tonygcharles

1 hour ago, ouse456 said:

From what I see by studying the deck plans of Royal Caribbean and Carnival and Celebrity and by paying attention to comments made by fellow bloggers, one can no longer make assumptions about locker room sauna and steam that we formerly made. Royal Caribbean has been removing free sauna and steam from its mid-sized ships. In the past, Carnival could be relied upon to have free steam/sauna, but some of its ships now have sauna only. Celebrity has been down-grading its once generous saunas and seems not to have included them in its newest ship.. For me, this is a disappointing trend and affects my decisions about which cruises I choose. Holland America seems consistent about having free sauna, even on its new ships. Princess hasn't removed them from the ships that I've looked at. I hope those companies continue to see the advantage of having them.    

Hi

What ships have Royal removed it's free sauna - steam rooms ?

I sail with RC l a lot

I know oasis style ships up don't have them 

We have to travel from the UK

So I find its another back up if your bags go astray with them already printed

I did hand write them last year . Because the came blank

I made a error with the cabin number

So they where missing for hours . Found them outside someone else's door !

I've done 40 ish cruises . Never seen them printed at the pier. I'd imagine the porter would expect a big tip for his inconvenience too ! [emoji6]

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We like Embassy Suite s too

And there free happy hour/s [emoji3]

But they can be expensive

If thats the case we have done comfort Inn

Not as good

But it was $36 @ night on our last stay

And we had a lovely view over looking the marina !

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They have a 25% / 30% off sale often

I had $400 OBC with the sales I got @ extra $100 more value on excursions. Looking at when they where full price

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You would think the USA would not be so far behind with there technology

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I live in the UK . We don't call it tap . We call it contactless. If your card has the chip on it . U can spend up to £30 with out a pin or u just place it over the credit card machine

Most shops - buses except this format of payment now

You can use it on the London underground too .

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Yes Bob

I was thinking the same

I don't know why they have not made this a bit more simple to do

I'm sure many people do B2B

And it seems still a grey area

two cautions. #1 self disembark, but get up EARLY and get to the front of the line, even without luggage, you will have to get in line and clear customs....You want to be near the front of the line #2 Homeland security requires passengers to be onboard 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure....you will need to confirm that this requirement applies to B2B passengers as well, it will shorten your day if it does!

Hi

Yes we do have to be back on 90 mins before , which will be 13.30 as the ship sails at 3pm

I have just received another email from Rccl

Thank you for your response.

I have personally discussed with our port authorities and you will be able to disembark early morning and be back before 1:30 pm. You must have your passport and SeaPass card to be able to board again.

You can leave your luggage in your stateroom as your 2nd sailing has the same stateroom.

I just got to get a new Sea pass card before I get off , I hope they can provide that !

You will also be given a "in transit card" so when you are ready to come back on board you can by pass all the lines to get back in the terminal. Except you will still need to go security. Then you can walk on. Piece of cake. Go to the B2B meeting (a day or two before TAD) and ask what the procedure is at Bayonne.

Thank you for advice

Have you done this with RCCL ?

I was hoping to know what time I could be onland before the trip so I can book a Helicopter flight , it 's not soething you can do last minute

Ok Bob

Thanks for the info

:D

It all depends where you were sailing from before u arrived in San Juan ?

If it was in the same country then you don't have to go through immigration I believe ?

That would be ideal

Have you done this ?

and longer I think

Had this email off RCCL today

The morning of Debarkation/Embarkation the Consecutive Cruise guests will be asked to meet at the Guest Relations Desk or another designated area to be escorted off the ship. A meeting room has been set-up for them to spend time until customs clears the ship for general boarding. Once the ship is cleared, the guests will be escorted back on and will be given their new onboard expense card.

Now if you wish to disembark and go ashore, your will need to request this once onboard, where you will be notified of the procedure, schedules and you will probably have to go to customs once again.

I'm going on adventure of the sea end of July we have booked a back to back cruise , same cabin

We will arrive in NYC coming from Canada at the end of the 1st week

We want to do a quick helicopter flight while docked there

But concerned if we gave enough time

We arrive at 7am and have to be back on board by 13.30 fir a 3pm saying to the Bahamas

It will take approximately 45mins each way to the helicopter

Has anyone done this on RCCL

Any advice appreciated

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We are diamond on RCCL and enjoy he benifits of that

The food is good but not excellent

NCL we are gold . Not of benifits from there status

Entertainment is better on most cruises and food is v good

Staff are always good on both lines

We have sailed on most of the cruise lines and find cunard best of them all

Queen Victoria last summer Greek Islands was one of our best

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I'm going on independence end of August too.i guess after the refurb . Everything is the same in the sauna area

I'm doing Adventure ots end of July

Has anyone been on her recently ?

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Thank you

That way seem s to work

The OP has made a huge exaggeration by imlpying that the gratuites were increasing $6 ppd. This from NCL's official site:

 

How much are the service charges?

- For bookings made prior to April 1st, 2017, regardless of the date of your cruise:

PREPAID service charges will be charged the price of:

• $15.50 USD per person per day The Haven and Suites;

• $13.50 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below - FOR ALL SHIPS

(To pre-pay your service charges, Log In to My NCL or contact your travel professional)

- For bookings made between April 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018:

All PREPAID service charges will be charged the price of:

• $16.99 USD per person per day The Haven and Suites;

• $13.99 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below.

Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun (Port Canaveral sailings only*) -

$21.99 USD per person per day for Suites;

$18.99 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below.

- For sailings on or after April 1, 2018:

All service charges PAID ONBOARD, regardless of booking date will be charged the NEW price of:

• $17.50 USD per person per day The Haven and Suites;

• $14.50 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below.

Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun (Port Canaveral sailings only*) -

$22.99 USD per person per day for Suites;

$19.99 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below...

 

So the NCL Sun and Sky charges are increasing by $1. Anybody who can afford to sail on a premium ship in the fleet can afford $1 ppd.

Btw

we are going to be sailing from Miami, NOT Port Canaveral

so in that case it has gone up $6 ?

Or have I read this wrong ?

So, OP, aare you pre-paying to get the $13.99 rate?

I can't see the pre payed rate , its not showing on the uk NCL website ,

So I assumed that the price was the same as Epic and pride of America $13 ish what I have payed the last few years

I have messaged NCL to sort this out as I cant pre pay anyway

Service charge displayed ' gratuities I should have said not gratuitous [emoji6]

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When I booked the cruise there where no gratuitous displayed on the website . And they still do not show

We sailed on ncl the lady few years and payed $13. Ish . So i assumed it was the same on Sky . It's not a upmarket ship

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You should really post this on the NCL boards....but omg ...that is crazy!

Oh I didnt know where to put this post too

I will leave it just here for a moment , see what reaction it get s :):):):):D:D

We are going on NCL Sky mid April 18

Had a email saying today the the "Service charge" will be going up to $19.99 a day from

1st April 18 Sky and Sun

We only booked it a few weeks ago

It also said we could pre pay the old rate if we go to cruise summery section on there website

Funnily enough it not available for display !?

From what I can see , the old rate would be about $13.99

I don't mind tipping but

I think that much of a rise is excessive

Can we remove the service charge on NCL and pay who we like onboard ?

Tony

From what I can see Rccl provide a Diamond lounge. When it's full . Some

Provide a overflow area. Some don't

If u can't get in you go to a bar and use your free drink vouchers

I can't see why things will change

Or much else they can do

I guess if they get too many complaint 's they may review the situation

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I live in the UK and Ncl excepted my visa application through there website

And was told to print it off and bring it with me as well

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