HLM29

My advice, if you want to move closer to your friends try calling back closer to the date you are leaving or have your travel agent do it. I think sometimes it depends on the customer service agent you get if your request will be honored. It's not fair but it is the truth for many companies. For me, NCL has been great.

My family and I booked guarantee inside rooms ( 4 cabins in all) for a cruise on the Gem leaving 11/9. We just booked them on 11/1 and were assigned rooms spread all over the ship even though we requested them together. (PS - I am a platinum latitudes member). I noticed the price dropped yesterday, so I called NCL and requested a upgrade. We were all upgraded to Ocean view and put near each other.

Today after realizing how low the cost was, we paid to upgrade to guarantee Balcony rooms. We requested to be close but no promises were made. I just got our assignments this evening and we are all in mid-ship balconies in a row which is great! I know this is a combination of NCL having availability and someone taking the time to read the notes and care about their job. I am in a Balcony room by myself, next to all my brothers & sisters, for $490 total on a 6 day cruise....Feels like I hit the jackpot!

I understand the desire to be near your group, whether traveling with friends or family. We love to have a mini happy hour together on our balconies as the boat pulls out of the various ports. And sometimes people just need a place to go while the partner or kids are getting ready. My sister likes to dress the kids for dinner and then send them to my room while she and her husband get ready.

To be fair, I always have better luck with rooms when I book direct. But I still think if you try again, you can make it happen unless the boat is completely booked. Best of Luck!

I live in Manhattan and have made the trip to Boston a few times. I think the trip is a good 4.5 hours without any traffic issues. But there is usually construction on the weekend in CT that can cause problems. Once you hit Manhattan, it is a quick drive down the Westside highway from the GW bridge. I would play it safe and leave at 6AM like another poster suggests.

 

I once was late for a ship before 9/11 and all the new safety procedures, and I was almost denied boarding. Thank God they allowed me on!! NCL pulled the gangplank away the moment I got off, it was that close. But I do not think it is possible to do that these days. You have to think of this as an airplane, once the doors are closed no one else can enter because the list has been submitted to the "powers in charge". I believe it is the same with a ship. The cutoff is 1Pm so I would aim to be here by 11AM, just in case. Remember to give yourself 15 minutes for parking and such.

 

FYI - The entrance to the Cruise line piers is on your right and is after the first street light you will encounter on the westside highway. If you miss it, you will need to go down a bit and go around a block( Tack on another 15 minutes). No U-turns allowed!!