njhorseman

Note to self...apparently I haven't stopped to think , nor do I have any sort of a worthwhile life at home. 🙄 @navybankerteacher, thanks for pointing that out! Apparently even though you've never met me you know more about me than I know about myself. 🤣

The storm is nowhere near Bermuda and in fact will be moving even further away from Bermuda as time progresses. Actually it will be moving toward New England and Canada so it's possible your departure from Boston on Friday could be delayed depending on the storm's progress. In no way would your ship be heading to Canada . Take a look at the storm's forecast track: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/235314.shtml?cone#contents https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/235314.shtml?mltoa34#contents

I've always wondered if the Daily News reporter embellished the story just a little bit.

You may have seen that shortly after this was posted I challenged the poster to support their statement with some facts. They never replied, nor do I expect them to. As a native of New York City and current resident of New Jersey who has flown in to and out of each of the three area airports for decades I can assure you that each has its positives and negatives and I would never rule out using one because of some unsupported dramatic statement . @GTJ's observations about the airports are spot on.

No, I didn't say that. I said "the negative publicity would be substantial". Nowhere did I use words like "would do anything". Diverted, as in ports of call changed? Yes, that is very common. No, you don't normally receive any compensation for it and contractually no compensation is due. The OP's question and this thread are about one circumstance and one circumstance only, the final disembarkation port being changed. Yes it's rare, but is has happened and surely will happen again. You're diverting the discussion and ignoring the OP's question by talking about passengers not making it to the embarkation port and ports of call being changed.

Yes, there have been many times when weather prevented passengers from getting to an embarkation port and the cruise departed without them, but we are discussing debarkation port changes due to weather or other circumstances in this thread. Please read post #6. NCL did provide reimbursement of additional expenses incurred as well as charter flights at no cost for those passengers needing them. There's a huge difference between stranding passengers in a port due to weather conditions encountered while a cruise is underway and not being able to accommodate passengers who were unable to embark because weather prevented them from getting to the ship. In all my years of travel, as well as my years as a travel agency owner the only times I can recall passengers already on board a cruise being left high and dry by a cruise line were when the cruise line had ships arrested for failure to meet their financial obligations.

Contrary to what some others have said, under NCL's Guest Ticket Contract there are specific circumstances where NCL is obligated to provide alternative transportation to your original debarkation port or your home city. Per paragraph 7 (f), they will provide such transportation in the event of mechanical failure: "(f) Mechanical Failures of the Vessel: In the event of cancellation of voyage due to mechanical failures of the vessel, the Guest will be entitled to a full refund of the cruise fare, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures. In the event a voyage is terminated early due to mechanical failure of the vessel, the Guest is also entitled to transportation to the vessel’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the Guest’s home city, at Carrier’s discretion and expense, as well as lodging at the unscheduled port of disembarkation, if required, at Carrier’s expense." In other circumstances such as a weather-related change , even if a cruise line is not contractually obligated to provide transportation to the originally scheduled debarkation port, if they did not do so the negative publicity would be substantial and I'm not personally aware of any cases where a cruise line hasn't assisted passengers . One or two posters have already provided examples of that.

That reads like was written Celebrity's PR staff or advertising agency. I don't believe for one minute that it's an independent evaluation written by CLIA. Keep in mind that CLIA is a trade association whose sole purpose is to serve the needs of its member cruise lines, and its member cruise lines only, not an independent cruise industry rating organization.

Yes, all that is fact but it still doesn't justify a statement like "OMG, do NOT fly into EWR to leave from Manhattan. Please do not do this."

I have no problem with that. I should have been more careful in laying out the reasons for selecting an airport.

Care to tell us why? But be forewarned...it better be good and factual, not a lot of exaggerated drama. Starting your post with "OMG" is strike one. Ending it with "Please do not do this" is strike two.

This ^^^ And this^^^ We've cruised on Celebrity and Holland America, but not Princess. We've cruised on Oceania and Azamara, but not Viking. Based on our personal cruising experience and opinions, the latter are premium, the former upper end mass market...and based on customer feedback from years past when I owned a travel agency I'm not even certain that Princess belongs with Holland America and Celebrity.

Same for NCL.

I was just posting about the Great Outdoors when this hit the board !

On the NCL Jewel Class ships, Jewel, Gem, Jade and Pearl there are buffets in the Great Outdoors . Not full sized, but having a decent selection at breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack time. we often eat there. You can go inside to the main Garden Cafe buffet if you want something additional not available outside.

I always use the Lincoln Tunnel unless traffic reports tell me that it will be faster to use the GW, which has happened exactly once in all the years I've been driving to the cruise terminal from NJ. Traffic for the Lincoln Tunnel has to be pretty horrible to make all the extra driving needed to use the GW worthwhile. In fact I prefer to use the Holland Tunnel over the GW if the Lincoln Tunnel is jammed.

LGA is the closest to midtown, but I'd use either of the other two airports if there were a substantial airfare savings in doing so, or if their flight schedules better suited your needs.

The Gem will depart from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Pier 88, 12th Ave. and 48th St. (motor vehicle entrance is at 55th St. and 12th Ave. ) Suggest you ask this question on the East Coast Departures Board. First read some of the threads there. Lots of hotel recommendations. You can fly into EWR, JFK or LGA. Choose your airport based on flight schedule and cost. Again a good question for East Coast Departures. Again lots of hotel recommendations there. If you want to sightsee in Manhattan then stay in Manhattan. The time and money you'll spend traveling to and from Manhattan usually makes the money you will save on hotels by staying elsewhere a false economy. The only exception I might make would be to stay in Jersey City, but since you don't want to take the subway (the PATH train from Jersey City to Manhattan is essentially a subway) and since you're somewhat disabled your best bet is to stay in Manhattan.

Come to think of it, given Bermuda's British colonial heritage I think a crown, purple robe and a sceptre are warranted. That's not too much to ask, is it? 🤣

I see it on my Oceania invoice under "Amenities and Gifts". The invoice from my travel agent also lists it...of course that will vary by travel agency...perhaps not all agencies display it.

I agree with you...the form was not used for cruise ship passengers in the past and the instructions you've quoted say it's for those arriving by airline or yacht...BUT...I'm not ruling out the possibility that they now may want cruise ship passengers to complete it. Bermuda could require the cruise lines to check at embarkation that you've completed it just as they currently check at embarkation that you have the Travel Authorization . It hardly matters . The $40 fee is gone and even if you have to complete the form it should take just a minute or so to do. By the way do I get to wear a hat or a badge or a name tag that says "Bermuda Expert" ? 😄

You can wear jeans in any restaurant on any NCL ship.

Yes, even if you make them at separate times.

Yes.

Not that it's going to matter one way or the other as far as your getting a refund is concerned, but if my memory serves me correctly previous revisions to the Travel Authorization process were based on the date of arrival in Bermuda, not embarkation date.