pcakes122

Princess and Carnival allow it, too. It's becoming more widespread and I'm sure NCL will catch up soon.

LOL! It honestly amazes me that people do not recognize their unconscious bias when they post about the "poor crew." Just because someone has an accent doesn't mean that they're stupid or ignorant or need protection. In many cases, it just means that they know at least one additional language then most people. Crew members are intelligent people who have made a deliberate, thoughtful decision to accept a job that benefits them and/or their families. They get cruise ship jobs through an agency and are fully informed and understand the conditions of employment before they accept the job. Perhaps the average American would not accept a job for cruise ship pay, but that is because they compare it to American salaries (and they also forget that room & board and food is included, and there is no need for a car, car insurance, etc.) The best is people who bring "gifts" to the crew like deodorant, toiletries and candy as if they are visiting someone who is incarcerated LOL. I honestly just can't. 🤦‍♀️

Ahhh! I see now we're talking about 2 different types of inhalers/medications. The ones you linked have "preventative" medication in them - they are not "rescue" inhalers. ( If you scroll down further on the link you shared it explains the different types.) What I have and what I needed when I had Covid was a basic rescue inhaler (Albuterol.) Here's average Albuterol prices https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/albuterol. The point of my post wasn't the price of an inhaler, it was a reminder that unless you want to wind up with an overinflated bill and take unnecessary tests, make sure you know what you are paying for in advance when getting medical treatment on a cruise.

I think the $900 total bill including medication (e.g. Z-pack was just $121) AND nebulizer treatments was a fair price as well. I DON'T think that the suggested $3,000 worth of tests (no meds or treatments included) was warranted. I'm super happy I looked at it closely before signing the consent. I think everyone should do the same! PS Since I only pay $10 for my Albuterol inhalers with insurance you had me curious about the actual retail price without insurance. A quick web search shows it's about $30-$50 in NJ. Not sure where you are located but $300 is actually excessive for that med.

Not sure yet. I submitted it to my primary health insurance and whatever they don't cover I'll submit on my Nationwide travel policy.

As I mentioned, I had 2 at home so it wasn't worth it to me.

I just want to add a note about medical treatment onboard NCL. Of course, when we are sick we absolutely want whatever treatment or tests necessary to diagnose and address our conditions. That said, PLEASE be careful and review your treatment plan carefully with the NCL doctor. I was just on the Joy in October and had a terrible cough (btw, double-vaxxed and double-boosted here and this sailing required everyone to test for Covid before boarding.) I really thought I just had bronchitis (tested negative in my cabin on a self-test) but I had neglected to bring an inhaler so I headed to medical. The symptoms I reported to the doctor were coughing (very evident lol), sore throat, runny nose, headache and fatigue. I had no fever. The doctor listened to my lungs and told me she wanted to run some tests. I let her know that I wanted to review any plan before consenting. She came back with a $3K estimate! I started to go through each line with her to have her explain the plan. Included were cardiac enzyme blood work (to determine if I'd had a heart attack??), EKG (same reason??), kidney and liver function tests (why??) and more things that made no sense. At first it made me very nervous that she was checking me for a heart attack, so I asked her what it was that she heard in my lungs that made her suspect I might have had a heart attack. She said she heard congestion consistent with a lower respiratory infection. So I further questioned her about the heart tests and she said that I had told her I had chest pain (I NEVER ONCE mentioned anything about chest pain.) She said the kidney and liver panel tests were to rule out kidney failure in case she had to prescribe antibiotics. I shared with her my CBC blood test results from 10 days prior that I had on my Labcorp app (results normal) and she said well there's always a chance it could have changed in the past week. Needless to say the only thing I authorized was regular blood work (to check for signs infection) and a Covid PCR test. The Covid test was negative and she prescribed a nebulizer treatment and a Z-pack. My total bill was $900 including the meds. I never wound up getting the inhaler because she wanted $300 for it. I asked her why it was so expensive and she said because they had a limited supply. I knew I would be home in 2 days and that I had prescription inhalers at my house so I skipped it. So, I survived without the recommended $3K of tests. (However, I did test positive for Covid two days later when I got home.) Bottom line, make sure you know what you are going to pay for before you sign anything. And don't be afraid to question or refuse any tests or procedures that seem excessive!

Here's a direct link to download the form. Instructions and email address is on the form. (You need a separate form for every booking if you have more than one cruise.) NCL Shareholder Benefit Request Form

You will get a return email and you should also get an Amenity Confirmation. You will then see the OBC on your online reservation. It's definitely worth it if you cruise often - it's free money! 😊 I just purchased my shares this month actually, and I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. Between my upcoming cruises I have already booked $500 in OBC, plus the stock price has gone up enough that I'm ahead $100 there lol. So, about a $600 return on a $1,500 investment within 2 weeks. Better than I do in NCL casinos lol. And as long as they keep the OBC perk, it will just keep on giving.

Yes, trade confirmation will work. I just sent a transaction record showing the stock puchase on the day I bought it and NCL posted OBC on all my upcoming cruises (have to attach a completed form for each one) within a day. Don't forget to do the same if you have any other NCLH bookings (I also have 2 upcoming Oceania cruises.)

Yes! Not sure if I can link, but Scootaround rents regular recliners, lift chairs, hospital beds, etc. and works with NCL to have everything set up in the cabin before you get there. 👍🏻

Yes, I'm sure - but that wood wall/shelf thing is fixed. As you probably noticed in the video, there is another TV mounted on the other (bed) side of it. With this being the one accessible cabin in the Haven, why in the world would they design it where something/anything would have to be moved (including furniture!) This cabin should be one big open space (comparable with the Joy - that cabin design is exactly the same btw on every Breakaway/Plus class ship. It works perfect. 😊)

It's a real thing. Not a disastrous view, but I wouldn't book it (the balconies are a weird shape and it wouldn't be easy to manuever a wheelchair.)

Well, sadly today I cancelled the Prima Haven cruise I booked (looked forward to and paid for) last year because, based on the cabin tour video I watched, the ONE Haven accessible cabin design is a big FAIL for disabled people with mobility issues. Overall, while the Prima seems to have about as many accessible cabins as the Breakaway/Plus class ships, in comparison I think the Prima options are just terrible. I am disabled and travel with a chair and motorized scooter. I also rent a recliner/lift chair when I cruise. I am Diamond with NCL (i.e., I've been on LOTS of cruises) and I have never had an issue with accessible accommodations in any NCL cabin class on any ship (and I've been on every class of NCL ship in most categories.) Full disclosure, I book my NCL cruises through the casino. Normally I am offered either a Suite or Haven cabin, but because of Prima (crazy) pricing my casino offer was for a Club Balcony. At the time I didn't even ask if there WERE any accessible Club Balconies on the Prima (spoiler alert - there are not) because I knew I would want to upgrade to the Haven. I booked cabin 10954 (Haven Aft Penthouse with Master) the ONLY "accessible" cabin in the Prima Haven at a $2,500 (😲) upgrade price. I expected that it really wasn't going to have a separate "master" because that makes sense for an accessible cabin (we need FLOOR SPACE.) So, here's a screenshot of the main living area in Cabin 10954: Hello??? How is a disabled person expected to manuever a chair in that space? If they remove the table and side chairs do I watch TV by pulling my chair up and be practically nose to the screen? (Sounds comfortable lol) If I put my rented recliner in front of the TV, how do I wheel past it? Also, because of my issues, I frequently eat meals in the cabin. How does that work on the little round cocktail table? Speaking of tables - are those lamps built into the low round bedside tables? I not only have a C-Pap but a bunch of other fun disabled-people stuff I need on the side table. What isn't shown in this photo is that the desk with the phone is behind the person (nowhere near the bed.) Yes, there's a portable phone, but it needs to be charged to work. I won't even get started on the bathroom because I'm just over it at this point. When I realized this wouldn't work for me, I said to myself that I will just accept the Club Balcony comp and forget about the Haven upgrade. Well as we all now know , there are no Club Balcony accessible cabins on the Prima. OK, so maybe I'll take a Balcony. Well, I think there's already been lots of discussion about how the drop slide blocks balcony views on all the accessible cabins. So clearly I needed to cancel. I switched over to the Joy. For reference, here's some photos of the ACTUALLY accessible Haven cabin on the Joy. Bottom line, I know that Prima and Viva are clearly not for me, but I'll live. However I am sharing this as a heads up to other disabled folks looking to book Prima and in hopes that NCL sees this and recognizes that, as a loyal (disabled) NCL customer, I am extremely disappointed that accessible needs were not more thoroughly considered in this ship design.

Well, they definitely don't want those kids on the Haven Sundeck. 😂🤣 It's not my rule. You are complaining to the wrong person. You need to call NCL and give them your business advice.

How could you think they wouldn't agree?They already made the decision that the Haven Sundeck is limited to 16+ only. It's just the customers that can't accept it. I would also argue that Haven "families" probably aren't the most profitable revenue segment for NCL. Not sure what data you have to back that up. The bottom line is this discussion wasn't about whether or not NCL should have this rule (that decision was already made.) The discussion was should people expect it to be put aside for them because their children are special in some way. I still vote no.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. RCCL and Celebrity both have adults-only areas for "general paying" passengers - all the more reason for the general public to complain. NCL has restricted a very small area for suites-only guests that are paying a premium for it (remember that the Haven Courtyard and pool is open to all ages.) Parents who don't want to comply should book elsewhere.

RCCL Solarium was 16+ only the last time I was on the Anthem. When did that change?

The "Freestyle" decks were not entire decks either. While NCL is open to families, they also compete directly with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean which BOTH have adults-only areas (Solarium) which no one seems to have any issue with.

Anyone have recent info on the Getaway? ( Specifically interested in the concierge and the casino host/crew.) Thanks!

Seriously? This is an example of why the world is struggling. We are discussing compliance with guidelines that NCL set up (which btw people are aware of BEFORE they book) and somehow we've now determined that those who think people should follow rules are being discriminatory (or worse?) People who book expecting a "child-free" space should be able to have that. It doesn't mean they hate children. There could be a million reasons why that's their preference. Not anyone's business. People who have an issue with the rules should either not book or take it up with NCL to lobby a change. Ignoring the rule or expecting it to be "bent" for them shouldn't be an option.

You are missing the point that if ONE person is allowed to bring their under 16 year old, then everyone else will feel entitled to do the same. And not every child is well behaved. And every child -- no matter how well behaved -- takes up a lounger or a spot in the hot tub. NCL made a rule. Why can people just play fair and follow the rules?

But NCL says the Haven Sundeck will be kid-free and some people may actually upgrade just for that reason. If they aren't going to enforce that rule, they should just eliminate it. Also, "entire decks"? Have you been to the Haven Sundeck? We're talking about a relatively small section on the ship. For reference, see the Escape Haven Sundeck below. I don't think it's too much to ask (especially if you are paying a premium for it.)

Since there are no kids I highly recommend the Pearl over the Joy. Unless their idea of a great vacation is very large crowds, lines and lots of kids!

Gary, just popping in to share that I get Starbucks lattes (from the counter) every day from my butlers ever since NCL started that partnership. It's never been an issue or raised an eyebrow. That said, Starbucks (from the counter) is NOT free. I just give the butler my card and he/she has me sign the receipt when they come back. So this is absolutely a thing you can expect a butler to be able to do. 😊 On a related note, I absolutely hate the Starbucks coffee blend that NCL has been using in the Haven French press coffee - so strong and bitter - ugh! I miss the fabulous Illy coffee they used to use so much! 😭