Starry Eyes

OK, that option is provided, but they are US citizen they might quite appropriately just select USA like the rest of us. If my birth state (not naming the state as way too many people would agree it could happen🤣)discovers it’s records have been overtaken by fraudsters and declares my old BC invalid, it will be duty to get a new valid one. Just as it is my job to make sure I show up with a real BC not hospital record, long form vs short form, etc. We buy annual travel medical insurance and routinely decline other coverage. The only times I have broken that pattern and purchased the cruiseline’s cancel-anytime-coverage there were special circumstances afoot (relative with terminal illness, an odd work situation) that greatly altered my cancellation risk. Looking through the lens of my own behavior makes me wonder if the OP also suspected an increased cancellation risk for this trip.

I’m glad your first guarantee experience was a happy one. We have booked a fair number if guarantees over the years. As we are flexible, not prone to motion sickness and not particularly noise sensitive, they have worked out well for us overall….and sometimes really well.

And if so, are you pleased with it?

Guess I missed that thread… Oh, well, probably best to let it roll off your back, soremekum

Here is a link to some info about the PR BC invalidation law. https://www.ct.gov/ctportal/lib/ctportal/PRBirth.FAQ.pdf

As I recall the government of Puerto Rico invalidated all birth certificates issued before July 2010 (due to extensive theft and fraud). So due to that law, your wife did not present a valid birth certificate. It is a pity she did not hear about the law in time to get a new one.

Have you tried one previously? If not, go in with an open mind; maybe you’ll like it. My husband is very fond of the Central Park Balconies…he finds them peace and likes listening to the musicians from the balcony. I like the activity on Boardwalk better, though CP is a nice change now and then. You might as well ask at GS; worst you will hear is no.

You can ask but odds are really, really low. Personally, I would not waste time or mental energy on the idea. Changing cabins is not difficult; the stewards do a lot of the work.

I believe it is still possible; they simply do not know the % obstruction until you are assigned. On my invoice it says, “ …if your stateroom has an obstructed view, you’ll receive details once your room is assigned”

Yes, and by allowing such swaps sometimes they make multiple parties happy. For example, that just fine cabin assignment you gave up when you swapped may be the location I (or some other cruiser) really wanted on that cruise. Often I want to be on a favorite deck, but on other cruises I’d snap up a cabin on a different deck because it was near travel companions. It is a pity they do not allow people in all markets to enjoy this flexibility.

I have booked quite a few balcony guarantees on Oasis class. The difference with Oasis class is one must know if one is booking neighborhood gty (XN) or oceanview gty(XB). If one books XN, you should expect either a boardwalk or a Central Park balcony. We have received and enjoyed both with XN bookings. Though we enjoy them, not everyone likes these cabins. If Boardwalk and/or Central Park balconies don’t appeal to you, be sure to book XB not XN…and do not book online. To my knowledge there are no badly obstructed oceanview balconies on Oasis class. The biggest concerns people express about Oasis XB is being placed under pool deck or locations too close/too far from elevators…stars concerns for any gty. I am waiting for a XB assignment for Harmony now. We are flexible and not very noise sensitive, so we will be fine with pretty much any cabin. I do have favorites decks and will ask to swap if a cabin I like better is available.

Yes, well said…changing the location of my balcony is a first world problem. We booked the Christmas sailing, so the speculation on this thread that our cruise may be shortened substantially is disconcerting. I am hoping others will share if they discover definitive information.

Same here. I also wanted to try one of those balconies. Wait and see how it shakes out.

If 3rd/4th bunks do become available again for that cruise, you may find the price for that third passenger is high… so high that you might want to consider booking two cabins. You may want to try to think to a compatible fourth person who might wish to share the vacation and cost. Some people book a balcony and the inside across the hall; some try for connecting or adjacent cabins.

I also think many bring it to save a few bucks, I hope they are carrying wine they really like. Also with current supply issues one does not know what wine may or may not be available on your cruise, which encourages people to buy favorite/special bottles on shore rather than counting on ship to have them in inventory. The other poster asked why I thought Royal had that wine policy. I doubt they have to policy to help people save a few dollars on bar bills. I still suspect it is so customer service reps can assure people thinking booking special occasion cruise that they can indeed bring that special bottle of wine on board for that certain night; those may be valuable bookings. What is your theory?

I have not sailed NCL since the restart and per other poster on this thread their newest policies are in flux. So, if check the NCL board if you are serious about sailing NCL in the near future. In old days, corkage even for cabin wine.

I have not been back on NCL since the restart, but the corkage fee is still on their FAQ’s. I was not aware if they were waiving the fee per roll calls now. Previously if X-ray security screening showed wine, they’d direct the person to a table to pay corkage. Of course, screeners are mostly there looking for dangerous items and some screeners may not much care if you pay corkage. Or a screener might miss it or forget to convey the message. Not everyone on NCL has the drinks package. One can book a sail away fare that does not include perks, for example. Or a party who drink very little might decline the drink package because the gratuities on the package would be more than their bar bill (for example, if our only drink is one glass of wine at dinner each day, we are better off bringing our favorite wines or buying wine on board).

No FYI, NCL charges a corkages fee on every bottle of wine a passenger brings on board ($15 for 750 ml bottle). There is no limit to the number of bottles a guest may bring, but no “freebie” bottle

They have long had the wine allowance. Perhaps many people probably ask to bring a very special bottle or two for the very special occasion ( often a bottle the cruiseline could not source). Having developed this such policies, it is hard to withdraw them and probably just not worth it. Soda/water were allowed, then banned (banning liquids became pretty common). And now you see the current policy above. Again, I think consumer demand. People want their favorite beverage on board and some are very picky. The ship cannot stock them all. This way people can bring a stash of an important one.

Second question first. Many people drive to port, sometimes a substantial distance rather than fly. For those who drive, bringing soda and wine is easy. Most people who fly probably prefer to purchase the items after the flight. It is advisable fly to the port area a day (or more) before the cruise if at all possible (to help mitigate delays/cancellations), so many people have some time in the area. Why bring wine or soda? Many people bring favorite or special wine or soda that is not available on board. For some without a drink package, it could be a cost saving measure; they can then spend the money on something else. Some people find it convenient to have those drinks in their cabin rather than going to a venue to get a beverage every time.

I like BW a bit better for the people watching and Aquatheater. DH likes CP a bit better for the tranquility and evening music. Since we cruise fairly often, we try to vary our locations cruise to cruise (OV balcony one cruise, BW on another, maybe a suite, CP on the next, back to a OV balcony).

They started much earlier that day than you thought. We were also on the 6/26 sailing. Our check in time was 10:30 and we arrived at 9:40 The zig zag line was already 1/3 the length of the parking garage. People lined up steadily behind us. They opened the doors to the terminal by 10:15 and the line moved pretty quickly. We were checked in by 10:30 and on the ship by 11:00.

Same grape but completely different treatment by the winery gives a totally different result. People who enjoy a good red zin likely find the pink one (white zin) too sweet.

The Op said in the first post they’d like the bags “delivered on the first day/night ofthe cruise” They were all working so very hard that I did not even meet my own cabin steward until noon on day two on this cruise. I saw many other workers in the hall, but not my steward. No problem, as he had done an excellent (though invisible to me) job on the cabin. Certainly I’m glad I did not have to find three different stewards to give them each an extra assignment. I’d just present the goodie bags at a gathering; it seems easier and more personal.

I do not think it is due to staff shortages, (though some may use that as an excuse right now). I say that because I know some ships were using the re-vamped MTD system Before the shutdown, before covid, thus before these staff shortages. If enough guests will sign up for early traditional dining to fill all the seats, the ship maximizes use of the seats in the main dining room starting right from the opening of the MDR (rather than trickling in at desired time for MTD).