hallux

1 hour ago, G-DawgMN said:

 

  Are you able to change the flights so you come in a day early?

THIS.  I'd fly in a day early just on principle...

I'll be honest - at that port I'm not sure anyone really knows as the terminal is brand new.  It was not yet finished when I was there as a port stop in Feb.

The ship may not actually shove off until even later.  You're doing a daytime transit of the canal the next day, you may push off and go through the first locks Sunday night/early Monday morning, or they may be able to wait until during breakfast on Monday to go through the locks.

There isn't much in the immediate vicinity of the port, you're going to need a taxi if you want to get off the ship and go find something to do after boarding.

1 hour ago, Erntrish4 said:

Likely widely varies port to port.

More likely country to country.  I've embarked in 3 US ports, all had the magnetometers and x-ray BEFORE the check-in desk, and every explanation you see from people talking about the process at other US ports indicates they're the same as my experience.

35 minutes ago, Erntrish4 said:

You’ll get a credit that will essentially cover the ala carte charge for app, entree and dessert, in my experience.

Kind of.  You simply go to the a-la-carte restaurants (recommend making reservations) and they will tell you what you're allowed on the dining plan.  In the past (as recent as January) it's app, soup or salad, entree, dessert are fully covered.

37 minutes ago, Erntrish4 said:

when you’ll clear security

By this I assume you mean security at the ship?  You typically clear security between dropping your bags and checking in at the desk.

29 minutes ago, Panhandle Couple said:

but from NCL's perspective it was their duty to protect and provide the best cruise they can for the OTHER 2,000 PEOPLE, not someone who wants to bend all of their rules.

This part can't be repeated enough!  The health and safety of 2,000 passengers that are not asking for special treatment by asking to leave the ship and rejoin at their leisure is 100% more important than catering to those 2-4 people that asked to have the rules bent for them...

12 hours ago, poohdreaming said:

Even if there was a studio lounge, it is not used for meetings anymore

so you've been on every cruise on every ship with a lounge and know for a fact that this is the case?  They certainly TRY to use the lounge, but if the group is too big they will move it.  

That's one of the things that sets NCL apart from other cruise lines when it comes to solo travelers - solo meets every day...

Have you tried?  Have you called and asked?  Have you clicked the 'view terms' link next to each one to see what that says about it?

5 hours ago, Ellis1138 said:

I never tried it, but there might be a way to leave someone in another cabin a voicemail message using the actual cabin phone.

There is - call their cabin from any wired phone on the ship (or, I believe, using the app from any device that you paid for the in-app messaging) and when they don't answer it will give an option to leave a message.

10 minutes ago, erisajd said:

since we haven't paid final yet and since they haven't added any new ports . . . . I'm figuring the port fees charge will go down . .  

Not always.  If other ports increased their fees (which NCL would have otherwise 'eaten') the 'refunded' fees from Manzanillo will first be used to cover the overage.

The port fees and taxes are ESTIMATED based on what they expect them to be and averaged over how many people they hope to have on board (it's usually a per-berth fee, regardless of how many are booked).  If there are fewer bookings than anticipated the per-person port taxes and fees would be higher, but NCL doesn't come to you asking for more.

Point is - there are reasons you may not see lower port fees or a refund for a missed port. There are many threads on this.  Oh - as recently as 2 years ago I HAVE received an OBC for a missed port during the cruise, it was all of $12 per person....

lol @MeHeartCruising we were typing at the same time.  Maybe two of us with the same answer will be believed....

5 hours ago, Asawi said:

I think it's around $10

Yes, around $10 per device.  It works ok.

4 hours ago, Lindy Sue said:

First time on NCL and traveling with another couple. We are in a club level balcony and they are not, so we will be able to book 5 days before they are able. We each have 3 meals included in our packages. Am I correct in my interpretation of this thread that I can book a table for all of us even though there are only 2 in my cabin? Thanks!

Yes.  I even booked a table for 6, as a solo.  I invited other solos looking to use their dining credits..

53 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Never had one emailed even to spam unless new.

Mine have come to my email since 2022.  I thought I got an email with it for my cruises in 2019 but couldn't find it.

It's almost as if NCL wants people to know this information - https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/joy/whats-on-board/Dining

The website is a wealth of information, you just need to look...

On the Escape last year I had planned to meet some other solos around 8:30 or 8:45 (for a 9:30 show, if I recall) to get in line for the show.  When I walked by shortly after 8 and the line was already to the elevator lobby I decided to just get in line.

4 hours ago, PelicanBill said:

on the far top deck (18?)

It's 20 on the Escape and that's a GREAT place for sail-away!!

44 minutes ago, Epic_Bear said:

The sole is my go to at the Le Bistro!

Mine too!

26 minutes ago, zqvol said:

interestingly enough that page doesn’t mention when latitude members can book. 9Unless I am just not seeing it.)

Interesting, I thought it was there before.  It IS covered in the Latitudes T&C's (which are also readily available on the Latitudes page on NCL)  - https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/benefits-terms-and-conditions

2 minutes ago, zqvol said:

That might be useful if the link worked 

Fixed it

While signed in to get internet access I've had very little trouble getting texts on my Pixel 7.

31 minutes ago, Escaping2016 said:

How many days out can you make dinner reservations if you are Platinum?

 

NCL makes this info readily available on their website - https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/when-can-i-pre-book-dining

24 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Contrary to popular belief, they often DO make announcements regarding changes (and sometimes even why!!) but if nobody can hear them, they aren't overly helpful.

Make a copy of the announcement available in the app.  How often are we in places on board when one of these comes on and NOBODY is considerate enough to pipe down so the announcement can be heard?

2 hours ago, jkbec101 said:

Multiple comedians per cruise

Are they down to one now?  It's been two for a while, and my cruise in January (15 days) had four, two at a time that swapped mid-cruise.

2 minutes ago, MAZ-JMZ said:

BTW - I was referring to Malting's on NCL Breakaway.

As the cigar lounge is right there, is it possible you were just smelling spill-out of smoke from that?  There absolutely shouldn't have been smoking at the bar according to the policy posted on NCL's website.  The Waterfront should be all non-smoking.