hallux

Some airlines charge more to let you pick your seat, how is this different?

I'm also considering an MSC cruise.  I'm still "testing the waters" (so to speak), my upcoming cruise on NCL will only be my 3rd overall, first on NCL.  I was looking at the itinerary for MSC's Bellissima next April and am SUPER intrigued, especially with the single price being the same as my Pacific Coastal this year.  It's just the airfare to get there that has me stalling on booking it!

7 hours ago, CruiseGal999 said:

 

I'm leaving out of NY April 28th to Amsterdam. Arrive 5/11th.  NCL Pearl.  ???? 

Definitely not - I'm doing a Pacific Coastal...

19 hours ago, CruiseGal999 said:

45 days!   OMG .... it's coming up SO fast.  

 

Same for me (wait, are we on the same roll call?)

1 hour ago, JustAllie said:

Thanks for the heads-up.  I haven't yet received an e-mail from NCL about this, but I went ahead and prepaid our daily service charges for our upcoming cruise to ensure that we're locked in at the old rate. 

I haven't gotten an email either (I sail on April 28) but I am tempted to do the same as you did.

13 minutes ago, Trimone said:

I can’t see the value in cruises. 

I guess that depends on your level of expectation.  I like the variety of destinations offered by a single voyage (even with only 3 ports-of-call as that's still 3 more than you'd get at an all-inclusive resort).  I looked at an all-inclusive resort, it was WAY more than I'm spending on my next trip, by a factor of 4.  Sure, you could pick a city such as New York, LA, SF, London, etc, and visit for a week but how much is a hotel going to run, $200/night (or more) plus food and then whatever activities you want to do and the airfare to get there.

As for the increase in the DSC - when you consider the overall amount of money spent on a cruise I agree that $0.50 per day isn't outrageous, but there needs to be a line drawn at some point.  How much is too much though?

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

Not sure what all the discussion about key cards has to do with my original question about luggage tags...

Here-

15 hours ago, JDBRANDT17042 said:

and 2 clear holders with lanyards, that look like they hold I.D. card type things.  Does NCL require passengers to carry some sort of plastic card, for some purpose?

1 minute ago, JDBRANDT17042 said:

Does NCL require passengers to carry some sort of plastic card, for some purpose?

Most/all cruise lines do, it's your key card for your cabin so if you don't carry it (it doesn't need to be on display like an ID at a school or office complex) you don't get back into your room.  It also carries your beverage package and billing for shipboard activity so you don't have to carry cash...

8 hours ago, resjes said:

I'm Jessica. First time cruiser (since I was 5 for a Disney cruise), as well as solo cruiser. Going on RCI's Anthem of the Seas for May 23rd, 9 day cruise.

Anthem is a nice ship!  I sailed on her in April last year, lots to do.  Don't miss the fireworks show in Two70 on the last night!

AT&T?  Set yourself up with WiFi calling and sign up for a WiFi package for the amount of time you might want to be connected.  When on WiFi, your phone should get your calls and you should be able to call out.

Even if you do upload one, it seems many people have a hard time doing so to the cruise line's satisfaction.  When I sailed on Anthem last year all 3 of us that drove to the port in my car had to have ours re-taken at the port.  It adds all of 30 seconds to the check-in there...

4 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Will move along since Pier is done now

It's not really done, the picture with Mariner along side still showed construction ongoing, plus it seemed there needs to be a mooring dolphin added to support tying up the larger ships (the bow lines on Mariner seemed to be pulled pretty far to the stern in order to reach a mooring).

It might be done enough that they can bring in some larger barges with materials if any are still needed.

2 hours ago, Sauer-kraut said:

Why not support Cruise Critic and order their luggage tag holders from the CC store.  Order the large size and every size of luggage tag will fit.  

Not a bad idea, but you still need some method of attaching those to the baggage.  I suggest the screw-closure wire loops as are included with the tags I linked above.  But, if you're going to spend $7 on a pack of 20 of those loops PLUS $5 per pair of the sleeves, might as well just spend $7 on the tags and loops as a set and get 6...

2 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

There are luggage tags that you can buy and continue to use.

These - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cruise+luggage+tags+norwegian+cruise+lines&crid=EL9AP9DQAY9&sprefix=cruise+luggage+%2Caps%2C469&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_15

As a point of note - on my first cruise I didn't get my luggage until after the theater show on embarkation day.  Why?  Because both the paper luggage tag I had secured per the cruise lines instruction AND my regular luggage tag had ripped off somewhere between leaving the bag with the porters and the bag getting on the ship.  I had to go to guest services to seek my bag, saw it sitting there as I approached.  This was not an airline fault - we drove to the port on the day of embarkation!

I have now been given one of the tag holders above (or similar) by a family member, I had no such problem on my second cruise.  The one I linked specifically says "NCL" but I'm sure there are some that are universal, to fit the largest size tags.  Just don't put it on until you get to the port city if you're flying in, no need to confuse the airline baggage handlers.

The FAQ says flights are confirmed 75 days prior to sailing.  Paying earlier probably won't help.

Here's the airfare info page, FAQ at the bottom - https://www.ncl.com/cruise-deals/choice/air-offer

@graphicguy I was aware of the originating port as I'd been following the thread, that's why I commented on the poor fact-checking.

54 minutes ago, Paphillyguy said:

and that the ship had to make an emergency stop in Port Canaveral.

My local news said the ship "returned" to Port Canaveral.  Some of it is trying to beat the other stations to the scoop...

35 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

Scary video

It confuses me why the woman at 1:02 pushes the elevator button.  Without knowing what in the world is going on, its not too safe to enter elevators.  People never cease to amaze me.

In panic situations people often revert to muscle memory, she did what she's used to doing while transiting that area.

Not sure the video was posted, but there's a thread a few posts down...

For USB device charging (ANYTHING that will plug in to a USB port) I have one of these - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K5ZJXF/ref=dp_cerb_3

They make others that don't have USB-C if you don't need it, and others with more than 4 USB ports if you need more.

After my USB needs are covered, I only need one other power plug in the bedroom to charge my camera battery so this covers me.

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

Whenever you spot people sleeping in the Observation Lounge

I don't get this - you have a perfectly-serviceable bed in your private room, USE IT.  I may have my face buried in a screen reading, but I peek my head up periodically and want a nice view...

As a point of note - I watched a YouTube video the other day about the (soon to be former) Carnival Triumph where it was mentioned that some staterooms were already being redone in advance of the drydock so that they could ensure all could be redone in the time allotted.  Triumph is emerging from drydock as Carnival Sunshine.  Just using that as an example that there MAY be some work done during revenue trips.

3 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Except Quantum class, where you don’t need VOOM for that. 

I didn't try FB Messenger as I refuse to install the app on my devices, I did use Hangouts successfully on Anthem last year. 

The OP posted about Independence, which is not a Quantum-class ship, trying to keep things on track so as not to confuse that poster

1 minute ago, Peachy59 said:

We just use FB messenger. Easy and no extra charges.

As long as you pay for internet...

I just bring a reusable water bottle (1 quart BPA-free Nalgene) and fill it from the tap in the room or one of the water stations in public areas.  No need to add weight to my luggage with water bottles and it's a nearly-endless supply.