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Thanks for the detailed information! 

My sister lives in Mexico and is planning to pick me up in Progreso in her car. The last time I was there private vehicles were not permitted to drive on the pier to the ship. I heard that the rules have changed. Does anyone know if she can drive to the the ship, or do I need to take the shuttle to the shore to be picked up? 

I didn't think there was a roll call but just found it. Thanks!

10 hours ago, mac1_131 said:

I believe 8am to 6pm are the hours.

I guess I am in trouble because my ship arrives at 8 pm and I have a tour the next morning at 8 am. I won't be able to get tip money. Does anyone have any suggestions?

On 3/26/2019 at 7:41 PM, pyrrhus said:

I have read about this place in some Tiki forums.  I need to see it.  Unfortunately from your description I might not get to.   I’ll be arriving Sunday at 8:0o.  Who knows how long it will take to disembark.  I’ll try though.   I assume a quick taxi ride to the hotel.   

 

I could try after the Tropicana on Monday night,  but looking for things to do on Sunday.

I think I am on your cruise. Leaving this Saturday? I am hoping that a lot of passengers won't bother disembarking on Sunday evening (after a day with the open bar) and it will be fast.

On 3/27/2019 at 11:05 AM, PelicanBill said:

Yes, they are on each beach and I cannot remember for sure but I want to say around $12?  But there is no lagoon side at GSC. Each of the 3 beaches face the same direction - but the water was not rough. 

 

There is a lagoon at the far end, beyond the 3 beaches, that will be dedicated to Havens guests when it is finished.

 

You can book these ahead in excursions or on board and that grants you a priority tender time.

Do you think they are sold out if they are not listed on the pre-booked excursion options?

20 hours ago, uCruiser said:

I know it is current, because when I booked a few weeks ago, that page was one big mess, with contradicting statements. The have cleaned it up recently.

 

Also look at the difference for the free at sea on a open bar ship (your cruise) and a ship without open bar

 

 

Thank you so much for going to the trouble to get this very useful information for me!

7 minutes ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

I booked my wife on the same cruise in May.  The ship does dock at 8AM, then departs the following morning at 6AM.

 

The ship IS all inclusive.  The Premium Beverage Package is a "Free at Sea" choice, and from what I understand, gives you free upcharge liquors, certain bottles of wine/champagne at dinners, bottled water and specialty coffees.  I cannot comment on the internet, as I took the free air and the dining as the other choices.

 

Good luck, and please report back as your sailing is a week away.  Just chill, have a few cocktails and enjoy!

My cruise docks at 8 pm and leaves at 6am after two nights. I am just trying to make sure I can have the few cocktails!

17 minutes ago, CruiseGal999 said:

 

Yes, and sometimes the offer will say $700 (for example) free onboard credit.  BUT when you go to book your cabin category you find out that inside cabin is maybe $50 and a window cabin is maybe a $100 and a balcony is maybe $200 and you discover you have to pay $10 - $12,000 for a haven or owner's or some high up suite category to get the $700 on board credit.  It's just how it is.  

If that's how it is, it is very wrong. It needs to say UP TO $700 (for example)if it is not $700.

1 hour ago, CruiseGal999 said:

Hmmm...could it have said UPTO 250 minutes.  And the 100 minutes falls in the 3 - 6 day cruise category you are sailing.  

 

The NCL Sun AND Sky are BOTH open bar ships within the NCL fleet.  I sailed NCL Sky to Cuba in 2017.  There is a dollar amount cap (I think you need to find that specific info.) on the free drinks and then you are charged and tip added on the difference of the allowed dollar amount and the overage. 

 

Other than that, you didn't do research, make phone calls or ask questions of anyone prior to booking.  Now it seems as though you are blaming NCL for all of your neglect.  

 

Cuba is an amazing country.  The people are wonderful, friendly, generous, and so happy to entertain tourists.  I really hope you have a wonderful time there and don't let these small things ruin your cruise. 

1 hour ago, CruiseGal999 said:

Hmmm...could it have said UPTO 250 minutes.  And the 100 minutes falls in the 3 - 6 day cruise category you are sailing.  

It would have been no problem if it said up to 250 minutes, It didn't. It said 250 minutes. Here it is:

FREE AT SEA

Applicable Sailings: 
3+ Day Cruises Fleetwide 

Studios & Insides: Pick 1 Offer
Oceanviews, Balconies & Mini-Suites: Pick 2 Offers
Concierge, Suite & Haven: Get up to 5 Free Offers

Choose from: 
1. Premium Beverage Package
2. Specialty Dining Package
3. 250-Minute Internet Package
4. $50 USD Per Port Shore Excursions
5. 3rd & 4th Guest Free (select sailings)
 

1 hour ago, ggTexasGal said:

Here is another area that you may need to check...

https://www.ncl.com/faq#what-is-onboard-service-charge

 

You did not state exactly when you did book, so this might truly be confusing.

On the other-hand, if, when you log into you My NCL, and go to VACATION SUMMARY, then select Pre-Pay Service Charges,

(assuming you have not yet) the dollar amount (per person, per day), should "tell" you IF your booking was considered an "All Inclusive" or not.  If it's $20 or more pp/pd, then NCL "should be" considering it an All inclusive.  If less than $20 pp/pd, then the beverage package being offered as a "PICK..." item, makes sense!

 

Frankly, I find all cruise lines have confusing information.  That is because each one has it's own way of telling us what they want consumers to feel/believe!

That is the big problem. While it looks like the cruise should be "all inclusive" according to the NCL website, the prepaid gratuities are only $14.50/day. There is another thread about this apparent discrepancy with no resolution.

2 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

That’s picking at nits, IMHO...that said, enjoy your time in Cuba...

True, but I did call to verify the time since I thought they must l have made a mistake and meant 8am (which is about the normal time from Miami to Havana).

7 minutes ago, ggTexasGal said:

           Within the T&C link you posted ...I scrolled down to "Internet" specifically, and found this:

Internet Package (Free WiFi)
Internet package is based on number of nights.
100 minutes per stateroom for 3-6 Day Cruises.

 

Maybe, (since it appears that you are late booking) the post cruise excursion has sold-out.  However, you still MIGHT be able to book that on-board, possibly.  Shore Excursion phone# is 1-866-625-1167.

 

As for the Premium Beverage Package, you would need to ask NCL outright.  I have never seen it show-up as an added option, during the booking process, if it is already an "INCLUDED" item.

Thanks. I guess I just looked at the first list of choices and saw the 3+ days.  It is definitely my mistake but still very misleading, I think, to state 250 at the top and then in the "fine print" indicate 100. And I did call and found that the excursion is not available.

Since I am complaining, I might as well point out one other item I think is misleading.  The ad states:

ENJOY MORE OF CUBA WITH TWO DAYS IN HAVANA

In fact, the ship arrives at 8 pm. I don't think this would count as a day of enjoyment in Havana based on anyone's definition

I have sailed most other large cruise lines before but not NCL.  I like to get information on-line rather than by phone, and  I am finding the information available from NCL very misleading or inaccurate. I booked a 5 day cruise on the Sun leaving April 6, and so far I have had three issues:

While trying to decide between a sailaway fare or "free at sea" perks, I found numerous places indicating that the free at sea internet perk was 250 minutes on cruises of 3+ days. 

https://www.ncl.com/termsandconditions/promotions

But after I booked and chose this perk I got 100 minutes rather than the advertised 250 minutes.

The main problem so far is that l haven't been able to determine with certainty whether the open bar is included on my cruise. If it isn't then I will have to change to the beverage perk. I cannot find anything in writing relating to my specific cruise having the open bar. The promotional literature does indicate that all 3-5 day Sun cruises have the open bar, but this is the same source that incorrectly promises 250 internet minutes.  Neither the ad for my cruise nor the on-line check-in documents mentions the open bar. All I have in writing is the promotional literature that may or may not be current and accurate.

Finally, I had chosen the shore excursion perk mainly to use the short debarkation tour of Miami ending at the airport. The description indicated that the tour was not available on the Sky but didn't exclude the Sun. I booked my flight home based on using this excursion, but after booking I found that this excursion is not in fact available for the Sun. I don't understand why this was not mentioned along with the Sky exclusion.

This has been a very confusing and unpleasant experience, and I don't understand why NCL can't provide accurate information. I just hope the cruise goes better than the planning process.

1 minute ago, uCruiser said:

 

First sentence on this page https://www.ncl.com/terms/sun-beverages

 

""Effective for Norwegian Sun 3-5 Day sailings beginning May 2018, guests will receive complimentary beverages which include designated spirits, cocktails, bottled beer, draft beer, and wines by the glass and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay*.""

 

It will be hard for them to get around that! But I do agree with you and the gratuities have thrown several of us off..

Thanks for the prompt response, but are you certain that this language is current? I wonder if anyone has been on the Sun and had their gratuities increased later. I really would like to have something in writing for my cruise. I have found that the Norwegian  promotional material can be misleading. For example, numerous web pages show the Free at Sea Internet perk to be 250 minutes, but when I chose it there were only 100 minutes. 

On 3/27/2019 at 3:43 PM, wrecklezz316 said:

It really is confusing.  Sure, the banner says open bar but there is no other indication it is an open bar cruise.  The prepaid gratuities (according to their terms) should be $20.00 when its really only $14.50 as of today.  Nowhere else on the confirmation nor in the description does it say open bar.  

 

The only thing to indicate it is open bar for Norwegian Sun April 1-6 is the added "Beverage Package" which has less grauities than a true beverage package.  This indicates that the "Beverage Package" add on is really only a premium beverage package (Water bottles, premium liquor, etc)

 

It's really not that straight forward.  Their website/terms need to be updated.  

I am now even more confused after reading this thread. I thought for sure that my Sun cruise leaving Miami on April 6 to Cuba for 5 nights included the open bar. But it is not in the ad or banner. I can find nowhere in writing that this particular cruise includes the open bar, and my pre-paid gratuities are only $14.50/day (indicating that the open bar is NOT included). I need to know for sure so that I can choose the free at sea beverage package if the open bar is not included. I can call but I want something in writing for this particular cruise.

Hopefully your cruise will have a BB King Blues Band aboard. They'll keep you entertained.

I agree. They were the best entertainment I have ever seen on a cruise ship.

Agreed that this is the easiest way. Unless you forget it or are traveling only with carryon bags (so do on short cruises) - the airlines are a problem then.

 

DaveOKC

There is no problem with TSA unless the corkscrew has a foil cutter.

Methinks at some point the non-smokers might have to settle for not getting 100% of everything they want, all the time, IF the smoking issue is so important to them..... The goal posts seem to keep moving. What we used to hear was "Why can't HAL eliminate smoking in the cabins." So HAL did that. Now it is "Why can't HAL guarantee me a smoke-free experience on my veranda." Well, what has been suggested would come very close to that. But if that's done, the new cry will rise up, "Why can't I book an aft balcony on HAL, it isn't fair...."

 

All of us have to make choices based on the best alternatives for us, and most of us don't have "unlimited" choices -- we are limited by cost, time, availability, preferences, mobility, etc.

 

If someone has to choose between a smoke-free veranda and an aft veranda, that doesn't seem like the end of the world to me.

I still don't see why HAL doesn't reserve one side of the ship for smokers.

There is a refreshment stand at Governors' Beach.

Hello,

 

Just wondering how safe Grand Turk is once you leave the Cruise Port area. Is it safe to walk on your own the mile or so to Governor's Beach???

Seemed totally safe except perhaps for a few tipsy tourists on scooters.

I've been on three cruises , the fourth is in June ( all with Carnival) I really wanted to book the HAL Eurodam out of Ft. Lauderdale for November 23-30. I'm just not sure of a great many things..overall how much different is the experience? Are the same things on HAL free that are free on Carnival? How much do gratuities run on HAL? Any help is appreciated..thanks in advance

Carnival has more free drinks (Captain's party and return guest party) while with HAL you are lucky to get some champagne. I think HAL has great room service compared to Carnival. Carnival has a rowdier atmosphere but has adults only area, while HAL allows kids to take over all the pools and hot tubs. I think HAL has larger cabins in general.

I have never had any difficulty with a private tour operator. They know what time the ship leaves.

 

The time you must be back on the ship is usually about an hour before sail away. So if he brings you back a half an hour before the boarding time, you should be fine.

 

Don't forget to check if you are on "ship's time" or local time. Very important!

I have never been on a ship that required boarding an hour before departure and would be irritated if it occurred. It would seem to be false advertising about port time.

It took me less than 15 minutes to walk. No stores on the way. You can walk on the beach to Jack's Shack, then take the road the rest of the way.