woodley

Last year we got our own visa for Indonesia.  It was quick and easy to do online.  However lots of people had to pay again at the entry point because they did not get multiple entry and we visited two Indonesian ports on that trip. 

After  a number of cruises with NCL I noticed what they were doing, selling X but supplying Y.  As a result I have changed to other cruise lines and up till now have not had any issues with bait and switch.  Yesterday a cruise  which I had booked for March 2025 with HAL informed me of an itinerary change way before final payment and with dates and alternative ports.  Now I can choose if I want to stay with this cruise or move to another.  This is how it should be handled, not wait till its too late to do anything but accept the changes.

On 3/25/2024 at 7:14 PM, BruceMuzz said:

It is always a good idea to learn the correct name of a place you plan to visit.

I know the spelling is incorrect but don't know how to edit it.  Guess most people would know where I mean though, but thanks for correcting me. Almost feel like I am back at school!

We will be docked at Port klang 10am to 9pm.  Last year we did Batu caves and city tour which was great but don't want to repeat it.  Anyone have any other suggestions for what we could do here this time.  We thought Malacca old town may be a good idea but not sure of distance or whether it is doable in the time limits we have. Also read about a fishing village but can't seem to find any information on it or the article I read.

We did a ships tour which was great but a little rustic.  The local school put on a dance performance which was really great.  Just out of the port gates there was a small craft market set up and you can walk into the town but to be honest there is not that much to see.  However the people are so friendly and constantly stopped us asking to take pictures with us and a couple of times we were asked for our autographs which I found very strange.  We loved this stop on our cruise and hope it retains its charm once tourism takes a hold here.

On 10/2/2023 at 4:14 PM, chatuga said:

Has anyone used Kamvelta travels for Sri Lanka day tours. Will be in Colombo and Bantota in May 2024.

 

 

I used them last november trip to Galle and Yala. Both tours were good but the one to Galle was a lot of driving.

On 3/6/2024 at 8:49 PM, NCL ruined vacation said:

In Australia you cant waive your consumer rights (law) by taking a cruise under their contract. 2 days before sail NLC dropped the bucket list destination (paradise bay on mainland Antarctica) and waited untill after departure to advise passengers. Then they did the same thing to the passengers on the cruise straight after ours. On a cruise around Africa the did similar.

This behaviour is actually NCL’s current mode of operation. We have learned through many sources, including Cruise Industry News, that this is part of NCL’s cost cutting transformation initiative. Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCL Holdings is quoted as saying that NLC has adopted a “company-wide focus” to reduce costs, and a “relentless focus on cost optimisation”. We will not sail with a company that displays such low regard for its customers. NLC has lost its way because its moral compass is broken. 

I totally agree with you.  More cruisers need to go to other cruise line the 5 we have been with since our last NCL cruises have all been so much more reliable.  When you book to go somewhere and pay for that trip you expect to go there unless of course bad weather or safety issues.  I for one will not be returning to NCL.

Well we have taken 5 cruises with other lines since I started this thread and not one port has been missed.  So we will not be booking again with NCL even though we have the highest level of perks with NCL. I cannot believe that they are allowed to cancel ports for non emergency reasons and get away with it!

Thinking of booking a dining package but would rather wait till on board.  Is there any difference in price of buying before rather than onboard.  Also with regard to the chefs table, I know there is a french one but what are the others?

My understanding is, "it is not required" but I will be printing it off and bringing it just in case anything changes while we are away.

We used Heritage tours from st Lucia at Richards bay, did a safari, a wetland safari and a swim at the beach great price and they were very reliable plus we were a group of six our group of four and two others which was so much better than the big tour groups.

We stayed in cape town for a couple of days one block from the waterfront.  Our hotel offered a free shuttle which took about 15 mins to drive due to the one way system and traffic

, it only took about 5 mins to walk there but we were advised that it was much safer to take the shuttle especially when the sun goes down.  On our second day we witnessed police at the hotel interviewing a couple who had walked and been robbed. So please take care and follow the advice from your hotel.  The waterfront area has very good security but the area local to it not so much.   As in any big city be streetwise.

We were advised to get MMR as we had not had it as a child in addition to boosters for all our childhood jabs, hep A and tetnus.  We also took malaria mediation.  We bought bands for our ankles and wrists to deter mosquito's and used a spray which we sprayed onto our clothes and exposed skin. Never got bitten and didn't really see that many insects while we were there but we did see some people that had quite a few bites.

If you are doing a safari we were advised to wear browns and greens not bright colors or whites, blues and black.

I am platinum with NCL but won't be sailing with them again.  Last two cruises they not only missed ports but also countries. No reason given and no refund of port fees.  No longer getting what you paid for and everything is lack luster. Entertainment is a joke. Over the years we have sailed on most cruise lines and we like celebrity and MSC so we have MSC booked for July, Azamara booked for November 2023 and celebrity for November 2024.

9 minutes ago, mistertomatoe said:

My first cruise with NCL in December they switched a port to what I viewed as worse. Second cruise in Jan, they skipped Bermuda due to weather but no refund of port fees. We started the cruise with three sea days. Along with other reasons, I’m trying to get away from NCL. I unfortunately already paid for two upcoming cruises but after those I’m done with NCL. Seven cruises with Royal, Celebrity, and Carnival, no port issues. All cruises have been after the restart.

Pre covid I sailed a lot with NCL and yes there were a few ports missed but usually due to weather which was understandable.  Now I really think they are advertising and selling cruise itineraries to get people interested to book and after final payment dropping ports.  This is false advertising. When I complained I was offered $100 off a future cruise booking.  Not enough to compensate me for not going to Guernsey, Portugul, le havre, and Durban South Africa.  I just won't sail with them again as other lines seem to be more reliable.

On 2/27/2023 at 8:09 PM, RocketMan275 said:

If  you distrust NCL enough to believe this, then you'd best find another cruise line.

Have you researched other lines to see if there is a pattern of missing ports as well?

Already have done. Azamara and celebrity are my next booked cruises.  I wouldn't be fool enough to continue to book cruises with NCL and not get what I have paid for.  I will see how these two line are in due course.

On 2/27/2023 at 8:09 PM, RocketMan275 said:

If  you distrust NCL enough to believe this, then you'd best find another cruise line.

Have you researched other lines to see if there is a pattern of missing ports as well?

Already have done. Azamara and celebrity are my next booked cruises.  I wouldn't be fool enough to continue to book cruises with NCL and not get what I have paid for.  I will see how these two line are in due course.

The last two NCL cruises I have been on have cancelled port/countries after final payment with little or no explanation and no return of port fees.  I have been reading other reports of this happening with increasing frequency.  I understand bad weather could sometimes impact the ability to dock but it does seem to be happening more and more also ports and countries were cancelled on both my recent cruises with no reason given at all.  I am beginning to think they are advertising and selling cruises to ports/countries they have no intention of going to. What do others think?

We are thinking of getting the indulgence package.  Does anyone know when you buy a package with the shore excursion credit are you able to book and use this credit prior to sailing or do you have to wait to book the tours whilst on board.  There are a few tours I want to use this credit on but don't want to wait to book in case they sell out.

Thanks everyone for your input. It is very helpful.  Seems that Azamara tours are much the same as the other lines some tours are good some not really worth it.  I think I will do a combination of ship tours to use the credit and private ones to save some money.

Thank you that is helpful.  

I have cruised on 48 cruise's over the years on many different cruise lines but never before on Azamara.  Usually I try and book private excursions as I find the ship's offerings to be poor value for money.  Can those of you that are regular cruisers with Azamara let me know what their shore excursions are like, value, interest and quality or if you would also prefer to do private excursions.  

On 1/30/2023 at 6:12 PM, Diver2014 said:

So the OP didn't like the short excursions.  Reason to go to another cruise line?  Lotsa luck on finding something better since shore excursions are thru 3rd party vendors.  

You are correct but when you book direct you do not pay three times the price and you have more control of what you do and see.

This is good to hear ziggyyuk, have only been with MSC once before and it was excellent especially as we took our grandchildren and they had a blast in the kids club.  

23 hours ago, Seas2mountains said:

MSC in Yacht Club or not? We just got off MSC Divina in YC last month. The areas outside of YC were packed and reviews posted by those not in YC make it sound like it was not a pleasant cruise due to the crowds, lines for food and the food quality. The reviews might be helpful to know what to expect. 
 

Was your last NCL cruise before your October cruise in 2010? That’s really a long time and I can imagine a lot changed in 12-13 years.  
 

 

No it was NCL star october 2023.

4 minutes ago, cruiseat50 said:

So, which line will you try next?  I hope they work out better for you so that you can continue cruising.  If they are please come back here and tell us which line and why they are better.

 

We have one booked with MSC and one with Azamara.  Lets hope they are better.