Birdnutty

Good idea! I’ll prepare all the documentation now, just in case.

Understood. That's why I started 35 days prior to sailing.

I thought that NCL was similar to other cruise lines that don't want you to submit more than two weeks away, to prove you still have the stock (or at least had it close enough to sailing). I thought I was pushing the envelope by starting to submit over a month in advance, allowing for the holidays. If I'd known there might be a backlog or staffing issues, I would have started much earlier. Live n learn If I don't hear of something relatively soon, I will still try the USPS route, although by then I'll be outside the submission window. And if it doesn't happen, well, that's life. But there's always hope. I'll still have a fabulous time, but on my own nickel, not theirs. 🙂

I started submitting on Dec 20. Have 4 different case numbers, tried calling the "shareholder" phone number, which just re-routes me to sales (no matter which set of prompts I use). Emailed, but just received another case number. Even resorted to the chat feature on NCL.com, they couldn't help either. I'm almost to the 14 day window for sailing. I'm going to re-submit with a new proof of ownership, since month-end has passed. Wish me luck!

Love those plastic holder things! Use them all the time. Here's an example of the TYPE of thing I'm referring to. I put them on once we get off the plane, before going to the pier. Especially wonderful if you cruise a lot. https://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Luggage-tags-Holders-Steel/dp/B07PKKVQMQ/ref=asc_df_B07PKKVQMQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366338196181&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13696084321548639703&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003347&hvtargid=pla-815224809008&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76464293935&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366338196181&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13696084321548639703&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003347&hvtargid=pla-815224809008

Perhaps that OBC is not from the Shareholders? NCL had a $100 bonus OBC just for booking for awhile last year. Maybe you booked your cruises within that window. There should be a code next to the credit listed. That should give some clue as to where it came from.

Thanks for the replies. Interestingly enough, SeaShark, the number you gave me for Corporate is the same one I called for the Shareholder Dept. Seems like all calls seem to go into the same pot, no matter what. I resubmitted - we'll see what happens this time.

But every journey begins with a single step. We have to start somewhere.

I am still having a terrible time - the exact opposite experience from another poster. I emailed Shareholder Benefit on 12/20 with all the pertinent info on their form, signed. Received a case number within a few hours, with a promise of "contact" within 24 hours. Nothing more So, Dec 30, thinking it maybe got lost in email hell, submitted the same form again, received a different case number and again, the same promise. Nothing 4 days later, allowing for the holiday and all, I called the shareholder benefit dept. Circled around in hell for awhile (press1, press 5, press 6, ) and ended up talking to a real person - in the sales dept! Explained my situation, and he gave me a phone number to call. It was the same number I started with. SO, figuring I hit all those prompts in the wrong order, I called again and tried a different tack. Ended up in the sales dept again, with a rep who confirmed the number I was supposed to be calling, and said that maybe if the dept is closed, they re-route the call to the general #. ?? So I sent an email to the same email address, who confirmed its receipt and said that they'd contact me within 24 hours. Taking bets as to whether or not that happened. Still nothing. Been checking my account, as suggested by someone else, and there has been no activity. We cruise in 20 days. What should I do next? Is there a higher level I can approach?

Well, I answered my own question. Turns out that Crowne Plaza Panama ( both of them) offer luggage storage both before check in and after check out. So for anyone else that wants to spend some some in Panama City with only one night stay, that's a good hotel to consider. Rates were good, too.

We are scheduled to arrive in Panama City at 7 AM, and have chosen to stay overnight, see some of the area, then take a late day flight home the next day. So we have from 8AM ish on one day to about 3 PM the next. Obviously, we have all this luggage we'll be toting. We have current arrangements to stay at the Crowne Plaza Airport, which has a very convenient luggage storage situation for both arrival and departure day, as well as airport shuttles. Good price, too. We had not factored in the distance from the city in which we will be sightseeing. BUT.. there's a quoted ride share of $110 to get from cruise ship to hotel to drop off luggage. (for 4 people) Then we'd need to go back to Panama City to see anything that day. Then back to the hotel for sleeping. The next day, if we want to be picked up by an excursion company, we need to be in Panama City, so back we need to go to to get the excursion. Then back to hotel after that to pick up luggage and head to the airport. This seems to me to be a big waste of time, considering that we'd need at least a half hour for each one way trip, not to mention the cost involved. Does anyone have a suggestion as to which decent hotel has the same luggage deal but is closer to the action? Preference is for it to be somewhat quiet (like not on a main downtown thoroughfare)

Thanks so much for taking us along on your vacation. It helps tide us over until we get to experience it ourselves.

Wow... but you made it. Have a great trip!

Ok, that makes sense. Still seems to be just a little bit of an oxymoron, wouldn't you say?

Thank you for those dailies! It's good to know what might be happening, or not, when we get on. I'm so sorry for you about the amount of rude, obnoxious guests. They can really spoil your experience. It's particularly alarming when they berate hard working staff for things beyond the staff's control, or just because the cruiser's in a lousy mood. Or behave as badly as their children. And when everyone is on edge because they've been unexpectedly stuck on the ship in less than optimal weather.... Oy. There's still no excuse for bad behaviour. I hope the CD steps up to the plate and comes up with lots of things to keep people busy. The problem with that is that staff is needed to run all these events, and if there are some down due to sickness, things can't happen anyway. I'm sure she's doing the best she can with the circumstances. I had to laugh... since when is a tax considered "Added Value?"

So nice to be traveling with you virtually. It is so interesting how different people have such widely differing attitudes and approaches to things. So far all of you seem to be doing OK, and even tho it doesn't sound perfect, I wish I were there too. We're freezing our butts off up here in the NY/CT area. We'll be going on the Gem in a few weeks, hitting (or not) many of the same ports as you, so I'm anticipating extra unplanned-for sea days. Could someone post a few pics of sea day dailies so I have an idea as to what to expect? I am not a pool sitter, nor very good at relaxing, so I'm looking for activities to keep me busy. Any Zumba or Latin dance style classes? Thanks for taking the time to do this, especially with crappy internet. We all appreciate your time.

I've been sailing with NCL for over 35 years, (sapphire) and on each cruise dumped a bit of money in the casino. Never tried, or even thought about trying to book via CAS, as I don't consider myself a big gambler. How do I find out what my CAS status is? Is it cumulative, or specific to the most recent sailing?

Bon voyage! May the seas be smooth, the temperature tolerable and your expectations exceeded. Looking forward to your reports.

Thanks for that listing of officers. I haven't cruised NCL for awhile... I gather they changed the name "Hotel Director" to General Manager? Hearing some pretty depressing things about NCL in general and Gem specifically... hope they get the fixable kinks worked out. Have been on Gem numerous times, and am Sapphire on NCL - I'd hate to see my opinion of both become tarnished. That being said, I always go with reasonable expectations and a large amount of tolerance/understanding in tow. I always have a good time. I'm cruising. What's not to love?

Hmmm do I have to call NCL to get that package? I couldn't find it anywhere within my reservation info, or anywhere else on the site. I did read that you're allowed to take wine on if you pay a corkage fee. https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/liquor-beverages

Good to know! Is that available on the NCL site?

Can someone give me a ballpark price on how much the ship would charge with gratuities for a single glass of house wine, say a merlot? And ballpark on their least expensive bottles? I'm weighing the value of the "free" beverage package with the pre-determined added gratuities against an ala carte occasional glass of wine, or a bottle for the table. I know there must be a breaking point somewhere at which it's worth it to pay the beverage gratuities and get the whole package. For our next 12 day cruise, the gratuities are $260 each. Would love to know how far that could actually go if I go drink by drink. Trying to keep our consumption down, but I don't want to pay more than I would need to if I go ala carte. TIA!

Good points, all. I'll give it a try and report back in a few days. Thanks1

Thanks for your reply. I made the reservation through a TA. So I'm figuring I'd have to go through them to request this change, yes?

I'm having second thoughts about the beverage package part of the Free at Sea Promotion. We've already paid for all of it, including the gratuities for this "free" perk. But now, we find that DH isn't really supposed to drink much, and the beverage package just makes it too tempting to resist. I don't really need it either 🙄. Does anyone know if I can remove that perk and get the gratuities that were part of the cruise fare invoice refunded? Our sailing doesn't happen for a month yet.