dalgirl

We recently experienced a personal tragedy while on our last cruise and I want to share with you our experience. I am writing this now, several months after our cruise to hopefully help someone else who experiences a tragic event while at sea.

We were on a wonderful cruise to South America, several days into a 2 week cruise when we received a ship to shore call from my sister letting us know that our dear son had had a heart attack and passed away, he was only 35. We knew he had been sick but we had stayed in constant contact and he felt certain that there would be no problems while we were away – we were all wrong.

We had met a lovely couple while cruising last year who shared their story of losing a brother while on a cruise and how the cruise line assisted them in getting home, so we knew to immediately go to guest relations to begin the process of returning. The problem was that we had just left Argentina on the way to the Falkland Islands and would not be able to fly home to Atlanta for 4 days since the Falklands did not have regular commercial flights. As you can imagine this was very distressing. NCL could not have been more helpful to us. They made sure that we had access to a computer and a telephone so that we could contact the airlines to change our flights and to book additional flights from Ushuaia, our next stop with an airport that could accommodate us. We spent hours that first night making arrangements and contacting family members and the crew did everything they could to see to our comfort including brining hot tea to us. Over the next several days as additional arrangements needed to be made (our son was single) we were able to use the ship telephone anytime we needed. Once we arrived in Ushuaia they made our exit as easy as possible and we were finally headed home. It was terrible being “trapped” on a ship for days, but we made the best of the situation, taking out scheduled excursion in the Falklands, keeping busy while on the ship and with the help of some lovely people got through the ordeal. Keeping busy is the best thing you can do in this type of situation.

Because we were not able to take the excursions that we had booked we ended up with a large onboard credit. However, about a month after we returned a check for the balance was sent to us. I did have to call to remind them, but the customer representative I talked with could not have been more helpful and our check arrived within a week.

Trip Insurance: As you can imagine, the plane reservations along with missing half the cruise came to quite a large amount of money. Thank goodness we always buy cruise insurance. Upon our return I contacted the company and they sent all the forms we needed to file our claim. The representative I spoke with was very sympathetic and let me know that we had months to file if needed and that if extensions were required, that could be arranged. They could not have been more helpful or understanding of our situation. One month after filing our claim, our check is on the way. I cannot stress enough the need for trip insurance – it is well worth the small expense when you have paid a lot for a trip.

Again I wanted to share our experience to thank NCL and to remind people that even when things go wrong, having the right support can make a terrible tragedy more bearable.

I think Le havre and Mont st. Michel will suit us fine. Will we need to rent a car?

thanks for the detailed info. Both stops have full days, so that is not a problem. And I admit that I am more interested in castles and gardens than battlefields. Le Havre might work best. I will keep investigating.

We are trying to decide on a cruise with either a stop in Cherbourg or Le havre. We will not be going to Paris. Any recommendations or observations (pros/cons) are welcome. Thanks!

And here I am taking a regulation carry on and backpack for 17 days in South America. After years of travel all over the world we now pack lighter. Why don't you try 4 bags between you? You can always wash on the ship. And no, they won't say anything about your bags.

Sorry to jump in but am considering a deck 2 cabin . Would deck 2 OV be preferable over deck 3 OV given the meeting rooms and restaurant?

Great review . . Can't wait to read about disembarkation . As for keeping passports: the first time it happened was a little unsettling , but if you travel internationally enough you get used to it . And remember that it can actually be a time saver.

I hope to buy some hand crafts. I think I will get a few hundred. Thanks for the information.

We plan to get some local currency from our bank to use in Chile for small purchases such as lunch, souvenirs, etc. Do you think $100 will be enough?

Thanks!

We will be cruising on the NCL Star . I had done my homework about the train, but did not remember about the metro . Glad that it is an easy walk. There are 4 of us and I

was concerned about time . Thanks for the info.

We will be traveling from Rotterdam to Amsterdam . We have tickets to the Anne Frank house . Will there be cabs at the port to take us to the train station ? What about directly to Amsterdam ?

I was really hoping to avoid a long plane ride to Australia. But that's too much time away from work☺ thanks

NCL has posted the Australia and New Zealand sailings, but I don't see anything about getting the ship to the area. Does anyone have any information about when and how the Star will get there?

This TA company said full payment in a few days... So now I'm thinking it may not be just Viking. I have a company I work with a lot. I may check with them. Normally the payment wouldn't matter, but we have a 2week cruise in the UK in three weeks, a 2week south America cruise in January, and a Caribbean cruise in May. And they are all a 90day before cruise full payment. Too much money to tie up with Viking.

We cruise several times a year and I have always wanted to do a river cruise . The price and date just fell into place for this Viking promotion . I will keep a watch for specials on other lines that don't require full payment , maybe I will get lucky.

We were all ready to book a Viking cruise at a great price when I was told full payment would be due now - almost a year in advance! With 3 big cruises this year, no way could I do that. I guess waiting for the last minute is the smart way to go with Viking . I haven't given up, just resigned to waiting. Bummer....

Well everyone is so unhappy that I hate to say it, but I am thrilled that my cruise will be canceled (haven't gotten the good new yet:p)

I scheduled an Epic cruise to the Carnary Islands last year for March 2017 forgetting that March is an impossible month for me to be away from work. So I have been waiting for the rest of 2017 to fill in so I could reschedule dreading that I might have to pay a change fee with my TA. Now NCL has done the changing for me!

We just toured Asia on Celebrity because NCL did not have any ships there and now looking at the new ports of call, I think we may be returning sooner than later. All of the new itineraries look great.

I sincerely feel bad for those that got canceled who were looking forward to their particular cruises, but I had to put in a different perspective.

I hope that they fill in all of the 2017 dates with the new cruise announcements and that they don't wait until the end of the year to tell us where they will be.

We did that cruise in Nov a few years ago. We had rain in Monte Carlo but that was the only bad weather. We needed a light jacket in the morning for Rome and at the Amalfi coast. The afternoons were lovely. For the most part weather can be mild and good. No crowds and cheaper cruise and airfare. We live in Atlanta and the weather is similar in Nov. Very enjoyable. I would do it again.

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We used AP Tours twice and they do a great job, Pompeii in the morning the Amalfi coast in the afternoon dropping you at the ferry. But you don't need a guide to go to Capri. Capri should really be a separate day.

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It will be very hot this time of year at Pompeii . We have made that cruise several times and trying to do both places will not allow you to enjoy either .

If you decide on Pompeii , take the morning train and gather 10 total tourists. You can then put together a group with one of the many guides out front, around 10 euro each . The tour will go until noon . Then board the train to sorrento and have lunch and shop, and enjoy the scenery . Take the ferry back to port.

Or just take the ferry to Capri (go up to Ana Capri first ) and spend the day on the island .

2 very different experiences , both lovely days to remember .

You will get details for each itinerary at the Italy boards.

These are very DIY friendly with Capri being the easiest. Have a wonderful time .

You should call about 3-4 days before you sail. You might get a free upgrade. Our last cruise when I called they said no free upgrade, but when we arrived we had gone from an ocean view to a balcony for free. But don't ask too soon. Good luck.

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No, the first time we experienced "times" was on celebrity in April in Hong Kong. All these emails about our "allowed" board time. Those on CC said it didn't matter. We ignored those emails and showed up when we liked. No problem. If NCL is starting that, they can forget it too. You show up on your arrival schedule. The people at the port work for the port and don't care who shows up when. You all go together when it works for you.

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Thankyou for the response. DH thinks the falconry demonstration sounds interesting. Both castles look wonderful. That might put Dunrobin inthe lead.

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We plan to tour one of these castles on an upcoming cruise . Which would you recommend ? Thanks !

As Hong Kong is a major financial hub, ATMs everwhere are expected . It really is my exhaustion that has me arriving with cash in hand . I'm not getting currency from the other 4 countries we will visit - ATMs all the rest of the way . A little local currency is just a convenience .