dublell

With regard to wine, I find the choices by the glass acceptable, especially with a meal. Be forewarned, though, there is only one choice per varietal, so if you like a particular variety of wine (say cabernet), you'll have only one choice. As I say, I find the choice acceptable, certainly nothing to write home about.

If you know you are going to want two glasses, mention to the waiter you'd like both at once if possible. They're always willing to do that. It saves them time and effort.

If I'm looking at the wine list and it's got 3 symbols on it, as in this handy example, I know that the third one is the bottle price. The first and second are, I assume glass prices.

 

Does anyone know what the difference is between the two glasses? Size obviously, but how many ounces does each represent? (Feel free to quote milliliters if that works for you.)

 

Second question - Can you have either size on the UBP as long as it's less than $15?

 

Thanks!

 

When I'm in a restaurant, I tell them I'm going to want two glasses with dinner and I ask if they could bring both at once. They always do because they're fairly busy and it's less work for them. I presume that would work the same at a bar.

Hello all,

 

I think I'm confused about Latitudes and whether or not minors accrue Latitudes points. I thought that cruises taken when a child is under 18 years of age would be credited towards Latitude status when the child turns 18. However, I just spoke with NCL and was told by a rep and her supervisor that my understanding is incorrect. They said that nothing counts before age 18, that is, even if you've sailed over 100 days as a minor, you are still at 0 points when you turn 18. Were both the rep and her supervisor wrong?

 

She read me this from the website:

There are no requirements; you will be automatically enrolled into the Latitudes Rewards Program. You must be over 18 years of age, have completed an eligible sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line. Cruises taken as a minor will be credited to the guest on their first cruise taken after they turn 18 years of age.

To me that means that one receives credit for cruises taken as a minor, but only after one turns 18. The rep and supervisor said it means that only cruises taken after one is 18 count.

 

I've seen earlier threads where people explained the program as I understood it. Could it have changed as part of the recent Latitudes program revision? Has anyone had experience with this since the program changed in February?

 

Thank you in advance for any insight!

My understanding (and the way it worked with my grandkids) is that all paid cruises taken count but you don't become an official Latitudes member until you reach 21. Then your cruises are added in and you get Latitudes status. As a backup, you should keep track of the cruises too so you can present information. I suspect, though, that kids on the Kids Sail Free program won't get credit.

I believe the delay until 21 is because they can't rent them a room or receive some of the benefits until they are 21. By the way, make sure to talk to a Latitudes Rep, not just anyone, if you have to call about the situation.

Have cruised 28 carnival times...princess two times. Time for a change. What do we need to know...is the beverage package a good deal? Speciality dining? Other hints?

I'm not sure anyone has really answered your original question. If you have two drinks a day, the UBP is to your advantage.. Any more than two drinks a day, it's all gravy. If you drink, that's the perk for you. I might have a beer for lunch, a couple glasses of wine with dinner and a drink or two at a show or piano bar, so I find ti great. I know there are others that get a lot more from it than that. ;p

I think you'll also enjoy the variety in specialty restaurants--steakhouse, French, Italian, Brazilian. But the MDRs are very good too. I usually eat at one or two specialty restaurants on a cruise and the rest of my meals at MDR or O'Sheehans.

Enjoy your cruise.

New to NCL Cruiser.

 

About Me: Solo traveler taking 4 cruises in the next 18 months:

 

October 2017 Jade Southern Caribbean

January 2018 Epic Eastern Caribbean

September 2018 Bliss Alaska

January 2019 Epic Western Caribbean

 

I have seen the myriad of MDR menus on the web and I know that they rotate and change depending on the ships head chef.

Some of them look really great (hope I can choose) and some are not very exciting . On these nights when I see little of interest, I would like to schedule my specialty dining nights.

 

My questions is, can I find the menus for a given sailing either just before (unlikely) or once I board for the duration of the trip?

If I wait till I am on board, will it be difficult to secure specialty dining reservations as a solo diner?

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

This doesn't answer your question, but I thought I'd mention it in case you don't already know. All the the ships you are going on (except the Jade) have solo traveler lounges where interested solos get together with a member of the cruise director's team early each evening and have a chance to meet each other and make plans for meals and activities. The staff member usually sets up MDR dinners for anyone interested in eating as a group. A good way to meet people and find out what is happening on board.

Has anyone ever heard of charges on Norwegian to book adjoining cabins? A dear friend is taking her ailing parents and her kids on their first cruise. She just booked two guaranteed inside rooms for the June 24th sailing, but when she asked if they could get adjoining rooms or even rooms across the hall from each other, she was told by her TA that it would be a $1600 fee! Now I've never sailed Norwegian before, but that sounds like either incorrect information or highway robbery to me...or both. When she told me this, I said I'd hop on the CC Norwegian Board and ask all the helpful folks here what their take on this situation is. Advice, insight, suggestions would be most welcome. Many thanks in advance!

I think this is complicated by the fact that it's beyond final payment, and there may be a problem changing rooms without an upgrade. I'd recommend that your friend call the TA or NCL and explain the situation and ask if anything can be done to help them. At this point there may not be any adjoining cabins available and it may even take some juggling to put them in adjacent cabins. Again, talking nice to someone may help, but they should do it as soon as possible. It may help that they haven't been assigned their rooms yet because NCL might be more inclined to be helpful if it doesn't mean moving people already assigned.. Good luck to them.

Though we're not sailing for another year, (Gem to Bahamas) I'm trying to be sure we've budgeted enough for the extras we may want.

What is the approximate cost for some of these classes?

The food demos are free. They usually consist of various chefs making some of the things available in the specialty restaurants, and often they provide recipe sheets. If they don't, you can request the recipe and they'll send it to you.

The wine (and cocktail and beer) tastings are about $20, although some ships have a short play with wine and that tasting costs a bit more.

Enjoy your cruise.

Yesterday I was looking at a Western Caribbean itinerary on the Escape out of Miami in January. I went back to book it last night and now it is doing the Eastern Caribbean itinerary every week. I'm super disappointed. I really do not want to do the other itinerary, which I have done on nearly every cruise I've ever been on. Any chance they might change it back?

I believe the Getaway will be doing the Western Caribbean at that time. It's a little smaller than Escape but has the waterslides and most of the other amenities.They're pretty similar except for size, but the Getaway is still a large ship.

Do the solo host pop up at all solo gatherings at the lounge? Otherwise, how is her availability for questions, etc? Thanks in advance!

The host will be available at all gatherings, but is often busy at other times. As a member of the cruise director's staff, he or she will be involved in various game shows and other events during the day. I wouldn't worry, though, because it's like any other cruise situation and any questions that need immediate answers are probably best answered by guest services.

I think most of your questions have been answered well. I've cruised solo on the Epic 3-4 times, and I will say I prefer near the lounge for the reasons stated above--coffee and pastries in the morning and juice and cookies later in the day. I find very little noise in the studio area. After all, there are no kids and people are generally alone when in their rooms.

I thought my trans-Atlantic on the Epic was great, but I'm a person who enjoys sea days. I did a b2b, staying on for the ship's first European cruise and the change was relatively seamless. I did get off to wander around Barcelona between cruises because I was staying a few days after the second cruise and I wanted to get a feel for the lay of the land. I don't think it was necessary to get off, though. You'll get an in-transit sticker so crew will know you belong if you're on board and so you can get back on quickly if you leave.

One thing I did notice was the change in Barcelona when most of the Americans got off and the Europeans arrived. Coming over, we had group dinner around 6 each day, but the Europeans couldn't even consider that hour. They did get angry with the NCL solo rep for not eating with them every night at 7:30 or later, but she was a Canadian and used to eating early, so she stuck with the b2b group..

Anyway, I'm sure you'll love the TA and the studios. Have a great trip.

We purchased 2 vouchers on our sailing that came back into port yesterday. They said they would show up after only 2 days (told this on Friday) and they have not showed up yet? Do they mean 2 days after we get home or what? Just wanting to make sure we get credit, plus, we were already working on planning our next cruise tonight.

If you are really concerned about this, call NCL and ask them how many CruiseNext vouchers you have available. I'm sure they'll be able to find them, but if not, it's best to know as soon as possible.

I'll just state my experience here. I generally avoid the FAQs because I'm not sure any crew member even knows they exist. On a cruise last fall (before the Latitudes change) I used my LeBistro certificate and at check-in they told me to feel free to come back the next day, too, because the certificate was for two free dinners. I did and they had my name on the list and there was no problem. The new Latitudes program may have changed that, but my suggestion would be if you don't find anyone to dine with, ask when you check in if you can come back for a second dinner. The worst that will happen is that they'll say no.

Thanks much for all the feedback! Very useful. And I see that this ship just won a Cruiser's Choice award for best for families. Very impressive.

 

Another question, we have a cruise next certificate for $250. Can that be used as the full deposit or is the $250 applied like cash to the deposit and thus more would be owing on the deposit?

 

 

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The CruiseNext certificate will serve as the entire deposit on the non-suite cabins you are looking at.

I may need to change the date of a cruise that we booked. Still 229 days out...will there be a penalties/fees I will need to pay if I do need to change dates to an earlier sailing?

If you are at all concerned, contact your travel agent. They do this all the time and should know the answers to any questions you might have. They can also tell you if they have any cancellation or change fees. Some TAs do.

I think we can agree that everyone has different priorities. I suppose that's why they offer so much variety in cabins. I've sailed in everything from inside/studio to mini suite. I've enjoyed them all but I'm one of those who doesn't spend a lot of time on the balcony. Too many things to do and see on the ship. Now, my priority is to cruise whenever I can, so I almost always take the cheaper room and spend the savings on my next cruise. If I can take two or three a year, that's my ideal.

What you want to do is legal, but be aware that problems could come up. I was on a coastal cruise a couple years ago where storminess and rough seas at the mouth of the Columbia caused the Astoria port to be closed, and we had to continue on with an extra sea day.

You shouldn't have to drag your carryon luggage around. Most of the ships, maybe all, have a check room set aside on the entry deck. Ask one of the greeters where it is. At the check room, they will give you a ticket and you'll be able to pick the stuff up when they announce that the rooms are available. I've used the service several times.

If by chance there is no check room, take your stuff to your stateroom. You shouldn't have any trouble getting in, and you can leave your things in the closet. Your room steward should be in the area and will be happy to help you do that. I've done that several times as well.

Have a great cruise!

Thanks for the clarification. I do hope they can get it straightened out, and I will make the TA honor the original gratuity price before the price increase. They are currently researching it and will get back to me by tomorrow. If by chance the TA does not add the UBP, why is it so difficult for NCL to add it to my reservation when there phone agent said I should have access to it. It is NCL's offer and they need to stand by it.

I booked an inside (actually a studio) on the Getaway last December for this coming January and I got two free items, so there was a least a period of time when that was happening. I can see both of them in MyNCL, so that's good.

If you're not getting what you think you should, you'll have to try to get your TA to go to bat for you. Basically, whoever makes the reservation (your TA) owns it and NCL prefers to work only with them. I suppose that's so everyone knows who to blame if something goes wrong and the cruise line doesn't have to respond to different instructions from different sources. It sounds like NCL has agreed to add it themselves as a last resort if the TA fails to do so. That's a step in the right direction.

As others have said, the next step is to find a new TA or book directly with NCL in the future.

Thank you.

We all have UBP and UDP. The only other costs I can see is that my ds-18 will be having a few beers and eat some of the OBC. I have $325 OBC. If I purchase the FCC, can my OBC be used for that? Do you get additional OBC for booking a cruise while onboard?

 

Thank you all so much!

No additional OBC for booking on board, but check with the consultant. Sometimes they may have an offer, like an extra amenity on the cruise you're booking, for booking onboard.

Yes, any OBC you have can be toward the FCC.

Does hitting platinum give any kind of upgrade/money off discount? I won't hit that until after March 5 or does it just give me the extra perks?

 

Also, with the FCC, what do you mean if I don't want to use/need the $100 OBC? I'm not exactly sure I guess what I'm even buying and does it make any sense for me to book my Escape while on board Breakaway next week? Do I get any additional OBC for doing so?

You won't get an upgrade or discount for being platinum. It just gives you the perks, and you know what those are.

The FCC will cost you $250, and you will get immediate $100 OBC. On my last cruise, I had the UBP, so I didn't really spend much of anything on board. Thus, what was left of the $100 came off my account, which was basically the FCC. By the way, if you buy two of the certificates, you will pay $500 and get $250 back, reducing the cost for each to $125.

If you have any questions, talk to the Cruise Next consultant on board.They can answer them better than I can.

We leave in less than two weeks on Breakaway. Would it be best to purchase a FCC? Would that just give us OBC for the Breakaway cruise? Also, after I sail Getaway in February, Ill be Platinum. Will this matter in price? Matter enough to wait to book after March 5 (day I would get home) or do I just book now?

Book whenever you want to. As long as you are Platinum when your cruise starts, you'll get all of the benefits. Some people become Platinum between cruises on a b2b and get all of the benefits on their second cruise.

The FCC, now called Cruise Reward, is beneficial because you'll save $100, given as OBC on the current cruise, but if you don't need it don't use it and it will go toward the Cruise Reward cutting the cost to $150.

Enjoy your cruise!!!

I don't know what the NCL poicy is on this, but I'd recommend having your TA check when they are available. Seems to me it's to NCL's advantage to allow a second passenger. Increased taxes and port fees, of course, but more important, the second passenger is likely to spend money on board, something they like.

Fully agree with the "check your card" advice. I did a semi-b2b on the Pearl and jewel a couple months ago (one day in between) and both times I noticed no UBP on my card. Apparently the NCLer keying in my info after I booked forgot to put down UBP. I immediately went to guest services and told them--and of course I had the documents showing I had the amenity.

On the Pearl they said they'd need approval from Miami before they could give me a new card, but meantime don't hesitate to sign for drinks because it would be corrected. The new card was waiting for me after muster. I had signed for a drink earlier, and I noticed it came of the account immediately.

On the Jewel a guy at the guest services desk said he'd key in the information, and he was able to give me a new card right away.

So be aware that people make mistakes and do what you can to make sure they got (or get) it right.

You've had great suggestions from the people on this board. I think you'll love Barcelona. Really an exciting city. I think your only disappointment will be that you only scheduled one day there. There's just too much to see.

I've gone solo on the Epic several times. As has been mentioned, if you're in a solo studio cabin, you'll have no problems meeting and doing things with people because most of the other cruisers will be traveling alone like you.

If you're not in a studio, the door to the solo lounge will be open to any solos for an hour or so each evening and you can attend the gathering there for dinner and social event planning. As I recall, the solo gathering us usually at 5 or 530, but you can find out by checking in the Daily.

The only reason to do things alone on the Epic is because you prefer it that way.

Hope that helps.

Larry

This will be my 1st NCL Cruise and on the Epic.

 

Not sure how everything works.

 

Are there formal nights? Understand that there are not regular formal dining rooms...that scares me since I'm traveling solo and have always asked for a super large table to make friends.

 

This will be a 7day Spain/Italy/France trip so super port intensive...so how to meet people? Especially for dinner!!!! UGH. That is what my nightmare is. I like to talk to people about their day and excursions.

 

I have most of my port visits set up with small groups so hopefully can be "adopted" into some groups. I'm a VERY active....Ugh...a newly turned 60YO beautiful lady who likes to travel, just travel dates this year didn't mesh with friends at this point. So I'm going solo and have done so before. So I know the ropes on "regular" ships with "normal" dining. :) And possibly no formal nights to dress up? How can I show off? Hahahaha!!!!

 

Suggestions, please.

 

Solo travelers what do you do? I make friends pretty easily. But I found out on my roll call that one member didn't think that they had formal nights.

Have to admit that my luggage weight just went down dramatically. :) But I LIKE to dress up occasionally. That's the prob.

 

Ok...so if you all could fill me in on what's what...I would appreciate it...as my cruise leaves next MONTH!!

 

Thanks!!

 

Kathy