Da-Painter

Like I said, I wouldn't tell you what to do with your money and if you are willing to take responsibility for your choices that is all I ask. The people in this article are not taking responsibility for their choice and that is what has many posters up in arms. I know where you are coming from. DH and I took the majority of our cruises without passports and still do not have them for the kids. For us the risk was not worth the cost of the passports, just like you feel about travel insurance. Like you we are willing to bear the risk and take responsibility for our choice if something happened. Not judging you and not telling you how to spend your money....just thankful to see someone who realizes it is their responsibility for the choices they make. As you can see from this article, some feel it is the responsibility of the cruiseline to take the loss for its customers choices. IMHO that's just wrong.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

I'm not going to tell you that you should buy insurance every time you travel. That is your choice how you spend your money. But please remember that by not purchasing insurance, you are accepting responsibility for the risks that the insurance covers. Please do not come back here, or to the cruiseline, or to a sympathetic newsman asking for the cruiseline to take on your responsibility after the fact when something does happen. While I would have empathy for your loss...I would not have any empathy for your case that the cruiseline should be held responsible for the loss YOU decided not to insure.

If something happens to me, so be it.

I have prepaid airlines, and hotels for future trips. If I don't take the air flight, or show up at my hotels which I have prepaid, I am willing to fully accept and can financially handle those circumstances.

And I will not tell everyone how cruel the world is to me, if this occurs.

I have used trip insurance once in the past.

I am not interested in hearing about folks that have purchased and used trip insurance in the past and had to use it. And tell me that I should also always do so.

So now this has again, turned into another "buy insurance" issue.

So tired of this.

The issue was a journalist writing an article on NCL, to slam them, now folks think they need to tell us that we should buy insurance every time we travel.

The paper is not even soft enough to use as toilet paper. Its time NCL did something about them either make them worth while or just cancel the program.

 

NCL I'm sure has read these comments many times over.

Well said, thanks. :p

According to the NCL web site, there are lots of cabins for BD in the 9500 numbers, mid ship available.

Or, choose a BX Guarantee, those are less expensive, we did this cruise a year+ ago, and ended up with a cabin on deck10 midship. We have never had a bad result with the Guarantees.

Also look into joining aarp, its $16/yr, and you would save about $100 per person. That's worth it.

Most of the balconies on the Spirit are the same. You never hear any hallway noise in your cabin, so being near the elevators would not likely to be loud.

Its a great cruise and ship, enjoy. ;)

It depends.

We booked a Aft suite on the Dawn for 2015, 6 months ago, we used the FCR for part, and paid an additional $250 deposit.

We booked, the same, Aft suite on the Dawn for 2016, a few weeks ago, and the FCR was used for the entire deposit.

"Does anybody, really know what time it is?...................."

We did a NCL shore excursion in Costa Rica up to the rain forest.

Coming back, about a 2 hour trip, the traffic came to a complete halt about half way back.

The folks in the bus were in contact with the ship. When we arrived back about 45 minutes late, the bus pulled right up to the ship, we all hopped onto the ship, the gangplank was pulled up, and the ship departed.

If the ship can wait, it will.

I heard of some folks in the Canary Islands, on a NCL excursion, a storm came in and the ship had to leave the port. NCL made the arrangements to get the folks back on the ship, but because of the weather the ship had to leave. Granted, this was a peculiar circumstance.

We do most, not all, of our excursions with the ship, sure we may save $20 or more, by booking it with someone else, but they do make it easy.

A few more ideas for yous', sign up for AARP for $16 a year, and save about 5% on the cruise price, not applicable for port fees or taxes.

Consider the BIG Membership stores which have travel services, and book through them, can be substantial savings. If you do this, be sure they give you the proper, $300 OBC, instead of a lower OBC. The folks there are not experts, you have to direct them to the discounts.

And if you book a suite 9 months or more out, you get a $300 OBC for the cabins.

Good luck. ;)

Me too; lets hear about good stories from those people who have stayed in suites not associated with the Haven; like normal SE or SF suites.

We were in the SF/Aft suite on our last cruise, our butler was always available. John D S was the Con, and he did make himself quite available to us. I knew he was also tending to the folks in the Haven, likely spent more time there. But we did not feel neglected at all.

We have been pleased, and have the SF aft suite booked for the next two years in January. ;)

And those seats are not that good. You also usually have to look through the glass panels.

We just go a little early, and get middle seating, for a good view.

I like to think that I can make up for the cruise fare, by taking advantage of food consumption. But I find that with the meals in the specialty restaurant's, fill me up. So I do not ask for 2nd entrees, though I would, if I could handle it. I usually do not need to cruise through the buffets for a final fill-up afterwards. But I usually try to add a few chocolate chip cookies to my reserve.

I applaud your ability to maximize consumption.

It's $18 + tip.

Eat.

Order room service.

Go have an early snack.

Go to the buffet for breakfast.

Go to the dining room for breakfast.

Have a late morning snack.

Have a hamburger out by the pool.

Go to the lunch buffet.

etc.....

Got it.

We enjoy the suites, but when we did the 12 day Med last year, we knew we would be off the ship all the time, only 2 sea days, and would not be around to enjoy the suite perks, so we booked a balcony. It worked out that when we returned back to the ship at the end of the day, we were too exhausted to do much but eat, relax, and go to bed.

But our next two cruises we have suites booked. :)

Being Platinum, we received two free meals, Le Bistro was very good, and we tried Asian Fusion, and it was terrific. We were about the only ones in there, and were surprised how good the food tasted, quite a variety, and were stuffed by the time we left. Of course the service was good, as the place was empty.

I think its a hidden secret on the Spirit, but now with the UDP, there may be more people eating there in the future. ;)

The Amtrak train leaves Vancouver BC at 5:45PM, arriving in SEA at 10PM.

But you could book a bus thru Amtrak.

Your story is a common one we see here on CC, it may sound convenient to book air travel thru NCL, but you have no say on your flight. You likely will end up with horrible flight times, connections, etc.

At least you are getting a great perk with those peanuts. Be sure to ask for 2 bags, I always do, it's just that one bag never fills me up.

There is outdoor seating all around the ship, but nothing reserved for suites.

That's the down side to these suites, no balcony. The price is low because no balcony. They are nice, they may be ideal if you have little ones you do not want to lose over the side, (or big ones too). But DW and I would not book one.

You can take it to one of the bars, and switch for a sparkling water, or something else. Not all the bartenders know this, so you may have to try a different bar on the ship, until you find a bartender who knows how to make a switch. :cool:

Just grab a cab and go.

We have used the trasnportation services before; stand around and wait an hour or two, hop into a vehicle, sit for 30 more minutes, wait for more people........and its no bargain. Why should I pay good money for this?

Just grab a cab and go.:)

NCL gives you a big paper bag to fill with laundry, all you can put in there, for about $30. You can send out laundry any day, it has been returned to us the next day.

We are Platinum Latitudes, and get it free. :cool:

In these suites, they have a wood bench at the end of the bed. We kept running our knees into this thing, moved it and placed it in the corner. Its about a foot wide, you could take it out on the balcony with you. (We felt like throwing it overboard).

Theres a little too much stuff in that cabin. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the informative review, lots of good details. Did not sound wonderful, maybe okay.

Guess we will just stay with NCL for now. :cool:

The seats are up on the side, not a very good view of the stage

We get there a little early, and get seats on the main floor in the middle, better view.

Fridges in suites are the same size as in all other cabins. :cool: