herbanrenewal

I did a quick flight search and found economy one way from Hong kong to Manila in the $170-350 range in December. I think if i were in this unenviable position I'd book the extra flight. Its way cheaper than losing prepaid non-refundable tickets for destination other than Caribbean. I generally stay a few days in embarking/disembarking ports so i would have a few days to maneuver. But I would have expected some compensation for this change in ports, even $250 FCC would sooth my angst. I agree day after final payment, most have booked post cruise arrangements. and to just leave loyal customers stranded is at best a poor business decision.

Then again sometimes they give you the extra points. I was on a b2b. I didn't expect to be sapphire until cruise after the second part, but the first cruise had double points, and they gave them to me even though it wasn't part of original booking. You never know what NCL personnel may handle any situation

I've never found the advertised "sales" to make a difference. What does make a price difference is how well its booking - near sold out, not much chance of price drop; not selling well, decent price drop. Since you can cancel without penalty until a couple months before its easy to get a re-pricing when there's a drop. I book as soon as I find a cruise I want. I'm currently booked through 2026. I get the room location I want. Then I check prices. My next cruise is Africa b2b in January. I've had total for b2b $1800 price drops since I booked over a year ago. We're getting close to final payment so I'm checking price fairly often but I don't think I'll get much lower since my category is low inventory.

I was afraid of that - it seemed too good to be true.

I was looking at deck plans for Dawn. I'll be on b2b from Cape Town to Doha in January. I see on deck 11 it shows a lap pool near the thermal spa. Is this pool available for anyone, or just for Thermal spa? I swim laps for exercise 3 times a week at home. I'd love to actually be able to swim laps during the cruise. In all the cruises I've done (Diamond after this b2b) I've never seen a lap pool on any NCL ship.

settle an discussion with a friend - do all NCL ships have solo meetings? even those without solo lounge/studios?

Gp to Shore Excursion desk when you get onboard. Even if none available they will start a wait list - the sooner you get on the list, the more likely you'll get a ticket.

My son spent 4 days on Santorini, and loved it. On his advice i stayed on ship during cruise, and returned on a ferry from Athens to stay 2 days - if you could only experience how lovely the island is when the cruise ships leave you'd fall in love with Santorini ...but no thanks on doing it a a port of call.

Retired-N-Happy (me, too), Any idea if it goes to the Port of Philadelphia, or is there plans for Septa to the port when it opens for cruises? I guess I could wait until 2026 to consider transportation to port issues, but just curious.

Unless cruise lines start to invest in building new smaller ships if you want to sail from ports like Philly and Bmore you have to sail on older ships. Personally I like the convenience of cruising without airfare and hotel costs, and I'm not cruising to ride gocarts or waterslides, so the older ships suit me very well. I'm booked for Sep-Oct 2026 b2b Philly-Quebec-Philly. Philly locals - is there a Septa train station near the port? I would love to visit my siblings then take public transportation to port (leaving my car at their house and avoiding parking fees too)

And stop flushing anything anything except TP in toilets

Every once in awhile I see a post that makes me glad I’m in a solo studio. Wonderful fresh ground beans, cappachino, espresso in the lounge. not sure why Haven area cant have a decent machine

upgrade internet while onboard. Usually cheapest day 2 or 3.

I really loved the one week itinerary out of SanJuan on the Viva this year. I did 4 b2b2b2b of this port intensive itinerary for month of February in the Caribbean. San Juan is a terrific embark port -easiest checkin ever - and i found JetBlue fares very good. All in all, for me, best total price for a winter month in the Caribbean, and EVERY day is a beach day. sometimes thinking outside the box results in perfect.

This is what I do, also. Its no problem for the pharmacy to print an additional label and i use those on small plastic bags, one for each med. Using small bags for meds takes up much less room in my carryon. My pharmacist has even printed up over the counter med labels for me.

I was talking with GM at Latitudes party and asked about this. His response was that flat magnetic items weren't an issue but some people use adhesive backed items that may damage doors, or protrude into the hallway, or were highly combustible (all points made here by others). Because its easier to ban all decorations than to enforce why some are allowed the ban is general, but usually they only enforce the ones they feel have some hazardous component to them. I do know one person who was charged for damage to a door from a supposedly removable adhesive. I use a photo from previous cruises attached with magnet, not as an attention seeker, but as way to easily identify my room. I admit to loving when someone in the room by the elevators has an identifier so i know which way to turn to get to my room.

a lot of people bid on upgrades, and when they assign those cabins their previous cabins open up and may be filled with last minute guarantees so you can end up with desirable cabins. I've gotten less desirable cabins when i book guarantee far in advance.

I am frequently in an interior and they will provide a coffee maker. Ive gotten one even in solo studio, which has access to a wonderful coffee machine, but sometimes i just want a coffee before i get dressed to go to the lounge. You can buy soft pod coffees if you are fussy with your coffee. - I've gotten them from Amazon. Search for soft pod coffee, your preferred roast - mild to espresso. They do provide a medium roast, usually Columbian, and a decafe, also sugar and creamers.

This made me laugh. The worst pizza i ever had was in Naples. The best was in Amalfi. I admit to being more of a quick-food tourist than foodie

Mea culpa - we all need to use our time according to what we feel is the best utilization. Sometimes I don't think that what is a common experience for me is a once in a lifetime for others. I do bring protein bars for days with long tours in case i dont want to stop to eat. But i bring my own from home. Its not often that the food police are active, but i remember a day in St Petersburg where several people were held all day and fined for bringing food from the ship. They missed hundreds of dollars worth of private guided tours and paid a hefty fine. Certainly not common but it does happen. Please consider bringing some sealed protein bars from home for your snacks in port.

For the most part you can get away with it. But it is a country's right to enforce their own laws. I don't want to be the unlucky one who is facing legal consequences in a foreign port. Be particularly aware that fresh fruits are a major concern. You'd probably be in less trouble for a ham sandwich than an apple. Another thought - you would go to Italy and NOT try a pizza or gelato? I shudder to imagine...

I rely on Chase sapphire reserve and allianz annual travel insurance when i travel. I know i have "trip interruption" coverage. Does this cover missing return to port if i book an independent tour and some unanticipated event (for example car trouble/accident). I'm planning a month long b2b along east coast of Africa with independent excursions. Some of these ports have little history with excursion providers.

Its not a problem until it IS a problem. When people stood outside the Manhattan Terminal for a couple hours it became a problem for everyone. Even if you had an 11am slot if you showed up around 11am the line was already long. You couldn't get into the terminal and you didn't get in until those who arrived earlier than you were processed. Most times this doesn't happen. But when it does don't complain about the lines and crowds and long wait with nowhere to sit. It just makes sense - if 3000 or more people show up at the same time because everyone wants early check-in it can be a rough start. If you want the early slots complete online check-in at midnight Eastern time..

On a transatlantic on Prima out of NYC in April people took the popular advice to show up whenever you want despite warnings from NCL that the ship would arrive late and NO ONE could check-in before 11am. So what happened - everyone showed up at 11am. The most commonly expressed comment/complaint after the cruise was how terrible boarding was. Basically, if people show up whenever its convenient for them it may be inconvenient for EVERYONE. The attempts to stagger arrival really should be enforced if check-in is to run smoothly.

one more thing that used to confuse me - each cabin grade has options - the lowest advertised price in usually a guarantee interior, with options like selecting your own cabin a higher price. Since i never book a guarantee I know the advertised low price is not what i will be paying.