winemaker1

Thanks, very informative.

2 minutes ago, winemaker1 said:

Has anyone done this trip? I assume I would taxi from Southampton port to Portsmouth, what is the ferry like? Then taxi from ferry in Caen into city center. 

Sorry, after a few days visiting Normandy train to Paris?

Has anyone done this trip? I assume I would taxi from Southampton port to Portsmouth, what is the ferry like? Then taxi from ferry in Caen into city center. 

Thanks for the advice, we may spoil ourselves and take car service to St Pancras. My NCL rep told me  there is only an excursion bus to the airport. My wife avoids flying wherever possible.

17 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

I would check the Ports of Call forum on this site for multiple options on getting from Southampton to London.  If interested, I have a wonderful private driver that I have used twice going the opposite direction (he lives in Southampton and insisted on coming back to our hotel in the morning to take us to the port at not charge). He is not cheap but a wonderful fellow and a joy to talk to during the drive. Not sure if I can post his contact info here but will if allowed.

my email is romara8787@gmail.com thanks

The last time we went TA it was on the QM and they had a excursion  bus from the arrival port, Southampton, to the Eurostar station at St Pancras. NCL doesn't do that . Anyone have experience on a NCL cruise or any cruise ending in Southampton that is traveling to St Pancras station? Preferably by train I guess.  Obviously we are going to Paris. 

I am sailing on the Jan 25. When I upgraded there were BA balconies available, I asked for a specific room but was told I could only have a BF. I guess I created the problem by buying the cheapest OV which I will not do again. Thanks for all the comments.

Sorry but I don't want to search this whole thread for this answer, if I book the cheapest OV, porthole, do I upgrade to the same balcony category as if I booked an OV picture window or family OV?  I just booked on the Gem, an OV porthole and the best they would give me with my points was  an upgrade to balcony BF, which is forward and an "enclosed" balcony. I asked the agent what would happen if I upgraded my OV to a picture window or family OV he said it didn't matter. BUT, I seem to remember a few years ago I booked a family OV and used points to a balcony BA. I don't book sail away because I need a cocktail once in a while. I appreciate any experienced opinions.

On 5/26/2022 at 4:30 PM, ehogan said:

Winemaker1

 

we returned yesterday from 14 day Vancouver to Vancouver to Alaska on the Grand .  No test required in the middle

Thanks!!!

20 hours ago, ehogan said:

Winemaker1

 

we returned yesterday from 14 day Vancouver to Vancouver to Alaska on the Grand .  No test required in the middle

Thanks so much. We were hesitant to book this cruise because our cruise advisor told us we had to get off the ship in Whittier and take a covid test and it would be a good idea to pack our bags and take them with us in case we did not pass the test. We will now book the cruise. Haho.

14 hours ago, Land&Sea_Cruiser said:

I will let you know in 4 days as we are on that same 14 day cruise and are enjoying Skagway today as we head northbound.

Great, enjoy your trip!

COVID TESTING ON 14 DAY ALASKA ROUNDTRIP

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered but this is a huge topic. If we take the 14 day roundtrip from Vancouver, which is also a 7 day each way Vancouver to Anchorage, Anchorage to Vancouver,  do we have to take a covid test when the ship arrives in Anchorage and before it leave to return to Vancouver? 

The food and service were the worse I have experienced in my cruise life. The workers were great as always but terribly understaffed and inexperienced.  Embarkation was a nightmare. Some folks spent 7 hours online, the average seemed to be 5 hours. Skipped Virginia which was a blessing and probably pre-planned because anyone who got off the ship would have had to have another covid test, per Bermuda requirement. Weather was terrible but that is my fault for going to Bermuda in April. The kids were kids and should be expected on a spring break cruise. Getting off the ship took another two plus hours after we docked before we could start the process. I will never go to Bermuda again and I am having second thoughts about future NCL cruises. 

We were on the Gem in November 2021 and were not impressed at all by the entertainment, both the theater and piano person. It was a bad time for covid and some of our ports were canceled we went with the flow overall. We are bored to tears with the weather, we live in Long Island NY, and may take a March cruise or two from Manhattan. The port is great for us. Does anyone who has been on the Gem lately care to comment on the entertainment?

I think we have free speech as long as we are not too critical of NCL and their policies.

I started a topic on why NCL is advertising that they are stopping in ports on their Jan 9 and Jan 19 cruises, Grand Turks and Amber Cove, BUT they are not stopping there. The topic was locked in less then a day. Why is that?

Furthermore, as someone already stated, the cruise line is lying and advertising falsely by staing that it is stopping in ports that it KNOWS it is not stopping in. What kind of "contract" is that????

2 minutes ago, Cruisercl said:

Nope. 

I read what you wrote, and it appeared to be self-serving and not about what you signed up for when you signed the contract, but OK.

You need to read my points too, the CruiseLine is not obligated to tell people about changes, at all.

How do you know things were 'purposely hidden from pax until after they boarded the vessel.'?

Cruise critic is a cruise blog with lots of personal opinions and not necessarily facts.  This has been proven many times and a lot of what social media/the internet is.

Also, any non-cruiseline quality external shore excursion adapts or will cancel without penalty if the ship alters its itinerary; I have done this, it has happened and it was not a problem. 

 

The point is, the cruise line is advertising that it is stopping in ports that it is not stopping in. Soooo how do people make plans in ports when they don't know where they are going but are told they are going to ports that they are not going.????  Do you work for NCL ???

I was on the Gem on the November 28th sailing which listed Puerto Plata and Grand Turks ports. It didn't happen. They added Antigua and a sea day. I am scheduled to be on the Gem again, doing B2B on January 9th and 19th. Puerto Plata and Grand Turks are on the itinerary. There are no excursions available for Grand Turks on either cruise which means they already know they are not stopping there but are obviously keeping it a secret. We are not scheduled to be in either port on the local port website, which means we are not stopping in Puerto Plata or Grand Turks.  NCL has to know what ports they are NOT stopping in. YET both ports are still listed on their advertised itineraries and on my NCL summary. I feel this is all false advertisement and extremely misleading. If we are willing to sail in these difficult times at least they should be honest about where they are taking us. I am about to become a platinum plus member, I can't deal with falsehoods and when my paid cruises are over so am I with NCL.

I wouldn't count on stopping in Puerto Plata. There aren't any NCL ships scheduled to be in port there in January, including the two cruises I am on from NY.

On 12/9/2021 at 9:44 AM, Cruising to Retirement said:

Scheduled to sail on the January 19th Sailing out of NYC- Rumors are the Puerto Plata and Grand Turk Ports are currently being cancelled by Norwegian- Has anyone been on a recent sailing to confirm this and what the alternatives that were revised or rescheduled ports.  I have scheduled Excursions for those ports and was looking forward to going there. Thanks.. 

Just got off the Gem yesterday. Canceled  the DR and Turks port added Antigua and a sea day.

24 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

You can contact Bermuda's TA approvals email/phone, as many others have done, if it will put your mind at ease. I do NOT recommend contacting NCL, as their reps are pretty clueless about Bermuda's procedures. The email is TAapprovals@gov.bm and the phone is +1 (441) 444-2498 extension 1.

 

Edit: here is a toll free number I found since the other Bermuda number is international/long distance: 833-570-2594

 

Thank you Jamie. You seem to be a positive helpful person, not like some who are only interested in correcting counting errors!

1 hour ago, njhorseman said:

No...Day 2 is 3 days prior to departure. Departure day is Day 5 on the chart:

Read what the sentence below the chart says:

Step 1: Pre-Book your COVID-19 PCR test in advance to ensure test is taken first thing on Day 1. Your COVID-19 PCR test is 4 days before your departure day from the cruise ship terminal to Bermuda (Day 1 in the grid above)

 

The point I was trying to make and the confusion seems to be; day 1 take the test, day 2 upload the test, it does not say you can still upload the test on day 3, day 4 or departure day. Especially since we are to receive approved TA on day 4, which is a day before departure day.

SOOOO must the test be uploaded on day 2 ONLY??? I am going to contact NCL

19 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Ah, the mistake you are making is relying on NCL's letter. You are MUCH better off reviewing Bermuda's actual requirements:

 

https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

Thanks but that web site is part of my confusion. It states Day 1 get test, Day 2 (which is two days prior to departure) upload test results.

Well I guess you can teach and old dog new tricks. I interpreted it as 72 hours PRIOR to embarcation, not within the 72 hour period prior to embarcation. That is why I was about to cancel, didn't want to chance not getting the results in time.

So, since we couldn't celebrate our 50 wedding aniversary with a cruise last year, thanks to all of you we will celebrate 51 years this year.

I will buy everyone with a drink package a drink.