Luvcruising69

I appreciate everyone's insights and feedback. Thank you.

14 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

Love the  "asking for a friend" post that lacks information but seems to want a response based on the unknown facts.

 

Your friend needs to check with whoever she booked the trip with and check the details on any contract she may have agreed to with the booking agent.

Unfortunately, it was a 5 minute conversation as we traveled together this morning. I plan on trying to get more information but clearly she was upset over the experience. I don't believe she used a travel agent since she indicated that she reached out to Celebrity directly.

25 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

First , which cruise ? 
Why would you pay in full on a cruise two years out ? 
If she book with a travel agent , was it the travel agent that charger her a booking fee ? 
only time our cruise was canceled we received our deposit back and some OBC when we booked another cruise 

Unfortunately, it was a 5 minute conversation as we traveled together this morning. I plan on trying to get more information but clearly she was upset over the experience. I don't believe she used a travel agent since she said she had reached out to Celebrity directly.

I agree with you on the prepayment, not something I would have done on a cruise that far out.

While I have not traveled on Celebrity, I have cruised a number of other cruise lines. It has always been my experience that if the cruise line cancels a cruise that they offer you an alternate date for the cruise (if available) or offer you a full refund.

In the case of my friend, that is not what happened. She booked a cruise on Celebrity for 2 years from now. She paid for the cruise in full at the time of the booking. Approximately 3 weeks later, she received notice that Celebrity was cancelling her cruise and suspending that itinerary. Since there were no alternative dates available for the trip she booked, she requested a refund. What she received was her money back MINUS the deposit of $500.00.

She has contacted Celebrity several times but has been unable to obtain the full refund she was due.

Has anyone else had this experience? Is this a Celebrity policy? I would appreciate the communities insight. Thanks.

In the Observation Lounge due to the weather. Not seeing too many beaded/ festive people. Where are you all at? 🍾🎊🎉🚢

Doesn't look like the weather is going to cooperate for our sail away gettogether on Deck 8 so it looks like we'll be on 17 in the Observation Lounge. Looking forward to getting on board and starting our vacation. 

4-28+0600.pdf

On 4/24/2023 at 9:19 PM, HBCcruiser said:

I stopped at the second Yes.  You? 
 

Since I typically consume enough for both of us it is generally not a question 🙂

I brought snacks with me last year on the Gem out of NYC. They were packed in one of my carry-on bags which they did not check. 

The snacks weren't for me - I agree there is more than enough food choices for guests on the ship. I brought them to give out to the crew. These folks don't get off the ship much and what's available to them food wise is very limited so it's nice to give them something different after all those months. They were individually packaged chip bags and were very well received by the crew members who got them.

Our trip started before we left with our PCR tests on Saturday (for a Tuesday departure). We got our results on Sunday which were negative. I read somewhere in NCL's literature that while not mandatory, not testing prior to the pier and then testing positive there relives NCL of any cost responsibility for your quarantine or transportation home.

Once at the pier 88, we were immediately handed this letter with a change in the ports we would be visiting.

Turks and St. Thomas had been replaced with San Juan, PR and St. John's and the order of stops were moved around. We were then sent over to pier 90 to take our antigen test and then sat in the waiting area until our number appeared on the screens. The whole process took about 1/2 hour to complete. We were then given a wristband to show we tested negative which we had to show every person we encountered during the check-in process until we were actually on the ship.

The count of those on board was 776 or about 33% of full double occupancy. Elevators were empty more often than not and waits for dining were almost non-existent except on Valentine's Day. The staff on the ship were pleasant, professional and attentive. There was plenty of space to spread out. The food was good and plentiful as were the drinks.

Entertainment was available every evening in the theater at 8:00 PM (1 show per night due to the reduced occupancy). In addition, there was music available in several of the venues (and outside) for your enjoyment.

Sadly, we missed out last port of call due to weather concerns heading back up to NYC and ended up arriving at 5:00 PM on Thursday night but not disembarking until Friday AM as scheduled.

All in all a great cruise. For those concerned about Covid, we personally were not not aware of any cases once we got onboard and as I indicated earlier, being able to space out from others should you wish to was not a problem. Also, masks were required indoors unless you were seated eating or drinking which was what most people were doing. Outdoors was more flexible.

Lastly, for any smokers out there (like my wife), smoking was restricted to the cigar lounge and one location outdoors on deck 13. There was no smoking in the casino.

I hope you find this helpful should you be planning to cruise in the near future. 

19 hours ago, WYB! said:

So it’s now (2022, Feb 03rd) 5 days after I disembarked from the NCL Gem in NYC (Jan 29th).

 

This is my review of the the remaining 5 days on board the NCL Gem.

 

The short version is that this was an excellent trip which arrived back to a snow storm in NYC as scheduled on the 29th of January. I did have the opportunity and a really good deal to stay on for another 10 days, however I wouldn’t be able to keep the same cabin so I decided to disembark. I would do this voyage again without hesitation and look forward to my next voyage with NCL.

 

The long version, our ports on this 2nd voyage included Puerto Plata & Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic, St Marteen and Road Town, Tortola.

 

For both St Marteen and Road Town, Tortola  I booked excursions through the ship, I booked a different St Marteen excursion then the previous weeks visit to St Marteen. We found both excursions informative, safe & entertaining. I do wish I had planned my time better in Puerto Plata, DR as I could only manage a really short bike ride. In Puerto Plata they actually have bike lanes, and I also found a bike shop in the center of the city that rents bicycles too.

 

This being my first time to Road Town, Tortola, I found the island and area to have a higher standard of living then the other ports that we visited. However, most of the roads in Tortola were very steep and would make for very challenging cycling going west could be accomplished with flat roads for miles.

 

On both voyages I found the crew of the NCL Gem to be extremely hard working with the priority being passenger safety, but everyone on board seem to also have a very good time. There was no department or employee that was slacking. I was constantly being greeting by my first name through out the ship. Front desk knew me, cabin stewards from other parts of the ship knew me, the waiters and waitresses knew me. The AV technician knew me. Even the bar staff knew me and I didn’t drink or have a drink package. Everyone was friendly and hard working. The F&B director would stop by when ever he saw me to check on how I was doing as he remembered me from 2 years ago. “J’s” Cruise Director Staff were also very accommodating and friendly. Raven (from the Youth Staff), Morne and JC all were doing double and triple duty working above an d beyond their normal job descriptions.

 

You should be aware of the updated pricing in the speciality dining restaurants. For us pricing changed between voyages, (ie the Lobster Thermidor went from a $10 additional supplement to $25 additional supplement (but still worth it)). Keep this in mind especially if you are using the Platinum dining certificates as you are limited to 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert. But if you are using a speciality dining package you can order 1 entree but as many appetizers and sides as you want.

 

Close to the end of the voyage, there was a Q&A session with the Captain on the 27th. I believe it was a friendly exchange and also informative. I had random questions in my head that I got to ask him and this session lasted over an hour.

 

We all were not sure if we would be able to get back to NYC by the 29th because of the snow storm, but the evening before the captain announced that we would be increasing speed to make it back to NYC before the storm forced the closure of the port of NYC.

 

Disembarkation went smoothly for me. As planned I left my mom, bicycle and luggage in the waiting area upstairs in Port 88 and then picked up a rental car from Avis @ 43rd and 9th ave, then drove back to the port to pick up mom, bicycle and luggage. The drive back home took a little longer then usual but given the amount of snow falling, I’m glad we made it back safely. Along the way there were several cars that were either stuck or spun out along the west side.

 

My advise is, if you have any concerns at all you should cancel but I don’t think you should be afraid as you might miss one awesome low capacity cruise. Be adaptable, patient, prepared, cautious & aware but not afraid and you’ll have a great time. Also treat the crew well and don’t be like Aimee.

 

In my opinion, right now would also be an excellent time to cruise single and build up your latitude points as I believe many last minute bookings can offer the single supplement waved. Check online or with your TA.

 

And yes, as of the time of this writing (Feb 03rd) on my cc statement I have been reimbursed for all onboard charges (including speciality dining) for both voyages (1/9 & 1/19) which I booked as 1 reservation and also received back the 4 CNC’s that I use to book this voyage. I do not know why or how that happened and I’m keeping an eye on this. I’m looking to see if anyone had something similar on their cc statement that was either on the 1/09 voyage or did the B2B (1/9 & 1/19) also as 1 reservation. Let me know.

 

For additional information check out the roll calls for the Gem 2022 Jan (09th or 19th) or other postings for stuff written by me.

 

In closing, as our CD “J” would always say, don’t forget to “worry less and smile more”.

 

Stay well & Safe travels,

 

Who’sYourBuddy!

Thank you WYB!. It's been great to read your reports. They have certainly put a lot of us at ease about our upcoming trips. We leave on Tuesday for the the same 10 day trip which will be whatever it ends up being in terms of port stops (or lack there of). I'll try and report back for those traveling after us since this type of positive information is not what is normally reported on by mainstream media.

Glad you and your mom got home safe from the the Manhattan terminal last Saturday.

19 minutes ago, WYB! said:

Hi everyone, reviewing my cc statement and it seems I got back every charge from both voyages.

 

Back in 2020, I originally booked both voyages (1/9 & 1/19) as 1 reservation.

Voyage 1 departed on the 09th and was "cancelled" on the 13th of January 2022, returning to NY on the 19th.

Voyage 2 departed on Jan 19th and returned on the 29th.

 

Today, on my CC statement I saw my shipboard charges on 1/31 which matched my onboard account when I left the ship on 1/29.

But when i went to check my cc statement today there is a refund dated (2/1) and the amount covered every charge from both voyages.

 

That includes a refund for the: speciality dining, daily gratuities, shore excursions and purchases of cruise next certificates for both voyages!

(ie I bought a few cruise next certificates, they refunded me the purchased of all the cruise next certificates I purchased and the cruise next certificates i just purchased 2 weeks ago appear in my account).

 

Anyone else?

- WYB

Congratulations in hitting the NCL lottery! Lucky you. Hopefully they don't find out :-)

Thanks WYB! Great information. I agree with you that the cruise will be whatever you make of it. Doing this itinerary on Feb. 8th and can't wait. Thanks for the tip about bring something for the staff. 

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thanks Jimesopus for the constant updates. After the last outing I was a bit concerned since we are scheduled on the Feb. 8th cruise. Nice that they added Catalina Island to make up for what I assume was not stopping at Turks. Even better to hear that you docked in Tortola today. These reports are making me feel better about going, although I'd probably go regardless of the number of ports. 

On a different note, being a double Baileys drinker myself, I was horrified to hear your report that they ran out. I can only hope they get their act together before we set sail.

Enjoy the rest of your trip and please keep those updates coming. It is greatly appreciated.