margie1221

Update - I called the Casino Reservation number and just asked about my options.  Apparently MSC is like Celebrity, HAL and Carnival… we can book one cabin each on the same sailing with our certificates from Twin River.  I guess NCL is the only one that has a “household” rule limiting how you can redeem the certificates.  Hope this info might help someone in the same situation 

Looking for first-hand experience from anyone who has received two "free" MSC cruise certificates - from a land casino - for two people in the same household... what are the options for redemption?? Combine the two certificates to upgrade one category (like NCL) and/or book two cabins on the same sailing (like HAL, Celebrity & Carnival) - just wondering.  Also, I understand that I do not have to pay port charges & gov't fees, but I do pay gratuities.  Thanks!!

On 3/13/2023 at 12:16 PM, Nclgetawaymenhoney said:

If it’s the same household (street address) you can combine them for a one category upgrade so inside goes to ocean view except for the epic which has no ocean views so in the case of epic it’s inside to balcony 

Yes - this has been our experience also.  Years ago you could book two cabins on the same sailing with two certificates but they've done away with it on NCL

On 1/2/2023 at 10:52 AM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I know that it isn't a special (better) menu. In fact, I think there have been fewer choices than other days on some cruises. For me, the attraction is that it's calm and quiet, without the kerfuffle of people trying to figure out the Lido for the first time. 

Yes!!! This is why I was disappointed to have been assigned a 3:00pm check in time... will miss a nice relaxing lunch to set the tone for the vacay!!  

23 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Hi Back to you!  We have 7 future cruises booked through March 2025. You can always join us for the Volendam cruise from Boston next year.  Other than 2 days in Niagara Falls in 2021 and getting on a cruise in Vancouver in 2019, this will be our first extensive trip in Canada. We are planning to spend 4 to 5 days post cruise exploring both Montreal and Quebec City too.

 

Have great cruise on the Zaandam next week.

 Sounds great!!  This will be our first time on Holland America - looking forward to it.  Take care and enjoy those cruises 😎

12 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Thank you for your review, we are doing the Boston to Montreal cruise in August next year on the Volendam. This has been a bucket list cruise for us and we chose the Volendam over similar cruises on Viking Ocean and Oceania. We booked a Vista Suite in a B category and added Club Orange and got upgraded to a mid-ship A Vista Suit. The Premium early booking HIA promo was the big difference in us choosing the Volendam over the other cruise lines.

 

We like the smaller R class ships and the Volendam was our first HAL cruise back in 2007 and one of our favorite of all the 20 plus cruises we have done since. 

Hi Terry!!  We're boarding the Zaandam this Saturday for Maine and Nova Scotia - hope all is well with you and that we sail together again someday!!!

5 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

I would contact the parking company.

Thanks - Did that - recorded phone message referred me to website - no option to talk to a person!! So I emailed them - we’ll see what happens 

On 4/13/2023 at 7:19 AM, LadyBerard said:

Besides the Zaandam doing the one-way Canada/NE cruises, it also has a round trip Boston cruise, and I believe it is the May 20th, 2023 sailing if I remember correctly.

 

Yes, May 20th is my sailing on the Zaandam (roundtrip from Boston) - after waiting a few weeks, it now appears on the drop-down list on parking.com for the 93 Fargo Lot but I keep getting kicked out of the reservation - I simulated a Friday departure on the NCL Pearl and it went to the next step...  Maybe not doing Saturday departures??  That's what I'm trying to determine - anyone with this same experience???

Thank you Renie Raider - however we will be on Zaandam Saturday May 20th - seems like the MASSPort site doesn't like Saturday departures - I entered a Friday departure on the Pearl and the reservation went through to the next step - the Saturday departures seem to get kicked out...  Anyone have any luck recently booking parking with a Saturday departure??  Otherwise I guess I'll go with ParkWhiz (no shuttle?) and drop off bags and pax, then park and walk back to pier.  Please advise

These suggestions are all great - that's why I love Cruise Critic!!!  I agree if all adult travelers, do three smaller suitcases and cross pack.  I also keep our CPAPs and a small rolling carry on with us - pack things I don't want to check but also don't want to lug too much around the ship until our cabin is ready!!  Think iPad & charger, meds, jewelry, bathing suit if warm climate cruise, light sweater if cool climate cruise, small sunscreen container - essentials/valuables.  This approach is also helpful at the end of the cruise.  I leave our regular luggage outside the door on the last night for pick up and keep the small roller/carry-on bag for essentials/valuables along with the CPAPs to debark the next morning.  Hope this helps... enjoy your cruise!  The luggage with four wheels that swivel 360 degrees have saved my back and shoulders immensely in all forms of travel!!!!  Great invention

Going on first Holland America Cruise in May - requested Distilled Water and an extension cord from phone representative at the time of booking.  Both of us use CPAP so this is standard arrangements for us when traveling.  On occasion we have brought a sealed gallon of store-bought distilled water with us on other cruise lines - no issues at check in as (unfortunately) CPAP equipment and supplies are fairly routine to pass through the cruise security check line these days...

Thank you!!

On 3/8/2023 at 1:11 PM, RenieRaider said:

Just Booked the parking. $189. for the week. 

 

Thanks Jimsig - 

 

PARKING FOR FLYNN CRUISEPORT BOSTON

Parking for Flynn Cruiseport Boston is now sold exclusively through Parking.com at 

Massport Fargo Lot at 93 Fargo St, Boston, MA 02210.

Cruise ship parkers will receive a FREE courtesy shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal.

Arrive at Massport Fargo Lot as early as 7 a.m. on the day of your departure. Please arrive at least two hours before ship departure to allow for ample time to board the shuttle, arrive at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, and proceed through security.

 

 

 

This is very helpful but... the Holland America Zaandam sailing on May 20-27, 2023 isn't on the drop down list for the Fargo Lot, so I can't go any further. Any others with same experience???  thanks

Hi folks - new to Princess - just received “free” cruise offers from land casino - one each, same household. What’s Princess policy on using two vouchers on the same cruise for two separate cabins, or combining the two certificates to get a free upgrade. Any experience on this?? I have done both on Celebrity Norwegian and Carnival - all have different policies, TIA.

The food is very good at Nachi Cocum - better than Playa Mia (right next to Mr. Sancho's) if you're considering that one...

I realize this thread is out-of-date but just wanted to share that we stayed in Reflection Cabin #8355 - Sunset Veranda, just off-center aft. - in April 2022.  We LOVED it.  We liked location - really not a long walk to elevators/stairs, we had no issues with soot on the balcony, and we did not feel exposed to onlookers from above.

CDABA9E9-9A27-4EF4-81FB-7AF23D18EC6E.heic

On 9/18/2022 at 10:43 PM, mcrcruiser said:

The sail away gatherings are great for those who arrive early enough at the  embarkation pier  to get on board  early  . However ,that is not true for others who are then left out from the roll call .Seems to us that the Meet & Greets ,the first sea day  for a hour or so is the best alternative  

Sail Away gatherings are at sail away - no preference is given to those who arrive early!!  Everyone has to be onboard by then - Celebrity Cruise Critic boards tend to pick the outdoor Sunset Bar - in the aft of the ship.  However I do recall that we planned one for Craft Social once since it was late August and too hot to sit outside!!

Awesome review - thanks for sharing - I really like your format!!  One quick question... you mentioned going to Nachi Cocum in Cozumel then decided to stay on the ship.  Did you forgo your $59pp or did you plan to just show up??  I thought you had to make advance reservations.  Please advise when you have a moment - thanks again.

We're sailing the  Infinity for the second time in November - trying the "Suite Life" for the first time 🙂

Thanks amypintx!!  This is VERY helpful... BTW my son and family are in Newcastle - lived in Moore before that - small world 🙂

Thanks for the report!!! Only sailed on Sky once - looking forward to some spontaneous short cruises now that we live in FLA 😎🥂🛳⚓️

18 minutes ago, ahaught said:

Roughly how long does it take to get the results back from Walgreens for the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now)? I see the website says up to 24 hours, just curious what others experience has been.

I have taken this test four times since August 2021 - no more than an hour or so for the results (better than advertised).  One time we did a few errands after the test and got the results on our phones before we even got home!!!  Print out the report (two pages) and bring with your other documents to check in at the pier.  Note:  I have not yet personally used this test result on NCL - but understand from the Breakaway Roll Call and the 3/5 Escape Roll Call that it was accepted without being challenged.  My direct experience for acceptance was on Celebrity and Carnival...

4 hours ago, gigem_aggies said:

I still haven't heard back from Guest Relations, however several folks on the Breakaway FB group that boarded yesterday used the Walgreens Rapid ID Now Diagnostic test and had zero issues.  I think we are going to go ahead and use it (unless I hear something from NCL this week) and if worse comes to worse, will just pay at the port to be tested there.  🙂

Yes - reports from folks on the March 5th Escape state that the Walgreen's Rapid ID Now Diagnostic test was acceptable for boarding - no problem...  YAY!!

6 hours ago, oteixeira said:

But think of all the extra drinking those parents will need to do.  Easily surpass the free drink a day limit, right??  🙂

No limit on number of drinks with Beverage Package on NCL...  just sayin'

16 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

I could not agree with you more.  My best example was going to the Bahamas in August.  The rules changed every week.  If I did not go to the CruiseCritic.com blog for that brand, I would have been lost.  My posting was the experience I had recently.  Who knows if it will be the same of different even with the announcement of March 1, 2022. Thank you for your comment.

 

Cruise well.

Yes, AND the rules/protocols can even change once you are onboard and have set sail - this happened to us in August 2021 

I did an NCL “chat” recently too and it seemed like there’s pretty much no chance of SA being open for our sailing in mid-March