Scoobs9

I will post after we return Feb 20th.  

For now, our plan is to use NCL's system on the pier once we disembark.  We will check with Guest Services onboard to see if NCL has changed policy (or Canada🙄) before the end of the cruise and honour their original commitment to us.  It's worth a try!

Hi Jules,

Appreciate your feedback.  

We too were promised, in writing, that NCL would perform a PCR test onboard the Bliss a few days before we disembark for free.  Policy changed and since I posted this, our travel agent spoke with NCL and secured a $100USD OBC to "compensate" the $120 fee charged once we get off the ship that morning.

Our timeline is pretty tight with a 1:20pm LAX to YYZ flight.  NCL says it shouldn't be a problem.

Hopefully this works as promised.

Has anyone recently done a post-cruise PCR test upon disembarkation, especially in LAX?  We need to do one to travel home (Canada) and need it done once off ship, but before our flight at 1:20pm same day.  We're on Bliss Feb 4 from Miami to LAX.  NCL is telling us they have a system ready, which we have to pay for (of course).

Any experiences appreciated!

We’re on the Bliss Feb 4-20, Miami to LA. Very interested to hear your experience on the PC cruise, especially shore excursion and general experiences onboard. 
Thanks for any postings in advance. 

Thanks for sharing!

Did you get upgraded to a balcony for this bid?

Did they tell you your new cabin number?

Have a great New Years Cruise!!!!

Yes, from inside to B2 Balcony for $100 pp ($200 cabin total). They told us our cabin number too! Can't wait!!!

We booked an inside for Dec 28th-Jan 5 Jade cruise 65 days out and received an email to upgrade two days later. We bid $100 each ($200 total for cabin) and received an accepted email two days later...very fast and we think, a great deal! Good luck with all your bids!

Ricky's tours come highly recommended as well as Heidi. Check reviews on Trip Advisor.

 

http://www.rickysminibus.com/

I will check this lead too! Thanks ;)

Yikes! I'd definitely be getting supplemental coverage if that's all I had. My trip is definitely costing more than $1500pp, and trip interruption can easily reach into the 5 figures if you need to get out of a ship or port fast.

 

My coverage with Manulife (through Flight Centre) has unlimited trip interruption, $5mil medical (which really isn't that needed) and coverage for the full cost of my trip. =)

Out of almost 30 cruises, I've never needed any of the above anyway and it's free coverage. If I had to "get out of a cruise ship" I assume the only reason would be for a medical emergency which we're more than covered for. Also, most of our cruises aren't over $1500pp. Not sure why I'd pay for extra coverage I don't need.

Here's a page from Byway Tours that list the tours & prices, and should answer most of your questions.

From that page: We do not have credit card availability and so cash payment is required.

 

SBtS

Thanks for the link. I'm going to look into it!

We use our TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite credit card.

It offers $1 Million medical, Trip Cancellation ($1500 pp), Trip Interruption ($5000 pp), Flight/Trip Delay ($500), Delayed/Lost Baggage ($1000), Travel Accident ($500,000) and Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage insurance, among other perks.

We've only had to use it once in Florida and it covered a 3 hour emergency visit in Sarasota for $9,000 USD! I wouldn't leave the country for a day now without it!

Can you book Byways Tours (Heidi) online before you go? How long are her tours? What does she charge? Will she incorporate a stop at a beach for a couple hours into her tour? We'll be on NCL Dawn, August 18-25th.

Thanks in advance!

Are you from the United States?

If you're not, there is a very lengthy process to go through before you can disembark in Boston.

Can you kindly explain what the "very lengthy process" is for non-Americans disembarking in Boston?

We're sailing Aug 18-25th and are from Canada.

Thanks!

Wow...pictures are great and thanks for clarifying the Margaritaville location! Looks like we have a great idea now for our group...many thanks to all. :);)

We used Lyft last fall to our hotel in Hollywood, to the port and back to the airport. It was great and easy, although we ran into a snag getting picked up after the cruise. Since we were staying on, we chose to get off the ship a little later and cruise passengers were arriving as well. It was difficult the the Lyft driver to find us. Otherwise, would do again.

Where do you meet the Lyft driver when disembarking the ship in Port Everglades?

Awesome information...many thanks to all (even the one who deflected away from this thread).:D

Has anyone used Lyft to get from FLL to Port Everglades and/or from the Port to FLL? Just wondering where pick up is and how efficient it is and cost. Just used Lyft for the first time in Vegas and it was amazing and a third of the cost of a taxi!

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the suggestion. DCB sounds exactly like what we're looking for, something close and an easy taxi ride in. I'm a little confused though...isn't Margaritaville in Negril approx an hour away, or is it closer to DCB?

Thanks!

Yes we've stayed near Doctors Cave Beach (DCB), great area to stay as a base for traveling to other areas of the island.

 

We've been traveling the Carib for almost 20 years and have enjoyed many gorgeous beaches and DCB is one of our favorites. See Mile in Negril is nice as well, but just lacks the natural beauty and character of DCB. Small entry fee for maintenance and safety, and there is a nice bar there.

 

Margaritaville is a short walk from the beach with the water slide into the ocean.

 

Perfect spot for a nice beach and lunch day!:)

 

[EDIT]

Do not take a ship excursion, just hop a taxi.

If you want a great jerk chicken dish and a chance to try the best Scotchies is a 10 min taxi to the east, but the food at Margaritaville is good.

Doesn't sound like much to do in Montego Bay....no ideas out there????

Has anyone stayed in/near Montego Bay to do anything? Any close beaches (10 -25 min away)?

It was a cruise ship tour.

 

I have a video:

Thanks for the informative video! Looks like you guys experienced a great time!

:)

Upgrades don't require a response...Princess just does it. They'll send you or your TA an email (maybe).

 

Upsells require a response. If you don't call, they move on to someone else.

We received such an email last week for our March 12th Regal cruise. From a balcony to Mini-Suite for $99/pp. We called our TA and by the time he got back to us (two days), the offer had expired (meaning others beat us!). So it is on a first call, first receive basis!

Don't delay if you want to take advantage.

We did the zipline from MoBay... it is about 45-60 minute bus ride inland up winding roads. Very cool views and our bus driver kept everyone talking, giving us history and information. It went fast.

The zipline was FUN and we would do it again.

Was this a cruise line tour or can you book it directly with the provider?

Thanks!

We'll be stopping in Mo Bay on our Regal Princess March 12th cruise and just wondering what there is to do? We have two adults and two teen girls(16). We're not interested in a long drive (i.e. hour and half to Negril). Anything good to do relatively close to the port? Beaches, good bars, zip lining, etc? We've already done Dunn's a few times and again, not interested in longer drives.

Thanks in advance for any tips! :)

Great live review so far...we're on the Regal March 12th! Looking forward to more of your review...thanks! :)

From a Carnival Corp press release:

 

Princess Cruises' new 145,000-ton ship will carry 3,660 passengers and will be its sixth "Royal" class vessel, featuring the successful design platform used on Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess, the world's first ship designed specifically for the China market and scheduled for delivery in March 2017, as well as its sister ships – the two yet-to-be-named vessels also under construction by Fincantieri scheduled for delivery in 2019 and 2020.

 

The ship for Princess Cruises will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone, Italy, shipyard with an expected delivery in 2022.

Great news...always like trying their new ships!!!