wncretired

10 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

Sorry this reply is a bit late in coming, but here goes.  I have used WPs to upgrade 11 times, usually OV to Balcony, but once a double meta of Inside to Balcony.  I've always tried to get at least 25% return, find it acceptable to use points for 20%, and once reluctantly accepted 15% when the DW insisted.  My overall average is about 25% and my maximum was over 50% on a three week repositioning cruise when the Balcony was going for more than $2500 pp above the cost of an OV.

Do you have to book a certain level OV to get a certain Balcony level? I like to stay in the BA  or BB balconies. Could I upgrade from “any” OV to one of these balconies? 

On 6/9/2024 at 4:35 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

There are no sales.

There is always a sale.

 

When you wrap your head around the above, then you will understand.

 100 % correct. This is about as simple as it gets!! 

I have used NCL Air for my last 6 cruises. Everything was great. Until it wasn’t!!

I don’t mind a little inconvenience, if I can get decent seats. This fall will be my last trip using NCL Air to Rome and back. From now on, it is me and Delta. Bottom line is that I want to fly when I want to fly, and sit where I want to sit. Whatever it costs, it just costs. 

2 hours ago, BeinKc said:

Thanks for all the responses.  So here’s another question/ issue.   When we check in on line, do we check in with Iberia or American.  I have downloaded the apps for both airlines and can log in and see my flights on both websites, so which one ?   The issue is that the two airlines don’t have matching flight information.   For some reason American has us on two flights out of our home city.  One flight matches Iberias.

 

any ideas on this?

 Same here on flights “to and from” Rome this fall out of Atlanta. Spent 2 days on the phone trying to get seat assignments. Got a different story from each person I talked to. I was dealing with United, Air Canada and Lufthansa. 
 

Untied said to get seats through Air Canada. Air Canada said to go through United. Then United said to go through Lufthansa. Lufthansa said I could only get seat assignments when I arrived at the airport. Do what???
 

Who’s on first? 😂

Need advice here. We are considering doing a B2B on the POA. Does this even make sense as both weeks are the same exact itinerary? Our thoughts are to do the first week taking several excursions, (some through NCL and some not), and the second week renting a car in some of the ports as we would have a better idea of what we would like to see. 
 

What say you?

Probably has been answered, but as poster above, I don’t want to read all 246 pages of this thread, although I have probably read at least 1/3 to 1/2 of them. If I have over 60,000 WP’s, and want to upgrade from interior to balcony (2Meta), can I go from an IA to BA on any cruise? I am looking at a 21 day cruise. It just seems to me that it would take more points to upgrade a longer cruise. What am I missing here?

Where do you purchase the “fast track”?

On 5/18/2024 at 8:08 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

Welcome fellow boglehead.😎

Boglehead here! Has served me well. 
And if I’m on a ship, it’s in a balcony! Tried an inside room and a porthole room once each.  The next 40+ cruises have all been balconies. To each his own! Bon Voyage 😎😎

2 hours ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

 

As for me, I love sea days. I love the motion of the ocean (even if we’re rocking and rolling). I enjoy spending walking around and exploring the ship. Sea days are relaxing with no specific times to do anything unless you schedule a specialty dinner, a show, or a spa treatment.

You NAILED it. I agree with the above statement 100%. Last Dec. 2023, we took a 16 day transatlantic from Rome to Florida. Had 8 sea days. Loved it! I think I could do a 16 day cruise with 16 sea days, for all the reasons you stated above!! 😍

We’ve not been doing the duck thing. However, today we stepped on the elevator and found this cute little one! My wife named him tweet-tweet and is keeping him. 
He is very tiny. Perfect size. 
 

Definitely has piqued our interest in this ducky thing now! 😍😍

On 3/28/2024 at 5:24 PM, whataboutport said:

 

We had fun going to the Walmart in PV. Honestly I find the prices of the souvenirs to be fair and cheaper than people selling it outside. After wasting time negotiating with outdoor vendors, the price inside Walmart was the same--no negotiating. We also like to get local chips and snacks so that was fun too. We go to Walmart for the same reason we go at home, one stop shopping for the most part.

 

There was a swap meet type marketplace set up in the Walmart parking lot when we were there. Not sure if it's there everyday or not. But I bought an ice cream for my kid. The vendor took US dollars and gave me change in pesos, not in my favor but it was fine. A cup of strawberry ice cream with the most chunks of real strawberry I've ever seen. Very tasty for about $2. 

On 3/28/2024 at 5:24 PM, whataboutport said:

 

We had fun going to the Walmart in PV. Honestly I find the prices of the souvenirs to be fair and cheaper than people selling it outside. After wasting time negotiating with outdoor vendors, the price inside Walmart was the same--no negotiating. We also like to get local chips and snacks so that was fun too. We go to Walmart for the same reason we go at home, one stop shopping for the most part.

 

There was a swap meet type marketplace set up in the Walmart parking lot when we were there. Not sure if it's there everyday or not. But I bought an ice cream for my kid. The vendor took US dollars and gave me change in pesos, not in my favor but it was fine. A cup of strawberry ice cream with the most chunks of real strawberry I've ever seen. Very tasty for about $2. 

Agree with you 100%. We have been to the PV Walmart at the port several times. Never know what you’re gonna find! And you can be pretty sure you are getting what you pay for. 
 

With that said, we also like shopping the local vendors too. Lots of souvenirs to take home. 

Going on this ship in 7 days for a 21 day Panama Canal cruise. Shouldn’t be too many spring breakers on this one as it is 21 days long! But if there are, there are! We’ll deal with it. 😊

11 hours ago, Middleager said:

I wouldn't feel painful or bummed at all. 

 

I'd feel glad, and blessed that I have been able to be on cruises, and got those points.  So what if I'm 1 point away from the next level.  There are other things that are painful, certainly not this.

I had this problem after completing a 16 day TA in December, 2023. That got me to 74 points. I have a 21 day Panama Canal cruise coming up April, 2024. What to do???

I fixed that problem. Booked a 7 day Caribbean cruise in February, 2024. BINGO! Problem no more!! 

Working for me.

5 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

If it makes you feel any better, I bought 100 shares of CCL for the OBC benefit back when it was trading for over $60.😳 Do the math, I'm too depressed over that acquisition..................😭

 

 Doug

OUCH!!! ☹️

Ok, I’m all in. Just purchased 100 shares of NCL at $19.26 per share. Got a 21 day Panama Canal cruise coming up in April. Should be an easy $250 credit.

At this rate the stock price would have to drop over 13% before I start losing $$$. And my philosophy is that if it drops 13%, buy another 100 shares or more. Wouldn’t change my OBC any, but would up the odds that I would see a profit on the investment. It’s all a gamble, but one that I’m willing to take! 

23 hours ago, EngrJones said:

If you sail NCL, why aren't you owning 100 shares for this great deal?  That makes zero sense.

You are correct! It does make zero sense. 

I guess I should have said, I am currently sailing NCL. (last 5 cruises). I am not married to any one cruise line. Sailed RCL over 20 times, CCL many times, HAL, Princess, Celebrity, etc. many times. With that said, I think I will go ahead and purchase my 100 shares of NCL.  What have I got to lose? (Except maybe $2,000 😂)

I guess I’m the oddball here. I sail NCL, but all of my “cruise” stock is with RCL! Go figure!

Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but hey, it works for me! 😎

Just completed a TA on the Epic in December, 2023. Everything was open!! 

I’ve been on most major cruise lines, (several times on each), and only started sailing NCL last year. So far, I have taken 4 NCL cruises. Loved NCL so much, that I have 3 more booked in 2024. 
 

No problems at all with NCL. Or any of the other cruise lines, as far as that goes. 

13 hours ago, HawkSaddle7 said:

Thanks for your comments.  Most I have heard is needs updated (refurb sched in 25). U agree about the itinerary which is why we booked. More concern with people saying hard to get a drink, shows and eating due to crowds. Will prob do our own excursions as seem to be better.  We are also going on Prima in March so that will be a lot newer but always hear mixed reviews about everything.  

Just did a 16 day TA in December, 2023 on the Epic. Bathroom situation not a problem. Not great, but not bad. No problem ever getting a drink. Dining was no problem, especially if you timed it right. Never waited more than 15 minutes. 
 

Overall, I’ve had better and I’ve had worse. But even the worst was great!! 

Thank you very much for your interesting and informative recap of this cruise. DW and I are doing the 21 day PC cruise from Miami to Seattle in April, 2024, on the Encore. Can’t wait!! 😎🍹🍷

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I now have all the Specialty restaurants booked!!

Question??

I am currently Gold with 69 points. Have a 7 day Caribbean cruise on NCL Breakaway, Feb. 11-18, 2024. This will make me Platinum. 
 

I currently have a 21 day Panama Canal on the Encore, April 7-28, 2024. There are 3 SDP’s included with FAS. I have already booked these three. I’m assuming I need to wait until my status changes to Platinum, and shows up on the NCL website, before I book the additional 2 freebies that come with Platinum status. (That is of course, unless I want to be charged at the time of booking).

Any advice here?
 

7 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

That sounds like a great deal.  How long ago did you book it?  

July 29, 2023.