alanstarr

On 11/8/2023 at 8:37 AM, alanstarr said:

Downloaded the app, got my stock holdings approved pretty quickly. Submitted on Sunday for a December cruise, now its just saying "In Progress" so far. We'll see what happens! 

Update - credit just post today, five days after submission (just like they said).

Also interesting - I also got validated for my NCL stock, so maybe I can use this one app in the future for both companies. 

If you like sea days, NCL Joy has a 10-day TA from Miami to Southampton (London) on Jan 11-21. Currently the single supplement is 50%, but I'm hoping it'll go down to zero. But even at 50%, its only $1161 for a balcony all-in, including drink package. 

Downloaded the app, got my stock holdings approved pretty quickly. Submitted on Sunday for a December cruise, now its just saying "In Progress" so far. We'll see what happens! 

Looking at a TA in January on the Joy. For some reason, the regular balcony for one person is cheaper than the "solo balcony". Do they expect you to pay extra just for access to the solo lounge? 

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

Can't speak to the price. However, on our Escape TA last November, the internet was awful for almost the entire 16 days...not just crossing the Atlantic. Couldn't even log into the "free" CC access. Even the gurus at the Internet Cafe couldn't get it to work. 

But as they say on CC...YMMV.

The Getaway has been upgraded to Starlink, and it worked quite well throughout the journey (including the TA portion), Speed seemed to be throttled to ~4MB/sec, but that's fine for basic surfing. (I didn't upgrade to the streaming package.)
 

6 minutes ago, Ellaleah said:

I have read this before regarding upgrading Wi-Fi on the 2nd day.  Could you explain to me why the price difference is so great?  Thank you

I wait until the 2nd day because I usually have land-based service for the 1st day; which saves me a day's cost.

Additionally, as long as you haven't used any time yet, they give you a credit for you unused FAS minutes (which was 150min for my 10-day cruise and 300min for my 13-day cruise). 

Just got off a 23-day B2B that included a TA. I upgraded my internet on the 2nd day of each leg; it was $170 for 1st leg and $185 for 2nd leg. Since I had $100 OBC from stocks, it worked out perfect.

6 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

WOW.  I wonder if this is a new change, or a case of YMMV.  Solos have always not been able to "double up" on the vouchers.  In other words, you couldn't get two entrees and was limited to 4 items at those restaurants that are by item (food republic, raw bar, ect(

I bet its a YMMV. I've definitely been able to do it on other ships as well though. I think the last time was at the sushi bar on the Star this past winter, where they volunteered the info that I could order 8 items. (Last night, I had to mention it, but the waiter quickly agreed.) 

I've only done it a couple times, but have never been turned down yet. Last night I even ordered a couple appetizers from the Ocean Blue menu (fire shrimp and scallops) and three from the Raw Bar menu. Plus dessert that I took back to my cabin.

On 11/2/2023 at 7:50 PM, Russiamomm said:

So, my advice is to use the Platinum vouchers for the fixed price restaurants and use the FAS meals for the a la carte restaurants and/or at the sushi/raw bar or Food Republic, share four “things” and go twice.  

If you're traveling solo, you can order up to 8 items when using the Platinum voucher at ala carte restaurants. Just did this last night at the Raw Bar on the Getaway. (Although even the 5 dishes I ordered was too much food for me to finish. And I can eat!)

I'm currently on a 23-day B2B. They've used it for a bunch of shows. Broadway Unplugged (with the cast of Million Dollar Quartet), solo singers, a magician, a juggler. I think the Escape Room game is held in there. 

45 minutes ago, Mademypoint said:

Is anyone on the ship right now? I have a friend who says she's sitting on the stairs for hours now. Does anyone know what's happening? TIA

Getaway is boarding normally, there are thousands on the ship already. Everyone is just hanging around, waiting for rooms to become available. 

Currently on the Getaway. This is the non-streaming internet.

4 hours ago, smillerholmes said:

The only reason I went on the free one is because I like to do it once per ship in the hopes that I will see something awesome in the process.  I have yet to be wowed - I keep hoping...

The best reason to do the free tour is that, in the kitchen, you can see all the meals scheduled for the entire cruise. Helps with planning when you want to book specialty restaurants!

5 hours ago, Starlight Durban Cruising said:

For this cruise, what sort of "winter-Arctic" clothing did you take and use. We're booked for Feb 2025.

 

I'm hardly the one to ask about fashion advice! But I guess my best advice would be "layers". The biggest issue is that in Buenos Aires, there was a heat wave and it was in the 90's, so you have to pack for everything. One the days I wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors, I would just double-up on socks and thermal shirts, plus wear good gloves/hat. 

I found a nice hidden spot at the back of the ship in Spice H2O, right near the gym exit. It was protected from the wind, and you could still do lots of sightseeing through the windows from there without freezing, even when raining. 
 

On 7/19/2023 at 9:38 PM, cruisenurse2 said:

Hi Brian 

Thank you for the response . I paid $1100 for my solo studio. I am veteran . Anyway the bid offer is gone . its no longer available. I was hoping for a spa cabin to bid on . But , that was not a option. I had no idea they would drop the solo suppliment . I am trying to get my agent to help me . I called NCL and they sent me back to her. so we will see. I guess I should book at the last minute. But . I have a job and pets I need to make arrangements for . 

NCL just today dropped the solo supplement for the Oct Getaway sailings balcony rooms. You might be able to upgrade to a balcony for less than you paid for your solo cabin. Give them a call! 

1 hour ago, ziggyuk said:

Hi  @alanstarr thanks for the review we are doing this trip in January 2024, I was wondering if the Lecturers (Torre, Joe & Liam) you mention were official NCL lectures?

Pretty sure they were independent. A couple seemed to be there for the season, but I think my cruise was Liam's first time. 

Stole this info from @teecee60.  😊

Grand Princess 20-day cruise, San Francisco to Aukland NZ. $1325 for Obstructed OV (only $66/day!). Departing Sept. 26th. 
 

I'm traveling in Europe right now, and was running into the same issue. Couldn't book a cruise because it wasn't showing my CruiseNext in my account. Turned out to be an easy fix though - site came up perfectly on my phone! Not sure why it doesn't work on my laptop, but does on my mobile, but I was glad it did. 

Interestingly, if I use my phone as a hotspot and connect my laptop to it, the page still defaults to the international sites. So it only works on the mobile device itself.

7 hours ago, cruisenurse2 said:

Hello 

I have a question . Alanstarr. How did you get the balcony so cheap its listed right now for 1 travelor at $1649.

I booked an Oceanview Picture Window, not a balcony, for $1350. However, with 160+ balconies currently available, I believe that there will be ample opportunity to upgrade, either through bidding or repricing. I believe the bidding window opens up at 90 days before the cruise? So maybe early next you should see an opportunity? 

But since the solo supplement was just dropped yesterday for inside and OV cabins, I'm hoping it will go away for balconies soon as well, and I just reprice for a couple hundred dollars extra. 

11 hours ago, alanstarr said:

13-night TA on Oct 22 on the Getaway from Southampton. $1330 all-in. 

Just booked this for $1100 after $250 FCC. Plus I get Sapphire benefits, and shareholder OBC.

And I think they'll be no problems upgrading for minimum bids, looks like 100 balconies still available, plus another 67 family balconies! 

NCL just removed the single supplement for certain cabins on the 13-night TA on Oct 22 on the Getaway from Southampton. $1330 all-in, including drink package, for picture window OV. 

I've sent my request in twice over the past couple weeks. No response, not even an automated one. Cruise isn't until December though, so I also have time. 

Another decent deal from Princess, especially if you like sea days. 21-nights from Los Angeles to Auckland NZ, leaving Oct. 8th. Total is $2585 for a solo balcony. Stops include Hawaii, Tahiti and American Samoa. (Interior is $1835, or only $87/night!).

Princess has a pretty good deal on an 18-night cruise from LA to Chile. Departs Los Angeles on Dec 1st, arrives in Santiago on Dec. 19th. Solo balcony is just $1894 all-in, other than crew appreciation. And it includes $200 OBC.

(Insides and OV are even less, of course!) 

Although its listed on some menus, be aware that I've only found Bookers on one ship so far (Dawn). And even that bottle was from 2015, and almost empty.