graphicguy

Who knows? Sometimes I get one per cruise. Sometimes I get multiples. My theory is their IT dept has several member, all who think it’s their responsibility to send out blanket safety emails. None of them talk to each other. LOL!

Wrap a fiver around the first drink you order while on the Sundeck. You'll get great service. 😉

Hmmmm...this is a tough one. I've sailed both HAL and NCL (quite a bit). Out of all the mainstream cruise lines, the demographics between HAL and the others is pretty stark. As you say, HAL is more classical music and formality. NCL is more rock and roll and exuberance. Not saying one is better than the other. But, if you prefer one, the other probably isn't going to suffice. As mentioned, NCL probably does the best job out of all the major cruise lines in catering to solos. There's going to be much more to do on NCL than HAL. HAL has recently stuck their toes on the water in expanding their entertainment choices, but they're nowhere near to the quality and variety of an NCL sailing...particularly on their larger ships (Epic, -Away and Away Plus). HAL is "slower" service wise. I think they want to perpetrate the idea that slow is more relaxing. Maybe. But, NCL is more efficient, as was previously mentioned. Their crew seems to be more engaged with guests, too. Lots of Specialty Dining on NCL vs HAL, if that's your thing. Personally, I've found the naturalists (e.g. the ones on board the NCL Bliss sailing in Alaska) to be interesting. But, I don't go on a cruise to be in class. I can generally read about those same things that are being lectured about. Older vs newer NCL ships? Depends on what you're looking for. Older NCL ships tend to be more like HAL ships with wood and brass everywhere. You referenced the GETAWAY. I love both "-Away" ships. First, they have the THE WATERFRONT, which is an extended area of bars and al fresco dining restaurants. It's probably my favorite ship feature on any cruise ship. You can see landscape, breath in the fresh sea air, have some drinks, have a white table cloth dining experience, or just sit on one of their many seats and couches and read a book while watching the ship cut through the water. Arguably the best entertainment I've seen on any cruise ship (and maybe more to your liking) are the shows at Syd Norman's. The downside is, the shows are so good, you have to like up early to get a seat. Worth the wait, however. I think the show SIX is still playing right now. But, from what I understand, NCL is replacing it with something else shortly. Don't know when. NCL has solo gatherings daily, where you'll be afforded the opportunity to meet other solos. dine together, have drinks together, etc. Food on HAL and NCL is similar. One better than others in some ways, and some ways not. Your itinerary....if that's important, and you already like HAL, stick with HAL. If you are looking for a different experience, one with a more contemporary vibe with more to do, hit up NCL. I think from my post you can tell which way I'd go.

Got the same reminder. It’s SOP for NCL (and most cruise lines) that the passengers know what the requirements are for the different ports NCL sails to. The immunizations/VISA requirements will change depending on where the guest is a citizen of, where they’re sailing to, and where they’re sailing from. Always a good idea to check on those requirements instead of finding out about them at the pier and finding out you didn’t qualify and being left watching the ship sail without you.

Nothing surprises me about any airlines’ greed. They would cut off their nose to spite their face. God forbid they would do anything to make their customers happy or comfortable without charging for the privilege of flying on their planes. I’ve got to the point where having to check baggage is an invitation to tragedy. Going on a cruise out of NYC a few years back, Delta asked if I would be willing to gate check my rollaboard as they needed the room. I agreed, trying to give someone else space who might need it more. I didn’t think anything of it, until I got to my destination……no bag in the jetway, where they put the gate checked bags. They had no ides where it was. Understand, the route from where it was bag checked with the gate agent to my plane was maybe 50-75 feet. But, sure enough, Delta lost it. Any of us who’ve traveled a bit have crazy baggage stories. It’s not like the airlines haven’t had 75+ years experience checking bags into planes. You’d think they’d get pretty good at it by now. But NO! It’s not like these are one time issues. I’ve had snafus on probably 50% of all the flights I’ve taken over the years. This trip is even more important to keep my luggage close given I’m not only going on the cruise, but going to stay in Italy for 2 weeks afterwards. If luggage gets lost, I’m hosed for a month. So, the closer I can keep my luggage to me, the better I’ll fare.

Don’t let me forget! As my son told me yesterday, pretty soon I’ll be theage where I’ll ask him to come over and show me how to use the internet. Little “s#!t! 😉

Posted this in the "I Found a GREAT Price for a Haven Suite" thread.....probably appropriate here, too! I am not sure if I'm that much of a cruising fanatic, or that I have too much time on my hands, or that I'm just OCD. But, one of my pastimes is posting here and looking for deals on cruises. I probably should find something that is more worthwhile than stalking cruise lines looking for deals. But, I do what I do.... Before anyone gets their skivvies in a bunch, I do have insurance. I just didn't buy it from my TA, which is why they say I "declined" their insurance. Further, I'm Sapphire Latitudes. That means in addition to the SPD below, I also get two more Specialty Dinners. And, I get some laundry, and I think 15% discount on the internet upgrade and on Excursions. As shown, I also get $500 OBC...$300 for booking with my AMEX card, $200 with an NCL card, which I applied for, bought some stuff, paid it off, and then closed it. Lot of work for $200. But hey, $200 will pay for an Excursion or 2. I was able to use 2 Cruise next certificates on this, which isn't reflected here. So, that was $500 off the price below (net $250 discount). Plus, my TA gives me $400 cash back after I return from the cruise. So, the net out of pocket is somewhere in the range of $4,500, including taxes, fees and add-ons (tips for the drinks and SDP)! That's per cabin, not per person. INVOICE #:XXXXXXXX Important Terms & Conditions Cruise $ 4550.68 Add-ons $ 259.60 Taxes & Fees $ 148.27 Total Amount (USD) $ 4958.55 Total Paid $ 4958.55 Paid in Full Please pre-register at www.ncl.com to obtain your electronic boarding documents. CRUISE DETAILS Cruise Line NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE Ship NORWEGIAN EPIC Deck DECK 16 Itinerary 11 NIGHT EUROPE - CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN Start Date 10/02/2023 (11 Nights) Dining Open Category / Cabin No. H6 - THE HAVEN 2-BEDROOM FAMILY VILLA WITH LARGE BALCONY / NO. 16021 Cruise Line Res # XXXXXXXX PASSENGER DETAILS # Full Legal Name Departing City Depart Date Insurance DOB 1 Mr.XXXXXXXXXX Cruise Only 10/02/2023 Declined XX/XX/XXXX IMPORTANT INSURANCE INFORMATION At least one, or more, passengers have chosen to decline travel insurance. We STRONGLY recommend travel insurance as a way to protect your investment in the case of unexpected or unforeseen circumstances that may cause you to cancel or delay your plans. If you would like to purchase travel insurance, please notify us immediately. PASSENGER CHARGES Description 1 Cruise Fare $ 4550.68 Beverage Package Service Fee $ 239.80 Dining Package Service Fee $ 19.80 Tax / Fees $ 148.27 PASSENGER TOTAL $ 4958.55 ALSO INCLUDED Beverage Package (Per Person for XXXXXXX) Note: UNLIMITED OPEN BAR PACKAGE 150 Minutes Internet Package (Per Person for XXXXXXX) $500 USD Onboard Credit (Per Person fo XXXXXXX) Note: World Points $200 On-Board Credit Certificate; Certificate per cabin - Non-Refundable; AMEX US $300 On-Board Credit Certificate per cabin - Non-Refundable $50 USD Shore Excursion Discount (Per Person for XXXXXXXX) Note: Per Excursion 2 Nights Specialty Dining (Per Person for XXXXXXXX) Dinner at French Restaurant (Per Person for XXXXXXXX) Note: AMEX Perk PAYMENT DETAILS Date Payment Type Method Memo Amount 5/30/2023 Initial Deposit Vendor Direct Cruise Next $ 250.00 5/30/2023 Initial Deposit Vendor Direct Cruise Next $ 250.00 5/30/2023 Initial Deposit CC:AX x008 $ 3.94 6/3/2023 Final Payment CC:AX x008 $ 4341.33 7/7/2023 Final Payment CC:AX x008 $ 113.28 TOTAL PAID $ 4958.55 ITINERARY DETAILS Europe - Classic Mediterranean Date Location Arrive Depart 10/2/2023 Provence Marseille, France 07:30 PM 10/3/2023 Barcelona, Spain 08:30 AM 10/4/2023 Barcelona, Spain 08:00 PM 10/5/2023 Palma Majorca, Spain 06:30 AM 10:00 PM 10/6/2023 At Sea 10/7/2023 Naples Pompeii, Italy 06:30 AM 08:00 PM 10/8/2023 Civitavecchia Rome, Italy 06:30 AM 10/9/2023 Civitavecchia Rome, Italy 07:00 PM 10/10/2023 Livorno Florence Pisa, Italy 06:30 AM 10/11/2023 Livorno Florence Pisa, Italy 08:00 PM 10/12/2023 Cannes, France 06:30 AM 07:00 PM 10/13/2023 Provence Marseille, France 05:00 AM

Good idea. Understand totally just “eating” the $150, but it still stings. I’m on Delta One. So, weight limit is 70 lbs. If it’s too large, I’ll gate check it. But, I will measure and weigh it before I leave. It’s supposed to be 22”x14”x9”. It has an “expander” feature that will make it thicker. By how much? Dunno!

Yeah…little concerned. But, I’m Delta and Air France in both directions. So, a little less concerned. I’ve yet to have Delta flag me for any of my luggage. Always a first time, I suppose. I’m more worried about weight. This is a well built piece, but also heavier than I’m used to. Plus, I’m bound and determined to only do carry on (have a back pack accompanying me, too). If I get everything in this, it’s going to be even heavier. This is also a little bit bigger than a normal rollaboard. Manufacturer claims it will fit in the overhead. So, we’ll see.

Mentioned earlier that my former rollaboard has done yeoman’s duty for about a decade. It was a TravelPro. Zippers are now janky. Interior has a few rips. Wheels are wobbly. Serviceable? Yeah…sure. But for an international trip? Not so sure. It’s has a “lifetime” warranty. But, by the time I ship it back, and the time it would take to do some pretty extensive repairs, I can buy a new one and save on shipping, as these rollabaords, while overhead bin friendly, not so much when you have to ship them somewhere oversees for repair. So, looking to finally replace it. But “zowwy”, have those become pricey. Going to the typical stores….Costco, Target, Walmart, etc. Some weren’t bad, but for one reason or another, just not quite “it”. Either the wheels were loud, or the handles were loose, or the outside skin felt like it wouldn’t last one “toss” from the porters. Lots and lots of internet only companies out there. All promise luggage “bliss”. Some of them are designer. One company claimed they were the “APPLE OF LUGGAGE”. Wonder how long it will be before they get a cease and desist letter? Some of it is obviously more hype than substance. Most of it is like buying a used car. Shiny on the outside, questionable under the hood. Settled on one of these…. Aero trunk. Never heard of them. But, free returns within 100 days if not satisfied. Arrived yesterday. For less than ½ the cost of a similar “Apple of Luggage” and apparently the exact same design and manufacturing source, it’s dang sturdy. Got me a “deal” for a LAbor Day Sale, too. Now, let’s see if I can pack a month’s worth of clothes in this and stash it in the overhead?

Boy, I remember in the recent past this was pages and pages long with policies, procedures and processes. Got this one pager today… “September 5, 2023 IMPORTANT INFORMATION Travel Requirements Dear Valued Guest, On behalf of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), we thank you for your loyalty and for making us your vacation of choice. In advance of your upcoming cruise, and to ensure a smooth embarkation experience, we want to ensure that you are fully aware of our latest health and safety protocols, as well as the travel requirements for the destinations you will visit. We strongly encourage you to read this communication in its entirety to ensure you are in compliance. Failure to arrive with proper documentation will result in denied boarding, and no compensation will be offered. NCL EMBARKATION REQUIREMENTS While we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status, and with no testing or masking requirements, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of, and to satisfy, any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing to avoid denial of boarding. For additional information on our health and safety protocols, please visit www.ncl.com/sail-safe. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS BY DESTINATION Destination specific travel requirements supersede any NCL embarkation requirements. We encourage you to visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country often to ensure you are in compliance with the latest destination specific protocols as regulations change frequently and with noticeably short notice. Please note that protocols are applicable to all sailings that embark in and/or call to the specified countries listed unless otherwise stated. If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/or connecting through may have different testing and vaccination/booster stipulations, and we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout your journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements. REQUIRED TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION As a reminder, in addition to satisfying the destination specific protocols, it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas or other documentation prior to sailing. Please visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents to learn about the required travel documentation that you will need for your voyage. For additional support regarding required visas for your upcoming voyage, we have partnered with VisaCentral to provide you with comprehensive information, visa application kits and assistance with obtaining the necessary visas (if applicable). Please visit https://visacentral.com for more details. Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon. Sincerely, Norwegian Cruise Line”

I asked my TA one time to explain how they came up with the 10% Military Discount. She sent some gobbledygook NCL sent her. I kept pressing for how it was calculated. Again, nothing that made any sense. Finally, I gave up amd just to the discount they gave. Agree, nice to be recognized, regardless!

That’s great! Make sure to remember to come back and let us know how you liked the shows!

I get it. It was a good show. Number 1 would be a big stretch for me, though! I drifted in and out of watching the water shows, depending on other things I wanted to do. That said, I saw the whole show, just in bits and pieces. I knew I could come back and see other parts of the show. I liked the stories behind the musical performances I listed. They held my interest all the way through.

NCL has a lot of good shows....this is just one of them. And, I'd rank it as one of the top I've seen on a cruise ship. Was thinking of this just last night. On ALL cruise ships, these are my top 5, in order... 1. Million Dollar Quartet 2. Choir of Man 3. Syd's (all performances) 4. Water Aerial Shows (Royal Oasis Class Ships) 5. Jersey Boys

Maybe…..I wouldn’t count on that as a path to get an upgrade that you bid on, however. And true, NCL doesn’t care who’s in the cabin, as long as it’s occupied. In the end, I prefer to go ahead and get the cabin type and category I want. I have bid on cabins for upgrades in the past. Never got one. But, it didn’t matter as I already have the cabin type I booked and wanted to begin with.

I suppose. But, I think that’s a long shot, at best. It would mean that someone cancelled, probably forfeiting their fare. That would be a rarity. Anything’s possible, though!

Epic Haven is generally considered the best Haven in the NCL fleet since the extensive refurbishment! Have sailed in the Haven in both Away ships. In all frankness, they are nearly identical, as are the ships in general.

That’s the point. None of us know the algorithm. Believe me….many, many of us (including me) have spent years trying to find a pattern, a logic…anything trying to figure it out. No one has. No doubt it’s a vehicle to extract more revenue from cabin categories that may be slow moving. But, they accept bids for sold out cabin categories…which I believe is simply another way to mask the bidding algorithm! Bid what you want, on what you want. Check fare prices to see if it’s cheaper just to book what you want instead of bidding. Best advice I know!

Those are great Haven prices on that Epic Cruise. I'll have to look up the date. Although, I'm done with cruising in 2023 after the Epic next month.

Nothing wrong with any of that. My TA is part of one of the big WEB "American discount travel agencies". Have used her for years. She seems to find discounts and promos I wasn't aware of. She used to send me deals that were particularly good on all the cruise lines her agency reps. And, she was great during the restart keeping me abreast of all the intracacies of the health protocols and the great deals all the cruise liens were offering. This year, she has been a bit flaky, though. She took extended time off. Nothing wrong with that. But, she's been tough to reach recently, too. Plus, she's become a bit testy. Not sure if it's me. But, I've booked a lot of cruises through her and her agency over many years. I'm pretty easy to work with, I think. I like to think I'm a friendly person. I'm an experienced cruiser, so don't need a lot of hand holding, either. So, may start looking elsewhere myself.

It may be. I've only seen the Syd Norman's shows on one ship. So, the others may indeed have different videos using the Capts of those different ships. Never thought of that! 😉

T-Mobile. On board and at sea I'll use WiFi calling with my NCL WiFi plan. Once we're in port, I'll utilize T-Mobile.

It's loosely scripted, so I think it's more or less the same stories along with the video of the Captain.

Bad me.....I stuck one too many zeros on there. You get $100 OBC for owning 100 shares of NCLH stock. I think there's also a time factor on how long you have to buy and hold them. Can't recall those terms, though. Fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out.