TPgal

On 3/25/2022 at 4:38 PM, ArthurUSCG said:

You have to upload a picture to the DCL Safe Passage website for verification prior being cleared to enter the terminal. If there is any issue you will be asked to physically show the card for verification at the terminal.

Also, they want a picture of the actual card, not the fancy QR code that links to your state's vaccine program (if they have one.)  In Washington state we have an online system that shows the status of vaccines.  

I researched this on the other forum and some folks said that their tags arrived in the mail about a week or so before the departure date, but others said that for those whose tags didn't arrive that tags can be picked up at port. 

"You can't print them...there is no option to do that like other cruise lines. If the tags don't arrive in time in the mail the porters at the port will have white blank tags that they will write your name and cabin on when you turn over your checked bags. Just happened to us."

On 2/18/2022 at 5:42 AM, bookbabe said:

Update…they’re dropping all the on-island testing, and have hinted that there will be an announcement next week sometime about cruise ships.

 

Well, call me excited!  

On 2/7/2022 at 11:40 AM, bookbabe said:

For a different perspective, here’s the other Caymanian news service on the same set of meetings…

 

https://caymannewsservice.com/2022/02/uncertainty-still-surrounds-return-of-cruise-ships/

 

I still say I’ll be surprised if any cruise ships stop in Cayman before April or May.

Yikes, did you read the comments?  I know to take them with a grain of salt, but it also sounds like even if ships come back the charming beach clubs are no more. 

It will be interesting to see what happens on our April 30th cruise.  So far our carrier has been mum on all changes even with itineraries leaving as early as tomorrow with GC on the menu.  

On 2/10/2022 at 6:55 AM, richbum said:

My cruise isn't until next year...

YES!  Isn't this half the fun of a trip, anticipation and research?

Our cruise leaves 4/30 and we're hopeful to stop at GC, but will be ok with whatever comes our way as long as we're all safe and having fun.   This one has been 2+ years in the making, and reading these boards has made the wait less ... "waity".  

I hope you get an answer from someone who knows their way around, and that the info is still current during your planning. 

Like the other's I'm sorry this happened to you, and thank you for sharing so that other's know what can happen.

Did your son test again at home?  If so, was that test positive too?  (Also, how is he doing?)

On 6/30/2020 at 1:48 AM, bernard530 said:

The FCC worked in my favor.  As a solo traveler I booked a 7 day cruise, balcony room and paid my gratuities and I still have $55 left over I can use towards a shore excursion  

That sounds great, are you still booked?   (We cancelled a DCL March 2020 cruise and rebooked into an April 2021, which we proactively rebooked into a April 2022.  We've been pretty lucky with being able to upgrade our future vacation at each turn, but at this point it feels like an aspirational trip to the moon. 

On 6/17/2020 at 5:31 PM, Comi.uy said:

The FCC worked out great for me, managed to switch a 12 day cruise with an inside for 2 b2b cruises (32 days!) with a window and having to pay a bit extra. Also later they upgraded my rooms from small with small windows to larger with panoramic windows so atm its working fine for me!

(Revisiting my old thread) So, now that it's been over a year, are you still booked?  I think I might have cried when having to rebook or cancel such a fantastic itinerary.

Hope you're doing well.

-T

Hey @bgccsownsck, sorry about your cancelled cruise, we had a 7 night Wonder Mexican Riviera booked for March of 2020, which turned into a 5 night Western Caribbean in April of 2021, which we opted to rebook for April of 2022.   Through all this we went from an inside to a verandah to the same cabin but in concierge class.   (While the bump from inside to verandah was a significant price jump the opting to book out one year meant we could go CC for ... LESS money.)  It hurts to have these funds tied up, but it's good to have something to look forward to.

We've also cruised NCL - in a suite, so I'm curious to see how the two products compare.   

What were your revised plans?  Still holding out for a future cruise?

 

We were on the Jade for an 11 night Panama Canal cruise (2018).   We spent many a night in the Great Outdoors having beverages in a quiet, not crowded place.   

The bar was open in the evenings, and piped in music was playing but by no means was it ever loud.  One evening a rather large group of folks set up a lively card game and they were loud, but other than that it was like a secret romantic place to hang out.

We were on the same deck, but near the pool (in a 2br suite) and we heard the pool deck arranging every morning, but by night 2 we slept thru it without issue.  

We loved the Jade and hope you have a great trip.  

We all know that NCL and other cruise lines are using increased FCC as an incentive to avoid issuing cash refunds for cancelled sailings.   It's a smart strategy on their part,  they avoid having to spend down their cash reserves for a balance sheet line item against a product that they haven't yet produced.  

The problem I see for the consumer is that the cruise lines are limiting when the FCC can be used and they control the pricing on the product.  While they may be forced to extend the windows for use of the FCC certificates based on when cruising can resume, they will always control the pricing.   I would have zero expectation that a 25% increase in the credit will result in being able to upgrade my original room type or add on those wonderful extras that we like, but complain about.   I think the number of bookings that will occur without any additional payments to the cruise lines will be few and far between.   It would be very interesting to see the numbers on these when they start to occur.

The higher cost for future cruises could be attributed to additional hygiene procedures, reduced capacity, training and staffing, limited itineraries.  

I also worry that the sailings with high numbers of FCC users will not be financially viable for the cruise line and will contribute to future value loss for the shareholders.  

Lastly, if I ran the world, and we should all be very thankful that I don't, I would ensure that NCL  be organized enough to have "welcome back, we appreciate you" genuine acknowledgement for every booking that uses the FCC.   Traditional marketing strategies are fine to resume once the world opens back up, but NCL knows who all have these credits and should be treating these folks like the angel investors that they are.  

I hope you're all safe and can't wait to see you safely on board in the future.

Feel free to let me know if you think I'm off base.  

The value of the "free" unlimited, ultimate, premium, sooooper premium beverage package.

47 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

"If I want 3 cheese ziti, I should get 3 cheese ziti!"

You beat me to it.  Good on you sir!

Cancelled a pre-final payment cruise on 3/27. 

Received refund of deposit today 4/24

Our traveling companions canceled on 3/26

Received their refund on 4/23

Thankful for the refund, super disappointed about the loss of our long planned vacation.

Stay safe, wash those hands. 

Don't inject sunlight or lysol directly into your body.  

We cancelled a direct booked and pre-final payment August cruise in late February and the refund came within 3 business days.  We did this to rebook via our TA.   Sadly, we cancelled the new reservation altogether on 3/27 - we are still waiting on the refund of the deposit.  

I won't call it a success until the deposit is credited back to our credit card.  

At no point did anyone suggest or offer FCC for this reservation and I'm thankful for that.  I want to cruise again, but not sure when that will work with schedules.  

@petoonya   this is an ever evolving situation. Just today the Seattle Port announced a halt to the 2020 cruise season.   That isn't to say that the sailing you're on can't leave from somewhere else but it's unlikely.

I bet you'll be hearing from NCL in the next week about your options.  

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/03/24/covid-19-alaska-cruise-season-suspend-port-seattle.html

I just ran across our useless luggage tags.... boo hoo

Jump up to @JamieLogical threat... folks are checking all March & April cruises and some are switching to sold out mid-way thru mock bookings.   

I think if you were planning on going in March, you should unpack...

5 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Sunday morning. *fingers crossed*

I hope you get a final answer on both legs before you leave the house Sunday.  Your planned trip sounds amazing.

Oh my, I was in mid-mock book for a March 14 7-Day Eastern Caribbean from Miami and there were cabins, and then bam - everything went "sold out"

Now i'll head back to that Pearl Panama cruise and see if they have gotten to that cruise yet.  Looks like you noticed it in mid-cancel.

2 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I don't know which cruise you are talking about. None of the Panama Canal cruises leave on the 14th that I can see. But I hope you are right that it's a glitch! 

Panama Canal: Mexico, Costa Rica & Belize

from Miami, Florida  April 19th (I knew the 14th was wrong...sorry about that)

Midship Oceanview brings up many options for cabin selection

I'm interested to see what you see for that one.

Maybe its a glitch, the April 14th (or so) Miami/Panama Canal sailing has plenty of room options.

8 hours ago, myraid said:

We are very much looking forward to our cruise!

I think we all were; I am disappointed and know that I have fully achieved my 'grown up" card. Cancelling was a very tough decision.   I hope your trip goes off without a hitch.

A few of the considerations for us was that we were booked into an Inside and the idea of being confined to that space was giving me anxiety.    We booked onto a shorter cruise, but in a better cabin with a veranda. 

Secondly, we decided that since this is still such a new developing situation that the response can change daily.  Seeing that it doesn't take much for our gov't to keep a ship from docking we just couldn't risk it.

All that being said, there are plenty of ships at sea right now, and DCL seems to be on their A game when it comes to cleanliness   I genuinely hope you have a great time!

We were booked on the Wonder for 4/12 and just processed our cancellation this morning.  

The cancellation policy is a good one, giving you lots of time to reconsider, BUT you don't get the money back, it comes in the form of future cruise credits applied to a sailing within a year of your scheduled departure date.   

I wonder in your case if the $30,000 spread across three cabins would have to be spread across 3 cabins in a future sailing, or could you book yourself the most amazing suite for just you and your special person?   Either way, it's a choice that only you can make.

If you don't want to be tied to DCL for a cruise within a year, AND you're wary about this summer seems to me that you need to cancel.  If you're cool with locking that cash up and giving it to DCL regardless - then carry on.

Took us forever to get thru on the phones today - I was on the phone at 5am my time and it was finally resolved at 9am.   That's a LOT of hold music.  

5 hours ago, sunsetsoon said:

emoji sad face.

15 hours ago, sunsetsoon said:

emoji high five.

Oh my, this is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!   emoji love eyes