Cruisin'cockney

Thanks for the replies so far. I am feeling a little more relaxed about this now. I am used to NCL freestyle where any dressing up is completely optional. What are people’s experiences regarding transporting of suits in a suit carrier on TUI airlines in the cabin rather then the hold. Surely they are too big and will need to go in the hold?

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My first P&O cruise will be in December and I am concerned that I might fall foul of the dress code on formal nights. We have 4 formal/Black Tie nights on our cruise and I am unsure whether these are compulsory or optional. With relatively small baggage allowances I am not sure I can safely transport a full dinner suit and accessories.

Do I need to worry about this if I want to eat in the MDR’s or Premium restaurants? If so, what do fellow UK cruisers do to safely transport formal wear when flying with one piece/23 KG baggage allowances? If I decide to not take a dinner suit what will be my dining options? Advice, please.

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Has anyone ever tried to book an extremely last minute cruise (i.e. one or two days before) whilst in the States? How easy was it and were there any bargains to be had.

I ask because we are in Florida in May with no hotel booked (we are staying with friends) and have a week when we could squeeze in a cruise. If we contact the major cruise lines one or two days before and are open minded about the line we use and itinerary will it be possible to get on a cruise?

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You might want to check out if you wife gets two dinners for two, because this is what it says in NCL FAQ about the Platinum dinners:

 

No, this benefit is delivered as two dinners for two per stateroom. Solo travelers get two dinners for one. You cannot split the voucher in to two separate vouchers and redeem the dinners on two separate evenings. The benefit is only if there are two guests dining on the same visit.

Wow, I hope you are wrong - this was done with the full knowledge of our NCL PCC who confirmed that this would be the case. If you are right (and the FAQ suggests you are), then I will not be happy!

Note that Platinum perk is per cabin and not per passenger. Therefore husband and wife in a cabin share the perk and do not get two meals each even if they are both Platinum. My view is that this is unfair.

However, we are travelling on an 11 nighter with my mother who is in an inside on her own and we have swapped the cabin allocations so that the booking shows me and mother together in a balcony and my wife in an inside on her own. Thus, we both each get the platinum benefit i.e. 4 meals for 2 instead of 2! Of course, we will actually be occupying the cabins differently i.e. my mother in the inside and me and DW in the balcony opposite.

Vouchers are placed in the cabin at embarkation and can be redeemed by booking when on board - mention you will be using the Platinum perk voucher to ensure you are not charged.

Like Keith I don't buy internet, phone, hotel or air and only very occasionally book excursions through the ship. However, some people will and it's a decent looking offer if you do.

 

Another thread on this subject was saying the price has went up reflect this, but my cruise for next year is the same price as a few weeks back.

 

 

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Same here, same price for the cruise leaving Sunday as it was when I booked in July. Premium AI+ therefore added free of charge! Will be great for some.

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Thanks for the replies. I agree, the value will be different for everyone and some of these added features will not apply to many. I do like the principal, however, of including as much as possible in the cruise fare, as long as it is optional.

Haven't seen this before but it is now available (I assume for UK/Euro PAX only) on next week's Spirit cruise. All the features of Premium AI (UBP, Gratuities, Water etc) plus 120 'phone minutes, 250 minutes internet, $50 per port shore credit, $100 hotel credit and $50 air credit!

I assume this has been thrown into the mix to sell out this cruise which leaves on Sunday but not sure how long it has been available - certainly wasn't when we booked in July.

Looks a great deal.

Visiting this port next month. Does anyone know whether our visit is likely to be compromised by it being on a Sunday? Are shops etc. likely to be closed or have limited opening?

Would be good to know!

Premium All Inclusive, available to UK and European guests, provides UBP in the normal way (without the need to pay the 18% service charge which is also included in the package) and also includes Lavazza coffees (after dinner only - not from the coffee bar), pre-paid gratuities and 1 litre of bottled water per person per day.

Would be interested to see if this will be rolled out worldwide sometime soon.

Calling at this port next month but not really keen on visiting Olympia. Is there much to see or do if we stay in the vicinity of the port i.e. bars and shops etc?

Also, is this a tender port or will we dock?

2 weeks away from our NCL cruise taking in Santorini. Would like to make our own arrangements and see both Fira and Oia.

I understand I can take a boat (speedboat) from Fira to Oia which includes a bus back to Fira, however I understand that it is a steep walk from where the boat drops you off up to the centre of the town of Oia. If this is true, do the boat operators provide a bus service to take you up from the port to the town or do we have to walk?

Also considering taking a bus from Fira to Oia and back as this seems cheaper but I am worried it will be too busy. There is only one other ship in port and our combined passenger load is about 3,000 PAX so perhaps not too bad.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

There is a gap in schedules for Seabourne Encore between 10th April and 22nd April next year. Anyone know where she is?

Too new for a dry dock so is she being chartered?

Hope to find out as I was looking for a post Easter cruise and this ship was on our short list!

My wife and I have been given the chance to bid for an upgrade from a BA balcony to a suite up to Owners Suite level on the Spirit (starting bid £390pp) and my mother from an inside to an ocean view or a balcony (min £95pp).

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We are in the UK - Platinum Latitudes but don't believe that makes a difference. On the Spirit in October in a BA balcony and have been offered an upgrade via My NCL - to an SB for a minimum bid of £585 (US$760pp) or an SE, SF or SG for a minimum £390 (US$500). Have opted not to bother as we don't want to split up our party. Would be interesting to know what a successful bid looks like!

Booking online in advance saves you 20% on the onboard price. You can buy day passes onboard also at $39 per day but limited in number and often not made available until near the end of the cruise depending upon demand and availability. Passes can sell out so if you want one, be quick.

Interesting article. However, if he was on cruise ships for 6 years he must have signed up for half a dozen contracts which he did voluntarily so couldn't have been all bad!

I know some spa staff on various cruise lines who work very hard but have had an amazing experience visiting countries they would never have visited otherwise. Also, they are able to save nearly all the money they earn as bed and board is paid for. A girl I know has just finished a 9 month spa contract, has seen the world and saved nearly $5,000. Yes, she works hard and puts up with some seriously arrogant PAX but this is the same as at home in land based spas. It goes with the territory when you serve the general public.

That said, the staff earn every penny of the money they get and many deserve much more. I am happy to tip and will continue to do so in appreciation of the great service I invariably get on a cruise holiday. However, if I was a young man I would sign up to work on a cruise ship without hesitation!

Hello - we are on POA in Feb 2017. Looking on our check in page it is showing we can purchase onboard credit. The rate of exchange for this looks very favourable - does anyone know if there are restrictions as to what you can use the credit for. I am thinking for us it will be mainly our bar bill.

 

Does anyone know what would happen with any credit that is still on your account at the end of the cruise? refund?

 

Thanks in advance

Helen, OBC is calculated at the rate that applied at the date you paid the deposit for your cruise. At the moment, that can be quite lucrative - I am getting over $1.48 presently. Any advantage though could be eroded as I believe that any refunds will be at the current rate! Best therefore to only buy what you need and will spend.

40 days - first as platinum latitudes and longest cruise to date. 15 nights repo through the Panama Canal. Need this one badly as really hard year and don't know when we will be able to cruise again! :eek:

Hi, Lost Boy. Enjoy the Epic - it's a great boat on a nice itinerary. We were fortunate to be on the inaugural and remember it fondly.

Regarding your questions, UBP is available at every bar but there is a cap (currently $15) on drink prices so it provides free beverages up to that value. Over that value, UBP will not cover the charge and you will be asked to pay.

You will be able to order drinks from the facilities in Posh, again up to the value of the cap.

Finally, the restaurants that incur an additional charge or that are A la carte will be detailed in the Freestyle Daily. Basically, the majority are subject to additional charges except The Manhattan Room, O'Sheehans, The Garden Café, The Great Outdoors and Taste.

Enjoy!

You don't need to worry about all aboard time when you tender. The only time that matters is the time for the last tender which can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour prior to sail away depending on the length of the tender ride.

Thanks - anyone had experience of tendering at Cabo? If so, how long is the tender ride?

Neil

Am I right in thinking that when tendering the all aboard time relates to the last tender leaving the docks rather than arriving back at the ship?

I am on the Pearl calling at Cabo in October and have a private fishing tour which arrives back at the docks at 4.45 with a ship sailaway at 6. I need to make my way back to the tender station before travelling back and figure that the last tender will leave the docks at 5.30 which gives me a 45 minute buffer. If, however, the all aboard is for actually arriving on ship then the final tender will lave earlier and I assume about 10 minutes by tender to ship which means final tender at 5.20!

Does that sound enough of a buffer? I need to factor in 15 mins travelling time from the charter boat to the tender station but if running late I can ask the tour provider to just drop us near to the tender to save time.

Thoughts?

I am curious about the procedure for the Cabo water taxi. After tendering I need to take a water taxi to the other side of the docks to pick up a fishing charter.

What is the procedure for a taxi water taxi?

Is there a taxi rank where you pick up a taxi or is it every man for himself?

Is there likely to be a long wait?

What could I expect to pay for such a short journey?

Am I likely to find a problem getting a water taxi who is prepared to take such a short journey?

Answers to all or any of the above questions would be great.

Neil

New to NCL

We booked our cruise 6 months ago in Canadian dollars.

Can we add OBC's to our booking now at the same rate as our dollar was when we booked our cruise?

If we can do this who do we call?

Thanks Sue

I believe so, Sue. I have just done it! Easiest to do online via the Explore and Plan tab of My NCL, where you do the online check in etc. Add what you need to your cart and check out. Very easy.

Neil

Thanks, just filled my boots with $500 OBC at $1.48 :). May go back in again and max out with another $500 before sailing. That will be worth around an extra $200 compared to today's rate of exchange.