cassie55

Sorry I don't know. I was looking at private transfers (which we usually do but because of the distance are expensive this time) and only last week decided maybe an NCL one would save us money. I was going to book just the transfer which was £40 ish each but then decided as our flight is so late this saves 7 hours at the airport

Not true about European cruises. We've just prepaid £360 service charges for a cruise next month. And (despite being European) we will also tip extra to the steward, concierge and butler.

I've just booked this for our Pearl cruise in May. Mainly because our flight isn't until 17.10 and it uses up some time.

I worked as a check in agent, then supervisor then manager between 1987 and 2001 and never did this. I'm still in the airline industry although not in an operational job now and it is not a requirement.

In Europe including the UK deposits are always non refundable.

For 7 countries only. Hardly the same as a US ESTA or an EU ETIAS which applies to all people not citizens.

It's not quid pro quo because it will apply to all non EU citizens not just US. As a British citizen I'll need one too, and we don't have anything similar for EU citizens (or the US for that matter) to come to the UK.

I'd apply for a new passport. Turnaround time is 2 weeks at the moment.

Why ban Bluetooth speakers? I listen to podcasts as I fall asleep every night.

Icelandair has different types of economy based in booking inventory (what in the industry is known as RBD). If you're in the lower RBDs you can only select seats at check in unless you're a Saga member.

She's actually a close friend. I'm in the travel industry (I work for an airline) so have loads of agency contacts but she's the only person I will use. She's very good. A good travel agent is worth their weight in gold.

Actually, I have just been given an extension by the British Government on a project. They sent me an RFP which arrived the day we left on holiday (yes, a cruise) and I got back 3 weeks later to find it was due back in a week. After explaining the situation I was given an extra week to submit - as it happened I submitted on time but the option was there. It's called being flexible with important customers/suppliers.

Unfortunately, they did say we had to depart before the year was up.

Thanks to those who were sympathetic. My agent has escalated it to the European Helpdesk team who have extended the date by 1 week so all is fine.

I don't disagree but it's TWO days. and for prioritising work and family - well yes, I need to work and can't leave certain family members. But for a 2 day extension we will re-consider our relationship with NCL. We usually do two cruises a year, usually in a suite but they obviously don't care about our loyalty. You think asking for a 2 day extension is unreasonable?

I'll start by saying we are Sapphire latitudes around 1 cruise off Diamond level and are loyal (up to now) NCL cruisers. We were given FCCs of £600 each that we had to use by a year from our previous cruise. Due to work and family commitments we were struggling to find something but there is a cruise that leaves 2 days after that deadline. Our travel agent didn't think that a big deal but has contacted several depts in NCL and escalated it but NCL says no. I could understand if I was asking for months or even weeks extension but this is TWO days. What difference does it really make? I work for an airline, we are far more flexible bending the rules for our higher levels frequent flyers as we recognise loyalty but that doesn't seems to apply to NCL sadly. We love the service and experience we get onboard but very disappointed that NCL won't accommodate (what we think is) a very small adjustment.

This just sounds odd. My cruise is always booked in my full name (not real name), Mary Jane Smith but my credit cards all say either Mrs MJ Smith or just M Smith amd I've never had a problem. I use a card saying M Smith on the Jade last week with no issues.

I take it you have not flown into Australia or China (and a few other countries) in the last few years. I work for an international airline. When we transmit APD before flight departure these countries refuse admittance if the passport name doesn't exactly match the ticket. The passport name is captured automatically on swiping at check in. At one point it was so bad I stationed an agent at entrance to our check in to double check and if necessary sent them to the ticket desk for a reissue which prevented bottle necks at check in with incorrect documentation.

Portsmouth to Southampton (not South Hampton) is just over 20 miles. It's about an hour by train but it's not direct. London to Portsmouth is 75 miles. There's direct trains to Portsmouth and Portsmouth Harbour from London Waterloo.

This is standard. Every single airline will cancel a return sector if the outbound is a no-show. It's automated.

In early 2021 we booked the Jade for May 2023, Black Sea itinerary. Leaving from Athens to Ukraine, 2 stops in Romania, Bulgaria, Istanbul and Kusadasi. After the invasion of Ukraine we expected that port to be dropped and were disappointed but obviously no fault of NCL. It was replaced with an overnight and 2 days in Istanbul. 2 days after final payment we received an email. Bulgaria cancelled, Romania cancelled. Kusadasi cancelled. Instead we were going to several Greek islands and Izmir. We've been to Istanbul and Izmir several times. We've been to Crete numerous times. We booked a Black Sea cruise and have ended up with a Greek Island cruise. I don't think the timings were a coincidence either. They waited until just after final payment to advise us. We'll make the best of it but it's not an itinerary we would have booked.

The lines at Singapore immigration were awful. We weren't the only ship arriving. We are latitudes sapphire and were in a suite so had priority disembarkation. 2 hour check in is fine for Singapore but your flight might be cutting it fine if there are other ships arriving.

You may be entitled to a refund under the Package Trip Regulations 1992. Which protects consumers in the event of a material change to a package holiday. A cruise counts as a package even if booked as a standalone as it contains both travel and accommodation. However, the problem is that NCL has to agree it's a material change. We are booked on the Jade in May. We booked 2 years ago. It was a cruise from Athens to Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Istanbul. Ukraine was cancelled - absolutely fair enough and we expected it. 2 days after final payment we got an email saying Romania and Bulgaria were cancelled. We are now on a Greek Island cruise. We have 6 out of 7 ports changed. We are sticking with it but our friends wanted to cancel. They quoted the PTR 1992 and NCL said they didn't consider it a material change (6 out of 7 ports!). Eventually they agreed to allow a rebook to a different cruise without penalty. That was after threatening Trading Standards.

It totally depends on the departure country. It's not a blanket yes. My husband was not allowed to do this in Singapore when he realised he'd left something important at the hotel. Singapore has departure immigration controls and we had gone through that prior to boarding.

It's actually a Tibetan terrier who look a little like beardies but COMPLETELY different personalities. I grew up with a beardie and wanted one but my husband (who really didn't want a dog) insisted that they were too big. Of course, now he's besotted 🙄. I wouldn't swap him for the world but beardies will always be my first love.