erisajd

Glad to hear it didn't become a whiny complaint about how they could not be accommodated at the last minute because someone did not want to plan ahead . . . . it could have - very easily.  

I have zero reason to believe this not true.  Most ships have been going out over capacity.  Plus - given the VAST publicity on this one - if it was not true we would have heard from NCL.

Also - the total cruise fare was $521. there is no free cruise here - they got a credit for what they paid and then a bump for the same amount - do you think you can buy an inside single cabin for under $1000 with port fees and other charges these days except last minute?  

34 minutes ago, julig22 said:

You are assuming that it really happened - I have my doubts. But, yes, his Reddit and his original post on the book site have been removed.  But he's still making comments about it on other posts.

its been rported in several other travel locations - its $1040 - I imagine NCL will have to cover some of those indirect expenses . . . 

7 hours ago, graphicguy said:

When I traveled for work, mostly Delta, the most I was ever offered for a bump was $1,300.

 

This story seems a bit “hinky”.  The letter posted seemed a little questionable, just in its wording.  Now, everything has been deleted.  I don’t think any entity can force you to delete anything on a public forum of what was posted was true!  
 

They can force you to take it down if it’s untrue, though!

 

No matter, it’s gone now!

I bet that NCL insisted he take it down in exchange for the freebies - 

18 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

My wife and I gave up our plane seats once at the boarding get. We were flying from Frankfurt to Newark and they oversold the plane. I family of 6 would have been split up. They started asking people if they wanted to give up their seat. I stepped forward and seat if I do give up two seats what do we get. It turned out pretty good, we got $1000 to use on our next flights, and will get two business class seats on the next flight that was leaving in three hours.... I said heck yes

You could have gotten a lot more under EU261 . . . 

22 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Good point. Okay...never mind my original comment.

the rest of it was ok!  

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

Plus, they probably checked their luggage with the porters before finding out they were bumped.

I'd like to know how long it took to locate their luggage and get it back...or if they even did.

Gotta wonder how they checked their bags with the porters without a cabin assignment?  How do the porters know where to send the bags?  

18 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I've never been in a jail cell, so I have no idea if this is true.

It's not an expensive vacation when you are in an inside cabin.😎

Yep.  I do that a lot regardless of cabin type.  Just not when I'm sleeping or in the shower.

who is gonna see you in a shower?  Ever tried to look inside a window during the day?  

On 5/21/2024 at 9:19 AM, Adam Packett said:

So while I'm not new to cruising I am somewhat new to NCL (3rd cruise coming up).

 

Our next cruise is to Bermuda and Bar Harbor.

 

But wait, Bar Harbor has pretty much frozen all cruise ship traffic over 1,000 passengers.

(this is confirmed via multiple sources including this board)

 

Honestly this isn't a big deal for us one way or the other as far as the cruise is concerned as a stop in Portland or an extra at sea day would be just fine.

 

But why is it standard to wait until the last minute and not advertise the true itinerary?

 

Just weird...

When I lived in CT I’d fly my airplane up to Portland all the time for lobsta.  Back in the 2000s we’d fly up for a few pounds of lobsta meat at $5.99 / lb at harbor fish right there on main st. Always flew up on NYE too and we’d have lobsta races before dumping the losers (and the winner) in the big pot. 

issues? Yes.  Go check the admission requirements for the EU and Britain. . . .you can't get in

 with your passport as stated.  NCL won't let you on, neither will most airlines.

I will say that currently most passport renewal times using standard and non-expedited is 8-12 weeks in most parts of the country. 

If you are traveling sooner you need to pay for expedited.  Or, wait til you are inside two weeks and go to a passport office and renew in person with an appt.   

Oh, and PS:  there are NO cruises on mainline non river cruises that are US ports only.  You could not afford it.  

46 minutes ago, tashaaa said:

Hi, 

 

we will be on Star in 5 days (yeah😀), will try to go to the gym on our cruise. 
 

all experience cruisers who were on star, when is the best time to go to the fitness, that there are not so many people… 

 

It opens at 6.00 in the morning, so maybe at 7.00? 
 

 

99% of the time people ain't exercising on their cruises.  I run 2 miles every morning then ride a bike 15-20 miles 4 days a week and lift weights 2x a week.  Not sure I can go a week without exercising.  I'm mid 60's, my BP is 120/70, my heart rate is 58 and my BMI is 22.7.  

Zero $$$.  I would never book an inside cabin.  Even jail cells have windows.  A cruise is an expensive vacation - I want to look outside and be outside.  

9 hours ago, gizfish said:

The bacteria is not something that one catches from another person.  It is not something that "comes off" you or anyone else in the hot tub.  It isn't spread through body fluids (BTW, for the people writing about others peeling in the hot tubs, unless one has a UTI, urine is sterile.  I certainly don't want to swim or soak in it, but it won't make you sick.)  Legionella can be in the air.  The problem is it grows wonderfully in moist environments like a hot tub that is not kept at a high enough temperature.  The other problem is it spreads through air that is aerosolized and inhaled, like what's pumping through the jets and bubbling out of the water.  So limiting the amount of time for the bacteria to grow and thoroughly cleaning the tub to kill any bacteria that has grown keeps you from getting very sick or dieing.  Public hot tubs are certainly NOT more of a risk because they are chlorinated. Chlorine kills all the nasty stuff people are bringing in there, and it prevents legionella from growing.

Who would set foot in a hot tub, private or not, that is not chlorinated?  You're telling us that the private hot tubs on cruise ships in cabins are NOTR chlorinated?  I find that hard to believe.  I'm not being obnoxious, I'm just saying that its simply not possible given CDC and other generally accepted health requirements that any HT on board a cruise ship would not have some chlorine or bromine or some other disinfection agent applied - in which case - even you admit the chance of spread of legionella is basically zero.

Yes - its aerosolized - 

If you read the cruise contract, technically the captain doesn't even have to leave port . . .  or . . . he could leave port and then steam in circles until the port opened back up for his vessel.  

If you REALLY read the cruise contact they cruise company could put you in a dingy and shuttle you around the port . . . 

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Would prefer to give tips in cash directly to a person. 

Tips I agree - individualized tips and the beginning of cruise tips to a butler / haven cabin attendant - etc 

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

That would work as long as you're disciplined in the use of  your plastic.

Reliance upon cash is the greatest way to stick to a budget.

100% correct- but - aren't they heading toward cashless society on board pretty fast - even with tips being charged to the room account??  I know they're not there yet - but what a movie plot huh?  Cruise ships being robbed after docking at the home port / turn around!  

On 5/21/2024 at 10:33 AM, RocketMan275 said:

 

Get twice as much money.

On board?  Isn't it all funny money now?  and if you're going to the Carib or Alaska - cash is good but you don't need that much any more unless you're planning on buying high ticket items and want a discount - every bar, restaurant, attraction and the ship take plastic. Might be a vendor here or there that doesn't take a card but how much do you need for a trinket or t-shirt or wrap?  

Cash for tips is great- but - again - on board $1 per drink or $5 after a meal adds up to $150 maybe. 

9 hours ago, gizfish said:

I can understand how inconvenient it is to not be able to use the spa tub when and for how long you want to.  However, Legionaires disease, which is what these procedures are preventing, is a whole lot more inconvenient. The temperature of the spa is ideal for growth of legionella, and the jets are ideal for aerosolizing it.  The one hour limit followed by the thorough cleaning prevents this.  NCL is just following CDC protocol and they are paying you generously for your inconvenience.

Where is legionella coming from if they've sanitized the HT and the only people in it are you and your immediate party? Its not coming off of you, since you don't have it on your person if you have showered in the last 24-48 hours - so where is it coming from? Are they draining the hot tubs in the public areas every hour?  No -of course not.  There an infinitely greater chance of contracting this disease in a public area vs a private hot tub on your deck.  

Just my opinion - I've been wrong before but this seems like some public health officer somewhere decided to be a butthead.  

And now, its down to two person in a two person Haven cabin . . . 

18 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Nope.  It’s non-refundable credit.  Use it or lose it.  It also can’t be used for the casino or for your daily service charges.  But it’s good for just about anything else.  Food, drinks, spa, gift shop, excursions (if booked onboard), etc.

I not worried about spending a $100 credit - we'll blow through that in normal cruise BS before the first sea day is over - even with FAS+. 

just figure any 'special' perks like that are long gone . . .  

consider also for a moment that while they have ships on order  [and the associated hit to the bottom line in the short term] they're sailing mostly full - so growth in the short term is also limited which explains the hit to the share price.  3-5 years its a buy - short term you're not gonna see much growth.  

The article you reference is from 2022. . . . most NCL ships have gone to Starlink - you'll still only see a 1.5-2mbps download at your device - so streaming is out - you cna have two devices on an account where two people in a cabin have upgraded to either unlimited wifi or FAS+. 

Remember also that the ship is made of metal - its a fourier box - so you cannot expect good cell service inside the ship - even in port - but in balconies you will find cell service to be ok - if you have one phone with a decent wifi hotspot account you can serve everyone else better. . . . 

wifi is a profit center for cruise companies - actually everything is a profit center - remember - $300 for a $100 50 min massage is highway robbery.   Everything else on board is priced like that.  

The countries and areas closest to Africa [and Venice oddly enough] do have skeeters with malaria. . . .

On 5/16/2024 at 3:02 PM, cooncat_mom said:

! Do they still do an email for the Haven folks with the pillow menu and that stuff? 

No. 

Leaving in 19 days on Bliss in Alaska and all thats gone gone gone

You want a special pillow selection - gotta call them up. 

Hey - does anyone know if we have FAS+ if we can get water in the Haven room?   My guess is no - since everything in the room is charged AFAIK . . . except coffee, ice, cream and juices