pete_coach

In actuality, you do not need to enter anything and can have it done at the embarkation desk. Thing with that though is it takes extra time and you may be waiting and holding up embarkation for others. As far as selecting embarkation times, our experience on the 12 to 27 Panama transit cruise, it makes no difference. People were just coming regardless of the times they selected. No one enforced anything.

Cabo San Lucas is a tender port. Time is short. Book excursion through the ship and you will be OK

Thanks for the review. We are doing the opposite, LA to Miami in a week. Cannot wait.

On our last sailing on the Pearl, the only places not open were the specialty dining and main dining rooms (which were open after the ship departs).

The cheapest flights. Third party, so NCL will not help if something does not go according to plan. Lots of posst about the free airfare problems.

Never read all the comments but, Itinerary is the key. Going where you want when you want is what it's all about. The vehicle, while necessary, is not that important. NCL is as good as all the others.

Isn't "it asks for mode of payment" requesting the credit card that your onboard purchases will be charged to?

Wow, certainly a lot of responses and deep feelings on tipp0ng. I do not have any numbers or statistics or contract wherewithal but I do believe the staff get the DSC and I consider DCS tips. Giving extra is a personal choice, just as it is in a shore based restaurant where you get options of 18, 20 and 25%. I am not sure what folks give at a land based all inclusive resort? Same type of discussions about a "DSC" and extra tips? Having said that, I am pretty sure tips and DSC are now the most talked about subjects since the dress code debates of a few years ago LOL

Interesting take on this. Cruises I have been on, the bartenders/servers also work elsewhere. I have seen bartenders /servers working breakfasts and lunches in the dining rooms and buffet. Does that mean they get the DCS and the 20% on the drinks too??

I think if they are your travel agent and you have made arrangements and bookings through and with them, they are obligated to keep you informed. Thing is, if you don't pay, they don't get paid either so, they lost as well.

To be fair, I think the TA did give you the " "FREE 2ND GUEST + FREE AT SEA" promo " because NCL has offered that for the past 1 1/2+ years. Booking a NCL cruise from anyone would have gotten that deal.

The elevator areas are not wide open spaces. They are a "lobby" with smaller single type openings to the passageways. The only times there will be much "noise" is when folks are headed to meals or shows. No one, or very few, hang out in the elevator gathering spaces. There is no elevator noise. I think you would be fine there.

You post to belittle?? My question and subsequent questions were for clarification for me and others appreciated the clarifications. By the posted comments, others had the same questions and were also confused. I am glad you know it all. 😃

Great thanks. Who or where do I get that from? Like I said, it does not look like it is on the NCL app and I cannot see it on the website..

Please link the information on texting through their app for $9.95. I have the app and cannot see anything like that. We all have wifi, it is part of FS.

Oh, OK. I just took it from the NCL website that I linked. Then I went on another NCL website and it says: Home > Cruise Faq > When Can I Pre Book Dining When can I pre-book Dining? Reserving dining before your cruise can help you plan ahead and make sure that you do not miss out on our most popular restaurants. You can pre-book these onboard activities myncl.com following the schedule below Suites and Haven 130 days prior to sailing Club Balcony Staterooms 125 days prior to sailing All other staterooms • For sailings that are 6 days or less and are not a holiday sailing, 90 days prior to sailing • For sailings that are 6 days or less and are a holiday sailing, 120 days prior to sailing • For sailings that are 7 days or more, 120 days prior to sailing https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/when-can-i-pre-book-dining

"Starting 90 days prior to your sail date, you can Log In to My NCL to reserve your specialty dining for every night of your cruise. You can also make dinner reservations on board the ship." https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/new-to-cruising/countdown-cruise

I thought if you walk in they charge you the price as is identified on the Dining list. For instance, if you go on the website dinner at Teppanyaki is CAD $96 per person. To me, à la carte at Teppanyaki would mean if you want chicken it is $XX, shrimp is $XX+ steak is $XX++. I have eaten there and never saw any prices on the meals

Actually BirdTravels said "The NCL App allows you to call and text between phones. It requires everyone to pay the $9.95 activation fee. The app is pretty clunky. " So far, some say you have to be on wifi. Some say INTRAnet...what ever that is. Some say only on the app. Some say you need to pay $9.95. Some say you don't have to pay. Some.like you talk about a "back end loophole".....whatever that is or means. You say a lot but, say nothing. You too say some are right or wrong or not worth reading. Hence disparate information. My question basically, no to the point is, what is the deal. Do I pay $9.95 or use wifi and/or turn on airplane mode and am OK to text my friends? Someone onboard or recently off that can give step by step explanations?

I think I get what you are saying but, as I understand it, you need to reserve those restaurants and pay the upfront charge. There is a per person charge for each restaurant. Or is there a listing on the left side of the menu hat is extra charge?

I have 3. When I booked and checked out, I never was asked for credit card or to pay. My Free at Sea has Unlimited Open Bar Package Specialty Dining Package 3 meals to enjoy at any of our specialty dining restaurants 300 minutes wifi $50 USD credit shore excursion for first guest.

So, I booked our specialty restaurants and got an email confirming them. We have the Free at Sea package and get 2 specialty restaurants. The email say LA CUCINA PARTY OF 4 - à la carte LEBL00P04 LE BISTRO PARTY OF 4 - à la carte TEPL00P04 TEPPANYAKI PARTY OF 4 What does the à la carte mean?? 2 restaurants say à la carte and the third does not. To me à la carte means it is separately priced items from a menu, not as part of a set mea.l

Thanks. It is different than what BirdTravls said. That is the problem when I searched, there are very disparate responses to the question.

I have searched and gotten old and mixed info. Does the NCL app allow you to call and text between phones while onboard? Do you need to log on to the wifi network? What I mean is, I am in my cabin and want to know where my Wife is. How do I call her on the phone? Her actual phone number or do you get some sort of special number?? Is it IPhone only? Sorry if this has been discussed but I could not find the info, particularly the "how to".

Did you try any other online travel agents? NCL may close but perhaps some agencies have their blocks of cabins still open?