miamicruising1991

Why does Norwegian and MSC haven't different requirements when it comes to traveling to Cuba?

So with MSC, it does not state that you need a valid prorroga (passport extension that must be obtained every two (2) years) for entry to and departure from Cuba and NCL clearly states that you do. Why?

Does anyone know or have experience with this?

MSC - Documentation requirements for Cuban born guests who left Cuba after 1971 are as follows: 

• Cuban-born citizens who left Cuba on or after January 1, 1971, must enter Cuba using their valid Cuban passport, along with the Habilitación Permission of Re-Entry visa inside of their passport.

Norwegian (NCL) - Guests born in Cuba who emigrated on or after January 1, 1971 and reside in a country outside of Cuba are required to carry a valid Cuban passport with a habilitación (entry permit) and valid prórroga (passport extension that must be obtained every two (2) years) for entry to and departure from Cuba. These guests do not need a Cuban visa. Effective January 1, 2018, Cuba will no longer require a habilitación (entry permit). The estimated processing time for a Cuban passport is up to 6 months.

Will be sailing on the MSC Armonia January 14th.

Good to see that they are upgrading and adding new concepts to the ship! This will be my 7th cruise, 6th Solo, First time with MSC.

I've been on a bunch of solo cruises and I always seem to find the cheapest of prices, now i can't find nothing close to what i use to pay... ( $500 - 800 ) per 7 night carribean cruise with carnival or norwegian and I always travel solo....

Anyone outthere help me with some deals? Everything is above 1 stack..... its incredible lmao:'):'):')

I am going to be at the concerts every night and on shore excursions whenever possible. What do you suggest I do during the days we are at sea? I will be staying in the MSC Yacht club but I can not handle more than an hour at the pool. I will know no one on the ship and am a married mom.

Hang out by the bar, grab a pool chair, lay down and relax. You will have alot of options once you see the daily activities. Have fun.

There will always be lots of solos on the NCL ships with studio cabins, even if they aren't on CC.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You're right. There are more Solos on CC if visit the Sept. 3rd rollcall as well. Its awesome. I'm booked on a balcony instead. Got a nice price. ;)

Cruising solo on the Escape Sept 3. I've been on Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival so I am looking forward to see how Norwegian does things.

I'm going solo escape sept. 3 too! Have done quite a few solo now...diane

I'm going on my 5th solo Sept. 3rd as well.... Glad to see alot of Solo travelers on this one. :D:D:D

I was on the NCL Norweigan Epic on my last cruise and loved it. I had a mini-suite. Big ship.

For Roatan, if you are on Carnival and docking at Mahogany Bay the answer is yes. If you are not docking at Mahogany Bay then that would be a no, you need to take a taxi to get to the beach.

 

Belize City - NO - period. No beaches anywhere around. You need to get on a boat and go out to one of the little islands either booked through the cruise line or separately.

 

Cozumel - get wet - yes, actual beach - no, you will need to take a cab.

 

Costa Maya - can't help you. Haven't been there.

Thank you, very helpful.

Hello. I just wanted to know if any of you know if there are any walking distance beaches from Port on any of these destinations?

Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

Belize City, Belize

Costa Maya, Mexico

Conzumel, Mexico

Thank you!

I was referring to the $700 YOU keep mentioning.

 

I don't get it. If you have cruised before how is it you don't understand the way it works? How is it that you have received a LOT of responses and you ARGUE over each one. Maybe, just maybe, that is why you don't understand the answer to such a simple question.

 

Everyone - there is no point going on about this. The OP has had his/her answer and .... well at this point I do believe I smell a troll.

Because its my first time ever using cash only? On all my other cruises I've used cards and never even had to worry about this, now i do.

You smell a troll? Wrong thread buddy nothing troll about this just someone with concerns. Go look for your troll elsewhere.

I am curious to know what it would have cost for a mini suite and the UBP without the free cruise winning? We also thibk it would be best to buy the specialty dinner package. What do you think?

• 7-Day Bermuda, Round-trip Boston
  
• SHIP Norwegian Dawn
  
• CRUISE PORTS
  EMBARK Boston (Massachusetts)
  Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda)
  DISEMBARK Boston (Massachusetts)
  
• VIEW ITINERARY
  

Date & Stateroom (modify)

• NUMBER OF GUESTS
  2 guests
  
• DEPARTURE DATES
  October 07 - 14, 2016
  Friday - Friday
  
• STATEROOM TYPE
  Mini-Suite
  
• STATEROOM CATEGORY
  Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony
  
• RATE SELECTED
  Free Specialty Dining & Ultimate Beverage Packages
  

Summary of Charges

• TOTAL 2 GUESTS $3,498.00
  
• CHOICE PROMO SRVC CHRG $223.92
  
• GOV'T TAXES, FEES & PORT EXPENSES $333.80
  

TOTAL $4,055.72

View Details

Enjoy the cruise then

Thank you will do. Love cruising.

You have it in writing from the website that it is $300 per person & from the phone rep so take $600 when you check in & enjoy the cruise

 

I have a low credit limit credit card if you can get one I would for cases like this

I have a limit of $1000.

 

 

People that do not pay their accounts the cruise line is not going to "eat it"

You sign an agreement before you are allowed off the ship to pay it

an I.O.U as it were

I am cruising solo. I have the UBP and only plan on doing a couple shore excursions, therefore I won't be spending money on anything else since I got the drinks, food, and shore excursion credit. I'm cruising to relax not spend more money. $300 is all I'm bringing with me.

What are some items on your cruise packing list that most people would not know to bring on a cruise?

Here are a couple of items we learned to bring with us:

-Tervis cups/lids for the pool

-A hole punch for our ship card/lanyard

-Magnetic Board to leave notes for our friends

-Wireless speaker to have in our cabin

-Command hooks-we always need room to hang items

-Ziploc bags-good for wet clothes on port days

 

Can anyone add to these? I like to update our packing list.

Wireless speaker to have in our cabin, is something id consider. On previous cruises I met people who invited me to their cabin and had Wireless Bluetooth Speakers playing loud music. Very cool. Other then that I usually pack light for 7 day cruises.

....and how will you know when you get the right answer?

Consenus? Total votes? When you get the answer you like? :rolleyes:

It's a pretty simple question. I called NCL and they confirmed that it is $300 upon checking in. So that should be the right answer correct? Or could it be $1400, $250, $700, or $100? Such a simple question and mixed answers all over the place from their own employees and chat reps.

If you have not paid the gratuities, you must assume that your deposit will have to at least cover them - as well as estimated on-board spending ---- since I understand that the only way you can avoid paying the gratuities on NCL is by paying them on board, and then claiming a refund AFTER debarking.

 

Have you really understood their website: did it make clear the length of cruise for which that $300 would apply? Did it make it clear whether it assumed that gratuities had been pre-paid? Finally, if you are correct in quoting $300 as

"... THE MINIMUM AMOUNT DEPOSIT YOU NEED..." why are you asking about them asking for more ? "MINIMUM" means at least that much, and posdibly more.

 

If you have been told that you will not be able to board unless you deposit $700 per person, I suggest that you bring $700 per person.

Apparently cruise line reps are notorious for giving false information and no I do not believe them when they tell me I won't be allowed to board if i don't bring $700. So I am going to play a little poker with them and beat them at their own game. The way they are giving information out to their costumers is disturbing and unprofessional.

If you look on your cruise invoice and there is a charge for approx $198 (if there are two adults in your cabin) then that is more than likely your UBP gratuities. We made our final payment for our cruise in Sept several weeks ago and part of that was the $198 for gratuities for the UBP. Once we get on the ship, we will not be charged gratuities for the drinks we order from the UBP (although we usually give a little extra for good service).

 

[sometime in the fall of last year they changed the cost of the UBP so if you booked prior to this time, the amount may have been a little less. We booked last July and had the cheaper gratuities but then the fare went down over $400 so they lowered our fare but made us pay the higher gratuities. The gratuities were only something like $20 difference, if that.]

 

When I said final payment, I mean final payment before cruising, not the bill you receive on the final night of the cruise.

I only have a charge of

• Choice Promotion Service Charge:
  $99.54
  

Thank you for the explanation, what I understood from what you said is that the 18% is included in the $99.54, Hope that is correct. Thanks once again.

Well if that's what the site says why all the drama, in fact why ask the question, print it out and take it with you.

because of all the mixed answers i've gotten on such a simple question. Its always better to be safe then sorry therefore i will ask away until i get the right answer and apparently the first person that replied gave me the right answer. I just find it annoying how not even their employees can give you a right answer.

First, stop taking it personal. The PP didn't mean you in particular. Is it that hard to believe there are individuals out there that might cheat the cruise line?

 

Second, the cruise lines generally allows $100 a day in spending per person per day including the gratuities. That accounts for your $700. Times two in the cabin. Bring you brochure and show them the $300 thing and if that doesn't work call for a supervisor.

Cash/Traveler's Checks Procedures you can deposit cash or US Traveler's Checks into your onboard account.

A cash deposit may be placed on your account in the following amounts:

• 7 day cruises - $300/person
  
• Less than 7 days - $150/person
  
• More than 7 days - $450/person
  

I don't see no where in their website where they state that I need to deposit $1400 upon checking in at the pier. It only says $300/person. All I ask is that when I ask a question to be straight forward and the rep agents are obviously confused or dont know what their talking about if their own website says $300 not $1400.

In not sure why you think them asking for $700 upfront is ridiculous. It doesn't sound unreasonable to me. You are high risk with them having no means to collect if you physically don't have the cash. There are a lot of people out there just looking for ways to abuse the system.

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy 7 edge using Tapatalk.

Why would they tell me that I won't be able to board if i dont pay $700 when Norwegians website says it's $300??? And Abuse the system? No way I've been crusing 4 times and never even abused anything... and for them to think then im going to abuse the system, How???? They have no right to tell me that i cant board the ship if all i want to deposit is $300 as their website says.

Have you already paid your gratuities? Do you have a drink plan or dinner plan paid for? If so, you'll can put on less.

Yes. I received the Promo UBP and Shore Excursion Credit. and no I haven't pre paid the gratuitys only the promo UBP. So for them to tell me that I won't be able to board the ship if i don't pay $700 per person is pretty ridiculous and disturbing since there website states that the minimum amount deposit you need is $300...

Any possibility to use a credit card to check in and then pay the balance in cash at the end of your cruise? This makes it much easier on many who prefer to actually use cash.

No chance as I do not own no credit cards. Only cash for this cruise, Its my first time using cash that's why im so worried. I use to hand them my card and it was quick but now i need to know exactly how paying with cash works and online reps are telling me i need 700 per person when checking in or i wont be able to board the ship... how ridiculous is that?:(

That is already pretty specific. Whatever you owe for final payment, added to it will be 18% of the value of the UBP. That value depends on the length of your cruise.

I got the promo for UBP and I was told that the 18% gratuity is included and that i wouldn't be charged anything regarding to drinks for the whole cruise ship as long as i stayed below $15.... and now i see other people saying they have to pay the 18% gratuity? :confused::confused:

Many agents have never cruised. Also, many quote the written policy of $100 per person per day but that isn't enforced in actuality.

 

You'll find that cruise line phone reps are often not knowledgeable about questions outside of making reservations.

I spoke with a online rep on live chat, he told me he called Norwegian and Norwegian Rep told him that I would need 100 per day per person and that I would have to pay 700 when checking in or I wouldn't be allowed to board the ship... That made no sense to me... Like what??? There website says $300!!!!!!

Might depend on cruise line but usually $300 total, for two people. I don't know if more for more people. When that is used, by daily gratuity or charges you've made, then you'll be notified to add more.

Thank you why are Agents no as knowledgeable as you? They are AGENTS for god sakes!!! What is going on???? Are they robots?:confused: