darienill

Me too Jenna, I have a folder as thick as a phone book for this cruise already!

What's a phone book? LOL

Wa it a sec. Nobody said anything about a Diamond International. Is it possible?

Thank you for this wonderful, in depth, review!! I will be taking this sailing in October and your review helped to build the excitement!! I [and I'm sure many others] really appreciate it.

 

I noticed you said you are Platinum in the Latitudes program so if I may ask you [or any others] if there is any elaboration on how this works for a short cruise. NCL is not my line of choice and as such I'm a lowly bronze level in Latitudes. However, the close friend I am going with on the Cuba trip sails nothing but NCL and as such is platinum. Thus, he wanted to sail NCL rather than Carnival or Royal Caribbean in part because of his status. However, it appears that his status means nothing on a 4 night cruise? I understand that there are no dinners nor laundry perks for a 4-nighter [which kind of stinks imo but alas they are not really my benefits anyway but his] however is there at least priority embarkation/disembarkation?

 

 

 

The NCL site states "Note: Onboard Discounts are available on all sailings. All other benefits are available on sailings 5 days or longer." which implies that nothing but the discounts are offered. However, that is almost certainly not 100% true since "Keycard Recognition" is listed as a benefit and I can't imagine that would change based on the number of nights a given sailing has...it is just printed on the cards regardless [even on our 1-night sailing a few years ago it listed me a bronze]. To further complicate things, gold members get 50% off one bag of laundry which is a discount and thus should be offered on all sailings but platinum members don't get the free bag? Seems rather odd to me. Will platinum members get the 50% off instead or do gold members have a richer benefit in this area on a 4-night cruise since "discounts" are available on all sailings"?

 

Any chance you could please shed some light on this. What, exactly, does platinum status get on this trip? The NCL site is a bit vague, perhaps intentionally?

 

I asked this on another thread but it was an older thread and I think it got lost in the shuffle. Since you have very recent experience I though I would ask you.

 

Thanks again!

I asked about platinum bene's also and get different answers. We did get the free internet time on our upcoming Cuba trip.

The dinners were a no.

I'm bring Euro's. My tour company quoted me in Euro, USD and CUC. I found a bank that will only charge me 3% for Euro and if I can pay them in Euro I don't have to reconvert. And we may go to Europe again someday.

So a one day tour 130 plus tip plus lunch . 200 Euro should cover it.

OK. I hate to admit that I'm not sure how to do this. Per the photo on Page 9 of this thread ... the Canadian Dollar Rate is 1.41092. So, I PAY 1.41092 Canadian to receive 1CUC? So I divide the amount that I have by 1.41092 to calculate amount of CUC I will receive? 515/1.41092 = 365CUC. I know rates could be different by the time I get there. As long as I know which way it goes. Please, if anyone can confirm this for me, thank you.

Sounds right to me and Would make sense if your paying for everything yourself, not thru ship tours.

We are on the cruise leaving tomorrow, Monday, May 8. Though we are sitting on the runway at LAX. Do you have any info on other night life. We are interested in bars/clubs?

What time was all aboard on day 2?

JSR

I found a restaurant / bar with a band on trip adviser t hat is a few blocks away from the pier in Plaza Vieja called Azucar . If you go let me know on the June 19th rollcall.

What did your wife and others do to keep their hair in place in those convertibles?

The lunch bill tells me everything I need to know about the exchange rates on shore. Good info.

That sign says 1.03 for a USD. But there is a star note at the bottom mentioning 10%. Did you exchange USD and what did you get?

Does anyone have a picture of the menu for Los Lobos? And can you order food at the bar? I'd like to try it, but my husband doesn't do Mexican. I thought we'd stop at the bar and I'd get something one night just so I can try it.

We dropped in one night at the bar, and wanted to just order the Cevechie , And a drink. They said they don't normally allow it but made an exception. Didn't really like their cevechie . Everybody makes it different.

Did you get your "Platinum" free dinners card on this cruise?

yes , various positions

Related question, 90 days out I was unable to book Cagney's. It was just wasn't on the list online. Some say there are limited online bookings, and I'll have to book on the ship. Will I be able to eat there??

Yes to limited online bookings, yes to keep checking, and yes book it when you get on board, asap.

We always bought the NCL because of the Medical coverage and evacuation which our CC didn't cover. Being over 65, anything can happen. One of our travel group died last year and his kid had to send in a Dr. report. They got a full $3800 refund. We have just upgraded to a high end Chase Reserve card which covers everything for my immediate family. I plan to not buy anymore insurance.

Must have been the escape. Too many cruises.

 

Bong, who's that??

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

We went to see him on the Dawn after your 11/27 review. He was surprised when I told him he was famous on the internet.

Just two. Would be a squeeze for more

Tried to post a pic. Will try again. Harvest info.

There is a hut on the beach. Place is huge.

We got double points on a 2/12/2017 cruise. Cat. MA mini. 14 points

Gets confusing, we are CAS and platinum so went right to the CAS line. The yellow tags to disembark didn't speed it up.

Didn't ask or sign up for it. Going forward it's going to be a perk, which will make it a no go for the average cruiser.

Just off the Dawn, first time Platinum cruisers. Two of us in a cabin, both Platinum under the new guidelines. Received the coupon on day one in the cabin. I'm trying to attach the coupon picture which is hard to read in real life.

There was also strawberrys and a bottle of sparkling wine which we never touched. Perk 1 and 2

Perk 3

Dinner for two at Cagney's or Le Bistro with one bottle of wine from comp list.

We choose Cagney's. Each had a starter, The shrimp for her and a salad for me.

She had a Fillet and I Strip steak, both under the $20 max allowance.

The waitress said we each had a side coming which wasn't shown on the coupon, so we each had a potato. Listed at $2

We were also allowed a dessert. She had a cappuccino and I a piece of cake and regular coffee.

We were not charged anything extra. Oh yes we had a bottle of Beringers Pinot Noir.

Dinner for two at Moderno or La Cucina.

Again we went with Cuchina

Wife had an appetizer, salad, pasta , cappuccino. again 4 items no charge.

I had 4 items also.

Used the comp for laundry, write Platinum on the bag, attach the coupon. the laundry was back the same day,:)

Bring the coupons to dinner with you !!!

Went back to the same places once more , a la carte. Had a shortened version, skipping salads, had the appetizer size pasta dish and the whole bill for 2 was $35.35.

Cagney's had an appetizer and steak, finished what was left of the wine. Total bill 57.82

We did have the UBP for any drinks.

Perk no.4 There were two liter bottles of water in the room.

Skipped the tour and the cocktail party. Didn't use the concierge service.

Perk 5 comp internet. Had to see the agent to get logged on to our free internet service. There was no sign on charge, she set us up and we logged on as return users. Had to change our password first time on.

Perk 6 got a yellow tag to disembark . still took forever through customs.

Cagneys platinum Live from the Dawn

on 2 -15 17 went to cagh our platinum certificate.

They stapled it to our bill.

The waitress said we get a starter, a entrée max $20, a side, desert,

Wife had shrimp (3 large)

small fillet,

potato

cappuccino.

I had salad,

strip stk $18

potato,

apple crisp

coffee.

we were not charged anything extra. had a bottle of Berringers Pinot. nice wine.

Had our room card out but were not asked for it.

We are on the Dawn now, 2/14 will go to Cagney's tomorrow with our platimum coupon. Let you know.

From experience. The changes to the latitudes scheme are really just logic after looking at the T&Cs and FAQs.

 

Of course things may change at any time, but I believe this is accurate based on previous experience and reports from this forum.

 

Unfortunately, from what I can tell, personal experience doesn't seem to be something that many of the US based staff have much of.

I'll let you know for sure in 2 weeks. Feb 12 on Dawn.