Snowball

On 6/16/2023 at 6:36 AM, tbmrt said:

Scarlet Night was moved to Red Room which was very disappointing, but we decided to not go and wait til our next VV to do that event by pool. 

Why was Scarlet Night moved to the Red Room? Was there bad weather that evening?

I'll be visiting Bimini for the first time next month and am curious how far of a walk it is from the ship to the beach?  One of the people I'm traveling with has mobility issues so I'm curious whether it is doable to go from the beach back to the ship for lunch then return to the beach.  

39 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

You will be able to choose a TERMINAL ARRIVAL TIME on the app, the earliest time is 1:30 with the window every 15 minutes until 4:00. 

Thank you!  I appreciate the full explanation - it was extremely helpful.  

We were assigned a boarding time of 2:15 (didn't have the option to choose) but that could be because we booked about a month before the cruise date. 

I am new to VV, and have read a few comments indicating that their embarkation times are generally later than other lines; however, I haven't seen what the actual embarkation window is.  I understand that a specific time is assigned to each traveler, but I'm curious what their overall embarkation window is.  Does anyone know?

22 hours ago, cruiseb4udie said:

You can download and save as PDF if they have the brochure available for your specific sailing.  https://www.celebritycruises.com/excursion-brochure/celebrity/  Link is available from Main Celebrity Menu, Select Shore Excursions then Shore excursions brochure or just click the above link.  

This is exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you very  much!

We are booked on a British Isles cruise on the Reflection in May 2021.  Because some of the ports are far from the cities/areas we plan to visit, we will be booking our excursions directly with the cruise lines.  Is there any way to download/view the entire list of available excursions (including the detailed tour description)?  It would be much easier to review them that way then having to click in and out of each excursion to view the specific details for each.

2 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Too much of a coincidence to point to NCL - reason being that of the thousands of transactions that NCL does on a daily basis, the probability that the 2 of you would be targeted is astronomical.

But the likelihood of the two completely unrelated accounts having the same fraudulent activity of astronomical as well, which is why we think it is either NCL or the travel agent that processed the payments that had a breach. 

Have any of you that are booked with NCL has fraudulent charges come through in the past day or two?

My daughter and I are sailing on the Gem in a couple weeks. We live in different states and we each paid separately, using different credit cards from different banks, and neither one is an authorized user on the other’s account.
 

Last night we both were hit with fraudulent charges from the same companies (Bed,Bath and Beyond and Keurig) for the same amounts and at the same time of day. 
 

The only commonality with the cards is they were both used for our upcoming cruise. We think either the travel agent or the cruise line was hacked.  
 

Has anyone else had this happen?

12 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

Just curious - aren't weddings on board ship handled by an outside contracted vendor and not the cruise line?

 

If that is the case, is it NCL or the vendor that is offering the 70% refund? Wouldn't this then fall under the contract signed with the vendor ?

I haven’t seen the contract so I’m not sure but either way it is still unfair to charge a penalty for canceling a wedding when the cancellation is solely caused by the policy change. 

6 hours ago, hallux said:

I feel sorry for them, I do.  However, it's not like NCL could have known when they originally asked if the day guests needed passports that this virus was going to become the issue it has become, or that the passport policy was going to change.

 

I hope they can work something out, either with NCL or with some other venue.

I certainly don’t disagree with their right to change the policy to protect guests; however, I think their outright refusal to issue a full refund for the wedding expenses paid to NCL for non-sailing guests is awful.  NCL is only offering a 70% refund, despite the fact that their policy change is the only reason why the wedding is cancelled. This is the part of the whole situation that none of us can understand. 

I wonder if one could share their internet package from one device to another through tethering (allowing the phone with the internet package to be used as a mobile hotspot for the phone without internet). Has anyone tried this onboard?

7 minutes ago, Nn2036 said:

This couple plan for a wedding on cruise ship and NCL said that all boarding guests need passport?

https://abc7ny.com/5928770/

 

Does this policy apply to everyone? I haven't heard any news about this?

I know the couple that are the subject of the story and am sailing on the Gem along with other family members of the brides.  
 

NCL changed their policy to require non-sailing guests of the wedding to have a passport. Those that are actually sailing on the cruise can still use a photo ID and birth certificate. Doesn’t make sense to me but that’s what we’ve been told. 

2 hours ago, PhilBenz said:

Wait, I don't understand. How can you hope to travel to any foreign country without a passport? Seems like a must-have item to me. Guests who are just boarding for the day to attend a wedding are a different story. If NCL is springing a last-minute regulation like that without prior notice, that's another strike against them, IMHO.

 

I'm sorry if my description wasn't clear.

You can travel to a foreign port with just a birth certificate and drivers license, as long as the cruise begins and ends at the same US port (closed loop).  That has been the policy for as long as I can remember, and hasn't changed.

My friends planned to have their wedding on NCL Gem (out of New York) 18 months ago and have 50 guests scheduled to go onboard just for the wedding, and an additional 25 that are staying onboard for the cruise.  23 days before the wedding, NCL changed the policy to require that non-sailing guests have a passport and they are refusing to offer a full refund even though it is their change of policy that is causing the cancellation.

After reading stories on this and other threads, I am even more appalled by NCL's apparent disregard for their paying customers.  I cruise often (typically 1-3 times per year) and NCL's attitude is confirming that NCL is not the right line for me. 

18 minutes ago, robsmom said:

What makes no sense is that I do not see where NCL says all passengers cruising need a passport.   Are we about to hear more stories as people get turned away from their cruises.  We have passports, and yes I know it is “best” to have one.    As of now, however, don’t the rules still allow Caribbean cruises without one? 

So far, NCL is not requiring sailing guests to have a passport.  What they changed is to require non-sailing guests (guests who were coming onboard an NCL ship [the NCL Gem out of NY in those case] just for the wedding and leaving before the ship sails) to have a passport.  To require passports for non-sailing guests but not require it for sailing guests makes absolutely no sense to me.  

I understand the desire to protect guests.  What I don't understand is why NCL is refusing to provide a full refund for the wedding charges, since their change in policy is what has made having the wedding onboard the ship untenable given the fact that most of the non-sailing guests do not have a passport.  I guess NCL wants them to tell grandma that it's her own fault that she can't come to the wedding.  

I agree that NCL is doing a horrible job of handling issues related to the coronavirus outbreak.  I hope you are able to get the answers you seek and things work out in your favor. 
 

Here is a new story about a couple that is scheduled to be married on an NCL ship in just 3 weeks that had the rug pulled out when the policy for non-sailing wedding guests was changed to require they have passports. It is understandable that they need to protect their guests, but to refuse a full refund for the wedding is outrageous.  One of the brides is like a daughter to me and to see them work so hard to save for the wedding then be stuck with no venue and a partial refund is heartbreaking. 
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/6abc.com/amp/5928770

Thank you for the awesome LIVEish review! I am on the Sept 14 NE & Canada cruise and the information you are sharing is incredibly helpful!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I've had a heck of a time understanding these as well. My cruise isn't until April and we were going to book in October. First timers. Is that too far out, should we book earlier? And then is the 30 day rule 30 days within booking the cruise or actually cruising? I see that it looks like it can be used along with another OBC offer, which is great, but I'm curious, is it one per cabin, or if my husband and I both MyVegas can we get two OBC offers?

You have to have the OBC applied within 30 days of booking and can only have it applied once per booking (can't do one for each person in the cabin).

Debbie

My husband got in line at 6:45am, got his ticket (#7) at 7:30m and we were on the tender by 8:10, Bar Harbor at 8:25am. We waited in a lounge 1 floor above the tender deck and as soon as they called our number we got in line.

That is helpful as it gives me a good idea of what time I should get in line to get off the ship right away. Thank you!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

On our August '16 Bar Harbor stop, they announced that tender tickets would be available starting at 7AM. Was one of the first there and we were told that the tickets would be available 30 minutes prior to our desired disembarkation. They use large tenders/ferries, and by 10AM when we got off, no tickets needed.

Thanks. We are scheduled to arrive in Bar Harbor at 7:00am and have an independent tour booked for 9:00am, so I want to make sure to get an early enough tender ticket for us to make our excursion.

Debbie

I wish they would offer something like drink coupons that could be used by either guest, which would provide a discount on a limited number of drinks.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'd be willing to bet that this policy results in far fewer people getting the drink package rather than more. Time will tell...

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I am cruising to New England and Canada on the Anthem in September, including Bar Harbor which is a tender port. I know we have to line up that morning to get tender tickets, but I wonder does everyone have to get in line or can one person pick them up for everyone in their stateroom? Does anyone know?

Debbie

Does anyone know if La Patisserie serves Caffè Americano and, if so, how much it is? I'm trying to decide if it is worth it for us to purchase the coffee package for our upcoming cruise.

Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I mistakenly thought there was a charge either way, so I'm happy to learn I was wrong.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

The package specifically states that Starbucks locations are not included. Is it possible that they are on the Anthem because they are served at La Patisserie rather than an actual Starbucks store on the ship?

Sent from my iPad using Forums