timf2001

Spectrum is unique in that it was designed for the Chinese market with a dedicated suite area on decks 15 and 16. The Sky Junior Suites are located in this area and have full suite benefits, while the other (Sea) Junior Suites are located elsewhere and do not have access. The rooms themselves are the same size and layout. There are also Sky Balcony cabins that get access, but are otherwise normal balcony rooms. I'm not sure what changes they have made to dining arrangements since moving to Singapore, but originally only the "Golden" (Sky/Star class) cabins had access to the suite restaurant within the dedicated area, while "Silver" (Sea class) cabins dined in the area that is usually Solarium Bistro. Odyssey does not have the dedicated suite area and only has Sea class Junior Suites, with the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen in the same areas as the other Quantum class ships. However, they are bringing back the dedicated suite area and Sky Junior Suite concept with Icon.

They sometimes have the fancy seafood buffets on special sailings, such as inaugurals. It is not typical on every sailing.

I'm on Edge (see my signature).

I'm starting to get concerned that I haven't heard from the shoreside concierge and my cruise departs next Friday. It's been nearly 3 weeks since my EV bid was accepted and I've been studying up on the benefits since then, but I would have expected to hear from them by now. Is it possible to contact them without being contacted first?

In order to increase your chances of getting a Haven upgrade, you should not bid on the Club Balcony Suite. It's more advantageous for NCL to upgrade someone already in a Club Balcony to Haven even if they've bid less than you, since they can then upgrade you to their former room. Club Balcony upgrades in general are more likely to happen since there are more of them. If you forego bidding on Club Balcony that keeps your Haven bids open for potential last minute cancellations, whereas once you win a Club Balcony bid you are disqualified from bidding on Haven.

I submitted my bids 50 days out and was upgraded to a suite 30 days out, at which point all suites showed sold out. It is definitely worth submitting your bid as early as possible.

The initiative is supposed to permit any existing port bookings to continue as scheduled, so your itinerary will likely remain unchanged. Fall 2024 is when the changes would start to come into effect for cruise lines that haven't already confirmed their schedules.

The second extra point is new, but unfortunately it's the same select cruises as they have shown for at least the past 3 months.

Carnival serves Pepsi.

I didn't notice before but of the 8, 2 are handicap accessible, further limiting the standard inventory to 6. Those will be hard to come by, like most of the suites other than the Seaside Family ones.

There are only 8 of them, near the front of the suite neighborhood on decks 16 and 17. The forward-most suites on those levels are the 10 Panoramic suites, with the Aqua Dome enclosing what would otherwise be the balcony on those rooms. I'd expect both categories to be very similar aside from the balcony design.

History shows that no matter how ridiculous suite prices look on the day a brand new class of ship opens, they only go up from there. If you really want a suite you're best booking on the day sales open, or you may be waiting a few years to get a lower price.

My PCC has been calling 2-3 times a week lately. I tried to tell him to take me off his list, but he still calls so I just don't answer. When I'm ready to book I'll do it online.

I can't say I've ever seen a cruise planner sale on NCL. Most beverage package and excursion discounts come via Free at Sea and/or loyalty perks. As for cruise fares themselves, they'll likely just continue the same sale they've had all year with a different name.

There's also one on Deck 16 near The Lime and Coconut. That one might go all the way down into Central Park, but it seems like an odd place to put it.

It's not fake news. Anyone who was watching prices when they first started the % off "promo" can tell you they greatly inflated the prices before offering the "discount".

Don't all the Oasis class ships have them leading to the gangway?

There was a 2 year extension on CruiseNext certificates purchased pre-COVID, so those would now expire in 2025.

The biggest issue with the vaccine requirement is for those of us stuck with cruise credits from 2020. They won't offer any refunds, only name changes. After rebooking 3 times I've ultimately settled on a December 2022 date that I'll be going on solo if they don't let my unvaccinated partner sail by then. I don't really want to sail solo and don't have anyone else to take. I'd rather keep my credit until they lift the restrictions or just get a refund, but they seem set on the end of 2022 credit expiration date with no plans on changing the rules. I just want things back to normal like they are in my everyday life, with people free to manage risks on their own terms.