PATRLR

8PM Monday evening, I signed up for stockperks and sent them a safe copy of my brokerage statement.  4AM Thursday I had my OBC, essentially 2 business days later.  Easy-peasy.

Someone above said " food on Princess ships is better than you would get at Applebee's, Chili's, TGIF, Outback Steakhouse, etc"

Building on this statement, if you think about it there is a segment of the population who think those restaurants have great food - there must be, otherwise how would they stay in business, right?  But there is also a segment that thinks those restaurants are not good and will only eat at "higher end" restaurants (whatever that may mean).   

If those assertions are correct then it leads us to understand the former segment is likely to think cruise line food is great and the latter segment will not.  Point is, food is so subjective it almost doesn't make sense to worry about what other people say about the food.

On 5/7/2024 at 6:21 PM, PATRLR said:

I'd written previously about my error in not booking the Rodne Lysefjord cruise.  I've been looking at a few other options and stumbled upon the NORLED Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock cruise (https://www.norled.no/en/fjordcruise/lysefjord-pulpit-rock-cruise/). 2.5 hours so not as long as the Rodne cruise but seems to do the same basic route.

As I don't see as much online about this operator, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience?  It looks like ferries might be their core business, but this cruise does seem to be on a sight seeing boat.  

I have read a few things about NORLED, one of which is their boats claim to be faster and therefore don't need as much time to do the same itinerary as the Rodne boats do.  Hmmm...

I think its going to come down to a choice between these two cruises in two different ports:
 

In Bergen, the Rodne Fjordcruise Bergen-Mostraumen which goes up to Modalen, or,

In Stavanger, the NORLED Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock cruise.  (We don't want to do too many boat excursions, so, we just want to do one of the two above.)

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I'd written previously about my error in not booking the Rodne Lysefjord cruise.  I've been looking at a few other options and stumbled upon the NORLED Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock cruise (https://www.norled.no/en/fjordcruise/lysefjord-pulpit-rock-cruise/). 2.5 hours so not as long as the Rodne cruise but seems to do the same basic route.

As I don't see as much online about this operator, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience?  It looks like ferries might be their core business, but this cruise does seem to be on a sight seeing boat.  

On 5/2/2024 at 10:31 AM, david63 said:

Surely you can go for 45 minutes without a drink.

Of course most people can, including me.  I prefer not to.  

17 hours ago, mrmarklin said:

At the Crown Grill I ordered the Ribeye steak a few years ago on the Pacific Princess. The next night it was on the menu in MDR. Same exact cut. Haven’t been to the Crown Grill since. And won’t. 

Same cut is not surprising to me.  Did you have it at both venues?  If so, were the equal quality?  I'd expect the quality in Crown Grille to be noticeably better than what they serve in the MDR.

4 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:

@PATRLR  @vacation44 

 

I wonder what makes this particular NCL Shore Excursion experience different from the one conducted at Hubbard Glacier, whereas yours is rated as an Activity Level 1 (easiest) and the latter is rated as Activity Level 3 (most strenuous). I did try and call the NCL Shore Excursions Desk but after waiting on the phone for 30 minutes gave up. 

Sorry, I know nothing of the Hubbard Glacier excursion.

I agree it's getting pricey at $350 (as is everything these days).  But, I believe it was so worth it.  I was really shocked when I saw just how much closer we were than the Bliss was.  And the captain stopping and literally turning the boat to point out bears along the sides, whales, etc.  Just so much better than the Bliss could possibly do.

22 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

Is that one that you booked through NCL? I think they also offer one of these for Hubbard Glacier, and I've been eye-balling it as well. 

Yes, it was booked through NCL.  Bliss was in Juneau in the morning with early afternoon departure to head up the Arm.  Just before Bliss left the pier, we boarded the Allen Marine vessel and took off ahead of Bliss up the Arm.  We made a few stops and slow downs along the way for various sites and wildlife (bears, whales, etc)  and eventually got up close to the glacier.  At some point we looked back and there was Bliss, doing it's pirouette.  It was waaayyy back there (I'd guess 3/4 or mile or more back). We then headed back down the Arm and met the Bliss where it was pirouetting and transferred onto her there (end of excursion).

On 4/30/2024 at 11:11 PM, dmwnc1959 said:

 

 

The picture above seems to be about as close as Bliss got.  If ever there was a testimonial for getting onto the Allen Marine excursion (called "TRACY ARM FJORD & GLACIER EXPLORER" in 2018) it's that picture.  This is how close we got to the glacier in 2018:

As I have been expanding out to other cruise lines recently, I find myself spending more time on other line's boards and forums.  In my exposure, it seems like this just-after-final-payment port change/drop happens significantly more frequently on NCL than it does on other lines.  

I find it to be very concerning and it does factor into my future cruise planning.

10 hours ago, KarenRB said:

So after all that verbiage, I guess the jury's still out.  It seems like they don't hold back some passes.  I have no way of verifying but it felt like I got one as a perk of booking a B2B.

Thanks for reporting.

I don't think the jury is still out, I think your experience is further proof that they don't hold any passes for onboard sales.  You managed to get one because they likely had a last minute cancellation of some form and you happened to be there at the right time. 

21 hours ago, laumicmah said:

Thoughts on getting Vibe access for Feb transatlantic??? Would be nice to have a hot tub to ourselves.

I think you answered your own question.  Not sure how much there is to add.  If quiet, uncrowded hot tubs are a value to you, then get the Vibe.  

9 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

Actually, isn't this scenario cancelled/delayed flights considered to be trip "interruption" with insurance policies?

4 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Good question. I'd ask Steve, the guy from that insurance store. I need to speak with him, anyway.

Actually, cancelled/delayed flights is "trip delay".  "Trip interruption" is when you have to cut a trip short presumably to go home.

On 4/22/2024 at 8:16 AM, DCGuy64 said:

Interesting. I have. Pretty much every travel insurance policy I've bought has a provision for cancelled flights, which the baggage fees were a part of. I believe it would fall under the trip cancellation provision.

On 4/22/2024 at 8:20 AM, dbrown84 said:

hmmm, interesting.  I never thought of it before, but would this be considered a cancelled flight for the purposes of insurance?  The flight itself was not cancelled.  The OP was changed to another flight.  

On 4/22/2024 at 8:29 AM, DCGuy64 said:

I would argue that substituting one flight for another represents a cancellation. If you were booked on flight ABC123 and were moved to DEF456, your 1st flight was cancelled. That's how I'd look at it, anyway. At a minimum, my reservation was cancelled.

Actually, isn't this scenario cancelled/delayed flights considered to be trip "interruption" with insurance policies?

4 hours ago, gizfish said:

The flight was not cancelled or delayed, the airline did not make a schedule change with the flight, and no one was involuntarily denied boarding.  NCL changing a person's flight doesn't have anything to do with those situations. 

How you know the airline did not make a schedule change?  There had to be some reason NCL changed an already ticketed flight.  My guess is some schedule changed (either the flight or the ship).  Which ever one changed owes him the fees, IMO, but I haven't read the T&Cs for NCL flights (and I don't care to because there is no way in hell I'd ever use them).  Another option is NCL found a cheaper set of flights or they realized the flights they booked wouldn't work - in either of those cases NCL owes him the fees, IMO.

23 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

I have never seen a dog some to someone's cruise cabin before.  Its likely there was a source of information on that one. 

Of course you not seeing it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  I'm another one who has seen trained dogs walking the halls of a cruise ship.  I don't remember exactly when/where, but if I had to guess it was probably Bermuda.

4 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Since the presence of drugs puts the cruise line at risk, NCL should have packed all of their belongings, and thrown them off the ship. Lifetime no-sail ban. 

3 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

How does it put the cruise line at risk?

I thought there was international or maritime law that stated weed was illegal to have on a ship.  I don't know who or what enforces those laws though or what the risk of breaking those laws is.  @chengkp75 - am I misremembering something here or can you elaborate?

2 hours ago, buddy1755 said:

I got flights thru NCL for my upcoming transatlantic,  on the return leg of the trip we were booked out of Gatwick with Air Transat.  I went on to their site and booked our seat selection and paid for our luggage.  WELL NCL just changed everything,  I now fly out of Heathrow with Brittish Airway.  I was told by NCL AND Airtransat that that monies are not refundable.  So in the future I quess I would wait till last minute to choose seats I I will never pay for luggage until I get on the aircraft. 

If you had a ticketed flight reservation, which you must have had if you bought seats and bags, why was it changed?

2 hours ago, gizfish said:

if dead men who sing no songs can indeed sell rights to songs.

Someone/something owns the rights to the song (likely Queen or their record company) and they certainly can sell said rights.

I don't think I'd ever seen/heard the Pitbull ad but I'd definitely seen the Queen ad.  I must not be part of the demographic the Pitbull ad was targeting.  

16 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Feel sorry for the crew having to be out just in case someone shows up. 

I don't feel sorry for them.  My conversations with the Vibe bartenders leads me to believe Vibe is one of the more desired positions.  And on a ship like Bliss where it's easy to be inside while still "at" the bar (vs Viva where the bar is separated from the back room) I'm sure they are all doing just fine.  

28 minutes ago, arxcards said:

If booked & pre-paid with credit card, no.

With premier package dining credits, yes. They = Princess, and this is listed in the  Plus/Premier packages T&C. I wont bother to link the Australian version I have pasted from.

 

Specialty Dining – two Specialty Dining meals are available per each Princess Premier guest. Each specialty dining meal consumed by a guest in a stateroom with this package will have the meal credited against the entire stateroom. It is recommended that guests make the Specialty Dining reservations pre-cruise using Princess® App. Princess Cruises reserves the right to pre-assign Specialty Dining times and location. The Specialty Dining included in Princess Premier does not include items with extra charges on the menus. Availability of Specialty Dining might be limited on certain cruises. Restaurants vary by ship.

 

So, as explained to me, if everyone wants Crown Grill and it is booked out, you will not be guaranteed to be able to use both of your Premier package bookings there just because you got in first.

OK, they can pre-assign.  That doesn't necessarily mean change (and I understand you didn't write "change").  Thank you for clarifying.  

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

They now say they can assign your dining at their discretion for day, time & restaurant.

Say what?!?  Who is "they" and where have you seen/heard them say this?

I currently have two reservations for the venue and date/time that I want.  Are you saying Princess can change that on me to something totally different?

I'm getting a kick out of this thread.  Over on the NCL pages there is discussion of how NCL has apparently eliminated all beef dishes from the MDR menus with the exception of the NY Strip which is available every evening (and is simply awful). One poster was doing a live report a couple weeks ago and posted each night's menus.  Sure enough, not one beef dish offered on any night in the MDR.