Skala
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Posts posted by Skala
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Yes, do not say you are going as tourists. That would be a violation of law. And you would be prohibited from going.
Ok, got it.. thanks 🙏🏻
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Don't check that box, that's for people who are working on an aircraft/vessel. Most ordinary visitors (it's best not to admit to the US authorities that you are "definitely going as tourists") should check the box "515.565(b) Educational exchanges - people to people". And then just keep a journal of what you do while in port. I have not heard of anyone actually asking to look at this journal since cruises started. So follow the guidelines, but don't worry too much about them.
Many thanks for this valuable piece of advice! Will do so..
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Hello all,
We are travelling to Cuba on our NCL Sky's cruise in early October this year. Yesterday we got a message from NCL, which reads:
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"Dear Valued Guest,
We’re excited you’re sailing with us during our first season in Cuba. Please take time to read the following information so you can make the most of your time in legendary Havana.
As a reminder, you can travel to Cuba under the people-to-people authorized travel category under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). To do so, you must maintain a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people.
You are required to self certify that your activities meet these requirements and also to retain records of your activities for a period of 5 years. Please click on the following link for the certification form. Once completed and submitted electronically, please print a copy for your records. Please be advised that you will not be able to board the vessel without having first completed the form. You must complete no later than 3 days prior to your departure date.
Norwegian gives you the option of fulfilling your OFAC requirements through our diverse selection of Havana shore excursions. Tours must be booked no later than 3 days prior to sailing. Tour availability is not guaranteed on board.
Benefits to pre-booking Havana excursions through Norwegian:
- All tours are OFAC compliant
- Priority disembarkation in Havana
- Space confirmed prior to sailing"
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We are concerned with the following statement: "you must maintain a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people". We definitely go there as tourists, so in the Certification Form for travelling to Cuba I ticked the box called "515.565(b)(2) Activities in connection with the temporary sojourn of aircraft/vessels". Will this be sufficient for authorities to let us board the ship ?
- All tours are OFAC compliant
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So,,,, regarding decorations for your birthday. What response do you expect? All the desk is going to tell you is that your order for decorations is in the system. What more can they tell you? With regard to your booked restaurant reservations, the desk will see the same thing you see when you log on to MyNCL.
Well, it's just not so obvious in our case. We booked our cruise through the agent (CruiseDirect) and purchased the mentioned Birthday decoration as a part of special "Amenities package" - which however does not show up in our MyNCL (booked excursions and dinner reservations do appear there). I wrote to the Agent but they advised we check with the cruise line directly and clarify why it does not appear on our MyNCL list. So before booking this service again (now directly via MyNCL) I want to double-check and confirm this with the NCL representatives or concierge desk. For the restaurant reservations, I am unable to book a Speciality Dining (which we have as a part of the mentioned Amenity Package) at any of the restaurants for the Birthday day of 10.10.2017 - for the unknown reason (see the enclosed screenshot), which I also wanted to clarify.
In any case, perhaps you are right, I shall hold my horses and be a bit more patient. The only reason I am worried is that I already contacted NCL twice in August (to clarify the above matters) and also got no response. Will update my situation as soon as I hear from the concierge team.
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A quick update from my side:
I sent an e-mail yesterday morning to NorwegianConciergeDesk@ncl.com asking certain relevant questions re our booked Specialty Restaurant dates and timing, the room's decor for my wife's birthday, etc - no reply. In case this e-mail is a working one, this does not demonstrate the best practice of treating suite guests.. P.S. We have never been cocky capricious customers with exigent demands, just want to make sure everything is prepared in advance of our (not cheap) cruise as we have two special occasions to celebrate on board (Birthday and Wedding Anniversary on two different days) and just want to be heard and listened to....
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I just called NCL and asked...they said yes a concierge will contact us at 30 days out. So there it is....the latest info straight from NCL...and we know they ALWAYS give accurate information. ;p
Many thanks for the update. Hope we all will not be left out ;-)
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Hmm.. interesting.. We are booked in SE suite and with some 35 days prior to our cruise never got anything from the concierge team.. Will send them an e-mail today, thanks for the hint..
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Many thaks for a good comprehensive review. We look forward to stepping on NCL Sky in early October for our cruise to Cuba..
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So you are in an official suite then! We will be in a forward facing suite this weekend-I will be posting a full review of the "suite life" experience when I return! I am looking forward to our second NCL suite and the perks that go with it-including: 1. Priority embarkation/debarkation/tendering 2.Special dining for suite guests for breakfast and lunch in Cagney's with a different menu (so good!) 3. A butler and concierge 4. Special waiting area at POM 5. VIP treatment!! :cool:
Hello! I hope you had a good successful cruise and we all look forward to reading your "suite life" full review of the NCL Sky. Thanks in advance !!
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Does anyone know if the Lagoon area will open before October 2017 ?
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;-) I would also love to learn more about the Suite perks and benefits, and we also have an Aft facing penthouse cabin with large balcony
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I am also wondering if the new Haven/Suites area will be be open on GSC during our cruise beg Oct'17..
I first read about the renovations from NCL in the beg of last year, so thought it would be enough time for them to finish all the renovation works until Oct 2017.. but looks like not...
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We look forward as well to enjoy Cuba on this revised itinerary (though handling visas will add some add. work)
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If by chance you don't receive their email, you can make reservations for CK on boarding day. I do recall both Concierge's were at their desk on embarkation day when we entered the SL at noon.
Have a wonderful cruise!
Many thanks,
Everything is clear now!
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We also had 11730 on Allure, the Concierge sent an email a week before our sail date. You should be receiving your email shortly.
Just 5 days to go - still no e-mails from concierges.
Do they communicate any essential information that I should worry not to miss ?
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We also had 11730 on Allure, the Concierge sent an email a week before our sail date. You should be receiving your email shortly.
Thank you !
Hope you did not regret your cabin choice and fully enjoyed it ;-)
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Topnole, have you been contacted by your concierge prior to your cruise ?
Our cruise is in just two weeks from now (Sky Class, also cabin 11730 but on Allure) and so far no e-mails or any other communication from the RCCL concierge team ..
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Many thanks, Bob!
I managed to download and print it, very helpful !
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I have got the March'16 version of the compass as per the link below:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2335818
but wonder if someone has an updated one...
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Greetings to all,
Wanted to check if there is a most recent Western Caribbean Compass for Allure available for download...
We are sailing Oct 2-Oct 9, 2016 on Allure. Thanks in advance.
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No flower arrangement, sparkling wine, basket of fruit or anything on Day 1. There was nada except the cups from the drink packages and C&A gifts. I thought in the past there was at least a basket of fruit. A plate of fruit was delivered day 2.
You can get champagne in the suite lounge all day so you can get a glass of bubbly and head back to your room for sail away. This probably isn't very convenient unless you have a room on deck 17.
I did not use the spa perk or inquire about it. The spa seems so far since it's forward and the CL is aft. Someone else on the sailing posted earlier that the pass can only be used on port days.
Many thanks, clear.. I will then order a flower and champagne arrangement in one of the packages prior the cruise.. to make sure everything is top-notch ;-)
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Also, did you use your Spa Access perk and is it valid for sea days or only for port days? Thanks in advance ..
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I'm on the Oasis in a Sky level suite. I'm happy to answer any questions about the new suite benefits or the Oasis.
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One question I keep forgetting to ask re the Sky Level Suites:
Did you get a flower arrangement and a basket of fruit as a perk on the first day ? P.S. Any sparkling wine ? We love to enjoy the sail-away with a glass of bubbly...
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Thank you for taking the time to post such valuable information. We're cruising in an OS on Oasis and looking forward to it. We're also trying MTD for the first time. I read somewhere if you're in a suite the wait for MTD will not be as long. Can anyone input information on that?
Thanks,
Reportedly, you will be seated almost immediately as a suite guest. This is being discussed here:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49954406#post49954406
Travelling to Cuba, question re OFAC compliance
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted
Hmm... Both the travel agent (CruiseDirect) and the cruise company (NCL) are aware that we are not US citizens and are coming from Switzerland... Yet they both send us these instructions to comply with OFAC regulations. For the swiss citizens the native country does not set any special visiting rules or regulations, we can just go without any reason (even with direct flight to Cuba), without any additional paperwork but entry visa. We thought that OFAC regulations had smth to do with us as we were going to visit Cuba from US and going from Cuba back to the US before flying home. In any case we had filled in the requested form and indicated "people-to-people" types of contacts.
P.S. though this all looks like a bit of hypocrisy...or is is just a plain swiss straight-forward thinking...