graphicguy

OK....respect your point of view. We don't know this poster's family or friends. We can't make financial decisions for them. We don't know if they're all a bunch of narcissists or the Brady Bunch. It just struck me as quite odd that someone would try to ask for our opinion, a group of relative strangers, about something that only they, as a family or group of friends, can answer. Then again, as pointed out, some of these threads make me shake my head, more often than not. It seems there are quite a few here that I shake my head wondering....."why ask us....what makes you think we'd know?" It seems recent, but just read last night someone was asking us if Baltimore, given the recent tragedy, would have NCL ships dock there again? I saw a post a while ago where someone was irritated they weren't going to dock in Haiti. Seriously? I love this group of CC posters for the most part. I really do. I've made some wonderful friends here...many I've sailed with. But, holy cow! None of us are Carnack the Magnificent. We can't make friend or family decisions for you. There is no crystal ball to see the future of any cruise sailing from a place hit with catastrophe. Lord do I need some dark roast.

Can we all get back to talking about hash browns, again? There is no right or wrong answer to this first world problem. I can't believe this is even a thread, let alone one with multiple pages. To me, it's simple. Either everyone get a Haven cabin and meet there. Or, everyone get whatever cabin they want, and meet in the wealth of meeting places on board. It's not like these ships are small. Plenty of places to meet and dine together. Excuse me while I go get a chocolate chip cookie. PS...is it me? Or are the threads getting sillier and sillier?

I thought they were good, too. And I don’t even like country music! Made dining in Q fun and tasty!

No issue here! I find better potato dishes vs hashbrowns…..like fried potato’s, sometimes with onions and/or peppers. I prefer other sweets vs cookies….mousses, cakes, tarts, ice cream, etc…much more preferable to cookies. As the proverbial sign off states…”but, that’s just me…”! 😉

Subtracting the Haven from the equation, since not everyone will be booked in the Haven, I've seen groups hang out in the Library (it's really not used all that much). the Atrium (when there isn't an activity, the seats around the gaming area at O'Sheehans/The Local....very few people hang out there. Dine as a group? Make reservations at Taste/Savor. Add in the Haven...and, as pointed out, the group can come to your cabin, but can not use any of the other Haven facilities.

Skimmed most of this. So, the question is how can you have fun with your friends being in different cabins and cabin types? BTW...sounds like the cabin type really has no bearing on this since everyone's in a different cabin category. 1st.....there are plenty of restaurants on the ship you can dine together. 2nd...there are plenty of public spaces to meet up 3rd.....there are lots of entertainment venues you can attend together The rest? Well, it really doesn't matter unless you can make the above plans as a group.

Hmmmm...interesting. I know I ask for (and receive) those little milk cartons that I store in the (slightly cold) refrigerator in my. cabin. I use it for my coffee. Not quite sure the obsession about hash browns and cookies. There are way better deserts and potato dishes on board other than those particular items. The cookies are there. It befuddles me that no one can find them. I've had no problem finding cookies and with little effort....chocolate chip, raisin oatmeal and macadamia nut with white chocolate chips.

@benel204 Thanks for the shout out. Can’t really add to what’s already been said. Water….personally, given the plastic water bottles overall have proved to have sharp plastic shards in them. Box water? Meh! I’ve toured NCL’s water purification facilities on board. I trust it more than any bottle or boxed water. I carry a refillable Brita filtered water bottle with me and fill it on board!

OK...I'll argue for argument's sake. Where is the evidence that 60 people were left in the terminal? I'm not blaming them for being late. Just, when is it OK to delay a sailing? 6 people? 60 people? As these threads go, we're very lite on facts and very heavy on speculation. Still don't quite get the straw man explanation, but that's OK. If I'm a straw man, looks like I need to take a trip to Oz!

Howdy.....when MSC was getting a foothold in the North American market, I found fares for YC that were way less $$ than NCL Haven or Royal Star. I sailed them 2x...once out of FL and the other a Mediterranean itinerary. Enjoyed both immensely...even more given the fare. Been tough to find "a deal" the last couple of years, though. I've tried. Beautiful ships (I sailed Meriviglia and Divina). They keep "re-upping" my status match. I haven't sailed them for a few years, but they've now extended my Diamond status to 2026. I keep shopping them though. Drinks.....I probably should be more cognizant of taxes or not. I always surprise myself when I review my on board portfolios to see those $1 here....$2 there charges and then remember we were in port when I ordered drinks and it's the tax.

Never seen or heard about people licking car batteries. But, if they are, they certainly deserve the outcome. It would certainly taste terrible. And, I can't imagine anyone with a tongue big enough to lick the positive and negative terminals at the same time. But, if such a person exists, and they did indeed lick a car battery while doing so...well....I believe that would be considered a clear cut case of "natural selection". I don't know what a "straw man argument" is! I know if I were on board and it was announced the ship would be delayed for some unknown amount of time because some people did not make their flights because of weather (or any reason), I would be upset at the prospect of a delay where no one knew if or when the flights would arrive. The ship should absolutely sail as scheduled. As reported (on a social media site, which we know is wholly reliable...sarcasm noted), some were late to the pier while others had no idea when they would arrive due to their flights being delayed because of weather. The issue with passengers allegedly being left at the pier because they could not make the 4:00 p.m. all aboard, I don't know what is true and what's not. I do know it's widely understood if you aren't on board by the "all aboard time" unless you're a pier runner and a minute away, you are left. News reports have NCL making arrangements for those who were late to join the cruise in Belize or Honduras. So they do have options. Lessons learned.... A) have trip insurance. B) come in a day or two before your cruise. C) you can book cheap flights through NCL...or, you can book your own flights that you have more control directly with the airlines. I ALWAYS choose the latter for the very reasons outlined in this thread. Everybody always wants exceptions made for them, regardless of reason. But, there are thousands of other guests on board who have been able to make it on time. 60 vs 3,000? 3,000 win. Just so I am not accused of "you'd feel different if it happened to you". It did happen to me. It was on a Carnival Cruise. Flights were delayed. I had even booked my own flight. I broke my own cardinal rule and took a chance of sailing during hurricane season (cheap fares, don't ya' know). Sailing in the "day of" without having another back up plan (mine was the only flight that would get me to the pier on time). Ship went off without a hitch. Because of the flight delay (it wasn't even a weather delay...it was Delta airlines not having a flight crew available), I got to the pier about 20 minutes after "all aboard", with about a dozen of my other sad friends after being informed the gangway was already secured and we could not board the ship. Fortunately, I had insurance. But, that's a whole other fiasco given the laws and procedures you have to go through to board a ship at a different embarkation port. Did they do the right thing? Absolutely. It was a cruise lesson...one that was a huge hassle, but a lesson learned nonetheless.

I would think that as much as I've cruised the different ports, I would know which ones charge a state or city tax. I don't recall which ones do or don't. FL or MIA? If they aren't charged I'm guessing that MIA doesn't have a drink tax.

The OP had great advice... -Come in a day or two early for your cruise. I've been guilty of not heeding this advice. But, I've been lucky. Had a couple of close calls, though. Enough that I don't fly in the day of the cruise. -NCL booking flights does not guarantee you'll make the ship. It will give you a cheap flight. But, that begins and ends when you accept giving up responsibility of booking your flights to NCL (or anyone else other than directly with the airlines, for that matter). Don't trust the weather....yeah....well.....truer words have never been spoken. This has been true since the beginning of time. Some want us to have empathy because of the weather related delays and cancellations? Really? Why? Weather can muck up flights, excursions, and even the cruises themselves. I live in Ohio. Heck, we've even had earthquakes and had a hurricane hit us, an inland state (literally blew the roof off my house). Bad weather as well as good weather can be hoped for, but never predicted when you book a cruise or a flight so far out. Carry a Passport, regardless. True...a thousand times true. Get a passport if you cruise. I think us veteran cruisers know this and subscribe to it. As far as licking car batteries? Never, ever have seen that warning. I've been driving (and servicing my own cars) for a long time, too. That officially jumped the shark. There seems to be a recurring theme recently. I saw a whole thread that covered someone whose luggage was lost by the porters in the massive luggage hall post cruise. S/he claimed it was stolen. Doubtful given the facts. But, NCL and some of us were chastised because the poster wanted "compassion". Now, some of us are being chastised because neither NCL nor any of us, can control the weather?

duplicate

I seem to remember it’s a city tax charged. New York charges it!

Thanks. Appreciate the insults!!!

Fair enough. Please help me understand how NCL controls airline flights? It is quite naive to think flights booked through NCL are affected by a cruise ship schedule, be you a new or veteran cruiser! You want to control how, where, when you fly to/from the port? Book it yourself! If the cruise line charged the same as the airlines for flights, I’m not of the mind anyone would concede control of their flights. Cheap flights are the ONLY reason I would think someone would cede control. Cruiselines buy airline seats in bulk. That’s how they offer “cheap fares”! Harsh? I dunno? Certainly true! Cruise lines won’t/can’t delay departures….same as airlines. Have you not seen “pier runners”? There are port rules and requirements, downstream sailing requirements, etc

OK....I know there is bad weather issues in FL right now. So, we can rule that out. Not sure your itinerary or what ship you're on. If they're saying don't come to the pier before 3, I'd wait a while for the crowds to clear. Maybe get there around 3:30-4 and wait for the crowd to thin somewhat. PS...Gary just saw your post. Personally, I would not want to be in that morass of people getting there earlier. That's me, though. The less hassle the better for me to start the cruise.

Sounds like a "Murphy's Law" scenario. I had heard there was bad weather in Southern FL. I don't know what it would take to hold the ship. Do you hold it for 5 passengers? 50? 500? And, would the port allow it? How long would you hold up the ship? Was there another ship due in for that slip? Regardless of who booked the flights, a ground stop doesn't discriminate. First time cruise? Veteran cruiser? Does it really matter? Personally, if I had driven to the port, boarded the ship, and heard it was being delayed because some first time cruisers hit bad weather and couldn't fly in, I'd say it was a tough bit of luck. Moreover, as a veteran cruiser, if I was flying in the day of the cruise (which I've done before) and my flight was late, cancelled, regardless of reason, I'd understand that was the risk I took. Same way with NCL arranged flights. You get cheap flights, you take your chances, Sorry they missed the boat. But, no one can control the weather.

Only way to judge for oneself is to cruise whatever line then make make a decision. Honestly, without knowing the specific person, having met them (which I have...several on these threads) and knowing their (dis)likes, Opinions about which is good or not will be meaningless.

Appreciate what you're saying. But, once you start shoving and pushing through the lines claiming Haven status, I think you're asking for trouble. One you're in the terminal, different story. You can get in the Haven lines. Outside the terminal? It might be unwise to try to cut line as there is no stipulated "Haven" line outside.

It's been a long time since I remember on board upgrades being offered. I think the last time I saw it was the first sailings after the COVIC restarts. But, that was a few years ago. Since then, the ships are mostly sailing full. I do know they are offering some upgrades via the bidding process. I've found it's more advantageous to just book the cabin and fare you want and forego the bidding process as you save little (if anything) when bidding. Embarkation goes with mobility challenged and Haven guests first. Then, Latitudes status. I've seen it both ways that sometimes it's Sapphire and above after Haven. I've also seen it that Ambassador and Diamond go before the others.

Good points. OP, where are you sailing from? I think I missed that. Gary, I may be misremembering, but I'm thinking initial embarkation is 2 hours before sailaway? It really doesn't matter, but am familiar with the FL ,SEA and NYC cruise ports. Some are bigger and more accommodating than the others. I try to miss all the crowds to begin with. So, I tend to check in a little later anyway. In this instance, everyone will try to check in at the same time.

Well...if the port won't be open, I don't think I'd want to mill around outside. What time is sailaway? I'd make certain you are at the port about 3 hours before sailaway. You're kind of at the mercy of the weather, as you state. I wouldn't want to wait outside if it's raining, windy, etc.

OK…I get it. Kids in the Haven have never been an issue with me. I have read where some let their little br……ummmm….little angels run free, though ! Personally, I blame that on their parents. Being near the Haven Bar/Restaurant doesn’t matter to me. I can take an elevator from anywhere and be nearer than if I had a cabin in the Haven area. I’ve sailed in and out of the Haven area in Haven cabins ranging from Spa to 2BR suites. Never had an issue with noise.