MCMC100

IRS can have the State Dept revoke or deny a passport application/renewal if you have a tax delinquency of $52k or more. Until you pay the tax or enter into an approved repayment plan you can be prevented from traveling outside the US.

My PCC told me the larger square footage cabins are the handicap accessible cabins. She said I needed a wheelchair to book the larger balcony or club balcony rooms. Not sure if that’s true, but it’s what I was told……. The balcony size changes depending on location as mentioned above.

The above Turtles06 scenario is the possible hiccup. I have shared that experience (as recently as Sep on Joy). I have also used my Platinum yellow tags and grabbed my bags in luggage hall by 9:00am. (Getaway in March). You do not control your departure if you are waiting on baggage pickup. You have a very tight window already. If your itinerary says disembark at 10:00am that means you are scheduled to arrive at 10, you won’t be getting off until the ship is cleared and luggage is removed. They tend to be conservative with this time, but I would operate under the premise they are accurate. I would walk off, it is your best chance at making your 11am car service.

I mentioned this much earlier in the thread so it’s probably lost in background, but I was on Getaway 10-day Caribbean ending March 7. We skipped Taino Bay and headed back to NY a day early from San Juan. Captain stated it was necessary to get back to NY early because of bad weather and the current in NY harbor - in 72 hours. We skipped a port and spent 3 days at sea instead of the original 2 days. We got to the pier at 2am instead of 6am. Weather in NY was fine. All that to arrive in NY four hours early? I didn’t believe it then, still don’t. I think they have a propulsion issue.

I did NY to Quebec on Joy last September. I don’t remember tax in Canada. With regard to the bar closures, it’s true that in port and Canadian water only one bar per deck will be open. It’s an inconvenience, especially if you want a drink with dinner. Wait staff has a long walk to get them. If I recall it was Atrium Bar (deck 6), OSheehans (deck 7) and Mojito Bar? (deck 8). When we were in the St Lawrence river the Freestyle Daily reflected that most bars would not open as we were continually in Canadian waters. However, the cruise director made an announcement that special permission had been received from Canadian authorities to allow the bars to open. The unknown is…..how often is the special permission granted?

Interesting. I was on the Getaway’s prior sailing. We skipped Taino Bay, DR and headed for NYC a day early. Captain stated it was because of a strong current and adverse weather expected in N.Y. in 3 days. He needed to get us back to NYC ahead of schedule for our safety. So we sailed back directly from San Juan and had 3 sea days to nstead of 2. We arrived in N.Y. at 230am March 7, instead of the original itinerary posted time of 630am…….Extra sea day, skipped port and a race for home just to save 4 hours? Didn’t believe it then, don’t believe it now.

There was a snack menu a few years ago, but I don’t recall seeing it on my past cruises. The fruit skewers are not a myth, never been in Vibe without seeing them. I’ve had finger sandwiches, chowder, cookies etc passed around on various cruises. It seems to vary…..the buffet is always an option and often only a deck or two below you. I’m sailing in 4 days. If I see a snack menu I will post updates.

I find this confusing, as I do with many things. Poster above indicate that points accumulated on prior sailings for minor son were credited after the completion of a cruise age 18 or older. Another poster references a change in the T&C wherein points are credited after the completion of a post 18 cruise. I read the section of the FAQ posted above, which I assume to be accurate, and note that it states points from prior cruises “will be credited to the guest on their first cruise taken after they turn 18.” It does not say upon completion of the first post 18 cruise. I fully realize that latitude points are awarded upon completion of a cruise for those of us over 18, however, that’s not what this FAQ response says…..It says they will be credited on their first cruise. Seems to me they’re Platinum (or whatever) on their first cruise, not on their second cruise, after turning 18. Once again, the devil resides in the details and the NCL proofreaders muddled the process. If the T&C’s were changed, they should have thought about changing the information provided in the FAQ’s. Why needlessly confuse and upset your customers?

It’s docked at Kings Wharf.

Yes. Reservations for 2 available any time. Reservations for 4-12 only available 5:30 and 8:30. I picked 4 at 5:30 and reserved….system confirmed them (we are a group of 4 so I figured I’d make a reservation I may actually decide to use). I went thru the reservation process for all three MDR checking several random dates. There are mixed party sizes and time slots available (5:30 and 8:30 are common, but not the only times). All MDR’s show some availability for booking. As I’m so close to sailing there’s no way to decisively determine if there is a newly imposed limitation on availability or a capacity limit because many people have already booked. All of us who can still make MDR reservations already have a reservation - perhaps new reservations lose this ability or find it limited by party size/time? I don’t think it makes you look the fool…..anyone long on this forum or familiar with NCL knows that today’s rule is different than yesterday’s and may not be enforced tomorrow.

Consistently inconsistent is an accurate way to describe it…..I’m on the Getaway 2/26-3/7. I can book the Tropicana Room for parties of 2,4,6 and 8 at various times on all the dates I randomly checked…..Maybe only new bookings will no longer be able to reserve the MDR’s? Taste and Savor are also available for booking……nothing has changed on my end. See below…..

Oh dear…….

I’ve done them on the Joy and Getaway. Both as paid and as a Latitude perk (one was a gift from my son and I didn’t have the heart to tell him I got it for free). The paid one (Joy) was longer and I saw a bit more (or the tour was simply different than the Latitude tour on Getaway. Who knows?) They take 90 minutes to two hours. I personally found them fascinating. It’s like the behind the scenes tour at Disney World….there is a whole world operating below decks. The main galley, laundry, cold storage areas, theatre, crew mess and bridge were included in the paid tour. We met with staff from several different departments who answered questions….they gave us a commemorative photo with the head chef. I’m intrigued by this kind of stuff so I enjoyed it. Going on Getaway again in approximately a week and will do the Latitude tour version again….. It’s a personal value judgement as to the $139 cost. It’s not cheap, but I guarantee you will come out of it with a new appreciation and understanding of what it takes to operate these ships. I’d spend $139…..my wife would spend $17. Who’s right? (well obviously she is, but you get my point).

You have a few options. First, and IMO easiest, is to use the large touchscreens located in the elevator/stairway area on each deck.(I would recommend going to a deck besides 6/7/8 which will be busy early in the embarkation process. Walk up the stairs to a random deck that is all cabins and use the screen there. Fewer people will be there using the screens). The screens are relatively self explanatory- you choose the dining tab, select restaurants, party size and available seating time-scan your key card and PRESTO-you’re booked. Another option is to locate the restaurant reservation desk on embarkation day and make your reservations there. Someone here will weigh in as to its current location on the Escape. If memory serves me it was at Teppanyaki when I last sailed Escape. Third, you can use the app on your phone after boarding. I find this the most complicated and least reliable method.

This has become my philosophy of late. My specialty dining and show reservations are made well prior to embarkation and I no longer need an early boarding time to increase my chances to snag the Vibe so for me, what’s the rush? I much prefer the 11:00 ish arrival and check-in. I’ve found that either thru Latitude status or simply crowd reduction, I’m usually walking onboard with minimal if any waiting.

It’s not. I've sailed out of NY at least once per year since 2018 and no one has ever looked at my eDocs to confirm my Check-In time. I realize we live in a world of constant change, so prior practice does not guarantee future performance, but it can be used as a guide. I’m heading out again on the Getaway in two weeks and I wager the streak continues……we shall see.

Common error; easy fix. Your husband has two Latitude accounts. They can merge them into one. Just call NCL and tell them what happened. Same thing happened to my wife and daughter a few years ago….

I few this as very exciting information which portends well for the future. After significant cost reductions which have included cutbacks to the daily cabin housekeeping services; elimination of Broadway caliber onboard entertainment; reductions in the number of Specialty Dining meals included within the FAS program; switching to lower quality meats in venues such as Teppanyaki; elimination of certain popular alcoholic beverages; price increases to other beverages thereby removing them from the FAS menu and other innumerable items discussed at great length on this forum, NCL Corporate apparently had a meeting at which it was announced -“Our belt tightening has worked! We are almost back to financial stability!! Only minor adjustments remain. Anybody have an idea how we can save $379.34 fleetwide to finally reach our goal?” Unfortunately, some idiot said “eliminate cookies in the buffet.”

I’ve traveled with large groups over the years. Noticed that it’s often very difficult to control everyone’s schedule -particularly when children are introduced into the equation. I’m wondering how many of these 5:30 pm MDR reservations for 14 turned into 6:30pm arrivals at the Manhattan Room-followed by shock and/or outrage that the banquet table for 14 was not immediately available The issues raised here seem to be more akin to a first time cruiser with absolutely no idea of the how, when, what, where and why of cruising. If this trip was overseen by a “seasoned and very good travel agent” I’d be looking for a new travel agent. This list of grievances gives every appearance of having been created by someone who never sailed before and never asked anyone what to expect …..pool toys are not allowed because they spread bacteria, compensation for weather conditions are not reasonable, the boat sometimes rocks in the Atlantic Ocean, on occasion rain falls from the sky in the Caribbean, ships tend to dock when they arrive at the pier as opposed to idling offshore until 10am, passengers are not required to disembark at a port immediately upon arrival (you can enjoy breakfast and then get off; or sleep all day and never get off), the shopping venues on the NCL Escape are accurately pictured and described in NCL literature (and in a lifetime’s worth of video on YouTube), elevators are busier than the stairs at dinner time, it can be difficult to seat 14 people together in the MDR (especially when you don’t show up at your requested time)……the TA daughter was unfamiliar or unaware of these interesting and somewhat rudimentary cruise tidbits? Don’t even get me started on the every meal was “never hotter than a bit above warm” complaint. We are missing only “staff was rude” and “we waited an hour at every bar to get a drink” to achieve the CC imagined misery trifecta. NCL must be thrilled about one and done. They are apparently now RCCL or Carnival’s headache.

An issue I have encountered with early disembarkation is you may get off the ship, but your luggage is still onboard. I spent 90 minutes in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal last February waiting for port employees to finish off loading the luggage. We were all held along the side of the building or inside at the top of the escalators watching them offload 10,000 suitcases. They would not allow anyone into Luggage Hall until the ship was empty and the forklifts were parked. It takes time…… NCL may offer the perk of early disembarkation, but they don’t control the speed of Port of N.Y. employees operating the forklifts…..not sure if this is a universal port problem, but it is in NY. Something to consider and research. I usually take my luggage off with me at 0 dark thirty. That’s the fastest way and only way to guarantee that both you and your luggage are off early.

Glad it worked out. You picked two great restaurants. Enjoy….

Have you tried booking yourself? I’m on the Getaway in 33 days. I just randomly selected Cagneys on Mar 1 for dinner and looked at reservations for 4 people. This is what’s available….. I also checked La Cucina for Feb 28 reservations between 5:30 to 9:30 every 30 minutes still available for 4 people. I can’t believe all specialty dining on the Joy is sold out at 124 days. You got an NCL employee who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Go to your reservation in the app - click on Dining under Things to Do, scroll down past the offers to purchase additional specialty dining until you start to see the restaurants. Touch the restaurant name you want and a reservation screen will open. Drop downs for dates, party size and available times will show as above. Click your time preference and follow the prompts to “checkout”. You don’t pay anything but it processes the reservation like a purchase. You will get an email confirmation and the reservation will show up in My Plans. I really can’t believe it’s sold out in 24 hours. I was on the Joy in late September and we decided to switch reservations during a Labor Day party with family who were going with us - no problem.

My experience is generally the same as the others. In the Vibe’s I have visited the bar closing time is fluid, but usually around 6/7pm. The Vibe bartenders will frequently be encountered at other venues (theatre is common location) so I suspect that is a driving force in closing. After the bar closes, some staff remain to cleanup and prepare for tomorrow. I have never been asked to leave, but usually an hour or so after the bar closes the place is empty and you get the vibe that the Vibe is closing. They stack and tie down all the loungers and secure the umbrellas every night, so it’s kinda obvious things are winding down. At some point the access door will be switched off and entry will not be possible, but I’ve never tried to enter later at night so don’t know when that happens. I have tried to enter early morning to sit outside and enjoy my coffee only to find it locked so it definitely is locked at some point.

I don’t think so, but others may have a better answer. You can purchase the Vibe for them as a “surprise” but in my experience it will show up in their MyNCL account linked to the cruise shortly after purchase. If their email is linked to the account, an email confirmation for the Vibe will be sent to their email. (If you did all the planning and only provided your email for both cabins you may be in luck with avoiding the email notifications to them). My son has purchased OBC and other items as a gift for us in the past and I always saw it in my account - I just pretend to be surprised! Maybe NCL has a work around for this. I would think it’s not uncommon for people to want to gift surprises to friends and family…..maybe they can delay the notification or posting it to MyNCL? I’m curious about this myself and look forward to seeing the responses from folks who may have more information. Good luck.

Yes. Instead of beach towels the Vibe is supplied with large deep blue blankets with the NCL logo on them. Wrap up and relax…..