numberguy

The worst case scenario is the elevator be it crew or guest adjacent to an inside cabin sharing a common wall !

We've had this--no problem at all!

--Michael

My Personal TA tells me the NCL Spirit will be getting a full dry dock of 2 or more weeks in the middle of this year...any confirmation of this development would be appreciated...thanks

Oh goodness. I hope not. Or, rather, if so, I hope they don't change the decor much. From the videos and pictures I've seen, I really want to see it as it is. I'm scheduled to be on it in late November.

--Michael

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I wouldn't push it quite so close, only because you have to be on the ship by 2:00 for a 4:00 pm departure. I'd shoot for 1:00, just to give cushion for an unexpected traffic delay, etc.

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Sorry to sidetrack a little.... I have never booked "future cruise" while sailing as I didn't want to take time away from my vacation. Is it correct that you have to book a specific cruise, or can you just put money on your account for any (unknown) future sailing? If you need to be specific I would rather do the research and planning at home prior to sailing, so as to save valuable vacation time. Thanks

Yes, you can do this. You will get a number(s) for your Cruise Next certificate(s) which you can then use when you or your TA contact NCL about booking a cruise.

--Michael

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I think your reservation closes 24 or 48 hours ahead of sailing. I'm not sure about paying when boarding. Km sure that if you want to pay in cash when you board, that will be fine; it will go on your account as a credit, and the DSC will "eat away" at it. But so well any other charges.

--Michael

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Thing I lost?

On the transatlantic (see signature below), we flew into Barcelona the night before, and we were exhausted. I took off my glasses and put them on the headboard of the bed (it was about six inches thick). The next day, we get up, get dressed, walk along Las Ramblas, go back to the hotel, get our bags, and walk do the port (not a short walk, but the day was beautiful). We get on the shuttle to the ship at the port entrance. We drop off our bags, and get ready to go into the terminal, when I realize I don't have my eyeglasses (I'm not blind without them, but two weeks without them until I got home was going to give me headaches!).

I take the shuttle back to the port entrance, walk back to the hotel, tell the front desk what happened, they called the housekeeping staff, and my glasses were brought down to me. I walked back to the port, took the shuttle again, joined my hubby, and we got on the ship.

--Michael

Story #2:

Cruise last year out of Venice to the Adriatic and Greece. It was November, so we didn't think it would be warm enough to use the pool. However, I did pack my trunks because it was on my list, and I didn't think to leave them out. However, this is Greece, and it's sunny and warm. So, hubby had to buy trunks on the ship. Nothing major, but rather pricey.

--Michael

Story #1:

Our first long vacation together: two weeks in Hawai'i, with a week on the Pride of Aloha in the middle of it (this was 2005). My brother, who was living with us at the time, drove us to the airport. As I see him driving away, I pull out my wallet to get out my driver's license--no driver's license. I instantly go into a panic attack, because my brother can't get home and back in time, and I can't get on the plane!

I look at my hubby, who is smiling and waving our passports at me (even though we didn't need them, because it was an all-Hawai'i cruise). I instantly remember why we'd been together for six years.

Fast forward to the rental car counter in Hawai'i: I'd made the reservation, but I had no license. They still let us rent the car with my passport, but we had to pay the extra driver fee so he could drive it. Drove all over Maui, upset with me because I got to see all the scenery and he had to concentrate on the road (and some of those roads take a lot of concentration)!

BTW: the reason my license wasn't in my wallet? I'd gone to a bar the night before for a going-away party for a friend, and I got carded (at age 41!). Slipped the license back in my pocket without putting it in my wallet.

--Michael

While not recent, still less than one year ago: in September 2016 on the Jade, we booked a November 2017 cruise on the Spirit, and got an IA room (highest inside category) at an IF (lowest inside category) price. At the time, I think it was a $70 pp savings.

--Michael

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We're on the Spirit in late November out of Barcelona cruising Morocco, the Canaries, Madeira, and Spain. Following so I can get the goods on this new-to-us ship.

--Michael

Cruise more often.

We're so low maintenance, it actually bothers us to have someone "wait upon" us. We're capable of making our own dining reservations (or eating in the MDR, if needed). We like seeing other people, so we don't need a dedicated restaurant. If we have to wait 5-10 minutes for a table at a restaurant, we're comfortable with our own company to handle that. I'm fat, and if I don't get chocolate-covered strawberries or M&Ms every afternoon, it's no great loss. The perks would be wasted on us.

I will say the only thing that might make us consider a Haven room would be if the Haven area were kid-free, and I'm not even convinced of that.

For us, the getting away is the vacation; maybe we're just not pamperable!

--Michael

I think I've seen on other posts that you can only purchase the unlimited until the end of the second day. But not 100% sure.

--Michael

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I thought that was the case, was just preparing for a surprise if I was wrong in my assumption. Thanks for the response!

--Michael

Hey everyone,

If you look at the deck plans for the Spirit, there are eight rooms on deck 10 that "back onto" the atrium--we're in one of them in November. I've seen videos of the Spirit that show the atrium with windows and Juliet-balconies that face the atrium.

Now, I don't expect that the windows open from these rooms onto atrium, but are the "windows" fake, so that you can't even look out onto the atrium? Not a requirement, but it could be cool if we could. I hope someone understands what I'm asking.

--Michael

Others can correct me as I still have about 60 days until my first NCL cruise but Spice H2O is adult only until 5 or 6 then kids are allowed in during the evening partying. Spice is free of charge to. Just wanted to put out what I have read in this fourm the past few months.

 

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You're right--I got it wrong. I've corrected my previous response, and I appreciate the reminder.

--Michael

See my answers below in red. I didn't answer questions to which I had no answer. Hope this helps a tiny bit.

--Michael

Good Morning! I just booked my family's first Norwegian cruise. We have been on many cruises on other lines (RC &Carnival) but we wanted to sail another cruise line. We will be sailing on the Escape June 2018 which goes to Bermuda. I booked two connecting interiors on deck 13 back of ship and I am not concerned about the rooms. We were able to pick the free drink package (plus gratuities) for the four of us. The Norwegian Rep was very patient with me and answered many of my questions. But of course I still have ?'s about the ship and hoping some of you would give your tips, opinions, experiences, etc. Needless to say we are very excited to sail this beautiful looking ship. Our philosophy is to make the best of any situation on a ship. So here are my questions/topics:

 

1. Is there an adult area only like Carnival and RC? Is it included or do we have to pay extra? Spice H2O is adults only before 6 pm.

 

2. Is there a thermal spa package or is it included?

 

3. Sun is NOT my friend...so where is the best place for shade when lying on a lounge? Which area is the least crowded for lounge chairs. We do not have to be near the pool?

 

4. Best time to go to the main dining rooms to eat? Not the specialty restaurants. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes, so I'm not sure. Also, I've never gone right when they open, when there might be a line.

 

5. Which specialty restaurants are open for lunch? What are the specialty restaurants? Someone can correct me, but I don't think any of the specialties are open for lunch, except for Cagney's for suite guests. Wait, Margaritaville is open for lunch.

 

6. Please explain the entertainment (shows, etc). Do I need to book early? I would say yes, because we couldn't get into any of them while on the ship. However, I have read that there a lot of no-shows, so you could take your chance lining up to fill those seats.

 

7. Best bar/lounge to hang out in during the evening We liked the Atrium bar, although it can be noisy with all the events going on in the Atrium.

 

8. My son want to know how the pizza is ....

 

9. What is the deal with room service?

10. How is the live music/bands. We love to listen and dance to live bands. Is there a latin band aboard?

Any tips, what to do and what to avoid would be appreciated.

 

Thanks so much and happy sailing!

Nicole

all categories went up. Believe regular cabins went from $13.50 to $13.95. Believe you can still prepaid grats if you want the old price.

Not to be picky, but to be accurate, it went up to $13.99. For those people for whom $0.04/pppd will make a difference.

--Michael

Priority makes little difference if you want to walk off. We got back from similar itinerary on March 22, had priority as in suite but just walked off at 8. Lots of people went earlier. Plenty of taxis and all bonaFide with meters. If you can take all your luggage you will be fine.

Wasn't sure if it did or not; thanks for the info. We tend to not overpack, so taking our own bags off shouldn't be a problem.

--Michael

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Unless the ship is delayed, you will have no problem making a 10:40 flight. The problem most likely will be cooling your heels at the airport for 3 hours.

Cooling our heels is not a problem, as hubby is United Gold, so we get access to the Star Alliance lounge on international flights for free. Benefit of having a hubby who travels a lot for work.

--Michael

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Thanks everyone! I also forgot to mention that we're platinum and will have priority disembarkation, so that might speed things up, too.

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Why not stay a night dont have the pressure.

You would need to check in 3 hours before for a long haul flight and then you need time to clear the ship and get to the airport you would need to be leaving the ship by around 6.45 it is a tight call

Yeah, it is a tight call. It's just that we disembark on a Sunday, and I was trying to avoid having to take a vacation day on the following day (Monday). This is just me worrying about what if my new boss doesn't want me taking that many days off in a row. I'm job searching now, and I think I'm inches away from getting an offer, and just want to be prepared for requesting eight work days off, and having to negotiate down a day or so. Just preplanning eight months in advance.

--Michael

Everyone,

We're on the November 23, 2017, Morocco/Canary Islands cruise on the Spirit. The only decent flights back to the US we can get for the day of disembarkation on United leave at 10:40 am, but the schedule currently shows that we get back into Barcelona at 5 am. I know it's tough, and MMMV, and NCL's recommendation is no flights before noon, but what do you think about trying to get on a 10:40 am flight out of Barcelona? Not urgent to purchase a flight, just looking at this point.

--Michael

If you got stuck in a port and missed the ship, the passport in your safe will do no good. I would bring it if it were me.

 

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I've read somewhere here (on my phone, so I can't search) that if you don't return to the ship, they leave the contents of your safe with the shore agent. So, even if you leave your passport on the ship you'll have access to it. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS. I'm no expert and am only reposting what I've read here.

--Michael

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I did receive this email for our November 5th Transatlantic cruise. It states that gratuities are going up April 1st but I have until sail date to pay at current rate. My question is if I wait and NCL has another increase in the Fall can I still pay at current rate or is it then the April 1st rate?

This is just a guess, but I'm willing to bet it would be the original rate. This is one of the few places I see NCL "grandfathering" rates/terms/conditions. I'm sailing Nov. 23 on the Spirit and I'm betting that if they raise it again in 2017 (which I don't foresee, but hey, who knows?), I'll still only pay the $13.50pppd for my interior room when I prepay, which I generally do.

--Michael

For us, no singing

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