MS52

Nice hotel, substantial breakfast and the BEST crab cake that I have ever had is at a nearby restaurant called Timbuktu. The hotel shuttle will take you there. Dinner at Timbuktu is an excellent way to start the cruise.

 

We're 2 hours from Baltimore and have driven down to Timbuktu several times just for the crab cakes!

SEATAC is the worst airport that I have ever flown out of and I fly often. TSA lines are the worst! Just my opinion.....

Thanks for your replies!

 

 

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We have a cruise booked and paid for. It's past final payment so no refunds can be received. My friend is unable to go - I am! What happens now? Can I just show up by myself with no problem? Will I be denied at the pier?

 

I don't think it should matter to RCI since everything is paid for. Just wondering if this has happened to anyone.

 

No insurance involved - but that's another story.......

 

I am not interested in finding a replacement. I'm okay going by myself if that will work.

Oh my! This kind of statement could lead others the believe they are covered when in fact they are not!

My Blue Cross absolutely does not cover anything outside of the U.S. And certainly does not cover medical evacuation, I have Med Jet Assist for that!

 

Everyone's insurance coverage is different and Most US travelers are not covered by their regular insurance policy. Please check and do not assume!

 

 

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Like everyone else, I always thought that I wasn't insured outside of the U.S. and read something like the above statement saying most major insurance companies do cover you. So I called (I have Blue Cross) and they DO cover me.

 

So rather than have any unpleasant surprises, give your insurance company a call and ask. Nobody on this board can tell you what you have or don't have.

 

I always get evac insurance - that was not covered under my plan

 

 

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That doesn't seem right. If your sister had a covered medical issue that prevented her from cruising, then she should have gotten a full refund. Was the heart issue not covered for some reason?

 

I tend to use Royal Caribbean's insurance more frequently because it does have the 75% cancel for any reason. You don't pay for it until final payment, so you don't have to purchase it within 14 days of initial deposit like other insurances. Having said that, I have used other companies for specific reasons. Most notably, we cruised with my Navy pilot son and I found a policy that would cover us if his leave was cancelled. When the Syria issue broke in 2013 his carrier was the "ready carrier." It was a close call, but luckily he it was resolved. But at least we had the policy if he was recalled and sent. So best advice is find a policy that will cover the most likely event that will cause you to cancel your cruise.

 

 

There WERE other circumstances. She bought the insurance when she booked the cruise onboard the previous year. Somewhere along the line there was a computer glitch and the insurance was cancelled by RCI. She did not realize it until she needed to use it. Lots of negotiation - they offered her a 75% credit and she took it.

 

There was blame on both sides. I probably wouldn't have missed it was dropped. She's not a detail person and didn't realize it. I would have held their feet to the fire and insisted on a refund, she was sick and didn't have the energy to fight.

 

For that reason,as well as cost, I would never buy insurance through them.

 

 

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My sister had to use Royal's insurance when she had heart issues a few days before a cruise (not a pre-existing condition). She was given a 75% credit on a future cruise. Go with someone other than the cruise company if you want decent insurance.

 

 

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But if you still sailed on NCL by transferring the reservation to a travel agent - How did hurt that NCL since the payments goes to them anyway? :confused:

 

 

It hurt NCL because they had to pay the Travel Agent about $3500 in commissions. If they had kept their promise that $3500 would have stayed with them

 

 

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Our first NCL cruise a few years back, we had a PCC who out and out lied to us (we were booking nine cabins). When I found out he couldn't deliver on the promises he made I did go up the food chain - no results. I don't believe I even got a reply. We transferred the reservations to a travel agent and each cabin got a bottle of wine and obc. It was a good deal for us. The transfer cost NCL over $3500 in commissions. It would have been MUCH cheaper for them to keep their promise.

 

Been on several NCL cruises since and have enjoyed each one. But will never use a PCC again. Don't let a bad PCC spoil your cruise. Just move on. As many have said, there's excellent PCC's - I'm just not willing to try again. But I'm not going to give up NCL - I enjoy them

 

 

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Your account is set up when you check in at the pier. They will ask for a credit card, scan it, and you're on your way! You can have a celebratory drink the minute you board.

 

 

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[SIZE="5"][/SIZE][B]NCL[/B] - why not consider 14+ day cruises for the new all-inclusive??

We're usually an older crowd on the longer cruise. We won't use the Drinking Package as much as a younger person. Same is probably true for the Dining Package.

We're cruising for 14 days plus- we're committed to NCL. Give us the perk too!

We're cruising for 15 days in January with 14 friends. I think everyone of us would sign up for the all -inclusive if we could.

I hope you reconsider.

I have heard they get $5 of the fee collected.

 

 

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Thanks....this is exactly the information that I needed. I know what their web page says but in theory, things may not be that way. Not every restaurant takes GF issues seriously. It 's good to know that NCL does. Sounds like the procedure is very similar to RCL.

 

I'll be sure to email 60 days ahead and follow up when we board.

 

Cruise critic is such a wealth of information.

 

 

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I will be sure to do that. Thanks for the info.

 

Has anyone had experience (good or bad) with eating GF on Norwegian?

My DD has celiacs and must eat Gluten Free. She has always sailed on RC and they take very good care of her. She's looking at going with us on a NCL cruise and I was curious as to what your experience was if you must eat GF.

 

I told her I would check on the NCL board since it's a wealth of information. Thanks!!

I understand it can be a fire hazzard and that ships are uber cautious about fires as they should be. BUT consider that most hotel rooms now have irons in them, how many fires do you read about in hotels caused by irons? None that I can remember.

 

Having said that, I have no desire to take an iron on board. Laundry is the last thing that I want to do on vacation! ;)

... and RCCL never required every one in the room to purchase it, or any other drink package.

 

RCCL required everyone over 21 in the cabin to purchase the alcohol packages. They changed it a few months ago (I think it was in December 2013). Now only one person can purchase if they chose. IMHO, That will change again if people are dishonest.

GRRRRR....I see the cruises but I can't do a mock booking to see the prices. I love RCI's website!

 

I would love to go back to Istanbul for a few days and then take a cruise from there. I'll just have to try later.

 

I have to wonder how much business they lose because of their website problems.

The plans are good if you will be making or receiving calls and texts, they do cut the cost, BUT AT&T prorate the minuets and texts allowed if you cancel the plan, so if you put the plan on before your cruise and then cancel right after the cruise, you will only have the plan for a week, and therefore will only be allowed 1/4 of the calls/texts.

 

The best way is to add the plan on the first day of the billing period that the cruise is in, and then cancel it on the last day of the period. That way you get the full benefit of the plan while cruising.

 

That wasn't our experience when we purchased in January. You had to buy a block of minutes. We purchased 50 minutes of talk for $30. It was put on our account for a one month billing period. The cruise was within this period. We did not have to call and cancel or anything. I used 49 minutes so I found it worthwhile!

Key around dinner time ish and the CBBT 1130- midnight or so.

 

the Captain usually gets on the horn as you go under the Key bridge to remind you not to panic. there really is more than 6 inches of headroom.

 

I suggest finding a tasty umbrella drink and just hanging out by the railing to watch Ft McHenry pass by.

 

Before we got to the Key bridge in January, two people men up and lowered antennas (I don't know the name of the infrastructure they climbed but you know where I mean!). It had been raining all day. I don't know if the water level was higher than usual but that was the first in 4 trips down the bay that I've ever seen that.

If you have prepaid gratuities in place, it also covers the room attendant. You're good to go !

 

 

 

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AT & T and Royal Caribbean have a package you can buy. Starts at 50 minutes of talk for $30. There are also packages which include text and internet. You can check it out on the AT&T website but you have to call to purchase. We purchased it in January and found it very worthwhile.

Did she book through a TA or direct with RCCL? Just call

You are also welcome to call our Corporate Guest Relations Department:

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST

Saturday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EST • (800) 256-6649

Please call and speak to someone.

 

She booked while inboard a previous cruise. No travel agent was involved.

 

 

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Just because RCI said it happened differently doesn't mean it's true.

 

I'm not passing judgement on anyone here. Just pointing out how it's possible for a customer to accidentally remove insurance from their booking without realizing it.

 

For all we know, that may be exactly what happened, but RCI made something up just to get the customer off the phone. Unless we have actual phone records from Jan 16th, we don't even know if a phone call took place between the customer and RCI.

 

We were on a cruise on 1/16 - I don't believe there was a phone call :o

If you make changes to passenger information in the booking on the website, it's possible to accidentally have gratuities and/or insurance removed without realizing it.

 

Happened to us last year.

 

BUT that's not what RC said happened.