pianobar

We received notice of the cancellation of our May cruise today, obviously not unexpected. As most cruise lines I assume are doing, we were given the choice of a 125% future cruise credit or a "lesser value refund" as they phrase it in their email. Interestingly, they are able to offer the credit option almost immediately (the default) but their customers have to fill in a digital form by a certain future date and then wait at least 3 months for the refund. Really?

I note many cruisers on this site defending Norwegian as some sort of a clever marketer attempting to save their company. I think the approach Norwegian is using is, simply put, despicable! This is a time when everyone is fearful and stressed. Many people, including Norwegian's customers, are losing their jobs or laid off. Many of Norwegian's customers saved money for many years to book vacations and, in some cases, to book the dream vacation of a lifetime. Now many of these people are struggling to pay their rents or even buy food. Now Norwegian appropriately cancels their cruise but then says they'll hit the left button on their system and you'll get a cruise credit in a few days.....or......they'll hit the right button on their system and you'll get a refund (aka the cash they may desperately need) but they'll take more than 3 months to give it to you. Despicable. Don't let the defenders of Norwegian's actions fool you into thinking that a credit card refund is more than a simple keystroke of a computer. Despicable.

For a company that is likely to eventually receive millions if not billions of dollars in bailout funds from our taxes, how dare you hold on to the $3000 or maybe $4000 or maybe much more of your customers' hard-earned money for more than 3 months when so many others are helping each other out.  Despicable. The small private tour operators we had booked through have already fully refunded our tours, a process that took just a few days (the simple click of a button on their computer). And these small companies are struggling for their very existence. Yet they operate with integrity and realize the money they took is not theirs until they fulfill their promise of a tour. Take notice, Norwegian! That's how you operate a business.

We have sailed with several cruise lines in the past. This was to be our first cruise with Norwegian. Other cruise lines may be operating similarly, but my current experience is with Norwegian. I will, with no hesitation, book again with the small tour operators and family-run hotels that have already fully and promptly refunded my money. However, I will never again book a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Their business model is completely devoid of integrity and compassion at a time when most of us need integrity and compassion the most. Despicable. Shame on you, Norwegian, shame on you.

Thanks for your help. Today we booked the City Sightseeing Shuttle to Pompeii. The available times worked for our schedule. In fact, the price ended up being cheaper than advertised...€13.50 each instead of €15. We've read several postings recommending the Rick Steves audio app of Pompeii. We'll give it a try.

Does anyone have any experience with the City Sightseeing shuttle from the Port of Naples to Pompeii? 

The cost seems reasonable at 15 euro each. We haven't been to Naples before but the pickup spot is "Via Acton - Molo Beverello" which seems to be directly in front of the cruise port entrance. Is that correct?

I understand the train to Pompeii can be a bit of a nightmare so this looks like a reasonable alternative.

Would be interested to hear of anyone's experience.

Thanks.

Can anyone tell me if you must have water shoes at Konoko Falls or will properly strapped sandals (i.e. not flip flops) be allowed?

We usually use Thrifty. Pick up at FLL and drop off right at the entrance to the port with free shuttle right to the ship.

No, we're going two days before the cruise. Same-day flights would be way too stressful. Have never done that. It's nice to unwind a day or two in Florida before the cruise.

Yes, I did look at Syracuse. Days/times/price weren't as good.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I did a lot of looking. Best I could find is out of Cleveland which is only a 4 hr drive from us here in southern Ontario.

We're going down to FLL via JetBlue and back from FLL via United all non-stop. Price in total is $311 pp USD. Not bad! And very favourable departure times.

Hopefully the weather in March will be favourable for driving around the lake.

We usually fly out of BUF or DTW but if anyone else in Ontario is west of London, consider Cleveland.

Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, I'm looking at other cities like Rochester. I may have to break my vow and take the dreaded Spirit Airlines out of DTW or Buffalo.

Thanks. Will look again at Air Canada.

Maybe so. For the past 8 years I've purchased our tickets in December or January for March flights after following the fares for several months and did very well on fares. I guess this year my luck ran out.

Are any other southern Ontario residents finding it difficult to get reasonable fares on flights to FLL or any nearby airport for this coming March??

Leaving the dollar exchange aside (and that's hard to do!!) and forgetting about leaving from Toronto (YYZ) for which you have to take out a second mortgage, I'm usually able to find reasonable rates out of Buffalo or Detroit via Delta or JetBlue. Not this year!

Perish the thought I have to consider Spirit Airlines (which I took one year and vowed never to fly again) but their schedules are horrible and fees for baggage when you have 4 travelers makes it not worth it.

Has any southern Ontario cruiser found any good flight deals to Florida this March?:confused:

We've been cruising out of Ft Lauderdale every spring break in March for the last 8 years and have stayed at various FLL hotels pre and post cruise.

I have never seen hotel prices as high as I've seen for this coming March. What's going on this year?? It seems as if the hotels got together and co-ordinated outrageous prices. Just sayin'!

We're sailing on Oasis in March (can't wait!) To save money we decided on an inside cabin for the first time...not a problem since we're only in the cabin to sleep and change clothes. There are 4 of us and I see that the cabin we chose has a sofa bed instead of pullman beds for the 3rd and 4th passengers. Guess we didn't really pay attention.

Could someone please reassure me that the sofa beds on Oasis are as comfortable as the pullman beds?! Kind of moot since too late to change now but please make my day by reassuring me!!

We're sailing in March (during March Break). We booked The Hampton Inn (Stirling Rd) at $179/night vs Springhill Suites (Stirling Rd) at $260/night and Homewood Suites (Griffin Rd) at $242/night. We're actually staying for 2 nights pre-cruise so it adds up.

Actually our favourite restaurant in the Stirling Rd area (hope you won't chuckle!) is Sweet Tomatoes. We don't have this chain in Canada and we love the huge salad bar. It's a bit of a walk past the mall, past the Home Depot and around the corner. It's nice to eat healthy before the excesses of cruise dining!

Thank you for the help!

Thanks!

Will be sailing on The Oasis in March. Looking for comments from anyone who recently stayed at The Hampton Inn (Stirling Rd location near FLL). We usually stay at the Springhill Suites across the road but the rate is much better at the Hampton. Tripadvisor reviews are so-so. Not looking for a resort but like a clean hotel. We have a rental car so shuttle not important. We like a warm clean pool. We like the Stirling Rd area as our favourite restaurant is near by. Anyone stayed recently at this Hampton Inn to give us an uptodate review? Thanks.

MJS website is:

www.gomjstrans.com

Well, I decided to go with MJS! My email was answered very promptly as was my registration form with all the details. So far I'm very impressed. Prices are cheaper than SAS. Hope all goes well on cruise day!

Just wondering if anyone has had any recent experience with MJS Transport?

We looking for shuttle service from a FLL hotel to Port of Miami and trying to decide between SAS and MJS.

Thanks!