wxtrix

8 hours ago, IMANOT said:

That was the cruise line’s first communication with us.  I will never cruise with them again.  Their PR stinks.  It is an unprecedented situation, but I feel that we should have had them reach out even if just to offer support.

support how? they’re providing transportation to the new port.

they have no role in the decision to reopen the port. 

1 hour ago, bstel said:

yeah don't get your hopes up.  IMO, based on the Unified Command occupying the cruise terminal for their command center, you won't see them vacate until the entire main channel is clear and ship is removed. Once that is done you should see it turn over to more local control, since the port will be open.

they can rent office space in the area. it's not as if the cruise terminal overlooks the bridge collapse.

3 hours ago, IMANOT said:

I am pondering the possibility of changing my flight to Norfolk and renting a car to drive to Baltimore if I made a bad decision.  The 4 hour bus ride will be too tight for my flight home.  I am disappointed that they haven’t reached out at all

i’m on the 5/5 sailing and haven’t heard anything.i don’t think the 4/28 people have yet, either.

imo that’s a positive sign if you want to sail out of Baltimore.

no one should make any non-refundable changes until you hear directly from Carnival.

15 minutes ago, John Reid said:

So, the recommendation from Carnival to drop luggage at the terminal and then go park is not a good option?

I can pull up a map of the harbor area. Where is the Carnival recommended parking?

Have there been porters at the parking area to collect ship luggage or do they expect it to be lugged aboard the buses?

Thanks for any and all help.

i can't speak to the first question because i haven't gotten the notification for our cruise yet, but all drop offs will occur across the street from the terminal as only the Carnival buses will be allowed in the circle. there will be porters on the other side of the seawall as I understand it, but they are not allowed to come and help curbside.

the previous info from Carnival has directed people to the Cedar Grove lot.

the porters will be at the Cedar Grove lot and will collect luggage there and take it separately to the ship.

the lot will also have ADA-compliant buses for anyone who needs one.

4 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Sorry you had to go through that. I know when I cruised out of Norfolk last year they recommended that everyone be dropped off at the offsite parking lot, they had accessible shuttles and porters there. But I don't know if they have the same setup this year since this was all so last-minute. 

they do.

if you are embarking and you will need assistance with your luggage, the cruise parking lot is really the best option.

34 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

I was hoping that the article was just giving size of ship perimeters but it may be just tractors and cars for now.😬

fwiw, i wouldn't take that one section as any kind of final decision. i'm still optimistic that our 5/5 sailing will leave from Baltimore.

24 minutes ago, bar1068 said:

Just did a quick look on Carnivals website, the May 5 from Baltimore sailing seems is not showing up, not unusual for a sailing only 3 weeks out. However I'd think at this point the May 5 cruise would leave from Norfolk, but just a guess.

 

The USACE and the Unified response groups working on the salvage operations from the Key Bridge collapse are aiming to have the normal shipping channel re-opened by the end of May. Certainly not a set in stone date, but a timeline they are working towards. Could be sooner, could be later. We could only assume that means cruise ships will be able to return to the Baltimore cruise port. Seems Carnival should be aware of this and making it's decisions, but who knows.

 

If you are curious, can read about the salvage operations here.

 

https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3731790/us-army-corps-of-engineers-develops-tentative-timeline-to-reopen-fort-mchenry-c/

from that link:

After detailed studies and engineering assessments by local, state and federal organizations, in collaboration with industry partners, USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore within the next four weeks – by the end of April. This channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore for barge container service and some roll on/roll off vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port.

that channel would be large enough to support the Pride.

On 12/18/2023 at 8:05 PM, sbobsbob said:

I agree NCL is not customer friendly once they have your money. There was a major price drop, but for their own internal greed they are not offering a FCC. 
if you can still cancel they will adjust pricing. 
 

we received a FCC for $2000 last week after we completed our cruise and i requested it after final payment.

On 10/21/2023 at 8:15 AM, wxtrix said:

our cruise next month dropped $1000 ($500 each) earlier this month, so i called NCL and asked for the one-time FCC. it was approved, but for $2000.

 

last week the price dropped again and our cabin is now $2000 less than what we paid, so i called NCL and was able to upgrade based on the price difference (which should cancel the FCC).

 

the NCL rep encouraged me to keep checking up until 15 days out since she thought we’d be eligible for the FCC since we cancelled the first request.

update:  the fare didn't fall again, but even after putting the price drop toward the upgrade, after the cruise 2 $1K credits were available in our Latitudes accounts, so i guess we're sailing NCL again next year.

Ship - Norwegian Sun

Deck - 8

Stateroom # - 8277

Stateroom Category – SF/aft penthouse

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – in terms of neighboring cabins, it was very quiet. but there is a lot of noise connected to the room:

--when the ship slows down, there is a very loud shuddering sound which will wake you up at night. once we figured out what it was, it didn't really bother us.

--it's an aft cabin so everything rattles when the ship is swaying or in rough seas. again, once we figured out what the noises were they didn't bother us.

--it's right above the Stardust Theater, so you will hear the rehearsals and shows. it didn't bother us because we weren't in our room while the shows were going on.

--all of that being said, we LOVED this cabin and would take it again in a heartbeat.

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - yes, but the connecting door is in the entrance hallway so you don't hear any noise from it.

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – unobstructed aft view, just gorgeous.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - normal for aft penthouse

Was wind a problem? - on a few days, when it was windy everywhere. we had some rough weather which cut down on balcony use.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - i noticed it on windy days but our cabin steward would sweep/brush the ash off the balcony.

Any specific problems with this cabin? - just the ones noted above.

Any other comments? - we loved this cabin. the balcony fits 2 loungers and a big table and chairs. it's a 2 room suite, and the bathroom has both a separate shower and a jetted tub with shower. there are 2 closet areas and plenty of storage.

15 hours ago, Mare749 said:

Our first port is San Juan and it's a rather short stop 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. NCL does not offer any excursions for that evening.  I have seen some on other websites and am wondering if anyone is booking something for that evening or plan to get off the ship at all?  We have been to San Juan a number of times but have always had a tour booked. 

i just checked my reservation and there are 3 excursions shown as available for San Juan.

our cruise next month dropped $1000 ($500 each) earlier this month, so i called NCL and asked for the one-time FCC. it was approved, but for $2000.

last week the price dropped again and our cabin is now $2000 less than what we paid, so i called NCL and was able to upgrade based on the price difference (which should cancel the FCC).

the NCL rep encouraged me to keep checking up until 15 days out since she thought we’d be eligible for the FCC since we cancelled the first request.

Just now, IAcruising said:

 

But you have to sail within 12-months to use it, right?

 

yes. but that’s a pretty good incentive. 😁

On 9/21/2023 at 11:48 AM, wxtrix said:

thanks for the info in this thread--our cabin for our next cruise has dropped $1,000 and for some reason i thought NCL would only give you a FFC worth 25% of the difference after final payment, I called and put in a request for the FFC.

On 9/21/2023 at 12:45 PM, wxtrix said:

 

the rep i spoke to couldn't confirm exactly how much the FCC would be if it is approved. I'll know in a week.

i heard back today:  we’re getting a $2000 FCC after we conclude our November cruise. it’s more than i had calculated.

5 minutes ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

That’s what they did for me back in October 2021. I think it’s full FCC now. Am I correct?

the rep i spoke to couldn't confirm exactly how much the FCC would be if it is approved. I'll know in a week.

thanks for the info in this thread--our cabin for our next cruise has dropped $1,000 and for some reason i thought NCL would only give you a FFC worth 25% of the difference after final payment, I called and put in a request for the FFC.

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

I am not continuing to argue with yall. I wasn't on the ship and I have no dog in this fight. I don't agree with you on the reasonableness of a piddly $200 pittance as recompense for not going to Greenland on a cruise that Carnival undoubtedly advertised as a Greenland cruise and charged "Greenland" prices for.  Despite what the cruise contract says, there are still consumer laws which prevent a cruise company from advertising one thing and delivering another.  Carnival may have an out with the reason for not going being an act of God/the weather.  But as a general rule, Carnival absolutely does have a duty to deliver what they advertise and sell...as does any business.  Not to mention the fact it is just bad business. I am willing to bet a lot of the people on that Greenland cruise will never cruise with Carnival again.  If they had given them even a small FCC, that story might be different. It is easier to keep a customer than gain a new one.

 

 

 

  

i'm on the same itinerary next year and it was advertised as a Greenland and Canada Journeys cruise, with more ports in Canada than in Greenland. and as i understand it, Journeys cruises are usually more expensive because of the special programming.

46 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

I think if people had received a 30 percent FCC and alternative ports, they would have been a heck of a lot happier than a pittance of $200 per person OBC.

 

Halifax was added to that itinerary.

4 hours ago, Pyxie said:

I'm booked on this cruise next year and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous now.

I'm booked on one of them next year, and knew going in that the ship might not call at Greenland in the end. it happens all the time, regardless of cruise line. you’re going to a remote location which is subject to extreme weather.

48 minutes ago, AKR2011 said:

The Sun was my husband's favorite, but we went in 2014. The size was great and the crew was absolutely fantastic. Our biggest complaint was that the sports bar had limited hours instead of the 24-hr. O'Sheehan's. Maybe this has changed? 

from what i’ve been reading (we’re on one of the 12 night cruises out of Baltimore), it has not changed.

We've never sailed the Sun, but she’s slightly smaller than the Carnival Pride, which we’ve sailed twice out of Baltimore and loved, so i’m expecting to love the Sun as well.

people make a cruise, too, and the 2 Baltimore sailings we’ve done had a great friendly mix of passengers.

28 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

We just for an update an hour ago.  Corner Brook tomorrow, sea day, St Anthony, Sidney, sea day Halifax 2 sea days Baltimore.  I 🤔 think

i hope you sail into some clear skies and warm weather for those ports. thanks for the photos and updates and the reminder that it's always fun to be cruising.

so sorry you missed Greenland but i’m glad everyone is safe.

fwiw, cruisemapper.com has you are headed to Corner Brook. the site was pretty accurate during the August sailing.

7 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Thois trip started over a year ago when we saw the first Greenland cruise and hesitated and missed the opportunity.  When we heard they were adding a second sailing, we jumped and booked.  We were able to snag our fav room on this class of ship, 4th floor Vista suite.  

that's our favorite cabin on that class, too.

thanks for doing this live thread--we're on the Pride next September to Greenland and I am so very curious about all of it.

2 hours ago, CentralNY1 said:

Carnival has done really well on this Journeys cruise by adding many activities, lectures and an extra comedian. There was plenty to do during the 5.5 sea days which was our biggest concern. We've also had the most remarkable sea conditions I've ever experienced.  The sea state was amazingly calm and ZERO wind. Food has been mostly good with extra variety in the menu.  If anyone has any specific questions, I'm more than happy to answer.

i’m on one of the 2024 sailings and am curious about the dailies for the sea days, if you write a review upon your return.

the photos i’ve seen from yesterday and today are gorgeous. so happy to hear that the seas have been calm.