Nilbog

CruisePicker is the name of the app. I know it works for iPhone, not sure about Android.

My wife and I have widgets on our phone that tell us how many days left before our cruises. It shows on our home screen (without even unlocking it) and on our initial page. Don't even have to open the NCL app.

We were in a GS on the Radiance and didn't have any noise issues at all.

We recently did a forward-facing penthouse on the Pearl (sister ship of the Jewel) to the Canal and loved the large forward balcony. We used it quite a bit, even while at sea, and especially while going through the Canal. We're in an Owner's Suite on the Jewel for our upcoming Alaska cruise (next door to the FF PH), and can't wait to see the glaciers from the front and side balconies.

Our last trip to Alaska was in September. Following the cruise we visited our daughter in Fairbanks. We were hoping to see the Northern Lights, but the cloud cover the entire time (at sea and on land) prevented that. We did get lucky and were finally able to see the lights from the airplane after we took off. You couldn't see them from the main cabin of the airplane, but as we were in first class, the flight crew turned off the lights in the attendant area behind the cockpit and allowed the first class passengers to go up and see the lights through the door window. Couldn't get pictures, but we were able to see the lights...finally. We're going again in late September this year and hoping to get a better view of the lights.

We'll be there right before you on the 12th. We've done just about all our cruises on the smaller ships and really enjoy those venues.

We've done Alaska twice, and going back for a third trip in September. Our first was NCL Pearl, roundtrip from Seattle. That one visited Glacier Bay. Our next was Radiance of the Seas, one-way from Vancouver to Seward. That one visited Hubbard Glacier. After that one, we took the train to Fairbanks to stay with our daughter for a couple weeks. The train went by Denali and we got to see the whole mountain (rare because of the weather and cloud cover). Our upcoming cruise is on the NCL Jewel (same class as the Pearl). These are all three smaller ships in the fleets without all the water slides and stuff. But we didn't need them, as the scenery was beautiful, and we'd sit on deck or on our balcony and watch the scenery and marine life. Do Alaska, you'd won't be disappointed.

In 1974 I was 11 years old, watching the war on TV wondering why people were treated the way they were when they got back from doing what their country asked them to do. My war was 15 years later in Desert Shield/Storm. Now when I meet a Vietnam Vet I say "Welcome home, and thank you." After my 20+ years in the military I am sincere in welcoming all vets home. I'm glad you made it home, when so many haven't made it home from our wars. Welcome home, and thank you, Schmoopie17.

Well, like any other question you call to ask, if you don't like the answer, hang up and call again to get a different rep. 😉

When I called I had to get my wife the refreshment package, not just the soda package. But I could get the full beverage package and her just the refreshment package, like previously posted. It does work, I did it for my upcoming cruise. They didn't ask for anything from a doctor, I just explained that she has a medical condition that doesn't allow her to drink.

We've been on Radiance and Harmony on RCCL, and doing the Grandeur in August. On NCL we've been on the Pearl three times and the Jewel in September. We like the smaller ships as we like the more personal touch. We don't to rock climbing, or wave surfing, or those types of activities. We like people watching, intimate venues, and relaxing on our trip.

Do they offer this service if you're not in the local area? I'm in Jacksonville, so not local to Canaveral, Tampa, or Miami. Thx.

Thanks for the comparison. GO AF!

I found the generic group on FB. On FB do a search for "Jewel Alaska cruise southbound" and you should find the group. In that group, everyone is listing their specific cruise roll calls as well as discussing the itinerary. (p.s. my cruise is Sept 25, not 23, I fat fingered it)

I'm on the southbound journey on the Jewel in Sept 23. What's the name of the FB group? Is it NCL specific? Jewel specific? Thanks.

Which, with the Free at Sea package, that would cover the cost of a good drink, like he proposed. 🙂

I'm disappointed there are no bourbons on the list under the $15 package limit. I'm not really a Scotch drinker, and I don't count Fireball as a sipping whiskey/bourbon. While I was on the Pearl for Thanksgiving I did find the Great Outdoors was selling Jack Daniel's for $15, but wasn't on their list. Maybe I can find another hidden jewel on the Jewel in October.

I hope they get some lower priced whiskeys/bourbons before the end of September when we get on her in Alaska. Pizza isn't really a good substitute for bourbon...

We went out of Seattle on our first one, Vancouver for our second, and we're going out of Seward in September for our third. Haven't had any issues with any of the embarkation or debarkation ports.

I can't see it in the app or on the web. 😞

Reportedly, neither the iMessage trick nor the NCL app use minutes from your Wi-Fi plan, and both work in near real-time. I've not personally tested this, however. If you want to go the NCL app route, you can probably get by with one person from each couple paying the subscription fee, and all communication funnel through those three.

I've been accepted as US military veteran, and I've heard they will be accepting Canadian and British veterans, as well, but I've not seen any details on the program. If I find anything, I'll be sure to yell out to my fellow veterans.

NCL can't communicate much better because there are so many variables involved and so many different configurations of VPN, that it would be impossible to create a standard response that covers every possibility. A lot of VPNs, even work VPNs, can work over port 80 or 443 (http or https), which wouldn't be blocked by the ship's security measures under normal circumstances. Some VPNs do operate on other ports, which can be blocked, though.

If you know which cruise you want to book next, check with your travel agent before your cruise and see what kind of deals & perks you can get from your TA. Then check with the CruiseNext desk while on your cruise. Compare to two offers and see which one works best in your favor and take that one.

The problem is your new cruise would have to drop a LOT to get another FCC. I received $2400 for our November cruise, and when I used that to book my next one I was told the FCC reduced the amount of the fare and did not act as a payment on the cruise. So, if the cruise originally listed for $5000 (for example), applying our FCC takes the cruise fare down to $2600. I don't think this next cruise will go below the $2600 new fare.