WillCruiseForMoney

Not sure - I can start a new topic with it and ask the moderators to pin it.  Don't know if they will.

Bliss Mexican Riviera - 60 days - still too far away

For anyone interested, here are all the codes, past and present, that I am aware of:

Kona is the only tender port for Pride of America cruises

I usually try to book suites (Haven or non-Haven) on NCL.  The prices increased so much that I have been booking cruises on Princess.  Princess suites have also increased, but only moderately.  NCL suite prices are now comparable to luxury line prices.

I prefer NCL.  They have a causal atmosphere and do suites better than the other comparable cruise lines.  I will come back to NCL if their suite prices become competitive with other similar class cruise lines.

Having been on this particular cruise 3 times, here are my thoughts:

POA Hawaii cruises are all about the extended time, including overnights,  on the islands, and if restricted to NCL only excursions it would not be the same experience. Until that changes I would not book this particular cruise.  In summary I think you are making the right decision, but highly recommend that you book it in the future when the rules change - It is a great cruise!

For most other cruises, while I do not like the restriction, I would still happily go and have a great time.

I use to book directly with the cruise lines but switched to a TA for all my cruise bookings.  The reason I did so comes down to dollars.  Depending on the cruise line I either get lower pricing or refundable OBC from the TA.  The discount or refundable OBC is in the range of 8% (varies with each cruise) of the total costs.  My TA also is also considered an AMEX travel partner and I receive additional benefits (OBC and perks) by using an AMEX Platinum that I would not receive booking directly with NCL or any other cruise line.

Other components of travel - flights, hotels, insurance, etc. I handle on my own.

If not for the savings I would book direct with the cruise line. 

1 minute ago, cruisegirl1976 said:

Ok.. I just want to make sure there is night life. I went on the NCL jewel years ago and all the bars were empty around 10pm

If you found the night life on NCL to be a bit lacking, you may experience the same feeling on Princess.  For me the Night Life on NCL is more active than Princess.  I do like both lines, but find Princess a bit more subdued than NCL.

12 hours ago, markdunn said:

I'm close to booking the Pride of America for mid-October. 

Circling back to the original poster's point about price, I'm wondering about the flights that NCL offers (currently 2nd passenger flies free). Flying to Honolulu isn't cheap of course but if I'll be in a middle seat on an indirect flight, I'll factor two full airfares into my overall decision.

If people do use NCL's flights, is there a way to "game the system" - figure out which airport to fly from with the greatest change of a direct flight? I'm in the SF bay area so have SFO, OAK, even SMF within a couple hours. 

Thanks for an insight!

 

I am sure that sometimes you get good flights, but not always the case.

For my last POA cruise it included free airfare and I live in the Bay Area.  Unfortunately NCL had me flying from SFO to Salt Lake City then on to Honolulu.  Return trip was the same and the layover in SLC was 2+ hours each way.  I ended up cancelling the free air portion and booking my own flights.  

I cant speak to your cabin, but have done this cruise 3 times and will do it again in the future.  The island stops are wonderful including overnights in both Maui and Kauai.  My experience with the crew has also been excellent.  Enjoyed al the meals at both the MDR and Specialty restaurants.  You will have a great time.

19 hours ago, leblais said:

How do you find a NON- AMEX TA that qualifies as an American Express Travel Rep?  That sounds like the best of all worlds!!

 

If you do a google search for "American Express travel representative" you should find the answer.  One of the larger travel franchisees will appear often in the results.

7 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

Norwegian used to be on the list, but no longer is. Not sure if they still have a program that includes NCL or not but...

 

https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/en/benefits/the-platinum-card/cruise-privileges-and-discounts.html

I just logged into my account and NCL is still listed.  There are a few other cruise lines in addition to those shown on the link that you shared.

3 minutes ago, complawyer said:

are you sure you are not confusing this with platinum or platinum  plus  latitude status ?

you can log on to ncl website and it will advise you of all the perks available in each status category

This is in relation to an American Express Platinum card - not related to NCL status.

American Express provides additional benefits to their Platinum card holders

You do not get the AMEX OBC if you book through NCL direct.

You have 2 options to get the OBC.

1) Book thorough AMEX travel.

2) Book through a non AMEX TA that qualifies as an American Express Travel representative.  The one I use gives me the extra benefits of a TA, such as onboard credit or reduced fare plus the little extras.  I also get the AMEX Platinum OBC benefit and dinner at Le Bistro as long as I pay with my Platinum card.

"I have mine on the refrigerator. Just a reminder of some of the places the DW and I have been."

BigWaveDave87 - Two of my favorite things show on your magnets - Cruising and Shelby American.  I go to Carroll Shelby museum every time I'm in Vegas.

farmersfight,

Have sailed on PoA 3 times, 2009, 2017 and 2019.  Service was great all three times, comparable with the rest of the NCL sailings.  Have not experienced any of the issues that others have mentioned. 

We only cruise a couple of times a year and always do a full suite.  Once I retire we will cruise more often and book balconies or mini-suites.  We enjoy the quiet time of the cabin, but want to at least have natural light and fresh air.  If the only option was an inside we would do a non-cruise vacation instead.

Depending on which Cruise line my TA gives me either a discount on cruise fare or refundable OBC.  It tends to be around 10% of the fare.  I also get additional OBC by using my AMEX platinum with them as they are an AMEX travel affiliation partner.  

6 hours ago, pspercy said:

I've got two CruiseNext certs that need to be fully used by next April.

How am I supposed to do that now ?

Find a future cruise you want.  Call (before April) and explain that you would like to book the cruise and want the certificates extended to be good for that cruise. They will normally honor such a request.

The Star suites have Nespresso coffee machines

2 stand out for me.

Honeymoon Cruise on the Sitmar Fairsky before she was bought by Princess.  10 days in the Caribbean.  We knew nothing about cruising, just seemed like it would be a very exotic honeymoon, it was. Food, service, ports, and everything else was spectacular.  

30th anniversary cruise on Pride of America around the Hawaiian islands in an owners suite with a hot tub on our balcony.  We just had the greatest time and a butler that was there for anything we could ever need.

If they left the points on accounts, what about all of those that had cancelled cruises cancelled but did not have the extra points show on their account.  Should they all be complaining that they did not get them?  

On 6/3/2020 at 2:16 PM, WillCruiseForMoney said:

March 29th Grand Princess Cruise

Cancelled by princess on March 12

Submitted option 2 on March 13

Received confirmation on March 14

Received 25% FCC in April

Still waiting for refund of cruise and prepaid OBC, over $7,000 (suite)

Update:

Received full refund to AMEX credit card on Saturday. Including prepaid OBC.

March 29th Grand Princess Cruise

Cancelled by princess on March 12

Submitted option 2 on March 13

Received confirmation on March 14

Received 25% FCC in April

Still waiting for refund of cruise and prepaid OBC, over $7,000 (suite)

1 hour ago, erni said:

Received our refund back to our credit card today. Chose option #2.  Was to be on the Grand 3/29.  Not disputed just waited it out.    Never any notification from anyone just kept checking credit card account everyday.

That is great news - I had same cruise booked and chose option 2.  Planned on filing my credit card dispute this week, now hoping I will not need to.