facebook page and ******** page to raise money. Once you have some traction there, email NCL. If they see that this trip has a fair amount of support, they will be more inclined to assist.

My thoughts and prayers are with your friend.

How many people were you intending to have in a cabin?

 

I'm just curious, since guests 3 & 4 free (which is happening right now, and has been for a while) covers the vast majority of the cabins on the ship. Very few hold 5 to 8 people, which is what would require the other promo that was mentioned.

We are a family of 5 and normally book the 2 bedroom family suite.

Im still holding out for the 3rd - 8th guest free sale. I still haven't seen that one this year....

 

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Same! Gave up on waiting and booked a future cruise with Carnival.

The price for our next cruise went up by a fair amount a few weeks ago. Now free gratuities offers no real savings.

A few quick questions for those who have been on or are shortly going on a Norwegian Fjord cruise:

1) when were excursions available for booking;

2) did you find most ports were without NCL excursion options.

We sail next June and from the looks of things, only 2 of the 4 ports seem like they will offer excursions (Bergen and Alesund). I can't book anything else yet.