20YearsBetweenCruises

We are going on the NCL Start out of Reykjavik. It is scheduled to depart at 6pm. So I believe we need to be on board by 4pm.  Our plan is to do an abbreviated Golden Circle that day, so targeting to be on board by 3PM.   Today check-in opened and the latest time slot was 1:30 - 2:00.   I do not think we will have an issue, but thought I'd see if any others have boarded past the latest 'check in' slot available recently to make sure.

We are in Bergen port 6am- 8pm and have never been there before. With all those modes of transportation due have a lot of risk of not getting back in time. So guess I’ll save this for some future trip and explore the city. Thanks all for the replies,

@ericosmith,  I am looking at doing this on my own when we are in port in Bergen. Did you do this and if so, how did it go?

We loved RomeInLimo when we used them on our cruise in 2015, so happy to report  they are still top notch. Don’t delay in booking as in one of our ports I was too late to book with them. The tour we did was from Naples called Positano/Sorrento/Pizza School.  We were in Naples in 2015 so had already been to Pompeii and this tour was perfect.  Our driver Alex was great and “pizza school” was a lot of fun.  The $20 add-on for pizza school is a great value. Besides the individual pizza we made, we also got salad and dessert. Originally we had 10 going so had 2 vans reserved.  2 of our group did not make the cruise and after I contacted RomeInLimo, they adjusted our reservation to one van that held 8. This was last minute and I appreciated their flexibility since it kept the per person cost down.  My niece used RomeInLimo in 3 different Italy ports based on our recommendation and she said they were all perfect too. 

Using the “way back machine” website, this was the wording in October 2020.  So this definitely is new wording.

5 hours ago, CPRayVA said:

We are scheduled to travel on the Bliss on July 9th.  One of the people in our group currently has Covid.  Under Norwegians FAQ's it states that she does not need to do the pre-test but must bring the positive PCR test (more than 10 less than 90 days) and an acceptable form of COVID-19 recovery, i.e. doctor's note.  Her doctor's office states that it doesn't write letters.  She is worried that she will still test positive seventeen days from now even though she has recovered.  Any experience in boarding following a case of Covid?

I read post about using an online tele-visit to get letter. Showed them the positive PCR Covid test of over 10 days old and the doctor provided the letter. From what I remember it cost $100-$150. If their doctor won’t write letter, perhaps google for that option. 

I sent mine in on Saturday 5/21 and received an email back showing the obc on Monday 5/30.

I saw the flights listed with the layover connection about 2 days before I got the email. It shows up on the my summary page. 

It appears the free testing will stop June 17. I received this email from NCL:
 

In order to best comply with local regulations, all guests disembarking in Italian ports (Civitavecchia and Trieste) who require proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to return to their home country, will now have the following options: 

1. Purchase an easy-to-use telemedicine kit onboard 
2. Test at your convenience at the Rome-Fiumicino International Airport (testing will not be available at Trieste airport) 
3. Visit a local clinic 

This latest update will be in effect for all sailings beginning June 17, 2022. 

Thanks for the replies! 
 

I just did this via email. Sent email on Saturday May 7, got a reply that the transfer was done on Tuesday May10th

We decided we would do the NCL Beach Break in Corfu as we will need a relaxing day during our 10 day cruise, but when I went to reserve it, it is no longer available.  So seeking advise on best beach to go to and how to get there.  We will be there in the beginning of July from 12-7. I’ve searched about buses (read bit good times), taxis (a bit concerned about making sure we have a ride back), or renting a car. I also contacted Nautilus for a boat tour but they are booked.   It may only be my family of 4, or could be up to 17 of us (traveling with extended family).  Thanks!

On 5/10/2022 at 1:56 PM, dritan said:

Thanks to both of you for the info and the links.  I'm going to add them to my research.  There have also been some good (BBC?) documentaries about Akrotiri and the impact of the volcano that I will refresh my mind on.

 

Sadly no trip to Athens this time but potentially in October and have yet to make it to the archeological museum - I think it's one of those places I need to go by myself ie: no moaning hubby or kids to placate.

When are you going? I’d before July can you let me know how it went doing on your own? Thanks!

On 4/26/2022 at 7:13 PM, AZYAYA said:

Upcoming Escape cruise on 5/21/22.  Nine ports and five non NCL excursions booked.  One is a private tour and the other four are semi-private with only 6-8 people in a luxury mini van.  First trip to Europe too.  All of these have "back to port on-time" guarantees or they will pay to get you to your next port.

On 4/27/2022 at 8:52 AM, Professor Aronnax said:

AZYAYA, we are on the same cruise and doing 2 NCL excursions, 2 with Viator, and 4 private. When we get on the boat in Rome, we are doing 2 semi-private excursions of the Colosseum and the Vatican. 

I am in the midst of planning our June 30th Escape trip. Do you mind sharing your excursion plans?

I don’t know if this is any good, but saved this link for our trip there in July. https://www.akrotiriaudioguide.com/#opening

If they are not going to drink allotment it’s actually cheaper to pay as you go for their drinks. The gratuity on the “free” drinks is like $20 a day.

FYI - I noticed my cruise that I had booked as an inside but upgraded to balcony using 60,000 points was cheaper today.  I am before final payment. I called and they were able to adjust the pricing in 5 minutes.  I was worried it might not be possible since besides the point upgrade, I also had a 10% discount applied from a cancelled cruise, and a cruise credit from a Cuba cruise (where we were not able to go to Cuba).    I did have to go with the new Free at Sea, which meant I lost 2 days of dining though.

I do not see any European country listed on the link (https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/travel-requirements-by-country) now.  Planning our June 2020 Italy/Greece cruise and trying to figure out if we can book independent excursions.  Did this link use to have Italy listed and now it is gone so free to book outside of NCL? 

14 hours ago, 20YearsBetweenCruises said:

 

@smplybcause, Thanks for your reply,  I'm curious about the removing the 10%.  So the 10% discount was still on the existing fare and you were able to upgrade and remove 10% which made it more?  Seems like if they remove the 10% , it would remove it from your existing fare too and therefore would not be an impact.  But if I can say upgrade and remove the 10% from only the new upgrade amount;  I would be paying $35 more and be able to upgrade.  

Update - I called today and ask them to do try to remove the 10% off in order to do for the upgrade to cost money and it worked (The rep did have to escalate it to the support team to get it done). The NCL rep was very nice and helpful.  I was able to get their cabin upgraded from ocean view to a spa balcony for $81.  They confirmed that the flights would not be impacted.  THANK YOU @smplybcause for your reply.  My daughter-in-law and son are very happy.

9 hours ago, smplybcause said:

Promos have to be the same and the fare has to be larger. I was only able to upgrade my recent cruise by removing the 10% discount I had and paying $40. But the promos were the same. Without the air promo repricing would include him paying full price for the airfare... though not sure if they do that. 

@smplybcause, Thanks for your reply,  I'm curious about the removing the 10%.  So the 10% discount was still on the existing fare and you were able to upgrade and remove 10% which made it more?  Seems like if they remove the 10% , it would remove it from your existing fare too and therefore would not be an impact.  But if I can say upgrade and remove the 10% from only the new upgrade amount;  I would be paying $35 more and be able to upgrade.  

Anyone recently upgrade by calling in and not using the bid process?  Trying to help my son who is in oceanview and would like to go to a spa balcony and is after final payment.

1) They are using the air promotion, I saw older posts that say that was an issue as the  current promotion have to match, and air is not offered close to sail date.  Anyone able to upgrade after final payment that had air on their reservation? 

2) NCL is telling them they cannot upgrade to the spa balcony because it is slightly cheaper than the rate they paid, that they have to pay something. They could upgrade to a aft balcony.  They asked if they could pay the aft balcony price but be put into a spa balcony.  NCL said no.   I do see recent posts that state NCL changed their policy that upgrades via phone call must be higher priced now.  Just wanted to see if anyone was successful in getting an 'upgrade" to a higher room when that room was currently cheaper than they paid.

Does anyone have experience with what happens if the cruise price goes down after you upgrade using points? Is it easily adjustable to the new prices?

Same thing happened to me. The problem turned out to be that the latitude number associated to my husband on my Alaska cruise was wrong. So check that out. ( I pulled up my old confirmation for Cuba and it showed the latitude number associated with each passenger. You can compare this to the confirmation for your new reservation). NCL was able to easily fix this for me and we got both credits applied. 
 

On 2/17/2020 at 10:15 PM, BSR said:

Thanks.   After final payment I would be committed to going on the cruise.  I don't want to commit my 60k points to a cruise over a year away and decide in couple months not to go.

 I read (probably in this thread) about someone who waited to do the upgrade and they told none where available for their sailing. The responses stated that they should have upgraded sooner as there are limited number of upgrade per sailing.  Not sure if this is true, but wanted to pass this along to those who are thinking of waiting  to upgrade.

On 1/18/2020 at 11:35 AM, Freya4000 said:

Thanks for the suggestion. NCL offers no cost cancellation 48 hours prior to arrival in port so if we book the heli excursion in seward on the first day and it isn't canceled  we'll have time to cancel in seward or Juneau. Looks like the way to go!

You would probably want to book with NCL now  as it may be sold out by the time you board.