laudergayle

IMO for your circumstances, I would go to NCL.com and buy the CF $250 ($500 value) and it will show up in your account. Then go to your March 2024 cruise and click Make Payment and scroll down to apply your $500 CF cert that is in your account. I’ve had success applying the CF to an existing reservation (as have others). Worst case scenario would be that you have it for your 2025 cruise…but I don’t believe that will be the case.

Haven’t sailed MSC but recently sailed NCL. In the dining venues that use the kiosks for ordering, there was no way to add a tip. Had to tip cash if you wanted to tip. I thought how nice for the crew. Hopefully it was pooled at the restaurant and divided appropriately at the end of the evening giving deserving people cash.

Correct. Any tipping done by paper check (ie the 15% added for buying that drink) gets pooled. The only way anyone can be tipped directly is by cash in hand.

Lots of posts/threads on this topic on almost every cruise line. Yes, the daily service charge gets pooled. Fact. When every crew person signs their short-term contract they are given a per day salary (which may or not specify the # hours per day) but will also include a guaranteed per day gratuity amount…it will also include a clause if daily service charges exceed they will be equally divided amongst crew. So, if a lot of people go to guest services and reduce or eliminate their daily service charge…it is not going to affect the contracted crew. If lots of people tip extra via a check (and not a cash tip in hand) then it probably just offsets those passengers who reduced/eliminated their DSC. If you really want to make sure a crew member gets $$ then give it to them in cash. Cash is still king.

Lots of posts/threads on this topic on almost every cruise line. Yes, the daily service charge gets pooled. Fact. When every crew person signs their short-term contract they are given a per day salary (which may or not specify the # hours per day) but will also include a guaranteed per day gratuity amount…it will also include a clause if daily service charges exceed they will be equally divided amongst crew. So, if a lot of people go to guest services and reduce or eliminate their daily service charge…it is not going to affect the contracted crew. If lots of people tip extra via a check (and not a cash tip in hand) then it probably just offsets those passengers who reduced/eliminated their DSC. If you really want to make sure a crew member gets $$ then give it to them in cash. Cash is still king.

Whatever countries your cruise is going to…look up their passport rules for European citizens. That should let you know if you can enter freely. If so…emergency averted. If not, you may still be able to board but not disembark in those countries. Good luck. And yes, many people have been caught off guard with passport renewal. We just sent our US passports off for cruise in November…with an expiry 5 months later. Caught it by accident just in time. Again…good luck. Report back please.

Yes definitely. My DIL showed up at the airport for a flight to Amsterdam for a one week visit and Delta wouldn’t let her board because her passport expired in 90 days.

My info was for @amygutman. I feel badly for you and your group. We were on the verge of booking that cruise cause the prices were really low for an amazing itinerary. I wish I had so I would have a future discount. Best to you.

You may be in luck. Epic still shows your Rome to PC TA for Nov. 2024…and the sailings in Oct. 2024 are European Med. the December 2024-Spring 2025 are Caribbean. Maybe your TA confused your 2024 sail date for the 2023-24 dates. happy cruising.

FYI the $250 Cruise First offer is back if you haven’t already purchased. If you book with a PCC buy it first and ask your PCC to apply as your deposit.

What dates were you sailing?

Yes…but on MSC from a US (even Puerto Rico) port. Both a 7 and 10 day cruise. Now that sounds good.

A little off topic but I’m sharing anyway. I think our room stewards look forward to servicing our cabin. We leave a daily tip with a kind note with any requests but always thanking them. On our last cruise we saw some of the crew loading up on chips and candy at the local pharmacy…and realized this was a treat for them. So, we bought some for our room steward. This is the note he left for us (no I’m not a sir). So, while we are having an unforgettable time, we can make their week unforgettable (in a good way…lol).

Gotta love a garden. We (hubby…lol) tried hydroponics in Florida as we couldn’t get anything to grow traditionally due to salt air and heat. Now back in Georgia, we have lots of tomatoes and herbs…and hummingbirds. Oh, and the Japanese Beetles have just taken up their summer residency. Enjoy your summer.

🤣🥰

Early rising/dining is unuaual to us..as we typically have done room service for light pastry then buffet for hearty. But on Prima I made DH wake early enough to do sit down breakfast in Hudson’s (not early for some) …but be in queue by 8:30-8:45 for a fabulous made-to-order breakfast…with an amazing view. Luv the Prima ❤️

I see you’re talking to yourself…and answering, too! What has NCL done to you? 🤣. sorry I couldn’t resist. Your info will help others…thanks.

Many people miss that this is a public hot tub. And if I recall correctly there is a small public bar near it, too. The elevator to get to 19 is on the port side just outside of the the observation lounge. (Best I can recall). What month are you going?

@cruiseny4life whatcha growing in your hydroponic garden?

If you have orthopedic struggles (they’re real and they suck), you may want to consider renting a scooter onboard so you can easily get around the ship. You will see several onboard. The Joy is a big ship. The entertainment is worth seeing. Make sure your puppy sitter sends you pictures.

If you bought NCL Booksafe insurance and you cancel for no covered reason you could, after a lengthy process, get a future cruise credit that could be used on several cruises in the future. Credit of either 75-100% based on what coverage you purchased minus cost of insurance. however, that probably isn’t the best choice for you as it 1) you will have still paid the $7800 now, 2) you don’t seem to be a “lover of cruising” — understandable considering your time spent previously as a captain, 3) DH will likely be very unhappy if you cancel. so, IMO, here’s the choice “you” have to make: 1) go and find that very expensive lounger, and soak up the quiet time in the Haven (as the rest of the ship will be hopping), and enjoy family as much as you want. 2) stay home and forgo the expensive experience you already paid for — let DH enjoy by herself 3) cancel…see above If you’ve never been to Bermuda, it’s beautiful and the locals are so polite and nice. Also, I believe at the Royal Dockyard in Bermuda they have free wifi. You have to log out of ships wifi and onto theirs. Regardless of what you choose…this situation will always “sting”. Sometimes it will bother you more than others…so try not to dwell on it. What’s done is done. Get the best out of it. And have that hard discussion with DH so it doesn’t happen again.

We did this itinerary last October. We did 4 NCL excursions. Newport: Cliff Walk & Breakers. Informative and interesting. Short bus ride to the Breakers. Clam Chowder at The Black Pearl was very good and recommended by the guide—nice ambiance and walkable to ship. Portland: No NCL excursion. We walked to Holy Donut for their potato donuts…yummy! We also rode the narrow gauge train by the port…which was very unimpressive and hokey…lol. Also, at the visitor center you can get a map for a brew pub self tour. Bar Harbor: Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mtn. Small Group. Beautiful and breathtaking. We had a very clear day. This is a tender port so be sure to get a tender snd get off the ship well before your tour departure time. We almost missed our bus. Also if the tide is down it’s cool to walk out on the sandbar. Saint John Bay of Fundy: DO NOT do the Maple Sugar Shack & Tasting. Long bus ride to a couple’s home where they showed us one scraggly tree where they put in the plug and explained how it would work. Then we walked to a shack…no action just a shack were they told you how it would work…kinda. You do get a pancake breakfast and can buy the maple syrup that they say is from their farm? Halifax: I don’t recommend doing the Titanic Cemetery & Peggy’s Cove. Very long bus ride. Titanic Cemetery is more like a memorial with very little info about the Titanic itself. The Titanic Museum near the port is much more interesting and informative. The drive to Peggy’s Cove is long…and while it was very beautiful…there wasn’t much to do there since we had a short amount of time. This may be more info than east you wanted…lol. Enjoy your cruise…it’s beautiful this time of year.

@cruiseny4life, @Liljo22 Same same, too. We have elder care duty so are limited to short cruises closer to home. But…someday, too!

@cruiseny4life thanks for the nice comment. As @Liljo22 says…Prima is sailing out of Galveston and the rates are result decent right now —except it’s the same itinerary you just took. I didn’t sail Haven so I don’t know how the Prima experience is there.

Sailing from the US, I wish MSC had more ports. Alaska, southern Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal. How long, if ever, do you think we’ll see an expansion? And, when it finally happens…their prices match CCL, RCL, NCL?