rocky1

On 9/12/2019 at 1:49 AM, skrufy said:

Approximately two hours.

This.

And (my experience has been) the captain may delay sailing time depending on tides. Yes, the clearance is that close, and you don't want to miss it!!!

Back to the original subject..................anyone seen this on other NCL ships?

22 hours ago, 2cmu92 said:

Is there any way I can tell how full our cruise will be?   We are about 30 days out - so I know it could change.  We usually cruise during busy vacation times but now are empty nesters and looking forward to an off season cruise. 

17 hours ago, biker@sea said:

NCL ships run from 100% full = 2 passengers per cabin.

Up to 120% full with 3 and 4 per cabin.

 

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2cmu92, I wish I could answer your question definitatively because sailing on a less populated ship is very pleasant. You are likely to find exceptions to biker@sea's NCL rule if you book a repositioning cruise. We were on a transatlantic a couple of years ago that was "a little more than half full" according to the Captain. Everyone on board was in a good mood for 14+ days......Officers, crew, passengers. Maybe the stockholders weren't as happy?!

Cruised once on Halloween and it was a hoot!!!!! Not just one night, but at least 3 or 4 (out of 7). Best people-watching we've ever experienced on or off a ship. My wife and I would go to the martini bar a little early before the late seating in the MDR and watch the lineup of folks in costume, in drag, or just dressed outrageously. If memory serves, these weren't events staged by the cruise line.

Would you bring towels from home to a hotel? 🤨

17 hours ago, MamaToMany said:

Or or we could drive 15 hours to the port. 

 

What a choice.......driving 15 hours with 5 children or dealing with NCL Air!  Sorry, but I would definitely look for a third option. 🤨

4 minutes ago, BostonGal35 said:

my mom is somehow Gold after just 2 cruises.  Crazy.

 

we are doing a 2 weeker next year and i anticipate that they will do one of the "fill the bag" specials.   Would a gold member get 50% off of that price?    I never did laundry when i was Gold.

Yes.

On 12/31/2018 at 1:23 PM, Indyopie said:

 

Thanks for that info!

 

Anyone know if you book with a TA if you have to go through them for NCL to adjust the airfare to the day prior or can you call NCL directly?  Same goes for opting out of the transfer.  Flying in the same day makes me very nervous but would consider taking advantage of the discounted/free airfare if going the day before is possible.

 

Yes, we just went through that exercise. You must go through your TA for any transaction involving a charge or refund. Trust me, you will save gray hairs as well as money by using a good TA vs dealing directly with NCL (Unless you use a PCC instead of a TA).

NCL will charge you the $25 pp change fee then (eventually) refund the transfers. Flying in the same day as the cruise is never a smart move (IMHO), especially if someone else is planning your flight times.

On 12/31/2018 at 1:23 PM, Indyopie said:

 

Thanks for that info!

 

Anyone know if you book with a TA if you have to go through them for NCL to adjust the airfare to the day prior or can you call NCL directly?  Same goes for opting out of the transfer.  Flying in the same day makes me very nervous but would consider taking advantage of the discounted/free airfare if going the day before is possible.

 

Yes, we just went through that exercise. You must go through your TA for any transaction involving a charge or refund. Trust me, you will save gray hairs as well as money by using a good TA vs dealing directly with NCL (Unless you use a PCC instead of a TA).

NCL will charge you the $25 pp change fee then (eventually) refund the transfers. Flying in the same day as the cruise is never a smart move (IMHO), especially if someone else is planning your flight times.

On 7/25/2019 at 8:48 AM, rocky1 said:

For those who have paid the $25 deviation fee to fly in early or fly out late: how far from your sailing date did you make the arrangements? NCL terms make no mention of a deadline that I could find, but I assume it has to be prior to ticketing. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Maybe I'm the only one dumb enough to take the free/reduced air perk when booking after final payment date. It took my TA most of a day and eight NCL reps to add arrival 2 days prior to sailing and remove the cost of transfers from my reservation. In the end It worked out - I hope - no flight details yet.

On 7/19/2019 at 9:10 PM, Nola26 said:

We fly into FLL for our Miami cruises. I have used NCL transfers both ways and the bus and service are quite good.

Thanks for sharing that experience. It makes me feel better about using their shuttle because I can't remember ever having a good experience with cruise line buses.  Maybe they were never NCL.

19 hours ago, Jasonmom said:

 

I don't know about 40 minutes being plenty of time in ATL.  My mom is 77 and I have to use a cane most of the time.  ATL is BIG.  We went through there once with another group of people we had met on a cruise.  This was probably 10years ago and we were more mobile.  The group of people we had met missed the conection.  One of the places that you catch planes we had to get on a bus to get to.  We only made the plane at the very last minute and could see them as the plane pulled out.  It was sad.  This was an hour layover.

I have to make a connection in Atlanta virtually every time I fly. In my experience, 40 minutes is plenty of time to make a connection in ATL..........IF your flight is on time.........IF you don't have to wait for your "carry on" to be unloaded from the baggage compartment to the gangway........IF you have no mobility issues.......etc.  Be sure to request a shuttle cart or wheelchair for your mom, and you'll probably get to the gate ahead of most. (Of course I must disclose that as familiar as I am with ATL I NEVER book less than an hour layover.....NCL, however, has different rules.)

For those who have paid the $25 deviation fee to fly in early or fly out late: how far from your sailing date did you make the arrangements? NCL terms make no mention of a deadline that I could find, but I assume it has to be prior to ticketing. Thanks for sharing your experience!

10 hours ago, numberguy said:

Hey everyone!

 

We just noticed that our distant upcoming cruise (June 14, 2020 cruise to Norway and the Arctic:  Summer Solstice) now costs $440 less pp than it did a couple months ago.  So we called expecting an offer of onboard credit or an upgrade.  Nope, nothing doing.

 

All we did was ask what the customer service rep could do for us.  And all she did was change the price, and now we owe $880 less.  No muss, no fuss.

 

I love NCL.  That is all.

 

--Michael

Easy decision for NCL when your cruise is far enough out that you could simply cancel and rebook with no penalty. That being said, I'm glad you found a company that you can love.

NCL customer "service" has really gotten ridiculously bad lately. On hold for 50+ minutes yesterday afternoon before they dropped my call (evidently it was quitting time - 5:00 - and they all just went home). On hold for another 50+min this morning and finally talked to a very nice human who said he couldn't help me - I had to call my TA. Then my TA dealt with ridiculous statements contrary to what is posted on the NCL website for several more hours. Bottom line: my simple request to make the allowed changes to my NCL air reservations is still not resolved, and won't be until tomorrow...........at least.

2 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

New promo coming in April

So..........any clue what it might be?

From an Oceania newbie.......Do the Oceania ships still have a BOGO happy hour? If so, where and when? Thanks!

19 minutes ago, Granny DI said:

Travel agent called NCL. If you fly in early or stay later it’s considered a deviation. Deviations are not permitted with the free airfare. The only way around this to book a pre or post cruise hotel with NCL. 

We refuse to fly in the day of a cruise. We had a problem two years ago. We tried to fly in two days ahead of time. Missed connection in Atlanta due to thunder storms....no planes available ...made cruise with 30 minutes to spare.

18 minutes ago, stevendom57 said:

Apparently so. There have been posts here of people that have paid extra to fly in a day early but nothing official.

Thanks, Granny & Steve,

I'll also ask my TA, but I think the free flight perk won't work well for me. Easier to either drive or book my own flights depending on the port.

So..... flying in/out a day or two early or late is totally out of the question?

Wasn't giving any advice; just answered a question posted by Hilda Lee regarding cruise travel to Cuba.

Sorry.......why are you answering questions on the NCL forums?:confused:

Won't cruise NCL.

Sooooo, why are you giving advice on the NCL forum?:confused:

 

I get better service at waffle house than I do sometimes on the ship ... and gladly tip way more than 20% usually... a $ 10 tab at waffle house easily gets a $ 5 tip...

I'm thinking you may just have a thing for those Waffle House waitresses;);p

If I wanted to sail on a new ship, then I would definitely go with HAL's Nieuw Statendam rather than one of the newer Princess ships, if I like the Itinerary.

Why? HAL is the only mass market line that is still building reasonably sized ships instead of the mega ships. The additional 1500 to 2000 (or more) passengers makes a HUGE (pun intended) difference. I like sailing on the mid-sized Princess ships a little more than on Holland, but there really isn't a great deal of difference IMHO. However, if you like the Princess mega ships you probably won't like HAL.

What should she be apologizing for? When a retail store has a special or sale and then discontinues it do you ask for an apologies?

 

 

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No, I wouldn't and didn't ask for an apology, but any time I have expressed my disappointment regarding a decrease in value given by a store where I am a repeat customer, an apology has been offered. In this case I didn't really expect an apology, but thought it worth mentioning that none was offered.

Thanks for your responses. We'll see what the tour company says about what accommodations they will make. Another option is to cancel and just hang out around Santa Monica and drink left-over green beer:cool:. We might be a little jet-lagged anyhow.