BunnieBear

Are you suggesting that first time cruises are pretty stupid? Anyone spending that kind of money will do some research before they make their purchase. Even a rudimentary search on what to be expected during a cruise - something any smart buyer would do - will reveal the so-called "hidden" costs, which are always readily available from my experience. Every cruise line I have sailed on has that information clearly displayed in the "what to expect on board" pages.

 

To spend several thousand dollars (pounds, euro, whatever) and then complain about being surprised because they weren't aware of additional costs is pretty much a non-issue since they are not "hidden". And, if they do get surprised, then serves them right for not bothering to learn about what the heck they are buying.

Of course they will but going on lead price before doing any research a cruise seems a much cheaper option than it actually is. I bet it leads to a lot of disappointment for those who then find they can't actually afford the trip after all.

Thanks for the review on the Jewel. This is one ship on the short list for Alaska next year. The only negative point is we are from Victoria and feel a bit cheated with it being one of the port.

 

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Not necessarily. We're doing the last of the season and won't be calling into Victoria. We have Seattle, Ketchikan, Cruise Sawyer Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Cruise Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Sitka & Prince Rupert, ending up in Vancouver. Can't wait!

Specifically which ship/sailing?

 

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Sorry, our cabin is already fully occupied :-)

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Our motto is; Got my passport. Got my credit cards. Got my meds (that's a new addition). Let's go!

The meds bit made me laugh (in empathy)

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Ours says within 60 days but we're now at 40 and it's not giving up the goods yet :-(

Make sure you are 100% checked in. I do not think you will be able to print your docs until you are 100%.

No its not that. Both of us 100% since registering

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What cruise

Alaska

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Then ShipMate misreports?

 

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(Mine is from Seattle - just in case you meant Med cruises are more for Americans)

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Cruises booked n the UK are actually cheaper than n the US, so its the US market at the moment paying more

Then ShipMate misreports?

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Are you saying that the average Englishman cannot add the gratuities to the cruise fare and make that comparison?

No, I'm saying a first time cruiser wouldn't necessarily know you had to!

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Would it make you happy if the price of a seven day Princess cruise went up by, say, $100 for passengers booking from the UK but not for the other passengers on the same cruise?

 

Would you still book on Princess or would you switch to another cruise line that did not increase their prices?

UK bookers may well be paying way more than $100 more for the same cruise already. I joined ShipMate after I booked and the price tracker they'd email me from there was consistently the same or fewer dollars than I've paid in pounds, so around 20% more than if I'd been a US citizen.

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There are some who are morally outraged by gratuities and there are some who are only made slightly uncomfortable by a tipping culture. Then, there are those who only want the gratuities included in the fare because they think that means they won't have to pay the service charge, ie, there will be no increase in the fare.

 

Would it be possible to provide some comparison of how much NCL increased their fares?

I have no problem paying more to cover staff costs. I think it's the fact that the price isn't the price that we dislike in the UK, meaning cruises are not directly comparible with land based holidays and it's daunting to book as a first time cruiser without wondering what your eventual holiday price will be. What looks affordable at face value could leave some people in debt when everything else is added in.

I don't remember the exact price difference but I seem to think it was at least £200 more than the price we'd booked at and we'd have forfeited our deposit if we'd canceled and rebooked.

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You should call NCL reservations and get to Tech Support who can help fix your reservations and issue your eDocs. If the reservation has an issue, neither reservations nor your PCC can help, only tech support has the right privs to fix problem.

Our travel agent have a diary note to chase it up if we still haven't been able to print at 29 days before travel and have said if needs be they should be able to print and send them to us at that point from their in-house system but I think I'll do as you suggest as it would be better to have online access to them if for any reason the documents needed reprinting once we're out there.

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NCL have gone all inclusive for UK bookings too. Just after we booked typically. But prices have also risen so it's not free as was implied.

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Could you psychologically be trying to escape something at home? Or fear time is running out so you must get things you want to do done maybe?

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Ours says within 60 days but we're now at 40 and it's not giving up the goods yet :-(

Hi. We're on the same sailing so I'll watch responses here with interest. Just thought I'd let you know that the cannery at Prince Rupert will be opening an extra day for our port visit (last ship of the season) and there's a local bus out there that has also confirmed service that day. It's not offered by NCL but sounds interesting to us, and will make for a very economical excursion.

NCL Jewel is doing all three on 23rd September 2017

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Take your trunks for the hot tubs anyway and take a view on the pool temperature when you're there. We go 23rd September and I intend to have a dip at least once even if it's chilly. Ours only has an outdoor pool but hopefully the air temperature won't be too bad in Seattle

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Thank you for putting my mind at rest. We booked a couple of weeks before they announced the new all inclusive tariff but they bumped the prices up at the same time so it didn't make sense to forfeit my deposit to rebook.

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Can anyone confirm whether bar gratuities are charged to your sail account when you've selected the UBP as your Free At Sea promo? Our booking agent said no but a YouTube blog I've just watched says yes $14.26 pppd

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We're leaving soon for 17 nights, five nights in England before a 12-night Princess cruise around the British isles. I'll be taking a sports coat, two pairs of slacks, one pair of jeans, one pair of shorts, three T-shirts, seven pairs of underwear and socks, two long-sleeve dress shirts, four casual shirts, sweat shirt, waterproof jacket, swim suit, and three pairs of shoes (sneakers, casual shoes that are good enough for dinner, and sandals the for pool).

I'd put in some extra warm layers too if you're from somewhere warm because the weather here in the UK is especially cool and wet at the moment. Not even having to open windows this week and wearing a jumper in the office instead of the usual August swelter.

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We were told that, if a ship has to sail without you, your passport would be left with the port authorities.

How do they access your safe?

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Alaska weather, no self-service laundry on board and 3 nights either side of our 10 day cruise will mean having to pack as much as our airline will allow, with waterproofs, layers and walking boots to consider.

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Has that happened to you before? Won't it be easier to just not let that situation occur?

 

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No but accidents happen. If I ended up receiving medical treatment or had a mode of transport let me down on an excursion then my passport and a credit card would be my best friends.

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Had the buffet already closed maybe? We have to be back on board by 10pm one night so I imagine O'Sheehans will be packed out then.

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