podgeandrodge

Covid is everywhere now, and thankfully "mild" for most that have no underlying conditions, once vaccinated/boosted.  I think you just have to assume that any cruise you go on now has covid on board - but is that any different than going to any bar or restaurant on land?  People gonna get covid and hopefully mild, and hopefully not get it again for a decent amount of time!  But it would be silly to go on a cruise intending to avoid getting covid, I think.  You have to be prepared that it might well happen.

Only half read this thread, so sorry if I am repeating others, but isn't the way to look at it that we should compare what % of unvaccinated people in hospital out of all unvaccinated people vs. what % of vaccinated people out of all vaccinated people in hospital.  

anyone have that figure?

36 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

I am not given the choice to select another cabin, that’s the issue?   

No, the "issue" was that if you selected another cabin, the presentation screen suggested that doing so would incur extra charges.  But it appears that if you stay in the same cabin bracket, those extra charges don't get added. 

Edit: sorry, saw your previous post earlier, I don't know why you can't find other BB cabins when other sites have them available.  But it now looks like NCL isn't using cabin letters like BA etc anymore - or perhaps that's me getting it wrong again.

So, Keith is spot on.  The add on cost is not getting added on, and reflects some add on cost which is not from your originally selected cabin (perhaps an interior rather than balcony or something).

So if getting a price, say, of €2,000 for a balcony on deck 8, you can select other balconies on deck 8 for 2,000 (even though the system suggests +€150), but if you move to deck 9, which might show +€170, it will only actually add €20 (the difference between the pantom 150 and 170).

The above is clearly moving you between balcony categories like BF, BB, BA etc - except, for me anyway, all those categories seem to have disappeared - perhaps NCL has moved to simply FWD, MID, AFT and deck selection?

Anyway, stupid presentation as Keith as said.  Will put some people off as they won't continue to check the bottom line, as I failed to do.

13 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

I just tried this on the UK site. I picked a category and then selected choose a different stateroom. Every option had a +£xx amount next to it.

 

However, if I then selected a deck or room the prices weren’t increased. In fact, on one of them I seem to have selected a lower grade balcony and the price went down.

 

My conclusion (and this rings a bell from when I booked a few weeks ago) is that the amount it is showing an increased fare from isn’t the cabin you were originally selected. If that makes sense

 

So, if I pick a balcony, it recommends 9178 at a total of £1,978. If I say I want to choose another then it says mid ship is +£124. If I select that  it says deck 9 is +£137, but then if I select room 9182 the price is still £1,978.

 

it’s just badly presented. 

Ahh, understood Keith.  I will do a check on that, if that's the case it's pretty stupid on their part to display it like that, or maybe they somehow are encouraging people at first glance to keep the first choice (which isn't always that great a cabin, although 'recommended' !)

6 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

 

I think this is what you were just looking at?  (I am logged in as myself on the US stite)

 

Yes, however I did not get $0 options - they were all about €150 for any alternative location.  so it was impossible for me to stay on my current price option and select a similar cabin on deck 8 in this example.  To note, I've tried this with a few cruises now and the same issue every time - recommended cabin provided, no alternative unless you select different location, all with increased price.  Very odd.  If someone in EU could double check that would be good.  Let's stick with your 12th Feb Norwegian Joy cruise.

46 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

I just did a test booking and it seems to be the same as it has been recently for me.  I was able to change to a different cabin and found plenty at the same price to pick from.  Norwegian Joy in February.  Of course I was also permitted to select better location cabins for a higher price.  The deck plans looked fine to me too.  

So I just tried Joy for 12th February - gave me a recommended balcony on Deck 8, and if I chose any other cabin, it was extra cost to view and pick any of them.  I wonder is this something to do with the EU version of the NCL site rather than US site?  Something going on!

3 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

Just to confirm , you don't get the Choose a Different Stateroom option below the chosen one?

 

Yes, I see that! - but when I click "choose a different stateroom" it brings me to FWD, AFT, MID - with upcost for each choice.  no option at all to select a different cabin within same category for same price!

Has anyone else noticed changes in NCL website - where, for example, prior I could look for a Balcony cabin, and the deck plan would come up, and while there would be a "recommended cabin", you could choose alternatives on the deck(s) in that category.  Now, for a few potential bookings I've looked at, it gives you a recommended cabin, no choice to move elsewhere, as if you "select a different cabin" it brings you to AFT, MID, FWD but charges about $200 a person for changing cabin?

Also, deck plans hardly visible, whole layout is now crappier than ever!

As some have said, SPB is "a" highlight, not "the" highlight in my view.  Certainly wouldn't cancel with all those other great stops on the cruises.

I would second the "Whatsapp" suggestion.  No need to worry about whether people are on Apple or Android.  Easy to set up.  Get your regular messagers to sign up before you go.  Go online for a minute and get all messages.  Go offline.  Type all your responses and click send.  Go online, all messages will go.  Your minutes will last a good while doing that without wasting time online typing out your messages and reading the ones you receive.

1 hour ago, pghflyer said:

Yikes didn't realize the bubble requirement, this explains why I was seeing such tempting prices for these this fall. Yeah no thanks.  That Epic transatlantic from Rome to NYC is one of the cheapest per-night things showing up on my screen right now but really nervous to risk having to bubble every port across Europe.

Just off Epic (19th to 26th Sept from Barcelona).  Great trip.  Italy is only country imposing bubble.  Not sure why when EU citizens can travel freely with vaccine pass, why it's different getting off the ship.  But anyway, Florence Pisa trip was great, we were allowed walk around freely for 20 mins.  Cagliari was a bit more of a bubble.  Didn't do Naples.   Majorca totally free to wander.

Just now, LittleMissMagic said:

Wouldn't a PCR test be more accurate as to whether or not someone has Covid?

Yes. But you said a PCR test was all you could really do to feel better. I'd imagine most people would consider a negative antigen test sufficient to feel better about another antigen test. Simpler where I am anyway. 

4 hours ago, LittleMissMagic said:

Apologies, I didn't mean to spread misinformation. I feel like I've probably read so much misinformation myself - don't trust anyone on the internet haha. I wish I could edit my prior post to remove that information as not to confuse anyone.

Anyway, taking PCR tests in advance is really all one can do to feel better about getting a negative test at the pier.

Taking an antigen test in advance is what most people would do to feel better about getting a negative (antigen) test at the pier. 

Yes, well spoken toddw2u, I will adopt that position!

Just now, Huntingdon1701 said:

You were certainly doing a good impression of that. Perhaps you don't realise what you are saying?

 

You can step ashore at all of those ports, if you take an excursion. If you don't want to then you stay on the ship. 

Really?

I stated that you can't even set foot off the ship (even on the pier) for the Italian countries, that there would be a day at sea, and then back at Barcelona.   I stated that it was a shame that you CAN'T just step off the ship.

Tell me where I did a good job of suggesting I didn't know whether it was my choice to stay at home or to do an excursion!  Quite happy on checking at your suggestion that I might not have realised what I was saying, that I did indeed.  But thanks for chipping in!

15 minutes ago, Yinster said:

Yes for now that's the Italian's rule.

 

It's your choice if you stay home or go

It's your choice whether you decide to do the ship's excursion.

It's your choice what attitude you have you if you do cruise.

 

No one is forcing you to go and you can rebook or get a full refund depending on when your cruise is. 

Thanks for that.  I had no idea that it was my choice if I stayed at home or went on the cruise.  Neither did I realise it was up to me whether to do an excursion, or what attitude I should have.  There was me thinking I was being forced to go.  Thanks for explaining!

31 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Yeah, that's how it has to be for now. However, I'm surprised that you think "been there before" somehow exhausts the possibilities. I've been to Rome at least a dozen times and I can assure you I've far from exhausted the possibilities. Perhaps the Epic has an excursion you haven't thought of before. Heck, I'd take an excursion to all of the places you mentioned (even if I'd been there before) just to "set foot off the ship." We had a lovely time in two Italian ports last month on MSC. Given all that's happened over the past 18 months, there's no way I'd go all the way to Italy and stay on the ship.

However, I do sympathize with you because it feels limiting to have to be on an excursion just to see the country. Blame the Italian government, it's their silly rule...

Ahh you're correct of course, but this particular cruise is not with my wife, but with a mate, and will likely be a booze filled cruise, rather than sightseeing.  So it's really just that it won't be worth going on an excursion, but would be nice to think you could get off the ship even if just around the pier.

So on Epic, after leaving Barcelona and seeing Majorca, you can't even set foot off the ship (even on the pier) for Sardinia (?), Civitavechia, Naples, or Livorno.  Then a day at sea, and back at Barcelona.   

Awful shame you can't just step off the ship for a few minutes, not particularly interested in excursions as been there before, but stuck on ship as a result.  Aggh!

4 hours ago, Fifi1910 said:

Just had an online chat with NCL regarding Covid test 72 hours prior to boarding.
I asked specifically if it needs to be done by a third party in a clinic they said NO it just needs to have  guest details and date of test. 
Makes it slightly easier that we can do home test and upload results online to get certificate for travel, saves a bit of money too. 

I would be just a tad worried about that - are you sure?  Is this UK related, or are you referring to the 72 hour antigen test that ensures you are covered for quarantine costs if you test positive at the pier?

It seems unlikely they'd take home tests, it would seem akin to taking your word.  Just be sure!
 

2 hours ago, MrsD27 said:

Interested to see where you’ve had these antigen tests prior to embarking/departing. I’m booked on epic 26th and just starting to look at tests so any recommendations would be great! 

I have organised a booking with a local Boots chemist. (Ireland)

good to hear thanks!

Holland America are a bit clearer on their requirements:

We strongly encourage guests wear face masks when in public spaces indoors. ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino except when eating or drinking. Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate. As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board. This currently applies to sailings through December 31, 2021, however, guidance will be re-evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Rather than derail the "just off Epic" thread, which is for another discussion, just wondering what the experiences of people is with regard to NCL and wearing masks onboard - both inside and outdoors.   A poster on another thread just off Epic said it was mandated outdoors too.

However, NCL's own communications and website state:  "Guests will be required to wear masks outdoors when social distancing is not possible." (attached)

So, for those of you who have just got off Europe sailings, what was your experience on this?

(There's always people ignoring rules, but I am not asking about that. What did NCL actually required people to do?)

Norwegian Epic Embarkation Information.pdf

Just now, Trimone said:

In dismay, you could walk around for a full day on the Epic with no mask and no staff would approach you! The staff are frightened to upset anyone, it’s pathetic, they have been out of work for 14 months and unfortunately if no one puts some discipline in place they will be back there?

Well there is a balance.  You appear to have experienced blatant ignoring of masks indoor rules, wheras others appear to be experiencing forced mask outdoors.  Were these different cruises? 🙂