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Yes, they owe $96K to the IRS due to interest and principal from 2020. It was a windfall gambling winnings that they gained in January before the pandemic, but they used it all during that period. They were fighting the IRS, claiming that the money belonged to them and they shouldn't have to pay. It's not how income taxes work, but stubborn willful ignorance is a personality flaw. Short of paying off $96K via installment plan (Which I wouldn't contribute to as its their own obstinacy that led to it), nothing can be done to eliminate the passport block. As for CAS, we would need to cancel the trip entirely, since we are not the Casino cruise certificate holder. However, we can't get the Balcony room back if we do that. As you may have noticed by looking at May 26th, there are no more Balcony rooms for that cruise. It's a cruise nearing full capacity. I've traveled with NCL before on my own dime and I honestly could have afforded regular price for a balcony room if I had booked six months ago on my own, but the cheap option from my relative was too good to ignore.

The person has issues (IRS related stuff we didn't know about). Feel free to laugh considering they love gambling, but we got hooked into this mess due to the discount and already paid up our portions. Maybe it's a cautionary tale for folks to avoid taking trips with family members and have control over booking in their own hands, but cruising is expensive and discounts are hard to find.

I hope someone on here can assist A family member, who we gave money for the Cruise, through the Casino at Sea program with NCL booked a Western Mediterranean cruise several months ago and it's past the deadline for refund. However, unbeknownst to us, the family member has an issue with their US passport and cannot travel to Europe for the Cruise. We are booked to leave Barcelona on May 26th 2024. At the moment, the other 3 members of the cruise's names are already logged into NCL website and our passport documentation is fine, can we still board the ship without the Casino at Sea family member, who had originally received the free cruise certificate? I am wondering if anyone else has ever encountered something like this, since it's an odd situation. We paid for the cruise ourselves, but we took advantage of our family member's Casino benefit to receive the free Balcony room. We know that there will be losses now from Hotel and airline tickets for the one member who cannot travel to Europe, but we do not want to cancel the entire trip on account of one person's documentation issues. We do not mind losing some money from a lack of refund, but we're hoping not to lose the entire $10K with excursions. Thank you for any help in advanced

Thanks, I was wondering if this was a new benefit of the Haven. I was on the NCL Epic and was directed Haven restaurant my last time. I'll be on the NCL Bliss, so I assumed it would be the same. Then I heard some folks on the Encore were able to have lunch until 4 PM at the specialty restaurant, so I was curious if that was a new benefit for Haven guests. I wouldn't mind sampling Los Lobos, Food Republic, or some of the new places for lunch as an additional benefit of the Haven. I know dinner is fee/perk per visit deal.

Hello, I am getting competing examples that Cagneys or American Diner is free to Haven guests on embarkation day until 4 PM. Is this still true? I will be on the NCL Bliss in April 2024 heading to Alaska, so I am interested in maximizing my Haven perks and knowing what I can get as a Haven guest.

Thanks, the thermal spa haven suites have already all been sold out 😞 I do like the idea of the Haven and I know the dining is way above the main dining rooms (I prefer sweet potato fries and onion rings, which do not exist on any NCL menu now, but Haven will make them for me.)

I have had prior experience with Haven suite on the NCL Epic for their Western Mediterranean Cruise in 2022 out of Barcelona, but I have not tried a North American route with Haven. Usually, I do Balcony as I find the ventilation for inside and oceanview to be substandard on many ships, making it a difficult experience. My experience with Haven in Europe was that I never truly got to enjoy the amenities as I was constantly going off the ship for tours of European cities. My Butler did give me good snacks and a few show tickets, but I don't feel like I really used him as some of my more demanding neighbors did. I knew the Epic has its own Haven Sauna on the sun deck, but does the NCL Bliss have it? Otherwise, I'd have to include a spa package as I do want to enjoy a warm refresher after being out in Alaskan cold (April is still quite chilly). Please tell me of your experiences with the NCL Bliss and/or Alaskan route for either a Balcony or Haven, I am hoping to make up my mind on this prior to the end of holiday season.

I gauge quality by the amount of foot traffic on a cruise ship, the more people go to a certain venue, the more likely the quality is above par, especially for Carnival. No need to be snippy about my question

Has anyone done this program for Alaska to Seattle trip? I am looking ahead to 2023 and wanted to know how the experience is with Alaskan cruises, I've never been up that neck of the woods, but I'd love to explore it

To answer your question, I've been on that itinerary on the NCL Breakaway in March from NYC pre-Covid. Yes, you should be bringing a heavy jacket for 2 main reasons: 1. Your port of departure will be cold up until March. 2. You will have 2 Sea days that you might want to take a trip up to the buffet or do a walk around. As to Bermuda itself, the temperature isn't that bad in March, mild for New Englanders like myself between 60-70 Fahrenheit, I would recommend a light jacket but I actually didn't need one. Long pants like Khaki's, Chino's, or Jeans will be fine with a simple short sleeve shirt. If you find those temperatures too cool due to the climate you are coming from, I'd recommend adding a cardigan sweater to your luggage and day bag, they come in handy. As to the weather, you're not in hurricane season, but rain is possible. February, like March, should be a calm month for winds, so a light umbrella should be enough to handle small rain squalls.

Question: Was the lines for taco's decent based on your observation? I remember when Carnival 1st restarted the cantina was busy. Sad to hear the buffet has gone down in quality though, I think that's a common issue on several cruise lines due to sourcing.

Thanks everyone for the updates on other cruises. I was on the Epic in May for their Western Mediterranean Cruise, something I planned pre-Covid. I had a Haven room and I really enjoyed the Haven Restaurant as well. I asked about Creme Brulee and they said they didn't do it (4th night after my meal at Le Bistro). I didn't know Cagney's was serving it, otherwise, I'd have asked them to get that delivered for me. I also love Creme Brulee, I know it's a common dessert by most fine dining standards, but quite honestly, I just enjoy egg custard and it's my vacation, too, so a little gluttony doesn't hurt. I'll be on the NCL Pearl for the last Boston to Bermuda cruise in November. I haven't tried cruising in the late fall/early winter before, so it will be an adventure.

Hello everyone, I just recently came back from a Cruise on the NCL Epic and am planning another trip on NCL Pearl soon. One thing I noticed onboard was the change in food choices and menu variety. It appeared that Creme Brulee at Le Bistro or equivalent egg custard dishes at other restaurants have been removed from their menus. I also check NCL Pearl's current menu offering and discovered the same issue. Does anyone know why egg custard is now forbidden on NCL? Was there a specific reason or is it a matter of NCL's executive chef's choice to end the menu item?